Easter 2015

Oh Easter, how I adore you. Easter means everything good, warm spring air (if we are lucky), new dresses and lots of fun treats. This year the kids got new swimsuits and flip flops for our Maui trip that is right around the corner. They also got a kite, sidewalk chalk, and Juliet got a little basket for her tricycle.

We had a little egg hunt around the main floor.

James also got a snorkel set!

Later in the afternoon we went to E's sister's house for more baskets, dinner, and the much anticipated egg hunt that E's dad The Easter Bunny puts on every year.

Damma always goes all out with Easter goodies.

These sweet cousins are getting so big.

Our family.

The entire egg hunt was Star Wars themed, which was so so exciting for my two Star Wars obsessed kids.

The clues took us to all the best places in Midway, including this amazing covered bridge.

There was lots of wind and laughs and more clues, until we finally found the goodies (more fruit, candy, treats and toys!). Happy happy Easter.

Birthday BBQ with my family

Birthday weekend was beautiful weather wise, so luckily we were able to have my entire family over and eat on the back patio. Early April is usually quite chilly but this year has been so warm and wonderful.

Having everyone over only happens about once a year, which needs to change, because we always have such a fun time. Aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas, nieces and nephews.

Left to right: James, Jess, Chandler, Witt, Brandon, Mike, Laura, Grandma, Melissa, Mom, Charles, Juliet. Only missing me and E!

The kids love showing off for their aunts and uncles, lots of big laughs.

James said outright, more than once, that Brandon's girlfriend Jess is his favorite. He says he loves her. ;)

My best girl.

Brandon spent the entire evening playing with the kids, blowing these retro bubbles for a very happy and supportive fan club.

Chandler and Brandon adore James. How could you not?

Yellow bubbles! Matches the daffodils which fill our flower boxes.

Bunny birthday cake, which has been a tradition my entire life. I didn't get to blow out the candles, instead I had some awesome helpers.

Happiest birthday to me!

Last Friday I turned 34. I can hardly believe it. Ever since I became a parent, the years slip by in super speed. These years, the years when my children are young, are the happiest years of my life.

E had been out of town the entire week traveling for work, so he took my birthday off (a present in of itself!) and we celebrated all day. We started out at Blue Plate for breakfast (eggs benedict for me, always) and back home to finish building my birthday present, garden boxes to hold veggies in the backyard.

Later in the afternoon we went to Thanksgiving Point gardens, knowing we were a touch to early to hit the tulips, but promising that we'd be back in a couple weeks.

The kids showered me with kisses and "I love yous" and "happy birthdays" all day long.

It was a touch chilly which meant that we had the garden to ourselves.

This little girl is so silly, so sweet, so hilarious. I adore her.

This one is for Colette, who nicely asked for a picture of me for once. ;)

Can you even get over these two?!

Although we were too early for tulips, the daffodils were at their prime.

And guess who (hoo?) returned after five years of being away. Five years ago, James's first time to the Tulip Festival, I saw this mother great horned owl nesting, and finally, after all this time she is back. Holy crap, look at this post, with baby James and the baby owls. 

Even if it's a touch cool, the sunshine makes it all worth it.

We stayed late into the afternoon, headed home, fed these two goof balls and then left for a dinner date. E took me to Fresco's which is AMAZING and was the location of our very first fancy date 16 years ago. Lots of memories. Lots of good birthdays, and lots more to come.

Spring weekends and thoughts on love and loss

Life is feeling extra special these days. Days are filled with kids laughing, blossoms gently falling in the air, and the grass getting greener by the minute. We spent most of the weekend building new garden boxes in the backyard for my birthday (which is on Friday!). 

Lately I've been thinking a lot about love and loss. How so many people, millions, live through excruciating heartbreak in their lives. I don't carry such a burden. I married my first boyfriend and have been wildly happy ever since. I have two healthy kids who are happy and well fed. But, I think often about heartbreak and how very very lucky I am. 

Really, I have everything a person could ever ever want. And I don't take it for granted. I don't.

The world is so very very unfair for so many people. Although the world is blooming around me, filling every part of me with happiness and color and laughter, I work on not forgetting.

Tulips are just starting to bloom. We caught the earliest ones at Temple Square.

This girl makes me happier than I can say. She is seriously the funniest person I have ever met.

Making their childhood magical is the best job.

Spinning spinning in the sunshine until we fall down and laugh at how silly and wonderful and crazy this world is.

Hangin' with my Dad

It is a rare treat to hang out with my dad. Although he only lives fifteen minutes from me, he works long days and has busy weekends (like we all do!).

So when he mentioned that he wanted to go to Red Butte Garden with he kids on a weekday I was thrilled. A Friday morning with my Dad in the garden? Yes please.

The weather was PERFECTION. Low 60s and sunny, and the daffodils were even better than last week, if possible.

We talked about the Easter bunny, waterfalls, our upcoming Hawaii trip (!!!!) and summertime. All the best topics for sure. Thank you Dad for joining us. We all had such a fun time.

Gah! These two! So full of smiles. They were seriously on their best behavior. Yippee!

This is how I imagine all forests looking, a secret path leading through the trees and the forest floor carpeted in flowers.

Thank you kind stranger for offering to take our pic.

They hyacinth smelled amazing.

Happy happy spring.