These Days are Precious

Corey stayed home to work today, so that meant I had a car! (Abi had the van at school today and most every Wednesday cause she has Lyceum after). With a car at my disposal, I was able to run an errand to the post office to send Wesley a package. I bought a puzzle at Costco for him, cause they had one for Roswell, which was one of the areas where he served. I also sent him some Lara bars (choc chip) and a few Dubai Chocolates (individually wrapped ones, also from Costco). I also thought a puzzle would be good cause he got into doing puzzles while he was serving in Odessa. I'm not sure if he still is doing them, but if not, he can bring it home in January and we'll all do it together while he tells us stories about Roswell. So after K and I went there, I told her we were going to go see the leaves. I headed up the canyon so it would be close. I thought about at the 1st bridge but kept driving... Grit Mill? No, kept driving... Lisa Falls, no.... We finally turned into White Pine. This is were we had family pictures taken in Feb 2014. The leaves weren't a glorious gold yet, but I knew it would still be pretty. This time, instead of taking the usual trail right/west, I followed Katharine's lead and we explored some forrest stairs. I took a dozen cute pictures of Katharine today, but this one takes the cake. 

Oh my gosh I love this little girl. I took that pic right as we started on the trail and after looking at it I threw my head back in laughter. She is too cute. She started off doing her usual knee pop - 

and I told her to drop her dress and just smile normal, but she can't seem to help but to be a modeling princess. So so so cute, the shoulders, the slightly turned head, I'm dying SHE IS SO ADORABLE. She is my favorite. So she and I went to the White Pine trail but instead of going toward Gloria Falls we went east along a trail that follows the creek toward Snowbird. The trees were lovely, and the mountains that came into view were amazing. 

It was fun to be in a magical forest again. 

We sang and hummed Frozen 2 songs as we walked and talked. 

I especially loved these lyrics from Some Things Never Change:

The winds are restless, could that be why I'm hearing this call?
Is something coming? I'm not sure I want things to change at all
These days are precious, can't let them slip away
I can't freeze this moment, but I can still go out and seize this day! 

Katharine did great and walked the whole time. I asked a few times if she was done or wanted to go back to the car. "No, not yet" and "In a minute" as she kept walking. We went until we reached one of the ski runs for Baby Thunder that had such a view of the mountains, wow! 

Sigh, yeah I don't want things to change at all. Katharine, can you just stay little?? I have two more years with her before she starts kindergarten. These days are precious. I won't let them slip away. I can't freeze time, but I can seize this day. I love you Katharine!!!

Once we reached the big rock, then she was done. I carried her for a little bit on the way back to the car, cause it was steep in a few places and the sand would slide under our feet. We looked for "stairs" and talked about how the roots were our stairs, and then I said "Roots from the trees help us not slip." 

As I said that, I felt there was some symbolism in it. When we're on the path of life, and esp when things are steep, the roots are there usually exposed and they can help us. The roots, the traditions, teachings and faith of our fathers, they've been there in the past, they are deep and strong, they are the  stable roots that can help us not slip. Rocks too! Christ is my rock - his words, each is a rock that I can step on to be firm. When we were almost back at the car, Katharine said "I forgot the little rocks!" and she started to pick up the dirt. 

She likes to shake out the sand so all that is left is a small handful of little rocks, then she does it again. She's cute.

So I was just soaking up happy time with K today. We went by Smith's after to get ice cream for Daniel's birthday on Friday, and treats for him to take to his class (Ding Dongs). Then came home, gave K some mint choc chip ice cream and then secured the rest of it until Friday with a note to not eat it. Then K and I made a tent on the grass outside using the hockey goal and some rakes for our tent frame.

I thought maybe we could take a nap but it was much to fun for K and she couldn't hold still.

She liked hiding in the tent though. So that was my day. I love being a stay at home mom (Thank you Corey!!) Pretty pic of the canyon wall as we waited at a light - there's some single lanes and construction going on. 

Lily got asked to Homecoming on Monday. Tonight she answered by making a cake and decorating it like the cover of the album that the guy referenced (The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams). 

Lily was laughing at how hard it was to do, but also laughing cause she felt that she did a good job considering! haha. She gathered some of her siblings and a few friends from the neighborhood to help her deliver it. They went through the costume bins trying to find masks... Abi drove them out and took this pic. 

I think here we have Sophi, Jane, Jules, Lily, Daniel, Esti, and Natalie, aka Mandalorian, Iron man, Green Lego Ninja, Hulk, Kylo Ren, Hippi Esti, and Wesley from Princess Bride. Quite a group of characters there!