Enjoying the Small Things in Park City

Some of you who know Kelle and read her inspiring blog will understand why I momentarily lost it when I checked my facebook inbox last week and saw a message from Kelle letting me know she was going to be in Provo and wondered if I would be available for a hug. Um. Let me check my schedule and get back to you. As soon as I finish screaming and jumping up and down.

I've been counting down the days. Nervous and excited. It's a different world with all of the connections and friendships that can be made through blogging and the internet. Of course I felt like I knew her from reading her blog. I was in the delivery room with her. I celebrated Lainey's 3rd birthday and felt the fairy dust on my face. I've watched as Lainey added her signature, happy face to her chalk people. I celebrated with her when Nella sat up for the first time. But you just never know what it will be like when you really meet. And it was perfect. Like we'd known each other forever. We decided to brave the cold weather and meet up in Park city for breakfast and shopping. We swapped stories. Celebrated the bond that brought our friendship together -- Down syndrome. Loved on Nella. Took lots of pictures. Walked up and down Main Street and enjoyed the cold, the snow, the scenery. It was refreshing to see that she is real. What you read on her blog is what you get. She really does enjoy all of the small things in life!

As expected from my shy girl, it took Mia a few minutes to warm up but once she got a good look at that cute baby there was no stopping her. "The baby wants to come to my house and play with my toys!" She did not want to let them leave to go to the airport. She wanted that little Nella to be a permanent member of our family.

Mia and Nella enjoying their new (not-so-new-for-Mia) skill of standing up against the wall!

You know those friends who you meet through blogging and you can't remember exactly when or how you connected but you did. That would explain Nadya. She left a comment on Kelle's blog and whatever that comment was, I went to her blog and left a comment. I remember when she sent me a facebook friend request and I asked her how I knew her. I could tell by her pictures that she didn't have a child with Down syndrome and we didn't have any friends in common. She told me her blogger name and I instantly knew who she was. So it was a double bonus to get to meet Kelle and Nadya. Enjoying new friendships.

Enjoying freezing butts. What you can't tell from this picture is that we are sitting on freezing snow in 12 degree weather.

Enjoying Main St.

Enjoying real icicles on Christmas wreaths

Nella enjoys shopping breaks. In from the cold. Not that she ever complained.

Mia enjoyed playing in the dressing rooms and came up to me wearing some random lady's sunglasses that she had swiped from her dressing room. And then the lady watched while I took Mia's picture thinking they belonged to the store. Sorry lady.

Kelle said she might wanna stop on the way to the freeway to get some pictures of cool scenery on the way out. I told her to honk if she wanted to stop. Realizing I wasn't going to hear her honk over Mia's music, I had to call just to see what she thought as we passed this great white barn out in the middle of nowhere. Right when she picked up her phone she said, "you already know I wanna stop at that white barn!" So of course we u-turned it and got these great shots! And it may have made her just a little rushed at the airport but that's what it takes sometimes to enjoy the small things.

Thanks Kelle for spending the morning with me and getting me up to our beautiful mountains. Now it's my turn. I think the Florida beach is calling my name. Hopefully some day soon . . .