20 Years

I went to my 20 Year High School Reunion last night.
Interesting.

Fun and interesting!

It was really great to see so many people that I hadn't seen in so many years and to catch up.  Fun to reminisce.  So many funny memories.  I laughed a lot!  A LOT!

It was also sad to miss those that didn't make it.  I couldn't help but wonder where they were at and why they decided not to come.  We had nearly 400 people in our graduating class and only about 150 came.  I think that Facebook is squashing reunions as we know them.  It is so sad.

You know, I almost didn't go.  Thought that my curiosities had been met - I had already connected with so many classmates on Facebook.  I was SO wrong.  And I am so very glad that I went!  Facebook does not substitute for any face-to-face conversation!



Sadly, I forgot to take my camera,  Someone took this with my phone.


This is John.  He is one of my best friends from school.  We've stayed in touch, but I don't get to see him much, because he lives in California.  It was so great to see him.  It has been too long.  We got to spend Saturday together.  When you hear someone say "So and so is a character", John is that!  A character!  HILARIOUS!  Always fun...crazy.  Heart of gold, too.

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Breeding and Weeding

I'm sure that I am imagining it, but I swear that M's toys are breeding.  Multiplying right before our eyes!
This is what it looks like when we (I) don't pick up for 3 days.

Check this out.  Baby dolls in multiples.

They even look the same, don't they?  Breeding, I tell ya.  Like worms.  They get cut in half and just grow the other side.  POOF!  2 from 1.  Just like that.

Here's my little helper.

Of course, I have to keep reminding myself that there's only so much picking up or cleaning that a three-year-old can do before it turns into a game.  Or, something else gets pulled out.

Know what was really great about picking up with M today?  I asked her if she would like to give some of her toys to some other children that might need them.  She said "YEAH!"  She actually picked out her favorites.  It warmed my heart.  I helped her to choose a few and we set the bag aside.

It was nice, sure, but I'm thinking that some serious weeding of the multipliers is in order.  Sounds like a good task to do this weekend during a nap!

  

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Road Trip!

While my Summer vacation dreams of the BEACH were brought to an unfortunate halt with the husbands hernia surgery....two months out of work....oh and that little unfortunate tree on the house incident, we were not going to let that get us down.

We headed for St. George.  Fortunately for us, our parent's own a little vacation home in paradise.

While St George is a little on the toasty side in the summer it is BEAUTIFUL!

Where else can you find this kind of landscape?  I would have to say nowhere...

Besides....we found some creative ways to stay cool.

Indiana Jane found herself a little friend right off the bat.  They quickly became besties......that is until her mom made her put him back.  She LOVES the creepy crawlies.

Meet Indiana Jane.  She is the classic American "Tom Girl".  She loves to fish!  So we headed on up to Kolob Reservoir to enjoy a day of fishing and cooler weather.

Rolling around in the dirt is her specialty.....

That and chasing chickens :)

We stopped at a fun little gift shop called the Virgin Trading Post.  It is on the highway to Zions National Park.  Poor little Indiana was had by then....as you can see.  They have a petting zoo for the kids, homemade ice cream, all sorts of tourist trinkets and.......

The best photo props!  It is 1.00 per person to get into the petting zoo/photo op area.  But my kids under that sign....PRICELESS!!!

Just make sure you give the little ones the longest carrots those Llamas were HUNGRY!!

Well that is all for this St. George trip.  Thanks to the affordable accommodations there will be more to come in the near future!

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Bummer!

I LOVE Drive-In Theaters!
To me, Drive-Ins are summer.  In fact, Drive-Ins deserve their very own post.
And, since we didn't QUITE make it on Sunday, we will have to try again later this summer.
I'll use that as an excuse for a bonafide Drive-in post.
Until then, let me tell you about Sunday.

There is a Drive-In not far from my parent's place in Colorado.  The Tru-VU.

"Mr. Popper's Penguins" and "Cars 2" was showing.

We thought "Perfect!"  We'll take M to her very first Drive-In!

We made it!  Hoooooooraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrgh. 

