Our Week in Pictures

Our week, according to Instagram :

Finished up celebrating Annie B's birthday! 

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!

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!

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

A few more zoo pics!

- e



Bloggers I Love : Wildflowers Photography

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.

Dream it, love it, live it.

Love the simplicity, the whimsy, the sanctuary.

You can follow Joy and her adventures, here.

- e



Dare to Dream

'

I grew up in a traveling family.

I have been lucky enough to visit many incredible places & see some amazing things starting at a very young age.

Until I met my husband, I was also part of a family that pretty much strictly traveled by airplane. We took maybe two driving vacations total. And yet, I remember always wishing we could just rent a big RV & hit the road - it seemed like the ultimate adventure to me.

Now as an adult that dream has gone to a whole new level.

Lately all I can think about is renovating and traveling in an airstream or very cool old school trailer.

I mean seriously, how cool would it be to have before & after photos that looked like this :

Of course I'm certain I am enjoying the romanticized version of this in my head much more than I would reality. I have this idea that when you enter this trailer it's as though you are entering another world that is full of simplicity, coziness, & complete togetherness.

Never mind that Blake & I can barely hang pictures on a wall without starting a marital war.

Let's not talk of lack of space, electronic devices, running water, or the fact that after a few hours my children would likely be screaming and I would be pulling my hair out.

No I prefer the dream, thank you.

Oh.

And did I mention that I've also never been camping?

Like...ever.

But I think if I did it, this would certainly be my preferred method.

We all have "pipe dreams" - what are yours?

- e

 

Here's to a Happy Weekend

  

Now that's the good stuff.

Spending the weekend in Park City with my parents.

Annie is completely in heaven.

Daily visits to the park, swimming (in "1...2...3 pools!" as she refers to the big pool, the hot tub, and the baby pool), lots & lots of yummy eats, walks up & down Main Street, shopping, treats at Java Cow, time outside, a visit to the Alpine Slide, carousel rides, golf for Blake, the Sunday street fair, and some much needed downtime for all .

On the downside - we forgot our camera .

Stink .

On the upside - 3 posts in a row!

When the grandparents leave you can probably expect this to cease completely.

I think I've almost killed my computer - it seems to be in overload.

Hope your weekend was incredible as well!

- e

Catch Up According to Instagram

Wowzers y'all. 

This whole blogging thing has reached a new level of pathetic, considering it's been a whopping five months since I've typed a single word on here! I got a little tired of Blake incessantly asking me if I was ever going to update it - but guess what BW?

It worked.  

  

Here is an incredibly quick and not nearly well enough explained catch up of the last several month via my Instagram photos:

There are about a million things that I didn't cover in this epically horrible catch up, due mostly to the fact that I am the world's worst at remembering to take pictures: 

our efforts to survive the unbelievably long winter, swim lessons, weddings, weekend getaways, an incredible visit from Annie's Uncle Brandon & Aunt Brittani & their kiddos, or some of our regular summertime activities (bubbles, sidewalk chalk, trips to City Creek, playtime with Annie's bestie KK, daily visits to the park, etc.). 

I know I say this all the time, but I am reeeeaaalllly going to try and be better about blogging on here consistently. I just went through all of my old posts and absolutely loved reading everything. However few and far between the posts might have been, they brought back so many memories! 

Will it happen?

We shall see ... but truly, I'm optimistic :) 

Coming up : a recap of a little photoshoot that we did on the Fourth of July of Annie, as well as photos from her 2nd birthday party!

I'm sorry what?

I have a two year old?

You better believe it.

- e

Whirlwind

We're back! I cannot believe that the month of July has already come and gone .

We had been planning and looking forward to the events of this month for over a year , and how quickly it all went by.

Unfortunately , at this point in my life I am the world's worst picture taker , so I really have very few pictures of our travels from last month , but let me assure you , we were B . U . S . Y .

and every moment was incredible .

