m || k || q || tx

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-192217882012-02-01T23:24:12.304-05:00m || k || q || txk.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.comBlogger22951100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-19993675448197904472012-02-01T22:35:00.000-05:002012-02-01T22:35:58.154-05:00A few stories from our apparently somewhat eventful day.

I don't know. The highlight of my day was maybe when Q got into my bathroom closet & into a box full of nail polish (I have quite the collection, despite my unwillingness to ever paint my own nails). In typical fashion, he dug in to the container & began to throw them around the bathroom. I should mention that Quinn loves taking things apart or create chaos out of order - puzzles, stacking

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-69858502811367601322012-01-31T16:15:00.000-05:002012-01-31T16:15:19.729-05:00Reading (etcetera).

My favorite recent photo of Q. And by recent, of course I mean in like the past 4 days. He will sit there & flip through books for hours & hours minutes & minutes. I love it. It's totally fine that Q basically got kicked out of his Kindermusik class today (we're transferring to another on Friday). I mean, I didn't blame him at all for gripping tightly to my neck the ENTIRE CLASS (again). Some

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-75810411271276789712012-01-29T16:44:00.003-05:002012-01-29T16:47:30.061-05:00Our friends in The Heights.

We drove down to The Heights on Friday morning. Q quietly read his book while I tried my best to avoid dying while being sandwiched between two semi trucks at 80 MPH. I'm turning into an old & fearful woman & really, really hate driving on I-45 during rush hour. I went to Noelle's Body Combat class again. This woman is serious! Did I ever tell you about the first time I went? Her class is like a

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-70753714607040031012012-01-27T22:42:00.001-05:002012-01-27T22:44:37.650-05:00Some snapshots of our afternoon + a mini-video.

Maybe I should be worried that I've already posted 347 photos of Q on the slide, but we're at the park every day - sometimes several times a day, even! Yesterday, we spent at least two hours there, & this afternoon we did the same, staying until the sun started to dip down. Our routine is fairly simple: we swing, we slide, we say hello to all of the puppies, we wave to the birds, & walk around

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-43465606692744205582012-01-25T15:54:00.001-05:002012-01-25T15:55:18.637-05:00At the top.

This is the look that he gives me now before he goes woosh!! all by himself down the slide. He's like, Hey! I'm a big kid! & then hops off of the bottom & runs to my legs, reaching up so that I'll pick him up & plop him at the top again. Again & again & again! The other day, he went down the big slide. He's basically fearless (unless we're at a music class or the gym).

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-49670712133689009812012-01-24T23:30:00.000-05:002012-01-24T23:30:48.658-05:00From Dallas, & the teething that just won't stop.

I made Q the best breakfast burrito you've ever had this morning. A fresh tortilla, eggs, cheese, lots of cilantro, black beans, avocado & yummy salsa. For the 2nd day in a row! A true act of pure + delicious motherly love. Except today - my sweet little boy picked out all of the black beans to eat. And threw everything else on the floor. A lovely little hint as to how the rest of our day would

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-71058686884952360922012-01-21T21:13:00.008-05:002012-01-21T21:40:29.851-05:00Q & I took a little trip to Dallas.

We really love Texas in January. Love. I ran seven miles today in shorts & a tank top, & was hot. 70˚+ every day is my kind of winter. Thank you, Texas. We extra-love being so close enough to Dallas, close enough that Q & I could zip up for a mid-week (3 day) playdate this week. You should have seen his face when we got out of the car & saw Erin, Fox & Indie. Q looked around for a minute & then

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-45754940093757743292012-01-17T10:14:00.000-05:002012-01-17T10:14:56.215-05:00Stroller reading.

We have books with us wherever we go. In the car, at church, in the stroller, all around our house... Nothing entertains this boy like a good book. This particular one - first words - is one of his very favorites (thanks, Grandma!). The pages are getting mushy (teething) & worn from lots of reading, & on this particular afternoon, he was engrossed. He's also gifted & has a talent for reading

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-45061676185714634542012-01-14T22:18:00.001-05:002012-01-14T22:27:43.198-05:00Northshore Park.

I ran 6 miles this morning. The last race I trained for was the Nike Women's Half Marathon. In 2007. Four years ago! Today, I was grateful that I still have 7 or so weeks until my next half, that Texas in not quite as hilly as that race was (I still have nightmares) & also that we live in such a beautiful place. The Woodlands is full of paved running trails (190 miles of them), & while I've done

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-39096663144298205302012-01-11T15:12:00.002-05:002012-01-11T15:18:33.082-05:00From yesterday.

Quinn. I sang him his lullaby four times last night, because when I'm putting him down to sleep, I'm acutely aware of the swift passage of time. I used to often rock him to sleep until his eyes were closed. Now, I hold him up in my arms & as soon as the song comes out of my mouth, his arm goes around mine & his head goes on my shoulder. He is sweet - but running around with his shirt off like he

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-24219711010430024072012-01-08T21:58:00.002-05:002012-01-08T22:02:08.170-05:00A Sunday walk around the park.

Today was warm, but a little bit grey, & a little bit drizzly - so I shot the few photos I took in black & white. We are loving our new morning church schedule. And by loving, I mean that Quinn gets a proper nap in afternoon, & we get to do the same thing. Happy! Church is still a total disaster of course, but it's really just about survival until Quinn can go to nursery in two blessed months.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-55670932353190459342012-01-07T23:29:00.001-05:002012-01-07T23:31:12.585-05:00The Waterway.

