Thursday, August 26, 2010

More Changes.....

I have had so much homework this week that this is the first I have even checked on my blog. However, I really do need to get to bed as it's midnight, but I wanted to get something posted on here so you didn't think I had completely disappeared.

So really quickly before I go to bed, I just want to update you on some new changes coming our way. 

I mentioned previously that my in-laws were coming for a visit and they will be here on Friday.  I am so excited for all the fun times we are going to have.  Bill hasn't seen his parents in over 4 years, so this will really be a wonderful treat for us all. 

Also on Friday my stepson, Kyle, and his wife, Domonique, will also arrive.  They are moving here from Arizona and will be living with us for a while until they can get back on their feet.  Kyle lost his job last week and since they had already planned to move up here next spring they just decided to make it happen now.  Which is fine by me! I am looking forward to having family nearby. 

Kyle hasn't seen his grandparents (my in-laws) in over 12 years.  Having them all together under one roof is going to be so awesome!  I can't wait to take pictures! 

Besides work and school, I have a really busy and fun filled two weeks ahead of me, visiting the in-laws and getting our kids settled.  I hope I will have some time to catch up with all of my dear bloggy friends soon, but it may be a few days before you hear from me. 

I hope all is well in your lives.   TTFN


Friday, August 20, 2010

Never been so glad for a Friday!

I have never been so glad that Friday finally arrived in a very very long time.  This week was my first full week of a full-time, M-F, 8-5 job.  I haven't worked a full time job in several years.  The last time I did was when I worked for myself in Real Estate and was able to work when I wanted, so that doesn't count.  Seriously it's probably been since 1999. 

And it's going to take some getting used to. 

After I get home in the evening I get to see my hubby for 2 hours before he leaves for work and then I start working on my school homework and online courses until midnight every night.  That's the schedule!  There is no time for anything else. 

And that is going to take some getting used to! 

So far I like my job.  It's not stressful and I don't have to bring it home with me, thank goodness.  Plus I am out and about all day long.  However, driving all day can sure take a lot out of a person! 

I don't like NOT getting to spend much time with my hubby.  I don't like working opposite schedules.  And I don't like NOT having much freedom to do anything else.  I'm not used to that! 

I will definitely have to give it some time to get used to this new life of mine.   All is good though!  I'm just really tired right now. I can't wait to get some extra sleep on Saturday morning. 

Here is something totally random -

I got my hair cut into a new style that I have never worn before, the A-line bob.  I love it!  It looks better in person. 




Well TTFN - I have to get some sleep!



Friday, August 13, 2010

Oh give me a home, where the Buffalo roam

In order to get to some areas of federal land where there are hiking trails, one must cross Ted Turner's many properties.  He owns thousands upon thousands of acres all around this area.  On this particular day we were heading out to do some hiking in the Spanish Creek area and we had to cross Ted Turner's Ranch where there are literally thousands of free ranging buffalo.  They are everywhere, including on the road.  I could seriously reach out my window and touch them if I dared.  It was an amazing sight to see.  Better than the buffalo I've seen in Yellowstone. 




There were buffalo of all ages.  We stopped and watched two old grand daddy buffalo butt heads with each other for a while.  Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of that. 








We really enjoyed the drive.  The scenery was beautiful and to see all those buffalo up close and personal was just an amazing sight.   It reminds me of this song.....

Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day

Home, home on the range
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day




















Wednesday, August 11, 2010

July 4th Weekend

I know it's like way late, but I wanted to post some of our pictures from our July 4th weekend.

I've had a couple days off from school until my next classes begin so I decided to spend some time editing some of my photos.

We went camping up Hylite Canyon for the July 4th weekend.  Here are a few of my favorites..... 


Hylite Resevoir - A view from the trail

Bill, Daisy & Abbie on the trail

Hylite Resevoir

A cool fort or a blind that someone had started

My favorite view of Hylite Resevoir

Our home away from home - Bill fishing in background

The only fish that was caught was mine! It was yummy too!

Daisy loving to explore

Daisy & Abbie exploring

A view of Hylite Creek

We had a really nice, relaxing weekend enjoying nature. 

I will be posting more of my photos on my photography blog so make sure you check it out! 

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Trip to Utah, A Job, School and Other Good Stuff

Wow!  So it's been a while since I've actually posted anything noteworthy.   I have posted a couple things here and there, mostly pictures, but nothing that stands out as amazing. I'm sorry for being such a slacker!  It's just that I have had a crazy past few weeks and I don't see that ending any time soon.  In fact, my life just got even more crazy, but it's all good.  I will just have to include blogging time into my schedule and be better at sticking to it. 

