Rollicks=FUN

Saturday evening was filled with some crazy fun. If you have not played the game Rollicks-you should. I will get to that in a moment.
Landon(above) was so excited the week i was there because he was dropping teeth left and right. I would get a report every time I saw him. At first they were wobbly, then he lost one, then the other came out. It was an exciting time for Landon and Aunt Hollie--who loved that that was the first thing he would tell me about. I hope your other wobbly tooth has come out as well Landon.

Jace being super cute, although still shy with the crazy Auntie that he never sees. He was having some fun with his Papa and so the smile was easy to catch.

Thus begins ROLLICKS-a game of two person charades that can be a real blast if you have people who aren't afraid to get up close and personal sometimes. :)

WARNING** Do not have young children close by, they could or could not end up being knocked over by adults flying through the air. Not that I'm saying that happened, just a precaution you may want to take.***

Jeni and Amanda

Matt and Blake

Denise and Chelsi

Kasey and Derek

Another of Matt and Blake

I'm going to say it...I'm pretty sure that Kalli and I owned that game. Yes, I just said it, we rocked and I will challenge anyone who argues that fact. :) To bad no one picked up the camera for our many exciting turns.

Brinlee and Chloe. A pair of cuties right here. I loved how much Brinlee would come and give me hugs while I was in town. I saw her quite a few times and each time she went on and on about everything in her life. Including asking why I didn't bring her a gift at her birthday party :) LOL Loved it! I told her she forgot to invite me to her party. Love ya girls!

Blake and Gracie hanging out.

My nieces are better than your nieces, :)

Wynter showing off her stuff. Syke and Wynter are total rock stars in my eyes!! They had a snowboarding/skiing event while I there and I was so glad to be able to see them do their thing.
Wynt and Me

Syke showing of her skills

Skye and Me

Wynter, Grandma, Skye and Grandpa

More goodbyes

Grandma, Aunt Pat, Aunt Linda and my Dad. :) AKA...some of my favorite people in my world! I still need to blog about a visit, last year, I had with these wonderful women you see here. I am calling them out here to see if i can get those pictures. :) Love you guys.

Grandpa, Mindy, Linda, Grandma, Pat, Andy, Hollie, Denise, Don and Vic.

Don and Linda live in MA and were headed back late Friday night. I was glad that after my fabulous shopping day and pedicures with Mindy, Mom, and Christy I was able to visit with Linda and Don before they headed back.

Mike and I would love to have an east coast assignment, maybe even in MA so we could live close by for awhile. :) I have a feeling we might be at least visiting that area when we go back stateside, it is just so tempting to explore when you know people who live somewhere fabulous.

Snow Shoeing

Christy in her element of being in the snow on top of a mountain. Christy invited me to do some of my training up in the mountains with her in the way of snow shoeing. I have to say, I loved it! Even though there were times when breathing was difficult due to the lack of oxygen at that altitude, I had a blast. I have never actually been skiing or snowboarding so even going on the lift was a new experience for me. I will admit I was a little nervous, but I made it to the top. Didn't dare take a picture from up in the air, that would have required letting go of the bar.

The newly fallen snow that week had made it an extra awesome time on the trail. We were fortunate enough that someone had already broke most of the trail. I didn't realize how grateful until we had to break our own trail. :) This is a picture of me on top of a branch or something else making up a small bridge over a frozen stream. It was so gorgeous up there.

Christy in all of her gorgeousness. She has to be the most active person I know, if she is not snowboarding or patrolling for her job she is teaching yoga, or other aerobics class. If she is not doing that she is gardening, running, or just having fun with her hubby and girls. Love her to bits and pieces. Glad we had this chance to be together in the mountains.

The part of the trail that we had to break, this was behind us.......

This was the trail in front of us. Christy estimated we were in about 20 inches of snow, fresh snow that is. :)

Not going to lie again, I am a scaredy cat. Christy looked over her shoulder from in front of me as we were going sideways across these hills to get to the easier way down.

She said, "sorry this is kind of awkward going at this angle."

I replied, "well it is awkward and slightly terrifying."

I was really just waiting for myself to go tumbling down the hill. Luckily, I didn't.

Thanks to Christy for the great day out. I don't think I am quite the expert, but I do hope that our next assignment will put us somewhere where we can do some more snow time activities like this.

Dave and Verlee

My dad and I got up early Sunday morning and went to my Grandma and Grandpas house to say goodbye to Uncle Dave and Aunt Verlee. They had to head back to WA and wanted to get ahead of the storm that was coming down and piling snow by the inches. I adore these two and have great memories of attempting to ski in the Columbian River with them. For the record, my Aunt Verlee makes some fabulous enchiladas as well! :) I'm trying to convince them a trip to Europe would be a grand idea.

SNOW!

SNOW!!!!

