Author: Angela

I write so my family will always have letters from home.

A Day in Snow Canyon

DSC_0751 DSC_0755 DSC_0759 DSC_0762 DSC_0766We decided to take the kids to Snow Canyon on Saturday. Richard’s parents, his brother Russ and his family, and his sister Shari and two of her sons, and Rebecca’s daughter Susannah came with us. We had a great time walking beside the red sandstone cliffs. The cousins were very happy together. We brought a picnic lunch of fried chicken, rolls, and fruit which we ate ravenously after our adventures on the Johnson Canyon walk.

It seemed that the uniform of the day was fluorescent colors for most of the kids. They made a pretty rainbow along the path as they hurried ahead of the group.

We saw many families on bicycles in the park, and someday maybe we’ll do that. It seems funny that we haven’t taken advantage of this canyon before with the kids.

We landed at Rebecca’s house and ate cinnamon rolls and played on her swing (well, some of us). Sparky treed one of her cats and generally bothered Rebecca’s other cats. The adults went out for Mexican food that evening and had a great time.

As we talked about the day, Richard remembered all of the years of hearing about family gatherings and not being able to participate. Now we’re living a very different life with our parents and many siblings nearby. I am glad to be able to be within a few hours drive to the red rocks of southern Utah and the nice folks that live among them.

Goodbye, Round House

DSC_0800Demolition on my parents’ Round House begins this afternoon. We stopped by over the weekend to salvage some of the decorative tiles that the original owner placed under the eaves of the deck and in the floor of the family room. Daniel says that someday when he builds a cabin, he will use the tiles he has collected during his lifetime to decorate it.

Goodbye,Round House! We have loved you. Here’s a post I wrote about it several years ago.

DSC_0747My parents are building a new home on the land. I am very excited for them and for the family. It’s good that there are always projects to be done at the Spring Lake property.

Valentine Box

We have made our first valentine box ever. Ta da! It’s a Kleenex box and lids from milk containers. It took 10 minutes plus drying time. That’s my kind of craft. Mark and the boys are totally pleased with this Lego replica.

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A great way to spend the afternoon

DSC_0742-001 DSC_0743 DSC_0744Mark is a boy who loves comfort. He changes into his pajamas when he comes home from school. He loves to build nests of blankets and pillows. On Friday he had a day off from school, so that meant he could wear his pajamas all day long! While the big boys went skiing, he set up all of his stuffed animals in his bed and read books. I took the picture of Sparky at the foot of the bed, but a few minutes later, he was nestled among the stuffed animals with whom he had claimed some form of kinship.

I have started planning my 40th birthday party. It’s in November, but we can’t be too hasty with these things. The plans evolve each week. Lately I am thinking it will be a book lovers party and may just involve a photo booth with giant cut-outs of some favorite authors with whom you may have your photo taken! I’m such a geek.

Singin’ in the Rain

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Well, this is unexpected. Rain in early February? The snow in our yard lives a life of attrition as it gets pelted by rain. Blah.

Yesterday as I drove through the puddles I remembered that smiling, soothing voice of Gene Kelly and I decided to sing along with him. I’m singin’ in the rain… And that helped a bit.

Besides singing in the car, here are a few of the things I do to fend off the February blues:

Bake for a neighbor
Place pictures in frames
Take vitamin D
Plan paint projects
Write letters
Sew happy things
Help the kids make Valentines
Play the violin
Dress up in nice clothes
Sniff freshly sliced limes
Go to lunch with my sisters
Wear colorful tights
Read about good people
Watch the Olympics
Look at beautiful gardens online
Clean up a cluttered room
Make little presents for little people
Attend two elementary school Valentine parties
Wear soft socks
Read December magazines full of Christmas cheer
Eat crunchy, fresh salads and warm bread
Visit the street where my friend decorates her house with Valentines Day lights
Watch Downton Abbey just to hear Maggie Smith’s lines

The Olympics

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My Team USA hat from the SLC 2002 Olympic Games

It takes the Olympic Games to get us to watch television at our house. We’re excited to watch many of the competitions and I am looking forward to seeing some news pieces about Russia and to see some views of landscapes. I just read War and Peace, remember?

The boys are skiing on this day off from school. I hope they don’t try anything crazy after watching those athletes make it look so easy.

The last summer Olympic Games we spent in Arizona, packing and painting. I have lots of memories associated with the Olympics. Perhaps things become more memorable when I’m surrounded by my family and the world feels more friendly and amicable. I love my 2002 USA hat. I wear it often.

Smile!

DSC_0739“Maybe you’ll find some money when you get home from school today…” I meekly replied to Mark when he discovered that the Tooth Fairy had forgotten to take his tooth.

You’d think that the Tooth Fairy would be able to remember to leave some money for this boy (he lost the tooth right before bedtime) but no, that Tooth Fairy is always running behind schedule with our family. The kids sometimes wait for days. We began leaving the teeth on the mantel so the Tooth Fairy might remember better, but that Tooth Fairy is incorrigible.

I just checked. There is money on the mantel! Better late than never, Tooth Fairy.

Sick day

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I guess my day will be spent with the Portuguese court, soft tissues, blankets, and throat lozenges.

It’s a small cold, but I think I need the rest. Plus I am sad because we just found out that my grandfather has cancer.

I need a day and then maybe I can do something again.