times up

daron's break from school is over.

i am grateful we were able to take full advantage of it.

we did things like swimming in my parents pool

daron threw me off his shoulders
like we were dating again
one of my most favorite activities

i was informed by my mother that if i am going to take pictures of myself diving off daron, i better have good form. so i apologize for my form. i'll do better next time.

we stumbled upon strands beach

enjoyed a wonderful time in colorado with daron's family

discovered the view from way, way up high through the airplane window
diaper only stlye

introduced carter to pasta and chicken

...that's a big deal around here

and other things of the like.

it was a total of 10 days that we had 24/7 of each other. 

daron and i both already can't stop talking about his next break.

we enjoy the time together so much. 

having dad around here all day, every day is something that never gets old.

i used to have this fear that i wouldn't be able to find someone that i wouldn't get sick of.

then i found daron.

and i now i think that is the silliest worry i have ever had.

i couldn't get sick of daron if i tried. 

sometimes i do try.

it never works. 

i can't get sick of him.

me and my sweedish love bird at the top of estes park. 

i love him.

colorado

we are back from our much anticipated trip to colorado. i can't believe we are already home from it. i remember being in idaho when daron called to let me know that we were going. how has it already come and gone? we arrived late thursday night. carter was a champ on the flight over. the flight was from 7 - 9 p.m. which is carter's bedtime, so it was not an ideal. luckily we sat next to a woman that had a 7 month old and was very understanding. we chatted all things baby and i basically felt like her best friend by the end of flight. she ended up showing me pictures of her little one and i was sad that i wasn't going to meet him and that in all reality we probably wouldn't ever see each other again. it was a good reminder of the bonds motherhood instantly creates. you could have nothing else in common and then you realize, "hey, you have baby!? hey... me too!" suddenly, there is everything to talk about. 

the mornings of the trip were pretty dreamy. linnea and steve would hear carter crying in the mornings and sneak in and grab him before we woke up. this resulted in me and daron getting almost an hour of extra zzz's every morning. can i get a hellelujah?! if only i could tell you how long i had been dreaming of that exact scenario. thanks to grandma & grandpa, it actually happened! 

daron and i had a blast watching carter interact with the family dog, scooter. it was sort of this love/hate relationship. he would crawl after him but the moment scooter turned around carter would throw up his hands with a little yelp and squint his face in the funniest expression. 

we ended up dubbing it his "dog face" 

watching scooter and carter interact made me want a dog, really bad. but then linnea would bring me back to reality and remind me that i actually don't want a dog and i realized she was right. not yet at least. but one day, mark my words, a dog will be part of this family!

saturday we went to the infamous lake that daron has wonderful memories of growing up. i actually slalomed and wake boarded which i hadn't done since last summer when i was 4 months pregnant (which doesn't really count). so it was more like 2 summers ago. daron and i also chased each other around on bumper boats which are a new favorite on our list. 
(thank you jen and dustin!)

later that night, we took carter to the denver aquarium. it took a little bit for carter to realize what he was supposed to be looking at. but once he caught on, he was fascinated! of course i was looking more at him than the fish. 

                mmm yummy barracuda^^

                                                                            smile! you're on camera :)^^

sunday we relaxed, chatted with neighbors, and had dinner with carter's great-grandparents lee and shirley. i also got bit by mosquitos which i truly wish i could zap away from the planet. there are a few things on this earth that i could really just do away with.

monday we drove about an hour north to estes park. a beautiful little valley town, nestled up next to the bottom of the rocky mountains. 

we took the gondola up to enjoy the views,

                                             carter and his iron grip on that sucker^^

walked up and down main street checking out every dessert shop available. 
i have steve to thank for that! he and me. we share the same love for all things dessert. if only i could get daron on that band wagon!

we stopped at the greatest taffy shop i have ever seen. i am not a taffy person. but this is the best taffy you will ever have. i repeat: it is the best taffy you will ever have. not sticky. not so chewy that it hurts your teeth. just melt in your mouth taffy that brings happiness. i wish i ate more of it. but unfortunately, i ate my weight X3 in ice cream.

                                                         as my mother would say, go big or go home^^

we ended the day with a trip up trail ridge road. 

trail ridge road is the highest maintained road in the nation. it takes you up 12,000+ feet and people from all over the world come to check it out. the views were stunning. daron and i both had headaches because the air was so thin but it was worth it. 

our last day was spent enjoying time with cousins. it all went by too fast. colorado is a wonderful place. but even more, i feel so blessed that carter has such wonderful grandparents. they love him dearly. they care for him as much as we care for him. it means so much to me to watch them love carter with all of their being.

we already miss you colorado!
that means you grandma & grandpa

i am thankful

for a baby who loves the sand. 

and doesn't burst into tears after face planting in it.

for my brother aaron who was born 35 years ago today.

 he really makes me laugh and shares my love for 

golden spoon / all things frozen yogurt 

and is and an example of strength and resilience. 

i am so very thankful for  him. 

for Gail Ham who introduced me to puffy, golden german pancakes.

and that when i couldn't think of anything that sounded good for breakfast this morning,

these popped into my mind.

for the opportunity daron has to attend the school he wanted 

and meet new people 

from all walks of life. 

(USC's first building on campus)

that is what i am feeling thankful for today.

{the inspiration for this post HERE}

hawaii: sneak peek

one day, while i was packing up our lives for the move to california, my mom called and told me her and my dad were going to hawaii. in jest, i told her she should really take me and daron with them. i was miserable packing and going to hawaii sounded like a dream come true.

the next day, my dad called and said our plane tickets and room were set and we were coming with them. we would be leaving in 2 weeks. 

so, we left our home in utah. arrived in ca. left all of our bags unpacked in the house and 2 days later left for hawaii. 

                                                                                  and it was very relaxing^^^

okay, so moments were. i mean, the above picture really did happen. but it was also crazy taking our 6 month old, especially the first few days. if daron was completely honest with you, he would have to admit the first 2 days he was thinking, "what were we thinking bringing Carter."

but then our little tyke adjusted to the 4 hour time difference and we loved our lives again. and i'm just going to say it, if you want to be the celebrities of a vacation and meet lots of friends and have everyone ooo and aww over your family bring your 6 month old.

seriously, everyone will love you.

more pictures to come!

i adore...

how carter is looking at me

in this picture.

i'm confident i have looked at it 6849

times

***a day***

 since it was taken.

caught him in the act

-of checkin' out his mom-

get used to me, carter.

because i'll be here with you

for this entire earthly existence.

and yes,

even after that.

and we're back.

i took a little 3 month hiatus from blogging.

life has been so busy.

i could go into all the details,
but i'm kind of over them.

suffice it to say,
we live in california now
while daron attends the MRED program at USC.

we are living with my parents during the 12 month program.
i am adjusting to him being a trojan and many other things.
                            *like his really weird, awkward school schedule*

but other than that, 
we are happy as clams
healthy

and trying to soak in every moment
of this very unique time in our lives.

there are so many details that go with each and every one of these pictures.
i want to remember them all,
but i'm too tired to write them down
and i figure,
in 3 years,
my brain won't have enough space anyway.

but let it be known, 
that i have missed, so dearly missed california's 
perfect.
weather.

i am tickled to be living by my whole entire family.
it makes me so incredibly happy.
                                    *except for the fact, that i have to be away from my other family*
                                                          *a.k.a daron's family* 

i have missed the beach.
the ocean breeze.
and the wetness in the air.

i am experiencing what it is like to live by cousins
(carter's cousins)
and
i'm.
sold.

it's good to be back, california.
how i've missed you so.