A less harry but still lovable Nate

Nathan has been working at Interpace brick for 4 years. He had planned on taking the job to work through school but then it kind of just stuck. Well, last week he finally quit. I can't tell you how happy he has been this past week working for himself. He also has more time at home which means more time with me. He starts school on Wednesday so we had to shave off his beautiful locks & the beard (He is going into Army Officer School). We were both really sad but, it was really fun playing with his hair before we shaved it all off. We did the hair first & the beard a few days later just so I wouldn't wake up & scream because some strange man was sleeping in my bed. I will post pics of the beardless Nate later. Can't say we don't have any pathetic comic relief in our home.

Welcome Baby Tesla!

A little over a week ago, my baby sister, LaDawn, finally got to have Tesla. We took her into Alta View Hospital and they started her into induced labor (at about 9:00am) because she was over a week late (don't think Tesla wanted to come out). At first it didn't seem like LaDawn was doing to bad but then the contractions started to get worse & she opted for the 'spinal tap' aka epidural. Things were a bit tense because we are a mixed family (LaDawn & my other sister, Destiny, are adopted) and LaDawn's biological family was there also. It made me sad because everything was supposed to be about LaDawn and Tesla but instead people were unhappy about being around each other. I wish I could have done something about it. Well, everyone had to go out and wait (longest few hours of my life) while LaDawn went into heavy labor. After about 11 hrs of labor, the doctor tried to take Tesla out with a plunger type thing (don't laugh, I know nothing about babies) but it didn't work. LaDawn's hips were to narrow and he couldn't get her out. He decided to take her into emergency surgery & do a C section. I was so worried about her. We waited until what seemed like forever & then a nurse finally brought Tesla out. She was so CUTE! Born at 9:20 pm on 8/7/08, weighing in at 9 lbs. 5 oz., 20 inches long ,Lots of brown hair, the cutest chubby cheeks (I could even want to pinch them), and LaDawn's lips. What a doll! We had to wait for them to come back into her room because LaDawn had to be in recovery for an hour. I was so happy to see her when she came in. She really looked out of it but content. I got to hold Tesla and see her have her first bath (let me tell you, she didn't like it). LaDawn got sick the next night with a fever of 104 and had to stay in the hospital until Tuesday morning. She is still having problems with infection and getting sick. Hats off to you LaDawnyo'/Superwoman, I love you sis!

Gentlemen prefer blondes?

Right after I dyed & dried it for the first time.

Good thing he still loves me, even as a red head.

My new dress (Nathan didn't get my amazingly cute new shoes in the shot).

I wanted to do one last thing before going back to work. Something needed to change about me & I decided it would be my hair. I was either going to butch it or dye it. Obviously I dyed it & crap, it didn't really go the color I wanted. I used to dye my hair all of the time in high school (crazy colors like pink, blue & purple) but I was trying to stick with a somewhat natural color. It was supposed to be brown with a hint of red. Instead it turned really red with a hint of... purple? I still can't tell. At first I didn't like it but after I put some make up on & did it I decided I did like it after all. Thank goodness, so did Nathan. I was worried that people would think it looked bad (I know I shouldn't care but I do) but I got a complement on it that night when we went out to Cafe Rio. Who says blonde's have more fun? I even got a new dress (turquoise is my favorite color) and some matching shoes that, I think are to die for.

And on and on and on.....

Hiking, isn't it wonderful? Especially in the dark, when you want to be sleeping, when you feel sick. These were the thoughts that were running through my mind as we began our hike up to the top of Timpanogos mountain last Wednesday (as you can see, I am playing the catch up game.) I kind of weaseled my way into going (sorry Jess) and then invited my bff, Kelly. I had been feeling ill all night but told Nathan I didn't want to miss going. I left home about 11:30 or so, picked up Kell & then we drove to the mouth of the canyon. On the way up there I had planned to stop at a gas station to pick up some much needed water and goodies but it was sadly closed. Kelly only had water & I felt so bad about it. Lucky for me, I found a water bottle I keep in my car for emergencies & was able to take that. We started up the trail & soon had straggled far behind the rest of our group. I told Kell it was no big deal, we would catch up eventually. I had already done this hike once before but it was a couple of years ago & I had run up the whole thing with a bunch of running fanatics. This time it felt like forever getting up. I hated the top last time & this time was no exception. I like heights if I feel like I'm safe but the last 4o minutes or so after the 'saddle' is shale & a major drop off. I was sure we wouldn't make it before the sun came up but we made it (at last) with about 30 minutes to spare. There were kids up there only in shorts & t-shirts & I had a wonderful time envisioning my first trip up. This time I was much more prepared with pants, hoodie, blanket, & (thank goodness) my inhaler (last time I had an asthma attack) Needless to say, this time was more enjoyable, if only I had remembered food & didn't feel sick. The sunrise was breathtaking. After it came up Jess yelled over to me (we had gotten separated in the dark.) They had been on the other side of the shed the whole time! When it was time to go we decided to return the other way. Had I known that I would have to free climb a 15-20 foot drop & slide down a gigantic glacier (receiving many stinging cuts along the way) I probably would have opted to go back the other way. I am really glad we didn't because, now that it is over, the glacier was sweet. I wish my pictures could do it justice! Kelly & I went down together (still don't know if that made it better or worse?) I think I cussed the whole way down. At the bottom of the glacier was Emerald Lake, so named for it's amazing sparkling water, the same color as the deepest shade of blue emerald. If it had a fountain blazing out of the center I would have called it the fountain of life, it looked that good. As we got down to the bottom of the glacier Kelly yelled, "Look at all the goats!" There, standing a bit above the lake, was a big heard of mountain goats. For those of you that know I am an animal lover (if not read another post below) this was the best part of the hike for me. I took more pictures of the goats than double everything else put together. I wanted to take one of the kids home. The only thing that stopped me was: I can't carry it down the whole trail, it's mom would probably kill me, Nathan would kill me & I would go to jail. I wanted to stay forever but, Kelly had to go into work that morning & we were running late. As soon as we found the rest of the real trail, she and I booked it down to the bottom. We ran into a guy that was a local taking pictures of some of the small waterfalls. When he asked us if we had gone to the top we said yes & slid the glacier on the way back down. He said he was glad we didn't get hurt, he frequently sees people getting Lifelited off. Good thing we found that out afterward. We finally got down & I quickly drove Kell home. She was still almost an hour late but said she had fun any how. I am sure I will do it again, just in about another 4 years.