Photography Workshop

I was able to attend another workshop put on by Emily Clark of Wink Fotos, but this one was in Salt Lake and covered alot more than the previous one in March. Nate was a dear and said he'd drive me up there and back (that half paycheck was coming and we're trying to be better about spending). I thought it was in Provo, but thankfully double checked the night before or I could have been really late! Charlize stayed with my mom and we had a nice drive up there. We got to the general area with 45 minutes to spare, so we took a walk around trying to figure out where we'd be. I completely prefer overgrown grass, pastures and rusty cars to the city, but there really is such a variety of places in a 1 block radius it would have been fun to do a shoot there! I took this picture while we were walking around, behind us is a painting of books stacked in a row. The workshop began and Nate just hung out by the truck. Emily was suggesting him to just come with us (I did too, but he didn't believe me that it'd be ok) so he actually came to the workshop with me :) He talked to Emily's husband, held the umbrellas, and hung out. It was nice to have him there - learning what I was (especially when we came home he knew what I was talking about).
It was the only weekend in July we weren't at a roping somewhere out of town, so a quick trip to SLC and a fun time with my hubby.

If you'd like to see the pictures on my Photography blog from the workshop, GO HERE!

Cute Cousins

July 21st, 2010

These two truely have SO much fun together! We are at the 'learning how to share is rough at times' stage but this was not one of those times. Charlize LOVES to wear 'tutus' (which includes a few petticoats) and the pink, purple, green one Addi always wears so Charlize thinks its hers when she comes to play. We have a couple hats around as practical decoration (practical because they do get used when going to ride horses) and a few extras they were playing with this day. :) O silly girls, we love your cute smiles and personalities!

We also went swimming and got Addi to wear arm floaties. Charlize is a pro at swimming with her puddle jumper (truely a great invention!) and loves to just go on her own now. Una (my mom), Aunt Enore (Eleanore), Aunt Soni, Addi and Babies Fallon and Brekan (buns in the oven) all went swimming together. :)

Swimming Fun

Before we get to the swimming, I have to share and adorable outfit Charlize put together herself. I can't remember exactly how those leggings got in there, but she constantly wears her tutus and boots around the house. I, of course, could not get her to look at me or hold still but she's still cute!
Ok, now to swimming. We went swimming ALOT because she is a little fish and loves water. When we went camping at Bryce Canyon, the Graff's had these 'Puddle Jumpers' swimming/floating device that I thought was cool. The foam swimsuit thing doesn't keep her head up, but this allows for total movement and safety. It took 3 times swimming with it till she jumped off the step and into the water. That's the movie at the bottom of the post.

We swam in the backyard pool too. I was trying to get her a new swimsuit at the beginning of the season and could only find a 2T or 5T at wally-world the day I was set to get one. So I figured bigger is better than smaller - 'cause she'll grow into it. I really thought it would be WAY too big, but I hope she's not cursed with my two torsos and is long bodied. I know its big on her, but its not as big as I thought it would be.

We had Parker and Breken over to swim a couple of times too!

Random Fun in July

James got his Eagle Project completed - the community map for Diamond Valley. We all had fun helping him at the end. Charlize had fun playing in the dirt and running around us all.

Charlize love to write - or 'coulor' as she calls anything she does with a marker, pen or crayon. It is so cun to watch her be so detailed and careful, staying inside the lines on the paper. Don't worry, not long after that thought as I took the pictures she started to get rambunxious and scribbled around a bit. :)

'Skeeter' has really started to calm down and although I doubted this would ever happen (because she's such an energetic horse), Charlize got to rider her by herself. If you look close at the pictures you can see Charlize is holding the reins and does her best to steer while walking. For the most part, Skeeter follows us as we walk away but it is so cute to watch her be so confident.

Charlize figured out how to take her arms out of her carseat straps and is quite proud of herself for doing it. This car seat requires a little more work to change the straps so they do need to be raised up, but she does it in my truck too. She didn't like the camera at first, so even though it would be nice to only always show the happy pictures - real life isn't like that. We love her just the same: sassy and happy.

Sara and Sydney come to visit!

Sara is a dear friend - we played volleyball together at Sheridan College, worked at the UW Ag. Extension Farm, lived together a couple summers, both married Nate's and so much more! I just her as one of the truest, sweetest people I've ever known. She lives in Colorado
and I haven't seen her in a few years. She's never met Charlize and I hadn't met Sydney yet, so when she called to say the volleyball teach she coach's was coming to camp in St. George I was thrilled!!!!! They stayed at our house and we watched Sydney a few times when she went to coach. We didn't really do a whole lot - just catch up and watch the girl's play. Charlize struggled with me holding the baby for the first day, and reverted back to some baby things. But really she did great and just loved having her around.

Riding Lucky Boots

Nate has been working with our new horse, Lucky Boots, to get her broke (used to the saddle and really just being rode). Charlize of course doesn't like it because she wants to be in there riding! Devan 'ponied' Nate and Lucky Boots around so that she could follow his horse and if she went to bucking she wouldn't have far to go.

Grandma and Grandpa came up to watch the events and when the guys were done, Charlize was able to ride Skeeter with Grandpa. Aren't they so cute?!

Roping in Panguitch

For the 2nd weekend in July, we headed up to Panguitch for Nate to rope. He's been heading on his Paint horse 'Skeeter' because Zima broke a bone in her leg and is out to pasture, hoping that she will heal up. He's switched back to heading because Skeeter is a better head horse and he's been roping really well.
We just love being in Panguitch! We went up a nite early just to enjoy the cool weather. The next day he roped, and as the high point winner - he won the trailer!! So excited for him! They have these prizes up to advertise the ropings and of course its always the goal to get it, but when it really happens its such a surprise! :) Nate's parents drove up to get the trailer and we actually camped another nite in Panguitch (again because we love it).

I need to show off these spurs that our friend Wesley made for Nate.