I'm the Lucky One

I don't know when the appreciation embedded it'self into my mind, but it's scenes like these that I really get excited about. Both of them were taken not 20 ft from my front door.

This one is NOT altered in ANY way. It was straight out of the camera or point and shoot. The colors are SO rich!

I just want to go swim in it.

The day trip the kids just couldn't thank us enough for.

You reach a point in your routine that a getaway trip becomes vital. And this particular day. It didn't matter, it HAD to happen. We spent the morning cleaning. And when dad got home from school. We were outta here! I kept tell them we were going to go to the mountains, but they assumed just up the road. But I've had my sight on a particular area for awhile now and I didn't care that it took an hour to get there.

 Nobody challenged my decision. So when we got to Daniel's Summit, it wasn't what I was hoping for because the peak fall colors had already come and gone and the trees were mostly bare, but the day was nice, sunny, and peaceful.

 I asked a lady at the gift shop for a nice trail and she pointed out a direction we could go. So we went the opposite direction. (She pointed us DOWN the mountain into a ravine-ish area and there was snow. I needed to keep in the sun as much as possible.

We happend upon these beautiful horses and chilled with them. My love for horses is kind of in my blood, so I didn't care if we were trespassing like Jared thought. They are actually pack horses that common folk, like ourselves, can 'rent' to ride up a trail for the day or so. And they're weren't any trespassing signs that we could see.

 AND...if we were, nobody met us with the tip of thier shotgun, so we were good. I just love the coloring on this black and white one.

 Our "hike" consisted of meandering along a well traveled dirt road and posing in the aspens. I was needing to flex my cameras muscles that hadn't been used in a while.

 The camera kept coming back to Kael, and she nicely abliged when she noticed Jared pointing it in her general direction. Sometimes one of my little stinks made an appearance. But only to be a stink.

 I have no idea what he was trying to do, but he really thought he was being sneaky. Even though Jared was plotting the whole thing off to the side.

 Nothing like riding a wooden fence. Brings back memories of Idaho.

 Always running AWAY from me!

 Nice pose Kael. In the background is Strawberry resevoir. A lake I have grown to love from the MANY trips to Vernal and back.

 He found a full bundle of sticks that he requested I pack back to the car so we could bring them home. Which I did. Because it's Eli. And that is all.

 Trying to be artsy fartsy and take black and whites of old dead twisted trees. I was having to lay on this log to get the shot of one such trees.

 growth among the dead

 We love Uncle Coley. A Lot! And every chance we get, to show that love. Jaden pins it right on the head.

 Batting snow

 Couldn't let his big brother have one up on him. So he batted as well.

 Old dead twisty wood.

 Beautifully creepy.

 There were about 3 old tractors parked spuradically around the mountain we were on. Made for great shots.

 Weird when your baby isn't a baby anymore.

 A late lunch at the logde. YUMMY And the log decor....loved it!

 On the way home I saw the coloring of the brush and thought it looked like a rainbow. Can you see it?

Jaden, on the way home, said, "I know I keep saying this, but I just have to say thanks again. For taking us."

Perfect end to a perfect day. This is Deer creek. And that snow capped moutain is Timpanoogas. Love that I wake up to that. E.V.E.R.Y.D.A.Y!

I get my camera back any day and I now feel like I can blog again. I've been busy and wanted to share but it's just boring without pictures.
A few things to look forward to:
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...............................Uhhhhhhh.............................

Ok, well. I guess I haven't been as busy as I thought. Guess I better go find something to do. :o)
Happy Halloween BTW!

Blessed

I was doing some reflecting the other day in the shower. (Hey it's a uninterupted place). Or you could say that it was one of those moments that I realized how lucky I've been in my life with the influences that I had surrounded myself with. I have come to find that I have unknowingly collected one ore two older/wiser-than-me women that have mentored me throughout my life and even continue to do so, in the many different places I've lived, during the awkward, confusing, depressing, ignorant times of my life. And I can say that each and everyone has helped me to better understand this life experience I continue to go through.

So here's the time line.
The earliest I can remember is Elementary. Probably 4th grade. And her name was Nan (pronounced Nayne). That wasn't her real name, but that's what her grandkids called her. So I did to. I would walk home and stop at her house to eat grilled cheese sandwiches, drink red punch out of honey bears and eat sugar cubes, then go home. This one I've held onto even to this day and visit her in the care center every opportunity I have.

5th grade. Margaret. She lived across the street from us. Had 2 super cute kids. Chase and Taylor (baby girl). And I would just spend as much time as I could there. A great family that still occupies my thoughts every once in a while.

6th to 7th grade. Back in SLC and back to Nan. did the same thing as before.

After that we moved up to Idaho I "collected" Tiffany. A young women's leader. So beautiful. Kind heart. I wanted to be like her. Thanks to facebook, I've found her again. *During high school I brought her back to help me with the silly "Junior Miss Pagent". She was my backstage mom and was the first person I met backstage after the let down of not winning. Not a big deal anymore, but young teenage me...devistating.

The second move in Idaho has two different people. Nikki (high school teacher), and Debbie (best friends mom). Nikki accepted all of the high school drama I filled her in on. Debbie wrote the notes to excuse our sluffs. My second mom.

Once I left home, Concetta took my hand and guided me during my Ct. years. Advising me of what to say to the guys I was now dating so I didn't sound like some immature, emotional, desparate girl. I'm glad I listened to her. She really took me under her wing, and I didn't fight it. There were others in this section, but Concetta was the main one.

Once I came "home" I didn't really attach to anyone. But after getting married and moving again, Shiloh was added to the list. Then Taya. My sounding board for the stresses of newlywed life.

Which brings me to where I am now. The "active" one. I'm not going to name her, because she already knows who she is (I think) and I'd rather keep it that way. Maybe if I move, I'll divulge. But until then, just know that I've got one now and am relishing in all that she does for me. As little as she may think it is.

I still have contact with all but two and I have been searching and will continue to do so until I find them. They're that important to me.

Thank You Fine Women of my life.

Virginia

These are a few highlights from my trip! I had a wonderful time and miss them already. I spent a majority of my time using my imagination with Genevieve (my niece) and holding this super sweet baby.

We're sitting here waiting for Mommy, Daddy, and Emory to come home from the hospital!

Helping her baby walk.

When they finally arrived, her reaction was hilliarious.

Hurry. Hide!

Then she remembered what they had!

"Where's my baby brother?"

She's a great sister! When he cried, she would say, "It's ok. It's ok. It's ok...." And the harder he cried, the faster she said it and the higher the pitch she used.

This was an old tank top of Mykael's. I loved it so much I hated giving it to the D.I. So I made a dress for Genevieve out of it. She loved it! This isn't a very good picture, but she was dancing around so much in it, it was hard to get a good shot.

He is such a peaceful baby. Wish I was cuddling him right now!

Playtime outside with Evie. Fortunately the humidity was really low and we had a few days of fun outdoors.

Saying goodnight and goodbye before my early flight!

*kiss them for me, will ya?

Life's Little Gifts...

.....and I got three today!!!

It's COLD outside...

I wasn't the only one braving the cold this morning. I love this picture.