Friday, September 25, 2009

a few more notes from summer (or the end of summer vacay...sad!)

So I'm starting this post with the last thing I did while I was in Utah. We had a family picnic in Payson Canyon at Black Hawk. I think this is one of my favorite places on earth. It is so so so so so so beautiful. I love it! We ate tinfoil dinners - a favorite of mine, made s'mores and roasted Starbursts.

Jess, Cora and Peyton. Peyton loves his girls!

My gorgeous sister-in-law and her adorable son Peyton.
I think this is one of my favorite pictures. Jess and Maren running with Cricket. The look on Jess's face makes me laugh. I think it says everything there is to say about Jessica!
My beautiful sister-in-law Carol and her cutie - Emmitt.
Maren - or Mar-Bear - running at full speed...so adorable!

My brother Travis and my mom...awe!!! Trav wouldn't be a good subject and refused to smile or look at the camera!

Some of the scenery. And one of the things that makes me homesick. Seriously!

My cute grandpa and grumpy brother...

A whole bunch of deer in a meadow together.

Me, Maren and Peyton roasting Starbursts and making s'mores. So YUMMY!

Peyton and Jess. Another favorite picture. It is so sweet how much he loves his cousins!

And now to wrap up my summer vacation series...

After getting back from Vegas/California, I was super excited to see my brother Josh, his wife Carol, and their four adorable children. I have to brag and say that I have the CUTEST nieces and nephews on the planet!!! We had fun hanging out. We went to the Ochre Mountain Temple open house. So nice! The chandeliers were my favorite part. Bernie and I went to a couple of movies together The Proposal - very funny, and Carol joined us for Julie and Julia - which was so good! I love movies. We also went to HP and the Half Blood Prince with Travis, my mom, Tyler and Peyton. I don't think Travis or Ty loved it. But I've seen it twice more since then. Obviously I'm a fan.

I also got to see several friends for "book club." I don't think we discuss books much when we get together, but it was so good to see people and to catch up. I'm the luckiest girl because I have such great friends. Dawn and I went to the temple one day and spent about five hours or so doing everything. It was fabulous. I have to brag and say that I think Dawn might be the strongest woman alive. She's been through so much this year, and yet her testimony and her love for the gospel have not waivered. She's my hero!!!

Carol and I agreed to do a half-marathon together, so we started our mornings jogging/walking. I have to give her props and say that she trained MUCH harder than me and kicked my trash! We had to get up so early on race day, and I must admit that because I am NOT a morning person, I was far less than enthusiastic. Then we got to the top of the mountain and it was FREEZING!!! Like 40-ish degrees. I'm not going to lie - Carol and I cuddled while sitting on a plastic garbage bag. It was miserably cold. But as the sun came up and we started the race, I was so glad I signed up. It was hard and I didn't have the best finishing time in the world, but I don't care. It was so stunningly beautiful up there. I don't know if I've every appreciated just how pretty Provo Canyon is. I wish I had taken my camera. Thanks for doing that with me Carol!!! I'm hoping to do it again next year if I can be in Utah at that time. And in the mean time, I'm looking doing a little research to find another half-marathon in this area.

So that about does it! Next time I hope to spend more time with my dad. He was working so hard that I didn't get to see him enough. I did spend one evening with him while he fed the animals. It's a regular Green Acres at the Fish's place! Horses, chickens, lambs...even cows (I think!). And a garden, thanks to Aunt Cindy, to boot!

I miss you guys!