Boy this was one of those opportunities that I love, but missed. This year at Dayton Valley Days they called for the people to dress like Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. That kind of challenge can really bring out peoples creativity. This whole float of woman in their 80’s and 90’s dressed as Marilyn Monroe came by and not a single camera in my possession. Oh well, at least a friend of mine got a picture of Emma in the parade.
16 months old
Yep that is right Aubrey is 6. This picture of Aubrey was taken a few years ago, but it is my absolute favorite. This is the Aubrey I see, and I have never seen this side of Aubrey caught in a picture before. Aubrey is fast to smile, quick to laugh, and has a way of seeing good in all things, but occasionally you can catch this side of her. Her eyes are so stormy and she is so serious and heavy with the weight of the world on her shoulders.
I was driving to the store the morning of her birthday and was thinking about her turning six, and found myself crying. Tears were falling down my cheeks, I was so surprised I didn’t even realize I was crying. I have enjoyed Aubrey so much and love her with such a love that I can’t find the words to describe it. She is an amazing child, and I can’t wait to see what adventures she has in store for us (or maybe I can).
Love the hike to Winnemucca Lake. A friend from the ward introduced this hike to me last year, and I’ve done it multiple times since. Half way there is Frog Lake, and we always stop there for a drink and a snack. This time there was a lady there with her really well behaved Golden Retriever, Spunky. She told my kids she was so tired and asked if they would like to help her wear her dog out (wink, wink). The kids readily agreed and spent the next half and hour throwing sticks into the lake and watching that cute dog swim out and retrieve the sticks from the lake. They learned quick that the dog always shakes when she hands them the stick and she shakes twice. This lady told me that she got this dog for her son when he was 12. She said that she handed him some training books and let him take off with it. What a great idea, and what a way to bond a young boy with his dog. We always find the nicest of people out on the hiking trails.
I was proud of Alyssa she hiked the whole way in. She is such a little dreamer, it’s hard to get her moving. She is always looking for unicorns and rainbows and fairies, and has no concept of time. But she made it. I tried to tell her that climbing over every rock in her way was making this hike way harder than it had to be, but she had to climb to the top of them all and jump down off each one. I’m sure her hike was double the distance of mine. I packed Hallie the whole way back and Danny helped Alyssa by giving her breaks on his shoulders.
