Out Like a Light

A girl's gotta do, what a girl's gotta do! I am almost at this point...

The Learning Curve on Half Dome

My good friend Shelley, who is sometimes embarrassed by the number of times her photo shows up on my blog,called me on Saturday and asked if I wanted to hike Half Dome with her on Monday. That was a no brain er, any day with Shelley is guaranteed fun. She has such a great sense of humor, totally down to earth and just says it like it is! Half Dome sounded like a beautiful way to get in some good exercise. So on Monday June 1st, barely...it was 3:40am, my friends learned that I can actually be up and ready for a long day at a ridiculously early hour!

By 6:30 am we had learned that Starbucks is the only place open at 4:30 in the morning, and that they have fantastic oatmeal for breakfast. I learned how to use the self timer on my camera, and my friends learned that I can still talk a mile a minute while driving on winding roads at an hour that on any other night I might be just getting into bed!

Jen,DaNae, Duane, Charisse, Shelley and Reed

At the base of our hike I learned just how far we would be going; 17 miles, and that didn't count the extra mile we walked from the parking lot to start our hike.

At about this point we learned that we were not the only ones on the trail. There were posters at each bathroom along the trail warning us to watch out for the mountain lions. We also came across several little mosquito swarms, only to learn that not one of us had brought any bug spray!

Can you say WET? There is a reason they call this the Mist Trail!

My respect for the falls and how powerful the water can be was renewed. I always feel a bit of fear and awe as I watch the churning water race past me. I think I could sit and watch it for hours. Moments like these solidify in my mind that there is a being greater than all of us. He is more powerful than the raging river and has an eye for beauty. We were meant to enjoy it.

We learned that Shelley has an eye for recognizing Mormons on the trail. As Reed spoke to a man that Shelley had identified as a member it turned out to be the son of Reeds Mission President! I would soon learn though, that you could play the 6 degrees of separation to Reed Van Wagenen, and find the connection every time! He is friends with everyone, and if by some chance you don't know him yet, give him 5 minutes and he will be your new best friend! He could be the original author of the line,"To know me is to love me".

This guy here, who as best we could tell was named Trick, was one of Reed's many new friends along the way. We called him Reed's new best friend after he saved a mans life by grabbing him by the ankle after falling and almost rolling down the mountain. Hero or not though, Trick was immediately dropped from Reeds friend list when he asked me if Reed was my dad! So if in the coming weeks you see him at Target buying Grecian Formula , blame it all on Trick!

After a few hours of hiking we learned that we were still not half way! We had to go from this view point to the top of the higher of the two rocks! We decided we'd wait to eat lunch until we were at the top. I had affectionately named Charisse's husband DuWap, and we had coined a new term. Dizzy, which is how DuWap and my mom were feeling due to the altitude, was somehow changed to Disney and could also mean lightheaded and a bit silly. The lack of sleep the night before definitely had us all feeling a little Disney!

When all of us, minus DuWap who ended up staying just below the cables due to his state of Disney-ness and upset stomach, saw the cables for the first time we learned that this was more than just a steep incline, it was almost straight up!

As we climbed the cables we learned how tricky it could be for two people with backpacks, going opposite directions, to pass each other in the cozy 2 foot space between the cables on either side of you. We learned that strong arms and good shoes are critical. I watched a Gatorade bottle slip from a pack at the top of the cables and tumble down past us all the way off the cliff. It was hard not to recognize that was probably the same path a person could so easily take with just one wrong step.

When we reached the top my mom and I learned that AT&T has coverage at the top of Half Dome! We couldn't resist a little bragging on our facebook status!

My mom and I felt tough for conquering The Rock, and were grateful for Reed and Shelley's invitation to join them on this journey.

We were all in high spirits enjoying the amazing view from the top, and the exhilaration of our feat until we felt a rain drop! The wind had picked up and brought in some nasty looking clouds.

We learned just how quickly we could forget about lunch, and head for the hills! We didn't need to learn the hard way what it feels like to be clinging to metal cables on the side of a granite rock when a hail storm hits, and you can hear the thunder roaring through the valleys and rumbling off the mountains around you, but that's exactly what we did.
I learned it was much easier to head down the cables backwards, that my push ups had paid off and my arms were totally capable of holding me up while the granite was slick beneath my feet. I was surprised that I was not gripped with fear , but rather a calm yet urgent understanding that we needed to get down as quickly as possible. Because of a few mindless folks who insisted on continuing to climb up the cables during the storm, and one very nervous young lady paralyzed by fear and shoes with no traction, it took just over an hour to get to the bottom of the cables. Shelley learned how loved she is as these two angels helped her down the cables after some sincere prayer.

