SNOW SHOEING ROCKS!!!

Yeah... I don't think I like blogging anymore. LOL- I avoid it like the plegue.... it's just not fun to me anymore. What IS fun, however, is SNOW SHOEING! *As a side note I DID enjoy writing this post.. but as usual It got a bit long... hope you enjoy it... or at least scrolling thru the pictures!!*

- This post is dedicated to my dear sweet sister Marie - 

(She made me promise to blog about snow shoeing- if she hadn't this post would not exist)

So my kids are in this ROCK ON AWESOME Charter School. They get to go on TONS of fun 'expeditions', try out new 'hobbies' and learn by getting their hands off of the desk top and out into life! My FAVORITE part of their school is that I GET TO PLAY TOO! I get to volunteer and try out all the cool stuff they get to try!  This last week Amalyssa's class went snow shoeing. I thought "hey, why not- could be miserable... but it could be fun too- when else am I going to get this chance!?" Turns out- Snow shoeing may be my new OBSESSION!!!! IT IS FANTASTIC!!!!!

(Insert hour long pause while I sort thru- organize- and upload photos for this post)

(ok it was only like 30 min, but still......) 

*Back to the snow shoeing obsession*

It's like hiking - only mother nature is coated in a beautiful crystal cape of white un-poluted snow.
It's not as crowded as summer hiking either- There were other people up there- other's who have discovered how amazing it is to venture the mountains in the winter time- but not nearly as many people as you would see in the summer- and they seem somehow more civilized - like they are true nature lovers and not just tourists on vacation doing what tourists do on vacation- There is a quiet reverence and respect for the beauty of the land that isn't always present on a summer trail.

It wasn't at all hard either! When you think of snow shoes you probably (like me a week ago) picture the giant 'tennis rackets' of yore.

Gigantic, cumbersome, and likely miserable.  Who in their right mind would do that for fun RIGHT!?? Honestly when I agreed to this journey I had NO IDEA it was something people actually still did! I figured the school was giving them some cool unheard of experience to see what it must have been like back in the day- I thought to myself "Hey- I should take this once in a life time opportunity" - Turns out IT IS TOTALLY A THING!! REI had a WHOLE WALL of snow shoes for sale! Only they no longer look like giant tennis rackets - now they look more like this!

You can easily strap your winter boot comfortably into the adjustable straps. The center area directly under your boot lifts and swings easily with your step while the main plank of the snow shoe remains level to the ground. The spikes grip the snow. There are of course HUNDREDS of similar varieties and colors sold but these are the kind we used.  In the end the whole thing feels SHOCKINGLY like walking... nothing really hard about it!


We had knowledgeable guides who took the kids around in small groups and taught us all kinds of interesting things! Even some that I didn't know!

 Did YOU know that Aspen trees are the largest ORGANISM on the planet!? They are all connected by ONE root system! In the fall when you look at the hills and there are large patches of yellow and red and green - that is because a 'patch' is really ONE TREE changing it's color at the same time. Another colored 'patch' in a different set of roots and is changing at a different time than the others- COOL!

My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PART of snow shoeing was all the animal tracks!!!

 You could see EVERYTHING! Like a fragile record of the forest life that many will never see! You know in the movies when someone is tracking in the woods and they are like "Look at this snapped twig- they went this way an hour ago" I have always thought it would be cool to be able to do that. Well snow shoeing gave me a glimpse into my fantasy! You could see where the little bunny had hopped under the pine tree and rooted around a bit for a cozy sleeping spot, then hopped off in a different direction a while later. You could tell what direction the animal was moving in, about how long the tracks might have been there, and even exactly what kind of animal it was in most cases. SO COMPLETELY FANTASTIC!!!!

This was a fallen log over a stream- one little animal had chosen this passage way across the freezing waters. At the end of the log it took a brief moment before heading off to it's right.


My SECOND favorite part of the trip was a little something I would like to nominate as an OLYMPIC SPORT!!! Our guide stopped at a clearing and let the kids have a race - the idea was to demonstrate to the kids how hard it is for the animals to run away from predators during the winter months - the out come was entirely entertaining - and yes... I do LOL when my daughter FALLS FLAT ON HER FACE straight out of the gate!! (For the record Amalyssa did NOT like this part of the trip!)

