Getting Excited

The summer is wrapping up and we're getting ready for school and the football season!


At the Cougar Kickoff

Tom & Chris

And a happy 98th birthday to Grampa Lindsey!! "I'm still alive!!" Love you!

#53

Hey!! In case anyone has any questions about what's been happening with Tom lately- he's doing just fine. I've gotten a lot of phone calls about Tom lately- just family and friends concerned about how he's doing. Tom's been getting a lot of press lately about his shoulder and football. He has been having problems with his shoulder, specifically his AC joint, and possibly a bone hook somewhere in there! Eventually he will need surgery, but for now the trainers and doctors have turned to other solutions.

Early this week Tom got two cortizone (sp?) shots, which work as anti-inflammatories and also help to numb it somewhat. His shoulder has been really sore, but he's pushing through, and hoping to get back into the swing of things as soon as possible. In the meantime, he comes home from practice really sore and tired from riding the bike and running on the treadmill all day. Hey if you can't do regular practice, than they're going to kick your butt in shape!!

Thanks to everyone who has expressed concern for Tom, he has been doing much better, and we love you all and will see you later in the season!

As late I rambled in the happy fields

It's about time! First, I have to make a disclaimer: there are a lot of pictures in this post! Now you can't say that I didn't warn you!!

There has been a desperate battle going on between facebook and the blog. I'm sorry to say that facebook has been winning- I haven't updated the blog for a long time!! This summer has been full of sun and fun-we've been on a lot of adventures this summer- as you will probably tell by the length of this post :)

This is Tom getting ready to go wakesurfing for the first time! Oh baby . . . .

Woohoo! Here's Tom wakesurfing- he's pretty much a pro by now. . . .

Tom was asked by his uncle Spence to speak at a youth conference at Zion Ponderosa Resort in Zion's National Park. We spend a few lovely days inspiring youth and enjoying some of the Southern Utah scenery.

Tom and I on the Cable Mountain hike. Lots of blisters and sweaty backs, but it was lots of fun!!

Tom looking down the canyon from the top of Cable Mountain (they used to cut down trees and lower the lumber down the canyon on cables). 3,000 feet to the bottom! A little scary when you look over the edge, but it's not like we were scared or anything . . . ;)

The next week we were lucky enough to go back to Zion's with my cousins from Vegas and hike the Narrows! This is the crew with our hiking sticks- (they were essential!!)

Here is a sweet picture of the canyon. It was so much fun hiking through the river, the rocks, and the sand, with the canyon walls towering over you.

Jenna, Tom, and I taking a break.

Going to a rodeo was one of the things on our list to do this summer, so here we are at the Oakley rodeo! It was so much cooler than I thought! It reminded Tom of how he is aspiring to be a steer wrestler, and it reminded me of when I was obsessed with horses when I was 5 years old. Suffice it to say, we really got back in touch with our inner cowboy/cowgirl.

Tom, Chris, and Marissa took a little trip up to Burley, ID to see our land up there, and came back with high hopes for it. I don't know about you guys, but I would probably want to jump in that canal and cool off . . . .

Another fun adventure was floating down the Provo river. Don't let this picture fool you, we were freezing! That river is so cold! Plus Tom and I capsized in one of the rapids, fully immersed in the freezing water, and had a fun time chasing our tube down a half mile or so of the river. Seriously though, it was a lot of fun!!

If anyone was to float down the river, I would recommend air mattresses as the preferred method of transportation. Although our misshapen tubes were lots of fun! :)

We were also lucky enough to take a trip down to Calilfornia with my sisters and my mom. We went to a bunch of beaches: Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Carlsbad, and Doheny. LOVED Huntington- (beach, great shopping, and Mexican food- what else could you ask for?).

Here is the lizard Tom killed on the beach- he threw a rock at it from 30 or so feet away. He felt bad for killing it, but also was proud to show his woman how if they were stuck in the wilderness, they would be able to survive with his honed and perfected hunting skills.

Jenna and I trying to look cool with our ten foot foam longboards. You think that if we could surf behind the boat, we could surf in the ocean. Well, almost! It's a little different and a lot more salty, that's for sure.