( from Aspen Grove - we wore Mexican shirts in honor of the Romneys mission location )

Here is a quick recap :

Week 1 - We headed to Dallas . Blake's parents came home . We celebrated Annie's first birthday at my parent's lakehouse , as well as the Romneys' homecoming .

Week 2 - Back to Utah . Worked , worked , worked on the house .

Week 3 - Aspen Grove with the Romney Family !

Week 4 - The Romney clan came back to our house here in Utah and helped us paint , went to weddings , family reunions , and enjoyed one another .

Week 4 - McDaniel Family Reunion in New Mexico . Traveled from there to Arizona for the blessing of our sweet nephew Tate . Flew home for one day of R & R before my parents arrived for their five week stay in Park City !

( We spent a lot of time in the van ! Annie was such a trooper . She blew me away with how flexible she was in all of the chaos of this month . How did we get so lucky ? )

It's good to be home . . . if only for a few days ! 

This weekend we head to San Fransisco with our dear friends !

Our first trip just adults . My parents have graciously offered to watch Annie for us .

Needless to say , this Mama is a little nervous to be away from my sweet baby for 4 whole days , but I know it is a necessary step , and I'm really looking forward to our trip ! 

- e

Annie's Birthday Party : A Preview

Sorry I've been MIA lately . . . although posting will most likely be sporadic for the remainder of the summer .We are just SO busy , but that's definitely a good thing !

We are so blessed to have the means and ability to travel as much as we do , and to have so many wonderful people to go see ! Things will definitely be slowing down for us in a few months 

 so we're enjoying it .

And before you get any ideas , no I'm not pregnant ,
just feeling the need to settle in and be at home more .

These past two weeks we have been in our home town , Dallas !

We had a blast ( in spite of the insane heat ) and loved being surrounded by family and friends .

One very important event was celebrating Annie's first birthday !

Her actual birthday is this weekend , but with most of our family back in Texas it just made sense to do it while we were there .

I am working on editing photos from the weekend , and will definitely have more thoughts to share about what this little girl has brought to my life this past year , but in the meantime here are a few instagram shots as a little sneak peek !

One of the highlights of our trip was going to visit my Grandpa Jimmy ; Great - Grandpa Jimmy to Annie ! She is always so content in his arms . She just looks up at him with the sweetest little face and smiles away . Meanwhile , he can't wait to tell every person he sees that she is related to Mitt Romney (which she is!) and that she was named after his wife, Ann (which she isn't!) .

Party Pics .

The party was at my parents' lakehouse , so in keeping with that theme we did little fish cupcakes as party favors !

And since returning , my week has pretty much looked like this .

More pictures to come !

- e

Weekend Update : St. Paul, MN

This past weekend we went to visint my Aunt Marg in good old

St. Paul , Minnesota.

I absolutely love the St . Paul / Minnieapolis area . It is one of my favorite places to visit and would certainly be towards the top of potential places for Blake and I to settle one day .

The homes are beautiful , the neighborhoods are shaded by canopies of massive green trees , there's fabulous shopping , and delicious restaurants. Plus , you can't beat that midwestern friendliness .

My Aunt is always incredibly generous and so much fun to be around . She even treated Blake and I to a Twins game and babysat Annie for us so we could enjoy an afternoon to ourselves !

Here are some iPhone photos from our weekend : )



Annie on the plane !
So excited to see Aunt Marg !

Stopping at one of my favorite stores , Patina , for some laughs .

They also have tons of cute kitchen items and home decor !

So excited to be at the Mall of America !

Annie on the carousel ( her current fav )

and Blake and I on the Log Ride ( a classic ) .

The Twins ' Game at Target Field .

They lost ( boo ) , but it was a very fun and relaxing afternoon !

Happy Father's Day , BW !

We love you SOOO much !

Exhausted and happy on the plane ride home !

One of my biggest regrets was that I forgot to take pictures of all of the INCREDIBLE food that we had over the weekend . 

Darn , I guess we'll just have to go back to all of them again !

Aunt Marg , you're the best !

We can't thank you enough for everything ,

and we can't wait to come back !

- e