*thousands of words*

the beginning of a beautiful adventure...

a work in progress! i {love} having friends with talents! a good friend of gailon's from work needed something and we needed something ....presto! a match made in fireplace heaven!

almost there! the mantel arrives this week!
CAN'T WAIT!!!


our first jars of tomato sauce that are from our garden!! i learned some really valuable lessons! let's just say that, well, steam is hot and can burn you...oowie!

a sneak peak of the cutest little guy!


friends are so fabulous, wouldn't you say? i can't imagine my life without amazing friends!

........wishing ...hoping ...dreaming....

so much has happened in the last little bit, i don't know where to start. between the summer ending, beginning a new year at school with older kiddos, being selected to adopt a baby girl and then a change in the plan...

no wonder i am ready for life to take a bit of a break so i can catch my breath.

i am feeling so blessed to have such a wonderful husband! i truly am glad to have him for my best friend. he reminded me the other day that i was his best friend and that we needed to set up a date to wander....oh, i am so ready!!

i love you my dear gailon!

{oh what do you do in the summertime?}

This summer was a very nice one, given the fact that I did not teach summer school. I had many classes that I took instead....a science course, a semester course in field biology in one week, a math course, computer course, and in a few days a history course! cRaZy!~

I made my first, from scratch peach pie...
....I also was able to go to California for a wedding....
...congratulations morgan and jessie! What a beautiful wedding ceremony

and reception...




....enjoy the beach!

.....be gouged by gas prices! OUCH!

and enjoy the company of friends.

sadly i was unable to see "my kiddos" and their parents...who gets strep throat and the chicken pox's at the same time? seriously?! hopefully all will be well soon...but i missed seeing my t...

** fOuRtH oF jUlY **

We had a great time on the third for the Fourth!

~ {in Utah, if a holiday falls on a Sunday, then it is celebrated the Saturday before} ~

We had about thirty people over for a bbq and watch the city fIrEwOrKs from our backyard. I, unfortunately, forgot my camera during the fireworks in the front yard and in the backyard!
But I did get a few of the crowd~


It's hard work swimming and playing with new friends!

{Munching on Cajun Burgers, ribs, BLT salad, fruit salad, fruit, chopped salad, chips and fresh from the garden salsa, and dips. Not to forget the yummies like german chocolate cake, carrot cake, the always needed flag cake with a tucker twist, and the cutest and yummiest star sugar cookies!}

Thanks to everyone for their contributions!!

My little buddy wondering when he is going to get his shot at the yummies!



* i came in to get a picture of the amazing spread, and this is what i met instead! a crowd! *



... picture this: our dinning room table stretched to its largest length and then filled from end to end, and everywhere in between with bowls and platters. got it?...



Only one picture of the BLT salad!

Oh well! Happy Fourth of July!

{one year}

It is hard to believe that it has already been one year since we moved to Utah.
So many changes and experiences.
And the best is yet to come!!

{i love you more than all the stars in the sky}

{done}

**I DID IT!!!**

I had a goal in mind and beat it!

My final time was 3hours 57 minutes and 9 seconds...and to top it off, I have runner's feet! {BIG} blisters on my piggie toes and under a big toe...ouchie! Next time, more moleskin!

on your mark...

running clothes set out...check,

music ready...check,

words of comfort from gailon...check,

yummy carb loaded meal...check,

personal pep talk...check,

running my first marathon...priceless... ♥