We were all talking and relieved that we made it off the cables when Shelley and Charisse started to tease me about my hair looking funny, "it's standing straight up" they said. This got my moms attention immediately. We then learned the greatest tell tale sign of imminent lightning in your location is when your hair looks like you rubbed a balloon on it for a few seconds! We happened to be standing on the smaller of the two large rock domes without a tree in sight and about half a mile of rock switch backs before we were in the clear.

When my mom told us to hustle down the side of that rock we listened!

Sure enough a few seconds later the thunder rolled and then a bright finger of electricity flashed right in front us. There was so much electrical current in the air the pressure of it came upon Reed, the tallest thing around. He kinda crumpled to the ground, with his arms crossed over his head, and when I saw the look on his face I was really scared for the first time. We were all a bit giddy by the time we were under the cover of the trees again.

I learned that Charisse is a lot like Shelley and speaks her mind or the first thoughts that come to it, quite freely. They both kept us laughing all day! We heard all about Ohpeemea River and snickered about the strip-ED captain agrrrrr, and tried to get our photographer to focus on our faces! This shot was taken after we learned about Charisse's personal space and what was not allowed in it. We decided to continue to put off lunch yet again until we knew for sure whether or not DuWap was waiting for us where we had left him.

When he wasn't still waiting for us we decided to eat but couldn't find a place to sit that was dry, free from vomit or otherwise. So as we continued hiking with no meals since our Starbucks oatmeal 12 hours previously Reed dubbed the day Fast Monday.

When we finally did sit down to our pita pockets, hummus, pasta salad , crackers and cheese and the best salami ever, the only thing any of us wished for was an ice cold Diet Pepsi!

About 2 hours later all we were wishing for was the end of the steep granite stairs!
We were done hiking sometime around 8pm, and Shelley and I insisted on getting T shirts announcing our accomplishment. It was an amazing day with the greatest friends! I learned a ton on this trip and I can't wait to do it again!

Flattery Will Get you Everywhere!

My inbox yesterday held the most pleasant surprise. This letter from a dear friend of mine.

Hi friend,

I am so happy to be in touch with you again, even if it is just through blogging. I know we have said this before, but we are so much alike it's scary. I love reading your blog!

Here is my request: I would love a list your favorite beauty products - shampoo, conditioner, hair products, make-up,etc? (Right now I am in desperate need of a new MOISTURIZER.) You have the best taste of anyone I know and seem to be able to find all the best products. This would also make a really fun post, if you were looking for something to blog about.

Also: read anything good lately, I can't seem to find ANYTHING I want to read.

Miss you. Love, C

A note that nice will get you far my friend. Especially considering 90% of my book selections come only after checking on gooodreads.com to see what you have read and loved lately, and the fact that I am constantly checking out clothing articles, crafty projects, and even running shoes after you have posted on them! So dear friend the appreciation goes both ways and because of it, I'll tell you anything you wanna know!

Lets start with HAIR PRODUCTS

Shampoo: Joico Moisture Recovery

Conditioner: S Factor Serious Conditioner

I MUST wash my hair daily and with all the coloring and styling it needs all the pampering I can give it!

After the shower wet hair: Bed Head After Party Keeps my hair smooth no fly aways and helps condition

Paul Mitchel Quick Slip Helps dry much faster and protects from the heat of dryer, flat iron etc.

Redken Wax: Gives a bit of texture, allows a bit more creativity on my part, keeps hair looking smoother and shiny.

MOISTURIZERS

New favorite smelling lotion: Victoria Secret Amber Romance. Got it from a friend for my birthday and I LOVE it great summery smell.

Hand Cream: Bath and Body Works Look Ma New Hands. Hands down the best for dry skin and it smells so good too!

Face: I am using Clinique's regular yellow moisturizer. Mac had a really good one but they switched it out a few years ago and so I have gone back to my old standby. It's fine but not amazing. BUT...

Wexlers night cream , from Bath and Body is awesome for that one week every month, the one before the week everything goes a little off kilter, when my skin does crazy things but only since I have tunred 30 and never before in my life had I worried about it! Not fun!!

