Mountains have always been a happy place for me. Perhaps its because I grew up at the base of the Rocky Mountains in Utah and my home was quite literally in a forest in the mouth of a canyon on a large lot of land, bordering public land and I even had a creek (sometimes river in the spring) in my backyard. I worry about the block walls around my home in PHX and that it teaches my kids to "stay within the lines."
That was not my childhood. My childhood was roaming, building forts, finding rusty pioneer treasures, tubing down the creek, tree swings, and building dams so we could have swimming holes in the summer. I wandered free my whole life. I'm grateful for where I grew up. I would only wish that same environment for my kids...
A few agents in my office came and and ran an intervention last Friday. They said I did not look up-to-par and I was lacking my usually natural enthusiasm. As their business coach, they pointedly informed me that they need me fresh and focused. One of them said, "Get out of town and use my farm house on five acres in the mountains outside Flagstaff." I think I had grabbed my keys and was racing for my car before she even finished her sentence. I found out later that day at the doctor that I was sick and that fresh air and mountains would be good. They are always good for me and my family. So we headed for the hills. Here are some snapshots of our great weekend.
I love this picture. He never really took to a binky, but he took to his two middle fingers! This is a very common site for West - a "hang loose" sort of hand formation with two fingers straight in his mouth. 
