Sorry no pictures this time! We went to Snowbasin Ski Resort to hike last weekend and got everyone posed for a picture and realized that the camera battery was dead. Bummer, now we are going to have to hike to the top of Mt. Ogden again to prove that we were really there. Chuck and Sarah don't really care whether you believe them or not, they are not going back up there. Bumper says to tell everyone that he hiked the highest on the mountain with Mom coming in a distant second. We can see the peak from our house so it is really cool to sit outside and look back at where we were. Mt. Ogden is over 9000 feet above sea level. Breathing was definitely an issue, not to mention the hike-and, we took the gondola up as far as we could. We took the gondola back down and had lunch on the outdoor patio at the lodge. It was quiet and laid back but we hear that it will change when the snow arrives. Sarah was mostly interested in the cute ski jackets in the shop - the ones with the fur on the hoods!

Bumper and I left on Wednesday to begin the trek back to the east coast toward Mercer. We left home about 9 am and arrived in Macon at 11 pm. What a long day! The jeep was supposed to be delivered early Thursday morning but was delayed until Friday night. It was quite inconvenient and expensive but we rented an SUV so we could run the errands that we went up a day early to do and so that we could pick up his stuff from Ann's house. The move in went well and praise the Lord he was on the first floor. He is happy to be back at school and classes start tomorrow. He is taking Modern Physics, Data Structures and Algorithms, Multivariable Calculus, Scientific Inquiry, and Greek. Yikes-I can't even imagine!

Sarah starts classes on Wednesday. She survived parent orientation and is ready to get going with her classes. We will post a picture of her classroom when one of us remembers to charge a camera battery!

Alex has been working hard and enjoys his job. We miss him at dinner now since he has to learn how to "close" the store. His schedule has been 2-10pm 5 days a week for now. He has been off most Sundays so that is great. He has done a lot of work on his car and still has a lot to do. Some of the work has been repairs but some has been for fun as well. Among other things, it is louder now - that is a good thing, go figure!

Chuck and I are enjoying the change and the slower day to day pace here in Utah. We have a few big Air Force events coming up and are getting used to the greater social requirements of his position. Of couse, I am always worried about what to wear! The weather is turning quickly and I think that fall is just around the corner. It is still in the high 80s during the day but the evenings are in the 50s. We won't be eating out on the deck for long I suppose. It is nice to sleep with the windows open and catch the breeze. We built a fire one night last week and roasted marshmallows in the backyard. Now, that was quite a different activity for the Mood family!

I think of you often and miss everyone. Thanks for your prayers and e-mails. Love to all!

Hello August

Well, I guess it has been a while since I took the time to update! It does not feel like we are on vacation anymore! I have been working some at the church, Chuck is working, Alex is working, Sarah is getting her classroom ready and Charles is chillin' before he goes back to school next week.

I got a vehicle finally! I love my new 4WD Honda Pilot. It is a "mondo" sized vehicle and just what we need for Utah! I sure hope gas prices go down here like in Florida!

Our latest Utah adventures include a visit to the Shooting Star Saloon (yes, I have been in Utah one month and I have been to my first "bar" ever!) Their hamburgers are apparently famous in these parts and it is the place to take visitors, which is why we were there. (Air Force guys) Oh yeah, they only serve hamburgers and chips - "nothing else - don't ask - this is not a restaurant"! The Shooting Star is the oldest saloon in Utah-whatever! The cool part was that it is located on the east side of the mountains so we went through Ogden canyon to get there. It was a great drive, especially in the new Pilot! I took Sarah, Bumper and Alex through the canyon on Saturday so that they could see it also. There is a great waterfall that you can stop and see along the way and a huge reservoir over there. There were people rock climbing along the road in the deepest part of the canyon - crazy I tell you!

Sunday evening we went over to Antelope Island. "Where the buffalo roam and the deer and the antelope play!" The island is in the Great Salt Lake which is a little south and west of Farr West. It was really neat to look back at the Wasatch Front and find the towns along the mountain range. We really did see antelope, deer and bison. The sun was setting as we drove back to the mainland which was beautiful. The bad part was that during the summer the lake REALLY STINKS! I don't think I have ever smelled anything so gross. We were laughing so hard and trying to keep out mouths shut-someone got some tissues and we all had our noses and mouths covered on the ride back.

We are planning to go hiking up at Snowbasin Ski Resort this weekend and the Weber County Fair is happening this week as well. Bumper goes back to school next week so we've got to do as much as we can before he leaves. He is so excited to go back to school and see his friends. I have enjoyed having everyone home and I sure hate to see it end. Everything is as it should be though - little boys must become men!