good bye powell

We were sad to have to leave
and the rain clouds finally were leaving us alone.
So the decision was made.
And we stretched out the trip a tad bit longer.

Good bye Lake Powell
See you again in 2 weeks.
The only bright side to a transmission going out on the way home.
And shoving 2 families in one car.
You Have :) to go back down to Powell.
This time adults only.

Thank heavens for good friends who invite us on amazing trips.

then the rain came down

And down and down and down.

We wore jackets and wished we had electric blankets
The kids huddled around the heater.
trying to get warmies blown their way.
While we are waiting for the white caps to stop threatening our lives.
We found fun by
exploring....or running from the storm.
trying the kids secret drink conconctions ...{you were so brave Emily}
climbing, jumping and swimming.
Yes it was warmer when you were in the water.
It was hard to get out knowing you could quite possibly die of hypothermia...{just kidding}.
The coldest day in June in Lake Powell on record.
It had to be! And we were there snuggling on a boat.
We even survived the brutal waves that could have swallowed us alive
good thing our captain was an experienced driver.
the next day the sun was our friend again.
we were happy to shed our layers and bask in her rays once again.

there were sunny days

This was our first day of summer....and it was full of what summer should be.
sunshine,surfing,swimming,exploring, lots of water, jency {shane's sister},
bare feet, beauty, blue skies, junk food, good friends, music, red rocks, laughter {lots of it}
naps, books, sun screen, tan lines, fishing, cliff jumping.
good good times.

Then the next day it was rain.

rewind back to the begining

we have put many, many miles on our car this summer
and spent countless hours going 75 mph.
I guess you could say we sort of live in our car.
And eat powdered doughnuts for breakfast
and listen to our favorite songs.
It keeps us happy.
I think I am ready to rewind back to the start of summer
and begin documenting all the places our car has taken us for goodness sake.
On the last day of school we welcomed in summer.
No better place to do it than Lake Powell.

{more photos soon to come}
{have I mentioned I really, really want an i-pad? well I do.}

16 hours one way

We just got back...... again.
This summer has been non-stop.
Most of me likes it that way.
Me+My mom+my 3 kids burned up the road.
16 hours one way.
on a two lane highway.
through crazy ghost towns.
little Neveda Mining towns.
One of which we hunkered down for the night.
Most ghetto motel in America.
How we wound up there. I will never exactly know.
But we laughed so hard at it's ghettoness we cried.
And then feared for our lives a couple of times.
And laughed some more. It took the edge off a little.
We woke up early.
We got tired of sleeping on a box spring.
Next.
A stretch of 20 mile road that was basically like being on a roller coaster.
The hills were so steep your stomach dropped every time.
We were screaming and laughing and screaming.
The kids wanted me to go faster.
I did not want to bottom out...but I sped up a little anyway.
My mom screamed louder.
Then beautiful Yosemite.
Wished we could have stayed longer.
Next fields and windmills.
Then bigger and bigger cities.
And finally we saw the bay.
and then our final destination.
Palo Alto.
Home to my little sister.
yay!
We made it.
{Santa Cruz, CA 2010}

the 4th of July

Happy 4th of July!

I love this holiday!

The fireworks,

warm summer nights.

and living in this sweet land of liberty!

{Canyon Cox, Lake Powell 2010}

sweet dreams

Can I sleep here every night....please.

underneath a star lit sky.

As long as I had someone to snuggle up to

i am sure I would sleep so sound.

And probably have the sweetest dreams.

{ooooh or an afternoon nap here...that would be heavenly}

A glorified hammock for summertime slumber.

In my perfect world. It would be mine. :)

summer loving

We have been loving the summer.

Flying by the seat of our pants

Doing all sorts of stuff

That is keeping us busy, busy, busy. {to busy to blog}

Making the summer fly by way to fast!

July 4th is creeping up.

In my mind that means summer is basically half over.{sniff sniff}

Who am I kidding {sob, sob}

We are going to try to squeeze in as much summer as we can.

And then maybe and some point I will try to catch up on documenting it all.

Hope you are all basking in your summertime goodness!

happy party

I will have to say she is pretty big.

But I'm pretty sure she thinks she is twice her age.

Strutting around like she is big stuff.

Asking about her "happy party" every day for well over a month.

I wouldn't have it any other way

because

The first words to leave those little lips each day are always "good morning".

followed quickly by "I hungy"

She usually smells like syrup half the day.

She calls me "Monkey Ka" when she means business.

She tickles my face when I'm tired.

Hugs and kisses are not hard to come by.

She can usually be found humming or eating.

She weighs almost 25 pounds.

Runs without watching where she is going.

Can not go high enough on a swing.

Always demanding a under dog.

and last but not least

When given the opportunity for a treat at the store she heads

straight back to the dairy and happily gets the biggest tub of cottage cheese

she can lay her hands on.

And then eats it in a day.

She makes me smile.

I love her gazillions.

Happy.Happy.Birthday.

Lucy.Brecken

I can't believe your 3.

happy weekend

A three day weekend.

One of my favorite things....ever.

