Friday, August 16, 2013

On My Heart: In Case I Don't Say It Enough

 photo sunset_zps1a1b9267.jpg

In case I don't say it enough, and I know that I don't, I really am so grateful for this beautiful place that we've been able to call home for the last five-plus years. How lucky we are that we don't have to travel far to find complete and total serenity - it truly is right out our back door.

I totally give Utah a bad rap .
The winters tend to do something to me that I reeeaaallly don't like  - major sufferer of the winter blues, right here. I know you all got an earful this past winter - it was a doozy.

But right now as I look back on all that Utah has had to offer us, not just in its incredible beauty and large variety of outdoor activities, but when I really look at the people it has brought into our lives, the amount of family-friendly activities it provides, the close proximity in which we live to such a huge population of people who share our same beliefs, or even the fact that this happens to be a place that both of our families love to frequently travel to, I can't help but admit that one day when we have to leave it I know that will be a sad day indeed & that it will be incredibly missed.

This lovely place will always be a treasured one in our hearts and one that we will frequently come back to in the years ahead - I say this assuming we won't be here forever, but then again I thought we would have left long ago so you never know what can happen.

So come February when I've had about all that I can take of winter with several months of it still ahead & I'm complaining about how I can't wait to get out, will someone please refer me back to this post?

'Preciate ya.


- e 


Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Baby Boy's Nursery Inspiration Board

 photo gnursery_zpsa126bb03.jpg

Here's a little sneak peak at some of the things we're considering for Baby Boy's nursery!
We'll be going a little bit tribal while still trying to include some of those classic little boy touches :)
There are so many other details & fun items that I would have loved to include . . . I don't know how I'll ever choose (or find the bucks to actually make this come to fruition).

We'll be using a lot of things that we already have and trying to DIY as much as possible, but I'm determined to have this little guy's nursery done while he's still an infant at the very least.
Notice I don't say by the time he is born, because let's be real, that probably won't be happening.

What are your favorite places to shop for nursery décor?

- e



Saturday, August 10, 2013

Art by Annie

 photo art5_zpsd206b47c.jpg

 photo art2_zpse07b2993.jpg

 photo art1_zps3a9a729d.jpg

 photo art3_zps0932418a.jpg

 photo art4_zps1f7d2208.jpg
Annie has dubbed this painting "Happy Cat"...though it sometimes changes to "Loud Cat"...or "Happy Dog".


Almost daily, I get at least one of these requests: 
"Annie draw?"
"Annie paint?"
"Annie paint with brush?"

I know they might not look like much to you, but to us they are examples of her exploring her creativity & sense of the world around her. Though I have to admit, it is so comical sometimes to hear how she interprets her creations & what her explanations for some of them are.

Though we've been enjoying the outdoors as much as possible (which to be honest, hasn't been nearly enough - poor Annie - but this pregnant mama sometimes can't handle the heat) these have been some favorite ways to spend our time inside lately.

Hoping to explore more craft projects as the summer draws to a close & the long winter days begin to creep in.

What are your go-to indoor ways to craft with your kids?
- e

Monday, August 5, 2013

Chugga Chugga

 photo blog8_zpsc67d9fda.jpg

 photo blog1_zpsd9ed9ec9.jpg

 photo blog4_zps9744ebd0.jpg

 photo blog2_zps8d48d2dc.jpg

 photo blog3_zpsc5939ed7.jpg

Tonight, as a final hurrah ending my parents' time up in Park City, we did the Heber Valley Train ride on the Heber Creeper through Heber Valley & the Deer Creek Reservoir.

Complete with twinkle lights & one of the most solid oldie's mixes I've ever heard, we rode, sang, & danced our way across the mountains. Annie shares her grandpa's love for trains & talked about riding on one nonstop, all day, until the big moment finally arrived - I'm pretty sure they were both in heaven :)

As usual, we forgot our camera.
Making it my mission to just start carrying the thing around with me absolutely everywhere I go.

On the agenda for this week: clearing our closets, dressers,  cabinets, & shelves, & taking stock of unused furniture in preparation for a yard sale we'll be having this weekend.

Fun.