We got the chance to hang out with Tom's mission president, Pres. Middleton after Cherie and Eli Rhoads' wedding, while we were waiting for them to come out. Pres. Middleton is absolutely one of the cutest and most talented people I've ever known!!

Just waiting outside the temple- I love the flowers!!!! I can't wait until I can have my own yard and garden to landscape!

Here's Eli and Tom- so cute you guys!

Another really special time this summer was when we got to go up to Montana to Hairpin Ranch to hang out with the family. It really is big sky (or big guy?) country- the landscape is beautiful- lots of stars at night, grassy fields, four-wheeling, fishing, and LOTS of cows!! Here's Caroline-my little buddy- hanging out by the lake.

Hey Chris! Just hanging out on the patio enjoying the early afternoon . . .

Tom and Savannah looking at cows through the binoculars . . .

I wanted this picture to come last because I think it is so peaceful and relaxing! We had so much fun playing with the cousins; Montana is one of our favorite places!

So if you were wondering about the title of this post, I took it from John Keats' poem To a friend who sent me some Roses:

As late I rambled in the happy fields,

What time the skylark shakes the tremulous dew

From his lush clover covert;- when anew

Adventurous knights take up their dinted sheilds

I saw the sweet flower wild nature yields,

A fresh-blown musk-rose: 'twas the first that threw

Its sweets upon the summer: graceful it grew

As is the wand that queen Titania wields.

And, as I feasted on its fragrancy,

I thought the garden-rose it far excell'd;

But when, O Wells! Thy roses came to me,

My sense with their deliciousness was spell'd:

Soft voices had they, that with tender plea

Whisper'd of peace, and truth, and friendliness

unquell'd

I felt like this poem relates a lot to the kind of summer that we had. To me, the memories that we made this summer are like the roses, beautiful and sweet- this is really a golden time to make memories- with each other, of the beautiful places we've seen and the things we have experienced, and all made sweeter by the people that have shared it with us. Memories that we will be able to feast on and treasure, that will whisper peace and friendliness and good times.

(Sorry- there's more where that came from, but I won't push any more of my English poet obsession on you!! :)

This summer truly has been wonderful- and if you asked me, I would briefly and truthfully say that this has been one of the best summers EVER!!!!

The List

So one evening early this spring Tom and I sat down one evening at home as a family, and wrote on a poster all the things we want to do this summer. This is a pretty big list . . . and includes everything from boating to triathlons, reading books, rodeos, road trips, and feeding the ducks.


Going to a baseball game was on our list- and it was lots of fun! SL vs. Tacoma on a lovely summer evening . . .

Yes, we got hot dogs . . . Tom's was huge!!

Another thing on our list was the Manti Pageant. Such a neat experience!! On the way there we were stopped on the road by some sheep herders. It was definitely a nice change of scenery from Provo . . . .

This summer has already gotten off to a good start . . . and there is more to come! If you know me, you know it takes a while for me to catch up on the blog, but there's more good stuff coming!!

Bike Rides and Birthdays

May 29th was Tom's birthday! Happy birthday Tom! We had a great time at Tucanos for dinner, then went home for some dessert! (The Robert Redford, which turned out interesting, but still tasted yummy!)

We have gone on a lot of bike rides lately, when the weather is good. This crazy spring weather sometimes makes me sad because we can't always do things outside as much as we want. But sometimes the rainstorms are fun, and a nice break from the heat.

Bike ride up the Provo River Park Trail- and a stop at the park!!

I love these mountains!

I went on a bike ride with my mom too- and the trail was so muddy! No wonder- after all the rain we've been having. So at the end of the ride, we ended up a little muddy, to say the least.

The rear and front view- just covered!!

My bike (So muddy I almost couldn't clip in!)

Mom and I- didn't quite get the mud off our faces.

Tom and I are loving the sunshine and our bikes, and all the fun that we have. This weekend was our three month anniversary- woohoo! Married for 3 months!!!

Party on the Lake!!!!

There was a big party on Utah Lake on Saturday- so much fun! Although the water was pretty rough, we got some surfing in! And wow, can we talk about long line at the boat ramp?!?!? All in all it was a great kick-off to a summer of sun and fun on the lake!!

