Siblings In Sun Valley Idaho

The FIRST ANNUAL DONNA, DARYL, RIKKI SIBLING GET-A-WAY… Great title and appropriately so as we had a GREAT TIME! My sister suggested that she’d like to take a vacation with JUST SIBLINGS. Humm we all thought, and then why not! You hear all the time about sisters taking trips together, brother’s going hunting why not a brother & sisters get-a-way? I don’t know that my sister in law (my brother’s wife) really understood how incredible the idea was, being that she is an only child. Oh the fun in being a SISTER or a BROTHER. Only if you have siblings do you understand that only YOU can call them names, pick on them and poke them in the nose. A sibling is a branch of you, and you a branch of them. When the going gets tough, your siblings are there to pick you up, lift you and take you through whatever the journey may entail. Siblings are an incredible extension of yourself, of your parents…of the family tree in general. My family tree- FULL OF NUTS! But that’s ok, we work through it.
So, we venture into the unknown- three grown adults leaving their families and responsibilities behind for a weekend of nothing but, silliness really. We made the trek from Pendleton to Nampa my brother and I. My brother who is two years younger than I and almost a foot taller =O Didn’t stop him from dwarfing back to when we picked on each other, joked and laughed. It was great! Pull my finger and “you are not normal” were common phrase on the way to Nampa as Nickel Back played over and over and over in the CD player…I wanted to send the CD on a ride out the window, however it seemed to be the theme music for the trip- so we really needed it. We picked my sister up, took in my nephew’s baseball game and we were off… heading down the road….destination SUN VALLEY, ID.
We arrived at the condo, a nice spot… if those walls could speak, they would tell all who entered to have the time that we did. It was great!! Being the oldest, I made sure to use my status and I got the BIG ROOM with the COZY bed =))

Awwww how sweet it was. I had the bathroom to myself as well. Really though, it didn’t matter where I laid my head, because what really mattered took place at the dining room table, where we sat and played cards, laughed and giggled about things we’d forgotten and things we’ll never forget. GOOD TIMES!

We ventured into Sun Valley to see the sights- not a lot happening in Sun Valley that weekend, but that didn’t bother us, we made our fun! We visited the SV Resort and viewed the photos of the famous who had been there before us. Along the drive we found an old Union Pacific Rail Road Bridge, which had obviously not been used for many years, as it was paved ( or attempted to be) over and worn out. Oh the goofy laughs as we portrayed the tourists that we are in such a fun display of red neck fashion. My sister with her camera and my brother and I with not a care in the world- it was a perfect combination
THE MINT also known as Bruce Willis’ bar was there- we were excited to be apart of something so “Hollywood” however, it was under construction, aside form the owners who were busy cleaning up the place the place was empty and NO sign of Bruce. No problem, we made our own fun using the marquee to note DARYL was the main attraction for the night
We played, we laughed, we laughed some more. We had some great meals and we laughed some more. It was one of the best times with my brother and sister and one I look forward to topping next year- that is if it can be done, we’ll give it a whirl. I’m blessed to have my siblings & I hope that my children have the same love and silliness with one another that we share. I shared with my son, who is the oldest, how wonderful it is to have one another & that I hoped that some day he & his sister would celebrate their friendship as we did.

Loving Summer Weather!

PLAY BALL! That's right.. the season is here, BALL SEASON! Our favorite!!! Blake is playing Babe Ruth this year, a completely different game than little league- we are now talking ACTION! It's more of a game- there is action, you've gotta me on your toes and on the edge of your seat to catch all the action... I LOVE IT!! Blake is a first basemen, and he is good. I'm not saying that because I'm the PROUD MOM, I mean it.. He really is amazing! The kids lives and breaths the game.. he isn't there because he feels he has to be, he is there because there is no place else he'd rather be! He is also a pitcher, and UNIQUE would be the word to describe his pitching. He has this wind up, that you think is going to be a floater over the plate, but he sets it back and ZIP over the plate....incredible! He is a team leader and a great inspiration to his team, always keeping his chin up and his head in the game. When the cards are stacked against them....and this year they are, he rallies and brings the team to rally with him. He is my DEREK JETER, I love this kid! And I am very much looking forward to the season- we've got two games under out belt and a season ahead of us... YIPPEE!
And with baseball season come SUMMER FUN IN THE POOL... Charlie Mae could not wait to fill the pool with fresh water...and would have much sooner in the season had we let her! However we held her off until this past weekend, when the temps finally got warm... well, really they got HOT! We went from 48' to 98' in a day!! INSANE.. BUT FUN!!! My bathing beauty was ready for action....



