a walk and a wash

Court and I love to take the dogs on walks while we are up at bear lake.  The dogs obviously love the outing and court and I love the opportunity to take snap some beautiful pics.

All was going well until a naughty little doggy ( who will remain nameless ) decided to roll around in some goose poop!

Needless to say our scenic walk was cut short so that we could go back and bathe the little stinker.  She wasn't too happy about it, but mama wasn't too happy about having to wash that awful smell off either!  

At least there was a warm towel and snuggling waiting

. . .

for her :)

Limber Pine Hike

Up at Bear Lake there is this hike called the Limber Pine Trail.  We haven't done it for years, until someone last weekend suggested we do!

It was so fun to see the wildlife and we nicknamed it butterfly alley because literally everywhere there were bright orange butterflies everywhere where we looked!

I love doing the forgotten parts of a vacation over again to remind yourself how much you love something :)

Boating night

My first real memorial day

This year was the first year that I have ever really had anyone to go visit in a cemetery on memorial day.  My thoughts are always with those who have passed away on this day, but this year it was really personal for me.  As I sat by pops grave I looked around the cemetery at all those placing flowers on loved ones weathered graves who obviously had done it for years.

Does it get harder or easier as the years go by?  I am not sure, probably both for some, but for me it feels like forever since I have seen pop and it has only been six months. I am really thankful that memorial day is a holiday because for how busy and full our lives seem, it feels really good to spend a weekend thinking about memories of loved ones.

Summer evening at the farm

Our friends invited us up to their beautiful family farm to hang out a few weeks ago and it was the first time I really felt like summer had arrived.

We got to have our first campfire of the season, and with the pool, bug spray, and smores we got the full effect :)

 I even got to snuggle their little one taylor, a welcome treat on any summers night :) Thanks friends for bringing us along! We sure love you guys.

Beautiful St. George

Christmas eve

We spent Christmas eve this year with Bunkers.  It was such a fun night with so many beautiful memories and images still in my head :)

There was the most lovely sunset right before dinner, which was fondue and was delish.  After the kids put on a nativity for all of us.  It brought back so many memories of being little again. 

It was fun to see Brian's face as he opened a special present from his mom.  She had saved all his old jeans and had sewed him one incredible quilt.  I am always impressed by her talent and creativity. 

Merry { Christmas } Pop. . .

You are loved and missed more than ever.

On { top } of the world. . .

Last weekend Brian and I headed out for a little adventure of our own to see all the beautiful fall leaves.

We packed a lunch and headed up to the skyline trail by the Bountiful "B" and borrowed the razor from Brian's parents.

We couldn't figure it why it was so busy until we saw everyone wearing camo and orange.  Then we realized it was opening day of hunting season!  We laughed and laughed realizing how out of place we were. 

We rode very high on the trail until we felt like we were on top of the world.  We stopped to hike around, and take some beautiful pictures that took my breath away.

I am really glad we got to have fall this year.  It is so amazing to me to see everything change into vibrant colors and cool off for the winter.