Not a moisturizer but in my mind a cure all for scrapes and would be scars or burns etc. is Aquaphor. Heals everything in about half the time! A must have!

MAKE UP

Hands down best powder/foundation combo: MAC STUDIO FIX- great coverage light as a feather.

Favorite lip stuff right now: MAC liner in WHIRL and lipstick in HALF N HALF- great neutrals for every skin tone. Other fun liners SPICE and STRIPDOWN.

Best Chapstick, which I always have on hand and usually just wear with whatever liner I have, is found at Bath and Body: Vanilla Sugar Lip Balm with SPF 15. Besides the packaging is fun!

Fun eye colors to look at at the MAC counter ROMP a warm brown with a little sparkle, way more neutral than it looks. SABLE a fun shimmery pinkish that can really be worn with both the cool or warm tones, and ESPRESSO my favorite flat brown standby. The only eye liner I will use is TEDDY also MAC.

BEST mascara I've found yet is Clinique water proof. Comes off easily and yet never if I am sweating or crying. Can't complain!

Eye Make up Remover: Mary Kay love this stuff!

So there you have it; a handful of things that just make life that much happier for me!

I would love to hear of anyone elses must haves...Whats on your list?

Womens Conference

Rachel, Mom, Aunt Di, Janelle, Tara and Me

This was my 3rd year attending Women's Conference in Provo. I love gathering with women from all over the country on the beautiful BYU campus. There is such a sweet spirit and fun atmosphere when that many women come together!

Janelle, Mom, Me and Tara

We were all going on not too much sleep and feeling a bit sassy. I have to say the Hurd women are pretty dang fun when we have had no sleep, providing we also have no responsibilities!

We had a great time visiting between classes and even bumped into a few friends who we hadn't seen for a very long time. Tara ran into her friend Heather Leister, a dear friend since high school.

My mom ran into her friend Robin who was her freshman year roomie at BYU. She hadn't seen her since then! And I found my dear friend Tiffany who I hadn't seen for maybe 2 whole weeks!

Me and Tiff

We also ran into Sue Reese. She has been a friend of my moms since I was in elementary school. In fact her son is the one I tried to kick, missed and kicked the door and ended up with my crazy toe!!! It has probably been 15 years since we have seen her.

Sue and Mom

We had a great time behaving like Mia Maids at the concert on Thursday night, while my brother in law, aka Saint Peter, watched all of Janelles kids plus Brynne, Ashlyn and Jessica!

Try as we might to just be normal, it's just way too boring!

Rachel, Di, Mom, Janelle, Me, Tara, and Tiffany

As fun as is was to see so many friends and hear a few great presentations, the best part was spending time with my sisters!

Tara, Me and Janelle. I didn't get the lets all wear green memo!

All it takes is one word, one funny comment, one crazy pose...

or one very pregnant sisters leg being kicked into the air and we just go to pieces!

Sisters are the BEST!

Take the plunge!

One of the best swim schools in the country just happens to be down the street from where we live. It also happens to be owned by friends in our ward. I have known many of their instructors quite well and spoken to them at great length about their teaching methods and their great success in teaching young children to swim. These guys really are the best.

I have never sent my children to them for lessons for one simple reason. FEAR. I knew I couldn't handle looking on helplessly as they break my child. No not break them into pieces, just break their will. When a child starts to fuss and cry during their lessons usually because of their own fear of being under the water, they let them know they cannot cry and if they do they dip them back under. This will continue until your child stops crying. The child quickly learns that crying will get them absolutely nowhere and teaches them who is in charge. Eventually the crying stops and they are ready to learn again. The kids all love their teachers and cant wait to go back to lessons every time, but usually not until after lesson 2.

I know the success rate and even that the results speak for themselves. I have never heard of a child being scarred for life because of these methods, but that doesn't mean I thought I could actually stand by and watch this happen. But I also knew that soon enough Brynne was going to have to learn to swim.

Its kind of like when you finally realized that the only way you could ever regain your sanity in life was if you sucked it up and gave in to the fact that you would never sleep all night long again unless you actually let your child cry them self back to sleep. It is a painful thing to do, but within a few nights you realize, the smartest move you ever made.

