Colorado Cabin

When we first get to the cabin we have to go into town and get food. This usually involves a trip to the local grocery store and some visiting Sanford and Manasa. We visited the Sanford cemetery this time. Celia insisted on getting out and placing flowers on each of the headstones. Good thing there was morning glory growing everywhere waiting to be picked. I'm not a fan of cemeteries, but it is nice Celia is so concerned with her ancestors and hearing the stories of who is who. We visited Platoro reservoir .It was very low this year and almost a turquoise color.  It was a bit too rainy for a picnic when we were there. We didn't mind. I was able to snap a shot of a few wildlife as the clouds cleared. We were able to get picture and nice little nature walks in. We had to drive through a washed out area of road and 4 x4 over a tree in the road from the storm. It was a fun adventure. Eventually someone from the county told us to turn around and we did. Not until we had seen two waterfalls and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. I loved the clouds there and throughout all of Colorado and New Mexico.

Emmy and Bri made to the meadow this year and were pleased to get home just in time for the rain to start pouring down. I was worried when I saw the lightning and heard the thunder, but all turned out just great.  Each day Spencer and Brian would walk down to the river. After a while we'd take a family ride to see the beautiful area. We visited the Rio Grande Gorge. They had vendors there and it seemed commercialized, but we still got a kick out of the view. We walked around Taos and ate at the Lot a Burger for the green chiles on the burgers of course. I was happy to stop off and get some beautiful earrings at a souvenir shop on the way out of town. We passed thru San Luis and after much searching found a restaurant to make us some sopapillas.:) Brian is so great to indulge me in looking for such treats. I think the lady was surprised when I ordered ten of them, but sure enough they were gone the next day. Spencer liked them a lot too.

We are long overdue for a family picture. I decided the BBQ in the backyard of the cabin could hold my camera while I set the timer and jumped in the picture. We only got two shots, but hey A family photo! We are perfect and are quite the characters so our photo should be too, I think. I'm just happy for anything we can get. We are a happy family so that is what counts!

Getting There

I forgot how nice it is to have a mountain rain in the summer. The air is so crisp and the site so beautiful as the rain subside. the drops dry up, and turn all the grasses green.  I'm glad we brought sweatshirts, because it was a cool temp and we loved being cozy in the quiet reaches of Colorado for over a week. Happily, the car ride went very well. Spencer was great! All that practice with the tutors driving and getting used to people in the car really paid off. Black Canyon, Gunnison and Blue Mesa Reservoir were as pretty as I remember. We saw many a family Dollar on our trip. Brian loves to spoil  us so we'd stop quite frequently and get treats, toys, and activities to makes the troops so happy. I loved the hand held back massager. I could get Joseph to use it on my back when the car rides seemed a little long and I needed to relax. The sunset was nice when we arrived by Mogote Peaks. We were troopers and so were so happy to make it to the San Luis Valley.

Starting our Journey

I was a little apprehensive about how well it was going to go traveling to the cabin with our family. Close spaces and long hours seemed daunting. Just like with all things a piece by piece, a little at a time we were able to make it and have a great, successful trip to the cabin and many more places. Our first stop was Payson Utah. We were going to see the cousins, uncle Lance , and Aunt Dawn. I couldn't believe how much Utah had changed. Mainly the roads. It seemed everything had had some sort of construction recently and was revamped. There were more stores, bigger highways, and our old town of Draper seemed unrecognizable. BYU campus seemed in renovation mode as well. I did enjoy reminiscing with Emmy and Spence driving to Bridal Veil falls, around Orem, and stopping off at scone cutter. We went by our first home and visited with the Sanovich's. It was great to see them. Oh My, time has flown by and how our kids have grown up! Nicole gave Spence and Emmy "creamies" and she made me tear up as she told me to come back an d visit for longer again and how Spencer has a special place in her heart. This vacation really was in part of having Spencer be part of the group. He usually stays when we venture out. he was happy and adjusted well to the many different beds, showers, and states!

Dawn gave me the tour of Payson. The temple is coming along beautifully. I loved the cream color and nice location near the mountains. We hit Taco Bell a lot since that is Spencer's new favorite place to eat and he requests it with his IPAD. Brian and lance had a lot of brother  time playing board games galore. All that strategy and planning required for gaming with these guys is good for the brain, but I enjoyed playing one game.~ I liked watching Mason and Joseph fly swat like it was a basketball competition reaching higher and higher. Celia and Taylor played in the sand box in the back yard almost all day and had the "best bubble bath" ever afterwards. I appreciated the hospitality that was shown to us. I need a cute heart shaped light that shines towards the window and a air freshener that sprays as you walk into the room, so the room is always lightly scented with a yummy sweet candle like aroma.

