I HEART FALL

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”- John Muir


My friend just had this quote on her blog, but I had to use it too because it just describes my life so well right now. I have been climbing mountains (Mount Nebo yesterday- check out my hiking blog), enjoying nature, immersing myself in the colors, and loving fall!

We have been doing autumn stuff like soccer, Homecoming, watching football games, driving up the canyon to look at the leaves, wearing jackets, canning (yuck), parent/teacher conferences, etc... Here are some photos of my family and I enjoying the fall.

Here's my oldest son (black shirt) playing percussion on the pep band float in the homecoming parade.

We just hiked up the road to the Ephraim Tunnel this afternoon. The leaves were so beautiful, the air was brisk, and the thunder kept rumbling... oooo, I just LOVE it.


My oldest helped me gather some leaves to compose an earthwork. I just gave one of these assignments to my design class. You create art using onlynature and I told my class I would do one too, so here it is...


Not the most original, I know, but on short notice it was what we came up with. I hope my students spent more time than I did. (If you really like this type of stuff and have some time, Google the name Andy Goldsworthy or watch this piece on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9TyHzP-8b8. His work is AMAZING!) My husband helped me do this one with rocks too. This was proabaly the 5th try. He was persistant. I love the gravity-defying feeling of it. We left it there for the next visitors who use the trail.

I KNOW EVERYBODY DOES THIS, BUT...

...I am going to post these anyway. Playing with PhotoBooth on the MacBook is addicting. We had a good time. Since it is getting close to Halloween (Walmart already has their stuff out) I thought we'd stick with the scary-monster theme. Maybe next time we'll so something cool. I'm calling this photo essay "Discourse in Distortion." Thank you for tuning in. Enjoy...

looks like he belongs in a comic book.

going to have a hard time eating with that mouth.

This is a bizarre one.

I was going for the Easter Island look.

CROP FOR THE CURE

I haven't ever been to a big "crop" before, but since I couldn't find anyone to go to the Expo with me I decided to stay home and sign up at Memories Mercantile's 12 hour crop for breast cancer. I had so much fun! We just laughed and visited and did some scrapbooking too. I got 6 full layouts done, had a yummy pasta dinner from Tin Plate Pasta, made a box (I can't remember the name of it), and made some new friends. This is a group shot from early on. More came as the day went on. I wish I could have stayed til midnight!

As far as breast cancer goes, I have had it touch my life. When I was about 15, it killed my oldest cousin. She was only 28 with three little kids and went through hell before she actually did die. It also got her mother (my aunt), and she just finished chemo, etc... last year. She caught it early, thankfully and is still here with us. I was very proud to help in such a great cause and scrapbook too!

iCONVERTED

I made the switch today and bought a MacBook! I am so excited! It is SWEET! I love everything about it except that all my stuff is on my old PC and it isn't going to be fun trying to transfer it all. I didn't struggle too much  with my decision to switch to apple. I use one at the school all the time, so it seemed the natural choice to go with a mac. It has been fun to play around with and get to know my new computer today. 

I did have a negative experience with the purchase, however. I went to use my credit/debit card and it was DENIED! I was humiliated and didn't even have another card with me so my darling little sister came to my rescue and let me put it on her card! I have just had this sick feeling for the rest of the day. I am livid with my bank! I specifically went on Thursday to put the money into my checking for the purchase. I am seriously thinking of changing banks because we have had our card denied before with plenty of money in the account and the bank just blew it off. There are some definite pros and cons to living in a small town. 

LABOR DAY

We had such a fun time in Glenwood Springs for our break. We went with two of my husband's sisters and did lots. That's one of the great things about Glenwood; there's lots to do. We went hiking to this great place called Hanging Lake.


This is Hanging Lake with my boys on the log. It is travertine falls like Havasupi.


This is some of the group on the section of the Colorado River we run through Glenwood canyon. It is such an amazing canyon! The scenery is gorgeous, the freeway is amazing (lots of tunnels) and the trains keep running past you on the other side. My kids love to come here.


Here is my oldest rowing some of the family down the river. She is getting so good! My husband is so proud!


They have a section lower on the river where they put a play park for kayakers. This was by far my husband's favorite place. He played so long he was exhausted. He decided he needs one of these in Ephraim. (Now, where do we get the water?)

JULIA TAGGED ME

I am new to blogging and have never been 'tagged' before, so this is my first. Here we go:

* TAG: List 3 Joys, 3 Fears, 3 Goals, 3 Current Obsessions/Collections, & 3 Random Surprising Facts About Yourself. Then Tag 5 People At The End Of Your Post.

JOYS:
1- Leaving home for a vacation.
2- Coming home again.
3- Taking a shower after camping. (can you tell we just got home yesterday?)

FEARS:
1- The death of one of my family.
2- Driving into a river with my kids in the car.
3- Being completely blind.

GOALS:
1- To loose 5 pounds before Oct. 1
2- To keep exercising regularly thru the winter.
3- To be more positive, esp. with my family.

CURRENT OBSESSIONS:
1- Digital scrapbooking! (I owe it all to Julia *sniff*)
2- Making artist books
3- Hiking

SURPRISING FACTS:
1- I love Stargate Atlantis
2- I hate any kind of fish
3- I didn't like Breaking Dawn

I tag: Amy L. and Charlynn (I don't know very many bloggers yet).