Change is Coming.....

Wow.  My last post was in December.  I'm still failing at this blog.  Let's get started.

Easter was nice this year.  Holidays are much harder without Grandpa Mack around.  I feel like he was the head of our family.  Even in his weakest moments, he could get his family together.  That doesn't happen so often anymore.  The week before Easter, we all met at Andrew and Melissa's house for dinner and an egg hunt.  It was great.  Bubbs wasn't sure what was going on but he figured it out quick. He's usually happy when he gets to be around his cousins.  The egg hunt was a bonus.  Things got kind of scary watching his reaction to the soccer game that was going.  At one point he had Drew by the shirt, trying to drag him to the ground because he wanted the ball.  Oh I wish I had a picture.  My temper and Tom's athletic skills! Scary!

On Easter Sunday, the boys helped me clean up the house and cook dinner. We had a pork tenderloin roast, red potatoes, baby carrots, fresh beans, and other stuff.  It was really nice sitting down with "my family".  Even Bubbs enjoys it when the boys are here and we all sit around the table and eat dinner.  I need to make this a priority.  Less going out to eat, drive-throughs, etc. 

Easter Egg Hunt.  It was cold and starting to rain.

"wont smile for mom and her camera"

Bubbs 3, Andrew 15, Finn 12. Love my boys. 

Finn is amazing.  He let's me practice posing him. He photographs so well.

Thomas telling Finn to move his head up and pose! 

Priceless. Andrew

Lauren and Ann Marie at Tri Delt initiation brunch. 

 Of course we missed our lovely La La.  She was in San Diego with Greg and Maggie.  I'm glad she had a nice weekend to relax before her finals coming up soon.  And I'm so excited that she will be home soon! May 18th.  It's so crazy.  I remember being in Dallas with her last August. Scrambling with all of the other freshman parents to get her moved in to the dorm.  With a multitude of trips to "The Container Store", "Target", "Anthropologie", and more.  It was so warm! It's so cold today! Her first year of college is almost over.  She's amazing and I am a lucky tri-delt mustang MAMA:)

I taught my first yoga class monday at the Liberty Senior Center.  Only two sweet ladies, but it was fun. 

the cake Christina designed.  so yummy.

Natalie, Em and Christina at a Meet Stella & Dot event at rEvolution studio. SLC

Christina and I at her first Stella & Dot trunk show!

 I'm still working on Stella & Dot, mostly with Christina.  It's a great company.  I love the jewelry.  I hope it continues to go in a positive direction. 

 Tom is probably going to be working in Las Vegas for awhile. We aren't sure about the details yet.  He's been trying so hard to make things work with his current company but it's not happening.  So, He most likely will be living down there.  For now, Bubbs and I will stay and hopefully we will get a plan with visits and stuff.  Once the kids are out of school and Lauren is home, we will have plenty of fun things to do.  And I'm sure hanging out in Vegas or nearby on Lake Mead will be a part of that fun.  

In addition to continuing my yoga training, i'm trying to run on a regular basis.  Old age brings silly injuries which make it harder, but it's so rewarding.  I am waiting to see if I got a spot in the Nike All Womens 1/2 marathon in October.  It will be nice to have a great race to train for.  If all goes well, I'd like to run some 1/2 marathons this summer also.  Please TOEs. HEal quickly and quit breaking!

And we had a small scare on St Patrick's Day.  Bubbs got super sick.  He had a bad viral infection, possibly influenza.  We had to take him to Primary for Iv fluids and a chest x-ray.  HE was a trooper:)

Bubbs with his IV

As difficult as life can be, I always try to focus on my beautiful children.  I am so blessed with each of them.  I pray for health and happiness for all of us daily. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

It's that time of year again.  Christmas.  The season of joy, love, peace, happiness, stress, expectations and sadness.  This season is a sad time of year for me.  It's a time to think about all of those that have left this world too early.....my young and old Angels.  Tonight, after taking the kids to the zoo to see the lights, I told them what I was most grateful for.  Being alive and healthy!  To be their mom.
The person I miss the most right now is my Papa.  Christmas will never be the same without him here.

                                                  I lit this lantern tonight for all of my Angels........

Lauren 18

Andrew 15

Finn 11

Bubbs

Dreaming

Hicks/Kelly/Probst

Happy Holidays.  Cheers..........

A River Runs Through IT................

