These are a few of my favorite things

I know these pictures are a little old... August through December of last year to be specific. But they're kind of fun. Trent and I went camping for my birthday (but of course) and my dad came to watch the kids for us. We went up to the Uintah's to a little area called Murdock Basin where I spent a lot of time as a kid backpacking and fishing.
This pictures of the kids and animals is at a local place called Wheeler Farm. Really cool! It's completely free! You can take the kids there and pet all the animals, play around the park and in the fall go grab a pumpkin. The kids had a great time following the gigantic geese. I was surprised the geese didn't try to chase them (apparently they caught sight of Trent and I).
We had a pretty low key Christmas here at the house. We don't really get too done up on Christmas morning... as you could probably guess by the attire of diapers and jammies=). I really love the pictures of my dad and Aidan on the swing taking a nap... pretty sweet.
For Thanksgiving we had our friends Krystal and her sister Zandra over with her little girl. The turkey was pretty damn tasty (too toot my own horn) and it was nice to put the kids at their own table for once! It was the first time this year I had occasion to break out the good china too. That was passed down from my Great-Grandma... I'll have to photograph it someday... it's gorgeous!
Anywho...off to make mac 'n chili for the naughty monkies... not that I think they truly deserve a homecooked meal (or box cooked) after the display they put on today at Costco... but apparently the rule book states they must be fed... so off I go;)
xoxo
Miss A

I Guess I'm Supposed To Go To Italy (Darn)

Yes, like a good little tourist back in 98 when I lived in Rome for 2 1/2 months, I visited the Trevi fountain and tossed in my coin before leaving. For those of you unfamiliar with the tradition... you are supposed to throw a coin in before leaving and that assures that you will come back some day. Now... after reading this I'm sure my father will comment and leave you the full story along with several variations... but for the time being... I'll leave it at that.

The Spanish Steps are incredible. Here they're shown without any people... but I assure you that regardless the time of year you'd be hard pressed to find these steps vacant. I was there in the winter the second time around and even in the damp cold of night there were a few hippies and street performers hanging around. Can I mention that I love the fact that people just sit around outside talking instead of sitting indoors watching TV?!

As my dad and I were walking through the Villa Borghese we came up to this statue of the Rape of Persephone. I remember vividly the feeling that these had once been real people and somehow the artist had captured them perfectly in stone. I love the way his hands make dents on her thighs... yummy!

The Pantheon... oh my memories of the Pantheon. Just down the road off the left side of the picture there's this little pub called The Fox. While I was there my dad was working as a Personal Assistant to a Producer on the movie U571... so meanwhile I got to play with all the young actors and people that worked on set. We loved this bar! I remember Matthew McConaughey lost his brown leather coat in that bar one night. He had it named (and no I can't remember the name) so he was going around asking if anyone had seen "name" and I think all the Italians were concerned he'd lost it. That's also where I met Joe C. A beautiful hunky man from Jersey with Italian roots. He was there studying abroad and let's just say that he's the reason I remember the Pantheon so well. I caught so much hell from my dad after that for making him wait in the car. Sorry popsie... a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

Piazza Venezia is always one of those that the tourist busses drive you by... pretty fantastic. This is how Rome is. You drive around and every bit of architecture is interestsing, a million years old, and has some statue out front by some incredible artist. Oh, and I love the fact that you can still see SPQR on everything.

I know after hearing about U571 you're going to think I'm full of shit on this one... but we have a friend in Rome that is a Prince. This is his palace in which the family museum is located. It is called Palazzo Doria Pamphili... his name is Jonathan Doria Pamphili... how's that for a name?! So we're out to dinner with him one night at some little out of the way place and our waiter comes over and says something I don't understand to Jonathan. Then this paparazzo comes over with his camera and takes our picture at the table! I thought it was a little random so I ask he and my dad what that was all about. Apparently the paparazzi like to snap shots of him around town. I never saw the pic anywhere... perhaps I'll have to google and see if it's out there. More on that story some other time.

La Bocca della Verita... the mouth of truth. Not protected... you just walk around a corner and there it is. Legend says that once upon a time you would put your hand in the mouth and if you were lying it would eat your hand off. That's some serious fear/faith... I'd call bullshit right away;) I love the way the mouth is so worn from centuries of people putting their hands in it. Can you imagine all the people that have been there before? I know that's what was constantly on my mind while there... just the thought of how many people had been to each place before me.

They were cleaning the Colloseum while I was there in preparation for the Jubilee (year 2000) celebration. We were still able to go inside though... just around the upper part. I would love to take one of those tours where they walk you around down in the bottom where they would keep the animals and gladiators. It was definitely overwhelming. Talk about a lot of history staring you in the face. Crazy to think they used to fill it up with water...

Castel StAngelo was one of my favorite places mostly because of all the statues of angels surrounding it. The bridge that you see is amazing at night... also covered with angels and beautifully lit against the Tiber River.

So...according to my most recent poll the faithful readers of this blog feel that I should go to Italy. I'm happy to announce that I agree with them. When I'll go again... I don't know. But I can tell you that if someone presented me with a plane ticket right now... I'd take it=) Hint, hint... nudge, nudge. I was sitting here at work earlier explaining the origins of my name to my coworkers. We talked about when I'd lived in Rome...(twice)... and I can't believe that it's been so long since I've been there. Shame on me! While you're there it feels so otherworldly... it's hard to believe that as I'm sitting here in LDS Hospital... in Salt Lake City, Utah... Rome is still existing in all of it's glory. Lovers are making out in the Piazza Venezia... tourists are discovering the Spanish Steps for the first time. Hmmm... I'm jealous...

Guess I'll just have to go back;)
Anyone up for a trip??