halloween highlights

Returning Home

I get giddy the last 30 minutes of the flight to get a birds-eye view of God's creations from above and look for the Y on the mountain and Ashley's house.

In a few short days the entire family will gather again to celebrate Thanksgiving and Candy's wedding to Russ. Can't wait!

Irish twins!
The boys were still riding in Moab so we hit the mountains - off to Sundance to enjoy the colors with Bobby and Ash!




The tail end of MotoAdventure came round to the opening of elk hunt. Andy had a tag and switched gears into hunt mode in an effort to bring home a prize. As always on opening day, snow comes in with a vengence (more like slush), so it was not optimal weather but Todd and Bobby decided to go help drive the elk to Andy's scope.

They started with new waterproof boots and returned cold and soaked to the bone! Marketing scam on waterproof!

After a week of Moto, it was a treat to see Chris and the kids! There is nothing like hugs from little people or holding little hands!

Back up to the fresh snow topped mountains to run out some wiggles and enjoy the colors.
EXACTLY how I feel about being in the mountains ... This is joy!

Park break with Ash and Bobby - look how long her hair is!

A special treat for all of us to catch Grandma Gloria in town visiting her friend. We learned some things about her when Ash needed an interview for a class assignment on how dating has changed through the years.

Grandma was a little flirt and shared some fun stories with the sailors in San Francisco proving dating habits sure are different!

The guilt of blog vacation is haunting me so will make an attempt to play catch up to journal the days in our lives. Be patient ... it's coming but this is VERY time consuming! xoxoxoxoxoxo

MotoAdventure 08

This year proved to be another Adventure and a year of firsts!
First time for the boys to suffer some unusual breakdowns testing their McGyver skills ... first time I've had to call Search and Rescue ... first time for Justin (oh, and first time for me, but I'm not really a part of the team ... yet!)

The anticipation and getting ready for MotoAdventure is as fun as the journey! My bike hasn't made it to the line up yet, but happy the boys voted it a spot on the trailer!
(Notice my pink pants added to the mix and ALL the gloves!)


The boys shared a harrowing experience that left them white knuckled and happy to return to tell the story. I've never seen them so humbled and know even tho we won't know the whole story, they will forever share a band of brotherhood.
Smiles of gratitude for happy endings!






Reflections - loved this early morning glimpse into eternal bliss! American Fork Canyon
We were on our way to Sqaw Peak from Springville and this hill beckoned to Todd and Justin. They are at the tippy top of this tiny trail that is much steeper on the downhill side than it looks. The mom in me was waving them to NOT go because there was no clear turn around, but the spirit of adventure and exploration prevails!


A perfect day ends with a face trophy full of dirt! (The rewards of being the slowest rider!)


Thanks boys for sharing a few riding days with me (albeit wimpy ones for you!) xo

take that economy.*

even though I have been spending my weekdays in an office for the last three years**, tomorrow marks my first day to bring my lunch.  

the recent fall days have found me running out for soup everyday, only to be disappointed that it lacks the homemade taste while carrying an absurdly high price tag. 

so, here I am, controlling my own destiny.  tomorrow morning, I will grab my single serving of my homemade soup, and take my place on the metro with the other brown-bag grown-ups.

what a milestone. *** 

*while this initiative was not driven by fiscal responsibility (very very few are), I am excited to reap the benefit.  expect new shoes. 

**I rounded up by 4 months--felt the need to clarify, because the calculation depressed me. 

***I don't anticipate this lasting long, but milestone nonetheless.

Happy Birthday, Zobie!

As of 1:20 pm today, Ashley is officially 22 years old! That was such a fun day, 22 years ago, to share with all the kiddos and welcome in our new Zobie! Seems like yesterday ... but when counting, it adds to many days of joy and treasured memories! Thanks for always being the peacemaker and showing us what it's like to live in a cartoon! Happy Birthday Zobie! Tight hugs! xo


Thanks Heather for breaking the dry spell! I have much blogging to catch up on but seems it's always on tomorrow's list! Soon tomorrow will come!

I voted.

I voted, and I bought new shoes to wait in line with--because that is what democracy means to me.

The rain on my way home sprinkled on my new suede shoes.  It literally rained on my parade. (election day foreshadowing?)

My short cameo in Zion.

I loved spending time with Ashley and Bobby - enjoyed all of the eating, laughing, shopping, baking, movie-ing, pedicuring (yes, Bobby too) and painting.

Happy Birthday Ash!

What cute babies.

I found this picture today when uploading my camera (and polarioided it).  I just love these kids.  Cant wait for more to come! 

Viva el Peru

Okay mom, you win.  It seems nothing will be posted till we get this Peru bit out of the way!   

Rather than recount the stories you have all heard (multiple times?), here are a few things I learned in Peru...

Incans were tough.  

Terraces on the side of a mountain look very hard to build, but th

ey are everywhere!  It was fascinating to learn how calculated and precise In can building techniques were.  I cannot even cut a straight line...

Andy is tough.

Being in Peru - meeting the people, walking the streets, seeing the sights, and dining where guinea pig is offered - made me appreciate Andy’s missionary experience, and feel swelling pride that he is my brother.  (Incidentally, the same can be said about my time in Italy for Todd.)  I loved Peru instantly because I know how much Andy loves it (and because there were llamas).

I am tough.  (Stop laughing, I am tough.)  

And, I am a good sport.  We did rather hard hikes (sometimes without water) and saw really huge bugs.  On a hike to Lake Sandoval, my nose started bleeding a few kilometers in - it was awful.  But my complaints and meltdowns were minimal, so it all feels like a victory.  (I know this is my opinion, no need to solicit validation from anyone present at the time.)

Everyone has a vice.  

And mine is diet coke, or when international, coca light.  Prior to Peru, I spent a few months soda-free, but getting back on the wagon was like reuniting with an old friend.

I have good friends.

...even if they always lose at hearts.

(Blogger is not my friend.  It will not put any of my pictures where I want them, or upload the ones that I want.  and what is the deal with the fonts?  ugh.)