New Orleans

I'm going to be honest. New Orleans is not my favorite place. I would be just fine if I never, ever, ever, never, ever, ever, ever, EVER had to go back. That place smells something awful!

But the beignets??? Wow.

It's like heaven in your mouth. If I did have to go back, at least I'd have those, right?

Oh, and I tried Alligator. Also not my fave (and doesn't really taste like chicken, like everyone says).

End of the Season

And once again, the happiest times in our families life ends.

But only temporarily. 4 more months until the 2015 season!

Halloween

Are they not the cutest Dauntless Soliders you've ever seen???

UEA Weekend... I Think

This year has been the longest year of my life -- yet, has flown by. I seriously don't know where all my days have gone, but each day feels as though it's going to last forever.

I'm pretty certain these photos come from a weekend getaway to see Chris out in the Basin. Wait... that I know. We did go see Chris out in the Basin, and these are, in fact, the photos. What I'm not quite sure of is when it happened. UEA weekend, maybe? The weekend of my birthday? Or maybe they both happened in the same weekend. Who knows.

What I do know is this was a much needed break with the family. Life is not so easy when you are missing a key person in the family. Note to self... Brielle and I don't get along well when Chris is not around.

White Rocks -- Uintah Basin

(Somewhere near where Chris lives)

I'm pretty sure this is Chris's most favorite place in all the world. He loves fishing here. And we loved following him around while he did it. Mostly Brielle and I watched, hiked through the woods, tried to be brave enough to cross a log over the river...

Couldn't have asked for a better day. Especially since we had no cell service. HEAVEN.

Chris and Brielle fished a little together and Chris made us super yummy Hobo dinners over a campfire. Even Izzy thought they were good.

The next day, we drove to the middle of nowhere and visited a place in Basin not even Chris had been. Fantasy Canyon.

Basically a place where small canyons had eroded away over years and years, forming really cool rock formations. Someday soon our family will be made whole again and we can resume our regular family fun. Until then...

I Miss My Friend

I snapped this picture several weeks back when Chris and I had a much needed few days away together in Jackson Hole, WY.

I, of course, had to work while there. But he shut off his phone, set aside his work and gave me many hours of his undivided attention. It was exactly what I needed.

This year has been so tough. We've spent more time apart that we have together, and it's wearing on me. I miss having him around, I miss the help he gives and I miss the support he offers me. It's exhausting playing a single parent, even if it is temporary. This situation has given me a new respect and appreciation for the things he does for our family -- the things he does for me.

The worst part of this comes at night. After the day is done and Brielle is in bed, it's just me. All alone. It's horribly lonely. Normally, we'd just be watching a show on TV, relaxing and hanging out. Nothing crazy, but just being together. But this the time I miss him the most and when it's the hardest to have him away.

We've lived like this since May and only have about another month {I hope} to go. The end is in sight and soon I will have my best friend back. And...... a little relief from the many things I have to do. But mostly, I'm just looking forward to having him home.

Labor Day

Chris has been away all summer, therefore, it became hugely important that for Labor Day {the last long weekend of the summer} we made some big plans and had some great fun. And that we did...

It was kind of a random "stay-cation" of sorts. We stayed in a hotel in Salt Lake, and did random things throughout the weekend. Our friends who joined us for the weekend fun re-introduced me to a high school favorite hang out. I hadn't been to Leatherby's in YEARS, and that's probably a good thing.

The photo doesn't do this delicious creation justice. It was HUGE. Chris made us go back again later that weekend for another. With all our trips to Salt Lake for RSL games, I see us possibly making trips back in the near future.

We spent Sunday in Park City at the Park City Mountain Resort. This included trips up the Alpine Slide, the coaster, the zip line and whatever other fun we could find.

Um... not the photo I was trying to get...

There. That's the one.

A Park City trip isn't complete unless it includes a trip to the outlet mall for some fun finds.

Cutest girl ever... don't you think?

We capped Labor Day weekend off with another Leatherby's ice cream sundae and some target practice out behind Utah Lake. I think I'm finally starting to get the hang of shooting. I hit most my targets, with the big and small guns.

I just love those orange thingee's that you stick in the ground. You always know whether or not you've shot one. Makes shooting a whole lot easier ---- and fun.

Just for fun, I went back through old photos and found this of Brielle and Izzy over Labor Day weekend 4 years ago. I'm going to go lock myself in my room and cry now because they {both} are so much more grown up know! No more baby faces... on either of them. Sniff, sniff.