My parents bought an RV! It’s been super awesome, we’ve already gone up camping with them twice! It’s nice to escape and get outdoors. It reminds me so much of camping when I was a kid. I was probably 10 or so when we had our trailer and I loved going camping. We went with my grandparents and cousins. We ate caramel corn and played with special trailer toys (Hamtaro!) and went fishing and hiking. We rode in the back of my grandpa’s truck, rode the 4 wheelers and dirt bikes when my cousins came, and just had so much fun.

We snuck up on Tuesday and I worked in the mountains, Graham loved playing with Melanie in the dirt and throwing rocks. We went up again Sunday-Monday and it was kind of a rough night, two little kids have a hard time sleeping in a new place! But we ate amazing food and had fun being all together. Of course it rained on us (it’s happened to us at Payson Lakes before!) but we saw deer and still had such a blast.

Graham and Mel are such good friends and I love it! It’s so fun to see them play together.

I’m loving the summer and it’s going by too fast. It’s weird because the days feel long with work and COVID keeping us at home for the most part, but they are also flying by too quickly. I can’t believe June is already over! Luckily we’ve had fun camping, playing at Cherry Hill, seeing most of Randy’s brothers often, and spending time outside. Here’s hoping the rest of the summer is just as fun!

We have been having a great summer! Playing in the water at Cherry Hill or our yard, adventuring out into the mountains, and more! Graham has been having music class and he’s obsessed with it! Almost every day he will ask if today is music class day or not. He loves watching Miss Karli on the computer and singing along with her. It’s adorable! We went up Big Cottonwood Canyon and got some courage to go adventure into a cave! It was actually kind of scary but really fun!

Today we are celebrating Father’s Day! We got some Shake Shack over the weekend to celebrate, too, Crumbl Cookies to Randy’s dad and played games, and then had breakfast in bed on Father’s Day and ate delicious food at my parent’s house!

Shout out to my dad – I couldn’t have asked for a better father. He was always there for me, came to every dance recital and took me skiing. He played games with us and taught us about music. He has always supported and loved me unconditionally. He’s an amazing grandpa, gives the best advice, has helped me navigate my career, and more. I’m so lucky to have grown up with him as my father. I LOVE YOU!

Randy is seriously the BEST father. I can’t believe how lucky my kids are to get him as their dad. He is so attentive and absolutely obsessed with being a dad. Right now he’s being a stay-at-home-dad until his job starts and seeing him and Graham together, playing during the day just makes me so happy. It’s the BEST. We LOVE you Dad!

It’s hard that it’s summer and we can’t go on the kind of adventures we might normally. We have gone to Cherry Hill a few times and I am thrilled with the progress Graham has made! He’s getting more comfortable in the water and likes it more every time, which is awesome.

We have been building lots of train tracks, trying new recipes, working working working, doing music class, going on lots of runs, swinging in the back yard with Mel, going on hikes or walks, and trying to enjoy our summer.

Things are still off and strange, but that’s OK. We’re figuring it out one step and one day at a time.

Things have gotten insane in our lives. The brutal murder of George Floyd has instigated outrage in our country. For good reason. It’s an interesting time to be alive as coronavirus and now these spark of riots and protests has swept the nation. I’m working hard to understand my own part in this.

It’s hard to know what to say. I don’t have answers. I have my own mistakes and fumbles and incorrect thinking. But I know that things can’t continue the way they have.
I have had my eyes more opened than ever to the racial inequality that surrounds us and impacts lives constantly. I’m sad it took me so long to see. POC in this country have gone through so much, and I will never understand it all.
There are bad cops and who have done horrific things-they are enabled by a system that has created racism in our country for far too long. There are also amazing cops out there who keep us safe. And I am so grateful for them and their families, and the sacrifices they make for us.
I can be both horrified and disgusted with the death of George Floyd and other black Americans, while also being so grateful for good police officers. I can see the harm in violent looting and rioting while also seeing a need for drastic change in our systems and programs.
I think there are so many amazing things about our country. And one of the best ones is that we are able and encouraged to make change. To stand for what is right.
Police brutality is real. Racism is real. White privilege is real.
We are being asked to stand for what is right. We have the chance to make meaningful change and make this place better for our children.
This isn’t about political parties. This is about human beings and making this country safe for everyone. And we need leaders who encourage us to listen to and love each other, instead of hate and fear each other.
Everyone’s life matters, but this movement and this time is focused on the lives of black people that are greatly in danger. Racism and corrupt systems mean that now more than ever we need to realize and shout out that their lives MATTER.

For me, being silent is being complicit. I want to do the work to understand my own bias, my privilege, and listen to POC who haven’t been heard for so long. I want to teach my son how to be better and different. We can make change if we are willing to do the work and finally listen.

Black lives matter.

We had a wonderful anniversary. Friday night we were able to drop Graham off at my parent’s house (for the first time ever having a sleepover!) We went and picked up some dinner and Randy drove all the way to South Jordan to pick up a cake for me at The Chocolate earlier in the week. We got to watch a movie and stay up late, eating cake. It was the best. And on Saturday we got to sleep in!!!!! Which was a DREAM. And eat more cake. We missed Graham though. We picked him up and then after his nap we went to Cherry Hill to have a great afternoon as a family.