I was so happy to see the huge flakes falling Saturday night. Obviously being born and raised in Utah I have fallen in love with snow and miss it when we are away. Even though I was ready for bed I had to throw on a coat and play in the snow. The snowball I threw at my mom went a little off course and ended up in the house. Its been awhile since I was guilty of this crime. :)

Family

Just a few random shots from the funeral. Matt, Mindy, Kris, Noah, and Kevin all hanging out waiting for the service to start. I laughed when I learned what Noah said when he found out i was coming to town. Mindy told him I was coming in and he said, "yes, I love when she comes, she always brings us the good chocolate." :) If I had to be known for something, I was grateful it was for something as important as chocolate.

My mom with Uncle Kent, Uncle Bob, Aunt Diane, Aunt Selma, Uncle Craig, and Jenny(cousin) I have no idea why my Aunt Cheryl was missing from this picture--she was there as well.

Aunt Verlee with Heather

My Grandpa Galloway and myself.

Running

I have been doing a fair amount of running lately and have found a new love. I have enjoyed the chance to clear my mind, get away and have felt so much more fit and energetic. These few pictures are from Scotland. I had them on my phone, so they have taken a moment to get on here. This is Caslte Semple. You can't actually get to it, but it was neat to go running and run past 300 year-old history.

London Day Trip

It is about time I get caught up and stay caught up on this blog of ours. In February I went with my friend Toni down to London for a girls day out. We went with no plans and no children, the only way to travel sometimes. After discovering that ticket prices for a theatre were going to be way too much, we opted to walk over to the Tower of London and have a tour there. We first ate at a wonderful little place. I don't even know the name of it, but I do know where it is. Such fabulous sandwiches and hot chocolate were had to warm us up for our day ahead. It was cold and windy, but the lack of rain made it completely tolerable.

The Tower of London is quite the day of history thrown at you all at once.

Loved this tiny little suit of armour, it was incredibly cute.

This is some of the carvings that were on the walls where they held some of the prisoners in the Tower of London. Some were done by the prisoners themselves, and others were fashioned by mason's that were hired and told what to carve by the prisoners.

We had a great time and enjoyed our time away from life and responsibility for the day. I would advice all mothers to take a break and enjoy a day now and then to themselves to do something refreshing and fun for them. Thanks for coming along with my Toni!

Uncle George

On February 15th I found out that my Uncle George passed away. I was devastated to live so far away and felt hopeless in my ability to be home and be there for the funeral and to be with my family. The next day Mike called me on my way home from the base and told me I needed to go home. He had sorted out a couple days of leave and could sort out the rest of the week with our friends to help with the kids.
I got to Utah the Friday evening before the funeral and was so grateful to be there. My Uncle George was someone who had always been very dear to my heart. He was always making me feel special and loved. My first thought after finding our that he had passed was knowing that when I went home I wouldn't have one of his famous hugs. The kind of hug that makes you feel like you are the most important thing to him right then. I will miss those hugs.
My Uncle George also always had a little sweetie in his pocket for us. When I went back home for Christy's 100 mile run in September I was at my cousin Jacob's 8th Birthday party. Uncle George was there and after one of his wonderful hugs he pulled out a package of sweets and handed them to me, stating that I was never to old to get something special from my Uncle George. Uncle George will be missed by many who loved him for the service and kindness he showed to so many. I love you so much Uncle George.

The bitter sweet part of funerals is that you are saying goodbye to one member of the family, but you get to see those family members that mean so much to you. Seeing so many people that I love all together was a blessed day in my book. It was priceless and special.

I just saw this picture opportunity and had to take it. Uncle Dave and Kellie. I'm pretty sure I just happened to get the best Uncles in the world. They are everything a proper Uncle should be.

Speaking of Uncles, I'm so grateful I get to be an Auntie..I also have fabulous Auntie's that have taught me all the proper ways to succeed in being an Auntie. This is myself and Kris. It is essential to be a little silly, have a lot of fun, and never miss the chance to stick out our tongue for a picture. :)

The flowers and everything for the funeral were incredible. The food provided, service rendered and time spent in helping my Aunt Marla and those suffering from the loss of George was amazing.

Instead of flowers they also received these fruit bouquets that were adorable in so many ways. Just thought I would highlight the amazing pineapple flower. :)

Myself and my Aunt Marla. I adore my Aunt Marla and all the memories I have with her and the whole family. George and Marla had me over in their home for sleepovers, we went Christmas tree hunting with them, myself and my cousin AJ were told we were so much like twins that I felt like a daughter to George and Marla. I love them both so much, I'm grateful for a husband who knew where I needed to be and who made it happen. I am so lucky to have the family I do, both extended and immediate. The amazing relationships I have with each of them are a treasure to me.

A blog has been set up for those of us who will cherish always our uncle, husband, brother, friend, father, cousin, and son George S. Mason
www.memoriesofgeorgesmason.blogspot.com