San Antonio...DAY 1..this is the LIFE!

After FINALLY landing in San Antonio at 1:30pm (almost 12 hours after getting up to get ready to head to Salt Lake International), gathering our luggage, renting a car, riding 

a shuttle to the car rental garage, loading the luggage into the rental car...we were not only TIRED

but STARVING! The resort that we were staying in was right down town, amongst 

all the hustle and bustle of the city...and to top it off it was Cinco De Mayo! The city was alive 

with everything Mexican. It was so much fun. We found this adorable little restaurant, "Pico De Gallo", where we could sit down and take in the wonderful atmosphere of the holiday and some

scrumptious AUTHENTIC Mexican food!

The decor was fabulous and I felt as though I was sitting in a little place in downtown

Mexico City....the lighting on the other hand, was not so fabulous for picture taking... 

Cameron and I ready for some REAL food...no more airport peanuts and crackers for us...

Bring on the Enchilada's, the Fajitas, the Refried Beans and Spanish Rice!

Poor Halle got sick the day before we left (AND our Dr was out of town). 

She had an awful sinus and ear infection.

 Her first airplane ride caused so much pressure in her head, she was in tears, she

was miserable and just wanted to sleep (but couldn't).. BUT she was on vacation and determined to have a great time...regardless of feeling like she wanted to spend the entire week curled up with a box of kleenex, a decongestant and a warm fuzzy blanket. She was a trooper and even smiled for a fun photo op by this crazy chicken (which I failed to get a complete picture of...he was pretty COOL)! 

At the restaurant, we were serenaded by this awesome trio of singers (the other one isn't in the picture...he wouldn't fit)...It was CRAZY FUN and made us all smile!

After dinner we went back to our resort where we quickly settled in. Deron and I took a walk down the AMAZING River Walk (more about that in an upcoming post)

 then we came back and threw on our PJ's...ready for an EARLY bedtime 

(by now we had been up for 18 hours!)

But check out our AMAZING room...which just happened to be the "Presidential Suite"!

...Bedroom #2

...Kitchen/Dining area (yes, thats a bag of garbage in the picture....I hadn't taken it out yet)

...Dining table/area

...Living room area

...Bedroom #1

I failed to snap a picture of the bathrooms (2) but they were HUGE and just as amazing. 

These pictures don't do the suite justice, it was gorgeous and we felt like royalty staying there!

NOW....off to bed...because the next day starts our busy, fun filled, crazy whirlwind of a week!

"..Leaving On a Jet Plane...don't know when I'll be back again"~

For Christmas, Deron's parents gave us a trip. We got to pick anywhere we wanted

to go...so Deron picked San Antonio Texas.

He has always wanted to see the Alamo...so this was the perfect opportunity to see it.

We planned, we bought our plane tickets, we searched for "adventures" to be had in San Antonio, we packed and finally last Saturday we packed up the car to head to Salt Lake for our early morning flight.

When we arrived in Salt Lake, we decided to go to the Gateway and walk around for a bit ...maybe catch 

a movie and feel the sun on our faces as we wandered around. 

...and enjoyed some of the spring tulips and the bustling crowds that

were out for a nice warm spring day. 

Some of us were a little more "accommodating" when it came time for pictures...and some were not!

The Gateway is a fun place to just walk around...but we "sat" around too...thats fun as well. 

...and we took some crazy fun pictures....just excited to be headed out on a crazy

FUN adventure!...especially Halle who was going to experience her very first airplane ride (that she can remember...she flew when she was born (life flight) and also when she was 2...but she said neither of those count because she doesn't remember them)

Halle and I took a little stroll when we got to the Hotel. My legs were killing me

and I needed to walk and get the circulation going. 

The sun was starting to set in the west and as it did, it was 

reflecting off this building, making for an amazing sight!

 It didn't last for long, but while it did...it was very cool!!

Halle and I headed back to the Hotel to try and get some sleep...2:30AM was going to come EARLY!

...and when we landed, we hoped to be ready to take on the world (or San Antonio). 

....to be continued! 

Nap Time...

The other day when I had the boys for the afternoon, they both fell asleep on my lap!

I layed them down on the bed so they could get some sleep...but as soon as I did, 

Little Kasyon popped his eyes open as if to say, "Just kidding Grandma...I'm awake"...

"....and I don't want to sleep anymore!"

Love these two little men...everyday!

Uphill...in the snow...both ways~ TrUe StoRy!