The past five years have been a dream with Randy. Not every day has been perfect—we’ve had fights and issues like every other couple. But every single day with Randy is better than one without him, hands down.

I’ve been super weepy thinking about this anniversary for some reason. 5 years just feels like so much. I watched The Last Five Years and started crying, and I’ve been remembering some of our favorite moments. It’s wonderful to reminisce and think about the happy moments that have made up our marriage.

Randy is the best person I know. And I can’t believe I get to spend my life with him.

We had such a fun weekend! We went hiking with some friends after home church on Sunday which was great, then spent some time with my family!

Memorial Day was on Monday and we went to visit my great-grandparent’s graves which was very special. We talked to my cute missionary sister and had a birthday BBQ with my fam to begin celebrating my sister’s birthday! The kids were SO fun and they are getting great at playing with each other.

The work week actually went by really fast and we had some fun times! Thursday was Liv’s actually birthday so she and I went home decor shopping and then we had sushi and cake with everyone, which was delicious.

Where did the time go!! I can’t believe my baby boy is TWO YEARS OLD.

Graham is the sweetest soul. He is SO polite and kind and I am so proud to hear him say “please” and “thank you” and “scuse me”. He is pretty shy and reserved around other people, but once he’s comfortable he will be screaming and singing in his own little language which is so cute.

He loves going on walks, riding his bike, playing music, reading books, cuddling and being held, playing in the car, pushing his baby stroller, vacuuming and mopping, swinging, and so many other things. His favorite foods are chocolate, pasta, tomatoes, any fruit, eggs, and yogurt. He’s so independent and wants to do things “self” but also just loves being with us and doesn’t love playing by himself. He can count and is starting to sing the ABC’s and things it’s hilarious to tell us the wrong color names.

He’s totally his father’s son and is obsessed with all things Toy Story and with music. He will play drums, guitar, piano, or his musical instruments all day. AND he loves ramen. Totally Randy’s kid.

He loves playing with cousin Melanie and his friends Brooklyn and Hudson. He also likes making friends with the older kids around our neighborhood which is so cute.

He is the best little boy in the universe and I couldn’t imagine my life without him. Graham, you are my best friend. I will never get over hearing you say “wuv you” or “why mom why?”

We had a blast celebrating his birthday. On Saturday we went to play in my mom’s backyard, swimming in the kiddie pool and swinging. We ate Chic Fil A and had a great time all together. Sunday we made waffles, Graham’s favorite, had church, watched Toy Story and ate popcorn and candy, had mac and cheese for lunch that Graham wouldn’t touch hahaha. We went over to my mom’s for a party with grandparents and opened presents and ate cupcakes. We went and visited my grandparents from a distance and had the best time.

The party was TWO INFINITY AND BEYOND and it turned out so cute! Graham loved it all so much and it was seriously so much fun. It was seriously the best day, and even though Graham may never remember it I will never forget it!

Mother’s Day this year was too much fun! Saturday the day before Mother’s Day I made a cake to take to my mom, her favorite lemon angel food, and we just had a relaxing day playing in the yard and hanging out.

Sunday started bright and early with Randy making me an amazing QUICHE for breakfast in bed! It went with my gift, both editions of the Magnolia cookbook, and he made the quiche from one of the recipes. It was seriously SO delicious and I couldn’t believe how great it was! And the cookbooks have quickly become a huge favorite and I’m loving getting better at cooking.

Graham and Randy also got me flowers and a card which was so cute. We had our home church lesson, went on a little walk, and then went over to my mom and dad’s house for a delicious lunch! We had pasta salad and steak and bread and two kinds of cake – it was SO delicious and fun!

Being Graham’s mom is the most important thing I will ever do. It’s hard and it’s wonderful and I wouldn’t trade it for the world

It’s when he lays his head on my shoulder and gently pats my back.
It’s when he shouts “I miss you” when I come in from another room.
It’s when he asks to listen to the same four songs over and over again.
It’s when he furrows his brow and says “why mom why” a dozen times in a row.
It’s those moments and a million more like them when my breath catches and I feel like this is more than I ever could have asked for. You are more than I dreamed. And motherhood is more than the words I can use.
To my baby and all the babies I will get to hold someday, being your mama is everything. I love you.

Oh my sweet mom. I have no idea who I would be without her.
She is my favorite Monet painting, she is in every Vivaldi song I hear, I see her in Marmee and Elizabeth Bennett and Anne Shirley. She fueled my love of literature and travel and chocolate. She taught me to write and play piano and push myself. She is the best grandma (as you can see in this photo!) and everything I am is thanks to her. Thank you mom, for every second you have given me and all the millions of things you’ll undoubtedly continue to give me in the future.
Happy Mother’s Day!

This week was full of Randy being finally done with school, so he was a great stay-at-home dad and helped do a ton of cleaning. I tried a few new recipes (Lebanese salad and fatayar which Graham LOVED and was delicious) and worked a LOT. We played with cousin Melanie a few times, and got all ready for Graham’s upcoming birthday! I can’t believe he is almost two! It’s so wild, but I’m just so happy to have him!

Saturday I made homemade biscuits and gravy (SO GOOD) and we went hiking in the morning, and spent the afternoon swimming and playing in the yard at my mom’s house. It was SO fun and Graham loves being outside and running around. It was a great way to kick off birthday weekend.