So this year I made myself do it. I signed Brynne up for lessons at Jan Thomas Swim School, not knowing if I would really be able to go through with it. I was nervous all morning and dreading what I was sure was ahead of me. I tried prepping Brynne all morning telling her that her swim teacher would always keep her safe, that sometimes when we try new things they might seem scary, but to always be brave and try not to cry. She thought I was nuts, (it wasn't the first time someone thought of me that way) she was just excited for her lesson.

When we got there I was so pleased to see that I knew her instructor pretty well and I knew she would be great with Brynne. Brynne ripped off her cover up and jumped right into her teachers arms. I walked back behind the fence almost afraid to turn back and face Brynne and her lesson. We made it through the first several minutes with no tears. Finally after experiencing her first time underwater without anyone holding on to her and for longer than she had been under before,Brynne came up crying. My heart ached as I knew what would come next. I could only half watch as all of my muscles in my legs and arms were so tense watching my crying girl go under the water 2 then 3 then 4 times. And then sigh, it was done. I was so surprised. I know how stubborn that little girl is and that was a fight that could have lasted almost forever.

The rest of the lesson went quite well. When we left Brynne was giving high fives, and talking excitedly about how soon she would be able to swim in my moms pool without any help. I was finally willing my muscles to relax. It was done, I had made it through the lesson with out breaking down or running out to the pool to try to comfort her. It's hard for me to see my kids uncomfortable at all, or to not be able to swoop in and make everything better. I know that we only grow when we have to stretch and do hard things. Often it will make us cry. I know this, and I am so okay with it. I am much better with it though if the stretching and crying is done by me rather than my kids. How will I ever make it through the teenage years with them? I am certain to have my heart broken.

Lucky for me this was just a 30 minute swim lesson, and the hard part didn't last nearly as long as I thought it would. I guess most of life's lesson's,after enough time, can seem that way too.

As we drove home Brynne was telling me all the things she learned at the lesson," I learned that I really can have my eyes open in the water, I learned how to kick with my legs really hard, and I learned not to fuss or my teacher cant teach me how to swim"

With that said, I have to admit, I am already glad we decided to take the plunge! What plunges have you made lately? Was it worth it? We're not done yet, nowhere close, but I am certain my answer will be a resounding YES!!!

Well Said...

Self Indulgence

So it's my birthday today. The big 33. Whatever, age seems pretty irrelevant to me these days. The numbers that used to seem so old are suddenly pretty young still. I have always had lots of friends who are older than me and many of my closest ones are halfway between my age and my moms, or even closer to hers! So really, I feel nothing about the numbers but it is a great excuse to pamper myself a bit, have lunch with my girlfriends, do a little shopping, and for once throw productivity out the window for a bit.

I have been tagged several times on Facebook for my top 25 and I have read several interesting top 100's about people that have made me realize just how similar we are or how much I like them. So since today is all about me, at least for me it is, I decided to do my top 100. So here's to a little self indulgence!

1. I am the oldest of 5 kids and I act like it.
2. I think my parents are 2 of the most amazing people in the world
3. I look, act and think most like my dad, only with a lot more hair!
4. I don't know how I could survive without my mom she has the answer to EVERYTHING, and she is simply the best!
5. My kids have taught me what love is. Each in a different way.
6. There is no one I enjoy listening to sing more than my husband.

