Is it ever going to be possible to hike without snow again? We went on one last hike with Brooklynn before leaving Utah–and there was snow, in JUNE! I know that some hikes aren’t possible until July our August–but Limber Pine Trail? Give me a break. We did the hike regardless, and we are really glad we soldiered on. There actually ended up being fairly dry ground most of the way. After several of our spring hikes were thwarted by the nation’s WEIRD weather this year–we are grateful to have finally completed one. And per her usual, Brooklynn was the leader the whole way, except during the deep snow crossings. :) She made uncle Adam go first so she could step down into his tracks.
a night under the stars
Spring Mountain Ranch–One of Las Vegas’s semi-hidden treasures.
I have been wanting to go out to the ranch to see a play since I moved to Las Vegas in 2003. Adam and I had talked about going many times…and finally, we made it happen. Thanks, Dave and Jena, for inviting all of us along. Jaime and I sat in line starting at 4:45 until the gates opened at 6:00 so we could reserve the best blanket seats possible for our little band of comrades. We definitely took one for the team considering the summer temperatures, but it was sooooo worth it…and I would do it all again tomorrow!!!
Spring Mountain Ranch is past Red Rock and higher in elevation than LV so the temperature is about 10 degrees cooler than in the city…a much welcomed respite after the heat we’ve been having. I actually had my sweatshirt on and was snuggled between Adam and Jaime under a thick blanket. If I had a pillow and socks, I could have comfortably spent the night out on the cool grass.
This month we saw Beauty and the Beast. The costumes were amazing!!! And the Ranch has some new lighting and sound equipment…Wow, what is better than a night under the stars watching a show with good food, good friends, and cool air?
The picture of Adona is of her eating a sour gummy worm–her look says it all. We’re training her at an early age so she’ll be canyon-ready in no time. The picture of Adam and Jeremy HAD to be taken. They were so engrossed in their new business scheme that they didn’t even notice Val and I cracking up and taking pictures of them….super cute. And the picture of me with my little “nothing bundt cake” bundtlette proves that I am no longer an nbc virgin. The cake was so deliciously moist. It was definitely worth the wait! Thank you sweet friend for thinking of me at the perfect time.
FHE, anyone?
We had our first Family Home Evening back in Las Vegas with our friends last night. Check out Jaime and Rob’s blog for pics!!! We made pizza and homemade ice cream at the DeMarcos. They have also started a food blog–which I’m sure will contain only the most fabulous recipes. We are never disappointed when we eat at Dave and Jena’s!!! From Italian to Indian to yummy desserts–their cucina is incredible.
I am so glad to get back to our semi-monthly family nights. Hopefully, we will have some children to contribute to the “family” very soon. :) Two Mondays from now we will be at the Brummetts. I love my friends.
goodbye for now…
As we head to Las Vegas to await our travel date to Colombia, we must say goodbye to the Hirschi Family in Logan. We are so grateful to Jaimee and Brian for their support, generosity, and kindness this past year. We never felt like strangers or guests in their home. They helped us feel like it was our home too. A few things we will miss the most:
*Brooklynn watching Spongebob in bed with Uncle Adam
*Spencer screeching and giggling at the top of his lungs when we throw him in the air
*Hand and Foot
*Leaving our bedroom window open and listening to the rain
*the many nearby hikes in and around Logan Canyon
…….and much more. We pray that your business prospers this summer and that you enjoy your time at the Lake. The next time you see us, we’ll be a family of SIX!
jaime lynne~a wife, a scrapper, a fun girl…
…is what you’ll find as a self-description on her blogger profile! This is my friend Jaime Lynne. She is next on my friendship tribute list. I have gotten away from my monthly tributes because of all the adoption hubbub, but I am back on track and ready to honor my friends one by one. I thought it fitting to showcase Jaime since we just had our two year anniversary in May!!! Luckily, Adam and I were in Las Vegas so we celebrated with dinner, a movie and ice cream. The husbands celebrated with us but they went to their own movie. (why they would want to see Iron Man over Made of Honor is beyond me!) There are so many reasons why I adore Jaime Lynne. Since many of you have never met her in person, I thought I would show you, in pictures, bits of her personality.
SHE LOVES SCRAPBOOKING. It’s one of her creative outlets, and is sometimes serious business. Jaime’s been published by Creating Keepsakes. She’s on Tinkering Ink’s Design team. She’s done work for Basic Grey. Jaime Lynne is very talented. I’ve learned so much by scrapping with her. She’s introduced me to new products and helped me build confidence in my own skills and style. We’ve scrapped in Logan, Zion, Brian Head, and Las Vegas together. Maybe one day we’ll carry our scrap buckets to China on vacation. Although Jaime is a “high-end scrapper” (my words, not hers) she always takes time out to give advice and help others with their layouts. She shares ‘Her Rules’, but never pressures you to use them. :) Her online galleryis sure to inspire some serious scrappin mojo, if you are in need!
SHE LOVES PHOTOGRAPHY and READING. Jaime has a keen eye for the abstract. She started her professional career in television, which explains why she is so good at capturing a story through images. Jaime worked for a news station in another state before she got married–how cool is that? Her pictures are beautiful, and she never gives herself enough credit for her work. I love her pictures. As for reading–Jaime’s a “red-light” reader for sure. She will read just about anything, and once she becomes engrossed…forget it. If I started a Book Club she would be one of the first people I would ask to join. Jaime is really good at analyzing a work and connecting it to her own life. She has an opinion about everything, and she can speak intelligently on almost any subject. The great thing about Jaime is that she will not usually give an answer unless she is positive about the answer. Perhaps that comes from her field of study and profession. Wherever it comes from, I love it!
