sweetheart snapshots

Eden "smiling." 

Grant enjoying some of his stash. The Gs had a great day.

Valentines from afar. Thanks Grammie Sandy and Papa Ray!

The Valentine bushes are in full bloom, right on schedule. 

The lemon tree also has a suicidal amount of buds that have started blooming. Our backyard smells like heaven.

 Grace after her piano lesson getting ready to...

 ... rock her math homework.

 Cori brought home long stemmed roses for the girls and chocolates for Grant.

 I made BBQ ribs, dilled red potatoes and caesar salad for my sweetheart.

He gave me a dozen roses with a weekend getaway attached.

Love this guy.

from the archives: grace and grant, february 2008

january wrap

Tiffany and Brett are officially Phoenix residents now. They are on the opposite end of the valley, but we are so happy to see them any chance we get. Last week, Grant and Eden and I met some friends at the zoo. We stopped by Tiff and Brett's new place before hand and Brett made us biscuits and gravy for breakfast. And Tiff was able to hang with us at the zoo for a bit afterwords. Grant can't stop talking about them.

At the zoo - It was great catching up with friends we made in the MBA program. I didn't get a picture of us Natalie! We'll have to get together again soon. Also, we finally remembered to bring Grant's bike with us. He is ready to graduate from his strider. Once Grant is on a new bike, maybe we will adjust the strider for Grace, who is scared to ride her own...

After my long run on Saturday, the kids and I stuck our feet into the pool. It is still pretty darn freezing in there. 

Afternoon temperatures have been in the 70s. Last night we chased a parade of hot air balloons that were dipping down behind our neighborhood.

she will do it during prayer time too

image diary 1.23.2012

 *Thanks again Natalie!*

blessings

Cori and I had not one, but TWO date nights this weekend. I did chores all Friday long to try and feel deserving of them. Last night, we watched the U.S. vs Venezuela men's soccer match. Our boys made it happen with the lone goal of the game in the 7th minute of stoppage time. Even if we hadn't won, it is so fun being with Cori when he is around things he loves. Other blessings I'm counting today:

Several weeks of travel in the works for summer. I couldn't be more thrilled about spending time with our families and the things we'll be doing and the places we will be visiting. And it fills me with glee to consider the hot, hot days that we will be leaving behind.

That I was raised to rise early. I could count on one hand the number of times that teen-aged me was allowed to sleep in. I spent all of my young adult, pre-mommy days as an early riser- much to my room mates' chagrin- 7AM classes anyone? The habit is serving me well once again now that I find the best time for me to get my workout in is early in the morning. With the cessation of boot camp (a 5:30 AM affair) I tried to experiment with other times to get the exercise in, whether it was running or weights. But it just didn't happen as well. Time was short. Kids needed my attention. So I'm resuming my early schedule. The alarm is set for 5:15, people. That is pretty early. But I can get as much as a 5 mile run in before the children wake. And I usually feel great after the first 5 minutes. Thanks Mom and Dad!

The power of the scriptures. Our RS lesson today was centered on this message from Elder Scott. I spent the whole hour remembering so many merciful and powerful lessons that have come from my Heavenly Father to my mind as I have studied the scriptures over the years. Elder Scott describes that "Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high." I love that imagery, and I am grateful to have the easy opportunity to experience this in a very real way as often as I choose to quiet myself and read my scriptures.

other things making me happy

Ragnar! We are officially in to run the Wasatch Back in June. And our van is full of family. I'm so, so, so excited. It is nice to have something to train for. My boot camp is over, and with the half marathon completed, I was in need of some motivation.

Cori's Kindle He got it as an unexpected gift and I promptly usurped it. It is extremely convenient. So easy to pick up and put down. I never loose my place. I take it everywhere - not that I didn't do that with books before, but they would get so trashed. It is super comfy to read with in any position (isn't it a bother finding a comfortable way to hold a paper back when snuggled on one's side?). I've read three books this year already.

Eden's new nap schedule She has finally transitioned to a one nap a day schedule. It is nice having the larger chunks of time to play with her and then to get things done while she is resting.

The weather report for Tahoe Our annual ski trip is coming up in a couple of weeks and so far this year, everything has been melting off the mountain. The weekend weather forecast is giving us some hope.

The 2012 HGTV Dream Home Have you seen it? We still have the tour saved on our dvr. It is outside of Park City and we would move there in a fraction of a heartbeat. We have been in l.o.v.e. with the Heber Valley/Midway/Park City area for as long as we have been married. Cori and I are clicking in our two entries every day.