Waiting for Winter

It feels like we have been preparing for Winter for months now, and actually we have been.  We can never be too prepared for winter in Rockapulco, and after last year, I'm also sure that we can ever be prepared enough.  It is nothing like winter preparations in pretty much any other town on Earth where normal, sane people live... again I find myself questioning what Greg and I are doing up here on the mountain top.  But all it takes is a few minutes for me to stop what I am doing and take a look around, I am quickly reminded of why I love this place.  

Winter is definitely looming in the distance.  All of the high peaks around us are still covered in snow even though it has been weeks since our last storm.  

I miss Summer's wildflowers and I long for Winter's snow.  We are sort of stuck in between seasons right now.  The ground is frozen, the trees are barren, and almost all living things are now dormant.  But even me and my bad attitude about the weather can't deny that it really is so beautiful here no matter what time of year it is.  I take pictures almost daily of the scenery.  Whether it be a peaceful sunrise or sunset, a mirrored or mist covered lake, or deer at my back door, there is always a photo opportunity lurking.  

I guess all we can do now is continue to prepare for Mother Nature to turn it on.   One thing is for certain, Winter will come...  

I am SO ready for the mental therapy of a good powder day!!!

The Holidays, already?

With Christmas just around the corner, I have found myself searching for the butterflies I should have fluttering around my stomach in anticipation for The Holidays. Those butterflies are nowhere to be found. I am doing my best to spark some excitement, like wandering around the seasonal section in the stores, attempting to do a little online shopping, I have even considered buying ingredients to make my favorite Holiday treats. But I've been unsuccessful... so far, there's not much there. I just keep wondering when that old familiar feeling that I love will come back around.

What I have come to realize is that as I've grown older the true meaning of Christmas has gotten blown all out of proportion and in the process of that, nearly lost. It's really not about buying gifts for everyone you care about, it's about spending time and keeping simple traditions alive. With Thanksgiving only one week away, I am normally itching to put up my tree by now! But not this year, maybe a little Holiday music will help get me into the mood... Carol of The Bells is a favorite at our house. It makes me feel like sitting by the fire, sipping hot cocoa, and watching Harry Potter (weird, I know, but Harry Potter movies and Christmas go hand in hand)

I have to take it back to my childhood to realize what Christmas means to me.

As a child, I couldn't wait to get to Grandma Jane's house and see my cousins. No matter how many times we got to see each other throughout the year, being in their company on Christmas Eve was always the greatest gift. I can still smell Grandma's kitchen filled with the aroma of sweet ham and fresh rolls. I will always remember the colorful assortment of cookies and treats spread across her tiny little kitchen. Even when I think about the gift giving part, which every child looks forward to.  I don't think about what the gift was, I think about the memory of Grandma sitting beside the tree handing out the gifts one by one. No matter what was in it, there was no doubt, her heart and soul went into picking out something special for each of us.  After gifts there was usually some sort of performance put on by us girls in our new night gowns. Mine yellow, Leslie's pink, and Rachel's blue...

The drive home on Christmas Eve we always took Main Street from Bountiful to Farmington and we always looked for Rudolph's red nose shining in the sky. We even saw him a few times and had to race to get home and in bed before Santa passed us by.  It's not about what Santa brings, it's about the magic of it all and to really BELIEVE.

Christmas Day is always beautiful, regardless of the weather. It is the company, and the food, and all of the memories mixed together to make the perfect day. On Christmas Day, we were always blessed with a visit from Grandpa and Grandma Allen.  If they didn't come to our house then we would go to their house where I would sit and admire their Christmas Tree.  I thought theirs was the most beautiful Christmas Tree in the world, so much color, so sparkly! It was so great to share this time with them. As we grew older into our teens and even into our twenties, Christmas Day became a day for our family to all go skiing together. Those are cherished memories, never to be forgotten.  

Oh wow, I think I finally found that spark I've been searching for. I feel much better now. I guess I really needed to think (or write) this through. Christmas is something to look forward to. I look forward to spending time with our family and sharing, and celebrating.  My children are blessed with a wonderful family and some wonderful traditions just as I was.  

K~ I'm ready now, bring on the Holidays : )

To go private, or not to go private?

That is the question...

KSL did a story recently on the dangers of blogging. I just want to know how everyone feels. I am definelty thinking about going private and I know a lot of you are too. My thing is, I happen to know that very few people look at my blog (I have a couple of sneaky little tools that tell me when someone has clicked on my page and a few details about them. I can usually figure out who they are.) Honestly, very rarely does someone look at it that I can't figure out who they are. Also, there are those rare instances that an old friend will find me through somebody elses blog and leave me a message and I am thrilled to hear from them! That is one of the things I really love about blogging. I totally understand the dangers, but if I don't feel that I have any creepers than do I really need to worry? I have not been posting as often as usual because I have been struggling with this question. 

So check out the link here to the KSL story ( http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=4699330 ) and then I want to hear what you think. There are also some good points in the comments section of that story.

i LV oo

Today I had to put both Zach and Cam in time out for fighting again. (This is a daily occurrence.) But this time there was a much better outcome than most.  I went to talk to Zach and was just about to get mad at him for getting into the crayons and paper while he was in time out when he handed me this...

Now what can I say to that?  Needless to say, time out was over. What a sweetheart!