A weekend full of love

It's always a good weekend when I can get the whole family under one roof for a day or two. It's rather quiet most days with just Bryan, Lilian and myself (plus Oscar) living at home now. And though it's peaceful and not at all bad...it's always a happy and glorious time when Rebekah and Tanner pull in from South Jordan, Julianne and Jordan arrive from Provo and Brandon makes the long drive from Cedar City. Suddenly the house is alive again with laughter and music. It was a combo weekend...Valentine's Day and President's Day back to back in regards to holidays being observed, but also Julianne's birthday a few days earlier, and we had arranged to have family photos taken since we'd all be together. The weather had different ideas and the photo shoot got snowed-out and therefore had to be postponed till spring break. But Saturday evening we had a Valentine's themed birthday dinner and then played a bunch of games. The next morning Bryan made a big breakfast, we watched our church meetings online, and then Jordan administered the sacrament to us. It was a good weekend. There is definitely something to be said about "finding joy and rejoicing in your posterity." 

Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve

A few months ago Brandon did a family photo shoot for a woman he used to work with at USA Gymworld. As he was editing the pictures later that evening I wondered about the location, I hadn't ever seen it before. Where had they gone...clearly it must be somewhat close by? I was surprised when he told me it was called the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve and was actually only about 5 miles from our house. 

So in a somewhat spur of the moment afternoon adventure, I decided to go check it out. Truthfully, I was on the hunt for a location for our own family photo shoot coming up, and remembering Brandon's pictures from last fall, decided why not just go see it in person? 

It was actually quite a neat place...so quiet and peaceful. (Well, when the HAFB jets weren't flying overhead.) It felt like I was in the middle of nowhere. I was there in the dead of winter, I can only imagine how lively the place is with all the birds and other shoreland flora and fauna in the summer. (I'm also sure there are a lot more bugs. Maybe there is something to be said for visiting in February?) 

I had such a great time. I'm so thankful that I am content with and enjoy my own company so I can take advantage of these afternoons when Bryan is at work and Lilian is at school. I'll go to concerts, museums, plays, restaurants, explore and even travel on my own and do so happily. Not to say I don't enjoy company, because I thrive in a crowd as well. I feel like I'm the exact middle between introvert and extrovert. Isn't there a word for that too? Ambivert or something like that? It sounds like basically finding balance between two different personality traits. And seeing as balance is something I seek for on the regular in all aspects of my life, maybe it's just fitting. 

"The cold never bothered me anyway..."

Ice Castles in Midway near Park City has been on my bucket list for a long time. Every December I tell myself I'm going to make it happen "this year"...but then because the operating dates are dependent on weather, I have to wait to make an appointment. And either I completely forget, or by the time I get on their website our schedules don't align with dates they still have available, or it's already March of a dry and warm winter and they are closing early. "This year" I was a little more determined, deciding that I'd also make it a big family event and invite all the older kiddos as well. And though that meant an even trickier time finding a day that would work for all seven of us (Brandon down in Cedar City wasn't able to make it) we got it scheduled and tickets purchased! 

The appointed day arrived and it was snowing. All day and fairly heavily. I was a bit distressed over this. Because although yes, this is a winter activity and snow is very much part of the equation, I was worried that if the actively falling snow was too heavy they might just close the place down for the evening. And wouldn't that just be my luck?

The drive through Parley's Canyon was a bit dicey at times, but by the time we made it to the Ice Castles, the snow was falling lightly and prettily and rather perfectly for a winter activity like this. Honestly, it felt a bit like we were hanging out in a snow globe. We had timed our reservations for our arrival to still be in the light so we could get a full view of the natural snow and ice, with sunset fast falling so we could also take advantage of the colored lights within the ice that come on after dark. 

It was truly beautiful. We so enjoyed our little winter adventure up in the ice and snow. I'm so glad that "this year" ended up actually being this year.