Summer Happenings--Family Picinic

Just before Coree, Gavin, and family left for China we got together in Provo Canyon for a family picnic. The day was beautiful--sunny, not too warm, scenic location, good food, with friends and family present. Oma and Opa were still in Utah, so it made the gathering a little more complete. This one wasn't fancy or organized to death, but it was relaxing and enjoyable. Maybe we can plan another for next year!

Lars and Lauren--the stroller is not theirs!

Poppa and his Sy.

Gathered together.

I really miss having opportunities for the family to get together. We may not be perfect, but we are family and I am so very grateful for each and every member of it.

Summer Happenings--Oma and Opa

Oma and Opa hauled their trailer from Arkansas, parked it at Heidi and Josh's house, and spent several days here. Of course there had to be fishing days scheduled--so Opa, Mike, and Deegan loaded the float tubes and other fishing gear and headed up to Matt Warner. Deegan had his "own" float tube tethered to Mike's and the boys enjoyed a day of fishing. Opa and Mike went up another day as well. We had to take pictures of all the fish they brought home.

Sy took a liking to her Opa--it reminded me of how much Heidi was loved by her Opa.

Rural Schools Conference--on Motorcycles

In July, the Utah Rural Schools Association sponsors a conference for educators and administrators. The conference is held for four days in Cedar City concurrent with the SUU Shakespearean Festival. As a Literacy Specialist supporting nine school districts in Northeastern Utah, I am expected to present at the conference.

This year, Mike was able to accompany me to Cedar City. We decided to ride the motorcycles and make this our first multi-day trip. The difficult thing for me was planning my presentations and wardrobe to fit in a backpack and saddlebags. I am used to having a whole car to take "stuff" in, so was a little worried about the space limitations. It all worked out, and was so-o-o-o much fun. I think this trip turned me into a "biker fan." Now I can't get enough of it!!!

After day one of the conference, we rode the bikes up to Brianhead. Wouldn't you know it, part of the road had been chipped with gravel and not yet sealed. Novice bikers and gravel can be a scary combination.

Different day, different location, different land formations.

Kolob Canyon

It seems every time we turned a corner, my breath was taken away by the scenery.

Kolob Canyon

We stopped in Richfield at this little dairy/cafe. Oh my goodness! It is definitely a place to visit again.

I have always appreciated the beautiful world we live in. Seeing it on the back of a motorcycle adds another dimension of awe and wonder. I am so grateful to the Creator for the splendor of this home on Earth, and testify that this was not some random mistake, but a purposeful creation by God.

Random Summer Happenings

Summer has gone by way, way, way too fast! It seems that just a few days ago we were discussing the activities to engage in, and now the time is gone. Work called us back from summer vacation and now our schedules revolve around those obligations.

Much of our summer fun centered around grandkids and family--just the way it should. We are so blessed to have occupations that allow for "Summer Fun."

Random Summer Pics

Deegan and Poppa fixing shelves that Nonna overloaded!!

Root-beer popsicles! Yum!!

Sy put Cheerios between her toes and Taz would lick them until the Cheerios came out. Sy laughed and laughed and would sign for 'more.'

Kisses for Mikie's raccoon, "Crunch."

Deegan helping Poppa with a yearling colt.

Deegan helping out with Emily's yearling. A few minutes later, he was letting this horse experience a rider for the first time. Of course, Poppa is there to make sure everything is safe.

Playing with the hose has always been fun for Dee. As a little toddler, he would chase everyone with the hose, laughing hysterically when we got wet. Bullseye (the dog) chased the water and tried to bite it. Deegan was in heaven trying to play tag with the hose and Bullseye.

Dinos, Tramps, and Pianos

OK, it has been several weeks ago since we had all three grandkids at our house and what a joy it was! With Vi and Roux living in Phoenix we don't get to see them very often. When they do get to Roosevelt, it is party time!

Jumping on the trampoline seems to be a favorite--no matter how often the kids are at our house. Deegan pleads with me to come and jump with him--and he means "jump with him" not just watch! This time Poppa got to do the jumping with all three of the grandkids. Deegan is the expert, Roux the apprentice, and Sy the participating observer.

I love this picture of Deegan! This portrays how he does everything--with enthusiasm and energy!

Dog-pile on Poppa!! Tramp play got a little rough here, so Sy was sidelined for a few minutes.

Sy loves to play the piano and it is amazing to watch her. She doesn't sit and pound randomly at the keys. Instead Sy sits on the bench in perfect performance posture. Then she positions her hands and plays individual notes with each of her fingers. As she plays her face is so intense, as if she is really performing a piece of classical music. Maybe she will be the accomplished musician in the family!

Poppa and I took Deegan and Roux to the Dinosaur Museum in Vernal. No surprise that the little play room was the favorite spot for the boys. I don't think Poppa minded it too much either--nice and cool, comfy chairs, and his two little boys.

Can you find the boys?

The boys insisted this was Manny from Ice Age.

We had lots of fun at the museum. Both boys were running here and there calling out, "Look at this! Come and see this! Whoa! This is so cool!" Keeping up with those two uses up a ton of energy and is well worth it!

Barbie Dreams

As a young girl I loved to play with Barbie dolls. My secret dreams were acted out with Barbie play--the dreams of being a fashion designer, a model, an actress, a singer, a lawyer, doctor, scientist, architect, landscape artist, interior designer, and adventurer. Barbie could do it all, and in my dreams I could too. I wanted to have hair like Barbie, a face like Barbie, her figure, her clothes, her shoes, and her convertible Corvette.

A couple of weeks ago I was dressed up and ready to hit the town (OK, ready to go to church). I slipped on my black patent leather stiletto slides as i was heading out the door and had a flashback to the Barbie days. My Barbie had black stiletto slides just like the ones I slipped into! Wow! I had Barbie shoes!

Quickly my mind went to the shoe section of my closet, and I realized there were more Barbie shoes in my closet! Multiple pairs of those Barbie stilettos lined the shoe shelves in my closet. Black, brown, navy blue, green, purple, and Cheetah print!. Closed toes, peep toes, sandals, slides, and wedges! The shoes I wear because I love how they look--not because of comfort (although if I am not walking miles during the day, I can be comfortable in my Barbie shoes.) In an instant my shoes emerged into a symbol of childhood dreams coming true.

It is silly, but somehow this epiphany of Barbie dreams helped me look at other aspects of my life that are pieces of dreams that have come true. I have a knight in shining armor that rescued me and treats me like a princess. I have beautiful, smart, motivated, healthy, talented, and good children. My grandchildren are the best. I have a professional career. My needs, and many of my wants are met. I am healthy, active, and in a small way adventurous. I have designed clothes for myself and my children. As a teacher and mother, I am an actress--as I teach I have to keep attention focused on me and the instructional content, as a mother I sometimes had to pretend I was unafraid. I have sung to my children, even when they didn't want me to. Decorating a home (with our often very limited budget) would tax the greatest interior designers' abilities, and I have accomplished this. The list goes on--science projects and observations, doctoring the cuts, bruises, and broken hearts, designing and analyzing plans for our home, . . . .

So, maybe my childhood dreams didn't come to pass exactly the way I imagined. I definitely do not have the Barbie hair, face, figure, clothes, or Corvette. But I do have Barbie shoes, and so much more.