Thursday, August 28, 2008

A proper thank you


As any reader of this blog knows by now, I was recently in Utah. It was a great trip. I had the opportunity to go take my kids to a lot of fun places and do neat things. I also got the oppotunity to catch up with some old friends. One of those old friends was Amy Hutchins. I love this girl. Never in my life have I met someone funnier. I met her when she was a roomate of one of my other good friends, and she was fresh off her mission. I didn't think much about her until we rode together to a party one night and she started quoting lines from "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." I knew we were kindred spirits from then on. On my wedding, she gave me a big basket of goodies with a note for Doug that said if he didn't treat me right, she would hunt him down and hurt him.
She's one of those people that everyone gravitates to without even knowing why. That's why she's got a bizillion friends and they keep coming. She is witty, charming, lovely, hil-a-rious, loving, kind and has great square round fingernails:)

So back to the reason for this post. I was trying to find someone to watch my kids so that I could go to the evening viewing of our family friend who passed away. I dind't want to leave them with anybody they didn't know, but then Amy popped into my mind. I figured that at least she would have them laughing through their tears by the time I got home. I called and left a message for her, fully expecting her to be busy. After all, it was a Friday night and she is a single girl with prospects! This was the message I received in return:

"I would be happy and honored to watch your precious little ones. Let me know what time you would like me to be there and I will make it happen. I am supposed to have a date on Friday, but I can move it to another day, unless you aren't going to be too late, so just let me know on the time. Please know that I am HAPPY to do this and feel honored that you would trust me with your babies."

Let me also add that she is also the busiest person I know. She certainly didn't have time for this, but she made time.....and she brought pizza and her niece (who was equally as lovely and brought her own bag of kid toys to boot, thanks Ellery!) The evening went just fine and I am so grateful.

If you know Amy, consider yourself lucky. If you don't, too bad. I am cutting off her friendship availability sho she'll have more time for the friends and family she already has. Unless, of course, you are a single man who is almost perfect in every way and wants to marry her. That's ok, as long as you live in Virginia after the wedding:)

Thanks for your friendship, Amy. I miss you.

PS- Hope you don't mind the pirated Facebook pics. The ones of us in front of Paradise Bakery...not so good!





Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Guess What? More Utah!

Lots of pictures again. Sorry!
Kids in front of the Timpanogos Temple where Doug and I were married almost 10 years ago.







Days of '47 Parade, Salt Lake City


Ellie's favorite float...I wonder why???

Heber Creeper Train Ride

I want this barn. Don't know what I'd do with it...but I want it!








Liberty Park





Temple Square






Kennecott Copper Mine

Hudson pondering the implications of climbing on forbidden railing...

Tire from one of the dump trucks they use at the mine.



Thanksgiving Point

Ellie the "pro" on the pony ride


Hudson deciding he like the pony ride after refusing to get on!


What? Are you lookin at me???


Dinosaur bone excavation

Hudson was sitting on the railing a minute before I took this picture...then proceeded to do a backflip into the exhibit. Good times...

Children's garden




Hudson has never met a body of water he didn't like.

Cousins together where they belong!




My friends Jeff and Margaret. It's always great to see you guys, even if it's only for dinner. Margaret is married. Jeff is not. Ladies, take note!



Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Utah Again-Family and Cabin


I called to give my brother Pete the heads up that I was in Utah (he lives in Colorado) and he had planned a business trip around the time of my visit so he could see us. Thanks Peabo! Sorry you missed out on the Pancake House, but Hudson sure appreciated the wagon ride down to the duck pond and back!

Uncle Pete with Hudson and Ellie

Dad fly fishing at the cabin


Mom and Nielson

Hudson on the cabin porch

Cousin Josh and Ellie in a right of way dispute


Anybody who wants to hear a scary story about the shack next to this spring, email me.


Father and son fishing trip!


Darling Sophie (Oh sure she looks cute now...we didn't know she was going to cry all night long when we begged Joey and Tiff and the kids to sleep over!)


This is an homage to Connor Carpenter and the infamous Jeffaloe video.

Cousin Zach demonstrating what NOT to do around a campfire as Ellie and cousin Josh look on.


We love the cabin!


Indian Paintbrush


Nielson and Grandpop

Ellie and her Wildflower Crown


Cousin Sophie and Ellie


Doug trying to explain to Joey the merits of panning for gold with tupperware.

Ellie and her "pose" (We're still trying to figure out where she picked that up!)

The cabin. One of my most favorite places on earth. It was built by my grandpa and his brother in law many years ago and sits on about 150 square acres of land. It is rustic...powered by a generator. No phones, no tv (even cell phones don't work up here!). Indoor plumbing-yes, thankfully! The greatest thing about it is that kids never get bored up here. I remember playing for hours as a child, quite happily and falling asleep at night dead tired. My kids did almost the same thing. The getting to sleep part wasn't quite so easy, but they were just thrilled to be up there. Playing in the water, hiking, fishing, picking flowers, hunting for snail shells and animal tracks, roasting hot dogs, marshmallows. Sitting on the front porch watching deer emerge from the woods at dusk...doesn't get much better than that!


Back up at Grandma's...

The boys of summer, Hudson and Zach


We just like to call Tiffany "Flo" around here.

Gracie holding her own with the boys.