7. If I could choose any talent to have it would be to be able to sing beautifully
8. I always sing in the car, loudly.
9. I broke a toe on my right foot and it stopped growing when I was 7!
10. I drive way too fast
11. I probably talk way too fast too
12. I definitely talk way too much
13. I am an interrupter, my whole family is, we're not trying to be rude, we just couldn't agree or disagree more and can't possibly wait to tell you so!
14. I am still really working hard at being patient
15. I LOVE to dance
16. Big groups are my favorite, and embarrassingly I am always one of the last people to leave a party.
17. Good friends are crucial to my sanity
18. I think I am a pretty good friend
19. I will always bend over backwards to help anyone out anytime, it makes me feel good
20. I pride myself in being a hard worker and that is one of the qualities I admire most in a person
21. I am pretty sure I really can do anything. I just have to care enough to make the effort to figure it out. (okay except maybe learn to sing)
22. I hate the details of big projects, I might be the queen of "GOOD ENOUGH"
23. EXCEPT when it comes to clean. That has to be all the way all the time.
24. Diet Coke from the fountain and fresh limes really makes me happy.
25. I think you can love anyone if you take the time to get to know them
26. I cry easily for happy or sad things, or just because I really mean it
27. I really was a natural blond once (until I was about 4 Does that count?)
28. I like my hair better with Blond in it
29. Jeff likes my hair best when its dark
30. I have always said tan fat looks better than white fat. I LOVE to be tan
31. I love to read, but can't usually stop until the end of the book. Can you see how this could be a problem?
32. I am really bad at stopping in the middle of anything. I just have to finish whatever it is I start.
33. I have an excellent memory and can still tell you the birthdays of kids in my 2nd grade class because it was posted on the wall then
34. I hate apologies, don't want to give them, don't need to get one, lets just all do it a little better next time
35. I am quick to forgive and forget, really quick
36. It takes a LOT to make me mad
37. I own way too many articles of clothing and still don't have enough.
38. I am empathetic. If something good happens to someone I care about, I feel like it may as well have happened to me, same goes for the bad stuff too.
39. I have always loved the rain
40. I was a gymnast and competed all over the state for 8 years
41. I played club volleyball for 2 years in Jr. High.
42. One of my regrets from high school was quitting sports to be a cheerleader for 3 years
43. I am still good friends with a few people from elementary school
44. I love to stay up late and sleep in
45. I am always up for a last minute road trip to anywhere
46. I still haven't figured out how to get anywhere on time, and it really bugs me
47. I was the assistant manager of Kinney Shoes when I was 17
48. Co manager of The Limited and then recruited to Anne Taylor when I was 19
49. I love sales and negotiations
50. I think I undertand people and what makes them tick pretty well
51. I went to Ricks College when it was still called RICKS!
52. I majored in fashion Merchandising
53. I am an eternal optimist
54. I like to be dressed up best
55. There is something purely cozy about new socks and grey sweatshirts
56. I love to run
57. Other than college I have always lived in California
58. I was the queen at my freshman winter formal.
59. I think I have really ugly hands
60. I also have a really funny looking smile
61. I have had a subscription to US Weekly for too many years. Keep saying I'm going to let it lapse, but can't follow through...
62. I NEVER have nothing to do

63. I want to learn to take great pictures. I don't want to miss all those moments as my kids grow up
64. Until about 3 years ago I was deathly afraid of going to the dentist...totally freaked me out. I'm getting much better
65. I love surprises!
66. I have no problem with last minute anything, I can roll with it
67. I love watching my boys sporting events
68. I LOVE the letters i get from friends at Christmas time telling all about their families. I really do care!
69. I am VERY independent
70. I like to figure things out on my own, even if its not the easiest way, its just my way
71. Telling me I can't do something is pretty much an invitation for me to show you that I can
72. Naps on the beach with hot sun and sand in my toes make me the happiest girl alive
73. My husband massages my back, feet, or legs every day. I know I am spoiled.
74. I am not very consistent with things in general. From discipline to remembering to take medicine every day until a prescription runs out.
75. I guess I'm not really one for too much structure
76. Most holidays have a certain candy that I anxiously await the arrival of.
77. I love playing card and board games
78. I went to the Emmy awards 4 years ago
79. I don't sit during the day except to drive my car or to send off a quick email
80. I love hanging out with my siblings and their spouses.
81. I would NEVER consider living somewhere that I didn't have family
82. My kids are close with MY grandparents, they are awesome!
83. I have gone camping at Whiskeytown lake every single year of my life at least once
84. I like lists and I love checking things off of them
85. I love rollercoasters!
86. I will always choose carb-y foods over sweets
87. No experience in life has been as miserable as being pregnant...all 4 times
88. I like toddlers, way more than babies
89. I wish I could serve in the Church exactly where I am now until I'm 90
90. I always feel very awkward around people who are very quiet. I just don't know what to say...
91. My faith leads my decisions daily from the big to the very very small
92. I hate confrontation so much that I won't even tell the workers at McDonald's if my fries are stale
93. I can't tell a lie with out smiling, it's a dead give away and therefore totally pointless
94. I have a very hard time saying no when I'm asked for something
95.I love to sew but totally hate to use patterns...i think its the details
96. I'm a romantic, I love love. I love to be in love.
97. I know I've probably over shared here Sorry!
98. I get slap happy late at night. Especially with my sisters and my mom!
99. I'm actually pretty smart, but I feel like I haven't done enough with it
100. I can't wait for to read your Top 100!