We loaded up for another road trip.

I got slugged bugged about 100 times.

Don't ever teach the game slug bug to your kids.

You will not get them

99/100 times they will get you.

Even if they have to crawl over 2 seats to make it happen.

They can see them or smell them from 10 miles away.

I also had a dangerous encounter with a toe eating fish.

It bit me three times before I realized that's what was hurting my toe.

That crazy bass fish was b-lining toward me at supersonic speeds.

With it's mouth wide open. Pretty much similar to jaws.

I've never been bitten by a fish...and it was not a nibble...ahhhh!

It was so scary/funny. I don't know which one comes first.

I also lost my sunglasses on a hike up a raging river.

I liked those sunglasses they had perfect lenses that made my

skins winter whiteness turn to a beautiful bronze tan-ness. Just like magic.

I realize it was only an illusion but It was one I liked.

This trip felt like summer. It should be summer...right? Nope another illusion

My kids have to go back to school. (boo!)

And it's hard to get them in bed on time these days.

I give it a real good try, well sort of anyway.

So... even if I am missing part of my toe.

It was a perfect way to get a taste of summery goodness right around the corner.

Sunshine, water, redrocks, family, friends.

Amazing. Beautiful. Times.

I am grateful.

tuesday sunshine

{Hogle Zoo}

I need something to warm me up today.

It is May 24th and it is snowing.

My toes are cold

I have the sniffles.

And the fireplace is on.

It could be February, really it could.

Except for when the snow falls it falls on bright green grass.

And I am looking out the window this very second and I see sheep eating that bright green grass.

This reminds me that is really is almost summer.

The weather man says tomorrow-Friday in will be in the high 70's.

He has been wrong before...but not this time. (I hope.I hope. I hope.)

So I will not sulk. I will use today to get all caught up on the inside of my home.

Because tomorrow-Friday I will not be spending much time inside.

But outside laying in all that bright green grass.

baker birthday party

Ellie's Birthday Baker Party.

She was in heaven.

I asked her about going to college one day and she replied.

"I am not going to college when I grow up. I am going to Chef school and opening up a restaurant called the Sunshine Cafe"

So this party was the perfect fit!

Aprons
Cupcake decorating
lots of giggling
Cupcake walk
A Batter relay
happy birthday singing
a whole lot of presents from her thoughtful friends
ice cream cones.
boxes to take the cupcakes home
cookie cutters and sugar cookie mix
and 1 very happy 7 year old

It turned out so fun.
But I must say it was sort of a lot of work...phew!
I got some help on the aprons from a good friend or I probably would have thrown in the towel.
{Thaks Ali}

bowling

Little Lucy is the winner!
and she wants the whole wide world to know about it.

moab part three

Sandy Dune Arch: Arches National Park
This world is amazing.
So many beautiful things to see.
Far away...and lucky for me close to home.
If I ever hit the jackpot I really, really want to see them all.

Classic Quotes from our trip.

Canyon: When I saved his life by yelling like a crazy woman for him to stop running.
"Mom your being like a Mom".
What else could I be like?

Ellie: When she was told that the beautiful rock formations were formed by god, water, and wind.
"Wow!!.... I just can't believe how creative he is"
Nice observation Ellie. :)

Lucy: When she noticed the group of motorcycle guys were gone when we came out of the gas station.
"Mom.....where did all those pirates go?"
She was disappointed they were gone.
I think she wanted to sing her pirate song to them.

double digits

My little guy is 10 today. I can't believe it.

I get a little teared up just thinking about it....and him.

How when he came into the world he didn't make a peep.

Just looked around contently with huge wide open eyes.

It's funny how that description can still fit him today.

I was so in love with him......still am.

I love his tender heart.

His messy hair in the morning.

That he tells me who he has a crush on.

And will still give me a hug in public.

I love the brother he is.

His sense of humor.

and his dimple on his right cheek.

I love his sense of adventure.

love for the outdoors.

That he is a dreamer.

I love that when I really look at him....he looks back at me and smiles.

the same way he did 10 years ago when I saw that first smile.

Happy Birthday Canyon! I love you!

{Canyon, Spring 2010}

birthday flowers

Shane surprised Ellie with flowers for her birthday.

She was beaming from ear to ear.

Completely in heaven.

Just when she thought it couldn't get better

He made her a birthday card.

With her standing in her flowers.

She stares at it with a big smile on her face.

all.the.time.

I think he will have to buy her flowers every year

from here on out.

A new tradition.

She always tells me she has a secret.

Then I beg her to tell me what it is.

Even though I know what she is going to say.

Then she always whispers "I'm Dad's best girl...he told me so"

Every bit of her believes it.

