Let there be light.

Oh boy. Our newest venture in the world of photography. It's so friggin cold out, I decided to invest in a studio backdrop setup so I can do more newborn and child sessions. I don't have any lighting yet, so I'm still using the old "bounce the flash" trick. Jared was my model tonight,sporting the blue toothbrush more commonly used to scrub the fishtank. Gross.

Here's Jared modeling my favorite accessory, the Jo Tote, in scarlet.

And..to end this post, a picture of the frosty tree in our backyard:)

Domestic Bliss..

This is the best day of my domestic life! I found this:

on KSL.com for $100! Who's making bread? I'M making bread!

A Pirate's Life for Me!

Today while Ashton was napping(a new development), Jared and Mommy got crafty! We made a pirate ship and a monster truck. Jared has a newfound obsession with pirates and oceans and sea creatures. Last week it was dinosaurs, primarily the t-rex. I'm glad he moved on, he does a great T-Rex impression, but my shattered eardrums can use a rest:)

HERE is where we found our crafts.

Happy coloring!

Let it snow..but only this one last time!

We woke up this morning to a winter wonderland!

We love it but we'd be totally ok if spring came early.

We've pretty much been hanging out inside all winter...

You might say we have a little cabin fever over here.

So we went outside!

We built an igloo..

We shoveled snow..

We ate snow..

And we (I) built a little snowdude..

Snowdude is no longer with us due to the tyranny of a 3 year old.

LOVE is in the air..

I've never decorated for Valentine's Day before so this year I'm getting started early. The boys and I cut out paper hearts from old scrapbooking paper(scrapbooking? what's that?) and made frames and whatnot..mostly just made a big mess all over the kitchen and Ashton managed to glue his scissors ("lissors") together with a glue stick. I'm planning a special V-Day photosession with the boys, I'm nervous. It is a lot of work getting them ready and getting them to stay ready and maybe sit still for two seconds so wish me luck!!

Absorbent & Yellow

So Paul & Brittany gave the boys these Spongebobs yesterday and they haven't left their sides. So far I've had to kiss Spongebob's boo boos 3 times and give him artificial resuscitation once. Not to mention the two extra tuck in's at bedtime.

Cache Valley. Home sweet home.

Everyone always asks us "Why Logan?"

I tell them it's closer to family.

I tell them it's just home to us.

But the number one reason we LOVE living in Cache Valley is this.

It is so beautiful!

It Begins

Some parents say it is toy guns that make boys warlike. But give a boy a rubber duck and he will seize its neck like the butt of a pistol and shout "Bang!"

George F. Will

The boys are 3 and 4. Yet they play Halo better than I do. Go figure.

2010

Wow. It's 2010. The year that all the 50's movies and Twilight Zone Episodes portrayed with flying cars, alien invasions from Mars and hostile robot takeovers. I'm finally 25. I now feel like I'm officially an adult. All my life I've looked forward to this milestone. I got kind of a head start on having a family and I am so glad I did. I'm 25 and I'm progressing in an exciting and challenging photography career. I feel so alive! I finally got my tax I.D.set up and I officially have my L.L.C. It's so much fun. All my life I've wanted to run a business and I have to admit I feel a little guilty and a lot naive about it all because I'm not sure it's supposed to be this much fun. It's not a game, right? This is serious business but I can't seem to keep the smile off my face!
 My children are blooming into little mechanics and dishwashers. The age of "why" has begun. So many questions I hope I'm giving the right answers to! I wish I could bottle the kisses and hugs..the sweet innocent voices saying "I love you Mom". I know that before long my boys will be running from kisses and hugs and the "I love you"s might get sparse..but I will tell you one thing: I'm cherishing every moment, breathing it in, savoring every last detail..
Right now we may be stretching to keep food on the table and keep the bills paid..constantly on our toes with this young business we're nurturing.But I  know that the day will come when we will look back on this time fondly. These are the moments we will remember the most. This is a defining time in our lives. I am so excited for the future but I'm relishing in the now..This is the time of my life.

I made them promise..

that when they grow up and get big like Daddy...

they will always come home and visit their Mama..

that they will never forget to give kisses and hugs..

Jared to Mommy: "Mom?

Mommy: "What's up?"

Jared: " I love you. I am going to marry you. You're beautiful."

My heart melts every time.