Sunshine, Sand, & Fiesta

The semester was over, it was time for a break and some sun! So Tom and I drove down to San Diego to spend a few days being beach bums. The drive there was almost as fun as being there! We met up with John and Bonnie in Vegas for a questionable In-n-out experience before driving to reach our final destination of sand and ocean. We decided to camp on the beach at the campground in Carlsbad, which was so fun! The view from our campsite atop the beach cliff to the waves below was beautiful!

We fell asleep and woke up to the sounds of the ocean right below us. We went for a morning walk on the beach- I love the beach! (not quite as much as I love the mountains though!)

One of the many reasons that I love the Carlsbad and Encinitas area- probably just California in general- is for all the cute boutiques! So we shopped a little bit- in some darling boutique stores and at the street bazaar. We were looking at some hats at the street bazaar, and the lady who was trying to sell me a hat told me that "this hat will go great with your beautiful pale skin!" Sad! I didn't think I was that pale! The winters in Utah are long, ok?! That made our next destination all the more important: the beach.

We went to Moonlight beach to get some sun and play in the waves! But I know you're going to ask the question like everyone else has- no, we did not see any sharks. We really didn't get in the water very far because it was so cold! Tom is so fun to play at the beach with- our favorite game is "What if I didn't have any legs?" It was so nice being able to relax, get some sun, read a book, and be with my husband. It was so good that we stayed for most of the day! However, we didn't stop to think for a second that we might need some more sunscreen. We put on some SPF when we got there, but were there for so long we should have reapplied. But we didn't, so you know what that means! SUNBURN!!!! and burn we did!

It wasn't very comfortable for the ride home, and I'm always worried that the sunburns that we get know will end up giving us melanoma later, but we did end up being tan! Of course, after we went through a nasty couple of days when we were peeling like snakes, and Tom's back was constantly itchy and needing to be scratched. But now I do feel like I can say see you later to pale winter skin- and hello beautiful summer tan!!

Tom built a majestic sand castle, and then buried my leg. He did such a good job, I seriously looked like an amputee! After some fun and a little too much sun at the beach we went to the store real quick to buy some hot dogs and marshmallows, and lighter fluid, of course- for the bonfire and sunset by the ocean.

The sunset by our campsite was beautiful! The last rays of sunlight were shining through the low clouds and onto the water. We were starving, so we built a fire and roasted some weiners! I can't even describe how much fun it was to watch the sunset on the beach, sit next to a campfire, and eat some juicy and slightly burnt hot dogs! We forgot to bring camp chairs, and the cooler caved in a bit when both Tom and I sat on it, but it worked out!

Definitely a fire to be proud of, Tom. Perfect for roasting marshmallows later for yummy s'mores. After a good meal, a beautiful sunset, and the long day at the beach we were ready for bed. The next morning when we woke up (with uncomfortable sunburns) we decided to go for a last walk on the beach before heading out.

We hiked a little bit down some old surfers' paths on the cliffs in Carlsbad. There was one tough spot with a little loose rock and sand, and Tom took a little tumble. He tried to catch himself, but ended up getting a couple of cactus stuck in his hand!! Cactus aren't as fun when you experience them this way. We picked the cactus spines out of Tom's hand- it seemed pretty painful! My camera just ran out of batteries otherwise we would have documented the two cactus stuck on Tom's hand!

The whole time we were at a campsite, Tom tried to catch the lizards and feed the squirrels. I'm not a big fan of rabid squirrel friends, so I wouldn't let Tom feed the squirrels until right before we left. We also saw a cute little cottontail rabbit on our way out! After the cactus adventure and feeding the squirrels, we played at the beach a little and got our pants wet. Tom and I both have strong feelings about driving home in wet, stinky, salt water beach pants, so we changed, got some sweet discounted gas at Costco, and then stopped at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad. So beautiful! It really makes me want to plant a garden and grow flowers. Too bad we don't have any garden space in our apartment- I'll have to settle for indoor plants. Tom also couldn't resist a little ride on the tractor.

So it's been a little while since we were on the beach in Carlsbad! After we got back we celebrated Cinco de Mayo up at the Sorensen's house. I drew a mustache on Tom- very mexican. I think that Cinco de Mayo is one of my favorite holidays! After Christmas and the Fourth of July and Halloween of course.

Harrison & Tom:

Hola Senor!