ALWAYS MAKE TIME FOR SUNNY KISSES


And always capture the simple smiles that BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY....does it get any sweeter than this?

A day in the country

I've been sooo BUSY! I haven't a complaint ... aside from the fact that taking my camera along is more of a task than it should be on these busy spring days. BUT!! I am working on it- I've captured a few fun moments since my last entry to share, and anticipate many more with the BASEBALL SEASON underway....which is one of the reasons life is bananas right now, GOOD BANANAS! Like Banana Pudding Bananas! Oh how busy life has been, WONDERFULLY SO
Charlie Mae and I took a break for BUSY and enjoyed a day in the country.....
We took a country drive out to the Mustangers- a place outside of town where kids can work with their horses and compete in different events. We were hoping to see Tanna Anne in action with her horse, Concho. She was SO excited to see her cousin that her horse was left in the dust. Oh the pride in showing off family, she was dragging Charlie Mae all over the arena, looking for friends to introduce her to them. It was a fun time watching them in action. And being the BIG cousin, Tanna took full advantage & carried her little cousin about...as I say VERY PROUD TO BE FAMILY! Her dad, my AWESOME brother was an on looker in all the action....his morning began early, getting the horses, tack and family ready for the days events.










If I learned anything on Sunday, it was this, HORSES ARE SO MUCH WORK! God Bless my brother for his love and dedication to his family, his horses and his insane need for order - that is the most tidy horse trailer you will ever see in your life... he is a maniac...oh wait, hummm it is in our blood!
It was a good day, watching the girls, visiting with my brother & remembering THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE, AREN'T THINGS!

Dear Far Away Friend... THANK YOU

Today was one of "THOSE DAYS" when I was in a funk and having trouble pulling myself through it... Too many sorted details to explain but it was my far away friend who pulled me through. I don't even know if they truly grasps how much it meant to me that they simply let me babble ... I didn't share much, but enough to feel like it helped. And they didn't reply with much, but what they did say was enough, it was encouraging. How is it that sometimes it takes many words to express something simple and then there are times when it takes only simple words to express something complicated? I suppose it depends on who it is sharing and the sincerity of what it is they say....I'm only guessing.
WORDS WORDS WORDS WORDS WORDS WORDS
So when I get into these funks, which are few & far between... I tend to busy myself with tasks ... Today it was completing my first kitchen design, which I must say is turning out pretty stinkin' great! Feeling good about that and knowing that this too shall pass I think at the moment I am feeling much better about things. I know that when I lie my head on my pillow in a short while, I'm going to count all my blessings (counting my friend twice!!) and I know that when I wake up tomorrow, the Lord will bless me with another day and that this day will have been one I learned from. There is a reason for everything, good & bad - although the bad isn't any fun. God is only giving us the bad to make us stronger and I believe so that we don't take the good for granted. Although I would like to say I DON'T ... there are time, I believe I do take things for granted. Today, I'm thankful for the bumpy road, although it really isn't any fun... I know it will get better. And I'm thankful for my friend, SO thankful xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Beautiful Roses....

The last time I received flowers, it was a bouquet of dandellions from my daughter, which I must admit were far more beautiful bunched up in her hands than this beautiful display above! Don't get me wrong, the flowers I am about to speak of meant so much, but there is something about someone picking you flowers and holding them out in their hand, that a florist can't touch...no matter how grand the display. My very dear friend brought Charlie Mae & I these flowers last week, for no reason at all...which is the best reason if you ask me. I was surprised and reminded once again how special the people in my life are. He is a friend who has "adopted" my children as his own grandchildren, until his own kids come around and provide for him the joy of little people. He is a wonder friend and one I greatly admire. He is married to one of my sweetest & dearest friends, and the two of them... are an incredible pair! They have a relationship that everyone hopes for and few achieve. I could go on and on about them, and will perhaps in my next entry... This entry, I want to share how blessed I often feel that I have the people in my life that I do... I am a firm believer that God brings people into your life to fill spots where others have been and moved on, or where others have left open. Perhaps even spots that you have been holding open for that special someone. I am very blessed to have the people I do in my life... SO BLESSED! And as I think about the upcoming vacation to Sun Valley with my brother & sister, I think about how blessed I am to have siblings who I love, get along with & enjoy to know end... BLESSED, I AM BLESSED IN DEED! For all of the complaining we do about our families at times, there is nothing dearer....dysfunction and all! And we are only able to deal with this dysfunction because of the special friends in our life that give us that balance of normal, what ever that is! I am blessed in great abundance....blessed indeed! PS The very wonderful friends I speak of above are Dr. Jake & Cathrine Cambier...LOVE THEM!!!

