Lovely Labor Day

I think I have moved Labor Day up on my favorite holidays list. I try to be an equal opportunity lover of holidays and help out the ones who may not get the glory Christmas or Halloween seem to get. I am a fan of Thanksgiving, Gumdrop Day, and recently I have realized, I enjoy Labor Day weekend. Did I spend the weekend like I wanted to? No, but I had a splendid weekend nonetheless. I WANTED to go camping and enjoy the beautiful red rock of southern Utah, but no one else was really feeling the desire to go on one more camping trip before the crisp, cold nights begin to settle in. So I stayed in town, and I am glad I did.

The first thing to occur on Lovely Labor Day weekend was a wedding reception for a good family friend, Julie. Julie is the youngest sister of my dear twin friends, Jenny and Tami who I grew up with in San Diego. So not only did I get to see the wonderful DeLoura family who I haven't seen for quite some time, but all sorts of people from my ward growing up were there also. Evidently the cool people from Santee 2nd ward have migrated to Utah County, woo hoo! It was so great to see people who loved me and helped teach me the gospel principles I so strongly believe in and follow today. They made me feel accomplished and just as loved as a 32 year old as I felt as a 16 year old. It was great to catch up and hear about their families and see Julie so happy with her new husband. I have come to truly admire Jenny and Tami. They both have such adorable, amazing families and are such good mothers. I hope they will teach me everything they know when I become a mother. It was a gorgeous day!

Long time friends: Jenny, Me, Tami. Don't they look good for having 9 kids between the two of them!

On Monday, Labor Day, the warm sunshine woke me up and I felt a strong desire to begin the day with a run. You may remember I have not been able to run for over 3 months now due to a dumb knee injury that occurred while training for a half-marathon. Well the weekend of Labor Day, my injury was gone and I was able to go on a gorgeous, sunny run. It feels so good to run again and while the winter months will cause me to move my running indoors(because I am not that into running that I will do it in the snow), knowing I can try for glory in a half marathon next year makes the world seem better somehow.

After my run, Cami and I met our old roommate, Sarah and her adorable kids, Jacob and Eliana for some more fun in the sun at Seven Peaks water park. I have decided going to a water park with little kids is way more fun then with adults. Jacob loves the water and I love playing with him in it. Spending the day in the sun, getting that last sunburn in before the leaves change and a new season is upon us, made my Lovely Labor Day complete.

I do love the sun and heat and wearing flip flops and shorts so much. I know I will miss my friend while he is hiding behind clouds and wind chills for the next 6-8 months, but just like the rest of my closest friends, I know my good friend, Mr. Sun will return to my life again someday. I can visit him in Florida for Christmas and maybe I'll have to see him in Hawaii real soon too. But I know he will come back to me and I am grateful for holidays like Labor Day that make me remember how much my friend, the sun means to me.


Jacob and Me taking a break from the water. The boy is a fish, I swear!


Jacob loved taking pictures of everything. Here we are taking a picture of each other! He will be a great photographer someday, book him now for your next family picture.


This picture was technically taken the weekend after Labor Day but I just wanted the fun to keep going. Some of my gal pals after Stake Conference at Dessert Night!