WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

Daron left early Thursday morning for a work trip to Utah last week. By early, I mean 3:45 in the AM! As he was gathering his things and heading out the door, Carter must have heard him because he woke up as Daron was walking down the drive way to his car. Carter burst into the saddest tears, flung open the front door and started running after him. I was half asleep still and delirious and started screaming at Daron in the drive way. I had this terrifying picture of Daron not realizing Carter had come out after him and something bad happening. The whole thing was quite the wake up call. They gave each other the sweetest hug in the black night and Carter came back in and slept with me like he always does when Daron is gone.

We missed our main man around here like crazy. I've already told Daron he can't leave me again pregnant. He really has no control over it but my emotional, pregnant self is doubtful about my capabilities handling days alone with the kids again before this baby is out. Every time Daron leaves, I think about Mothers who aren't with their husbands for whatever reason or don't have husbands and my mind is boggled. 

Anyway, it was a great, hard week (if that makes sense?) that had some highlights I wanted to share... aka remember!

My sister's husband travels a lot, much more than Daron! We realized both of our husbands would be gone at the same time so she came up to stay with me and help my pregnant-self out. My mom and sister-in-law Dayana also ended up coming and we made it quite the party. They cleaned out my freezer (something I've been neglecting) and organized my pantry, mopped my floors and my sister cleaned my windows(!!) while I ran errands without the kids.

Every time I looked out my kitchen window, my heart sang. 

She and I also did a face mask together.

We laughed so hard because we felt so silly. I had never done a mask before! The more we laughed the more it cracked off earlier than it was supposed to. Somehow it still worked leaving our skin plump with a nice glow, so fun!

I also visited my parents who are renting in Corona Del Mar while their house is fixed. Months ago, it experienced a ton of water damage. It's been a horrible hassle but we don't mind visiting charming Corona Del Mar while they have to be out of their house!

^This picture makes me laugh. My mom was trying to help Carter down but he refused and she is walking away shaking her head saying, "That stubborn one!" That stubborn one is right... ha!

Pressed Juice has been blowing up my instagram feed so I decided to give it a second try. I never liked my order before but I realized the goodness is all in the sauces. I put chocolate and peanut butter sauce all over mine and became a believer!

When we got home, the rest of the prints going on our fridge had arrived! It's like Christmas morning when stuff like this comes in the mail...

I took a picture of the three of us Sunday morning because we were ready ON TIME for church without Daron there to help. Breakfast wasn't cleaned up, the kid's clothes got stains on them from finding the candy my mom had given them the day before and for some reason, I was stepping on raisins that were everywhere(??) but we made it there early and HAPPY... a double miracle. (Sacrament meeting, on the other hand, was a disaster). You win some, you lose some, right?

Carter and Naomi sharing a succor... Naomi's happy dance and smile when she gets something great is hard to beat!

and these two lovin' on each other...

Daron came home Sunday night and all was well again. We sure do love that guy. 

BEST OF... SUMMER 2016

This summer was relatively low key. We went on few vacations and outings. We spent almost all summer at the beach or at my parent's house swimming. I spent most nights falling asleep at 8:30 and trying to survive nausea. It was nice to stay around here in Cardiff and get to know the area where we live better. I feel like it's taken a long time since I've been sick and pregnant or in the newborn/ a baby's first year of life stage. 

Here it goes... a few of the "best of" for Summer 2016:

The first beach day of the summer with a few of my besties. 

There were more people who came but we didn't think to take a picture until it was almost too late... very typical for us. We never take pictures together and the last picture of us is realizing that "Hey! We actually got our act together and are taking a picture!" I was so proud of us.

Attending the Padre's opening game. Daron and I had big plans to attend a lot of these games. I'm not really sure what happened because this was the only one... ha!

^ I almost forgot about the days Naomi would rip out her clip the second I put it in her hair! So glad she's over that... for the most part.

A dear friend from college, Shelby, who lives in Arizona now came to visit me. 

This was so, so fun! I loved it. She came and stayed during the week which was awesome because I had a perma-friend for a week while Daron worked. It was really low key but since she was visiting, we of course used it as an excuse to go out to breakfast a lot and do new things, like strawberry picking! We hadn't done that. We also took lots of pictures for each other of our kids. A few that she captured are some of my new favorites!

