Memories

This morning dawned cold and early. It seems to me that the loss of one hour on daylight savings weekend doesn't really occur until the first day you don't get to sleep in. So for me that was this morning. When I woke, too early for my internal clock, I stretched, groggy not wanting to leave my bed yet, but I inhaled deeply so as to awake mt mind and body so I may begin they day. The coolness of the morning hit me too quickly in that breath. Spring is supposedly approaching, but you wouldn't know that after Saturday's snowstorm. Also, in that moment of deep inhale, I smelled something I hadn't smelled in years - grandma's house.

It's funny how smells bring back some many memories. Coffee and bacon will always remind me of time I worked at JB's restaurant. And sawdust, especially pine sawdust, brings back the early years of life married to a woodworker. But this morning was different. This morning I was 5 again. This morning I was laying on the cot next to grandma's bed. The one she always set up for me when we came to visit.

This morning I cool smell the cool crispness of California, and the warmth of artificially heated air. The smell brought back memories of gathering eggs just after breakfast, and hunting for lizards out back in the dirt. The walks in the garden gathering vegetables, or smelling flowers, the wet grass leaving dew around my ankles as I ran around the front lawn, and the enjoyment of swimming in grandma's large yellow bathtub to remove the days dirt and grim were vivid pictures in my mind.

But as quickly as the breath brought memories the next breath brought me back to today and the reality that lay before me this morning. The teenagers then clatters something in the kitchen, and the alarm clock sounded, again. The list of today's activities began push it's way into my head and yesterday's memories floated away. I fumbled my way out of bed to start another day in my life in West Jordan.

Disneyland

O.K. So I know Halloween was months ago. Life's been busy and I haven't taken the time to update this blog, and I was waiting to get all pictures printed. So Last year we decided to take the children too Disneyland over Halloween as a Christmas present. I know that sounds funny, but it was great fun. We visited Oct 30, 31 and Nov 1. It was warm (hot compared to the weather we had left behind) and sunny. We had a great time.

We were able to visit Mickey, Minie, Tinkerbell, Cinderella and Woody while in the parks, but we got to play with Goofy in our Hotel lobby and the surrounding gardens.

We had asked the children before we left on our long drive what one things they really wanted to do while in the park and the only thing James REALLY wanted to do was pilot the Mark Twain. So when we hopped on James asked the Captain if he could pilot. The captain let four of us up top and told us wonderful stories of Disneyland. James also enjoyed the "bigger" kid rides with his Aunt Jen and Uncle John who joined us from Texas. By the end of our visit James and knew where all the cameras where and played up to them.

Kenzie, Cami and Livi took advantage of the opportunity to trick or treat around our hotel. Livi was Tinkerbell (she wore that outfit two day in the park) Cami was a chef, and Kenzie just wore scrubs. Each night after watching the fireworks from the hotel room we fell asleep watching the glow of Tinkerbell as she flew around the hotel room.

It was a fabulous trip that we are still talking about. I enjoyed watching the magic return, even if it was only for a short while. The children are already planing the next trip, even though we don't know when it may be. It's enjoyable to have them old enough to do wonderful family trips like this, but it also sad looking back on the days when they were young and life was magical. Now the "magic" of childhood is slowly disappearing. Some days I wish it were possible to return to childhood, and the magic of it all. Disneyland did that for all of us, even if it was only for a short while.

These beautiful pictures were taken by a sweet friend of mine. It was so nice to have a family picture. It's been years since we had one. Thanks Evonne for all your hard work.

To See more of her beautiful work follow the link under My Blog List - Evie B Photography.

A dear friend of mine took family pictures for us and sweet Livi forgot to bring her cute hat. So when we got home I made her tromp through the snow so I could take a few pictures of her with her hat. I was amazed at how beautiful they tured out.

I wanted some new pictures of the kids for my walls, but I didn't want the standard posed school pictures that normally fills them, so I snapped a few pictures of Cami and had every intention of getting some of the rest of the kids but i missed out, so here are some fun pictures of Cami playing in the leaves.