Think Outside: No Box Required

Warning: The next few blog posts will make you want to go outdoors and stay there: 
Ha! I didn't make up my blog title either, but I thought it was creative!

I mentioned several times that the weather has been more Fall-like this winter season. We've been taking advantage of it and getting outside when our schedule allows. This has been great because I can get away from my regular in-home chores and get some fresh air (and try to lose 8 pounds).
I love the fact that we are surrounded by wilderness and open spaces. There is always on option to roam freely. On this particular day, I took the kids over near Pruess Lake to hike around the mountains.......

The lake is only partially covered with ice. It makes a pretty neat pattern.........

We climbed up to one of the peaks to sit and enjoy the view (and eat snacks)
:)

This is the road to Garrison......

On the top of the mountain there was some old fencing and wires......

There was a little bit of a breeze (because it seems like it's always windy in Garrison).
However, it was a warm breeze!

Willow always enjoys the great outdoors of course. She loves to hand me things, like rocks.
Or her half-eaten cheese stick :)

My kids were well-rested and were happy to go on this adventure. Isaac used to be my whiney one about hiking saying, "My legs are tired!" But, he's grown a lot and he could've ran circles around that peak that day! Ava's always been a little mountain goat :)
lol
I'm so proud of them. Willow has much to learn and keep up with :)

Up at the top, the only thing we managed to lose was a shoe ;)

On the drive back, I made a quick stop to take a photo of this cabin that I've always wanted to photograph....

What a great day it was to soak up the sun on a January day.......

"Wilderness is not a luxury,

but a necessity of the human spirit."

Waiting for Winter

It's been a warm winter. We've had very little moisture in the form of snow. In fact we've had very little rain. Yes. Rain in December and January. There have been many weeks with 50 degree temperatures. It feels like October, not January (almost February). The craziest weather (and beautiful at times if you aren't in the thick of it) has been inversions......

The highways are pretty dead this time of year with hardly any traffic. There is actually more traffic in the sky! Ha!

Sea of clouds.......

The eagles are a wonderful sight......

Ok. So is the Raven I guess ;)

Maybe those Bald Eagles think the weather is warm enough to hang around longer.......

I admit, I've rather enjoyed this trend.
However, it's time for a change. I like the thought of pulling a sled around in freshly fallen snow.......
*sigh*

Inside, Outside, Upside Down

I didn't really know what to title this random blog post ;)
With our world a little out of balance with Bryan's recovery we've been doing pretty well with ourselves. Bryan is able to go to work (and write) much of the time. I've been keeping up with scheduling appointments. The kids keep busy. If they don't, that's when we feel the need to pull our hair out. Whenever I face a challenge, I remind myself, "This too shall pass."
lol

Bryan went to the Orthopedic doctor to get a follow-up. Things look pretty good. Part of his foot is still numb; we are hoping that is part of the swelling. We'll know more later. He didn't get a cast. In fact, he's supposed to start putting a little pressure on it (with crutches, of course). Here's to continuous healing.......

  Ava took up a new hobby: sewing.
She's getting good!

Willow is always busy getting into things. I usually find my kitchenware or other random things spread across the house (or in the toilet, yuck!). Always a new challenge with her.
She especially loves to throw things and put objects on her head.

She's saying many more words (and jibber-jabbers) ~ and throws more tantrums which sometimes involve no real tears. Ha! 

Yeah, it's hard being a 1 year old! 

Isaac finished the 250+ pages of the "Ultimate Dick and Jane" book. Now we are on to Bob books and others. He's really good at sounding out words. He's so really for Kindergarten next year! 

Isaac had an abscess in his gums over his left big tooth (he didn't even complain about it) which caused his tooth to become weak. Now, he already has a loose tooth. He doesn't seem to want to wriggle it out, which is what the dentist wanted him to do. If he doesn't pull it out (or let us) we'll have to go to return to the dentist and have them do it.

One 50 degree day in January, Isaac painted his bird house......

Willow is getting a couple more teeth (always 2 at a time)........ she's just growing like a weed

The game of "Airplane" never gets old in his house......

We introduced it to Willow and she found it thrilling too.....

The kids and I, and almost a dozen of our friends met at the bowing alley for some Martin Luther King weekend fun. Then, we went out for dinner. We need to do this more often!

Willow has a new-found love for fresh carrot juice! She drinks 4 - 5 ounces at a time!
I'm trying to avoid turning her into a Umpa Lumpa! 
Hahahaha :D

She knows what's good for her!

We made it to the West Desert/EskDale basketball game. It was so great! We are going to try to go to as many home games as we can to support the team. They are doing a fabulous job this year!
"Go Hawks!"

Like these boys, sometimes frantically racing across the court to grab that ball, I feel like I'm doing the same thing trying to keep up with the demands of the day......

Thank goodness the days are getting longer now :) 

“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.” 

― Robert Frost