Collecting rocks and other things that make you happy.

Some people collect stamps and others collect cars, I collect rocks and shells. I like to think that each one has a special meaning since I picked them out individually from a vacation or trip. I keep them in a few places around my home. Most are housed on my desk and next to my bathroom sink. (Although I have found a few in my kids bathroom drawer. Funny how things end up there...hmmm. )

I have loved rocks since I was a little kid. I could spend hours walking around looking for the most interesting rock whether it be a cool color or a weird shape. I would look at them and wonder where they had been and the different shapes they had taken over time. Now, as I said before, I bring one home from every vacation. My favorite is a rock/shell from the beach in front of our land in Nicaragua. It is a white thick swirl with a few swirly indentations on the sides. It is so cool I sometimes don't think it is real. Every time I look at it I think that I am so lucky to have found it.In fact, I look at them often and remember the location of where I found them, the vacation or the outing. It makes me smile. (I must admit, I don't remember all of them.)

My kids have just started to notice all of these cool items floating around my space. I am probably a little too protective of them. After all, they are JUST rocks. But I care about my collection. So, today I explained the idea of a collection to my 19 month old. You can imagine how that went over. But, later in the day, I took them for a run and at the half way point I let them get out of the chariot and run around. At the end, I asked them if they wanted to pick out a rock...they said YES!

They are not at "collection" point yet but I think they are slowly learning what my rocks mean to me. I wonder, though, what their collections will consist of...
Skye already has several princess dresses...
My husband collected EVERYTHING. And I mean everything. My mother-in-law finally drew the line at sugar packets...you know that ones from the diner. I think to myself, if my kids did decide to collect sugar packets, I hope they are from all over the world. That could be a cool collection.

Good friends make for a better marriage

We have made some wonderful friends. The funny thing is that my husband has lived in this town for 18 years and has lots of established friends. But, it is true that once you have kids, you find a new set of friends that understand what you are going through. We have found a few couples and I am a firm believer that they make my husband and i better.

We are in the thick of it right now. 2 toddlers under the age of 4. Lots of crying and tantrums. Lots of loving and cuddling. I am trying to control the former and savor the latter.

Tonight, our friends walked into our house to my son screaming his head off cause he wasn't feeling well...I think teething. Most people would turn around and make like they were never there. But these friends walked in asked if they could help and ignored the incredibly disruptive noise. Having them there calmed me down as well. There is almost nothing more stressful than a crying baby. Especially when you want to help but can't.

I guess my point is that we are all in this together...our friends and us. It is fun and comforting to know that we have them to lean on, bitch to and laugh with!!

Thank you friends.

Haning with Jim

When I first met him, he immediately reminded me of my grandpa Charlie. A straight shooter with a warm, warm heart who just wanted to chat and tell his stories. His name is Jim and he was our dinner date this evening. Keri, my sis-in-law invited me to yoga and dinner with her friend. Yoga was a killer but super fun and sweaty. But the real fun came afterwards when we all met for dinner. I didn't know that Keri's friend's father-in-law was going to join us but I was so happy. He sipped on his red wine and told us stories of how he landed his job on wall street, went to the Korean War, spent 6 months in a hospital for fear he had TB (but didn't) and why he moved to Park City. He told us about his health and he would follow it all up with, "But who am I to complain." He was kind enough to let us tell a few stories of our own.

I spoke a bit about my grandpa and how much I loved him. I said that he was a similar straight shooter that would tell you to your face if you had bad breath because he would want you to know and wouldn't know any other way to do it. He had dinner with us practically every night when we were growing up. The funny thing is that I always knew how lucky I was to be that close to my grandpa. I always knew how special he was and how much he meant to our community. I hope my kids see their grandparents that way. I hope they listen to their stories of life and lessons and everything inbetween and know that there is so much to appreciate and learn from them.


I feel like I could have sat there with Jim and the girls forever. I miss my grandpa Charlie every single day and tonight Jim reminded me of how important it is to spend time with our elders. To hear their stories and let them shine. Boy they deserve it. As we left, Jim was saying goodbye to everyone...especially the ladies. I can't wait to meet him for lunch and hear more. Thanks for dinner Keri!

Sorry I have been away!

Time flies when you are having fun. This summer was exactly that. Fun! Fun! Fun!
It was the perfect combo of work and relaxation and excellent activities. We went to the pool plenty which the kids enjoyed so much. It is pretty funny how all the mommies are half in a conversation and half in life saving. I actually just enjoyed sitting by the side, soaking up the sun and watching the kiddos play in the water.
We have some great pools where we live. The shallow end is just deep enough for them to go under but shallow enough so they can stand super easily. I don't think there is anything that is more tiring for a kid than a day at the pool. It was heaven. We would play for 2 hours at the pool and then come back, have lunch and have a delicious nap.
I feel so satisfied when my kids spend lots of time outside and then take a super great nap. Now that I think of it, that is what made my summer so great. We used every ounce of great weather and had fun outside. We tried to camping but go pounded by a wind storm and sand was whipping in our eyes and through our tent and camper. We muscled through it for about 3 hours and then decided to call it quits. All that work to just breakdown our camp and head home. So sad. But we did stop at a wonderful playground on the way home, which ended the trip on a good note.
I took my daughter to Indianapolis for the US Nationals. My mom came along to help watch her while I worked. It was a really fun trip. Just us girls hangin out in Indy. She came to the swim meet a few times and fell in love with Julia Smit. And, of course, she loves Michael Phelps. When we came home, she would put her swim cap on and she would be Julia Smit while I was Katie Hoff. A fun game...especially when you are in the pool. :)

I am sorry I was away for awhile but now I am back and committed to this blog. I hope everyone had a wonderful summer. I will expand on a few of my summer tales. I hope that some of my stories as a mom, wife, friend, athlete, working-mom and struggling cook entertain you a little.