These pictures have got to be worth more than a thousand words...

....because I'm too tired to write about it but wanted to share some of the fun we had this past week-end. Thanks to Mandy and Mason for a great Lake Powell Houseboat Experience.

Remembering Acappellastock....

....and I had a smile on my face all the way home today thinking about the great time I had last night and wishing everyone that I love were with me in the audience enjoying it with me. Actually, this year there were 4 people with me....an improvement from the first year and the second year I went (alone) then the last 2 years Lauri and I went (wasting only a couple of purchased tickets) to this year having to buy 2 more for Lauri and James. Because I'm such a faithful fan, Shannon gave me t-shirts when I told her I should become a volunteer. I discovered this fabulous event whilst on my mission in Salt Lake and haven't missed it since (5 years straight). It was AWESOME to say the least and once again, this year proved to be as good or better than last year. The groups had amazing energy and T-Minus 5 did more than they usually do (because they host the show) which was good (because they are really good) and the emcee was one of my favorites from a group called Toxic Audio that performed a couple of years ago. So start planning for next year and we can fill the whole front row with my "converts" to Acappella. I'm posting some of my favorite pictures from the evening in hopes of convincing more of you to come join me next year. If there's anyone out there that is the least bit interested, let me know. If you don't want to comment, just e-mail me or when you see me, let me know that you too want to become a fan of Acappella....(oh, if only I could be so bold in declaring my joy in the Gospel and inviting people to join the church.)

One final picture as we left the joint last night. Can you tell that we had an awesome time????

Paul Sperrazza.....ya gotta love this guy. He is an amazing entertainer and brought a lot of life to the show with his voice. He is from the group TOXIC AUDIO (which I already mentioned but worth mentioning again for sure).

Jake and Amy Alvord also joined me on the front row this year. Jake was my boss on my mission and he finally came to his senses and joined me after years of pestering.

Lauri and James were positioned just right to be "chosen" for the "audience participation" portion of the show which was to time the act that T-Minus 5 first performed in a competition. Needless to say, they went "wayyyyyy" over but coerced James into saying they were under their time limit and for it, they got a free CD. So.......I'll see all of you there next year and I will hopefully have to rent a bus to get us all there. I LOVE ACAPPELLASTOCK........

The Germans are coming....

.....so Cynthia and I set out on yet another adventure to find the places we think they would most like to visit. (She has visitors coming from Germany in a couple of weeks). Today we ventured out to Mt. Carmel to check out the Maynard Dixon Museum (frankly, didn't have a clue who the guy was until I saw some of his work and then realized that I did know of him) and we had a wonderful adventure as we pulled in the parking lot....not to be deterred by the "We Are Closed until Friday" sign, we got out and walked in. A lady came out to meet us to inform us that we were just outta luck but we asked a few questions and finally got her to agree to let us have a self-guided tour of the place because she was too busy getting ready for the huge art gig coming up next week-end which we would later find out was to include many of the finest landscape artists in the country and, also......David Michaels (film producer) who is the younger brother of Al Michaels (sports broadcaster) and is an aspiring landscape artist, will be there...whew, that was a long sentence. Anyway....we walked around the place and read the plaques and the guy told us quite a bit about the time Dixon spent in Mr. Carmel and how he and his wife were able to purchase and restore this beautiful location as a museum. As I walked around it I could picture the serene summer days that Dixon could sit outside in peace and paint the beautiful landscape surrounding him. You can read more about Maynard Dixon as I did by clickity clicking right HERE . I was surprised to find out he was born in Fresno, California but lived and painted in many places before passing away peacefully in Tucson, Arizona. The curators of the museum in Mt. Carmel told us his ashes were spread atop a little hill where a memorial has been made in his honor. He told us to walk up but ...."don't look back until you have reached the top." I tried really hard to do as I was told and I did....only to find what I had imagined....the most breathtaking view of the beautiful coral mountains with the background of crystal blue sky. That picture is at the top of my blog.

The day ended with lunch at what used to be "Bumbleberry Inn Restaurant" but is now "Wildcat Willy's" and doesn't serve Bumbleberry Pie (but we were able to get some at the adjacent bakery.) The day was complete and the meal was very good. I would recommend it. So until Cynthia shows up again at my door, taking no excuses and motions me to ...."come on....let's go", it's been another great adventure to blog about. The Germans are gonna love it here.......

Hey Lauri.....it's your birthday....

.
....let's party....like it's your birthday. Actually, there's no time for a party but I want to acknowledge Lauri's birthday and let you know that one year ago tomorrow I started doing tributes to those that I love on their birthdays and things haven't changed (except she's not heading to Mexico and she's not turning 25) so I'm directing you to Lauri's link from a year ago (click HERE) and I'm giving her new BIRTHDAY WISHES for this year and telling her once again that I think she's pretty cool and I'm glad I get to have her around for a while longer. We will party.....I don't know when but we will. Thanks to Traci for the birthday cake and festivities.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAURI.

It's no secret....

......that I love my family and I love being with any and all of them whether it's a trip to Kentucky to hang with Spencer's family (or even better, having them visit me) or a swim in Mason's pool with whatever little ones are there or an impromptu trip to Pine Valley that always turns into a party or having Traci and her two boys here for the week and finding lots of stuff to do or a surprise visit from Kyle's kids now that Emily and George can ride their bikes to my house or just knowing that Lauri will be walking through the door and we can chat about the day. When I was a young mom, I used to crave some "alone" time....and now that I'm alone I crave any "family time" that I can have. Traci and Lauri headed north last night with Scotty and Ba'y Jake and the house is quiet again but I will put things back together, putter a little bit and look forward to the time I can see them again....but I will enjoy this "alone" time to contemplate how very blessed I am to have my family and to know that....or at least hope....they enjoy coming home.

Good Monday morning to you....

I spent the week-end in Salt Lake and was able to hook up with some friends and have lunch at the Sego Lily Restaurant. Forgot my camera but snapped a couple of pics on my cell phone. Always good to hook up with girlfriends. I spent Saturday bummin' 'round my old stompin' grounds at Temple Square then on to Traci's to help her out while Russ is in NC. Hope everyone out there in blog land is havin' a great summer. We are winding down and fall is in the air....it certainly was in Salt Lake. I even wore a jacket most of the time. Have a great Monday......

Soup's on....

.......and there's excitement in the air. It's my favorite time of year for sure and nothin' but good memories permeate this household as I make my first batches of tomatoe soup and remember the anticipation of getting the kids back where they belong....in school, back to some structure. So, as the soup simmers, I'm enjoying reminiscing the good ol' days and found some of my favorite pictures to share and hope you all have your school shopping done (nothin' like brand new white paper, just the right pencils and pens and shiny new crayons. I think I'll go get me some tomorrow). It was good raising my kids where they could walk to school with friends, play in the gutter along the way to and from school and enjoy the sense of neighborhood. Now, I seldom see any kids in the neighborhood but the feeling is here just the same and I may take a walk up to the top of the circle on the morning of August 13.....just to remember the good times.