Today: It was 75˚. In January! I know I'll be saying all sorts of bad words about Houston come summer, but right now, we're big fans. We ate lunch al fresco with our friends (we have a few!) this afternoon - at Grimaldi's pizza, just like you get it in Brooklyn, but without the hour long line. God bless them for opening new locations outside of New York. The sun was shining, & we actually got a

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-49814381985957386892012-01-07T23:03:00.000-05:002012-01-07T23:03:38.108-05:00When we were in Dallas.

We went to the park in the sunshine & let the littlest ones play. Q couldn't have been happier.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-16416014433606587022012-01-05T23:01:00.000-05:002012-01-05T23:01:00.063-05:00All by himself.

It was in the 70's this morning, so we went straight to the park after our morning run. Q has only been walking for the past month, & we haven't spent much time on anything other than the swings at the park. But today, he just wanted to play & explore. And after a few times of going down the slide holding my hand, he just let go & went down all by himself. When he got to the bottom, he stopped,

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-91367311512971241332012-01-04T22:42:00.001-05:002012-01-04T22:47:22.313-05:00Various things.

Today I'm just a little bit tired, & I had the kind of day where I accomplished only one thing on my very long to do list. I went to the post office & re-mailed a package I had sent to friend Suzi weeks ago, only to have it returned to me the other day (after weeks of us saying, What happened to that package!?). See, I'd merged my old 80th Street address with her current 86th Street address to

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-42340262004041740502012-01-03T22:45:00.001-05:002012-01-21T21:28:44.101-05:00Rise & Shout.

We went to Dallas last week to say hi to the Burtons & to watch BYU play a football game. Being the superfan that I am, I didn't have a clue who we were playing (Mike just said, Tulsa) or what the occasion was (a bowl game - I don't really know what that means at the end of the day). I'm fairly certain that Matthew Burton wanted to slap me silly after I asked about what fake spike?! at the end of

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-51711254542834968912012-01-01T12:04:00.001-05:002012-01-02T12:06:05.041-05:002012.

We went to church this morning, made it through 97% of it (!!), came home & ate a quick lunch before taking a long family nap (with Q in his crib, Mike in our bed, & me on the couch, where I had basically collapsed from post-church exhaustion). I woke up with the warm sun streaming through our windows & onto my face. My house was perfectly quiet in that moment & I loved it. No ringing phones, no

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-10186385936530732822011-12-28T22:50:00.001-05:002011-12-28T22:52:05.194-05:0069 hours (rounded down) in New York.

// Brunch at Norma's // Wandering around the Bryant Park Holiday Market // Jersey Boys (ick) // Dinner at Parm (new favorite) // Shake Shack // Church with friends! // 9/11 Memorial (freeeeeeeezing) // Ben's 1st Birthday Party // Sleeping in at Le Parker Meridien // Soho & West Village wanderings // A cab driver who whistled along to all the Christmas songs on the radio but didn't speak a word of

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-65538327015806878412011-12-28T22:19:00.001-05:002011-12-28T22:20:30.476-05:00Simple.

Six & a half years in tiny!! New York City apartments means we have 1) a pretty much still-empty house & 2) only a few Christmas decorations. I love the idea of collecting sentimental + relatively special holiday decorations over the years, so we strategically avoided a massive trip to Pottery Barn to outfit our entire house with green & red. But still! Our home has felt simply Christmas-y, if

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-67266164710626126652011-12-28T20:46:00.001-05:002011-12-28T20:48:00.295-05:00Our Christmas was merry + mellow.

Christmas this year was simple & quiet - just the three of us. Kind of really awesome (no stress, just our family, no traveling, no hosting, etc.), but also just a teensy bit sad (I always miss my family at holidays, & time spent with them seems to be too infrequent). Thanks to our son who prefers to beat the sun to start the day, it started a bit too early but we're almost used to this now. We

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-77531160447233193252011-12-27T14:47:00.002-05:002011-12-27T15:01:31.877-05:0018 photos from our family walk.

Mike is taking the entire week off of work. It's like our summer, all over again! It's happy for all three of us. Happy for Q because having mama + Dad at the same time is SO EXCITING, happy for me because I get to sleep in on occasion (this morning! lovely), & happy for Mike because he gets to relax & avoid airplanes for 9 days straight. Q was a sad boy yesterday. So much snot coming out of his

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-45805629711396539232011-12-27T14:08:00.000-05:002011-12-27T14:08:03.839-05:00Across the street.

The funny thing is that when we purchased our home, we didn't really even care that much that there was a park right across the street. I mean, I'm sure we knew that eventually it would probably be nice, but when we were deciding between a few homes we didn't really even bring the park into the decision making process. We clearly have so much to learn, but we still had a little baby who wasn't

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-62398021925583452152011-12-27T13:50:00.001-05:002011-12-27T13:54:58.237-05:00TX family photos.

