Mount Timpanogos

We finally hiked Timp! I did it twice in high school with the soccer team, and Ryan did it when he was a wee scout. Ever since we've been married I've been dying to go. I try and plan it all summer, then by the time the end of the summer rolled around we were busy with school/work/pregnancy/baby. So when I heard that our neighbor was planning the hike with his brothers we quickly jumped on! 

Friday night we put Livy down to sleep at my parents house, because we woke up at 4:45 am the next morning to be on our way! We went up the American Fork Canyon to the Timpanooke trailhead. We started at about 6:00 am, it was still pitch black and pretty chilly. With head lamps and all we were on our way. After about a mile in we realized that we were heading the very wrong direction. So we turned back around, went to where we started and found the right trailhead. So our official start time was 7:00 am. We went to the very tip top and got there by about 11:00 am. It was so beautiful! The weather was absolutely perfect, it wasn't too hot, the sun was out, there were hardly any clouds in the sky, but the air was a big muggy because of some nearby forest fires in Idaho. But the view was still incredible and the trees were all changing colors, it was the perfect day to go. 

 We got to the saddle, had a little snack, took a little breather, enjoyed the view and then finished the trek to the very top.

The whole hiking crew. Ryan Durrant, his two brothers, and their sister-in-law and girlfriend.

On the way down, we were exhausted. We were all so tired, our bodies were starting to ache, our feet began to hurt, and we were all just a little anxious to finish and get home. We got up in about 4 hours, and down in about 3 1/2 hours. Our ankles were covered in dirt, we were out of water, we couldn't wait to use a real toilet, but I loved every minute. It will probably be another few years until we do it, but I'm so glad we did.

W-A-S-T-E

This is time for me to brag. I had a VERY proud mommy moment the other day.

Livy is like a huge sponge. She retains knowledge like I have never seen. She speaks so incredibly well. She knows all of her colors. She knows almost every animal, and their sound. She can count to 10. And she now  can recognize every letter of the alphabet. We have a little alphabet book and she loves to go through and look at each letter and it's accompanying picture (A-apple, B-ball...). She also has a little Elmo's app that she has absolutely loved that has helped a whole bunch as well.

So...with all of that said, here's the proud moment. We were at the post office sending off some more little baby boots, I was busily writing the address on my package and Livy was just standing next to me when I heard her little voice, "ah, um.. a-dub-a-boo (W), A, S, um, T, E!" She looks up at me with a huge grin. My jaw LITERALLY dropped. I was in complete aw in what this little child had just done. There was a garbage can and she had spelled out the letters written on the lid.

She is not even 2! I think we have a little smarty pants on our hands. She is a crazy little bug. She still gets confused and calls the letter "K" "Kite", and the letter "Q" is "Queen", but she sure loves her letters.

I wish I could take the credit...but my child just loves to learn - hopefully she'll hold on to that for a few years!

Canning Peaches

Purchased. Ripened. 

Peeled. Sliced. 

Bottled. 

Sealed. Boxed.

Heaven. 

Family Pictures

It's that time of year again! We had our family pictures taken again by the amazing Nicole Carmen Christensen (LOVE her!). I have a list of about 40 pictures of my favorites, I have no idea how I'm going to choose!!! So for my blog book, and for your viewing pleasure here are a few of my favorites. Also, there is no such thing as picture overload :)

Livy's 2nd Year Photo Book

Livy's birthday is coming up in a few weeks, and I had a free 8x8 photo book through Shutterfly. So I threw in all the best pictures from the last year and put them in a book for Livy. I love it! It makes me so happy looking through all the funny pictures of her. I think this just might have to be a tradition. It's so much fun. Take a look see!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly allows you to customize your photo book just the way you want.

Dining Area

Our house is coming together, piece by piece. I'm taking it a room at a time, and since we eat and eat and eat, the dining area was the most important and easiest to get everything in place. Here's a little before shot (when we lived here before), and what it looks like now!!

I've loved how it turned out. Painted the walls, spray painted the mirror a Nickle color, Ikea white curtains and I sewed on the blue stripes, light pendant from West Elm, white x-back chairs from Ikea, wicker chairs off of the KSL Classifieds, and the table from RC Willey. It is so refreshing to walk in and see this room, it just makes me so happy. It's so bright and airy, and I just love every last bit. 

Wasatch Mountain State Park Golf Course

For Labor Day this year, we had a lazy morning (mostly due to Livy being sick with a high fever...), then we all "went" golfing. Two years ago the men all went golfing and the women tagged along to enjoy the beautiful weather and even more beautiful view of the mountains, the valley and the colorful changing leaves. Last time we went I was about 37 weeks pregnant, so this was a much more enjoyable trip. Livy came along as well - she loved playing animals with Grammy. The men played well, and we had a blast. It was a great way to spend Labor Day. We then grabbed some pizza at the Cafe Galleria in Midway just minutes from the golf course. It was wood-fire pizza, and so delicious. I would definitely go there again. We were grateful for a day to spend with Ryan, we'll take him any chance we can.