Creative Writing Group

I've joined a creative writing group. And so far I'm loving it!

Being a mother to little children can leave my brain feeling unused.

This is a great outlet!

Here was my first assignment:

Describe your favorite place with only sensory BESIDES the visual.

I like organization. I like cleanliness. I like walking on a floor without crumbs sticking to my feet. I like music according to my mood. I like healthy, clean tasting food. I like my hair to be in place. Because of this list of things “I like” my heart may beat a bit faster than the average human. But when it comes to my favorite spot I brake all of my own rules, and in a way, it’s therapeutic.

I walk along the warm sand with my flip flops on, the sand creeps under my feet and into my toes. I try this sandal method as long as I can but always end up taking off my flimsy flops with much pleasure. Grasping the sandals and stepping forward brings much relief and I breathe in slowly. Is it the salty humid air? The smell that I neither enjoy nor dislike, but find that it soothes my soul. Is it the sound of the waves crashing that slows down the beat of my heart? I feel myself transforming into a new person.I hear the squawking of seagulls and gaze heavenward.  The breeze that runs its fingers through my hair is a sign that I am letting go. The laughter of children chasing waves is too enticing not to join in. The waves crash on my legs leaving a salty film. The water droplets dive into my mouth unexpected. How can I enjoy these simple moments? It seems a mystery.Taking a break from the chasing and running, I return to home base, the towels. I am all covered in sand that I don’t even attempt to remove. The sandwiches for lunch usually become “sand”wiches, but the watermelon allows it to wash down. I take a sip of the forbidden soda and the sweetness dances around in my mouth. I savor it.I let the warmth of the day seep into every part of my being and in my heart I hear a whisper to remember this moment. 

Summer Catch Up

I have been doing a pretty lousy job recording our summer.

I have started quite a few entries but have never completed any.

This will be a very brief and incomplete catch up and review.

 

It seems obvious but I will say it anyway. We are having a great time.  

 

Sunset Beach.

We spent the late afternoon and evening at Sunset beach. We ate dinner,  s'mores, and played with the Skelton Family. A great family from the MBA program we have gotten to know really well while being here.

 I was happy to take this picture. Its very reminiscent of the night we were engaged minus the little figure that is between us. 

I loved that Luke was photo bombing our pictures.

 

Alicia and I were tough and got in the water to do some boogie boarding. I felt like a kid again! It was so fun.

Charlie had fun playing with the Skelton's two boys: Levi and Luke.

I love this picture of Levi jumping around in the water.

 

A Trip down Highway 1

Bean Hollow and Pigeon Point

I love Charlie. We have so much fun with him. I love discovering who he is and enjoying his lively personality.

This was a great place for exploring tide pools. We saw a ton of crabs!

I love Olive. Her sweetness just radiates and I love having her around.

We found this lighthouse the first week we were here. Andy had been dying to go back ever since. Walking around here i felt like i had stepped back in time and i sort of wish i really could.



 



 

Charlie and Olive continue to grow. I feel like when we get back to Utah they will be completely new kids.

Los Gatos

I just got back from the grocery store. I don't know what it is but I love this place. I feel peaceful here. I feel safe. I feel a new level of friendliness. I feel a comfortable climate. I feel happy. 

Maybe a part of it is that it's summer. Maybe it's because it's new. Maybe it's because Los Gatos is just plain wonderful! 

It's less than an hour to the beach, the redwood forests, and the big city.

We are within walking distance to shopping stores, the grocery store, a beautiful big park, an ice cream shop and restaurants. There is a little fountain water area for kids to play in. Charlie loved it! 

The scenery is amazing. Big flower plants line the highways. Fruit trees scatter the neighborhood. It feels clean and fresh.

People are so friendly! Everywhere we go we have real conversations. They talk to us like we are a new friend. We met a mom with her two sons at the park, Melanie is from the UK, we exchanged numbers and I have a new friend. The ward surrounded us like a family. It all feels like it's too good to be true. 

And it is in a way. Because we leave at the end of the month to a new place, but I am hoping with all my heart that maybe someday we can live here again, permanently. 

We will enjoy our short 3 week stay here. 

Happy girl with her daddy! Sitting in the Los Gatos plaza. 

Charlie enjoying the fountains. 

A visit to the beach. 

Pigeon Point along highway 1. 

Tide pools at Pigeon Point. 

Letting my toes touch the cold water. 

Lombard Street in San Francisco. It's a crazy zig zag road. 

Redwood Forest. 

Life in Provo

To catch you up...we now live in Provo. I feel so lucky that Andy had two whole free weeks of no school and no work to help get the house settled and life figured out in Provo. I needed that! I didn't want extra stress during the last weeks of pregnancy. Now that he has started school and I'm on my own I feel like i can manage and i feel so happy...we have a home, we have a cute little Charlie, we have a baby on the way, Andy is loving his first week at school. I feel so happy to be where we are at, it feels so right!

OUR FIRST WEEK

We not only settled our home but we got to know Provo more. We visited several parks and took a hike to Bridal Veil Falls. Our hike to the falls was early in the morning and it was still quite chilly. The only thing we had was an emergency blanket in the car. I was so glad! I used it the most but Charlie did want to wear it a little too. It made me laugh so hard seeing him wrapped up inside it. 

