MOTHER'S DAY GIFTS: THE OLDEST

For Mother's Day, my kids gifted me with different experiences to do one-on-one. When I saw that my oldest wanted to go paddle boarding together, I saw an opportunity to go on an adventure that I had been wanting to do for a couple of years: paddle boarding Lake Powell into Antelope Canyon. The mr. and I did this for our 10th anniversary, but we were novices and had zero idea what we were doing (nor did we make it all the way through the canyon to dry ground). Now that I've been on nearly 100 paddles, I figured this adventure would be easy peasy. AND I had a 13 year old up for the challenge. Needless to say, we got a little in over our heads with the wind and the wakes. But WE DID IT! And we lived to tell the tale. After a solid night's sleep, we took advantage of the location and hiked Lower Antelope Canyon before hitting Horseshoe Bend on our drive home. So many memories in such a short period of time. 

LET'S GOGH

Art has been a MASSIVE part of my life since as long as I can remember. And when I saw ads on Instagram for the Van Gogh Immersive Experience, I knew that - at SOME point - I needed to go. So we went for our anniversary. The music and digitization of some of Van Gogh's works made it an awesome and emotional experience. But maybe not quite as awesome because of the steep ticket price...

FIFTEEN YEARS

6.2.2007.

FIFTEEN YEARS. 

I cannot even put into words what it feels like to hit this milestone. The most prevalent feeling is HOW? How has it simultaneously felt like we’ve always been together while also feeling as if we’ve blinked and made it here? How did I know fifteen years ago, at the age of 21, that I picked someone so good and so pure without having known him for more than a couple of months? How have we weathered so much together - with kids and with my faith - without it ever really feeling like a storm? But then I look at him and I just KNOW. I know that he is the right in my world. That he is what holds me together when I am falling apart. I know that he gives and gives and gives of himself in so many ways - no. In EVERY way. And I know he makes me whole. I look back on this picture and smile at the nerdy, skinny boy that he used to be. How most of the time he was awkward and timid at every step of the way. But then I look at him now and all I see is his confidence, love, and dedication. And I fall apart in all of the good ways. He is too good for me and I’m grateful for him every. single. day.

365.5: WEEK TWENTY TWO

 MAY 30th - JUNE 5th

Pool party and homemade ice cream with cousins. First day of [three different] summer camps. Summer library visits. Eleven year old shots (that he stressed WAAAAAY too much over). Trying to take anniversary pictures (but having togo with a back-up plan). A back-up plan to the back-up plan. Enjoying the Van Gogh exhibit in Scottsdale. Paddling the Salt (and spotting 76 wild horses). Fitting into (and zipping up!) my wedding dress after 15 years!  

SHOW LOW

 A few weeks back, my SIL approached me about a weekend trip up north for her birthday. When our first idea fell through, we were able to come up with a back-up plan that landed us at a cabin with a couple of her friends in Show Low. I ended up taking significantly less photos than I had anticipated, but that's okay because these are the real gems, anyway...

365.5: WEEK TWENTY ONE

MAY 23rd - MAY 29th

Enjoying treats at Disneyland. Happy Meals before an afternoon flight home. Piano recital for the littlest. Stake kickball. Watching our niece's/cousin's graduation from home. Shenanigans in Show Low.