My Birthday

I had a lovely birthday. Emmy, Joseph, Celia, and I went on an adventure in the mountains in the morning. We filled up Emmy's gas tank and head up I 80. Originally, I wanted to go and find a waterfall, but I was up for anything else we came upon. We passed through Nevada City and cruised down highway 20. It is a scenic route and so beautiful. I loved that I was exploring a highway I had never been on. We turned off as a look out and enjoyed the view.  One great highlight was Celia saying "Who's in?" and holding out her arm with hand flat. We would pile our hands on and Joseph would yell, "Go Team!"

Spending time with these kids today made me really happy. We went where I thought they would be happiest and I was so entertained by it. Who knew sizzler steak for all the kids??) with a view of the mountains would be so exciting?! We found a cute farmers market on the hill too and got some freshly picked peaches. Once back in town we hit the mall and fond some clothes for Emmy and Joseph for school. To Celebrate with Bri and Spencer for my birthday, we went to Mountain Mikes. Spencer did awesome. He has been so calm lately. I hope he stays that way all through our Utah and Colorado adventures. My Dad, Rah Rah, Dawn, and Apryll called me to wish me a happy day. Apryll is so sweet to remember me each year on the day. I haven't seen her in sixteen years. Bri of course spoiled me with my favorite things and I appreciate him so much and how he leads our family and makes sure they treat me well. I'm pretty pleased.

Imagination

Celia and I took Spencer to school today. They watched the Lorax on the way and Celia expressed her desire to go to a park with a  lot of trees. I took her to one nearby where we were, but she described another park we had to been to before which turned out to be Royer park. I was trying out shooting in manuel setting on my camera and she was using her imagination like normal and we played around, just her and I. We gathered many sticks, went back to the sand at the playground and make a castle. It had a big tree on the side of course, since she is into trees, and some quicksand for the bad guys.  We got a dollar Slurpee and Burger king and went to the fountains to play on the splash pad there. I gave her a penny and she wished for a pony and dropped it in the fountain and turned to me and said. "Where's my pony?" I tried to tell her you don't always get what you wish for, but we can work on it and she refused to believe that and was coming up with ways to get her pony.  I'm so grateful to have her. There is never a dull moment with a precious character like her around.

   

Lake and Fair Day

No cavities, I am happy to report. Celia and Joseph had their teeth cleaned today. We go to Dr. Seaman. He is a great dentist and he was able to clean Celia's teeth today when she was being stubborn. We have been going to him for 9 years now. It is amazing how they get their teeth clean every six months and keep healthy. It had been such a challenge in the past. Joseph has to have a little bone taken out next time that is poking out of the wrong place, but we will get that taken care of and keep him on track with a healthy mouth.

Since we were Auburn and were invited to Lake of the Pines, we stopped by for a great relaxing time. We enjoyed the sand. I talked with Robin Gibson and Celia put sand on my feet and calves like a pedicure.  Celia and Joe made a sand castle and played well together. We had In n Out for lunch since that is our tradition. We loved he grilled cheese sandwiches and we will order that again. 

Alta Regional offered us some tickets to the California State Fair. It was really great, not too crowded. Celia and I had a blast. We loved the grand carousel, the exhibits, and the Ferris wheel. I can't believe she got me on there. I'm not a fan of the heights and the chair shaking as people get on and off. Luckily, it was pretty empty today and we had the ride to ourselves until near the end,  Celia used darts to pop balloons on a game and earned a super soft plush elephant. It felt like we were at Knott's berry farm or something. We got free strawberry Greek yogurt, played lifesized chess, operation, made butter by shaking milk very fast, and heard live music. It was nice having some quality mommy daughter time that I'm sure we will be remembering for years to come.

Happenings this Summer

Every summer is eventful for Emmy for as long as I can remember. This year is no different. We just got her back from EFY Orem just to turn around and send her on The Trek for our stake which will be followed up by Girl's camp from fro the Antelope Stake. The other kids and I have been having fun too. Celia has been taking one on one swimming lesson from a girl in our ward. Celia loves the pool, but not getting her face wet. We are having to trouble shoot that. Joseph has been coin collecting and enjoying going to the bank almost daily to get more circulation to search from. He has two collector's book of pennies almost completely filled. He loves to show people his steel penny from 1943.

Spencer got a new lead tutor named Ricky. He seems fun and good and Spencer has been showing off for him.:) I love it when Spencer is smiley and happy. He loves our rides in the car. He is back in summer school after a two week break. We had fun, but he craves routine and does really well with school. Bri and I have been having our date nights still which we love. We took Joseph to Lucille's BBQ. That boy loved the ribs. I'm glad they give you warm towels to clean up with afterwards because it was needed! I was happy to eat solid foods after soft foods for a week from my oral surgery..bone graft(eww). I made it through just fine and loved resting at Rah Rah's for a hour after the surgery. It was so peaceful and calm. I feel blessed and am happy to get healing well and having a great time with the family this summer!