(Sheesh Marie.... I must really love you- I just created a YouTube account because blogger won't upload my video's either! You better enjoy this video!)

So do they really keep you on top of the snow?  YES!!! We learned this THE HARD WAY!!! After our guides had finished taking us around we all pulled the snow shoes off and piled them up by the bus- (side note - It takes a while to strap snow shoes on 50 4th graders!) One of the teachers had this GREAT IDEA to eat our lunches in a pavilion that was 'just over this way'.  Um..... did she forget that we had come here to SNOW SHOE!!! There was a REASON for that!!!  'Walking' over to the pavilion SANS snow shoe's was slightly MORE than DIFFICULT!!

 

 

I didn't really catch a good photo of it but most of the people in this photo are up to their thighs in snow- the kids were waist deep. I happen to still have my snow shoes with me at the time so I strapped those suckers on and what do you know THEY WORKED!!! I was on top of the snow gliding along like a gazelle! Nice call to drag all those 4th graders thru 3 feet deep unpacked snow- At least they had a good contrast!

So in the end I had an AMAZING day and found a NEW HOBBY (I am restraining myself from running out and buying myself a pair!! - NOT CHEEP!) I will definitely be going again SOON and sharing my new found passion with ANYONE who will listen!!! Now that you have suffered through more info than you EVER wanted to know about snow shoeing I will leave you with a few more of my favorite images from the day!

A fragile frozen crest on the top of the creek

Frost clinging to the top of a rock just above the creek level

 

 A sweet baby pine poking thru the snow.

Another set of tracks by the chilly creek

 

A reminder of summer past and a promise of the coming spring

Last but not least

Amalyssa lounging out in the snow after a great adventure!

Thanks for letting me tag along sweetie!!!

School Dayz

I just never know what to write.... and then when I do write I seem to yammer on forever. And posting pictures causes me stress too! See I'm a photographer so any pictures I post are a direct reflection of my skills! I have to edit, re-size, and perfect them for posting... and this takes time and effort!  Yes- I am a terrible blogger.  Get over it! ;D



School started last Wed (Aug 22nd).  Like a good mom I walked my kids to their classes then went back to my parked car and cried did a little party dance!  Ya- I feel bad that I am not all sappy and sad when they go back to school. It kinda makes me feel like a bad mom. But the reality is that I am trying to suppress my excitement at the prospect of being home or going shopping without them!

This year was a little different. I did ALMOST sorta think about getting misty eyed maybe once or twice in the weeks leading up to school.  Amalyssa started 4th grade this year. It dawned on me that in 3 years she will be starting Jr High (FREAK OUT MOMENT!)

Braden started 1st grade this year. His first year going all day. That honestly did freak me out A LOT. I had a mild mid life crisis half way through the summer in which I was convinced that I needed a dog to keep me company when my children went to school. This was mostly BIZARRE because I have been counting down to this day for YEARS! (No really- I have been - sad I know) Also I have NEVER wanted a dog. Not even a little. Suddenly I was freaking out that I needed one NOW! If I am being honest I am still sorta suffering from this doggie desire but I am trying hard to move on (Scott is ADAMANTLY against having a dog or we would have one by now. I can't seem to change his mind or change mine. It's a work in progress)

 (Braden is such a ham. He is winking at me with a cheeky grin)

Both of the kids have been excited for school to start but a little apprehensive at the same time. It's Amalyssa's first year at this school and she was really concerned about making friends. (She didn't get in from the lottery last year and had to attend a different charter for a year) Braden was worried about going all day and bullies (not sure where the bully concern came from.) After some nice blessings from dad all three of us felt better about starting the school year.

Amalyssa of course made a good friend the first day and was really excited about all the fun things this charter school offers the students. Braden didn't get bullied and found that a full day wasn't much harder than a half day. I found out that my days are just as packed and busy as they were before if not more so (no sloppy couch sitting for me- semi sad face).  We are all doing well and adjusting to the new pace of life. Things are good and we all are happy. For now we'll take it and move forward with smiles!