There is no wonder why.

make a wish

I kissed and tucked in the 6 year old Ellie in bed the other night and told her not to grow. She did not listen to me. She went ahead and woke up a big 7 year old girl. She was filled with excitement down to her bones. She woke up earlier than she did on Christmas morning. 7:48 to be exact. This was the day. The day of her long awaited Baker Birthday Party (she wants to be a baker when she grows up ya know) and her surprise present she requested. I asked her what she would like for her birthday this year she told me "I want it to be a surprise but...I want it to be very special" Wow, talk about pressure....Geez! Thank goodness she was not let down. :) She told me it was the "Best Birthday Ever" I'm not quite sure how much weight I put in that phrase anymore. She says it just about every year. In fact she says it a lot about a lot of things. This is the best day ever, these are the prettiest shoes ever or Lucy is the prettiest girl ever. I sure will miss that little 6 year old but I am sure her big 7 year old self will be just as amazing.

Things to love:

She could not be a better big sister..Lucy is the luckiest gal to have her.

The way she notices all the little things in life. The small beautiful details others might overlook. Even if that means she notices and tells me how many days in a row I wear the same pair of earings. She makes up for it when she points out the smallest prettiest flower in the world on a hike that I would have never ever seen.

She gives about 100 compliments a day to others. This is perfect for my self esteem. :)

She gives the best hugs in all the world.

She is always saying the best, funniest things. She would be SO embarrassed if I told them all.

She loves surprises. She could wait a million years for a really good surprise.

She writes at least one really good love letter a day to someone.

She gives a mean massage.

Can be beyond silly.

She loves and lives BIG and it shows everyday.

I am still amazed she is mine. She is already better than I ever will be. I love you Miss Ellie.

moab part two: the delicate arch

The delicate arch

Beautiful but oh.....so windy.
I really thought we might find our selves blown and tossed to the bottom.
I was nervous at the top.
Canyon and the wind were making me nervous.
I saw Canyon sprinting along the edge of the gulley.
Without a care in the world.
With those mean gusty winds in full force.
I pretty sure I sounded like a crazy woman.
Yelling for him to stop.
He thought i was worrying to much.
I'm sure I saved his life.
It was a relief to be at the bottom of the gulley.
But then we had to go back up.
It was still windy and scary.

Our lives were spared
and we were headed back down.
We told Canyon to kiss one of the Cairns marking the trail.
Then he could tell everyone his first kiss was in Moab with Karen.
He wouldn't do it.
"No way" He said.
He settled on a picture with her instead.
I think he will regret it.
It would be a good story.

Ellie thought she was super strong for surviving the wind storm.
I thought she was too.
Lucy slept the whole way back to the car.
But she was awake to see this.
and get her first picture underneath
the grand delicate arch.
even though you can't see her.
She's there in the pack.
experiencing it all.

on the neglect of blinds

My poor blinds have been so neglected. Every time I was ready to do them some how something better came up. So today I grounded myself from doing anything fun until those blinds were dust free. Lucy wanted to help. I'm pretty sure it was just so she could spray the stuff. I was dreaming she would be better at it than she was. More from her....less for me. Nope. She mostly just followed me around nibbling on a cookie and singing me all of Ellie's first grade program songs out of her Crystal light stained lips. Only stopping to concentrate on spraying the dusting potion. The whole time I was grounded I kept thinking that I deserved something for all my hard work. :) And I kept thinking about the barstools I have been wanting FOREVER. They would be the best reward. The "real ones" cost as much as my house. But I found almost exact replicas for a fraction of the price. But they are ALWAYS, ALWAYS out of stock. When I was ungrounded I got on-line just for a peek....and they were in stock! So I pressed send and now I am waiting....happily waiting. Some things are just meant to be.

moab part one

The week before we took to the road was long.

It was hard. Emotionally and physically exhausting.

Just an overall sad week for each of us.

So the open road and days of fresh air to just be together was just what we needed.

If I learned anything from the week before.

It's that life is WAY to short to waste away not enjoying it.

And not just the the great big wonderful things.

But all the little things that are in between those great big wonderful things.

Sometimes those little details are the best of all.

The spice to life.

First adventure.

Family Bike ride.

Exploring Moab's trail system.

lets hit the road

We have been gone road trippin it for a few days.

I checked the weather 3 times a day before we left

trying to decide on our destination.

High on the list determining the location was SUNSHINE.

So it was off to the sunny, sandy desert.

It was beautiful in every way.

Except for the moments that it was windy.

That gusty wind almost blew our little family right off the side of the Delicate Arch.

I don't like wind. Not.at.all.

All the other lovely non-windy moments made up for it.

And now that we have been home for a couple days

and the stinky, sandy laundry that was piled up to my eye balls has somewhat diminished.

I can sit down and look at all our pictures

and soak it all in again.

I love a good road trip.

inside... looking out

Waiting for spring to come back.

wondering when.

hoping it's soon.

During this cold spell I swapped the pavement for the treadmill.

It was not nice very to me.

My tulips are trying hard to make their grand appearance.

I want to see it happen.

We have only got in ONE good spring ski day at the mountain.

That is not enough.

Canyon has to practice soccer outside.

I don't want him to freeze.

I bought big bags of popsicles.

I want to eat them.

And see my sidewalks decorated with chalk.

the list goes on.....and on.

Searching for Easter eggs in winter parkas

is when I say enough is enough.

Come back Spring.

Missing you.