Kylie took our family photos while she was here for Thanksgiving. It was so convenient to have a photographer here just a few weeks before Christmas cards were due! It's been a part of my master plan all along to get one of Dave's siblings to marry a photographer, so you can imagine how happy I was when she said yes just a few weeks after these photos were taken. To say that we're elated is a

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-22972533149170713232011-12-25T13:52:00.000-05:002011-12-27T13:53:41.168-05:00Merry Christmas 2011.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-35086180583999687842011-12-21T16:04:00.003-05:002011-12-27T13:20:37.969-05:00Merry New York Christmas.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-24607271804978659162011-12-20T22:00:00.002-05:002011-12-20T22:03:06.351-05:00City.

If home is where your heart is, then a little piece of home will always be New York City (as if this was not already obvious after our 6+ years there). I just got back from spending a few days in the city, & it was good for my soul. Good friends, good food, city sounds & Christmas! It was wonderful & happy & I'm so glad that I got to go (sans baby & husband). I had a really fascinating Muslim

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-19737795077450362632011-12-14T23:29:00.004-05:002011-12-15T11:54:21.999-05:00Dave+Kylie.

Brother in law Dave asked Kylie* if she'd marry him, & she said yes. Happy, happy, happy! *Kylie is my friend, & sister-friends are the very, very best.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-75850232869791936492011-12-14T23:07:00.000-05:002011-12-14T23:07:08.716-05:00Just a few things.

I've had this quote on my mind quite a bit lately - A woman who makes a house a home makes a far greater contribution to society than those who command large armies or stand at the head of impressive corporations. (Gordon B. Hinkley) I love this! And of course it's absolutely true. It's beautiful & inspiring & makes me think lots of happy thoughts about being a stay at home mother. When I get

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-27406810761334612132011-12-12T14:53:00.001-05:002011-12-12T14:54:21.615-05:00It's fall in Texas.

I feel like I need to confirm that I am not pregnant, despite what my coat may look like. But when I am, I'll have lots of wiggle room! I'm such a smart shopper. We went on a walk on Saturday through the nature preserve that is near our home. There's a big sign at the trail head that warns about the poisonous snakes, alligators, wild hogs, coyotes, bees, ticks & poison ivy. The perfect place for

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-9032386239930786792011-12-09T21:27:00.000-05:002011-12-09T21:27:28.549-05:00We went to see Feist.

Last month (!!), Q & I drove up to Dallas for a quick 24-hour adventure. Erin & I had snagged Feist tickets shortly after we decided to move to Houston (it helped ease the pain), & while Mike & Matt were supposed to come, both ended up working. I'm comfortable enough with the Houston-Dallas drive by now though (I don't even have to stop for gas!), so it was no big deal to go solo. We let the

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-47120791828681194232011-12-06T23:17:00.005-05:002011-12-07T07:47:39.874-05:00Heights Holiday Home Tour.

It's hard for it to feel like Christmas when it's 70 outside. To be fair, we're in a bit of a cold snap this week (it's currently 38, excuse me Houston?!), but there are still palm trees, & I just don't think of Christmas when I see tropical trees. Anyway. Noelle is a good friend & invited me to come down to Houston to go through the Houston Heights Holiday Home Tour Saturday night. I think

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-87153003666948786282011-12-05T21:49:00.000-05:002011-12-05T21:49:32.251-05:00Monday.

I have a claw mark down my chest from when Q got a little excited to see me the other day (& his nails had gotten a little too long), I smashed my finger in between two dishes in a freak unloading-the-dishwasher accident yesterday resulting in a really painful blood blister, I cut my hand open making dinner the other night, & my left arm is still recovering from 3rd degree burns from soup. Quinn

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-3696252866451077222011-12-03T16:09:00.001-05:002011-12-03T16:10:39.602-05:00Saturday.

I finally ordered a BOB. I guess it was sort of a necessary purchase for our new entrenchment in the 'burbs, especially since I registered to run a half marathon this spring. Treadmills make me sad, & The Woodlands has miles & miles of running trails to explore. Anyway - we set it up this morning & decided to go on a family walk over to the YMCA that is a mile or so away from our house. There was

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-81106920327022707852011-12-02T17:29:00.003-05:002011-12-02T19:54:08.368-05:00Thanksgiving 2011.

We hosted Thanksgiving in our own home for the first time in our married lives last week (!!). It's a really nice thing to spend a holiday at home, & I think we're going to do it more often - especially now that we have the space to accomodate visitors, without requiring that they sleep in our living room. We convinced Mike's entire family + Kylie came to Houston this year, & were happy to get

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-44116009836239980782011-12-01T07:56:00.000-05:002011-12-01T07:56:54.990-05:00Pitter Patter.

We had an extra couch in our living room thanks to the Thanksgiving crowds. I don't know. I just really felt like I needed to explain that. Go, Q!

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-51684441888238105182011-11-30T14:59:00.001-05:002011-11-30T14:59:30.102-05:00We've been swamped.

Happier times, early last week. I don't know, Internet. I'm starting to wonder how mothers who aren't getting paid to do it actually find the time to regularly blog. I'm struggling. I have a thousand things I've wanted to post about (walking! concerts! Europe! Thanksgiving! family!), & I just absolutely cannot find the time. I just can't. So - please excuse the mini brain dump that is about to

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-139537815760226402011-11-21T14:10:00.003-05:002011-11-21T14:10:57.003-05:00Progress.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-78516031727165289342011-11-20T07:45:00.004-05:002011-11-20T09:09:01.663-05:00I hate molars.