A couple of weeks ago, this gentle giant of mine, asked if I would go for a ride with
him. I jumped at the chance to spend time with him since I never get to see
much of him...and off we went. Cam proceeded to tell me that he was
going to take me to my dad and brothers cabin...in the mountains. Although the snow
in town is gone, I realized that the snow most likely wouldn't be gone at the higher elevation.
Let me back up just a bit....
the cabin is not only in the mountains, but requires driving on a steep, very narrow and
most often terrifying road. For years, I have been told by MOST who have
experienced this road, that I (being terrified of heights + treacherous roads) wouldn't appreciate
the drive OR the thrill that some get from experiencing such roads! Needless to say, just the thought
of being on that road was giving me anxiety (at a VERY level)...
BUT I wanted to spend some time with Cameron so I decided to bite the bullet and "just do it".
We drove up the canyon and talked...deep conversation about many deep thoughts.
As we came close to where the road was going to turn up toward the "OTHER" road that would go TO the cabin, Cameron pointed up to a VERY steep mountain at a dug way that went along the edge of the mountain and told me that we would be driving on THAT....(WHAT????) I was sure
 he was pulling my leg and was just trying to scare me....until he turned off the GOOD road and onto a very steep road (which at that point I realized he wasn't kidding). It was a dirt road that was made for oil trucks, so it was in good shape, but steep and scary none-the-less.
Cameron kept telling me that he would tell me when the "scary" part came so I could close my eyes....
we were driving along on what I felt was a scary road, when out of the blue he says..."Close your eyes, right now"....not wanting to see what lied ahead, I closed my eyes just as we started to slide and slip. Being in 4wheel drive, and STILL sliding all over was not a reassuring feeling. He tried to make it up the mountain,
but because it was STILL COVERED in snow and MUD we had to back back down the steep, slippery mess and get another run at it!! I WAS SHAKING terribly and as we finally reached a flatter area, Cam told me that I could open my eyes. Assuming the worst was over I belted out a sigh of relief and tried to
control my emotions (YES..I really WAS THAT scared)...just about the time I was
starting to calm down a bit, Cam said that I better close my eyes again...UHG here we go again!
This time he "gunned" it and I could tell there was NO making it up the hill, he backed down AGAIN and tried to get a better run at it, AGAIN, we had to back back down...BY NOW I had literally HAD ENOUGH, I was shaking so bad that even my voice was affected. I told Cam I was bailing out of the truck and would walk to the cabin regardless of how far it was...BUT I WOULD NOT take another run at that steep, slippery road!...so I opened the door and got out before he just drove up anyway. He proceeded to tell me that the cabin was still a long ways away, I assured him I was in for any distance of a walk before I
was mentally or emotionally drive up that awful road. SOOOOoo.....off we hiked.
Neither of us was dressed for a hike, let alone a HIKE in the snow and MUD...but we did it.

(PS...this was the better part of the snowy road...the part that was in the sun...the part of the road
that was in the shade still had FEET of snow. Some of which was almost to my knees)
We hiked for probably 2 miles...but we had a good time. It was nice to have heart to heart
conversation, something that wouldn't have happened had we DROVE to the cabin...so you could say,
our UPHILL, in the SNOW, BOTH WAYS, hike was well worth it!

Finally we reached the cabin, and it was a beautiful view...probably much better in the summer, but still a view that made you feel as though you could see the entire world from where we stood. 

The cabin was nice...we plopped down inside for long deserved rest!

NO cell service, no disturbances...just peaceful and quiet.  So we relaxed!

 

After catching our breath, we decided we better start our 2 mile trek back to the truck before the sun went

down....It was chillier (than it was on the way up) and a little breezy but we laughed  and had a great time... even as we slipped and slid in the slush both up and down the hills...making bets as to who would land on their "backside" first...I'm happy to report, we both stayed upright the entire way (only barely, but we did)!

It was a fun day (all except my terror on the slick roads) and 

I'm glad Cam invited me to go with him...next time we'll go on a 

BETTER road, one with NO MUD, NO SNOW and someplace we 

won't have to use 4 wheel drive to get there (or try to get there).

I love time with my kids!

Success...oh what a feeling!

 After several late nights, long days and many, many hours working feverishly....

our Spring Boutique was a giant success!! 

Dayna and I set out all of our crafts in my dining room and quickly turned it into 

a makeshift "showroom". At promptly 2:00PM, we had carloads of people come through the door

and gather up their favorite things....by 2:45pm more than 2/3 of our inventory was bought out!

It was a crazy first hour and we LOVED every second of it...

all our hard work, long hours and lack of sleep quickly paid off!! 

Ahhhhhhhh....*sigh*....now to put up our feet and take a little break!

Spring Boutique Craziness~

Dayna and I decided a month ago, that we wanted to do a 

"Spring Boutique" with crafts that we made. We did one in the fall and it 

was a HUGE success...but we had also worked on our crafts for MONTHS.

We have both been working FEVERISHLY for the past 4 weeks to get everything ready.

I'm exhausted, have decided the the smell of modge podge and paint are NOT 

one of my favorite smells, and have come to appreciate sleep (because we have both

put in many LONG NIGHTS). 

Tomorrow is the BIG event...I am a little nervous and alot excited! Hope we 

get a large crowd and it turns out to be a huge amount of fun for everyone!

Most of my "crafts" are "upcycled" things...which I LOVE to do!!

These are "old goose canisters" from the DI, made into fun antique looking canisters~

 I'm loving this magazine rack...its so fun and different! If it doesn't sell, I might just keep it!

This armoire is my pride and joy...I LOVE how it turned out, the pictures don't do it justice. 

I spent 14+ hours, sanding, painting, antiquing and sanding again. I have to say...its probably my VERY favorite! NOW, I hope it sales!

I made 3 of these necklace holders after seeing them in a darling little clothing boutique in the city!

I am LOVE them as well! 

Its been a lot of fun visualizing, creating and designing my "upcycle" crafts...

now to get them ALL sold!

Date Night~

Last week I had the opportunity to take Cam on a "Mom and Son" date! I don't get to do that very much now that he is older...he's busy with work and friends and "life".  When my kids were all young, and living at home, we made a point to take one of them on a little "date" once a week and just do something they wanted to do. Sometimes it was dinner, sometimes it was a movie, sometimes it was just going to the park and having a picnic  I haven't been as diligent in taking the time to do that since my children have gotten older...but I'm trying to be a better mom and recommit and making time's like these a priority. I had so much fun with Cam. We went to dinner and then we just went to a few places that he needed to go. The most fun is just the drive to and from our destination...the long talks, the laughing, the crying (sometimes) and just the joy of being together! I have great kids....and I'm glad they are "OKAY" with hanging out with me sometimes.

 Thanks Cam for being such an awesome guy! I sure love you!!