Brian's Birthday

Each year, it's harder to remember how old we are--not because we can't add/ subtract, but because it just isn't a big deal anymore and because time keeps going faster and faster! I've checked it twice in my head, and Brian turned 33 on this last birthday. The day before his birthday, we had a family dinner with the Utah County Savilles to celebrate his and Hunter's birthdays. We had ice cream cake:

 Bonus: Aunt Lorrie got to come! We love having her living in Utah again!

 His last night as a 32 year old.

 For his birthday, we went to Texas Roadhouse and had dinner:

 I got him presents that he liked. And this is the only picture I took of him on his birthday.

Each year, I love him more. Each year, I'm even more grateful that he was born. I can't imagine my life without him. Every so often, I think of our freshman year together--back when he was just Brian--and I think, "Ha ha, I married Brian." But mostly, I just thank Heavenly Father that He brought us together. I couldn't ask for a better co-team captain, a better partner in crime, or a better friend than this sweet, kind, amazing man. I'm excited to see what you look like in another 33 years!

One Year Post Surgery

September 12 was a big deal at for our family--well, at least for Brian and I. It marked the anniversary of my hip replacement.  It was a really, really hard. Hard on me emotionally (coping with a new normal, losing a piece of my bone, closing chapters on certain activities, and other things), physically (the doctor sliced right through the biggest muscle group in my body, drove a metal spike into my bone, and cut a piece off of said bone), and mentally (can I really climb that flight of stairs?). And it was also really hard on Brian too. He had to take on a lot of the things that I do--which is a lot! Well, to commemorate this day, I wanted to do something physical. Originally, I wanted to go on a hike or something, but it was a school night, and we had limited time. So, we grabbed dinner and headed to the Children's place to climb around in the Monkey area. 

I crawled through the dark tunnel with Michael:

 And through all the other tunnels, the rope bridges, and all those stairs.

It felt so good to be able to climb and play with my kids. Thank you everyone who helped us make it through this really tough year!

This Is the Place Heritage Park

 As part of our mission to explore Utah, we decided to check out This Is the Place State Park in Salt Lake on Labor Day.  This site was built to memorialize the first pioneer party, led by Brigham Young, to enter the Salt Lake Valley and settle Utah in 1847. Before the pioneers left Nauvoo, Illinois, Brigham had a vision of where the exiled Latter-day Saints would build their new home in the Rocky Mountains, and when Brigham came through the canyon and first saw the Salt Lake Valley, he inspected it from his wagon and famously said, "This is the right place, drive on." 

I was surprised by how many activities they had for the kids to do at the park. We wished that we had gotten their earlier in the day! We started out exploring a pioneer cabin, and they immediately had the kids help with the laundry:

 Gabe refused to help (aka we didn't let him out of his stroller).

 Michael went to part of a session at the school, and then we went to see the barber:

 We let Gabe out of the stroller for a shave. He really needed it!

We rode a mini train:

 And we got to see Native Americans dance. Growing up within an hour of a reservation, I have seen my share of Native American dances, and full confession, it has been a long time since I enjoyed them. This one, however, was pretty awesome. They had a guy doing a hoop dance--it was super cool! And the kids got to join in the dancing.

 We got to check out a few Utah Native American houses like this hut that I can't remember the name of.

 And the kids got to make an arrowhead necklace.

 We also pressed leather, saw animals, panned for gold, and looked at a Mormon Battalion exhibit which featured quotes from our great-something grandfather, Daniel Tyler. That was pretty cool! After we were finished exploring the park closed, we headed out to see the actual memorial to the pioneers.

 Living in a part of Utah that is just now being settled--meaning the land had never seen a plow until the excavators came to build the homes out here--I have a better appreciation for the pioneers who settled Utah. How incredibly disappointing it must have been to leave the lush greenery of Illinois and Missouri to then arrive in the desert of the Salt Lake Valley. It's incredible to stand where they first got their glimpse and, instead of seeing the barrenness that first welcomed them to Utah, see a thriving valley. I'm grateful for their determination to make this desolate place into such an amazing place, laying the foundation for us to one day raise our children here. What incredible faith, determination, and grit they had! I'm glad we finally made it to This is The Place.

Dreams

I have big dreams. I've always had them. When I was a little girl, I was caught up in a very girlie world. I used to think that if I sang pretty enough, a little bird would come land on my finger, just like in my favorite princess movie, Sleeping Beauty. I dreamed of pretty dresses and someday finding my prince and being a mom. A few years after that dream came true (within the last few years in fact), I started dreaming of photographing weddings. The more I investigated the process, the more I decided that it was a perfect fit for me. I would love to photograph that beautiful culmination of so many dreams! I cherish my wedding pictures, and I want nothing more than to create beautiful images of others' weddings. I love it! The flowers, the pretty tables, the flowers, the centerpieces, the rings, the shoes, the invitations! 

Rachel has big dreams. She is a little girl caught up in a very girlie world. She is constantly singing and twirling around our house, and somedays, I half expect to see a little bird land on her finger. She also dreams of one day finding her prince and being a mom. And though some days, her supersonic high little voice can get a little too much to constantly have singing in the background, I can't help but smile because I get her, because I am so much like her. 

Rachel often hangs out with me in the office while I'm working on building my photography empire. She sees the brides on my screen, and she recently saw her uncle marry a beautiful bride. So, it came as no surprise to me when she wanted to have a wedding dress dress-up, and like the crazy person I am, I agreed to make one for her. Tulle is cheap, after all, and I knew she'd love it. So, I made her a wedding dress, complete with a veil. With a leftover floral bouquet centerpiece from Cal's wedding, she was all set. 

 One night, when I was having yet another second-guessing-myself/feeling defeated rant about my photography, Brian offered to dress up in his tux and have a styled shoot with Rachel so that I could have more practice. While I still haven't taken him up on his offer, he gave me boost as well as the idea to have Rachel do a bridal session with me to practice. I pulled out my new lens, and we headed out to the front yard for pictures.

I'm looking forward to the day that this little girl finds her prince charming and dons a real wedding dress, but I hope it doesn't happen for a long, long time. In the meantime, I hope this girlie princess world keeps going strong for years to come, ultra-sonic voice and all. And maybe, I'll get invited to photograph lots and lots of darling brides and be a part of their princess world as well.