Our sweet, happy Q has given us very few smiles this week. And by us, I guess I mean me since Mike has mostly been gone. This meant that by the time Friday finally rolled around I was at the end of what was a very long & patient rope (ropes needs to be quite long as a mother, of course). I really felt so badly for my little boy, but having a needy, clingy, sad child while solo is incredibly

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-12652705965991807452011-11-17T22:43:00.000-05:002011-11-17T22:43:47.170-05:00Almost Friday.

The only redeeming quality of this day was that Q's chair for his nursery was finally delivered. Perfect for story time! I'm happy. Q screamed basically all day (except for a brief respite, where I quickly grabbed my camera & snapped this photo) - & demanded to be held, but didn't want to be held, which meant that we went through an exhausting pick up / put down cycle all day long. Seriously,

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-35912314877247717972011-11-16T23:48:00.000-05:002011-11-16T23:48:08.544-05:00A few photos from the day my baby turned 14 months old.

Mike is in New York this week, but we're keeping ourselves busy with a lot of teething (fun!!), a lot of walking training, & a perhaps excessive amount of photo taking. All the fuss below? Because he wanted my camera (per usual). Such drama, Q! I pacified him with my lens cap.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-72752801279948994292011-11-16T00:51:00.002-05:002011-11-16T01:10:22.245-05:00We went to the park & rode the (miniature) train.

Q & I left The Woodlands yesterday & headed down to Houston & Hermann Park for a train ride & picnic with friends + their 1-year-old boys. By picnic I mean that Q smeared his beans all over our park blanket (& my shirt) & only managed to actually get a few morsels of food into his mouth, & by friends I mean that sweet Noelle invited us to tag along with her sweet friends. It was nice, & needed,

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-18817089022878487652011-11-14T20:24:00.004-05:002011-11-14T20:33:01.417-05:00The swings.

This boy loves to cuddle right now. Mornings, post-naps, just before bed, in the middle of playtime... Loves. He also loves to eat beans. Like today, I'm fairly certain he only consumed black beans - & maybe a small bit of a snickerdoodle. I'm hoping his multi-vitamin is working some serious magic right now.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-18812241288694778642011-11-13T12:19:00.001-05:002011-11-13T12:20:14.338-05:00Cupboards.

Quinn lately: I guess we're into the getting into everything phase. He loves pulling out everything from the cupboards, tearing apart magazines & rummaging through my handbag. He'll take off with Mike's cash & credit cards if we aren't watching his wallet closely. He's obsessed with television remote controls (we have a battery-less spare in the car for emergencies), prefers the Blackberry over

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-36254418457864044812011-11-13T11:22:00.000-05:002011-11-13T11:22:16.328-05:00I want to be a banker when I grow up.

Q, Grandpa Phil & I went into Houston on Thursday to see Mike at work. Walking around Houston made me a little bit.. sad. I mean, it's small! And then there's this feeling of vacancy that is just so strange to me. It's the third biggest city in the United States, but Houston's downtown is no Manhattan. Where are the bustling crowds, the street performers, the honking horns? I miss the noise,

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-89936154833224283812011-11-11T23:10:00.001-05:002011-11-12T17:26:40.270-05:00We went to Utah for a few days.

* visited with Grandmas (in Provo & Mapelton), cousins, siblings & not-nearly-enough friends * loved the leaves & brisk fall air * tried out some favorite new-to-us spots in Provo (Mountain West Burrito & Station 22) & SLC (The Copper Onion & Blue Lemon were favorites) * ate the best pastry of my life at Les Madelines * had a happy, well rested traveling toddler * pleased as punch to have my hair

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-89872494813870065722011-11-05T23:03:00.000-05:002011-11-05T23:03:28.601-05:00Memory Grove Park.

I like that there are so many people to see in Utah when we come to visit (I don't like that we never get to see all of the people that we'd like to). My sister Joanna works at the Utah State Capital. When we went up to Memory Grove Park with Mike's cousin Chris on Friday, Joanna met us for a quick walk through the park + some impromptu photos in the leaves. I love leaves! So does Q. Clearly.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-87269653900103615612011-11-03T22:23:00.001-05:002011-11-03T22:23:45.918-05:00We're in UT.

On his best behavior at The Copper Onion. We really liked that place. We're in Salt Lake City. Mike had a client meeting today, & since he's frequently gone + since we have lots of excuses to come - 2 sisters (me), 2 brothers (Mike) & lots of friends (us) - we decided to make a long weekend out of it. The air here! It smells like fall, & I really, really love that. The leaves in the valley are

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-62354546477168187572011-11-03T21:57:00.002-05:002011-11-03T22:06:12.199-05:00I am grateful for the weather in Texas.

Let's talk about things that I'm grateful for. #1: The fact that on a horrendous day with my sweet & not-napping toddler, I can still throw him in the stroller pants-less & take him on an hour-long walk around the park that is directly across from my house. Let me emphasise the without pants part. In November! It wasn't even close to being chilly. Besides the fact that Q was basically just

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-7775059326398408202011-11-03T21:51:00.002-05:002011-11-03T22:05:25.933-05:00I turned almost 30.

My dad took the photo on the right on my birthday before we headed out the door for church. While we look slightly awkward & maybe like we don't love each other very much, he insisted on the spacing so that the skeleton could be seen. He thought it was hilarious! A skeleton in our family photo! Funny, Dad. :) I turned 29 on Sunday. That's almost thirty, but not quite - which meant that it was

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-83687606830822631522011-11-01T15:12:00.000-05:002011-11-01T15:12:14.590-05:00Cinque Terre.

