Showing posts with label fatherhood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fatherhood. Show all posts

Friday, April 27, 2018



Wallking down a rolling green hill overlooking part of the salt lake valley, beautiful vista in front of me reminiscent of the cliffs over the ocean at home, wind in my ears, huge blue and white sky above me, alone except for my baby boy in my arms as he smiles and tries to fight sleep, and a bird’s unique song sounds in my ears closer than I would’ve assumed it could be.  That was my sweet moment with motherhood and with nature yesterday.  Just me and my baby.  Just me and Eli.  Just me and nature. 
Reading that description, it’s so sad how it doesn’t do it justice.
Isle of Inisfree has become one of Eli’s songs, and this moment was perfect for it.


I've met some folks Who say that I'm a dreamer
And I've no doubt There's truth in what they say
But sure a body's bound to be a dreamer
When all the things he loves are far away
And precious things Are dreams unto an exile
They take him over The land across the sea
Especially when it happens he's an exile
From that dear lovely Isle of Inisfree
And when the moonlight Peeks across the rooftops
Of this great city Wondrous though it be
I scarcely feel it's wonder or it's laughter
I'm once again back home in Inisfree
I wonder over green hills Through dreamy valleys
And find a peace, no other land would know
I hear the birds make music fit for angels
And watch the rivers laughing As they flow
And then into a humble shack I wander
My dear old home and tenderly behold
The folks I love Around the turf fire gathered
On bended knee Their rosary is told
But dreams don't last
Though dreams are not forgotten
And soon I'm back to stern reality
But though they pave The foot ways here with gold dust
I still would choose my Isle of Inisfree

(Celtic woman version)

that moment after the others had caught up with us


We discovered this park this weekend, Tunnel Springs.  Actually me and the kids had been there before with the mom group once.  But I had no idea how much more there was to it.  It has definitely made my 'favorite places in Utah' list now.  The green green green rolling hills and huge view reminded me of that part in Pride and Prejudice when Lizzy is out with her aunt and uncle.  I am usually of the opinion that for a view to receive the rank of 'amazing' it has to have the ocean in it.  But I discovered that the Great Salt Lake will do too!
There were rock cairns too that we spent a significant amount of time with.  The kids were right along with Andrew in excitement about those!  
 This was Friday afternoon that we found it and we loved it so much we decided to go back the next day and make a day of it.  We did all the park things- picnic, bikes, playground, kites.  When we find a place we like we are squatters.







our family cairn contribution 
















Sometimes the whole world just seems to be SHINING!!!  

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Happy October!

It's definitely moving up there in the favorite month rankings around here.  One of my favoritest of all favorite things about fall are the cozy clothes!


 Our Halloween tradition since our first year of marriage has been to watch an OLD scary movie.  Right now it's a tradition for just Andrew and I together and maybe someday our kids can join us.  We own a few- Arsenic and Old Lace with Cary Grant, the second Thin Man movie with William Powell, Myrna Loy and Jimmy Stewart, and a few others- but I like going to the library and finding ones we haven't seen yet.  It has to be just creepy enough to get that scared/excited feeling but not so creepy that I'll have nightmares.  Cause no matter how old I get that still happens!  Black and white Alfred Hitchcock movies usually hit that sweet spot.  

Two of our all time favorites:



Here is our list for this year (from our date night to the library to pick some out):

Shadow of a Doubt
The Ladykillers
Frankenstein (the real original)
Escape from Alcatraz 
(we just toured Alcatraz last year and being there was sufficiently creepy...I don't know if I'll be able to watch this whole movie but Andrew wanted to get it!)
No Way Out 

We've also always enjoyed reading together and the last few years have gotten into some Agatha Christie books at the suggestion of my sister Julia (who has always loved murder mysteries).  We've loved them so far.  My favorites are the ones that have a movie to go with it so that we can have a movie date night once we finish the book.  So far we've read and watched Death on the Nile and Evil Under the Sun.  We are hoping to read Murder on the Orient Express before the new movie comes out (we'll probably watch the old one too...I kind of like watching different versions of the same story).  

For the kids we always watch:
Corpse Bride 
(my fav out of the kids ones)
Mickey's House of Villains
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
Happy Haunting Disney Sing Along
and any Halloween episodes of their favorite shows, like Sofia

We've been loving our fall decorations, our "Shades of Fall" candle that I'm obsessed with, the fantastic autumn weather, and making pumpkin bread and gingersnaps.  Hannah has discovered her love of pumpkin bread this year.  The other day she had it with all three meals AND for snacks.  Hmmm...I better watch that.

And here are some beautiful pictures of how we've kicked off our fall season, our first October walk this year.
The Lagoon Trail in Farmington

fall colors on the mountains, mom!










later at home I made dinner while andrew brushed the girl's hair (which is quite the event) as they watched a show.  he's the best dad ever.


Why can't Fall last at LEAST 3 months???

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Last weekend consisted of a church activity, a Primary Children's hospital visit (just for some tests nothing serious), a quick zoo trip for the girls and Andrew, playing dress up, General Women's Conference, and hanging out at home.

the wilford wood museum, full full full of amazing church artifacts, is owned by a family in our ward and is right near where we live.  this activity was a bbq, a tour of the museum, and a beautiful view!

this statue of joseph receiving the plates form angel moroni was off on the side of the museum

horses in the family's backyard behind the museum....we never would've guessed there was enough room for horses back there!
i had to put this one because audrey looks like such a thug in this picture


first fall colors, mom!

my favorite thing at the museum



this was his little evening ensemble for the activity.  possibly my favorite hat i've ever seen on a baby.
 the puff ball is like as big as his head.

so hilarious to see them both walking around with their maps






primary children's hospital was amazing.  it's like the happiest place.  i think i'll blog about it more sometime.  for some reason i was really touched and felt safe while we were there to do a swallow test for eli.  this wall has markers for kids to draw on it as they go by.  the girls got to ride in a little red wagon as we went from place to place.  we didn't expect to be so happy at a hospital!





they hung out upstairs while i watched the Women's session.  this is what i found when it was over.

beautiful rainy sunday walk


getting ready for halloween early this year



it will be your turn soon enough eli

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