Well..... color me stunned! The main point of this post was just so that my sisters current blog post was WRONG!!! (Now my last post is NOT in Dec!) :P 

  However, in logging on to my dusty blog I find they have changed blogger! It now shows me how many people check my page each day.  You can imagine my complete SHOCK to see that at least 2 people have checked my blog everyday this week and one day I had 6 people check my page! You guys really MUST love me and want me to post!!!!

   Well I can't promise daily posts ( I am a busy woman you know!) but with this new found information I will try harder to keep my blog from getting quite so stale.  Sadly this weekend I am booked out solid, so you will all have to wait until next week for a REAL post! Until then, enjoy this flash back!

One of my ALL TIME favorite moments in my sweet little boys life. He just turned 6 this week!! SHEESH! Where does the time go!?? He is still so skinny we have a hard time keeping his pants up and he still LOVES his milk!!!! 

FALL

So my last post was summer.... now it is a fall post.... maybe I am just a 'quarterly' blogger! lol

HALLOWEEN was a BLAST this year!! One of my most favorites of all!! I really don't feel like typing anything much so here are a bunch-o-picts for your viewing enjoyment.

My favorite costume to date!! A M A Z I N G!! At least that is how I felt in this Medusa costume! Thanks to my lovely cousin Amanda for spending HOURS on my hair to make this costume what it is! p.s. I won the prize for best costume at the YM/YW combined activity... yeah... that felt awesome!!


The hours we spent doing my Medusa hair reminded me of a cosutme I wore to another YW/YM activity LONG AGO! Bride of Frankenstein!!! Yeah.... that is my real hair... yeah it took FOREVER to get this out!!!

Though Medusa was an awesome costume it wasn't really an easy one to duplicate so I had a second costume for Halloween. Since I had a dog for Halloween this year (more on that later) I HAD to be Dorothy!!! this costume is thanks to DI and creative sewing by my good friend Angie!! This is my whole Trick or Treating Posse!!!!

My adorable kids!! AWWW!!!!

Amalyssa would want you all to know that she created her ENTIRE costume by herself this year! She raided her closet and dress ups and came up with this by herself!! (Then she tried to convince me that I should buy her a toy since she saved me all the money of buying a costume! lol)

Braden really wanted to be a dog. He was ecstatic when we found this bulldog costume!



Our Doggie friend!!! This is my mother in laws dog Daisy. Daisy was staying with us over the week of Halloween while Becky was on a cruise. We had so much fun with her! She is a great little dog! Someday I may want one just like her! For now though a week visit was just perfect! She adored going trick or treating with us and several people wanted to give her a treat when we came by!

And lastly some reminiscing. These are some costumes of yester year that I particularly remember.
Crayons. Oh yeah... cutest ones in the box!! We were these for a few years, but I loved them and remember them fondly! I am the yellow and my cutie sis is the red.

Butterfly. I remember how totally much I loved the wings!!!

And last but not least -Big Red - This was another AWESOME costume.... except for the fact that I couldn't sit down ALL DAY at school and climbing steps to trick or treat was an art that I had to master. Not sure why I even wanted to be this but I remember being so excited about my 'great idea' for a costume and my mom was up to the challenge!! THANKS MOM!!!! Do I have a cat in my pumpkin???? I think I do! lol.... I don't remember that!


Well there you have it, Halloween of past and present! In my future ... PEACOCK PRINCESS!! Oh yeah... I can't wait till next year!!!

I LOVE HALLOWEEN!!!!!

As a last little side note since I am hear blogging. Braden said to me the other day, "Mom, you need to get me a punching bag so I can practice punching for when I join the Army!."

Yeah.... ARMY!?? Mom was NOT ready for that little buddy! Let's wait a few years before we make that decision ok!! ;)

SUMMER!!!! (somehow I lived!)

What a CRAZY summer I had!!! I think that was my busiest summer to date!! As much as I LOVE going on so many wonderful trips I think next year I am going to have to say no to a few. (except Lake Powell... because it is already planned and I LOVE Lake Powell!!!)

So here is my summer in review! I am going for readers digest version here so I am limiting myself to ONE picture per trip.... (that will be HARD)... and a short paragraph about each event!!