We visited Cinque Terre during in the middle of our trip to Europe lastt summer. Beautiful! The colors were what I loved the very most. Narrow cobblestone streets lined with brightly colored buildings led you down to spectacular views of the bright blue ocean. The towns are all connected via train or oceanside path (some more leisurely than others), & we spent a beautiful + sunny day walking

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-1373704692152701862011-10-31T22:49:00.001-05:002011-10-31T23:39:36.346-05:00Donkey.

Our little Donkey is soundly sleeping while Mike & I celebrate Halloween by watching Justin Bieber's Never Say Never (How could I have waited so long to see it?! It's the greatest). Last year?! So tiny! This year - he had a grilled chicken sandwich & sweet potato fries for lunch. Enough said. We love him. Happy Halloween!

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-17245614726717657292011-10-27T22:03:00.001-05:002011-10-27T22:24:16.807-05:00We have a chair.

Our couch is getting returned, the new couch won't be here until basically 2012, & our first bed arrived broken so we basically have to wait until the trees finish growing so that they can chop them down & build us a replacement. Most of the rooms in my house are still mostly empty. But! My chair arrived today. In one perfect piece. And I love it. And so does Quinn! He cruised around it

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-45796297604606340912011-10-27T21:39:00.002-05:002011-10-27T21:44:27.376-05:00Grandpa comes to visit.

When we lived in New York, my dad would come to visit us any time he was east of the Mississippi, because he was in the neighborhood. I love him for this, & love that moving to Texas hasn't changed this at all. Work brought him to Texas this week (Dallas), so he's sandwiching his professional obligations with time with us in Houston. And tomorrow night - we'll see him in Dallas for the BYU / TCU

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-16715185224131760862011-10-26T12:12:00.006-05:002011-10-27T10:31:44.033-05:00Vegas! And some unexplainable numbness.

Almost immediately after moving to The Great State of Texas, I went numb. Literally. Like, I'd wake up in the middle of the night & my fingers would be tingly. And then in the morning, my hands would be so stiff that I couldn't make a fist. I thought that maybe it was because of the heat & humidity, but I'm from New York, & our summers there aren't exactly mild. And then the numbness started

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-42820464450555510952011-10-19T21:03:00.001-05:002011-10-19T21:03:47.038-05:00It's okay if this makes you cry (buckets).

The sweetest video from the sweetest friend.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-71354922968355368842011-10-18T16:53:00.004-05:002011-10-18T17:14:33.619-05:00The past few days.

Hi, blog. You're a little overwhelming to me lately. I'm liking your friend Instagram more these days. Easy, breezy. Mike is basically gone all week, every week. It's our new normal. Really, I kind of don't love it very much at all - but we're grateful for Mike's job, for our home, for literally perfect fall weather in Texas (that feels like perfect summer weather anywhere else) etc. etc. Blah

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-63460519971598626302011-10-13T20:37:00.000-05:002011-10-13T20:37:41.923-05:00Quinn had a nice snooze.

Q's morning naps have been extra long the past few days. When I tried to wake him up for his music class yesterday, I found him sleeping like this. In an effort to wake him up, I pulled back his blinds & let the sun shine in, turned off his noise machine, picked out his outfit for the day & even answered a phone call. The boy didn't even flinch, so of course I ran & grabbed my camera - & then let

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-77007937383406399802011-10-13T15:32:00.000-05:002011-10-13T15:32:21.912-05:00Family date night.

Date nights with Mike are super fun, but we like family date nights, too. Last weekend we took Quinn out to dinner with us. He shared my pork tenderloin, snacked on some of Mike's pizza & only made a mild disaster at our table & surrounding area. (He also kept his mother modest in all of our photos together - sweet boy.) It's Thursday! It's the very best day (the day that Mike gets home). Happy,

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-59001118125718939782011-10-11T22:53:00.001-05:002011-10-11T23:00:14.052-05:00An afternoon snack.

I just got off the phone with my dear friend Kellie & she said something along the lines of, Remember when we used to laugh at the women who only blogged about their babies? Oops.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-14596532459846148172011-10-11T22:17:00.001-05:002011-10-11T22:44:46.928-05:00We went to the park across the street.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-23356665585094442832011-10-09T19:22:00.001-05:002011-10-09T19:22:54.014-05:00The study.

All I want for Christmas is a giant Restoration Hardware gift certificate. Really though - our house is just going to be sort of empty for a while. The list of things to do is seemingly endless & still just a little bit overwhelming, but it's proving to be an excellent lesson in patience for me - something that has never been my strongpoint. Case in point: our bedroom will be finished in

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-47975158462664536772011-10-09T12:53:00.000-05:002011-10-09T12:53:15.776-05:00We have some nature on our front porch, & my thumb is now a teensy bit green.

Sometimes I feel scared to admit that I like it here. I feel like I can only say it with a bit of a hesitation, or by qualifying it by saying that it has been such a hard move, emotionally - or that we like it here, but miss New York so very much (we do). What I need to remember is that I'm not betraying New York by appreciating the new life that we have, & that enjoying my life outside of a

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-61437504700316016072011-10-09T11:49:00.002-05:002011-10-09T11:54:55.607-05:00We went to Dallas.

