the Toad's birthday, fall, and hot cocoa.

It was the Toad's birthday today.  We got to party hard by heading up to Daniel's Summit with the mama and enjoying the incredible, bright fall colors.

Seriously.  Incredible.

We used to go up to Daniel's Summit every winter in our teenage years and grab a cup of hot cocoa and a plate of deep-fried mushrooms.

Which meant that we were both looking forward a mug of cocoa all week.

We even made the mama get a picture with her cocoa.

The usual picture with my cup of hot cocoa.

Satisfied.

After slowly sipping our deliciousness, we ordered three appetizers to share between us. 

1.  Deep-fried mushrooms

2.  Cheese fries

3.  Dutch oven cheese cheese pot

Oh man.  We chowed down and enjoyed every. last. bite.

And somewhere in between dipping our fries in fry sauce and breaking bread over our cheese pot, we took a few photos for memories.

Because lets be honest, the three of us don't usually get out altogether.  Although we did miss the other two missing sisters.  They're kinda important to us.

We also sat at the table closest to the fireplace possible.  It was a just a tad chilly up in the mountains and we needed some major heat.

We also had the best waitress ever.  She suggested some fabulous appetizers for us and when she heard it was the Toad's birthday and we didn't order dessert, she brought out a yummy slice of cheesecake with a candle.

Now THAT'S exactly what you want from a waitress when you tell her that it's someones birthday.

You can say she got a nice little big tip from us.

After lunch at Daniel's Summit, we took the short drive up to Strawberry Resevoir and checked to see if the Kokanee were there for the Kokanee run yet.  

I should really say that the mama left us wimps in the car while she ran to the river to see if the fish were there.  We finally bucked up when she waved us over to come see the Kokanee.

See?  Cold.

Kokanee!  I haven't seen them since I was little.  The Toad was a little perturbed when we started talking about how after Kokanee spawn, they die.

Sad day.  

But insanely beautiful fish.  

Happy birthday, Toad!  You will always be my Toady.  Always.  You're one of my best friends and thank you for always being there to talk to.  I know we talked each other ears off when we were little and I love thinking about bunk beds and storytime by Codi.  I even happily look back on the days of being dressed up in all of my winter clothes in the middle of the summer.

We had some good times and I look forward to future good times.  I hope we always stay close.

Happy day of birth!

timp cave.

Today was our annual Timpanogos Cave hike.

This time, Dad actually got to go and so did Annette (a.k.a. my 2nd mother who helped raise me growing up)!

We were at the visitor center by 7:00 in the morning.  Say what?!  Apparently we really like hiking in the early morning hours.  Getting up before 6 during the summer is a big deal for me.  It usually does NOT happen.  Good thing I love my family or I would have stayed in bed and got my beauty sleep.

And so, the annual picture by the visitor center...

The sign right outside the cave entrance.

Trail lovin'.

Poor T.  Every time he went to eat his sandwich for lunch (at 8:30 in the morning) we were demanding another picture.  Which explains the following...

 {Me, Annette, T}

This one's a little better.  Though this time he was interrupted eating his Clif bar.  The "Carrot Cake" Clif Bar that he was incredibly excited about finding yesterday at Sprouts market while we were shopping for hiking snacks.

What a crack up.

For the first time, Dad beat us to the top.  He had a burst of energy during the hike up the switchbacks and never slowed down!  We were struggling to keep up with him and the mama this time around.  Apparently, the younger generation is getting lazy (said Ranger Brad at the top of the cave).

 Just one of the many faces of my father.  He gets pretty funny when we're in the mountains and camping.  This is the real Daddy.  This is where I get my love of funny faces.  I blame him.

Group picture inside the cave!

Such a fun tradition.  We saw a bajillion centipedes and a handful of lizards while hiking and saw the cave bacon, ice cream sundae, and the upside down chicken in the cave.

Oh how we love hiking Timp. Cave!

Belated Hot Mama's Day

Yes, our family has our own version of Mother's Day and have called it "Hot Mama's Day" for a long time.  Because our Mama is HOT.