The first trip I have already written about. That would be our fun adventure to Island Park. It was the large family reunion on Scott's side. It was a GREAT couple of days in a lovely cabin with a hot tub and 4 wheelers!! Sure I fell off a horse and almost died.... but at least I would have died happy!!!!! :)



Next came.... uh.... er... hold on while I get my calendar... that was a while ago!!!!

GOT IT! thanks for waiting! ;)

Next was my FAVORITE trip of the summer!!! The kids went to DISNEY WORLD!!!! Yep..just the kids! Scott and I went to LAS VEGAS!!!!!


So this year Scott and I hit 10 years of marriage! We wanted to celebrate by doing something special! We asked Becky and Dwayne to take the kids for a week and they decided it would be fun for them to go to Florida for a week! Turns out... IT WAS!!! The kids had a great trip and so did we!! THANK YOU BECKY AND DWAYNE!!!! (best in-laws EVER!)

So while the kids were hanging with Micky, Scott and I drove on over to Vegas! We stayed in a LOVELY time share (also thanks to Dwayne!) And crammed as much into our few days as we could! Shopping, shows every night, and sight seeing. The two highlights of the trip were Blue Man Group and dinner at the top of the Stratosphere! BOTH AMAZING EXPERIENCES!!!! Of course I was just healing from my fall off a horse when I slipped in the shower and totally bruised up the same ankle!! Wouldn't you know the mark that has become a permanent scar on my leg was from this fall and not off the horse!!!

As for the kids... not sure what they did, but they sure had fun!!! LOL I think they spent most of their time in the Hotel pool!! Since this was cheaper than Disney World or other theme parks my in-laws were happy to oblige!

(whew that was close!!!! my computer just hiccuped and I thought I lost all of this!!!! thank goodness for auto save!!!)

After a week of 'recovery' and Scott's b-day the kids and I were off on the road again.

We went to the reunion for my family! (July 11-15) It was at this great little group spot in Box Elder Campground. We did all the fun camping stuff like coating ourselves in bug spray, playing in the creek, roasting hotdogs, swimming in the local reservoir, and pulling ancient car parts out of the rubble on the mountain side!! ... what? not everyone pulls car parts off the mountain side?? Well you are really missing out!!!


Next came the 'first annual Idaho friends retreat!' (July 23rd) My good buddies from highschool and college decided it had been too long since we had gotten together (and it had!) We started with a family BBQ where we all brought the hubbys and kids and even invited brothers sister and parents to come (even though only my mom and grandma came... but they were the group parents anyway since most events were at my house back in the day) I snuck away from the BBQ a little early for selfish reasons. I REALLY wanted to go boating this year and give the kids that opportunity so we took off to the lake with Dwayne. Getting them behind the boat took a little convincing but once they tried it they were hooked!!!! Amalyssa is officially a water baby just like me! Once again I snuck out early so I could get back in town for the rest of the 'retreat' For the evening activities 'the gang' ditched the kids and hubbys for a ladies night out at our old hang Johnny B's!! IT WAS SO FUN!! We sat and chatted and laughed for hours!! We reluctantly left when they started counting out the register at 11:30! lol.

Next was GIRLS CAMP!!! (Aug 2-5) Oh how I was looking forward to this!! I LOVE YOUNG WOMENS!!! Seriously I am never leaving this calling! This is the first year that I was going to be able to attend all of GC. Becky was SO AWESOME as to take the kids for ANOTHER week! (not to Florida this time though, lol) It was ward camp this year so it was our girls and leaders up in the woods! SO MUCH FUN! Until everyone got the flu that is!!! Yep... 1/3 of the camp got a MAJOR nasty tummy bug... including me!!! I drove myself home early from camp so I could puke in my own toilet. It was a memorable camp, that's for sure!!! Did I mention we went boating?!!! Before everyone got sick of course thank goodness.



Then what did I do.... PASSED OUT!!! lol. ok not really. We spent the rest of the month getting ready for school and Amalyssas baptism. These were each major tasks and undertakings in their own right but I won't go into it now. Right now I am going to post this sucker to get my sister off my back!

Hope you all had a wonderful summer too!!!!