She was out! 

We'll try again.  Summer's not over yet!

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On the Road Again

It's a State Holiday in Utah, today.
Pioneer Day. 
Basically a celebration of those that emigrated and settled Salt Lake during the pioneer era.
We used the long weekend to visit my parents in Colorado and pick up M (she spent a week with them).

Such beautiful views!

AND

We might just get lucky and make it back in time to see the biggest fireworks show Utah has to offer!

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My Baby is 1!

Baby....sweet baby.  Oh what a year!  So many memories, many bittersweet.  

I REMEMBER.....

The day you were born.  

The look you gave me before they rushed you away.....a look of  "Really Mom!"

A look a little like this!

Crying the night they told me that once again they would have to induce me...7 weeks early. 

When you took your first breath and cried WITHOUT being intubated....Thank you for that!  

How perfect you were....all 3 lbs. 8 oz. of you.  

You were dubbed the "perfect preemie" just needing the NICU time to grow.  

We saw many babies come and go during your six week hotel stay.  You were such a trooper!  

The sweet little nurses made you a sign......

I came home and bawled my eyes out that day...not going to lie ;)

Just when I thought you would NEVER come home....they told me it was time...then I FREAKED OUT!

How could I care for such a tiny precious little thing. So small her car seat all but swallowed her up!  Although I had done this before I all of a sudden felt so inadequate, so unqualified, so...so HUMAN.  

So while I look at this precious cake eating monster I remember just how far she has come.....how utterly AMAZING life really is.

The strong ones in the NICU are the babies...however the mom's definitely come in tight second ;).

While I didn't mean for my babies 1yr old post to be a NICU drama story.  I guess those memories were the rawest.  Knowing that a year ago my arms were empty even though I had a precious little baby just waiting to come home....to be held....the be loved.  

There are few things more heartbreaking than leaving the hospital without your baby.  I however was one of the lucky ones, one who's baby was just temporarily not coming home.

Happy Birthday B!  We love you more than you will know....until you are a mom yourself that is ;). 

THE ZOO



My Parents were in town last weekend for a family party and to pick up our little one.
It was the perfect excuse to head to the zoo!

First up, a drink from the Lion's Mouth!
This drinking fountain has been there since I was kid.

New exhibit this year are several large mechanical dinosaurs.
My little was TERRIFIED! She's trying to say "cheese" for me……scary stuff.

A few of them even spit water!
Not all that bad when it's 95 degrees!

The elephant's were M's favorite. We spent a lot of time watching them.

I'm pretty sure it's because there's a Mamma and Baby.

 

My mom took these photos. They are cracking me up. I guess she was done with the hat.

 I've got another funny photo………

Just before elephants, M did a Carousel ride.

No, this is not the funny photo. I've got to lay out the story first J

I took many, many pictures of M as she would fly past. Trying to get the perfect shot.When I got home and uploaded my pictures, I saw this one:

I have no idea who this little girl is, but she was sticking her tongue out at me!! HAHA

Nothing like a giraffe on a rainbow stick to make the day! Oma's buy those types of things for their grandkids.

M and Oma headed to the train.

Ending a trip to the zoo with the train is a mandatory!

 

Speaking of Date Nights

My man and I took full advantage of our little one being with her grandparents last night.

We headed to the BUSY BEE BAR and GRILL for their FAMOUS garlic burgers and fries!

YUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUM!


My man was such a trooper. He is sick, but headed down with me anyway.

Poor guy. Looking at this photo today I am thinking "Oh, man……he REALLY looks tired!"

Ever been to Utah? May I say FRY SAUCE?! It's the best!

These things are absolutely SCRUMPTIOUS!
My hubby and I kept saying, "I can't believe we don't find a way to get here more often!"
I think the Food Network's "Diners, Drive Inns & Dives" should check out the Busy Bee! These burgers rock. And, we are self-described burger experts.
Oh, by the way, sorry for the cell phone pics. I know this last one is especially blurry, but I thought it was worth sharing anyway. Yummmmmm.