- e


Saturday, August 3, 2013

Our Week in Pictures

Our week, according to Instagram :

 photo photo14_zps0d9feb18.jpg

Finished up celebrating Annie B's birthday! 

 photo photo1_zps94e326d5.jpg

Spent a morning of celebration & relaxation by kidnapping this lady (one of my best Utah gals, Becky ) for a birthday treat at the spa, courtesy of her sweet husband!

 photo photo2_zps1fce495b.jpg

 photo photo4_zps4864b8fa.jpg

 photo photo5_zps6a4856ff.jpg

 photo photo3_zps5ad2d260.jpg

 photo photo7_zps6a21fd3a.jpg

 photo photo6_zpsfc9506c3.jpg

We spent another fun-filled weekend in Park City with my mom & dad!
We have been SO spoiled having them visit between all of the fun activities, amazing food, & help with Annie - they even kept her for two extra days so that Blake & I could have a break & enjoy some time to ourselves :)


I love, love, love this cozy mountain town - even though it's right in our backyard it feels completely different from our desert valley.


I would move there tomorrow...so if you have any job contacts send them our way!

 photo photo8_zps8af11021.jpg

Annie and her best bud Makayla (Annie calls her KK) at the zoo!

 photo photo13_zps52429b2c.jpg

 photo photo12_zpsf5239d8a.jpg

A few more zoo pics!

 photo photo9_zpsbac39457.jpg

 photo photo11_zpse23edb90.jpg

 photo photo10_zpsa114ac41.jpg

- e



Friday, August 2, 2013

Bloggers I Love : Wildflowers Photography


 photo airstream12_zpsd7a901e5.jpg

So remember the post I did at the beginning of the week about my new airstream dream?
Well Joy of Wildflowers Photography is actually doing it!

She, her husband, and her four children are traveling around the country via trailer for the next year.
Not sure I'd be up for quite that long of a trek, but her photos leave me inspired and hopeful for future family road trips.

 photo airstream13_zps72c5549d.jpg
 photo airstream20_zpsac7b0ada.png
 photo airstream22_zps3d0574e5.png
 photo airstream23_zps9e4b8229.png
 photo airstream21_zps38d3c0b2.png

 photo airstream11_zps4817b590.jpg

 photo airstream15_zpsdfe0aa9c.jpg

 photo airstream17_zps6976dd2b.jpg

 photo airstream16_zps42518de1.jpg

Dream it, love it, live it.
Love the simplicity, the whimsy, the sanctuary.
You can follow Joy and her adventures, here.

- e



Thursday, August 1, 2013

Throwback Thursday : Making Room for Baby

 photo throwback7_zpsae68a7e5.jpg

 photo throwback8_zps982c826e.jpg

 photo throwback2_zps76c6ef79.jpg

 photo throwback1_zpsebbeb6b8.jpg

 photo throwback3_zps488c8ca4.jpg

 photo throwback4_zps81ed3c9a.jpg

 photo throwback5_zps31df934f.jpg

 photo throwback6_zpsfc03e9ff.jpg
Seriously terrible iPhone photos - but the only ones I have!

Came across these photos from a ways back & thought I would use them as a little throwback post. Annie was such a little thing & just starting to get into trouble :)

We recently started making a few changes around the house so that we can start getting baby boy's room ready. Annie has been sleeping in a big bed (a queen thank you very much - spoiled little lady) for most of the year, so it was definitely time to move her crib out of her room and rearrange a few things.

This was such a bitter-sweet feeling.
The realization that she is getting older.
She is truly no longer a baby.
Soon, the time that was "just the three of us" will be no longer.

But with this comes another sweet spirit to love.
Another hand to hold.
An eternal bond with another little soul for Annie & for us.

I never really finished Annie's room - something I've felt so guilty about - & have never really been fully happy with it. I went in a completely different direction than I ever planned & then it was just too late to turn back.
I know people - first world problems.

So, while we're getting ready for our little man we're also going to slowly make some changes to Annie's room as well. I guess I've just decided that this in this phase of life, while we're still this young & our tastes are still changing, our house will be constantly shifting.

Honestly, this could be an every phase of life thing for me, but who knows.
Trying to be grateful & focus on what I do have & all that we've been able to accomplish with our home.

Looking forward to changes ahead.
- e