Nickel City

Grandma Sandy and Wyatt

Max, Wyatt and Josh

Opening present

Rubin, Max, Josh and Wyatt

Jason looking forlorn

Working on the cool fossil egg thing

Believe it or not, this cake was sitting at the store made in these colors and just happening to match my soldier theme.

 

Nickel City birthday party w/ some friends. Soldier theme in the Jungle Room. Picture quality not great due to all pics being taken w/ cell phones (and not smart phones, either).

Autumn

 Wyatt and cousin Michael

 Wyatt with friends RJ and Graham

 Ghostly at McCoard's Corn Maze

 In the bath at McCoard's

 Birthday dinner at Texas Roadhouse

Wyatt as a low key soldier

 

 

I love fall and most everything about it! Back to school, corn mazes, pumpkins, cooler weather, the colors, my birthday, Halloween and Wyatt's birthday (tomorrow)! Lots going on, and  we've been having a good time. 

Cascade Springs

Erika and I

Xander, Skyler and Wyatt

Fun on the boardwalk

Boys on the trail



Pics don't do it justice



Springs w/ a cute bridge

I like the way they are looking different directions

Conked out after busy day

I'm trying to get in as many end-of-summer outings as possible. Today we went with my friend Erika and her boys Skyler and Xander. I couldn't remember the last time I went to Cascade Springs, I didn't know that you now have to pay to drive up there ($6).  I thought it would be cooler up there but it was still very hot, and I wanted to jump in those springs. It smelled so good all the way up and down, I have a feeling I'm going to be hitting the canyon a lot in the upcoming weeks!

Is She Really Gone

I am missing my friend today. A lot. There are days like this when I still can't believe she's gone. My friend Trudy. It's been almost five years since she died. My mind is flashing back on her smile and laugh, her face, and it's hard to believe that I can't just call her and go see her. To describe the friendship I felt with Trudy is difficult to put into words. An unbreakable bond, a joy and comfort that just always felt like "home". Always laughter, but more than just a sense of fun, a deep comradeship. I don't know if I've ever felt as much belonging as I did in that friendship.

Then, out of the blue, her daughter Linzy called, and I instantly remembered it was her birthday (Linzy's). She told me she's getting married this Fall. I'm so happy that she called, and so sorry that Trudy won't physically be there with me to see her daughter be married. Is it strange that talking to Linzy brings tears to my eyes, and emotions well up all over again? I wonder if she feels the same stab of emotion talking to me as I do talking to her. I feel like exchanging memories about her Mom, and saying again how much she means to me, but I don't want to make anything more painful for her than it already must be. She lost her Mom so much sooner than most of us do. I don't know how that feels. I wish all the comfort of the angels for you Linz, and a wee bit for me too, if possible.

July 1, 2011 P.S. I borrowed this photo from Trudy's sister Jenny that she recently posted on facebook. This is Trudy telling me not to take myself to seriously :)

I miss you every day, Trude.

Bear Lake

This just makes me say "ahhh"- so relaxing. Except later the wind blew really hard and overturned the shade tents!

Ol' Ephraim the Bear. Wyatt was afraid of him and wouldn't pose!

We went to Bear Lake w/ some friends over Labor Day weekend. We stayed at a KOA cabin, which I hadn't done before, and I loved it- that's my kind of camping :)

Our friend Arthur back from Iraq

Thank you Arthur for your service!