Ready for Autumn?

Although Fall is by far my favorite season of the year, I always feel unprepared for it at first. I enjoy the summer festivities and the relaxed attitude that seems to come along with it. Ironically, it is by far the least relaxing time of year for our family due to lots of travel, longer work hours for Dusty, and just the general idea of "how much can I fit into a day, really?" But it's fun to spend days in the sun, and nights in the warm air outside.

A few days ago, I felt that I could feel autumn approaching, however slowly. I started to look forward to the days of crisp mornings that require a jacket and the simplicity of pulling on a pair of jeans and finding a sweater to go with them. I had a small longing to hit the university bookstore and traipse around the campus with a glittering light filtering down through the massive trees. In the back of my mind I could hear school bands revving up a crowd for the football game.

Even though everyone attending school have already started their classes and Dusty and I are done with that phase of our lives, I feel in accord with them that this is the beginning of a new year, and not in January somehow. Summer is coming to a close and I wonder if I have captured all of the memories I should have during the year. Am I really ready to have a more structured sense to my hours? Am I ready to take on shorter days and different projects? My heart speaks a resounding, Yes!

Come Fall, I am ready for you. I am ready to appreciate a hot shower once again, and enjoy cups and cups of cocoa and tea. I am ready to sweep through fallen leaves and prepare my yard for season of rest. I am ready to curl up under a blanket for an afternoon nap and see my breath during a morning walk. I know you are approaching, and I am excited for the new year to begin.

Thanks Bunches Mom and Dad!

Here's the photo you wanted Mom. I just love the solar lights. I have been wishing for some for a long time. They really add something special to the yard at night.

Happy Moments

I got some snapshots of fun times on the vacation. Moments full of sun, smiles, and good things.

Grandma Hoopes had lots of activites planned for the grandchildren. They involved water, popsicles, and toys. Of course the kids had fun.


The boys challenged each other to games of horseshoe, golf, tennis, football, and bocci ball. This shot is taken in front of the house. When I am up in Wyoming, where we both grew up, I can't believe how beautiful it is there in the summer.
We spent the day at Bear Lake. The water was perfect; slightly cool, gradually getting deeper and deeper over a sandy bottom. Just right for relaxing on tubes and making sand castles.



Had to throw a picture in of Kiki, my sis. She is probably the person who checks this blog the most.



My Mom and Dusty's Dad playing Backgammon.

I've finally surfaced

I know it's been ages since my last post. I think this is the longest I have ever gone without sharing something with the cyber-world. But I've been having fun scuba-diving in the crystal clear waters of summer, metaphorically speaking of course.

We've been in Wyoming smashing it around with family, I've been absorbed in this book, and tossing ideas around my head for house projects. Once I open up that floodgate, the flood never stops.

I celebrated our little one's second birthday, moved perennials to new homes in the flower beds, taken notes on photoshop tips, and eaten homemade ice cream that was created during an imaginary soccer match.

I've spent the most luxurious day on a sandy beach with snacks, sandcastles, and lazy drifting in the water. We've picked raspberries, staining our mouths with their juices, and eaten mounds of fresh, round peas. I spent hours with my Mom at a fresh-air farm, getting good girl-talk and filling buckets with fillet beans.

I've watched my baby grow into a little boy, who loves dirt, and bugs, and back-hoes. And who has a smile that melts my heart everytime I see his pearly whites.

I've enjoyed moments of peace and laughter with my Dusty, who understands who I am better than anyone else, and with whom I can be completely myself.

I've had a summer full of colors and textures, good tastes and family reunions. But like all good swims, this one is coming to an end, I feel slightly exhausted, and ready to pull myself out of the water and change my clothes into something new.