Showing posts with label Leighton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leighton. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Top Ten






I think it's about time I share a little more about myself. Anne from The Hills are Alive shared a top 10 and I loved it. With all the new followers (love you!) let's get to know each other more.

Top Ten 

1. Morning cuddle sessions with the girls
2. Trenta green tea lemonades
3. Dancing with Leighton
4. Finding new places to eat out
5. Maxi dresses
6. Couponing at Target
7. Fresh flowers
8. Beautiful lighting, especially through my back window
9. Saturday morning piyo workouts
10. Front door wreaths

Just a few more because who only has 10 in their top?

The way Emersyn sucks her fingers, Kaden coming home early, Everything gold and The smell of spring.

Now its your turn, post it, insta it, or comment it, and tag me I want to get to know you too! Seriously lets become online besties please?




Saturday, April 19, 2014

The Meaning of Easter

This past week I have been trying to get Leighton into the Easter spirit. We had so much fun with egg hunts, an Easter party, and dyeing eggs. If any holiday would be her favorite, it would be Easter. Ever since this girl was little she has had an obsession with eggs. Getting to play with them and find them has been a dream come true. We might just end up doing egg activities for the rest of the year. P.S. I totally made that adorable gold egg shirt she has on. I am serious when i say we were in the hippity hoppity easter bunnyrific spirit.






I was so excited for all the holiday eggcitement that i didn't spend much time talking to her about the real meaning of Easter at all. Okay to be honest i didn't spend anytime talking about it. Sarah challenged me in her last letter to do the #becauseofhim on instagram, which i did and I loved my small moments i took each day to reflect on all that i have been blessed with because of the savior.

Last night i laid in bed and thought about what i wanted to post about Easter. What it really meant to me, what spending all this time with the girls means, and why we celebrate this blessed holiday. I really lost sight of what is important, not that dying ombre eggs and dipping strawberries to look like carrots isn't...but the resurrection of Jesus Christ just is so much more. This holiday is really about our savior and that he died for us and lived again. I am somewhat amazed at how there are two huge holidays devoted to a man that not everyone believes in but almost everyone seems to celebrate. How wonderful is the message that seems to be hiding along with all those eggs? 

If you have not seen this movie yet, provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, then please watch it. I could not describe in a better way what is real and possible because of this man and his actions that we celebrate on this Easter Sunday.




Thursday, April 17, 2014

Another Year At The Fair

I have probably posted about the fair every year since i started this blog. Obviously it is a mandatory event if you grew up in Moapa Valley and still live somewhat close to home. In the past it had always been kind of like a town reunion, it was fun to go and run into people from high school and play the quick catch up game. Now it is fun to go and explore all the new and exciting things with my girls. 





To say Leighton was in heaven would be an understatement. The fair is made for kids like her, the adventurous, animal loving, don't care if they are dirty but want to wear a denim dress type. I am now convinced we should live on a farm to properly raise this girl. She would always be entertained if we had chickens, goats, pigs and horses around for her to chase and take care of. 




Poor Emersyn got a little neglected (doesn't she always) since i was so busy chasing Leighton around. But I think she still enjoyed a change of scenery and all the people watching she did. 



Experiences like these are what make small town life so appealing. That and the fact that Kaden and I enjoyed the rural activities we were involved in growing up. For now i am happy with where we are and the life we are living. Spending time as a family, really is what is most important. 

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Sunshine and Smiles

The Sun finally decided to grace us with its presents and not only has it been bright and sunny, but it has been warm too. I feel like all this nice weather deserves one big happy dance. Luckily Leighton agreed and spent the afternoon dancing away in the backyard. 



Its amazing how good a little sunshine is for the soul. Last week i started feeling really down on myself and couldn't seem to shake the creeping depressed feelings that were coming over me. Luckily Monday came with a big yellow circle in the sky, a morning run, lots of positive instagram posts and most importantly happy baby smiles. It was a great recipe for some serious low self worth blues. I am not exactly sure why i have felt this way lately but i really am glad that this week has been so much better. 


