In mourning...

I'm not a big jewelry fan...well, other than big earrings. I like the way it looks, just not the way it feels. I only wear my wedding ring out in public, and I usually leave the band off all together. As soon as I get home it usually comes off, and I have designated places on both floors that I usually stash it. This was also the case at my parents house in Utah...or so I thought...until my ring wasn't in either stashed places...or in any other spot or square inch in the entire place (believe me, I looked!). I still get nauseous when I think about it. And I'll be shopping in the cubic zirconium section at Target this week...

5:30 am workouts
the most comfortable bed in the world
schedules
routines
healthy food
cleaning
cooking
friends
neighbors
SC2 ward
rolling hills
no traffic
green everywhere
Spring Creek Park
Whilpple Dam
love
play-time
art time
quiet time
nap time
Nick
Chase
Brad

so good to be back
HOME!!!


PS- Happy 6th anniversary to the man I love...

Utah fun...

Don't you hate blogging from a computer that's not your own? My pictures are all out of order and this computer won't let me switch them! Anyway, here's a rare picture of the 4 of us taken at Wheeler Farm last week. This one and the one of my Grandma were taken by Katie...

I've spent the last 4 evenings with this beautiful woman, whom I'm named after, and some of her descendants. I've always loved my Grandparents and my appreciation for them continues to grow as I get older. I always miss my Grandpa at these events, and on Sundays, and on any special occasion in my life. What wonderful examples they've been to me...

Gail Joy Warren Dudley

I hate my camera. Ghetto. Not that I'm that great of a photographer, but seriously?! Why are half of my pictures fuzzy? You get what you pay for, I guess. Anyway, yesterday Chase found Nick's church socks and insisted that I put them on him. He wore them all day. They made for an awesome outfit...

I really really like these two...
Like I mentioned above, we went to Wheeler Farm the other day. My kids loved seeing the animals and "driving" all the old tractors...
Chase and Calahan, searching for and picking up rocks...

Brad and I went away for a couple of days last week FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 3 YEARS! Needless to say, it was very much needed and also highly appreciated. Here we are standing in the exact spot where Brad proposed over 6 years ago...
And the Utah fun isn't even half-way over yet! Being spoiled by my parents, having Tim and Katie and boys right downstairs, hanging out with my siblings...I honestly think we could all live in the same house forever...and that I could stay here forever!

Oakcrest...

Once upon a time I worked at a magical and beautiful place called Oakcrest. Actually, twice upon a time, as I did it the summer of 2002 and 2003. I dare say that Oakcrest (an LDS girls camp for 12 and 13 year olds) is something people don't understand the significance of unless they've worked there, so I won't even try to describe what exactly it is and what it means to me. I'll just say (as cheesy as it sounds), that I grew up there. I gained a solid testimony of the LDS church there. I discovered who I was and what I wanted out of life there. And last Sunday I got to go back with two of my best friends, Lindsey and Becky, that shared those same experiences with me, to give a little fireside to the 2009 staff. It made me feel old...and it made me feel grateful.

Sisters...

One of the things I miss most about living in UT is Millcreek Mondays. Each Monday my family goes up Millcreek canyon with the Anderson's and James', two families that I grew up with and whose homes I felt as comfortable in as I did my own. Brad and I even planned our UT trip so that we could be to as many Millcreek Mondays as possible. Tonight did not disappoint.

Amber (known to most people as Lynny) was born 10 days before me right down the street from me. I think every childhood memory I have includes her. We spent countless hours together climbing trees, playing Robin Hood and Little John, 'My Little Ponies,' swimming, and barbies. And although we hung out with different people in junior high and high school, she will always be one of my best friends. She was on a mission when I got married and her absence was keenly felt. She feels as much like a sister to me as my own sisters do, and is one of those people who I can not talk to for a year and we can pick up when we see each other like we'd talked yesterday. I admire everything about her and was so glad I got to see her tonight and that we get to go camping in Mill Hollow next week (something we did every year growing up!).

I have to admit that despite my love/hate relationship that I seem to have with Utah, when the plane finally touched down last week, I felt like I was home. Who knows where we'll end up in a few years, but it's nice to know that I'll always have this place and these people here to visit. Here's to a great few weeks...