recently

I've been trying to make more of an effort to teach my girls life long skills like cooking. I'm good from time to time including them in what I do, but for the most part it's much easier to just whip dinner up quickly rather than try to teach them to chop. I wish I had given more time to this over the years as I'm finding how enjoyable this time together is and as long as I allow for plenty of time to cook, I have quite a bit of patience.

I've been thinking about making jewelry. I bought a few jewelry supplies years ago to make some earrings and a few bracelets, but that was the extend of my jewelry phase. I've had the urge recently to pull it out and get reacquainted with my stuff. More specifically I'm thinking stamped metal jewelery and using bezel pieces with my photography.


I've been volunteering at the school once a week. Each year I've always volunteered in some way, but this year I really wanted to go at least once a week to each classroom. It takes up a good portion of my Thursday mornings, but find it invaluable to get to know the teachers and children in the classroom with my girls.

Are your kids as into the silly bandz as mine? I've only bought a few packs, but they are eager for more after seeing from their friends at school just how many one arm can hold. There's a boy in Megan's class that's wearing 150. He told me he never takes them off. Oh dear.

I keep wondering how long the skunk will stay in our backyard and it's just now occurring to me that it's taken up permanent residence...is it possible he'll stay for the winter? We are on the list for a trap from the county, but apparently so is everyone else because it's been over 6 weeks and we still don't have it yet. UGH! While I want so badly to have a fondness for it, thinking, at least we don't have problems with other critters, he's making it awfully difficult to enjoy the cooler mornings.

As we drove up to Park City last weekend we were delighted to see the colors starting to change (took this photo while Adam was driving on the freeway). I will admit though, my initially reaction was, so soon. It's so hard to believe we are doing this again...autumn, Halloween, darker evenings, etc. While I'm looking forward to the change, I guess I hesitate because I don't want it to happen too fast. I want it to slow down a bit, not change too quickly, so autumn can linger a little longer this year. Love the fall.

have a good one.

xxox, amy

12of12 | September

[click here to enlarge]

01. reading scriptures in the morning hours.

02. waking up and finding the girls piled on each other reading the friend.

03. orchids that bring color to our living room.

04. bella getting ready for church.

05. adam and I talking before leaving for church.

06. walking to church

07. our primary

08. flowers seen while walking home.

09. eating lunch/dinner together.

10. taking a much needed nap, for some reason I had a strange headache in my eyes. (photo by adam)

11. pears from our pear tree.

12. megan coloring before bed.

I always enjoy capturing days like Sunday that are so different from the rest of the week. I hope it was a good one for you as well.

reminder

Just wanted to remind those of you who are participating in the 12of12 challenge that tomorrow is the 12th. Hard to believe it's upon us already. I'm telling ya, it does make the year go by faster, no?


This is September 2009 12of12. Funny how I can remember this Saturday perfectly. The girls were sick with the flu and we quarantined ourselves. It was a rough weekend to say the least, but I got a lot done. You know how they say when you hear something and write it down you're more likely to retain the information? Apparently taking pictures is the same way too. So there you go, another reason to do 12of12.

Have fun tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing what you captured on Monday.

a happy list

10 reasons why I have a smile on my face

01. new found music. Loving to build a home by The Cinematic Orchestra, jar of hearts by Christina Perri, and the light by Sara Bareilles.


02. this quote

03. a friend I can call at odd hours and ask about strange rashes. never a bad idea to have friends in the medical field. thanks amy.

04. having a stack of books waiting for me to read.

05. spending the night celebrating lolo's birthday.


06. discovering this photo. still perplexed as to what these girls are looking at? any ideas.

07. a neighbor so generously gave us a basket of goodness from his garden.

08. remembering last nights blunder of not fully locking our bedroom door.

09. the fallish type weather.

10. realizing tomorrow is wide open.

small black book

Last night I had the privilege of listening to Emily Freeman speak, the author of 21 Days Closer to Christ. She spoke about many things that touched my heart, in fact, I frantically took notes while silently giving a prayer of thanks that I was there soaking up her goodness.