This little piggy went to the market.....
I love my daughters pudgy little toes - so cute!
She wanted to play footsie today while we worked in the yard.. we took a break for lunch and I took the opportunity to capture her dirty but cute little foot.. She asked that I take a picture of our feet together... good idea I thought. One day those little feet may be asking to borrow my shoes, Much sooner than I am ready!

SALT LAKE CITY UTAH BABY!

One might think I lost my camera...nope! Just so busy trying to get everything organized before my great adventure that it left little time for pecking at the keys or downloading photos. I feel like I may actually be getting back on track and will again have time to put my thoughts and pictures into focus... what a good feeling. So, where do I begin... hummm







THIS IS AMY!


The adventure to Utah for Amy's birthday was SUPER FUN! Jamie & I had plenty to talk about along the way and the view AMAZING! Of this view, I have few photos as we were on a mission to arrive in time for a Salmon dinner at my aunt's house. Which I will say was WONDERFUL!
Thursday night found us in downtown Salt Lake meeting with our TATTOO ARTISTS.... you read that correctly. We met with the artist who would design, or help with designs for our tattoos. My artist was Nick... The youngest tattoo artist in this region at only 20 years old.. did that scare me? Maybe a little, but after spending nearly an hour with him as we talked about what I wanted & I showed him the sketch I'd drawn (years ago!) of what I wanted... he made me feel like he sincerely wanted this to be an incredible experience and that he wanted it to be the work of art I hoped for to express myself.

THE ADVENTURE THAT WILL LAST A LIFE TIME...

WE GET OUR TATTOOS!!

Friday morning it was cinnamon rolls and coffee before we ventured back into SLC INK for our tattoos ... I woke in the morning and my first thought was "today I'm getting a tattoo" followed by butterflies and maybe a nervous giggle... WHAT WAS I THINKING?
After Nick placed the transfer onto my leg and I saw the image which I'd doodled onto paper a dozen plus times become reality, I was ready to go for it. I don't know what it was, but something about it felt like the time was right and doing this meant sharing the experience with my cousin and the design with my children forever.... I chose the Daisy to represent Charlie Mae... it is our favorite flower and when I see daisies I think of her. I chose a baseball for Blake, because that is where we aren't just mom & son, but we are one anothers biggest fans and best form of support. He knows that no matter what he does on that field that if he looks inside his baseball hat... there he will find a message written by me at the beginning of each year. A word of encouragement and strength, words to remind him too that I love him no matter what...and a dragonfly for me, The dragonfly symbolizes going past self-created illusions that limit our growing and changing. Dragonflies are a symbol of the sense of self that comes with maturity. They are reminders that we are light & can reflect the light in powerful ways if we choose to do so. "Let there be light" is the divine prompting to use the creative imagination as a force within your life. They help you to see through your illusions and allow your own light to shine in a new vision.
Friday was a fun filled day.. Friday Night found us In Park City... where we met up with some of Amy's friends, and what a fun time that was!!

Amy, Donna, Kristin, Melissa, Jamie In Park City Utah

Amy celebrated her 40th birthday with girlfriends in Park City- we rented a condo for the night and enjoyed Margaritas with the girls before heading out for Thai Food... YUMMY! We made our way to THE SPUR for a few cocktails before closing down the town and calling it a night. We had a fun time, talking, laughing and more laughing!



I LOVE MY COUSIN AMY, HAPPY FOUR OHHHHHH

I was soo happy I could be there to celebrate with Amy, one of my best friends and most favorite cousin!


We had such a great time together, it was fun to spend time with her, and funny to listen to us! We have the same silly sayings and gestures.... I think people had more fun watching the two of us than anything. And her poor boyfriend.. there seemed to be a sense of confusion for him, wondering if perhaps we were separated at birth =) We think so!