the simple life...the good life

 

I know, I know....I haven't updated this blog in forever! Life has been a bit crazy lately. Can I use pregnancy as an excuse? Nate has been out of town a few times in the last couple of months...California twice for work, and Virginia to check out his new Law School. I have been teaching a lot, but I just finished this week, so I'm finally catching up on the rest of my life. So here's a recap of the last couple of months:

 

 

Story time at Provo Library with Nate's wonderful Mom

Mason so fascinated with the little boy statue

Finally got to put the coats away and pull out the jackets! Welcome SPRING!

Refinished Mason's crib in preparation for our new baby!! Mason sleeps in a big bed now. Growing so fast!

Lots of playing with cousin William

enjoying the sunshine

always begging to go outside! gosh I love that kid!

or play my violin...it's too big for him, so we turned it into a cello

reading with Grandma

a true Mason. helping Grandpa outside

Tracy Aviary with Aunt Jenica and Uncle Jordan

playing ball with the boys

a visit from our Dutch friends Arto and Femke. LOVE them!!!

Capitol Reef with Nate's Grandpa and Grandma Freeman

Easter Egg hunting with cousins

cousins!!!

Ski Day at Sundance Ski Resort

It was so much fun to ski today at Sundance Ski Resort. We were so fortunate to get a few free day passes through the company Nate will be working for this summer in California. We were brave enough to take Mason along and have him try it. He was a champ! It was SUCH a beautiful day!! We also took my brother Rich, as well as my Mom and Dad. When Mason got tired we took him home while Nate and my brother kept skiing. Mom and Dad even showed me the place where they got engaged and even had their first kiss. They had not been to that place in 45 years. I figured it was time to go back! Amazed that the bridge they kissed on was still there! So sweet! I loved seeing it, and that they are more in love than ever!!

Bryce Canyon

Nate's Utah bucket list includes all of Utah's five National Parks. Since we are moving this spring, we decided now would be a good time to visit the last two. President's Day weekend (Friday and Saturday) we took a trip to Bryce. I had not been there since I was very small, so being there was like being there for the first time for me as well. I'm totally amazed. It was awe inspiring. Beautiful time to visit - warmer days (in the 50's), beautiful white snow to contrast the red rocks, and not a lot of people. On top of that the Parks were free that weekend because of President's Day, and Ruby's Inn hosted a fun Winter Retreat. I went to a yoga class, a juicing class, and Mason loved the pottery class. We also had fun swimming and hot tubbing. We know we have to live it up now, because life is about to get CRAZY!!!

Sunset Point - beautiful Sunset that first evening!

At least half of the time we were there Nate chased Mason around, trying to keep him from running off any cliffs. I'm grateful Nate was there, because I am definitely too slow for Mason these days :).

One of my favorite pics. Nate ended up carrying Mason's bear around part of the time. He told people around him he needed the bear to feel safe. So funny!!

a shower for baby Samantha

I woke up one morning about a month ago, with the brilliant idea to throw a baby shower for my sister Shirley. She has a little boy who is Mason's best friend...and she is expecting a little girl (Samantha) on February 11th. We could not be more excited! Shirley and I have been through so much together. I really love that girl..a lot. We have such different personalities, but I learn so much from her! She is the kind of person who perhaps I wouldn't naturally click with, but you know that God put us together for a reason. She is an amazing person.

I recruited sisters and friends to help....and it turned out so perfectly! We had two different yummy soups, bread sticks, a Chinese salad, fruit cocktail with sprite, cupcakes, sugar cookies, and a raspberry sorbet drink with sprite. The beautiful flowers I got from Costco (mixed two different bouquets together), and the fun decorations I got from Zurchers. Most of my ideas I got on pinterest. I love pinterest. We had the shower at my sister Elizabeth's house. There is almost nothing I love more than getting together with amazing women, to celebrate a little girl coming into the world!

 

 

Christmas 2013

This Christmas Season was so special. I had made a goal to read the Book of Mormon by Christmas, circling every reference to Jesus Christ. I did it! It really helped me keep my focus on the Savior, which meant a lot to me. Then we went to visit the beautiful 'Sacred Gifts' exhibit at the Museum of Art at BYU with Nate's family. That was so incredible. We also were able to visit Temple Square on a beautiful, clear evening. It was cold, but we were there right before the crowds arrived, so it felt more intimate. The best part of Christmas day was watching Mason's happiness as he saw his presents. We got him some blocks, which he loves. For breakfast we had crepes and spent the rest of the day with family.