I love going to the parks! Every park we visit there are always other children around Charlie's age. I love watching him interact with other kids. He has been having a great time!

PREGNANCY

I have had some very uncomfortable pregnant days. I will save you from all the complaints i have had. 

I am not sure what has changed, probably just my attitude, but i feel great. I feel grateful to be having a baby. I am grateful she is healthy. I am grateful to be Charlie's mom and that i can give him a little sister. We talk about Olive a lot and this morning he went to her bassinet asking for baby. Its crazy to think that he could just wake up one morning and she will be there. He is excited too! 

I met with my midwife today and everything looks great! I am 38 weeks along. I had Charlie at 38 weeks and 4 days. I know that every baby will come in there own time but i can't help feeling like she could be here any day. I am trying to hold back my excitement and stay calm. 

We are having Olive here in our home. It feels so right and comfortable. Everything is ready we just need her to join us. And believe it or not i am excited to give labor again. As hard as it was, it was an incredible experience and makes me feel so ALIVE! God has blessed women with bodies that create and give life. I love being a part of the whole experience.

ANDY

 And as for my sweetheart... He is so good to me. Serving me at every possible moment. Working so hard to be prepared for school and life once its over. I love seeing him so excited and happy about what he's doing. His greatest desire is to provide for our family and it is a huge bonus when he can do that with the things he enjoys. He is the best father! He loves to play and be with Charlie. And we all know Charlie has always adored him :) 

So here goes the next two years of our life...

Together with the Whitakers

We had such a great week as a family! 

My sister Keli lives in Las Vegas so summer is the one time they get away for a good period of time to visit.

They stayed the weekend with us. 

We took a hike to Donut Falls. 

The next week we all went to Logan. 

We had our traditional bike ride on USU campus, which i love! 

Its so fun to just be together as a family on campus and hang out. 

For the rest of that day the kids played out in the water at my parents house. 

They had a great time in the slip and slide, pool, and blow up slide and pool. 

It was a nice warm day for such play.

The following day we drove to Bear Lake and stayed at the cabin.

We spent a good long day at the beach.

Charlie LOVED playing in the sand, jumping in the water, and being with cousins.

 We took turns making meals and ate well. 

The kids got along (for the most part :).

The mornings were breathtaking! 

Isn't summer the best! 

I love spending time with family and enjoying the outdoors.

Platt Family Reunion

I spent a few days with my mom last week. Majority of our time was spent on Family History projects, which I loved! My mom has a plethora of pictures and I got to scan some of them onto her computer. I loved learning about my mom's family. I even found the talk my Grandma gave before she and my Grandpa left for their 18 month mission to Brazil. It was so sweet to hear her testimony, to see her handwriting, and read the words she personally wrote. I feel more eagerness to learn about her because we are using her name, Yvonne, as Olive's middle name. I want to teach Olive all about her Great-grandma Yvonne!

We had our Platt Family Reunion this last week. It was a nice gathering on a very hot day in Layton at a Park. My mom told stories and her brother Keith shared some jokes from (his) Grandpa Platt. He got everyone laughing. We then ate food, visited, and watched kids run around with squirt bottles. The squirt bottles were a brilliant idea! It was over 100*, luckily with a slight breeze. It is always nice to be gathered with family. One cousin I haven't seen for years, I didn't even recognize at first. Garrett is in the Military and just got home from Afghanistan a few months ago. It was good to catch up with him and also meet his wife for the first time.

Andy was the photographer. So here are some of the pictures from our event.

Colin was roasting, but still the cutest baby ever!
 She was so happy despite the very warm day.

We don't have any family gatherings without homemade root beer.

We had photos and old yearbooks laying out for everyone to
glance through. It's nice for those who are new to the family.

Carlee was stuck to her "brandma" cause her momma was busy
with a brand new baby.

Charlie was so busy with the squirt bottles and water that he never
ate any lunch. Before leaving he finally sat down for some pretzels.

This is Garrett being chased by the squirt bottle gang.

My cousin Aaron and his wife Lauren and their
son Dexter. We tried getting pictures of all the families
but we weren't very successful. I'm glad we got one
of them though. They are such a cute little family :)

This is my cousin Richard's daughter Boston. She was a cutie
playing with my mom.

Now this was a funny story! Andy snuck a good shot,
probably without permission. But this is my Uncle Keith
who accidently sat on a Chocolate Cupcake.

My mom tried getting a picture with all the kids. It's impossible
to get them to look at the same time.

Charlie's favorite spot by the water.

  I choose summer anytime over winter, even with the 100* weather.

 I'm glad our family gets together and look forward to the reunions to come!

Let the summer begin!

I feel like today Summer officially began!

It was warm.

There was water.

Crowds of people.

No shoes.

No shirts (for the boys of coarse :)

Extra time with cousins, who are the best.

At the end of the day, Audrie, Andrue, and Carlee kept telling me that Charlie didn't want to go home.

They were probably right!

 

Carlee: loves the camera!

Charlie eating his cookie while watching everyone else play.

We had to convince the kids to get wet, because the water was cold
and it was a tad breezy. They had a great time once they did.

We got Carlee to run through the water by telling her we would take pictures.
She loved it!

Charlie's only time standing in the rings :)

This part of the park was really fun!
 So many different kind of jungle climbing areas.

Only picture I got of Audrie, wish I got more.

Fun day. Funny face Brook.