After 6 years of trying, my sister and her husband were finally able to welcome their first baby into the world, Jack Cannon Rich. Below is his blessing day... Once Ellery and I have our babies, that will make 4 cousins within one year! Mine is the only girl... anxious to see how that goes!

^On a totally random side note, I'm laughing at this picture. I remember thinking I looked really cute this day. But I look at my hair now and realize I was having a total bad hair day. 

Running through the sprinklers! We didn't do this enough! 

Telling Daron that I was pregnant after hiding it from him for 10 WHOLE WEEKS!!!!!!!!! And pretty much putting him in a shock-coma once I did...

I kind of forgot about this whole ordeal. I'll have to write more on it later. It really was epic.

Glorious nights where we were able to get the kids down early. 

This is so hard to do in the summer! But it was awesome when it happened because Daron and I got to enjoy time together when it was still light. Our excitement usually lead to us taking "funny face" snaps that still crack me up.

Cooking while pregnant for most women is not a pleasant experience. Some mornings, I would take the kids out to breakfast and we would take it to the beach... these were great mornings.

These sweet hugs...

They always end up being more of a tackle haha

Daron's sister and her boyfriend came to visit. 

I absolutely love having visitors! I just wished Daron could have spent more time with us... Carter & Naomi were in heaven. 

^And how much does Naomi look like she could be Becca's child more than mine!? She is such a Young... 

Swimming at my parent's house.

Swimming with the kids was rather difficult this summer. (And I'm afraid next summer won't be much better!) Naomi isn't quite big enough for the puddle jumper yet and crawls out of any other pool contraption there is and also thinks she can swim... Carter is doing great at swimming but I still worry and am always trying to keep a nervous eye on him. Soooooo, summer of 2018... we are already looking forward to you!


This day (pictured below) was recent. I told the kids they could not swim! Then found them 20 minutes later in the spa with my mom... naked. It's taken me a while to get used to Grandparent rules. Or I guess I should say, the lack thereof!

Watching Naomi develop the cutest personality! 

This girl was so sweet and calm as a baby. I couldn't picture what she was going to be like as she got older. It's been such a treat to watch her grow. This stage is so fun but also exhausting. She understands everything but can't speak (which leads to lots and lots of screaming) and is so mobile yet doesn't understand the world around her (like 10 ft drop offs at the park). It's always shocking once your kid gets an opinion... it's like "ope, bye bye baby! here comes my toddler!" She is incredibly funny though which I didn't expect. She's at the age where I wish I could tape her entire life because it's all just too good!

^ "Mama, coooooold!" she says at the supermarket. 

Enjoying mornings with this gorgeous summer light...

I'm going to miss soft summer light waking me up in the mornings. I honestly would roll over with a huge smile on my face. It was always so peaceful and beautiful!

Labor Day in Colorado!

We spent the weekend hanging out with Daron's family and attending his sister's bridal shower. Wedding Bells are coming in October and we can't wait. Weddings are so fun. I mentioned before how my camera is broke so I took very few pictures but we went to the Fort Collins Temple Open House where Anna and Dan will get married,  ate yummy food, enjoyed a day at the lake, and I basically didn't see carter for 5 days straight because he was with his cousin the entire time. I remember having weeks like this when I was kid and was around my cousins. They were the best! 

Not pictured were the summer peaches! Ah! They were to die for this year! I thought I had a picture of Naomi devouring one but it was actually a video. A hilarious video. They were so good this year. The watermelon struggled I thought... but I'll be dreaming of the peaches until next summer. 

A big wave goodbye to Summer and hellllooooo to Fall!

BECAUSE I COUDLN'T STOP TAKING PICTURES OF HER

There is so much I want to catch up on this blog. Summer is not technically over just yet but it's feeling long gone since the weather has cooled down so much here in Cardiff. It's bitter sweet. I'm sad to see summer go but these cool days feel amazing!

At some point, I'll maybe get around to catching up on all that happened over the summer but today I'm posting random pictures I took yesterday of Naomi. She just looked so cute I couldn't stop taking pictures of her all day. Yesterday was sort of a boring normal day but good at the same time. The kids and I got out of the house early and went on a walk which I think helped all of us get off to a good start. Then we ran random errands like home depot, target and the post office. I was really productive which always feels good. I also prayed specifically that the kids and I could have a good day because the day before was a total doozy. Daron and I were barely hanging on until bedtime on Sunday... it was all we could do! 

Here's to answered prayers, cute jumpers, adorable tiny sneakers and fresh new weeks!