Aspen Grove - 2014

Every other summer we have the opportunity to attend Aspen Grove with the entire immediate Romney family. While this isn't "THE" Sacred grove, it is most definitely a sacred and treasured time for us to be with parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. It is a place that has our hearts and holds many memories with hopefully many more to come!

The best part is, hands down, watching the kids interact with one another. Childhood is such a magical time and I feel grateful for any moment that these Romney cousins can spend enjoying it together!

I am in exactly zero of these pictures - GAH!
Next time remind me how important it is that I step out from behind the camera!

Here are some photos highlighting our time there :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- e

So We Had a Baby

Oh hey there. So it's been a few months.

3 to be exact.

And basically the most important thing that you need to know about what's been going on with us during that time is : We had a baby!

On October 16th we welcomed sweet, handsome Greyson George Romney into the world.

Our days are now a little crazier and our nights involve a little less sleep, but what an immense blessing this babe has been to us already. I am simply overwhelmed with love for both of my kiddos.

There is so much more that I want to say about how I love my sweet babies, how I appreciate Blake, how we've been adjusting to life with two kids. I will definitely be writing more soon,

but the truth is that both kids went to bed before 8:00 tonight and all I really want to do right now is go to sleep!

More to come... :)

- e

On My Heart: In Case I Don't Say It Enough

In case I don't say it enough, and I know that I don't, I really am so grateful for this beautiful place that we've been able to call home for the last five-plus years. How lucky we are that we don't have to travel far to find complete and total serenity - it truly is right out our back door.

I totally give Utah a bad rap .

The winters tend to do something to me that I reeeaaallly don't like  - major sufferer of the winter blues, right here. I know you all got an earful this past winter - it was a doozy.

But right now as I look back on all that Utah has had to offer us, not just in its incredible beauty and large variety of outdoor activities, but when I really look at the people it has brought into our lives, the amount of family-friendly activities it provides, the close proximity in which we live to such a huge population of people who share our same beliefs, or even the fact that this happens to be a place that both of our families love to frequently travel to, I can't help but admit that one day when we have to leave it I know that will be a sad day indeed & that it will be incredibly missed.

This lovely place will always be a treasured one in our hearts and one that we will frequently come back to in the years ahead - I say this assuming we won't be here forever, but then again I thought we would have left long ago so you never know what can happen.

So come February when I've had about all that I can take of winter with several months of it still ahead & I'm complaining about how I can't wait to get out, will someone please refer me back to this post?

'Preciate ya.

- e 

Baby Boy's Nursery Inspiration Board

1. Jenny Lind Crib  2. Custom Crib Bedding  3. Anthropologie Picture Frame 

4. Three-Tier Bin 5. Let Them Be Little Print via Pinterest 6. Desert Animal Prints 

7. Wild & Free Hoop 8. Ikea Expedit Shelf  9. Ikea Ektorp Chair 10. Ikea Faux Sheep Skin Rug 11. She's Crafty DIY Wall 12. Aden & Anais Blankets  13. Ottoman Pouf Pillow 14. Teepee

15. Boy's Print 16. UO Chevron Rug

Here's a little sneak peak at some of the things we're considering for Baby Boy's nursery!

We'll be going a little bit tribal while still trying to include some of those classic little boy touches :)

There are so many other details & fun items that I would have loved to include . . . I don't know how I'll ever choose (or find the bucks to actually make this come to fruition).

We'll be using a lot of things that we already have and trying to DIY as much as possible, but I'm determined to have this little guy's nursery done while he's still an infant at the very least.

Notice I don't say by the time he is born, because let's be real, that probably won't be happening.

What are your favorite places to shop for nursery décor?

- e



Art by Annie

Annie has dubbed this painting "Happy Cat"...though it sometimes changes to "Loud Cat"...or "Happy Dog".

Almost daily, I get at least one of these requests: 

"Annie draw?"

"Annie paint?"

"Annie paint with brush?"

I know they might not look like much to you, but to us they are examples of her exploring her creativity & sense of the world around her. Though I have to admit, it is so comical sometimes to hear how she interprets her creations & what her explanations for some of them are.

Though we've been enjoying the outdoors as much as possible (which to be honest, hasn't been nearly enough - poor Annie - but this pregnant mama sometimes can't handle the heat) these have been some favorite ways to spend our time inside lately.

Hoping to explore more craft projects as the summer draws to a close & the long winter days begin to creep in.

What are your go-to indoor ways to craft with your kids?

- e

Chugga Chugga

Tonight, as a final hurrah ending my parents' time up in Park City, we did the Heber Valley Train ride on the Heber Creeper through Heber Valley & the Deer Creek Reservoir.

Complete with twinkle lights & one of the most solid oldie's mixes I've ever heard, we rode, sang, & danced our way across the mountains. Annie shares her grandpa's love for trains & talked about riding on one nonstop, all day, until the big moment finally arrived - I'm pretty sure they were both in heaven :)

As usual, we forgot our camera.

Making it my mission to just start carrying the thing around with me absolutely everywhere I go.

On the agenda for this week: clearing our closets, dressers,  cabinets, & shelves, & taking stock of unused furniture in preparation for a yard sale we'll be having this weekend.

Fun.

- e

Our Week in Pictures

Our week, according to Instagram :

Finished up celebrating Annie B's birthday! 

Spent a morning of celebration & relaxation by kidnapping this lady (one of my best Utah gals, Becky ) for a birthday treat at the spa, courtesy of her sweet husband!

We spent another fun-filled weekend in Park City with my mom & dad!

We have been SO spoiled having them visit between all of the fun activities, amazing food, & help with Annie - they even kept her for two extra days so that Blake & I could have a break & enjoy some time to ourselves :)

I love, love, love this cozy mountain town - even though it's right in our backyard it feels completely different from our desert valley.

I would move there tomorrow...so if you have any job contacts send them our way!

Annie and her best bud Makayla (Annie calls her KK) at the zoo!

A few more zoo pics!

- e