Happy Hannukah

This year we noticed that Hanukkah started the Sunday after Thanksgiving. When the kids overheard our short conversation about this, the kids naturally asked, "What is Hanukkah?" Well, we decided to turn it into a whole experience. 

I started first with a stack of books from the library, which we've been reading one or two every day. Some are nonfiction, explaining the whats and whys of Hanukkah, and some are stories with Hanukkah as the main theme.

We'd read about how Hanukkah is celebrated with latkes and jelly donuts and other fried foods (to remind Jews of the miracle of the oil burning for eight day instead of only one) so we felt like we needed to try them out, too. On Tuesday, November 30, we had our latke party. I made these latkes, we bought a couple of jelly donuts from the store, and we even made bimuelos (basically little balls of fried dough with a honey-orange drizzle). (I didn't know what to serve with the latkes beside the typical toppings of sour cream, dill, applesauce, horseradish), so a little googling found me a recipe for creamy carrot soup that sounded good and easy, so I made that. (The kids were not crazy about the soup, but gobbled up the potato pancakes!)

After we ate dinner, we ate our treats and played a round of dreidel (with an old dreidel that I had gotten when I was a teenager and have somehow held onto for years). I couldn't find any chocolate coins (gelt) at the store, but I did dig up one piece from our candy bin in the cupboard, so we made that our prize for winning the game and we used cheerios for our game pieces. (Cal actually won, but kindly gave her prize to Sam at the end.)

All in all, we've had a great time this week learning and eating and playing, and I think for sure we could add latkes into our holiday traditions in the future. ;)

My latkes are not nearly as dark and golden
as ANY of the pictures I saw online. But they were still crispy and good.

Bimuelos and sufganiyot and dreidel oh my!

Winner!

My trusty dreidel. I had to ask my family
where and when I got this thing and we collectively
remembered a ward party where a Jewish family
came to teach us about Hanukkah, and feed us latkes,
and gave everyone a dreidel.

Hikes (and Bikes and Walks and Discs) {November 2021}

The weather was amazing during November. (Not amazing for the ski resorts, but amazing for being outside in the valley.) We tried to make the most of the warm, sunny afternoons with a variety of activities; our top four: hikes, bike rides, walks, and rounds of disc golf.

3 November 2021: "The Hollow Tree" near Middle Inlet Beach

The kids begged to go play at "the hollow tree" one afternoon, so we made it our nature journaling spot for the day. They played and built and imagined while I wandered down to the water's edge, about a third of a mile away! (On a full-reservoir year, the base of this tree is under water, but this is NOT a full-reservoir year, for sure!)

I'm standing in what usually is the middle of the lake!
(The kids are back there in those trees somewhere.)

They covered some roots with slabs of bark
to create this ramp up to their perch.

One last look back at the tree and the lake far, far beyond
as we climb the hill to the parking lot.

Also 3 November 2021: Wolf Creek Disc Golf Course

We had a good tromp through the weeds, playing a round of disc golf before dinner.

6 November 2021: Nature Trail to Glacial Boulder Field in Wasatch Mountain State Park

We missed cousins after being gone all of October, so when Heather suggested meeting up for a hike, we jumped on it. We met the Olsens at Wasatch Mountain State Park in Midway and set out on the Nature Trail through the trees. We ended up at a huge boulder field, where we climbed and hid and played pretend and talked for a good long while. Such a fun afternoon!

Snack break on a bench.

A bit of color left, on the ground.

H&T and C clambering over the boulders.

The view from the top of the boulder pile.

10 November 2021: Solo Walk Toward the Lake

I just liked how the light was spilling out over the top
of the canyon.

14 November 2021: The Hollow Tree again, with Dad

The kids wanted to go back to the Hollow Tree and we wanted to be outside, so we made a little Sunday afternoon outing of it. The kids played in the tree while Gregg and I walked out to the edge of the water, and then we came back and sat in the sun on the beach. Cal and I used rocks to rub the rough surfaces off some cool, thick bark chunks. And it was marvelous.

11.14.21

17 November 2021: North Arm Trailhead

Another nature journaling day. We got a later start (wanting it to be warm-ish), but that mean the sun was almost behind the mountain when we got to the trail. So we made a quick walk down the boardwalk, hunting for different textures to write and sketch about in our journals. Then we headed back to the trail that heads straight to the lake, since it was still in the sunshine (for a minute or two), to sit in the field under the osprey nest and do the actual journaling.

I love these shiny red berries in the fall!

We spotted this bracket mushroom on a tree
just off the boardwalk and were SO excited!
They're a dime a dozen in Vermont, but here?
Such a fun find!

Chasing the sunshine.

They were chilly and grumpy as we walked
back to the car, fully in the shade now,
but they humored me with a smile.

23 November 2021: Solo Walk to Old Highway Beach

I needed a walk, and I took it. I love that in less than a mile I can be at the "lake" and away from the world.

26 November 2021: Middle Fork Big Loop

We started hiking on the Shupe Canyon trail, then turned at the dirt road that follows the power lines and followed it up the hill. Instead of taking the trail to the south that heads right back to the parking lot, we kept following the road down to where it meets the trail coming up from the Middle Fork Puddle. We came down there, crossed the puddle, then headed back to the parking lot, completing a nice, big loop, one we've never done entirely before. (Love trying a new route, even in an well-loved area.) Lots and lots of target shooting happening out there on Black Friday, so that was a little disconcerting, and not as peaceful as it could have been. But it still felt good to be outside in the sun moving our bods.

Rest stop at the road.

Family pic (only Gregg didn't know he was photo bombing. ;)

We have Gregg's epic punny jokes to thank for these smiles
over the miles.

30 November 2021: Bike Ride Around the Triangle

We needed a couple things at the store, so we made it an adventure by riding bikes over to Valley Market, and then on to the credit union to deposit a check, and then on around by the trailhead and the big-horned cows grazing nearby. We ended up at the park for a while, just soaking up the sun (while Cal and Sam built a lean-to against the horse arena fence.

Also 30 November 2021: Wolf Creek Disc Golf Course

When we got home from the park after our ride, Gregg was heading out to play a round of disc golf, so Sam and I hopped in the car with him while Cal opted to stay home for some alone time. We had a great

round (the first half was much better for me than the second score-wise, but it was still lovely to be walking and tossing).

My poor, poor disc - cracked and taped
and cracked and taped.

But it still works!

Sam was crushing it!

I guess if we can't be skiing, we might as well be enjoying the mild weather. But come on, snow! It's time for winter!