I love the feeling of sunshine on my face, the sound of the girls laughing, and the sight of my beautiful daughters enjoying  a bright and sunny day. I hope this weather stays, i hope my positive mood stays (im trying very hard to keep it) and i hope my girls never stop smiling. 

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Motherly Advice {Love More}

Earlier this week a friend told me how horrible she felt for snapping at her daughter. I had to Laugh, has she ever met Leighton? The poor girl gets snapped at daily. Honestly we are lucky if I don't shut myself away for a moment so I don't throw her across the room. 


I told her welcome to the club of Toddler moms and didn't think much of it. Until last night. I cuddled with Leighton and thought for a long time about the difference in Leightons good days and bad. I thought about  how i compare my children and its not fare that i do. Then i thought about how Kaden and I feel about our place within our families. 


I hate to admit it, but it hit me like a ton of bricks. I just need to love more. Both of my babies are loving  and sweet, just in different ways. To communicate with Leighton successfully i need to do it in a loving manor, but in a way that she considers loving, not me. I really need to read Love Language book again and figure out exactly what hers are. But for now Instead of being angry or fighting with her, I am going to work on teaching her and letting her know how absolutely loved she is. 


This doesnt only work for toddlers going through their terrible twos though, love is something everyone wants to feel. Maybe your having a rough time with your spouse, a sibling, or friend. Just make sure they know how much you love them. It never hurts to love more.

Monday, March 31, 2014

Two.


Two is kind of a magical word. Leighton is a very free spirited little girl and when people would ask how old she was they would give me an odd look whenever i said 18 months, or 22 months. Now when i say she is 2, i get a look of understanding and empathy all at the same time. Magic i tell you.


Life would not be half as exciting as it is, with out this wild child in our home. I don't even know how to describe the feelings i have about her being another year older already. She is exploding with words, both real and made up. She loves to be big and loud. She is one of those children that just sucks up attention and demands it. Although she can be very overwhelming you can't help but love her. The second this girl gets tired she wants mom or dad or mamma or dada or laura or daddy. (yes, she calls me laura) I wish the world for this girl. I hope that as she grows she learn how to be a good friend and great sister. I hope she can feel how adored she is and more than that, how loved she is.


Leighton's favorite things consist of the movie frozen, her Anna doll, purses, dresses, freshly picked moccs, boots, and the park. She has became a very picky eater but will eat basically anything for Grandma Nancy. She still hasn't given up her bottle, but we are working on it, as well as potty training. Her favorite animal is fish or bish as she says it. Leighton loves to spend time with her family, visiting Grandma Nancy's is the high light of her week and getting spoiled by Auntie May May is something she is missing already since Sarah left on her mission last week. Papa is one of her best friends, she has always been close with my dad and lights up the second she knows we are visiting him or he walks into our home.


I am excited for this year, to watch Leighton accomplish all of the new milestones that she is heading towards. But i am so sad that my baby is a toddler and growing so quickly. Leighton has kept us on our toes since day one so there is no reason this year wont be any different. We love her so much. We honestly can't imagine her being any different than she is and we truly feel blessed to have such a beautiful, curious, and high maintenance two year old.



Thursday, March 20, 2014

Life is Beautiful

As I stood in my living room this afternoon, bouncing Emersyn to sleep I felt overwhelmed with a feeling of comfort. For that brief moment I knew I was doing exactly what I am meant to do.

Ever since I returned home from Nashville I have felt a little lost and out of place. Camille and I decided that it was best if she was the sole owner of the store. I am happy with the decision we made but it doesn't make it any easier. For the past year it has been all I have thought about, worked on and dreamed of. I even forgot I was pregnant because I was so focused on the store. What an adventure the past year has been. I have grown in ways i never knew i could and learned so many things that will help me in any direction i decide to go from here.


Since we won't be moving I feel a need to really find my place here in Utah. To make friends and feel at home with where we are. Hopefully this will be easy for me. I have started planning a redo of our entire house. Last year we spent several months making it ready to sell, now I'm going to take time to make it a place we would like to live.