Quinn & I took a quick trip to Dallas this past week. Erin & I both needed a little bit of a mental health break, & I think that we'd both agree that co-parenting three toddlers for a few days while the husbands were away slaying dragons was in the end, a very good idea. Somehow, I only came away with a lot of photos of Q in a high chair, a few of him taking a bath with his (3rd) cousin Indie, &

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-86902929154570616672011-10-06T22:27:00.006-05:002011-10-06T22:40:51.340-05:00Caitlin visited Houston.

Friend Caitlin came to visit last week! We spent lots of time in The Woodlands, lots of time lounging at home, & lots of time up at the Round Top antique show (a massive, massive, massive gathering of antiques). It was really great, & I came home with several really beautiful things that I didn't know I needed until I set my eyes on them. Of course. We had such a fun giggle-filled few days

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-22060824204168461072011-10-04T22:20:00.000-05:002011-10-04T22:20:31.723-05:00Quinn & Indiana took a bath.

It lasted about 47 seconds. Who knew Q was so territorial about his bath space?! (The second-to-last photo is blurry, but my favorite. His look! Absolutely horrified to be taking a bath with someone else - & a girl.)

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-17644532021906657282011-10-03T15:20:00.003-05:002011-10-03T19:44:28.175-05:00Remember when Q turned one?

It's October?! Seriously?! I can't keep up on my life. I mean, it's not like I'm dealing with any major problems right now, but we're busy. And things keep happening! Good things like friend Caitlin being in town much of last week (so fun!), & bad things like our brand new fancy bed falling apart (the good news is that they're making us a new bed - the bad news is that it will be here

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-49665236171680040242011-09-26T20:18:00.002-05:002011-09-26T20:42:49.533-05:00Quinn's rescue mission.

(Quinn's due date was September 26th. He gave us a nice little surprise by showing up 10 days early, but I think today will still always hold a tiny bit of significance for us.) His new favorite thing is cruising around the perimeter of rooms. He'll grab onto anything that he can - walls, shelves, chairs, his crib, boxes - whatever can give him a little bit of support. He was doing laps around

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-74747897805401469382011-09-26T11:17:00.000-05:002011-09-26T11:17:47.139-05:00Practicing.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-45396219079637019412011-09-25T22:34:00.005-05:002011-09-26T10:04:28.844-05:00The swings.

Hi. My brother Patrick will not read any of this post because there are TOO MANY WORDS!! My heart has been plagued by homesickness this week. I don't think it's been for any reason in particular, but I've felt a little bit heavy. You know what hasn't helped? Instagram. Seeing all of the pretty NYC photos from friends every day. Or knowing that my really great brother in law is in New York with

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-23905457492724068952011-09-23T22:38:00.001-05:002011-09-23T22:43:27.459-05:00365 Days of Quinn.

A photo a day, for the last 365 days. It's been a good year with Baby Q.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-84336465363704598972011-09-21T14:32:00.001-05:002011-09-21T14:33:23.481-05:00I'd like fried chicken on my donut, please.

I'd go back to Austin just to eat at Gourdough's. Mike informed me last week that I'm prone to hyperbole (really?!), but seriously! This. Place. Was. Amazing. Fried chicken with honey butter on a donut (they call that the Mother Clucker)?! Yes, please. BYU was playing in Austin the other weekend, so we took advantage of the chance to see New York friends (hooray for Robby & Kelsey!) & also to

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-40605928647266641762011-09-20T21:17:00.001-05:002011-09-20T21:25:13.554-05:00Quinn's birthday.

:: friday was q's actual birthday / his party was on Saturday :: we met Erin, Fox & Indie for lunch at Chick-fil-A & made a big, fat, happy mess with three kids, two moms + Grandma & Grandpa :: we played at the park across the street (& are really happy about the location of our house in proximity with the park) :: the cousins played happily together in our furniture-less living room :: Fox & my

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-6840161155795250762011-09-19T23:35:00.008-05:002012-01-24T23:08:02.894-05:00He's one.

He turned one! And besides the part where we unsuccessfully tried to get him to wear the birthday hat (that my mother & I had so carefully crafted the day before), it was such a happy day. A really, really happy day full of lots of people we love & who love our little boy. I have the best intentions of posting more photos later, but Mike is traveling, Q had a little bit of a sad day, & my to do

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-11444144659543294482011-09-14T20:16:00.001-05:002011-09-14T20:19:19.721-05:00Determination.

I will happily be that mother who posts videos of her child's seemingly minuscule accomplishments. Because you know what? They're huge to us! Huge! Our little boy is turning one this week, & I might just have a panic attack because it's all going by so quickly. The experience of watching your own child grow & develop is absolutely indescribable & we promise to always be his biggest cheerleaders.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-73763959501384519752011-09-14T18:02:00.001-05:002011-09-14T18:02:56.517-05:00Q & Dad.

Quinn napped most of the drive home from Austin on Sunday, which explains why his hair looks like it's been crimped in the back. And his legs! I'm glad that they've still got some squish. Why he's not wearing pants... not quite sure. What I do know is this: Quinn loves his dad, as he should. He's a good dad, & a good husband. He's been gone a lot lately (kind of feels like always), but when he's

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-72163423806438062712011-09-13T15:36:00.004-05:002011-09-13T15:38:02.177-05:00Priest Lake 2011.

