12of12 | April

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01. I wouldn't say I'm that committed to exercise to get up at 5am to do it, but if I don't have any other time to get it done during my day I will rise early if I must. I simple can't pass up the rush of endorphins it provides -- I need it to stay sane.
02. Took this as we walked into violin lessons. Love how light it is at 6:45am now, plus the mountains looks misty and beautiful. A perfect contrast next to the tree blossoms.
03. I am often amazed that she understands how to read the mass amount of tiny notes, let alone play them at a tempo too quick for me to follow along.
04. Reading with Megan's class. Cracks me up the way she was not sitting on her chair.
05. Blossoms mixed with snow.
06. While volunteering at the school Tess showed me the chicks that hatched only yesterday. I was surprised they were so interested in my camera, and loved how there was one looking at me intently as if to ask, what on earth are you doing?
07. When I left town last week Adam made some changes to the house. Among other things like redecorating our library (share photos soon), he reorganized our entry a bit, which included him gathering up a few of my old cameras I've collect over the years. I enjoy having them all together.
08. Megan flew in the house after dance and ran right passed me to give her dad a hug (he's been in Montana). None of us were really sure he was going to make it home tonight. He did!
09. Only Tess would be doing the dishes while eating an orange.
10. I purchased another CF card today -- need more memory for when I travel so I don't have to take my laptop. Thanks Kathy and Lori for your birthday gift.
11. Happy the sun finally came out tonight, just in time to set.
12. Thursdays are always long days for me and today was no different. Really looking forward to bed.

I honestly could have done a collection of just weather related photos -- today was a mixture of everything.

I hope regardless of what direction your day took you, you were able to see all good. :)

reminder

Sharing some of my latest instagrams as I get to the main reason for posting today -- 12of12.

April 12th is quickly approaching, it's tomorrow if you didn't realize. It sort of came out of the blue for me, I think I'm still living in March, so I understand if you too aren't aware of the date.

I hope you are ready and geared up for another day of photos -- I know I am.

Happy shooting.

open road

somewhere in idaho

Grateful to have the twelve hour drive north behind us, at least for a few days. Can't believe my sister does that as often as she does. For the most part it was a great drive considering the time and place. It wasn't the most beautiful drive I could imagine, but there is something lovely about the vast open spaces even if they are barren.

I started the trip off by choking down a diet coke, can't stand the stuff (I'm a water drinker), and remember wondering why it always tastes better when Adam makes it. I guess that has a lot to do with only taking sips inbetween buttery popcorn while enjoying a flick. At least it served its purpose -- took me forever to get the caffiene out of my system and fall asleep. I opted not to drink one the next day.

We stopped in Boise and stayed at a hotel that first night (we left late enough on Friday that I wanted to split up the drive). It was funny when the girls realized our plan to stop midway, they wouldn't stop talking about the hotel. In their celebration I wondered if they remembered their cousins were actually the final destination? They were more than a little excited to be sleeping in a foreign bed. They claim it was their first time -- I had to correct them, the first they can recall.

Of course I could have done without Megan puking in the back, at the perfectly wrong place, and being completely unprepared. There was no where to stop along the windy canyon so we were forced to wait -- without napkins, tissues, or anything close to paper towels I might add (don't ask me what I was thinking traveling without it, I have no idea). Poor Megan was not happy about it, though she took it like a champ. It was the rest of us who couldn't wait to get away from the noxious smell. Have I said too much? Don't worry, I will spare you with the details of the crazy clean up and what I saw when I finally opened the door -- it was everywhere. I will tell you, however, about the generous woman who was a God send and gave me a box of baby whips to clean up since the rest stop had no paper towels.

With the lack of civilization on the road we didn't have a radio signal to pick up general conference. I was quite let down, that was my big plan, but luckily I came prepared with a book on cd just in case. We listened to Thomas S. Monson's biography and loved knowing the girls were actually listening to. They kept asking me to turn it up.

I was shocked by how I never once heard, are we there yet? or how much longer? Maybe all my threats ahead of time actually worked ;)

I can't tell you how many times I wanted to pull over and grab my camera. It was torture that I was the driver and didn't have free access to shoot, even from my car. If I could have I would have showed you pictures of old barns and fences, rolling hills of green, barren lands, orchards just beginning to bloom, misty mountainous roads, Oregon pines, the road sign that said we were half way from the north pole and the equator, windmills in the distance, sunset peaking through the clouds, bridges and dams.

All and all it was a successful drive, though I'm more than happy to have reach our destination and to be spending time with my sister.

Happy spring break!