The Latest Random Stuff

Lexi's new glasses

A few Sundays ago, we hiked Adams Canyon to the waterfall.  That was an accomplishment for a group of out-of-shape people like us.

I'm currently reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I like it so far, but I'm not sure I understand all of it. But it's interesting enough to keep me reading.

I'm looking for a Pontiac Firebird.  I want something around a 1976 or 1978 with T-tops, the firebird on the hood, and the blower.  It's a lot harder to find than I realized it would be, unless I want to drop a pretty big wad of cash, which I obviously don't.  It doesn't have to be in great condition; in fact, some rough spots just add character. I don't want to restore it... I just want to drive it around. But they're old enough now that they're expensive. You can pick up a 1990s Firebird for way cheaper than a 1970s. Which makes sense. We'll see. It would be fun.

Courtney chose Kenny Chesney for her birthday concert this year. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm a little too anxious for summer to come. Not even so much the season, since we never even really had winter this year; I just am ready for a break from teaching. It's that time of year when we all sit around at lunch wondering if a career change is in order. That's normal for teachers this time of year; the problem is that I've been feeling that way all year. I hope next year is better.

I'm trying to lose 20 lbs by my birthday. Sean is doing the same. So far, he's doing much better at it than I am. I need to be healthier, I need to be able to wear shorts when hiking without my thighs being so fat, I need to  not feel like a stuffed sausage in my swimsuit, and I need to be able to hike with my grandkids (or my grand dogs and grand cats, whichever), and I need to have an easier time finding clothes that I like.  Twenty pounds won't do all of that, but it's a start. Sigh.

In January Sean and I decided to start particpating in Bountiful Baskets produce co-op. It's really funny... it's so exciting to see what you're going to get every week, even though it's produce. Everyone gets all excited when they spy orange bell peppers or tangerines or something. It's funny, but good.

Spring Break

For Spring Break this year, we took a camping trip to Sand Hollow to go hiking around that area, and to go fishing and swimming. The weather was so warm. It usually hit about 88 degrees the first few days. A storm blew in and we got a lot of wind on the third day. We woke up to crazy wind that night, shaking the trailer. It's so beautiful down there. My mom used to always say how beautiful the desert is, and I thought she was crazy. I thought it was so ugly.  But now I understand. I love it so much.

Time for camping again means time for... drumroll... The View From Under My Awning.

We went hiking in Snow Canyon, Red Cliffs Recreation Area, and Dixie National forest.  We swam at Sand Hollow, and went fishing at Sand Hollow and Quail Creek (there are no fish in Sand Hollow or Quail Creek, just for the record). Lexi has a fixation on pioneers, so we visited Jacob Hamblin's winter home and Brigham Young's.

President's Day

Over President's Day weekend we headed down to check out Capitol Reef National Monument. Heather and Peter came down, as well. It was really fun and really beautiful!  Going back through all of my pictures just reminded me of how beautiful it was. The weather was lovely, too.

Sean kept making me take pictures while he was driving, so at one point I went a little crazy and started taking selfies.

End of 2014 and Beginning of 2015

A few pics.

Josh's Birthday 2014

Christmas 2014

Antelope Island hiking at the beginning of February.

All My Wildest Dreams Have Come True

It's time for an update, which is shortly to come, but this deserves its own post. I finally got to go see Eric Church, and it was Ah. Ma. Zing. We were sitting there waiting for his crew to set up the stage, and all they were putting out was microphones.  No drum kit, no video screen or lights, no keyboard... And then, finally, Church came out and played "Talladega" all by himself, and then told the crowd that his whole band, crew, everyone got knocked out by a bad stomach virus, so he was going to play the whole show by himself, and they would also come back on Memorial Day and do the regular concert with the whole band.  And then he proceeded to put on a totally great concert. Just him and his guitar, with a few members of his band coming out individually to do a song here and there.  One of my favorite concerts ever, and I still get to see him again in May.  The crowd was so crazy.  Tons of drunks, lots of fighting, super loud.  Sean's buddy is a security guard at Energy Solutions, and he said that in the years he's worked there, he's never seen such a wild crowd. Anyway, I feel so lucky that I got to see this show. Once in a lifetime.

Halloween

 My Halloweenies.

Well.  Apparently I only blog like twice a year now.  Time seems to fly by and before I know it, it's October 31.  Sean took the kids out trick-or-treating, so maybe I can do a quick catch up on the summer.

Josh discovered this summer that he really likes to golf.  He took some lessons and Sean took them to driving range.

Splash pad.  It was later in the season, but still warm, and we had the whole place to ourselves.

Kaysville parade. Lexi rode the Flipside float.

Courtney's birthday:

Mueller park picnic.  This deer was hanging out just a few feet away from us.  And the only picture we took with people in it, I'm standing in the background looking fat and annoyed.  I really wasn't. Annoyed, that is.  Fat, yes.

Found this picture from Easter. 

Josh with a fish he caught on one of our various camping trips.

Grandpa Chamberlain's 95th birthday party.

Bear Lake over Labor Day.  It was so beautiful.

Blake Shelton concert.

We went to the Air Force museum and Lexi made me take a picture of her in front of like every airplane.

First day of school: