An Afternoon at the Pumpkin Patch

This weekend Ryan was out of town so my sweet sister Brooke & my mom (Nanny with 3 exclamation marks if Navy is saying it ;) spent the weekend with us. There's just nothing like having family come out and visit at our new place, especially as we're still processing moving away from so much and so many that we loved. 

We explored our town, ate out, took long country drives, watched lots of movies and smiled constantly at Navy being a big girl all weekend...conversations a'plenty, the start of potty training, SO many bubble baths, gymnastics all over the house and the sweetest little toddler sentences taking all of us off guard at the cutest moments. 

We wrapped up the weekend with a visit to a local pumpkin patch and had the BEST time. There's just something about watching a toddler take in the wonder of a new experience; relishing the sights, sounds, textures and newness. Sure forces you to slow down and focus on being present. Hard to do feeling as very pregnant and tired as I do while running after my wild little girl, but am I ever grateful when I manage to. Always seems to feel like the most peaceful pause in the midst of chaos and a moment of total clarity towards what really matters. 

Doing my best to soak up this precious time with her as my only. Baby sister will be here in a month or so and I know the greatest new adventure awaits us. Still, I can't help but feel a bit wistful and emotional over closing this chapter with her as our only. Her joining our family and showing us the unparalleled joy that parenting can bring....well, adequate words escape me. I'm just so incredibly grateful and humbled ..... and tired ;)....but more than anything, so. beyond. grateful. 

Our Weekend

These pictures are from last weekend when Ryan and Lincoln woke up at the crack of dawn on Sunday to help me practice for my manual photography assignment. A couple things about this. If these two aren't the cutest, I don't know who is. And two, I can't believe this is where we live! I snapped these pics on the hill above our home…literally two minutes from our front door. Daily, I'm amazed at the beauty we're surrounded by. So grateful we chose to move. The months of waiting were definitely worth it. And since my trigger finger went unexpectedly dormant this weekend, these two cuties and this stunning backdrop will have to serve as photo placeholders while a gab about our most recent weekend. 

My mom and I spent the last week and a half madly prepping for a convention we were accepted to last minute for our small business. It was wonderful to be able to go (thanks to a couple spaces opening up) after we had been told the event was full this year. But yikes, did we ever have a lot of prep to get done! By the time we hit the road at 5am on Friday morning, we were already exhausted. But you know what? Once we were driving, coffees in hand, we forgot how tired we were and realized how fun it was to be on the road doing something different. We had a fantastic time. Learned a lot, left inspired with new ideas for our business and enjoyed a mother/daughter sleepover: a rare treat once you've flown the nest!

We got back late on Saturday night and I slept like a baby, let me tell you. That really good kind of sleep you can only get once you've moved past feeling tired and are more delirious than anything else. 

Sunday was just perfect. Leisurely through and through. Lincoln and I snuck away early in the morning to catch breakfast with Crystal and a walk with her two pups, Lincoln's best buds, Roman and Eli. We reconnected with Ryan around noon for lunch and a few errands before settling down for a movie marathon and pineapple feast. An unreasonable amount of pineapple was consumed I'm proud to say. It was both delicious and kinda burnt our tongues. A sure sign of the best pineapple you ever did have. Also a sure sign of a Sunday well spent :)

our weekend

Our weekend was a good one. Ryan had Saturday off as well as his usual Sunday, oh sweet happy day.  The elusive two day weekend is a rarity, so Lincoln and I were sure to lap up our time with Ryan like the fools in love we are ;) 

We continued to unpack odds and ends around the house, had dinner with the family one night, enjoyed our gustiest walk yet on the ridge near our place and crushed the first season of Downton Abbey. O my gracious. I can't believe we're so late to this party! I mean I've heard other people talking about it from time to time, but never thought it was something we'd enjoy. Lets just say we've learned the error of our ways and made up for it, as we've been known to do, with a episode marathon of epic proportions this past Sunday. 

Hoping you had a great weekend and that your week is off to a great start! Happy Tuesday friends!

Our Weekend

Our weekend was a leisurely recovery from Christmas festivities. Ryan was home both Saturday and Sunday, which was such a treat! We shopped a fair bit with all our Christmas gift cards (thank you friends and family!) but relaxed more than anything. A particular highlight for me was a Sunday morning walk with Lincoln and Ryan over the bridge and into our new community. 

As I scroll through so many of my blog posts this past year, I'm often overwhelmed by how many pictures I have of us walking Lincoln. I often laugh, wondering if I did anything else this year. I kid, of course. But it just so happens those walks happen to have produced the prettier pictures I've taken this year :) Therefore, they get the most screen time. And while this year has been massive for us in terms of change and positive forward motion, one of the distinctly beautiful changes I've witnessed in our little family has been an increase in our activity and time spent outside in this beautiful country of ours…all thanks to this dream of a pup who has most certainly changed our lives for the better. 2013 will be remembered for many important and valuable things, several of which I intend to write about soon in a year recap post. However most notably, perhaps, 2013 will be remembered as the year we were blessed with the dog of our dreams and all the quality family time, laughter, outdoor adventure and learning experiences he brought with him. 

The happiest of new years to you friends! May 2014 be brimming with health, happiness and personal growth ♡

Our Weekend

On Saturday I enjoyed a very Christmasy drive out to see Ryan at work. I met several of his coworkers and got a tour of the new dealership. It was so fun! After our little tour, we stepped out to grab lunch at Five Guys and O my.  I'm not typically and burger and fries girl, but Five Guys? I crave that place! Favourite burger and fries stop at the moment, for sure!

Sunday was low key with Ryan and Lincoln. Before and after church we enjoyed some time visiting with my mom. Two Starbucks before noon? I'll take it! It's Christmas after all ;) After visiting with my mom, second Starbucks in hand, we stopped in at several Best Buy's to purchase TV's for a giveaway Ryan's doing at work. Once the jeep was bursting with TV's, we headed home to play with the pup and settle in for what is becoming our Sunday routine: the movie marathon. 

Like so many days lately, it's honestly too cold to head down to the park and stay for a reasonable amount of time. So yesterday, we decided to make the most out of the lovely yard we have here at the cabin and play in snow! It was FREEZING, but so fun. Just what Lincoln needed to sleep soundly through our movie fest. 

And now it's Christmas! We're looking forward seeing both our families over the next several days. Hoping you're able to do the same!