a new home

i now call "the mile high city" home. i made the move this week. i have to give a little shout out to my parents- they drove out with me and helped unpack and get everything set up- most of the stuff that i really hate doing. my mom lined my cabinets with contact paper and got my new vacuum working, and my dad set up all the technical stuff that i just don't understand. we did a lot of shopping and i had a lot of support as i spent a lot of money getting the things i needed for my new home. it was a little like christmas opening all the boxes and putting things together. this was before we unloaded my "pod" and we had more stuff to unpack and set up.

my mom getting the vacuum working- glad i didn't have to do it! my dad- technical support

the vacuum works!

we unpacked so quickly we had an unexpected day to see downtown denver. we walked the 16th street mall and saw the molly brown house. i've got so much more to explore

"the sube"

have i ever mentioned that i LOVE my car? i love it! and this week i have more reasons to love it... who needs a truck when you have a subaru. look what this thing can do- not only has it been a great camping car, fun to drive and great for bikes, it is great for moving. i crammed all my stuff that i've been using for the last 6 mos. in my car (with a few bags in my parents car) and bikes on top, and used it all weekend to cart around the stuff i've had to buy- like furniture. i strapped a mattress to the top, bookshelves and a kitchen table in the back, so the surbaru has done it again!

my neices

my favorite nieces were just in town (they are my only nieces). i love being with them and watching their little personalities develop. we had a great time playing in the backyard in the water and drawing with chalk on the back porch.


hannah is such a ham. i love her smile, and she loves to make us laugh.
clara has learned to pose for the camera- this is one of her happy faces.

summer days

the summer has not disappointed. the past few weeks have been filled with great outdoor activities: hiking to the lakes in little cottonwood canyon, through the wildflowers, outdoor concerts, and a boating trip (thanks to my brother-in-law).



Albion Basin- the beginning of our hike.




Lake Catherine (at the Catherine pass) with Ali and Shawn.
the sisters.
my sisters ali and betsy at the lake (Pineview).
ali and shawn


ali attempting her first water skiing trip.

the expert. i wish i looked like this...
but, i look like this. at least i can get up on the wake board.
an outdoor concert with The Police!! it was a great night!!

Denver

this is where i will be for the next 2 years. i'm going to school to become a pediatric nurse practitioner. i have really enjoyed my career thus far as a nurse, i've had some great experiences working in surgery and even a little stint in management. i'm ready for a new challenge and i am excited for what is ahead.
and after deliberating for weeks, i finally choose University of Colorado. it's close to my family, in a somewhat familiar environment (the lifestyle in denver is a little like salt lake), tuition is cheaper, and if i can "toot my own horn" for a bit, it is ranked #3 in the nation.
i was in denver last weekend and found a great little apartment- the prices are great, especially just coming from LA, it's close to a supertarget!! and there's a wahoo's down the street! i think i'm going to like it out there.

grandpa's golf balls

my grandpa collected golf balls. for years he used to walk through Bonneville golf course early in the morning and pick up the golf balls he saw lying around - the lost balls no one looked for. he would store them in buckets and barrels, and later after he retired, in egg cartons. easy storage, easy pick up. in the summers, when we were kids we would go to grandma's to wash golf balls and sell them. it was much more lucrative than selling lemonade, we usually got $.25 a piece for them! as i got older and started golfing i regularly raided my grandpa's golf ball stash for my own stock. i have never purchased a golf ball, no reason when there are so many that need to be used and lost again. we all love grandpa's golf ball stash.

golf wih dad

i've had quite a bit of free time this summer. i've been filling a bit of that time golfing with my dad. we've gone out about once a week. this last week we went to Riveroaks in sandy. it was a beautiful and the rough was a killer. we lost a lot of balls, but had a lot of fun.