She made me really think and evaluate the way I pray and the way I study the scriptures. She reaffirmed my desire to focus on the important things in life and gave me another push to continue to seek for experiences to change my day, to focus on relationships, and to search for my purpose and what it is I have to offer the world.



But the one thing that stood out to me more than any other was to remember the special moments in my life. I think I do a pretty good job of this actually, but she made me think of it in a different way. The reason why we need to not only remember, but to document the special moments/spiritual experiences is so when the hard days come, when frustration and sadness rear it's ugly head, when all we want to do is curl up and hide from the world we can look back at our special moments and remember we are not alone. Remember we are loved. Remember who we are. Remembering is what will give us the push to get on our knees and ask for the strength we need to move forward. "A prayer for strength never goes unanswered." -emily freeman

I heard a talk a couple years ago that spoke on a very similar topic of writing our experiences down and I recall it's what pushed me to look at my photography differently. It's then I started focusing on documenting my everyday life. While I love this tremendously and feel like I have folders and folders of captured memories, I realize there are still so many moments that need to be documented that can't be captured in a photograph.

Today I'm devoting my afternoon to making a small book I can carry around with me so I can write down my special moments wherever and whenever they happen. So I'll never have to wonder and I'll always know God knows and is aware of me.

xoxo,
amy


--do you have a book for your special moments?

Yellowstone in photos

Let the road trip begin. I couldn't believe how quickly the 5 hours passed. I'm use to driving to St. George (4 hours) which seems to take forever. It was a welcome change to go north.


The river right across from the cabin. The water was cold cold cold.






morning exploring


and I thought we waited a long time to get into Zions. It took about 30 minutes to get into the park.




Basically traffic would come to a stand still when animals were spotted and many cars would pull over to the side to take pictures. This was our first encounter...elk. We actually didn't see a varied of animals like we had hoped, but what we did see was very exciting. The kids were happy to drive along looking for animals along the way. This picture cracks me up of the crowds.






Firehole Falls


I met this man while taking photos of the falls. I walked passed him and said, "nice equipment" (he was using what I was using). He smiled and asked, "are you into Canon?" I replied with an affirmative. He invited me to come see what he had with him. So I followed him and his wife and saw the awesomeness he was packing. Oh my goodness. My dream never looked so good. He's a retired man travelling the globe taking pictures. Exactly what I hope to do with Adam when we're his age.


A lone bison seen from the road...took this one while driving.




Old Faithful proved to be faithful to us. Literally the moment we walked up to wait for it to blow it started. It really is such a wonder. The kids loved it.


Taken inside the 97 year old Old Faithful Inn.


The cause of many traffic jams.




The cabin we stayed in.


Adam as always keep the kids entertained.





It wasn't what I remembered as a kid, but it's exactly what I hoped it would be. We spent a relaxing weekend in a beautiful part of the country with some of our favorite people taking pictures, laughing, looking for animals, playing games, talking, and enjoying the surroundings. There is just something so beautiful about the quiet wide open spaces.

It went so well we are already planning our next adventure together.

xxox,
amy

away we go

We're headed to Yellowstone for the holiday weekend. I remember loving it as a kids so I'm looking forward to sharing it with Adam & the girls. Should be an adventure, especially since we've heard there have been some bear sightings. I'm actually hoping to see a moose or two, all from the safety of my vehicle of course...with a telephoto lens. :)

Have a great weekend!

Sent from my iPhone

family campout | photos

I'm playing catch up this week before the summer is completely gone. Back on Aug 6th we went to the Heber Valley camp ground for our annual family camp out. I wasn't there Saturday for the boating, games and other festivities, but I did get to participate in my most favorite parts of camping...the fire, roasting marshmallows, smores, gazing at the stars, hanging out and talking, eating, and enjoying cooler weather.

It was funny as the lady was talking to us about wild animals and what to do if we saw any a badger came out of no where. I couldn't believe how big it was.