I don't really even remember when we went to Priest Lake this summer. Was it August? Late July? We've been busy! But how could I not post about our summer tradition at the cabin? It's all kind of a blur, & the details are fuzzy, but what I do remember is that we had a really lovely time & it was so nice to be with my family. Perfect weather, wonderful food, lots of family & no drama (a Hudson

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-5913505161948639592011-09-12T23:20:00.001-05:002011-09-12T23:23:02.168-05:00Book therapy.

Baby is sleeping, husband is traveling, laundry is folded, & as of today, all of my books are finally put away. The nail that kept causing my rear tire to deflate over the past few days has been removed + the tire patched (after surviving 90 minutes at Discount Tire with an almost-1-year-old), & we shared a Spicy Chicken Sandwich at Chick-fil-A for dinner (feel free to nominate me for Mother of

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-52212837551463805762011-09-08T22:52:00.002-05:002011-09-08T22:55:45.409-05:00Do you want to see what tired looks like?

Carpenters working in our home all day long today meant that Quinn didn't get the beauty sleep that he's used to (staple guns & table saws are not conducive to napping - go figure). He's still solidly in the two naps camp, & an early morning wakeup this morning didn't help his situation at all. By 9am this boy looked like he'd been through the third world war. His mood continued throughout the

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-73736700965612346552011-09-07T23:05:00.002-05:002011-09-08T13:54:02.429-05:00See if you can keep up with this complicated drama.

Mama wants some photos of Q. Q isn't happy about this, since Mama is holding Q's favorite toy (in the form of a really large DSLR). Mama gives him the lens cap as a temporary fix, then takes it away to try again. Fail. Mama gives Q keys, since he is obsessed with all things with buttons. Mama takes keys away, & look! There's the angry dimple again. :::: Q has just been funny lately. Like, really

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-39239489478243199192011-09-04T22:20:00.001-05:002011-09-04T22:20:47.647-05:00A Sunday picnic.

A breeze came in this weekend & the temperatures dipped below 90˚ for the first time since we arrived. This morning, this meant that we took advantage. I made a great breakfast (fresh tortillas filled with eggs, cilantro, onion, avocado & cotija cheese!), Q napped & we rested, & then we all went across the street - Q in his pj's - for a quick picnic. We chatted with some neighbors, enjoyed the

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-4771522570786962882011-09-03T09:48:00.002-05:002011-09-03T09:53:04.839-05:00Baby Q loves his Bjorn.

I put Quinn in his Bjorn yesterday for the first time in a few weeks. Oh my goodness, he was the happiest boy you've ever seen! This city boy loves being carried, loves being able to wave at everyone he sees (at his level) & was generally just thrilled to be back in something familiar. The weekend! And a long one, too. We've started a tradition (two weeks in a row!) of doing smoothies +

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-81779909477797855262011-09-01T21:25:00.004-05:002011-09-03T08:59:49.573-05:00Naked babies make everything better.

I'm kind of an emotional wreck. Well, maybe mostly an emotional wreck, & by mostly, I mean I'm keeping things together the majority of the time. I mean, I hadn't cried in probably a week until yesterday, when sweet friend Noelle gave me a beautiful book full of Central Park photos. A lovely gift! So sweet & thoughtful. I'm sure that the photos are beautiful, but every time I try to look at it,

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-90798935870328197802011-08-29T22:11:00.000-05:002011-08-29T22:11:14.363-05:00I'm alone. In the suburbs.

And let me tell you, it's scarier than the city ever was. There is most certainly a gang of very terrible people hanging out in the bushes in our backyard plotting to do very terrible things to me, waiting to bust through the windows when (if!) I walk downstairs. This means that I am still awake, of course. Upstairs. I should be sleeping. The suburbs are scary. But my baby! Look! He's so grown

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-13240337793951611192011-08-29T14:01:00.002-05:002011-08-29T14:01:43.948-05:00(This) Sunday afternoon.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-59808919599554240792011-08-29T11:28:00.001-05:002011-08-29T11:30:19.183-05:00(Last) Sunday.

Our house is still echoing - because it's still basically empty, really. I mean, we have all of our stuff. But our stuff filled up a 650 square foot apartment, not a house. And did I mention that we only moved 8 pieces of furniture? Quinn's crib, dresser & bookshelf. A sofa & a loveseat + an ottoman. And an entertainment center. Wait. That's only seven. See! No wonder our house echos. It's kind

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-22227183643111264352011-08-28T09:32:00.002-05:002011-08-28T20:43:55.444-05:00Ten days in Texas.

Watching Hurricane Irene hit the East Coast has been a strange experience for us - kind of like we're on vacation & all of these things are happening while we're gone, with us fully expecting to hop on a plane & head back home. I've been anxious about my neighborhood & worried about the people we know there. I've been wondering how our doormen could get to work (most of them live an hour away, at

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-65446676336925227432011-08-24T14:12:00.000-05:002011-08-24T14:12:33.742-05:00Snapshots.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-45756079715116520052011-08-23T19:25:00.007-05:002011-08-24T09:10:59.962-05:00We're in Texas.

