Timpanogos

Yesterday we hiked up to Timpanogos cave! We figured the kids could handle it and since we live so close we ought to take advantage of such a neat place to see! I forgot how steep it is! A mile and a half straight up a mountain is a lot longer than on flat ground! The boys did great and Emma only needed a couple of piggy back rides. I think the kids were expecting more of a "Dragonland" cave with shiny crystals and jewels everywhere, but we all loved seeing the inside of the caves and while we were inside we could hear some loud rumbling. It was thunder! When we got out of the cave it was about 6:00 pm and it was raining and blowing and there were LOTS of lightning bolts and LOUD thunder. It was a bit scary, but we hurried down as fast as we could and it was a fun adventure!

A late Happy Birthday

It was my moms birthday on Tuesday, Sept. 15. She turned 54 years old. Every moment we get to spend with her is a gift and she is such a blessing to us all.

In other news.....

My cute sister Heather had a baby girl two weeks ago! Her name is Claire Ann and she is so darling! We loved seeing her and holding her!

My brother Jake recently got engaged to beautiful Traci. They are super cute and we are so happy and excited for them. They were going to get married December 22, but they have moved the wedding up to October 24 to accomodate my moms "health problems."

My sweet Mother is not doing well. She has taken a real down turn over the past month and is now basically on pain killers 24-7. She has tried her last options of chemo but found that it was not worth being miserable in the bathroom for days and days on end. She sleeps a great deal of the time and has lost so much weight. We love her so much, it is hard to describe the many emotions and feelings that are going on right now. I just want to see her every day and be with her, but that is not always easy. Like my sister said, we now know what it is to have your heart breaking. My mom is forever my hero.

A pile of rocks

For Labor Day we went on a nice hike up Fairview Canyon with Richards family. It was a little steeper than I expected and made me realize how out of shape I am. Having an extra 20 pound baby on my back didn't help much. We hiked to this lovely pile of rocks, which some say is Charlies Monument (you know, like the book, which I said I read, but I didn't really, I was thinking of "Charlie" by Jack Weyland, not "Charlies Monument" by oh, shoot, I can't remember.) Anyway, it was fun and the weather was nice and then we had lunch at the cabin! And Grandpa McAllister almost tipped the 6-wheeler over because it was so steep and he went down the hill anyway and three wheels came off the ground and it made me physically sick to watch. I was sure he would tip it over. We had a fun day!

Here's Daniel and Grandma McAllister

At the top of the hike, a very pretty view. Of the mountains, not me.

I love make-up

This morning Emma had a couple little friends over and I came downstairs to tell them to keep it quiet because Kate was taking a nap. I was all dressed for the day and had just finished my hair, but the girls were looking at me as if I had grown a beard or something. The one little girl said, "are you sick today?" and continued staring at me. "Oh, I just haven't done my makeup yet!" She still stared at me, probably in disbelief that make up could create such a miraculous transformation. I've always been a make-up wearer. I love make-up. I love buying it, I love putting it on, I love re-doing it halfway through the day, I just hate taking it off! I have a few friends who can totally get away with none and I wish I could do the same, but alas, I was not blessed with that kind of natural beauty. Thank goodness for make-up!:)