It was fun being able to celebrate Landon's birthday while we were up there.

a happy space

Everything changed the day she figured out there was exactly enough time for the important things in her life. ~storypeople

morning questions

We had a very casual conversation about death moments before the girls walked out the door this morning. I know, not really the topic I would choose to send them out the door with, but it was such a wonderful teaching moment I almost didn't get anxious as I turned around, shut the door and walked back in the house alone.


[taken last night during dinner, but looked a lot like this morning]

It all started after reading in Alma 11 (book in the Book of Mormon) where Amulek is teaching the people about our temporal death and how Christ overcame it through resurrection and so will we.

Megan: So mom when I die my spirit can't get sick?
Me: Your body is what gets sick so no, after you die, you can't get sick.
Megan: laughing - That means I can eat all the candy I want and I won't get sick.
Me: Well if you don't have your bodies I don't think you'll need to eat.
Megan: But I'm going to want candy, I just know I will.
Tess: I want food. I can't live without food.
Bella: But your spirit won't need the food...see?
Tess & Megan: no.

There was some giggling at this point and then the conversation moved on from there.

Megan: Mom when I'm really old you'll be dead?
Me: Yep, I'll be in heaven.
Megan: Will you be there to meet me when I die?
Me: Yep, I'll be there and your dad will be there and grandma and grandpa and nana and papa and...
Megan: and grandma Dot?
Me: Yes grandma Dot too.
Tess: and your brother Alan?
Me: Yes, Alan will be there too. Even members of our family you didn't know like my grandma will be there, but you will know them after you die.
Bella: Megan we'll be together forever...all of us.
Megan: I will be sad when you die.
Me: I know, but I will be old and it will be time.
Megan: I love you mom....up to heaven.
Me: I love you, all the way back.

Of all the mornings the girls have been distracted while we've read scriptures and I've walked away discouraged wondering why I attempt to do it, it suddenly becomes crystal clear after moments like I had this morning why.

They are listening.
They are watching.
Our efforts are not in vain.

xoxo,
amy

monday randoms

Just got done with dinner with my girls, Adam's out of town for the week so it's me and them til Friday. I'm not sure Bella, Tess or I got a word in edgewise as we listen to Megan prattle on about her school adventures. So far since school started 1 girl has broke her arm and another one broke her leg. I'm thinking they're going to get rid of the monkey bars.


So last weekend...what a mess. I knew it was going to rain and would have much rather spent the last night with my sister instead of wet outdoors, but Adam felt it necessary that we go to our ward camp-out, so we did. I admit it was more fun than I could have imagined watching 1/2 the tent fill up with water and all four adults smashing into the other half while we tried to stay dry. I guess there is something enjoyable about the sense of adventure...even when it does involve being uncomfortable. It was fun playing games while the rain pelted down and the thunder cracked on the outside. The next day was beautiful weather and if we didn't need to get home to Megan's soccer game I'm sure we would have stayed up there longer.

I've decided to give up candy again and you'll know I've already failed one day into it when I tell you the symphony chocolate bar Adam bought tastes like mint chocolate. I thought maybe he bought mint chocolate to try it out until I saw the candy bar sitting next to a pack of winter-mint gum. I never knew gum in a package could be strong enough to infuse with chocolate.


My dear friend Hannah sent me this one of a kind magnet. I've put it in my kitchen on my magnet board in a prominent place where I can look at it daily to remind myself not only of the good friends I have, but the gift I have to choose the life I want. Thank you Hannah!


Remember this post I did a few weeks ago? I haven't forgot you see, it's just I've had lots going on since then. I stole some time while my sister was busy shopping with her kids one day to tackle my studio. It was just too depressing to walk into and I couldn't take it any more. I got rid of the ugly costco table and utilized the table we use to have in our library. Then after cleaning off my desk I moved it around and wallah, I have a completely different look. I am quite pleased with what I've done so far. It is not complete, I have a lot of organizing and work to do on the walls, but I've already been inspired to be in here more and really that's what I was looking for.

I thoroughly enjoyed the 60-70 degree rainy weather today and can now say I'm ready for autumn. :)