SHE’S ALWAYS up for an ADVENTURE! These pictures are from Jaime’s first canyoning experience at Zion Nat’l Park two years ago. We had a blast. This year she attempted Pine Creek with the boys, wet suit and all. Pretty cool! She loves car camping, Disneyland, playing games, trying new restaurants, going to the movies, and weekend getaways. No wonder we get along so great. In two short years, our friendship has traveled quite a bit. Although Adam and I have lived away for a year of our friendship (that’s half its life–wow) we’ve become even closer. Besides our frequent trips to Las Vegas where we get our famLea fix, we spent Thanksgiving at Brian Head, they traveled up to Logan for my birthday, and we just got back from a week at Zion with them and our other dear LV friends.
I love Jaime Lynne. She is my sister, my confidante, my friend. I don’t typically let someone into my private hopes and fears as quickly as I have her. That means something to me. Jaime is one of the only people I can fall apart in front of and not feel embarrassed or like I’m disappointing. She is always honest with me even when it’s difficult. She shares her friends with me and embraces mine–not many friends are secure enough for that. It is true that neither of us currently have children, but our situations are not what bind us as friends. It is our patience, love and support of each other that does that.
Jaime is kind and compassionate. She cares intensely. She thinks deeply. Jaime is responsible. She is super smart. She honors her marriage and her church duties. Jaime is one of the best conversationalists I have ever met. She willingly serves those in need, usually at her own expense. Jaime is not perfect. She has bad days just like the rest of us. But like I have told her before, it doesn’t matter how bad of day she is having–if I was in crisis and needed her…she would forget herself and be by my side in an instant. And she has done just that! That is why I honor my friend today.
is it really over?
Yes, unfortunately, it really is over. At least for another year! Zionfest 2008 came and went in the blink of an eye. Those who took the time off work, gathered permits, made long drives, and left little ones behind were not disappointed. At least, I hope not. This year’s theme was “Call of the Canyon” (credits go to Robert Lea). Next year, however, the ladies have decided that the themed t-shirt will center around “Oh the Life of a Canyoneer’s Wife” Clever, eh? Maybe by then Valerie really will have purchased the straight-jacket for Carter…she keeps threatening.
Even though we spent almost a week at Zion Nat’l Park, it doesn’t seem like nearly enough time. I guess with everyone moving back to Las Vegas (how did that happen?) coordinating and planning will be easier. Regardless, I would fly home from China to honor this friendship tradition. Some people can’t believe that the 10 of us (which does vary each year depending on who’s in labor) actually take a holiday weekend and spend it together as friends. But our friends are family. There is no distinction to me. I wish everyone I know could have a life like mine. Our friends, at times, have been more supportive of our adoption than some family members. Our friends get us (in all our nerdiness–I know we’ll try to bring less electronic gear next year). Our friends visit us even when we’re seven hours away. I could go on and on, but as anyone who reads this blog knows, our friends are treasured by Adam and I.
Here’s a run-down of pictures…Click on the link to see more. (Jena, you can download and or all–just have to do it one at a time.)
We had a fabulous time. Thanks Zioneers for being our friends. Our group vacations never ever disappoint. Oh yeah, I got 10 scrap pages done while I was there. That is the defining measure of how successful the trip was–in my book anyway!
how quickly time flies
We stopped at Hunter and Austin’s graves on Monday in Orem to put some pinwheels and flags by their side. It was awesome to see that almost every grave had been visited. What a site! We were honored to visit the twins and remember their spirits. Has it really been FIVE years?
Rest well sweet nephews…
here are a few more pics:
is it really here?
To all my fellow Zioneers–Two More Days!!! I’m sure tonight will be filled with dreams of spa treatments, scrapbooking, hiking, and great conversations. Maybe I’ll actually sleep a little too. I need the energy to be able to pack tomorrow! C ya on the South Side.
a smashing success
This smile says it all!!! Thursday brought food, folks, and fun to the Hirschi House! We helped Jaimee and Brian host a neighborhood block party–which they’ve been itching to do since they moved in over a year ago. Heaven knows it’s been a loooooooooong dreary season–Bear Lake was still frozen over until last week! Finally, we had a break in the weather allowing us to celebrate a belated spring and build friendships with our neighbors. It was such a blast to stand on the deck and watch all 40 or so kids playing in their selective groups:
We had trampers and teeter-totterers:
We had sporty boys and girly girls:
And we had the little ones, of course:
Oh yeah, and the big kids too:
All in all, we had just plain fun:
Thanks for coming everyone! We had a blast….and we hope you did too. Who’s turn is it next??? :)
rachie day, take 4
The last two years, we’ve celebrated Rachie Day. Adam is so great on this particular day. He does whatever I want (I know, that’s most days) and he is extra-loving. This past Sunday we went on a hike to the Logan Wind Caves. It was the perfect hiking day. There weren’t too many people on the trail. The weather was overcast, but not windy or cold. And it was a good warm-up for Angel’s Landing in Zion. Since it was Rachie Day, however, we didn’t go to the top. I was done about three quarters of the way up, and my sweet husband said he would turn around with me. I told him to go ahead and I would wait at the truck, but he said, “no this is Rachie’s Day so we do what Rachie wants to do.” That was sweet music to my ears. We had an enjoyable descent.
During the rest of the day we made a pizza and had hot-fudge browning sundaes. Yeah, it was definitely a non-diet day, but I did skip dinner to make up for a few of the extra calories. We watched two or three movies in bed while surfing Colombian adoption blogs and homeschooling materials. Adam finished our Zion t-shirts for our upcoming excursion. It was perfect.
Thanks Adi for always knowing what this time of year means to me…you always handle it with perfect sensitivity and love.