Every year, we try to make it downtown to see the lights on Temple Square. We managed to squeeze it in just before New Years &, as always, it did not disappoint!









Every year, we try to make it downtown to see the lights on Temple Square. We managed to squeeze it in just before New Years &, as always, it did not disappoint!









When Clint told me his work was taking us to Seattle this year, I was beyond excited! We’ve always wanted to go, but haven’t been able to make it happen. You see, Clint grew up outside of Seattle in Gig Harbor & he hasn’t been back since he was 11, so going back & having the chance to explore his childhood neighborhood was incredible.
We had SO much food. Really… Too many calories to count, but totally worth it. Some of our favorites were:


A couple years ago, we decided that every year we would make it out to Clint’s parents. No matter what. It’s our favorite place to kick back, relax, enjoy our family & fish, fish, fish!
Hayes loved exploring & having (mostly) free reign on the farm.
It’s hard to be home, but it was an amazing 2 weeks that we will never forget.
BEWARE: So much Hayes cuteness ahead.
Continue reading “Missouri 2017”
Clint has been working dang hard this summer, & when we finally had a chance a couple weeks ago for a full day of fun, we took advantage! We chose a very cool day to go to the zoo… NOT. It was a whopping 95 degrees. Hayes lasted about 10 minutes out of his stroller before he was overheated & exhausted. We all agreed that we were in desperate need of a cool down at the pool. & So, after nap time, we put a cap on this awesome day with some swimming!
Our 4th was perfection. We ate delicious food at our Uncle Bret’s house & went to the West Jordan fireworks. A friend saved us a spot right underneath the action & it was beautiful.
Hayes spent the majority of the time throwing anything he could find while he was “trapped” in his stroller. He was relatively unfazed by the fireworks & would glance every few booms or so. He cracks me up.
This was the first time back to the pool since the accident. I was so nervous about being near water again. To be honest, I still am. Hayes was being more cautious than normal, which helped this anxious momma.
At the end of the day, he had a blast & I’m grateful we went back. He loved playing with his cousins & running where he shouldn’t be.
Every year, we have a family reunion/get-together at the farm.
I LOVED visiting the farm when I was a young girl. We would build tunnels through the cottonseed, let the new calves suck on our fingers, play on the waterslide for hours, eat dang good food, & just make so many fun memories!
Here’s a little peek into the barn where calves are born (there are 30 calves born a day!) & the dairy barn, where all the milk magic happens 🙂

We had a bit of a scare at the pool today.
Hayes was so content playing on his favorite stairs. I turned my back for maybe 20 seconds to make sure that my diaper bag & stroller were okay & Hayes took off.
He was gone.
I searched frantically for what seemed like minutes (though it was probably 45 seconds tops). I alerted the nearest lifeguard & every other lifeguard as I quickly made my way to the other one place I knew he would go.
The beach pool.
I look out in the middle & there is Hayes. Face down & writhing. I ran, splashed, dove & lifted him from the water as he grasped onto me & cried. Desperate for air. He was breathing, but clearly frantic & traumatized.
As lifeguards & other moms surrounded me, I felt the spirit so strongly that everything would be okay. As they checked Hayes to make sure he was responding well, one mom in particular hugged me & said every perfect word that I needed to hear. I wish I knew her name & could tell her thank you a million times over. That one thank you & hug wasn’t enough.
Hayes barfed all over me (not the first time that has happened) & was responsive & back to normal within 10 minutes. Although he wanted to cling on to me & hold me longer than he normally would. I’m grateful for that because this distraught, hot mess of a momma needed those extra cuddles today. He is my world.
The staff at Cowabunga were so kind & reliable. They made sure that I was emotionally okay (I wasn’t & I’m still not, but I will be). I’m grateful for the moms who came to check on Hayes. They & the Cowabunga staff gave me words of advice that I plan to fully put into action.
Hayes is doing well, he doesn’t have any signs of secondary drowning as of right now. Believe me, I am monitoring him very closely.
I’ve learned quite a few valuable lessons today. That Hayes is much like his daddy! He fearlessly loves water & he will be wearing his puddle jumper every single minute when we’re near any kind of water.