happy list.

this post started out being about how completely exhausted i am and how i have no energy to do anything. we've been sleep training kendall for almost two weeks now and i am so tired. her room shares a wall with us so when she's crying, i'm awake. i definitely am the epitome of mombie these days. 

but this post quickly turned 'love list' as i started thinking more on the positive side of things. you know i love a good list, and coming up with it made me so happy it almost brought me out of my mombie state. almost.

1. these girls.

every day they try my patience, they push me to my limits, but man do they love me. and i love them back even more. i read somewhere once that as a mother of young children, we will never be more needed and loved in our lifetime. i feel this on a daily basis. the way their faces light up when i walk into the room. the way they snuggle up to me (or let's be honest, right on top of me) whenever i sit down to take a break. i love being loved. 

2. GNO (girls night out).

i have been blessed to make some of the most genuinely awesome friends in the last couple of months and i really don't know what i would do without them. since february, we have planned to have a girls' night once a month and they have been something that i look forward to literally all month. last night our girls night consisted of sweats, yummy treats, a movie, chatting, sparkly toes, super cheesy personalized sparkly cups provided by yours truly, and hanging out until almost midnight. i needed this refresher more than i thought i did. it always seems to be that way. i can't wait until next month!

3. salads.

this one might surprise those closest to me because i've never been a huge salad lover, especially as a main course. but lately, i can't get enough. for dinner last night i made a caribbean one of sorts and it totally hit the spot. that avocado and pico de gallo mixed... mmm!

4. kendall's growing independence. 

which also brings out more and more of her personality every day. she fits into our family perfectly and we couldn't imagine life without her. she is a character and oh so sweet. she has a temper that fires quickly, but she melts us with her squishy faced smile. and even though it breaks my heart that she's growing up so fast, i can't help but love every second of it.

i have a hand full of other things that totally make this list, but like i said, i'm tired. hopefully i can get a nap today and maaaaybe finish this list later. 

h a p p y  almost  f r i d a y  !

happy list.

things that made me happy today:

1. this little one sleeping in her big girl bed. blows my mind how big she looks.

2. eating breakfast with her and having a nice slow morning.

3. putting fresh clean sheets on my bed.

4. a quick visit from my parents. brooklyn was so happy to see them.

5. a nice organized freezer, thanks to my husband. like i've said before, he's much better at organizing than i am.

6. folding brooklyn's pants, shirts, and jammies and feeling overwhelmingly grateful to be a mother.

7. fresh flowers from my husband. before we walked in the door, he pulled a single tulip out for brooklyn so that she could have her very own. i think it's safe to say that flowers make her just as happy as they do her mama.

8. not having to make dinner. james did it all.

9. ending our family night with a shake (cookie dough & brownie) in the front seat of the car. i loved it. the shake was awesome too.

happy list.

here's my happy list on this bright snowy friday.

1. this girl who wanted so badly to 'stretch' her own scone for dinner last night. she was beaming with pride.

2. homemade dulce de leche. i've wanted to try this forever, and i finally did. it is delish over ice cream. recipe here. 

3. my husband making his side of the bed before he goes to work (and i'm still sleeping in the other half). he's been doing this for a few weeks and it always makes me smile.

4. feeling this baby's kicks and wiggles in the early morning hours. i love it. i felt her move from the outside for the first time this week. so exciting!

5. my feral watch. it's brand spankin' new and i haven't worn it out of the house yet. around the house with the stopper still in it, you bet.

6. the olympics! we love the olympics at our house and we always try and watch as much of it as we can. we watched events last night and are looking forward to the opening ceremonies tonight.

7. i finished the Book of Mormon this morning! only 2 days early, but i'm so excited and i always feel so happy after i finish it again. 

8. this article. i loved every single bit of it!

h a p p y  w e e k e n d i n g 

my first happy list here and another one here.

my happy list...

just a few things that made me smile today...

snail mail - that little box from target was FREE

this mug...

my wreath on the door...

my new boots...

this guy...

not pictured...

surviving my dentist appointment

zumba with chelsea

and a nice long nap for brooklyn.

the small things really really can just make my day. i'm sure there were plenty more, but my body is exhausted from a bum kickin time at zumba and i can't keep my eyes open any longer!

the saddest thing about today...



those boots up there,

i wore them for 3 hours,

and,

they started chipping.

chipping i tell you.

i returned them...


and i was sad.

but i guess i can be happy to be on the hunt for boots again. that's always fun right?! right???

things that made me...

happy... on a monday:

1. a healthy baby. (i honestly am grateful for this every day she wakes up without a fever/cough/etc)

2. episode 4 of downton.

3. brooklyn crunching leaves with her little white tennis shoes. ok. obsessively crunching those leaves.

4. picking out my crafts for a super fun relief society activity coming up in a few weeks.

5. a 3 mile run.

6. the gorgeous gorgeous weather.

and now, 

a repeat picture of brooklyn. i just had to share it again. it was so funny to see her react to seeing president monson on the tv screen. 

The happy list

Yesterday my SIL and I were emailing back and forth, something we do during the week, and we got talking about lists. Making lists. Lists lists lists, and how happy they make us. I make lists for almost everything, even if it doesn't need one. I just think they're great. I like things pretty and organized and that's what lists are to me. So it got me thinking... why not make a "Happy List": a list of things that make me happy. And maybe just a list of things that make me happy right now, this instant. So here you go folks, my happy list, for today. And some pictures from our day yesterday.

 (loves the green smoothie, seriously, she ate almost a 1/4 of mine)

1. it's Friday.

2. we're going to Cokeville tomorrow for Memorial Day!

3. Cokeville means: lots of family!

4. my new eye liner brush. seriously. it makes a world of difference.

5. Brooklyn's non stop chatter. That girl can talk.

6. knowing that the library is going to call me any minute to tell me my book is ready for me to take home and devour.

7. the cake plate on my table.

8. One Direction's song, One Thing.

9. Brooklyn's dance moves to One Thing.

10. knowing James is at work working hard for us. 

11. knowing James will come home from work and BE HOME until Tuesday morning.

12. this orange-sicle treat I'm slurping right this instant.

13. ALL pools will be open by the time I'm back in Utah (Cokeville's in Wyoming guys).

14. swimming. swimming. swimming.

15. pool side. pool side. pool side.

16. this list :)

(the swimming got me side tracked and now that's all I can think about!)

 (enjoying the rice krispy making spoon)

 (James in his half work clothes-half lounging clothes outfit)

(she wanted to be outside all afternoon AND evening)

Have a lovely and safe weekend. I know I will. I'll be with people I love and eating delicious delicious food. I can't wait!