It's been a warm September

Maybe it's been a little too warm down in valley.
But up here in the mountains.
Not one complaint from me.
It's been near perfection.
Perfect weather for enjoying those beautiful colors.
Quite possibly the prettiest time of the year.
The kids most favorite part is gathering up their favorites to take home and savor.
{mine too...I love a perfect leaf bookmark. }
happy. happy.

Ragnar Wasatch Back {2010}

I know my blog is all over the place. There is absolutely no rhyme or reason. This is because of my horrible blogging this summer. But there are a few events that I wanted to catch up on. So every so often a random summer post will be made. :)

I ran the Ragnar Wasatch Back this summer.
I had the best time!
And the best team!
I love them all!
I also had a 7 mile run up a mountain pass that I was scared to death of.
It was a long, hot, dusty run..but it wasn't as but as i thought it would be.
I was ready for it! in a fast...ish sort of way. :)
When that was done I thought I got the hardest part out of the way.
Come to find out a 5 mile run
on 4 hours of sleep in a 48 period with a wounded knee is hard to.
And that is when I found out that...
if you eat a whole bar of shot blocks and a gu energy and a few Ibuprofen
that you can go from extreme exhaustion to all hopped up and ready to go in no time flat.
Also, I forgot how funny things are when delusion sets in from lack of sleep.
Way funnier than they should be. :)
When all is said and done running that many miles for 2 days with no sleep should not be fun.
But it was.
And were doing it again.
I thought I was going to be dead to the world the next day.
But I did not crash until 2 days later.
I guess I was still feeling the after affects of those shot blocks. :)
Can't wait until next year!

{Starting line in Logan}

{our ride}

{our whole team at the finish..minus one }

{Zions} feeling good.

Every once in a while
we get the chance to go to Zions without kids in tow and explore
some areas that we have never seen.
It's good to have a camping trip every now and again
that you can sit around a campfire for hours without worrying if someone is going to fall in.
Or having to dig dirt and rocks out of a small nose.
It's nice to go on a hike without packing a small child on your back and food for 5.
{Wait.... I still think we accidently packed food for 5.}
To be able to choose a hike that is a little more adventurous.
One that requires some ropes and some swimming through freezing cold waterfalls
just because it is just you and him....and you can.
It was beautiful and wonderful.
I love going and seeing new things and places. I. crave. it.
Sometimes you just need to do the things you did when you were 20.
And feel like you are 20.
It's good for the soul.
But in the back of that fake 20 year old mind of mine all weekend was the image of
3 little faces that make me happy to be exactly the age I am.
We will go back this year before it gets to cold with those 3 faces.
Because being there made me want to go back with them.
Zions is good for every soul young and old.
And the Fall season in Zions is out of this world pretty.

{the ladies...minus 2}

{me. birch canyon. 2010}

{To: Lucy} {From: Ellie}

Ellie gave this to Lucy for her birthday this summer.
It's good to know that even if they squabble over ownership of lip smackers
and what song they want to hear in the car
that Ellie's love for her little sis still runs deep.
Maybe that's why she usually always gives in, and Lucy claims victory.
Little Lucy sure is a lucky gal to have Ellie in her corner.
With letters like this from a beautiful older sister
Lucy will never be lacking in the self-esteem department. :)

I turned five in a hot tub

The first part of this story begins in the summer a few weeks ago.
Place- swimming pool with a hot tub
Time- 3:20 pm
Rule- You have to be 5 to get in the hot tub.

Shane: " Lucy I guess your 5 now" {kind of jokingly kind of not}
She did not pass for 5.......surprised?
And she was not very happy about it.

Fast Forward 2 weeks ahead to the first day of school.

Lucy: I wanna go to school.
Me: You can't your not quite big enough to go to school with the kids
Lucy: I am BIG seeeeee. { as she looks down at her tiny frame inspecting herself}
Me: I know you are getting big but you have to be 5
Lucy: I am 5
Me: No your not your 3.
Lucy: NO uh ah. uh ah.
Me: So when did you turn 5.
Lucy: In the HOT TUB. {it took me a while to figure out where this crazy idea was coming from}
Me: Well I guess your 3 again.
Lucy: I don't like 3.

But she is stuck being 3.
And it is just me and her for while.
Running the house.
It's a good thing.

sunday bike ride

Ahhhhh Summer nights.
Bike rides until dark....sometimes after.
I don't think I could ever get enough.

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}