The Subway

It seems like an eternity since we've updated our blog. But it hasn't been for a lack of things to blog about. This has actually been one of the most eventful summers on record for the Steen family. We'll start with what for me is the highlight of every summer, the Subway hike at Zion National Park.

The Subway is an 8 mile hike through mountain streams, steep switchbacks, and beautiful emerald pools that double as toilets. This is not a hike for the faint of heart or flaccid of musculature. From start to finish, it's about 10 hours, depending on how often you stop to take in the scenery and how well you can handle the repels and technical areas. We were very grateful to Robyn's parents for watching Maffew while we hiked.





Robyn's brothers Matt, Jon, and Scott met us about 2 hours into the hike. They were going to repel down into the canyon at a spot called Das Boot, but they went down the wrong way. Luckily, we had no trouble finding them. They ended up being a huge help on the repel portion of the hike.


We all take a rest before resuming the hike.


Matt decided to jump into a pool of water instead of climbing down like the rest of us.


Mary and Mark


At one point in the hike, the constant stream of water has created a natural water slide. You fly down it into a shallow pool of water, as you see Robyn doing here.


This is the toughest part of the hike. It doesn't look like much of a repel, but if you're a greenhorn like we all were, it's a little daunting. Mary had her difficulties, but she was a trooper and didn't stop. We were lucky to have Robyn's brothers with us.


This is the most picturesque portion of the subway.




Evolution was occurring right before our eyes. In a matter of months, this tadpole will become a fully grown human.


Mary and Robyn ready to start the final ascent to the trailhead.

Mt. Gretna Lake

We headed up to Mt. Gretna today, near Lebanon for those of you that know the area. It is in the middle of no where, so it took just over an hour to get there from our house even though it's only 34 miles away. It is BEAUTIFUL. I've been up to Mt. Gretna twice before to go to the Jiggershop, an old fashioned ice cream shop and restaurant. I feel like I am in the mountains when I am there and that is why it is so endearing to me as I miss my Utah mountains. This is my niece, Sienna, in front of the lake. She is out to stay with us for two weeks. I am so glad she came! We are having a great time and she is so helpful with Matthew, doing the dishes, and even made us breakfast one morning.

Matthew swinging for the first time.

I think he likes it!

Matthew by the lake.

Me and Matthew - since I am always the photographer, it's hard to get a good shot of the two of us.

He snatched my glasses and is so proud of himself!

Sienna splashing into the water from a trapeze type rope swing. They also had a diving board platform and a high dive platform (minus the diving board).

Matthew crawling in the water. He kept trying to eat the sand.

Loving the beach.

Stats

We took Matthew to his 6 month check today. He is now closer to 7 months, but since we had to go late to his 4 month check, it's just the way things go as far as scheduling with vaccinations and insurance. Here are the latest stats:

Weight: 19 pounds 9 ounces - just under the 70th percentile
Height: 28 inches - 80th percentile
Head Circumference: 45 1/2 centimeters - 80th percentile

So, he is slowly dropping down in the rankings. He is starting to thin out now that he is moving around more. He wants to be into everything. Time to baby proof the house! Poor guy had 3 shots in his leg today. He took it like a champ. The next check is at 9 months and he will have a break from shots unless the flu vaccine is available.

Rock Park

We made a last minute decision to head to Rock Park in Maryland for another hike. This time we took the White Trail loop. It was set to be 2 hours, but we did it in an hour and a half.

I quickly got Matthew ready for the outing. We had to leave to take Grace to the airport. She is headed out to Utah to go with the Proulxs to California for vacation.

First stop: the King and Queen Seat. Mary and Mark brought Trixie along and she loved it!

The Steens. I carried Matthew the entire hike. I am proud to say that I even nursed him WHILE hiking. Now that is what I call multitasking. I love my Ergo!

Mark and Trixie checking out the view.

Matthew, Mary and me. He was such a good boy. He just loves being outside.

Strawberry Picking

We headed down to Shaw Orchards on the border of PA and MD to pick strawberries. They charge $5 to take the tractor out to the fields (for anyone who can walk) and then they allow you to put that $5 towards what you pick. The strawberries were $1.50 a pound and if we were to fill the box pictured below we would have picked 10 pounds and have $15 worth of strawberries. This was our goal. It was near 90 degrees today and we did this at 2 p.m. Lesson learned - pick in the morning, they open at 8 a.m. Mary wore Matthew in the Ergo and he only handled a few minutes of picking before getting fussy. We were the only ones out, so I took him and fed him under some shade. I decided we had better stick to the shade since it was so hot outside. I kept him entertained for a bit and then Mary took a turn. Once he was at his limit and Mary had a sufficient headache from the sun, we decided it was time to go back. Our strawberries weighed in at just under 9 pounds. We ALMOST got our money's worth and we kept our sanity at the same time. I'd say that is a successful trip!

The fruits of our labors.

Mary and Matthew waiting to take the tractor out to the strawberry fields.

The crew heading out.

Mary doing her job in the heat of the sun.

Matthew and me hanging out in what little shade we could find under some apple trees.

Pool Time

Matthew had his first experience at the pool today. We have a pool in our complex and it opened on Saturday. Last summer the water was freezing. It didn't seem so cold today. I'm not sure if they are heating the pool a bit this year or if it was warmer because it's been so hot here lately.
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First dip.

Checking out the ledge.

Just before getting in.

Baby and daddy enjoying the pool.

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a great Memorial Day Weekend. Saturday, we went to visit Matt's Aunt Barbara who was in a hospice to help manage her pain as she is suffering from cancer.

Grace and Matthew in front of the hospice.

Mary and Matthew hanging out.

Matthew enjoying the grass.

We came home and had the missionaries come over to teach Mary and me Spanish. This was our second lesson and we decided to have a barbecue afterward which Grace and Mark joined us for. On Sunday, we picked up Grace after church and headed to visit the graves of her parents and grandparents. It was a beautiful day and the scenery in Lancaster is breathtaking. We passed many Amish buggies and even an Amish guy on his scooter. That is always my favorite to see.
This is not the Amish boy I saw, but I wanted you to be able to see what I'm talking about. I guess bikes are too technologically advanced, so they use these scooters instead.

This is at the cemetery in Strasburg.

Grace's Grandparents' graves. This cemetery lets you plant flowers, so Matt and Grace planted three flowers in front of each headstone.

Volunteers at Strasburg Cemetery planted 5,300 American flags. Each flag represents a soldier that has fallen in Afghanistan or Iraq. This really made a statement and reminded me of how grateful I am to the men and women who have given their lives in service to our great nation.

Baby Matthew liked the flags too.
This is a covered bridge in Amish country on the way to the second cemetery.
Matthew in front of his great grandparents' graves.

Monday, we took the baby hiking in Maryland at Rock Park. Mary has those pictures, so I will have to post them later when I can get them from her. It was beautiful, just a quick 75 minute hike. Matt carried Matthew in the Ergo carrier and Matthew was just perfect. It was hot and humid, so we were all very sweaty. Matthew even fell asleep towards the end. We went back to Mary's for a BBQ of pulled pork and smoked ribs. It was excellent.

Matthew and Trixie were very interested in each other.