Way to Go Livi-lou who!

Olivia was awarded the Student of the Month award for Academic Achievement! We are so proud of her and wanted to take this opportunity to brag about just how awesome she is!

Of course, I left the camera at home so the pics are from my phone. Not super but you get the idea.

Great job Livi-lou. We are so proud of you!

The Award

With her teacher...

With her daddy...

I melted...

My girls were having a snack in the kitchen....I was hiding myself on the couch in the family room.

Abbi: "Livi, I really missed you today."

Livi: "I missed you so much too, Abbi."

Serious heart melting.

*Olivia is gone all day at school and every Tuesday/Thursday Abbi is in afternoon preschool. The girls don't get as much time together as they are used to. So, when they do get time together, its like heaven. They just play! And its so fun to watch.

I LOVE that they LOVE each other.

Not sure its blog worthy...but....

I started a boxing class. 6am. For those that know me well you know that is not my best hour. BUT, I am loving it! Even though every single muscle in my body is sore and I have to be in bed by 8:30pm every night just to survive, it really is super fun. Makes me feel tough. And if it helps me drop a few LBS then I really will love it!

Here's to tough chicks!

(Maybe I'll be one some day...)

How did we get here?

How did we go from this.....

To this!!?

Olivia started 1st grade last week. My sweet little chubby baby is not so little anymore. (Or chubby!) And it seemed to have happened in the blink of an eye. I should be loving that she gets to spend a full day at school now but I'm not. I miss her.

And how 'bout this one?

Didn't I just birth her?

Nope, she's a big Preschooler now!

Today was her very first day and she loved it.

I thought she might have a little hesitation but I was wrong. I got a sweet kiss and a hearty "goodbye mom" and she was off and running.

Good thing its only two days a week for a couple hours.

I'm not ready to be home alone!

I'm the luckiest mom in the world to have two beautiful girls. I hope to have a bunch more just like them someday...but if not....I'm still the luckiest.

Seven Wonderful Years....

Today DuVall and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary. Looking back I never could have imagined all that we've been through together so far on our journey. Incredible joys, deep sorrows, so much stronger because of both. Not a day goes by that I don't realize how lucky I am to be married to my best friend.

No one can make me laugh harder, no one makes me feel more safe, and no one loves you more than I do DuVall! Thank you for seven wonderful years. I look forward to many, many, many, many more!

I'm a big kid now...

Abigail had a birthday!

Now she's a big three year old!

I cannot believe it.

We celebrated at her grandparents house with swimming, BBQ, cake, ice cream and presents.

It was a great day.

To our little sunshine,

You brighten our days and make us laugh.

You are such a bright spot in the world and we know you will do great things.

Please stay little, a little longer.

Oh, how we love you!

Happy Birthday Abbi-girl!

Good times, good times...

This past week we traveled to Southeast Utah for a family camping trip. It was awesome. We spent some serious quality family time, enjoyed the amazing and unique landscape, did some hiking, lake swimming (and bathing), forest playing, tramp jumping, camp food eating, late night fire talking, and much, much more. We were also able to visit my father-in-laws' grave which made our trip extra special.

Our trip began with a visit to this little guy and his parents in St. George. My girls cannot get enough of their cousin, or his toys. Thank you Brady and Megan for letting us play and crash. We miss you already!

On our drive we past many amazing sites, one of which I had never seen before. Lake Powell is beautiful...I wanted to stay!

Monument Valley in the background. Really amazing.

Of course we took Harry with us! He had some serious outdoor fun, chasing squirrels and deer, hiking, eating leftovers, etc.... Pretty sure he's depressed now that we're home and he is once again stuck in the backyard.

At the Cabin...

Abbi and this little chica were pretty much joined at the hip. Best buddies for sure!

Olivia became quite the hiker on our trip. Although it was boiling hot and she really had to hang in there she made it through all our hikes. I was so proud of her!

Hanging out with her Auntie Juli in the hammock.

Grandad's gravesite...

A very small portion of his grandkids....

Dwight loved this part of the country so much. It is terribly hard not to miss him when you are there.

DuVall and his sister, Juli, standing in front of the rock formation, Mexican Hat.

Southeast Utah is filled with unique rock formations like this one. Something to marvel at for sure.

I love trips like this for so many reasons. My girls get to learn how to play in the dirt and build forts out of tree branches and make friends with their cousins and enjoy the beautiful world around them. They learn the difference between and "country road" and a "main road", as Abigail called them. They get to learn about their dad's roots and where his family came from. They learn to jump in lakes and sleep with bugs. And when we come home they recognized just how blessed they are. ("Mom, we have the best toy room ever", said Olivia.)

Now we are home, loving the memories we made, and really enjoying our running water and flushing toilets! Until next time familia!