Fireproof

Royce and Sherry Peterson, Lee and Janet Will, Wayne and I went to see the movie "Fireproof" today. It was a very thought provoking and hopeful movie. If you haven't heard of it, it stars Kirk Cameron as a heroic firefighter, who feels like he's appreciated everywhere BUT at home. He and his wife are approaching a divorce, when his father challenges him to wait 40 days and try something called, "The Love Dare". They learn "never leave your partner behind" is applicable to marriage as well as fighting fires. If you haven't seen it, go.....lots to think about and good advice about facing the challenges of marriage.

Then we went to Gelsosomos for dinner. Such good friends, we are blessed to have people to share good times.

End of Summer - Lasts

We went for an outside dinner at Popolano's - probably the last for this summer. Butternut Squash Bisque.....yummmmmm.

More Smiles

Favorite Foto Friday - Smiles

If you're wondering, huh, what in the world is Favorite Foto Friday ??? There are a bunch (sometimes over 70 bloggers) that post pics on the same theme on guess what day? yup, Friday. Sarah, the author of the blog, Kiss the Frog for Me, chooses the theme and everyone who wants to participates, puts a link to their blog on hers. If you want to see other peoples Friday Foto's, go to http://www.kissthefrog4me.blogspot.com/ and you will see tons of links. Make sure you have a comfortable chair....reading blogs can be addictive.

Christmas Card Commercial

I can't pass up free stuff......here's a commercial for a design company in Utah......http://joeyandsuzycarlson.blogspot.com/

ALRIGHTY. IT IS TIME TO SCHEDULE FAMILY PICTURES. THE WEATHER IS PERFECT AND NOW IS THE TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT CHRISTMAS CARDS. I WILL BE TRAVELING OUTSIDE OF SEVIER COUNTY TO SERVE THOSE CLIENTS IN THE GREATER UTAH AREAS. (Not greater as in better than Richfield, but as in the rest of Utah.)IF THESE DATES DON'T FIT INTO YOUR SCHEDULE, WE CAN WORK SOMETHING ELSE OUT. I WILL BE UP IN THE SALT LAKE AREA A LOT. THESE ARE JUST THE DATES I AM FOR SURE ABOUT.ST. GEORGE OCTOBER 1, 2, & 3(I could be persuaded to make stops along the way. . . Cedar City, Beaver, uh, Kanarraville?) on the 1st of October.PRICE OCTOBER 17 & 18SALT LAKE CITY NOVEMBER 7 & 8PRICES ARE POSTED HERE ON MY PHOTOGRAPHY BLOG.(at the bottom)But how about some DISCOUNTS and FREEBIES??1. Discounted sitting fee of $50 for the whole family if you leave a comment on one of my blogs and tell me which location you prefer.2. Reserve your date by paying your sitting fee in advance through paypal and earn one FREE3. Anyone who books a session with me who says they were referred by you will earn YOU a 8x10. (suzy.carlson@gmail.com)free 5x7. (unlimited)
**FREE CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR ANYONE WITH A BLOG**Help me get the word out and receive a FREE digital file containing a custom Christmas card!!
Don't live in Utah? Or just don't need pictures taken? That's okay, you can still benefit from this offer. All you have to do is post on your blog and tell a little bit about what I am offering. Make sure you put a link to my blog in the post. Then leave me a comment telling me that you did it and I will get started on your Christmas card. I will be emailing the files to those who participate so you can have them printed anywhere you like. Email me the picture(s) you would like to use and start looking around for ideas of what you want your card to look like. I will let you know if it is something I can make or not. You choose colors, font, etc.

Today is......click on video to see

Translation: Grandma and Grandpa Adventure Day!

We went to County Line Orchard. It's not too far from us but we've NEVER been there before. It is very cool! We'll definitely be back again soon. Of course, our first stop was LUNCH, LOL. I had stuffed pepper soup in a bread bowl that was awesome. Mom had a sloppy joe sandwich, Dad had a ham sandwich and Maya had two hot dogs (my good little eater).

Then we went to the Farm. What a deal for $3 !! Maya saw ponys, donkeys, llamas, cows, rabbits, chickens, pigs, goats, sheep, turkeys. Lots of the animals had babies, too. It was really nice. Everywhere was clean and relatively non-stinky, except the pigs. Watcha gonna do with those pigs. She got to see eggs hatching and little chicks. Really cool!

Tractors pulled wagons that took you to the apple orchard for picking. I don't remember if/when I've seen apple trees. They weren't how I expected. I thought we'd have to climb ladders, but these were more like apple bushes and it was very, very easy to pick the apples. They were beautiful - the branches loaded with ripe apples - beautiful. But then, the mosquitoes, TONS/BILLIONS of mosquitoes. I felt like ummmm, I don't know, a pin cushion? I am all bit up. Happily, Maya only got one, that I know of anyway. A little like the blueberry picking where it's fun at first, then your glad you don't work picking fruit everyday.

We didn't want to end the great day on the mosquito-note, so we had to get ice cream, right? Yummmmmmm, made us forget all about those nasty bugs.

Grandma and Grandpa - YOU ROCK !!!

Pics from the Apple Orchard

Back to our routine :)

Back home....

We went to Bible study/school this morning. At first Maya was crying, "I don't WANT to go to Bible school, Mommy." But by the time we got in the car, with Puppy-pack of course, she was saying, "Hurry Mommy, I want to go to Bible school." Ahhhhh, the whims of a two year old! Well, you had BIG fun, Maya - hearing stories of Noah, sitting on a rug, snacking on cookies and water - all good. When I registered us for bible study, there was a space for "Special Instructions" on the child registration that was for allergies, potty training instructions, etc. I wrote, "just love her". It's still hard for me to leave you, darling girl. No one can love you in the way that I love you, but I want everyone to care for you, my precious angel.

Mommy had her first small group session and I enjoyed it very much. I'm looking forward to more. My scripture for the week is Luke 1:37, "Nothing is impossible, with God." So true.....

Maya, I hope to make a photo-book from this blog and when you read it someday, know that you are treasured and cherished. You have made my life so rich and full. As Mary asked of God to "expand her imagination", you have expanded my life and filled my heart in ways I didn't even know I could experience.

We were walking through the library today and I remembered dreaming of a day like this a few years ago. I asked myself, "is it everything I thought it would be - to be a mom?" It is everything I dreamed and so, so much more. You are such a complex, beautiful creature of God, Maya. I am in awe of the wonder of you, everyday.

I needed to get some Dolly Parton music to use in the photo montage of our vacation and you needed TWO Charlie and Lola books. After the library, we went to Ronald Donald's, where you ate a hamburger today ! Usually you are a chicken nugget girl, but not today ! Then on to the playground. Such a full day for us. We were both asleep for a long, long nap by three o'clock.

The looooonnnnnggggggg version

If you have a spare 1/2 hour and lots of coffee to keep you awake.....check out all our vacation pics. Just click on the picture just below this and it will link you to a video montage. You don't have to sign in or be a member to watch. and, I know, I know, I take too many pictures ;)


Tennessee Vacation Sept 2008

More Vacation Pics....

We are home safe and sound.......had an AWESOME vacation. I'm so thankful for my good and treasured friends.

Hobart

from Jaime - thanks!

Wednesday

We went back to Dollywood (or Gollywood as Maya calls it) today for the 50s 60s show, more ferris wheel and merry-go-round. We've been fortunate to have beautiful weather.

Wayne grilled some awesome New York Strips for dinner and then we went on a walk to see the view. A game of 10,000- lots of laughs and another day over......