uintahs

We headed up to the Uintah's today. Is there anything better than outside fresh air? Especially for the ones that made the long drive with Phoebe in the car. We first stopped at the Upper Provo River Falls then headed up to hike into Clegg Lake. With the storm we had last week, I don't know how I could have been been surprised with the 5+ inches of snow at the trailhead... down to 45 degrees too. With the little kids, we passed on that and headed to Mirror Lake to explore and walk around. Days are counting down 'til Becky & Ethan go home, so we all took our picture with her, as we do each trip.

Have you ever had one of those places that you drive by for years and can't figure out? Well the Beaver Creek Nudist Ranch in Kamas is just one of those places for me. I think we have driven passed it for 35+ years and it makes me smile. We stopped by the sign for pictures and believe we will be better prepared next time we pass by in warmer weather [I think they have a gift shop]. Imagine that. We know we are far from being their ideal poster girls, but it is tempting :)
-Brenda

anita & mckell visit

Anita & McKell came down to see Becky and we had such a nice long visit. We counted them up... we have known Anita now for 40 years. Lunch at J-Dawgs in Provo. Ultimate Frisbee at Cascade Park. Pizza & hanging out together, a real good day.
-Brenda

McKell, Becky & Anita

Utimate Frisbee

lazer tag

Memories of the day:

Walking Conrad to preschool. Going shooting. Lazer Tag teams boys vs girls... yes they were victorious against our girl power, but it sure was fun. Yummy White Chicken Chili at Lindsey & Tyler's. Celebrity clencher: Rod Stewart and Russell Crowe

-Brenda

becky & ethan time

Memories of the day: Going for a walk [Becky] / bike ride [me to keep up with her] and talking to Greg Davis. Playing Speed Scrabble with Ethan. Working at Pebbles while Becky had lunch with my Mom and sister Bonnie. Making breakfast for dinner. When Becky comes, the kids gather. Conrad has eyes only for his Becky, Becky, Becky. Playing Mafia. Thinking about life and trying to accept some things the way they are, better on some days than others. Counting my blessings.
-Brenda

fall leaves

It's amazing how quickly we have said goodbye to summer and hello to fall. I love the cool fall weather and hope it stays for a long while before winter hits us. Today we went to church (we hold our breath because fast & testimony meeting can be a surprise with visitors), made panini sandwiches for lunch, had a nap and went for a drive to see the fall leaves, but the colors were not too spectacular and with all the cars driving through the alpine loop, it was impossible to pull over and take a good picture. We missed the best of the fall colors in the mountains this year. Larry showed great patience as I was a horrible co-pilot mumbling under my breath every time we passed a good place to take pictures... of course there was no place to pull over. We came home to a roast dinner with Becky's homemade biscuits and Ashlee's fresh peach jam.
-Brenda

Ashlee & Paul's porch

home sweet home

Today we spent the day at home together... chopping buckets of peppers for winter meals, spreading compost & dividing up flowers, baking a chocolate buttermilk cake and cream cheese / pumpkin muffins and making chili for dinner, rummikub (yes, Becky won which brings her a great deal of satisfaction) and Lucky Unders. I am grateful that we find our happiness in just being together... my favorite place to be. My nephew Ethan is a remarkable young man and we love having him with us. He has two brothers, so spending time with our five girls can always be eye opening for him. While Becky is here, the world feels like it has stopped for awhile.
-Brenda

becky & ethan are here NOW!

I have had October 10th circled for months... counting down in my head throughout the days, waiting for my sister Becky & Ethan to come. I went to Pebbles this morning with '2 more days' in my head, knowing I had the weekend to raise my homemaking bar at home. So, I was quite surprised when I got a phone call from Becky about 1pm.
It went like this:

Becky: Hi! I just wanted you to know we made it to Memphis and our plane is on time
Me: Huh? What are you doing in Memphis?
Becky: Why, Ethan & I are coming to see you
Me: But, aren't you coming on Monday?
Becky: You're kidding right?
Me: Of course (uneasy laugh)
Becky: You are such a tease. See you in a few hours!

Thrill & panic set in, followed by complete joy. Katie, Ashlee, Kelsie & Josh, Lindsey and Abby were all called with the happy & surprising news and I could see they thought I had lost my mind. I felt like I did. I still do. How could I have gotten the dates so wrong? Katie kept telling me to breath. Everyone quickly pitched in with grocery shopping, making beds, laundry, cleaning bathrooms & kitchen, sweeping floors and even picking up product for Pebbles. Everything that was out of place was thrown back into our bedroom (again) and we headed up to the airport to pick up Becky & Ethan. When we got home, we all had homemade chicken pot pie that Katie & Kelsie made. A crazy, happy day and I am still pinching myself that they are here.
-Brenda