(She publicly hates it when we call her that, but inside, we know she loves it)

Contrary to popular belief, my mom is not perfect.  Yes, I'm telling the blogger world that my Mother is not perfect.  I even told our entire ward that as I stood up to speak on Mother's Day.  My Mom was even on the third row.

You're now probably scolding me in your head and thinking I'm the worst daughter ever.  When, in fact, I'm actually the best daughter ever.

Let me explain before you get your panties in a knot.

First off, it is a rare occurrence that when I speak I don't end up speaking on Mother's Day or Father's Day.  In my mind, those are the two worst days to speak on!  I'm already an emotional junkie on those days trying to figure out how to tell/show my parents how much I love and appreciate them.

Speaking to an entire congregation on those days is me trying to dam up a river by myself.  It doesn't work.  I become an emotional wreck.

One thing I've come to not appreciate on Mother's Day is the fact that the speakers get up, pay their dues to their mother by saying how wonderful and perfect she is and then proceed to tell the entire ward how women cannot be mothers unless they have children of their own.

Seriously?

No one is perfect.

Not even your mother is going to believe the fluff you say about her.

But I digress.

Here's how I started preparing for my talk.

(If you don't want to read the entire process, you may want to skip reading this post.  This is mainly for me to remember and reflect on how I do talks).

 I pick out all of my favorite quotes, scriptures, and hullaballoo that I want to say (along with doodles that keep my hands busy).  I always try to include something "worldly" to connect my talk to.  In this case, I connected my talk to Sleeping Beauty.  Weird? You might say so.  But everyone knows the story about Sleeping Beauty.  And now, when they watch or hear about Sleeping Beauty, they'll think of a gospel principle-Motherhood.

It's a little like reverse psychology. Maybe.

And this time around, I really wanted EVERY WOMAN to know that they are mothers.  In my talk I noted that I don't have my own children, yet I still find myself portraying and working on mothering qualities and traits.  I teach 25 children for 5 days a week.  I not only teach them, but I seriously love and nurture them.  They are little spirits in my room and I find that my career is a divine calling.

The fact that I didn't have to birth any of them is a nice advantage too.

But the point I really wanted to make is that no one is perfect.  Not even your mother.  Mothers are supposed to have weaknesses.  How else would they teach their children how to use the Atonement? My mom taught me how to forgive and repent by example.  She showed me how to love unconditionally by example.  She displayed all of her weaknesses so I could learn from her example.

That is what truly makes a mother.  That is what makes a child learn.

There's a lot more to my talk then all of that, but seeing how this post is mainly for my own selfish reasons (1) The notebook in the picture is my scripture study journal and if it got lost, burned, etc. I think I'd die.  I need to start digitally recording them too (so I'm sure you'll be seeing more of them).  (2) I really wanted to let everyone know my views on Motherhood.  Motherhood is not just birthing a child (even though it is certainly that!), it is when a woman empowers herself to target the qualities and virtues that God only gives to women and makes use of them (visiting teaching, primary callings, relief society, every calling in the church that a woman serves in is using these qualities!).  

Here's how my journal looks after I give a talk or if I insert talks to go with the subject/topic I'm studying.  I got the idea for my scripture journal here.

(Mother's Day at Uncle Todd's.  The whole family minus Mel and Damon)

Although my Mom isn't perfect, she's the most perfect imperfect mother on earth!  I've learned more from her than any teacher, leader, or friend.  I love her and she is truly one of my best friends.  

Happy Belated Mother's Day!  

Mama Post

My Mom is kinda amazing.
More like the most amazing woman EVER.
Hands down.
(So is my sister, but this blog is mainly for my mama.)
She's helped me out a whole lot this past semester.
I'm actually glad we were blessed to live so close to my parents.
Both of my parents give excellent advice and offer the wisdom of a couple who have been married for 25+ years.
It's nice to have.
I'm glad she's around and that she loves me with a love that only a mother can have.

Hoorah for great mothers!