chelsey + james {salt lake city temple wedding}

a favorite from last night's session. chelsey is one of my best friends and i'm sooo happy that she is finally getting married ;)  she deserves to be happy-the girl spreads happy around like it's wildfire and i'm so glad that she found her special someone to share the love with.

FOR RENT

i finally got the house listed this morning. if you know of anyone looking to rent in salt lake, send them our way? details here.

emmy's shower

a few of emmy's friends and i threw her a bridal shower on saturday. her only input was that she wanted it to be "picnic-y". it was windy and gray so we opted to stay indoors, but i think it was the best indoor picnic i've ever been to.



on the menu:

pulled pork sandwiches on soft rolls with cole slaw
honey ham & swiss on soft rolls with the most delicious mustard/poppyseed pesto i've ever had (i ate mine sans ham and it was still amazing)
great grandma kline's baked beans
potato salad
watermelon
mexican coke

plus pie & ice cream for dessert and those cute little pie pops were our party favors.



decor included that awesome aqua plastic lace tablecloth that i am still dying over, a sewn paper/ribbon pennant banner, and, of course, my new favorite: paper flowers.

i think it turned out pretty cute and we had a great time. we only planned one activity: the paper dress game. each team had maybe twenty minutes to create a dress made with only tissue paper, toilet paper, and tape. contrary to the judge's final decision, ours was clearly the best dress.





a pleated bodice, v-neck, elbow-length sleeves, a hi-low with a bustle, a french-inspired veil, flower detailing, AND we had a professional seamstress on our team (not to mention a professional model. gosh, i have the worst posture ever and could i look more like my brother? it's andy in a dress! in my defense, this is not my "normal" face. at least i don't think so...). yet we didn't win? i'm not mad about it or anything, really.

AAAAaand finally, the presents. guests were asked to bring a gift that coordinated with an assigned movie. it was pretty fun to see how people interpreted this. let's just say em made out with some good stuff. (the rosary was from the gift inspired by "the sound of music" and the book is from the gift inspired by "amalie," which may or may not have been my assignment. just keeping it real.)



she's got a LOT of reading to do...good thing nate is far, far away...

i never do this

BUT...i really want to win sheena's  giveaway because this print is an absolute necessity for haven's in-the-works new room. seriously, doesn't this face...



and this wall...



need a little pick-me-up? i mean, lately haven has been sneaking out of her room and sleeping at the top of the stairs. next to the washer and dryer. i think that's her begging..."please, mom, can't i have a cute room, too?" or maybe she just needs a door...

go check it out. i'm loving all of vibeke hoie's illustrations. go buy some...but please don't win the giveaway or i'll hunt you down and take it from you. mark my words.

UPDATE: I WON!!! this great news comes on a great day-i was up with nash last night changing sheets, clothes, and the puke bowl. i deserve this! right? thanks sheena & vibeke. i can't wait to hang that bad boy up!

this week we

enjoyed the thunderstorms, evening showers, and even a double rainbow

made a bunch of stuff 

rediscovered some old favorites

started building haven's bedroom wall (finally!)

ate loads of cherries & strawberries

found out that steve graduated top 10% with highest honors!!! (sorry, had to sneak in some bragging)

went on lots of walks & runs

played with friends

read books (really liking this one)

took naps

relaxed. 

the calm before the storm...

summer, well...every other day

i'm not sure what's up with this spring/summer so far. it's been super hot and sunny just about every other day, then cool and cloudy on the alternate days. we've been doing our best to take advantage, and i'm sure about one week of relentless (hot) sun will do me in and i'll be wishing it were cloudy again. luckily the kids are in heaven as long as they're outside. have you ever seen a happier boy?



we're headed south for the weekend to see if we can find some sun (and to chaperone emmy and nate ;) have a happy weekend!

just this evening

there's this ten, maybe twenty minute window in the evening where the light...it's like butter. oh, man. gets me every time.

green drink

my good friend, gina introduced us to this amazing smoothie that has since become a favorite around here. if i don't make two servings, i quickly regret it. nash and haven love "green drink" and will scream until i share mine. usually that ends with me having one or two sips of my own drink! surprisingly, it doesn't taste like grass-which most of the green smoothies i've tried can't claim. this is good stuff. it's quick & easy and super good for you. plus, how many kids do you know that really like to eat salad? it's a great trick to get your kids to eat their greens.

"green drink"

2 cups organic baby spinach
4 oz. organic pineapple-coconut juice (like rw knudsen or santa cruz organics. both sold in glass jars in the health food section of the grocery store).
1 frozen banana (i like to buy lots and let them get nice and ripe. then i cut them up and freeze them so they are ready to go.)

blend, remove your kid's shirt (it stains!), serve & enjoy!

and many, many thanks to gina!