Guess how much we missed you, Jade?

"Look out Tennessee...

here comes Jade"!

Reality set in this past week that you've been gone to Tennessee.
I've thought A LOT about the words that I heard from another mom...

"Today I revel in the bittersweet passing of time,

 thinking of all the mamas who let go one day at a time"!

(photo circa Summer 2003)
I can't believe my boys are all grown up!
It seems like just yesterday when this photo was taken.

Now here you and Ethan are..

ages 19 and 11
and YOU are about ready to head out on your 
first real journey and adventure in life without us!

First off, I just want to tell you how PROUD I am of you!
When I took you to school registration last week, I was just touched by how you were an advocate for yourself in making sure that you got your old locker back.
I had to snap this photo, 
as it made me so PROUD to see you taking care of yourself and voicing your opinion.

That kind of persistence and attitude will take you far in life.

Remember this cool Monster's, Inc.
 flower display we saw in Idaho Falls on your last day home?
It was pretty awesome!

Saying good-bye..

Just thought you would enjoy seeing life at home while you've been gone.

I sure have LOVED the beautiful bouquet
 that you brought home to me on your last day working at Susan's!
It has just brightened up our dining room table and every time I look at it I think about my sweet son Jade!

I took Ethan to register for 6th grade.

He was SO excited to get a locker and to meet his teacher!

I made "Rolo Pencils" for my scouts and even extras to throw in dad and Ethan's lunch for the first day of school!


You'll never guessed what happened on Tuesday August 27th
(the day before school started).
There was a bad accident and it took down a power line.
I was really excited because I had made up pizza dough and cut up ingredients to make our Back to School pizza dinner.  
HOWEVER, at 5:00 the power went out and was off until 9:30.

When dad got home, we decided to be adventurous, 
since we didn't have power and couldn't cook in the house, 
we fired up the grill, 
rolled out the pizza dough and cooked it on the grill.
It seriously is the very BEST pizza we've ever had 
(even better than Heise Pizza!)

This was our dinner...
Grilled Chicken and Bacon pizza
and bottled water from our food storage!

It was just perfect!

I wish so badly you could have been here for the best show ever.
After dinner, dad hooked up his iPhone to the speaker and we sat on the porch and listened to some music while the weather was windy and a little bit rainy.
We ended up getting to enjoy 
the most beautiful rainbow and puffy clouds!

Here is the beauty...
(you would have loved it!)

 (and I even got a "hippie photo" with the rainbow behind my butterfly wind chime)

PS...

We enjoyed our grilled pizza SO much, 
we made a Vegetarian version the next day!
(ranch dressing, zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, green onions and two kinds of cheese)
Can't wait to enjoy some with you when you get home!

First day of school 2013!
Dad and Ethan looked so handsome in their new shirts...

All of the kids were at the end of the lane 
excited to get on the bus to start this year's school adventure!

And I'm back
 teaching my PE kids and loving it!!

While I haven't missed you and Ethan
 "pushing each other's buttons",
I have missed your LAUGH!
I've missed your funny sense of humor...
I've missed how much love and appreciation you show to us,
every. single. day!

As I made up your favorite cookies yesterday,
 I just missed you SO much
and felt bad that summer was so hectic
 that I didn't get any made until now.

Just know that there will be a batch of Double Chocolate Cookies waiting for you when you get home!

My Sweet Jade Marshall, 

with your smile that makes me melt...

The house is too quiet, 
I've sure missed you and I can't wait to see you! 

ENJOY the last part of your Tennessee trip to the fullest!

Until you return...

Hugs and Kisses!
Love Mom

A place where beauty overwhelms...

"Discovering this idyllic place,
we find ourselves filled with a yearning to linger here,
where time stands still and beauty overwhelms."
— Author Unknown

The thing that I love most about the high country, 
is that the higher you climb, the more beautiful things get. 
You wouldn't think it would be that way, but it is.  

The lower forests flowers die off by end of July, or, the first part of August, but, you don't have to be sad about that, because you just need to keep climbing higher and the flowers are there again.
The higher you climb
the more craggy rocks you see
and high mountain creeks and small lakes
and the VIEW of looking back where you started at,
becomes more amazing as well.

This is the first of four blog posts 
about our 2013 Backpacking Adventure.

These are my favorite photos showing the stunning and amazing beauty of nature that was so abundant on our adventure.

Flowers near the log where we sat and ate lunch.
I love that there is a bee AND a butterfly 
on the flower together!

A wonderful view of the Teton mountain range 
along the plateau after Devil's Stairs.
The Wildflower display...stunning along our path!

Amongst the rocky paths, were clumps of cheery yellow and lavender flowers. 
Flowers always make me happy!

Loved these cool trees and bark that we saw 
when we got into Alaska Basin.
That majestic mountain is Buck Mountain!

Room with a View!
(definitely one the top five prettiest views we've had on our backpacking adventures )

It was a little bit overcast when we awoke in the morning and headed towards Buck Mountain Pass...
The reflection of  Mount Meek and  Battleship Mountain in the water was just gorgeous!
The photos just don't do it justice!

Fields of wildflowers on our journey 
up toward Buck Mountain Pass.
The higher you climb, 
the more gorgeous everything becomes!
(at least according to Kimmie!)

The bright lime green mossy grass 
along with the hot pink flowers 
were beyond beautiful!

It almost doesn't look real, 
but I can attest that it really was!
I love this photo with my three favorite people
in such a beautiful spot! 

The sky was electric blue...
Buck Mountain was being lit up perfectly...
and there is our trail with little flowers growing along the sides of it.

This photo screams...
"The mountains are calling and I must go"!

Happiness...

The gorgeous reflection in the mountain lake
 right beneath our campsite!  

Happy flowers growing in the grass 
right where we set up our tent!  

Our last sunset we enjoyed in Alaska Basin...
The sky was bright blue...
The reflections were gorgeous...
We sat on some giant granite slabs and watched the sun go down!
"Heaven on Earth" 
is what this moment in time was!

We awoke to blue skies!!

As you can see from the four photos above...

it was hard to say good-bye!

Those rugged mountain reflections...

those gnarly trees...

the stunning beauty, 

was all there to enjoy all day long, for as long as wanted.

You sure don't have peace and solitude 

and views like that in your every day life!

One last stop at the little stream by our campsite to fill up water bottles to have enough water to hike out with!

(these little flowers, are my new favorite wildflower)

Fireweed, a giant rock

and that triangle jut-out at the top of the mountain

 is called "The Wedge".

This was the last view before we headed into the thick forest, down, down and down some more until we got to our car, 8 miles later.

So grateful for these moments in time,

 where we're able to leave behind society 

and enjoy fresh air, breath taking scenery, family time,

 and those much needed moments where we can "disconnect" from technology, 

with no interruptions at all, 

with nothing but our thoughts, conversations and adventures together...

Where if we just want to sit and chase butterflies for hours, we can do just that!

Grateful for photography...

where when I have a big LONGING and YEARNING

 to be back in the high country, 

I can at least "pause" life for a moment 

and visit the amazing beauty, by looking at photos 

and reading my thoughts and then I can say 

"all is right with the world again"!