I am dreaming of new endeavors, planning big things for our future and truly focusing on the two sweet spirits I am blessed to call my daughters. Every day has seemed special and like something was missing at the same time. In my quiet moment earlier i realized for the first time that i didnt feel a need to check my pocket for the store phone. Simple, yet comforting. I have the opportunity to be a mother. I have always wanted to be successful in whatever profession i ended up in. I never only wanted to be a mom. Now i can see how much i misunderstood the role of a mother and how getting to only be a mom is one of the greatest blessings any woman can be given.

Devoting my time to my home, my husband and my daughters is fulfilling. It is not always easy. I need a lot of practice in it. But being home and completely focused on my family truly allows me to see just how beautiful life really is. 

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Winter Break

December 20- December 31

Lived

- To start off I forgot to mention Leightons trip to the ER in my last post. It was so sad seeing her sick but it really was so sweet too. She is such a lover when she doesn't feel well. We took her in because she had such a high fever and luckily it was just an ear infection. Poor girl is on for it, Kaden and I both have always had them.
 




- Leighton, Tiffany and I packed up and headed to the Valley while Kaden and Sarah were in the Dominican Republic. Most of my time was spent working and Leighton kept busy playing.



Leighton is quite the little helper.




- We were so excited for Kaden to get home that I took Leighton with me to pick him up. Even at 11:30 at night Leighton lit up when she saw him.

- Christmas was perfect. Having Leighton here to celebrate the holidays made them feel more special than ever. She completes our family and fills our hearts with more love than I could have ever imagined. Of course we were all spoiled this year (like always). I got an iPad and a camera bag. Kaden got a laptop and a camera and Leighton got tons of toys and lots of clothes.

Leighton loves her uncle Luke,


all of her new toys,
and catching up on sleep.

- We were so lucky to spend the night with Camille and Alex in Las Vegas. We hadn't seen them since the wedding and enjoyed catching up. We ate yummy food, stayed in amazing rooms and caught up on each others lives.

best chocolates ever! Thank you Alex and Camille!

-Cami and Alex's wedding was featured on OnceWed and pinned by Nordstrom. How cool is that!?


- Kaden had to work New Years eve and I was scheduled to do some photos in the valley so Leighton and i  packed up once again for a quick trip. My session was canceled so we ended up spending the afternoon with my sisters and mom. It was nice to get out of the house and do something. We went to the movies and saw Parental Guidance. It was a pretty funny and cute movie and Leighton sat through almost the entire thing. The best part was how cool we were before the movie. We tend to embarrass my mom.


We were trying to prove to Katie that we could kick as high as her face. Sarah looks like quite the bad A. 
{Best part is when sarah said post that and say coming to a theater near you. I almost died laughing because we were actually in a movie theater. She didnt get it.}


Learned

- I found out that I can graduate in the spring. Uh to be done with school or continue with another year? That is my debate at the moment. I am pretty sure that I will be officially graduating this May.

- In the past couple of weeks I learned that a week away from Kaden is way too long, Leighton is growing up way too fast, and I am looking forward to all of the adventures that next year holds. This past year I learned so much that i don't even know where to begin. I have learned what it is to love, to be a mother and to really be busy. I think i will write a  post just for the new year though so i wont go into much detail.

Loved

- I loved visiting sweet baby Mia the day after she was born. Holding a baby fresh from heaven really is a spiritual experience. Courtney and Eric were so sweet to invite me to the hospital to see their beautiful daughter. Taking Mia's pictures made me melt. I hope that I will have the opportunity to do more newborn pictures and that I can start doing birth sessions too.





- I loved welcoming Kaden home from the Dominican, listening to his stories about his trip, and watching him play with Leighton. I loved celebrating Christmas with our families and enjoying Leighton's first holidays. So many sweet moments were shared between Kaden, Leighton and I. It is amazing how beautiful life really is right now. Some times i sit in awe of how truly blessed i am and wonder what i ever did to deserve such a charmed life.