(Excuse the echo.) We're here & we're alive. A little emotionally unstable maybe, but breathing in & out, & really - doing okay 87% of the time. There's a lot to say, & a lot I'd like to remember, but there's just not a lot of time (or energy) right now. So, until I figure out how to more successfully manage all of the balls that are currently flying up in the air, here's a little snippet of Q

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-29495921540950569572011-08-17T07:10:00.003-05:002011-08-17T07:13:01.536-05:00Q dipped his toes in the ocean.

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (after he'd eaten his breakfast on the beach.)

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-34728682396812848502011-08-12T00:33:00.001-05:002011-08-12T00:36:00.985-05:002,208th post in New York City.

We will have been New Yorkers for 6 years, 2 months & 29 days. That's 2,281 days. Or, in blogger language: 2,208 posts. Quinn will have been a resident New Yorker for the first 333 days of his life. It makes my heart hurt to think about him not growing up here, not remembering his very first friends, & not having the truly unique experience of getting to live here. I'm trying really hard to be

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-59848417153936106692011-08-12T00:04:00.005-05:002011-08-12T00:56:13.749-05:00Piano.

Quinn is really loving his new piano. I just wish it had the tone of a Steinway vs. a Melissa & Doug. He is the sweetest boy. He waves goodbye, loves to give his mama nose kisses, is perfectly happy when we cuddle & read books, & just might skip crawling & go straight to walking (although he's nowhere close to either right now - I'm not worried). He smiles each time I read the opening lines to

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-23361844943686812882011-08-11T09:14:00.001-05:002011-08-11T09:14:23.203-05:00Winding down.

Our last few days in New York. It's sort of crazy. Obviously. Our movers show up in about 23 hours. Were my apartment not a total & complete disaster, it just wouldn't seem real yet. I met up with friends Mary & Lizzie for lunch the other day. Mary was one of my very first friends in the city, & while we don't get to see each other often (she's been in DC, & then California) it is always so

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-32262102095480872382011-08-09T23:14:00.004-05:002011-08-10T17:35:33.181-05:00Q & his first haircut @ Priest Lake.

My mom gave me all of my haircuts for the first decade of my life. Generally, this worked out fairly well, although I did go through a stage of very aggressive bangs. I don't blame her, I blame the 80's. (Oddly enough, I currently have the same haircut that I had when I was four. She was either fashion-forward, or I need a new haircut.) Quinn has had a bit of a party going on in the back for the

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-23302257145342045332011-08-07T23:10:00.002-05:002011-08-07T23:16:58.146-05:00Sunday.

It was humid enough this morning on our walk to church that my lens was all foggy when I pulled out my camera to snap a few photos - of our final walk to church in New York City. I think it made for pretty photos (I just added a teensy bit of a vignette), but I'll admit that the Upper East Side was a little smelly this morning. Maybe because of the humidity. And a few piles of garbage.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-69706932224112590472011-08-02T19:27:00.001-05:002011-08-07T22:45:05.408-05:00Priest Lake 2011.

We're here, & it's really beautiful & lovely to be with our family. My dad mentioned the other day that Quinn is the third generation to come to Priest Lake, & I really like that. He obviously does, too. Look at his face! His first swim was chilly, but he was happy. And this boy! He has four teeth. Four! And besides the fact that sleeping at the cabin isn't his favorite thing unless his mama is

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-84564687702289793732011-07-27T19:31:00.001-05:002011-07-27T19:32:43.686-05:00I can totally relate, baby Q.

We're really busy, a lot stressed out, a little bit cranky (all of us) & having a hard time getting over jet lag (Q). But I'm grateful for things, so let's talk about them: Good friends who share really great advice. The close date on our home getting pushed up (!!). Rare opportunities to do some really fun things this summer. Seeing my family in just a few days at Priest Lake, the greatest

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-48052112633299061612011-07-25T02:22:00.001-05:002011-07-25T02:24:33.513-05:00Hi, blog.

We're home. New York greeted us with the worst heat wave in who knows how long, but we're happy to be here with our air conditioning blasting nonetheless. On the last night of our trip, I woke up & proceeded to just stare at the ceiling for the few lovely hours between 3 & 5am. Racing thoughts, heart palpitations, & the feeling of a big giant hole being burned through my stomach. I think that

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08162418985320044558noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-80350457116061161302011-07-11T16:45:00.003-05:002011-12-21T13:25:58.325-05:00We went to St. Thomas.

In May. (oops) It was beautiful &we had a really fun time with my mom & dad. And someday, I'm going to write about how Quinn was scared of the water but then my mom talked him into it, & how he loved getting to spend so much time with Grandma & Grandpa, & how we ate really yummy shakes up in the mountains, took the ferry to St. John, had a really fabulous + fancy dinner & just relaxed - until

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-18819968389315597292011-07-11T16:39:00.002-05:002011-07-11T16:46:06.526-05:00We went to St. Thomas Part II.

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19221788.post-87512959918244151222011-07-11T15:38:00.001-05:002011-07-11T15:39:15.896-05:00Why we love Priest Lake.

My brother Patrick made this amazing, amazing video from when most of my family was at the lake last week. It sums up why I love my crazy family so much & why we love being together at Priest Lake. If you can't watch all fourteen minutes, start from minute 13. I'm pretty certain that Quinn will love Priest Lake as much as Haidyn does. Cannot wait to be there in a few weeks (although I'm trying

k.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09385675355709916783noreply@blogger.com1