Here is what has been keeping me away....

School - You all know that I started school about 6 weeks ago at Colorado Technical University Online.  I am loving it!  But needless to say it's a full-time commitment in and of itself. Continuing my education is a HIGH priority for me right now and I am fully committed to achieving high grades and making the deans list in the near future.  So far I have an A in both classes.  Yeah!  This past week I have been working on my final papers for my classes, as we start a new session next week.  So I have been non-stop schooling lately.  Upcoming classes will be a little harder as I will be moving into Business Math and English Composition I.

Trip to Utah - Last week we made a trip to Utah for my family's camp out at Gooseberry Reservoir.  I'll get to that in just a minute. 

First I want to mention that Bill and I got to meet his daughter that was given up for adoption 25 years ago for the first time.  She and her husband, David, live in Arizona and just so happened to be in Salt Lake on the same weekend as us to attend the funeral of David's sister who had passed away.  Natalie made contact with Bill about a year ago and they have kept in contact since then.  Meeting Natalie and David was the most amazing experience.  She is so beautiful, inside and out! She and David just got married in May and they are a perfect match for each other.  After we left from meeting with them, we realized we didn't even take one picture.  And I even took my camera with me for that very reason.  I was and still am so upset by this.  So I had to borrow this picture of them from her facebook profile (I hope you don't mind Natalie).  We look forward to spending more time with them in the near future.   We are very blessed!


Now back to the camping trip... All of my family; my parents, all my siblings, nieces and nephews, and my kids all went camping to Gooseberry Reservoir in Sanpete County. The only person that was missing was my BIL, my sister,Valerie's husband, Bob.  And he was very much missed! This trip had been planned for many months and it was just so nice to be together. We had not been back home since we moved a year ago. 

We fished, camped, ate great food, had some fun nights around the camp fire telling silly progressive stories which was a hoot.   Did I mention that we fished?  We all caught 1 or 2 fish, but I think my 6 yr old niece caught a ton of fish all on her tiny Dora pole.  Every time she would throw her line in she would get a bite, it didn't matter that my line was right next to hers and it had the same bait.  For some reason the fish just loved her! 

Here is a movie I made of our trip...




We returned back to Salt Lake from camping on Sunday afternoon which left Bill and I a little time to visit with some friends and past neighbors for a little while.  I was able to catch up with some friends of mine who I haven't seen in several years, and who just happened to be in Utah also on this same weekend.  I feel very blessed to have been able to have this opportunity for chance meetings. It was also really nice to spend some time with my kids, but now I am missing them like crazy!  The weekend was so AWESOME! 

Job Status - My work with the Census ended a few days before our trip to Utah and so I had been really stepping up my time spent seeking a new job.  I met with a Career Assistance Advisor through my school who assisted me in revamping my resume and brushing up on my interview skills.  And I spent many hours apply for job after job during this past month.  On July 26th I received a phone call from O'Reilly Auto Parts, a place that I had applied to several months ago.  A job opening has come available and I interviewed that day, and found out the next that I got the job.  Yes, you read that right..... I finally got a job!  It's a full-time position driving auto parts around.  And it couldn't have come at a better time.  Yeehaw!

Now this is where my life gets even more crazier.  Full-time school + Full-time job = A very full life!  Now I just have to figure out how to keep it all in balance including my family and social commitments.  I haven't had a full-time job in a few years and I definitely have not had school on top of it.  But hey, people do it all the time, right? 

Other stuff - I have hundreds of pictures I still need to edit and post of our hikes and Daisy's Adventures.  I haven't spent a lot of time on that because I still need to get a new computer and an external hard drive for this one before I start adding more files to it.  That will be a project I will have to work in my spare time. Ha!  And I would still like to be able to spend some time catching up on your blogs too.  Life is just getting in the way just a bit right now.  I hope you will forgive me. 

Great News - I'm SO excited that my in-laws are coming for a visit later this month.  I am really looking forward to spending some good time with them.  MIL is an excellent photographer and am hoping she can teach me a thing or two. Here is a cute picture of the two them and their dog "Dinky"..... 



Can't wait to see you Mom & Dad!

Now to all my bloggy friends out there.... I promise to catch up with you over the next few days.  I can't wait to see whats been happening in your lives. 


Thursday, August 5, 2010

ALMOST WORDLESS WEDNESDAY!!




Smoky skies make great sunsets. 
But Montana already has the Best!