Animal encounters!

While out running yesterday, I saw a hill and said to myself, "That looks like a fun place to do some hill repeats!" I know some of you think that is kind of sick but I like the challenge of it. As I run up the hills I say to myself in some Arnold Swarzenegger type accent "Strong like Bull!". But when this morning rolled around and I actually had to put on my shoes and get out the door to make good on my little goal, I felt a little differently. So, I procrastinated and sat at the computer to check my e-mails. My friend Kris Olson had written on my wall words of encouragement about a run I did recently. That was all I needed to get myself out the door. I am sharing this little story to illustrate how important and powerful words of affirmation can be.

I looked at my hill and decided I would do five repeats and then jog back home. I noticed as I raced up the hill that little black spider legs kept disappearing into the dirt holes as I came upon them. I wondered how much the dirt around the spiders in their holes shook each time I passed over them. On the trail back, I came across a small brown/grey snake curled into an S shape on the trail. I wondered if it was dead and wanted to touch it with my shoe but what if it was an alive baby rattle snake? I didn't really think it was but decided to error in the favor of caution. So I found a small stick and nudged it. It moved a little but seemed on the brink of death. So I rolled it out of the middle of the trail and into some shade. Hopefully, it will recover.

As I approached my front porch, two small birds were circling quite close overhead. The other day Callie, Jordan and Caylee saw what they thought was a baby sparrow perched above the door. Caylee and I ran out to see it but it was gone. So, today as I stood on the front steps, these two birds kept circling and getting closer to me then taking off and coming in again. I wondered if I was a threat to them. I stepped on to the porch and away from the front roof. That settled them down and they landed on the rain gutter and gazed down at me. I came upstairs and looked out the loft window hoping to see a nest. It must still be higher but there is a fair amount of bird doodo on the roof just outside my window. It has been a fun morning and I am happy I actually completed my run. Yea! LIfe is good.

Poison Ivy

This is my last blog of the night, I am about out of pictures and it is almost midnight!. I went for a jog along the Mathew Winters Trail last Monday and evidently I brushed by some poison ivy. I hope it heals soon! The run was worth it though. This trail took me on top of a big foot hill just north of Red Rocks. The wild flowers were so beautiful. What a great time of year!

Happy Birthday to Celeste!

Travis surprised Celeste with a trip for her birthday so we had the boys for a few days and celebrated today as a family. We missed Cassy and Taylor. Happy Birthday Celeste!

Camping in Capital Reef, Utah

Jenny and Travis flew in from the East to spend 10 days with mom and dad. Cami, Caylee and I drove out to Southern Utah to meet up with them for a short camping trip. We stayed at the 1000 Lakes RV Park in Torrey. It is just minutes from Capital Reef State park. The first night we stayed in a cabin, the next two nights in tents by the camper. We had a great time. We visited, told jokes, ate, played around in Goblin Valley, hiked up a stream to a water fall, picnic'd, and went fishing. Mom says this is one of her favorite state parks. It is pretty amazing. It is so desolate and beautiful. Fun, fun trip.

Hiking the Mesa Trail with Kip

Kip, Haley and Tucker hiked on the Mesa Trail with us on a Tuesday morning in June. We met behind Chautauqua, left a car and started the hike at NCAR. It is such a beautiful place. I have so many fond memories of spending time up there as a kid. The house I lived in on Ithaca is only a couple of blocks away. Kip hadn't ever been on the Mesa Trail so it was fun to share it with her.

Girls Camp

Cami and I attended the Arvada Stake High Adventure Girls Camp at Camp Firewalker in the middle of June. This camp is located East of Bailey on the shores of Lake Wellington. It is a very beautiful spot. Due to so much rain this year, the area was teeming with wild flowers. We had beautiful weather, not to hot but blue skies. Cami completed all of the High Adventure activities. She did the leap of faith, the cat walk, the obstacle course, the high ropes course and the rappelling. She was very brave and very impressive. I attended this camp a couple of years ago and did the high ropes course then. This year, I did the rappelling and cat walk. The cat walk was fun because I was able to go off backwards and hang upside down. I loved the hike up to the rappelling site and the rappelling was a blast also. It was a fun camp. I gave the Fireside presentation on the first night and had to sing for my lost hat in front of the whole group on the last night. Cami sang with me. She was a good sport.

Family History Project

Many of you may have noticed that Kathy has not updated her blog in quite some time (almost 2 months!). During this time she has been diligently working on a rather large Family History project. She finally finished today! Congratulations Mom! But I (Callie) am updating the blog for her because she is still putting the finishing touches on the project and I thought that it was about time we see a new post! So enjoy these pictures of Kathy hard at work and of course I had to slip one in of cute baby Drake giving Grandma Kathy one of his first smiles.