this beautiful life

Thursday, September 28, 2017

FORT

blankets + clothespins + engineer dad =

BEST FORT EVER

big enough even for Andrew to walk into without crouching!

We left it up overnight and enjoyed it the whole next day. By evening it had disintegrated and we basically had patchwork blanket curtains up. We took it down and loved the sunshine coming in again the next day. What makes a fort so fun is that it is temporary- you love it so much more when you know it'll be gone by the next day.

I can't get enough of my family and the things we find to do together! Here at home, no less.

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

A new name

Side By Side September 26, 2017 Family , Journal Moments 1 Comments

A new name and a new look (thanks to Andrew) for our blog! Still a work in progress but since I am pursuing this thing whole heartedly again we thought it'd be fun to redo things a little. See the 'about me' section on the side here for a brief explanation for the name. And see here in this VERY blog post for a little longer version:

I'm amazed every day at how quickly things can change around here. Emotions and moods...all of us (except Andrew, honestly- plus he's at work all day). Me and these three kids are on a roller coaster all day it seems here at home. I often go from annoyance, impatience, and anger with these loud little screaming crazies to tearing up with happiness watching my darling innocent angel children playing together so sweetly- all within like 10 minutes. And that's how it is all day, back and forth.

I love the sweet moments best and that's what I want more of and what I want to remember most. I know things aren't necessarily going to get 'easier' no matter what I do really- this is the life we've chosen and the years are only going to bring more challenges I'm sure. But those sweet moments are quite fulfilling and they make my life beautiful.

I am passionate about family life. I believe in it completely. I believe it's the key to a happier more functional society. I've chosen to be a stay-at-home mom in part because of this belief. To pursue my family like it's both my family and my career, because it's more important than anything else I could do. Everyone has different preferences and that's awesome. This is what I believe personally.

SO this blog is all about how even though our family life is messy and nuts a lot of the time, full of worry, heart-wrenching and heartwarming all at once, it still makes for a most wonderful and beautiful life.

And thats what I want to remember, what I want this blog to be about when we look at it in the future. Menieres and all. I started this thing in 2009 when Andrew was still on his mission! I was just about to turn 20. I just wanted somewhere to write things and put pictures. My blog was my friend because it was me telling myself about good memories, college, and being brave away from home. And that's why after almost a year break now I've jumped into it again recently. To tell myself to be brave and to see this beautiful life for what it is when I get worried or overwhelmed. Ah pictures. Pictures of my kids are always good medicine for me.

So when I write a blog post about mean Menieres or other difficulties in life I won't be able to close the computer without being reminded, in bold pink letters at the top there, that this is still a beautiful life that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have meant for me.

So thank you for reading! It means a lot to me.

Two of my favorite quotes I've gathered through these family years:

"I believe in the power of tradition."
-Stephanie Neilson-

"No one ever looks back and says, 'I wish I held my baby less.'"
-Anonymous-

Both of these run through my head quite frequently lately as our life gets back on track from pregnancy and new newborn life. Especially the second one.

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Wonderful Weekends

Side By Side September 24, 2017 backyard , Elijah 0 Comments

Another weekend post because I take ten times as many pictures on the weekends!

A dance class, movie night (we're having a Harry Potter marathon for Halloween for our Friday movie nights), Saturday SLC Farmers Market, a sunset walk, and lots and lots of sibling time this last wonderful weekend.

his nickname around here is bubba. sometimes it really suits him.

that sweet face

ready to go to our trial dance classes!

waiting during audrey's dance class.
hannah didn't want me to take a picture of her....BUT HOW COULD I NOT?

she's so cute when she's mad!

onesie from uncle luke all the way back when audrey was our newborn!

she was so cute with these necklaces draped over
her 'amulet' on her dress and her headband.
she was feeling so fashionable. i loved it!

my view from downstairs every day

finally it's fall! which means fall clothes...my favorite, especially on a baby!

view as we were leaving a store one day. if i can't have the ocean i'm grateful that anywhere i am i can still have the SKY

movie night

my view during movie night and our late late night dinner picnic

hannah gets bored during movies a lot

andrew obliges her

farmers market morning. they each chose half of their outfits this day.

amazing gigantic bubbles!

we went home with a watermelon, garden tomatoes, cheddar jalapeño sourdough bread, and tummies full of samples

hanging out in the backyard in the beautiful changing weather!

real men sit in purple bumbos

sometimes he loves it. sometimes he doesn't. she doesn't mind either way.

LOYAL STRONG AND TRUE

trying to catch evening smiles

the way we sleep every night

our sunday twins

sunday sunset walks

crawdad crossing

aaaand found more audrey andrew selfies on my phone

Now I'm sitting down here holding Little Leilua asleep on me, hearing Andrew reading the girls their bedtime stories upstairs. First break I've had all day. He's a good dad. And a good husband.

Thursday, September 28, 2017

FORT

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

A new name

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Wonderful Weekends

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