
Monday, November 28, 2016
Gift Guide: For Him

Sunday, November 27, 2016
Thanksgiving 2016
After watching the sun rise, making all the snow upon the houses just glisten, we began our feasting with brunch. Our neighbors brought over breakfast burritos, while Conor & I served up mimosas and homemade cinnamon rolls. We made an overnight recipe, which turned out perfectly. I must share in the future! We tend to eat Thanksgiving dinner late, so breakfast is always always necessary. The mimosas were tossed back during parade watching, and right when the buzz was hitting we were ready to get the boys outside again.
We have a tradition to take a long walk each year. It's nice to have some fresh air & exercise before all the eating. Finn was being a slow poke, and both boys really just wanted to play in the snow, so it was the shortest walk ever. But it was also nap time, so no-one was complaining about heading home early. Conor prepped & cooked the turkey while the boys & I slept. I seriously woke up at 4pm, with guests arriving at 4:30!!! But somehow we managed to pull it all together!
I kept the table simple, instead focusing on the food & drinks (priorities!). And of course, I barely managed any photos, since it was practically dark out by the time I had pulled myself together for dinner. We managed to snag one family photo, just as the sun was going down. I always make sure to get a picture of the four of us on each of the big holidays. I love looking back at how our family looked that year. How we are changing & growing. And three out of four smiles is always a win!

Tuesday, November 22, 2016
The Great Salt Lake
It hadn't been on the top of my list since everyone talked about how smelly, dirty, & nasty it was. But after following a few local photographers and seeing all the gorgeous shots they got out there, I was getting more & more intrigued. And then a little photography project of my own (more on this later), finally got our little family out here.
The weather wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, but it wasn't stinky at all! The sand was soft, and the boys loved it. It's a long walk from the road to where you get to the actual water, so there was plenty of time for the anticipation to build. It really is a stunning sight! Such a unique place! I only wish we had brought some chairs & adult beverages for the excursion!
And while it may look like we had the whole place to ourselves, it was actually just crawling with photographers and families. But the lake & beach are huge; everything is so wide open, that you practically feel like it's just you out there. It's an interesting little place, but I could totally see us coming back. If not just for pictures. I've already decided we really need to do a family session here!

Black Tuesday {Freshly Picked}

Friday, November 18, 2016
Fri-Yay

Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Finn: 18 Months Old
I haven't done an update on this guy since he turned one! I'm pretty much kicking myself for not keeping up with Finny better, because I love looking back at these old posts. And really I need to get better about taking more videos of my boys! While I have literally hundreds of photographs, the videos (especially those longer than 15 seconds) are in short supply. And that is where you get to bottle up their sweet voices. The inflections. The mispronunciations. The mannerisms. The looks. All those things that I truly hope to never ever forget.
Stats
Height: 34.45 in
Weight: 27.7 lbs
When compared to Liam at the same age, Finn is about a half inch taller and 5 (F I V E) pounds heavier. That's a ton of weight on such little bodies! Finn isn't really all that chubby, he's just dense. He is so so heavy, which makes wearing him & carrying him tough! But he isn't exactly a walk right next to you kind of kid, so yeah... I get a daily workout in with him.
Finn is my willful child. Our pediatrician told me that was a nice way of putting it. He knows what he wants and he wants it NOW! He gets frustrated when we can't figure out what he wants/needs and will quickly demand "hand" and then lead us to whatever. He doesn't have much patience, so you better act quickly. Having to wait 30 seconds while I show my pass to the zoo employee? Devastating for Finny! But surprise surprise, I'm incredibly stubborn myself, so he surely gets it from his mama.
While he can definitely be a handful in the moment, okay maybe TWO handfuls, he is equally sweet the next. He's super expressive & snuggly & squishy. His hugs brighten my day always. His smile is contagious; he just exudes happiness when he wants to. He has this mischievous side that is easily seen in the faces he makes. He loves to play games. Get into everything. And harass the cats. Or "meow meows." Most animals are referred to by their sounds (except ducks), and cars are "beep beeps". He uses two words together often now, although his first ones were "bubble bath" & "garbage truck" (and hilariously like Daffy Duck would say it).
He loves sports, especially football! He'll cozy up on the couch with Conor for a game, and can already throw a serious spiral. His body is practically built for the sport! He also loves soccer, especially when the big kids let him play. He has mastered his wiggle car and has already started walking with the balance bike. I'm waiting for him to start gliding any day! He watches everything Liam does & tries to copy it. Because of this, he picks up skills rather quickly. He is strong hiker (refusing the pack these days), but will often get distracted by random bugs & rocks. He recognizes places we go, and shows his enthusiasm immediately upon discovering where he is. The farm by our house being one of his absolute favorite places.

Monday, November 14, 2016
Cozy & Festive
'Tis the season to shop for yourself right..? Wrong! It's so so wrong. Yet, I've done a little shopping this week. I'm starting to compile my gift giving lists; finding that perfect something for all my family & friends. And sometimes when I start browsing, I start finding things that I actually want! And sometimes need. As in, I've been wearing the exact same ski coat since my freshman year of college! I'm fairly certain it isn't even waterproof at this point. So I hit our Patagonia Outlet and found myself a brand spanking new coat. I'm in love! It's way cuter in person. And then I needed a new hat, so I could get rid of the same one I've had since high school. And then I just so happened upon these adorable jammies, which obviously needed to be mine for the Christmas season (way way cuter, softer, & amazing in person). I'm obsessed; you all need a pair! And the boots, well the boots are still on the wishlist. I have an old pair of NorthFace boots that do just fine, but a little upgrade never hurts.
So tell me, who else has been shopping for themselves?
And what should I be putting on my Christmas list?
*some affiliate links used*
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Soccer
He could not have been placed on a more perfect team. His coach is absolutely wonderful; he's so so patient & always comes up with fun new games to teach certain skills. And more importantly, Liam seems to love all the boys on his team. They are group of adorable blondies who like to do spontaneous "kid cheers" throughout the games. One boy in particular has absolutely no regard for personal space, just like Liam, so the hugs & wrestling is endless between the two.
By the end of the season, Liam had nailed his corner kicks & throw ins! He typically got a goal or two each game, and always threw his hands up in the air right after - victory! It was incredible to watch how all the boys improved week after week, and by the final game there was actually quite a bit of passing & teamwork happening, which is quite impressive for a group of 4 & 5 year olds!
While Conor & I were often beaming with pride, the games were also filled with plenty of laughter & a bit of anxiety. Liam spends plenty of time on the ground... He quickly learned the art of the "flop"; we're working on that. Other times, a kid would be all alone, right in front of the goal, and still manage to miss the shot. Oh the tension, the anxiety! It's thrilling. Seriously, 4 year old soccer is thrilling! I hope to always enjoy Liam's games this much. And he seemed to love them too! There was only one game where we played a much bigger, much older (orange) team, and Liam was getting super frustrated with them taking the ball from him when he was near the goal. I even heard him shout out "Stop it! Stop it Orange!" He's even adorable in his most frustrated moment!
