Sunday Evening Stroll...On The Trail

Because we now have a puppy, a puppy that loves to run and exercise, we've been more active. I mean, it's not the dog's fault he needs to run around several times a day. For the second time in as many weeks, we loaded up the dog in the minivan and drove a few miles west to a trail that runs east of our local amusement park. It's called Lagoon Trail.

I'm pretty sure I appreciate it more as I get older.

I've noticed it's been a warm summer, not just here, but other places as well (can't really say it's been a hot summer where I live--it's been an average summer...). Normally, we stay inside all day and night when it's hot, but the pull of the puppy is a powerful one. And so we answer the call.

I think a younger me might have noticed it was cooler on the trail this evening, but that's probably all. Tonight I looked at the trail differently. Had it always been so green, especially at the end of July? Was it always so beautiful? Why did I not notice all the down trees disintegrating into the earth? It was like I was seeing something new every time I turned around.

One thing I noticed when we walked the trail several days ago and again today--it's much more crowded. It's to be expected. Our little city has grown so much in the past couple of decades. It's only natural that many would want to enjoy these trails. And because we had a puppy, we noticed that almost 3/4 of all groups we encountered had a dog (or dogs...) of their own. Our puppy wanted to play whenever he saw a fellow pooch.

We walked slow, too slow for the dog, but just right for our team. We talked tonight about how seldom we walk the trails. If the past couple of weeks are any indication, looks like we'll be visiting them more, and that's not a bad thing.

Mom-In-Law's Sweet Rolls...

The other day my mother-in-law stopped by and she brought over a freshly-made tin of sweet rolls. And boy! Were they good! 

That's not a question, but a definitive statement--they were good.

My kids have made sweet rolls for us in the past, and we've even found some sweet rolls that we like--a multi-stacked pack from Costco. If you've had them, you know what I mean. They're pretty tasty, too.

But my kid's grandmother's will give all those others a run for their money. Ever since I met my wife, my mother-in-law has always been a phenomenal baker and cook. Of course, when I met my wife, my mother-in-law (she was my future mother-in-law at that point...) had had a lot of practice. She raised four kids--my wife was the youngest. And she was a working mother, having earned her degree a little later than most.

But cooking and baking weren't her only skills. She also excelled in housekeeping and especially gardening and yard work. Again, if you've seen her yard, you know what I'm talking about. She keeps up those skills to this day. The sweet rolls testified of that.

So, when I met my future mother-in-law she was kind of like a "Super Mother-in-Law."

And she still is! Thanks, Carol--for everything!

Ever Conquered A County? My Mom-In-Law Has...

They trained for months and we wondered if they really were going to do it.

Turns out, they did.

My mother-in-law was part of a group of women who conquered our county. They decided to walk from one end of Davis County in Utah to the other, a distance of twenty-seven miles.

I had a rehearsal that morning so my wife, daughter and I met the group as they passed through Centerville. They were in good spirits and excited to see their goal completed.

I have a lot of respect for athletes who run marathons, half marathons and even the shorter 10K and 5K races. And I also have a ton of respect for a group of women that a few weeks ago on a beautiful Saturday walked together to prove they could do it.

Well done, Mom-In-Law!

Well done!

Newspaper photos used without permission from the Davis County Clipper

The "Happy Birthday" Paint Party...

Yesterday two of my most favorite people celebrated birthdays and they just happened to be grandmother and granddaughter. I know my mother-in-law was tickled pink when my daughter was born on her birthday. Now if only my daughter was left-handed...

To celebrate my mother-in-law suggested we go to Hands On Art Art and Ceramic Studio. 

What a blast!

We each chose an item to paint. We then went into a little room and painted it. Once it's finished, we leave it there where the store will fire it. We'll have our finished product. I cannot wait to see how ours turned out. I'm sure I'll be blogging about them once they're done.

But the reason we gathered was not to paint ceramic cups and cute animals, it was to spend time with family and to wish these two amazing women happy birthday.