Summer Vacation - Every Day Memories

It is always the every day memories that are the hardest to describe yet the dearest to our hearts. I miss out on the every day with my family. It is nice to get it during the summer.

Shucking corn with Grandad

 

Zumba with Mom and Britt

 



 

Hanging out in Grammy's Kitchen

 



The girls stayed up so late every night that I finally had to wake them up at 6 am one day just to get them to go to sleep!  Rachel was struggling.

 

Lounging in Grammy's bed

Picking leaves with Tatum in the backyard.

 

 

Playing Cards in the Family Room

 



Singing with Grandad around the campfire.

 



Evenings on the soft green grass.



Games with Brittany and Garrett

Blankets in the backyard.

Summer Vacation - Sisters

I got to bond with my sister-in-law.  Something that we have not had enough of!  She is such an amazingly talented lady.  One of my favorite memories was watching her as my Dad produced a couple of her songs in his office in the basement of my house.  It was almost magical watching it all come together. 

 

Listening to this video still gives me chills.  I just get so excited about the whole process of creating music.  I love you Mar!

Summer Vacation - Dad

 

 When I was a teenager, living at my parents house, I spent a lot of time on my Dad's blue leather couch in his office.  I spent hours talking to him in the late hours of the night.  I realize now that I was most likely distracting him from completing a deadline, but he never treated me like an inconvenience.  While I was home this summer, I found myself on the blue couch again.  It takes me to a place that is difficult to describe.  Listening to and being around music is such a part of my childhood, that it is woven into the fabric of who I am.  Being around my Dad this summer and around "living music" brings me back to my center.  My Dad once told me that the smell of sawdust can bring him back to his roots faster than any other thing.  (His Father was a carpenter).  He reminded me that I once called him from an outdoor concert and held the phone up in the air as the symphony was tuning up and said, "Hey Dad, this is my sawdust!"  I had completely forgotten that I had done that, but it is true, music is my sawdust.  He will probably kill me for posting these photographs of him but I love them.  They speak to who I am because they illustrate the very nature of  who he is, and so much of him is in me.    I was able to listen to many of the new projects that he has worked on over the last few years.  I was really in awe of the body of work that my Father has composed throughout his life.  It is inspiring to see someone who has searched the depth of their talents and labored to become a true artist of their craft.  Every once in a while, I can see that is what he has become, but most of the time, he is just Dad. 

 

 

 

 

Another one he will kill  me for.  The man literally works himself to the bone.  I have never seen anyone work harder in my life.  He has worked all through the night and into the next day time after time.  I have seen this happen over and over again.  He doesn't know this but I always smile to myself when I find him crashed out.  It makes me happy to finally see him rest.  However, this would be more accurately portrayed if he were on the couch. 

Summer Vacation - Aladin

One of the first days we spent in Utah we went to see Aladin at the Hale Center Theatre.  The kids loved it!

 

My Beauties

Summer Vacation - Lunch with the Uncles

We drove up to where all of the boys were camping for lunch one afternoon.  They have an amazing set up.  They made fajitas and they were delicious!  I have good looking uncles.  men. 

 

 

 

 

My adorable Grandma Jean

 

 

 

 

I had to zoom in on these two because I really love this!