september in an instant

We spent September recuperating from our August adventures. The girls settled into new school routines (2nd grade! Preschool!) and we added some extra curriculars. Ryan traveled for work. We geared up for our 2nd annual Team Leah Bean virtual 5k. And we traveled to the Big House to cheer on our Cougars (but apparently didn't cheer loud enough for them to score any points). 

Fall is in the air, we're back into our routines and it feels good. 

Thinking warm thoughts

Today it was cold. 

Really, really cold. 

So cold school was cancelled for fear of children getting frostbite for being outside for less than five minutes. 

So, naturally, we donned our swimsuits, filled the tub and thought warm thoughts. 

There's a chance I also said a prayer that I will survive this winter. 

P.S. Don't you love Leah's new haircut!? Three cheers for tangle-free mornings!

Utah: Provo

After living away from Utah for 8 years now, I will say that one of the things I miss the very most about the Salt Lake Valley is the mountains. Every time I go back, I always find myself caught off guard again by their breathtaking beauty. Each place we have lived is beautiful in its own way, but these mountains are really magnificent.

When we lived in Provo, I always wanted to hike Y Mountain, and for some reason I never did. Neither did Ryan. I lived there for SEVEN years and never took the opportunity. Its been on my to-do list for a few of my recent trips back, but has never happened. This time, we had a spare morning and a babysitter, so we took advantage. 

It's definitely a hike, but on a well-groomed trail made up of about 10 switch backs. We started out before the sun had peaked over the mountain and about a half hour later, we reached our destination. We cruised past a few youth groups, which made both of us feel pretty good! We sat at the top taking in the view, pointing out various buildings on campus, old apartment complexes we lived in, landmarks in the valley and just some memories of our years there. It was such a fun morning relaxing with Ryan and thinking of a very different chapter of our lives. 

After we descended the mountain, we headed to campus to walk around for a bit. We picked up some goodies in the Bookstore (which is now just the BYU Store, apparently?) and stopped by the Counseling Center to see my old office. Most of the counselors were away at a conference, but one of my very favorites, Jim Burton, was at the front desk when we walked in. He happened to have an hour free (I'm pretty sure it was his lunch break), but he was so wonderful to spend it with me and Ryan. We sat in his office for an hour and just chatted. I think I've said it before, but I'll say it again: When I grow up, I want to be more like Jim Burton. He is one of the happiest, most genuine, healthiest and most thoughtful individuals I have ever met in my life. I always walk away uplifted after I have spent time with him and I'm so glad he was available!

After we finished on campus, we headed to Los Hermanos to have lunch with Carl, one of Ryan's good friends and co-workers from college. It was really great to see him again as well. 

After the boys ate lunch, we drove to Waffle Love for me to have my lunch! I had heard really great things about it and wanted to try it out! It was worth it. Super rich and filling, but I will definitely go back! 

It was a quick but fulfilling morning in Provo and so much fun to revisit the place and remember a time where Ryan and I met. 

backyard

When we moved into our house last summer, we were thrilled to have a backyard all to ourselves. Ryan and I have never lived in a house before, let alone one with real estate that is meant for just us. The flower beds were renter-proofed (filled with rocks) and the lawn had seen better days. The first day we went outside to relax in it, we rested in weeds, bugs and rough, pokey grass. 

The yard was a lot of work throughout the fall and winter what with our three large maple trees (and their leaves and roots), but the big hill in back proved to be perfect for sledding (those four days that there was sufficient snow and the temperatures weren't frost-bite worthy).

As spring arrived and the sun showed its face, we decided we really wanted to enjoy the yard this summer. So, we invested in some lawn care for the bugs, weeds and overall roughness (and it's working!). Ryan enjoys his weekly workout pushing the lawnmower up the uphills and trying to keep up with it on the downs (still wearing those incredible shoes!). 

We purchased a box from Target and turned it from this:

to this:

Then another box and turned it from this:

to this:

Then we dusted off the special needs swing seat we purchased on Amazon a few years ago (knowing we couldn't pass up the price and that we would have a swing set one day!). You should have heard the giggles.

Swinging sisters are the best. 

We removed the infested grill that previously protruded from the middle of the deck (and had since probably 1970), added a rug so we wouldn't contract any diseases from the splinters that would have inevitably lodged themselves in the bottoms of our feet, and were gifted some chairs, where Kate happily tested her first Popsicle (a bold move by mom as Kate was wearing white pants...but she did surprisingly well!). 

I think project enjoy-your-backyard is off to a good start.