Mom's new shoes...

Yesterday I got to try out my new snowshoes on a little outing with dad. They are AWESOME!

My vocabulary now includes, bindings, tails, incline bars, and gaiters. I LOVE being out in the woods in the snow, where all is glittery, clean, solitary, and smells like pine trees. YEAH!!!

Yesterday...

was a day of blessings. Alexis, Dad, and I went to 3rd ward with Tonia, Dan, and Cassandra. Tonia played a violin solo in Sacrament Meeting that was so beautiful, and then Lexie and I attended YW with her, where she gave an awesome lesson. After church, in a room filled with friends and family, Dad ordained Dan an Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood. The room was filled with power and love. That afternoon Dad and I celebrated Alexis' and Brooke's birthday with Lexie. She had a little trouble blowing out all 21 candles. I can't believe they are 21! The day was mellow and filled with love and spirit, and I am so very grateful for my blessings!

The twins are 21!!!!

Happy Birthday to Brooke and Alexis today! I can hardly believe they are 21 years old!! It seems like just yesterday I was changing diapers constantly and now Brooke is married to her sweetheart, Taylor, and Alexis will be leaving for her mission in 4 weeks to the MTC and then to the Temple Square Mission - WOW! Somebody pinch me! They are such joy to the family and we all love them so much!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY B & A !!!!!!!

Lexie & I are "shoe-ins"!

I asked Alexis what she wanted to do for her birthday. She said she wanted to snow-shoe at Crater Lake. So we rented our gear and went up on the most beautiful day and scenic drive ever. When we got there, we were putting on our gear and noticed that some "camp-robber" birds were all around us. As Alexis started to eat an apple, they started landing on her hand and allowed her to feed them as they took the food from her fingers. It was so darn cute! We ended up hiking the west rim road to the Wizard Island overlook. It was a 5 mile round trip, and a lot of it was up and down some pretty good hills! There was hardly anyone out there, so we followed a couple of ski tracks. The road of course is all snowed in with about 20 feet of snow, and so we just followed the lake, and the tracks. The weather and the views were stunningly beautiful! I have never seen anything like the trees all covered in ice and snow. As we stepped in the snow, we left blue tracks - it was blue ice underneath the snow! I don't think I have ever been in such a beautiful place in my whole life. I sat on a frozen tree to eat my lunch, and basked in the sunshine. On the way back from the overlook, the mountain started making its own weather, and it clouded up a little. We could see that the Basin was clear, but decided to head back even though it was hard to leave. I thought I was giving Alexis the birthday gift, but I had such a glorious day. I LOVED IT and can't wait to go back for more! AWESOME in every way!!!

3 dozen birthdays!!!

We got to spend Melanie's birthday with her this year. She is 36 year old and gorgeous!!

After going through the Salt Lake Temple with Alexis, we walked over to the Lion House and had a yummy meal, which of course included singing to Melanie, (half the restaurant joined in), and a Lion House cookbook to open. It was wonderful to share her birthday with her both in the Temple (poor Mele, she had to pee the whole time), and for lunch together. She has been such a great support to me during this time and I love her dearly!! Happy birthday Melanie!!! 12-20-08

You say it's your birthday...

Tonia turned 34 years old today. Alexis and I met her, and Tonia and Mark @ "Nibleys" for lunch. She just gets sweeter and prettier by the year don't you think? Happy Birthday Tonia, "my girl"!!!