5 inches and counting.....

Meet "Susie the Ski-crow."  She was one of 23 scarecrows I helped build at Q and Elvis's elementary school.  It was an incredible, wonderful, enlightening and creative experience that I wouldn't trade for anything.

I highlight Susie because as of this evening I have 5 inches of snow on my sidewalk.  Yep I do.  Uh, huh, it's true.  I'm not kidding.

So, we are planning Halloween (oh yea, we are.  The count for the party is currently at 50 and I'm sorry but have you been to our house?  It so does not hold 50.)  Don't tell Evite.

But, we are really planning skiing.  What do we need?  Who's feet have grown?  Who is taller than they were last year, certainly not me!  In fact, it's possible I  am wider, does that count?

I'm saying "goodbye" to Fall.  You were marvelous, full of wonderful autumnal colors.  I will miss your reds, oranges and yellows.  Hello white.  You are here and here to stay.  Most likely until April.  Without pulling out the Christmas carols, I will welcome you.  We are ready to enjoy the wonders.

Snow angels
Snow balls
Snow men
Sledding
Snow shoeing
Skiing
Brisk fresh cold air
A reminder of what it feels like to be alive
Like diving into the Atlantic ocean in the middle of summer.

Oh there you are my soul.

Welcome, Winter.

Pick Me! Pick Me! I want to be a Snowmama!

I will go to desperate measures.  Clearly, I already have!  Hopefully this gets your attention.  The Park City Mountain Resort has a great program where independent contractors (Snowmamas and Snowpapas) offer helpful advice and answer questions for families that are planning a ski vacation to the resort.  It's located in my beautiful backyard and feel like I have plenty of advice to give.  Those of you who know me understand that I am never afraid to offer some advice.


Skiing with my own children has becoming a fun family event now that all of us are potty trained and for the most part can blow our own noses!  The big kids are almost hard to keep up with  and Elvis sings his whole way down the mountain so he makes for good company.

We love working toward a hot chocolate or a beer (the beer is for me btw) at the end of the day.  Mr. Handsome carries pockets full of Starbursts to keep us all motivated.

We feel so lucky to live in this beautiful place.  It changes throughout the seasons and we greet each season with joy and a tiny bit of remorse.  Can't believe another ski season is upon us....... bring it on!


Pick me! Pick me!

Saying Goodbye to a Friend

He left us last night at 7:30.  We loved him desperately.  He was ours for only a year and half.  He made a difference to all of us.  Emma is heart broken.  He was her soul mate.  The one she woke up in the morning.  The one she waited for at the bottom of the stairs.  The one who shared meals with her.  He gave her life.  

He was my pal too.  I loved him.  I miss him and it's only been 24 hours.  It sucks.

That Naughty Dog was our dog.  He was the best and the worst and we loved everything about him.

Goodbye Titus, you know "Titus" with one "i".

Rest in peace sweet friend.

Rockport Reservoir or "The place teenagers go to drink beer"

"

So, the river in the mountains was super fun.  We felt like keeping the "outdoor time on the weekends" ball rolling and check out the reservoir that is about 15 minutes away from our house.  My thought was it would possibly be easier to swim in because it was rushing down a mountain, perhaps just a smidge safer.

Well it turns out my kids won't swim in water that "smells like dead fish."   Nice.  Okay admittedly, it totally smelled like dead fish.  I didn't see any dead fish but I certainly could smell them.  Then, there were the deer flies.  These things are nasty and persistent and totally ruin a fine picnic by smelly dead fish water.

I know what you are saying.  "I thought you hive folk would love all winged insects."  Uh, no.  About an hour into our grand outdoor time at the local reservoir, I was beginning to hear the grumblings.  The "I'm bored and ready to go" grumblings.  Remember how we didn't yell at anybody when we were by the river in the mountains?  There was yelling at the reservoir.  We had to yell at Q when he dropped an enormous log onto Elvis while trying to throw it into the reservoir.  We had to yell at Elvis for purposely knocking over a stone tower Ladycakes had built.  There was yelling.

On a good note, we did our part and picked up 2 dozen beer cans that were scattered all around that dead fish smelling beach.  It became a scavenger hunt of sorts.  We did find some pretty cool drift wood that made awesome "weapons."  We did see a cool drunk teenager-type structure.

We stayed about 2 hours.  That's not too bad.  We were pretty glad to get out of there actually.  Next weekend we are going back to the river in the mountains. Or maybe we'll just go to the mall and buy skinny jeans and video games.



Add this to my Life Soundtrack.  Kid Rock isn't afraid of a little dead fish.  He'll even make love in dead fish.  So there.

The Great Outdoors, where you can pee wherever you want.

It's been our goal to spend more time outdoors.  Away from the computer, the Wii, the T.V., the kitchen, the laundry.  You know where I am coming from, we spend a lot of time indoors.  We are not adverse to the outdoors.  I love Mother Nature.  But, I don't want our "outdoor" time to be mowing the lawn.  Lame.

So we have ventured out lately.  Here's what we have done.

Found an amazing spot, here in the Uintas.  The Provo River.  Perfect spot to play, imagine, read, bring your blood pressure down to a reasonable  150/92.  For me, that's a good day!

The landscape is truly awe-inspiring.  We played here for hours.  We explored, had lunch.  Explored, read some of our books.  Explored, jumped in.....

First Elvis.  Really?  It's like 45 degrees.  He's fearless or stupid.  We're not sure.

Next Q.  There were teenage girls within earshot. Need I say more?

Finally, Ladycakes.  She lets the fools test the water.  I am so proud of this girl!

Once they started, they couldn't stop.  The rush was too much.  They loved how cold the water felt, the fear factor was too much.  They just kept jumping.

By the time we packed up, they were exhausted.  Guess how many times we disciplined them (the boys)?  None.  How much bickering did we hear?  None.  Who said they were bored because "there's nothing to do!"?  Nobody.

Being outside is good for everybody.  We left exhausted, windblown, sun-kissed, muddy and very happy.  We are pleased to live so close to this.  We are very lucky.  

Next came the reservoir.    Well, let's just say they wanted their Nintendos.  I'll fill you later. oy.

Elvis has left the building.

K.
Where did August go?
September.
Approaching middle.
Me.
Clueless.
Just trying to keep up.  This morning I made 3 meals (not 3 portions, 3 MEALS) in less than 45 minutes.
Rockstar? no.  It's the Bear Necessities of Life.

Elvis is in Kindergarten.  It's like throwing your child into a war-zone.  Thank God for Brown Bear, Brown Bear.  At least we are distracted by the colors we are to be wearing each day.

I'm working on painting glass.  Designing scarecrows.  Avoiding serious employment.  I've missed you all. Visited you daily.  Apologize for my absence.

I'd love to show off August, you know in September.  It's my reminder of what was and what is not to be any longer.  Perhaps I'll post August in September and then just ignore September and catch up in October.

Totally makes sense financially.  Since I totally don't understand finances, I'm clearly on track.

It's what's for dinner.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin.
Marinade includes allspice, coriander, cloves, brown sugar, salt, garlic, ginger, lime and Meyers Rum.  (It's gonna be good.)

Pineapple and Mint Chutney (oh yea.)
fresh pineapple
allspice
coriander
cloves
salt
jalapeno
garlic
ginger
brown sugar
lime

Wild Rice (instead of Quinoa, interesting?!)

Salad

Mojito.
Cuz, if you are making 2 parts of a meal that involve sugar, mint, water, rum and lime by golly you should be drinking a mojito.