LEDORE CANYON 2010

Tom approached me with an idea two weeks ago. It went something like this...."hey baby, I have a surprise for our Anniversery! Want to go on a river trip with Brett?" ha ha ha......i had to bite my tongue.  First of all, our anniversery is next month, second.....a trip with his buddy Brett? Really, why not Hawaii, Paris, anything alone, tropical, romantic.......
Ok. I took the bait and gave in.  After all, when does Tom ever take off that much time from work?
So we found a babysitter, got our gear together, and off we were....... Headed straight for Lodore Canyon....The Green River.....Party!

We were told to be at the home of our river guide at 3:30 on Friday afternoon.... and we were there.  Unfortunately, no one else was.  Tom grew up in Long Island, NY, and isn't quite accustomed to the MST....mormon standard time..... So, let's just say we were out of there by 6:30.  Only 3 hrs late!
It was about a 6 hr drive in a 16 passenger van.  Oh joy! We got to our camp around 2:30 am.  Exhausted, we set up our tent, snuggled together, Tom passed out!
The morning came early......and it took awhile to get the gear together. Thank goodness for the river guides.  It's so much work.......

Getting the boats and stuff ready to go!

The first day on the river was great! Such a beautiful place to see.....

Tom and Bret

having Lunch in the Rain........

the water bottle.....

                              

Our tent and stuff...at Triplet

camping at Triplet......just around the corner

Triplet is one of the main rapids on this stretch.  The picture is so deceiving because it's hiding right around the corner.  It was an amazing camping spot.  Listening to the sound of the river all night long was heaven!

After going through triplet, the next rapid is called "Hell's Half Mile" home to the famous Lucifer's Rock!

Lucifer's Rock

The trip was approximately 4 days long.  The group we went with were all great.  Most of the work was done by the guides, which made things nice.  We mastered the art of packing up our camp in 3 dry bags.

Tom packing up our Dry bags....

These bags are amazing.  They keep all of your gear dry! Not exactly Louis Vuitton, but still....very functional.

Tom's snake

Tom was like a kid in a candy store....chasing snakes the whole trip!

View from hike up to see the water fall

Tom and Em by the water fall

Path to Jones Hole

steps

a Babbling Brook

Tom's lil' buddy

One of my favorite pictures of the trip! Such amazing color, scenery, clouds.......

Tom getting it full force 

End of this beautiful hike......love this shot of me....thank you TOm

chillaxing

Heart

The genus Tamarix (tamarisk, salt cedar) comprises about 50-60 species of flowering plants in the familyTamaricaceae, native to drier areas of Eurasia and Africa

Snake Hunting

Best dessert! Strawberry short cake.....

Group shot @Whispering Cave

Tom and Em

"Crow" my 2nd attempt.  Crashed the 1st time:)

Final View from the river......

Tom and I are ready to hit the river again......Any day we say! It's was a great trip and we hope to one day have our own Raft and take our kids through these glorious canyons and see that amazing part of the world that is still untouched by man................


Thank you Doug......our fearless leader.  It is his passion and love for this place that made this trip possible.

Doug Smith

Final Notes:

"Day 4....... This group of people have grown on me. Everyone has their own story..... Part of me wishes it was a longer trip so I could spend more time in this amazing place.  This river, the canyons, the wildlife....treasures hidden and protected from most of our world.  I feel so blessed be in this place, nature at it's most beautiful state..... A state of Glory....

The river is trickling as the stars begin to fill the darkening sky.  The First star, the west star (Venus?) fills the darkening sky. Just took a quick dip in the water to cleanse the body......only to realize the sage found in the desert near this river rubbed against my skin helps cleanse my soul and renew my spirit.  Water babbling through the creeks are creating an oasis to provide homes to those creatures that live in this perfect place.  The bat flies by in the night, insects gather towards the light of my tent, only separated by a simple screen.  They long for a small part of who we are.... a simple drop of my blood that is a blueprint of  my mortal body. We are just insignificant creatures against these towering rock formations that have been here for years unknown.  If the mosquito bites me and takes that drop of my blood and shares itself with this magical place, will it share my spirit, my soul? Will I become more than a footprint on this sandy beach?

What treasure can I leave the Raven soaring through Lodore Canyon.......I can share the beautiful images I have captured and leave this land untouched.... Undisturbed.......And I will hope and dream that I will return to this beautiful river and it's surrounding land.  I want to share this place with my children.  I want to know this magnificent river and it's surrounding beauty..... "

EH 7/12/2010

angel wings

will I return......