insta-august

insta-august

"Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly-sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address." - You've Got Mail

It's not quite Fall yet - but we've had our own share of pencil bouquets around the house this month. Plus a whole lot of friends, family, and fun squished in before the start of school this month.


{8.2.19}
Just got Lucy's Baby Letters book in the mail and I ♥️ it so much. (Letters written to her while I'm pregnant.) I'm feeling so grateful for each of these pregnancies and each of these babies. It feels like just yesterday that Lydia was a tiny baby and now I have four babies! (Of varying age and size.) Trying to soak up Lucy's newborn-ness before she goes and turns into a seven year old like her sister did. 😍



{8.4.19}

Babysitting swaps, chocolate chip cookie contests, birthday lunches, game nights, baby showers, personality tests, Murder Mystery Dinners. Perkin's+Shields+Peadens. Friends that lift you up, make you laugh, and leave you better than you were before.
Our wonderful Shields are moving and although I've been ignoring it, it's finally happening. 😭😭😭 I was Karlis visiting teacher way back when we first moved here and I'm so grateful for the inspired sisters who made that assignment because Heavenly Father knew I needed this wonderful person in my life. We made it through a ward split, so moving 30 minutes away shouldn't be much tougher than that, right??? We love you (and your family) @karlishields - don't think you can get away from @_amyperkins and I so easily!

{8.6.19}

Day 8 of #7kids7andunder. (7,5,4,3,2,1,0) I'm only worried about what will happen when I don't let @jennahaderlie take her kids home with her. My favorite thing that these kids do is dance around chanting "cousins together, couldn't be better". #cousinsmakethebestfriends



{8.6.19}

#7kids7andunder #andagrandma - we've been verbally hashtagging all of our exploits like: find yourself covered in stickers #7kids7andunder, get melted blue otterpop poured over your head while you tie someone's shoes #7kids7andunder, triumphantly survive sacrament meeting with no major problems and only a few minor ones #7kids7andunder #rockstars We've done rainbow spaghetti, ice cream, watercoloring, and swimming. We've also had head wounds, bloody noses, wasp bites, and itchy eyes. Thank goodness for the "andagrandma" part of the #7kids7andunder #andagrandma she's holding it all together!

{8.8.19}

Austin learned how to ride a bike last week and I am so proud of him. It's funny how such a small thing can fill me with so much happiness as I watch his success. He asked me to take the training wheels off, and we practiced, then the next day he said "Mom, I don't want you to help me balance". I was skeptical but it clicked and he took off. After just a couple of days with a few wobbles, now he goes so fast and turns so sharp I can't even keep up with him. Way to go, Austin-love. I'm cheering you on!

{8.13.19}

It may be a bit presumptuous to call these love letters, but as Caleb brought me in one after another to set on my bed asking "You like this one, too, Mama?", I can't think of a better description. He's done remarkably well with his transition to big brother and he loves his B-oosy (Baby Lucy). The only noticable change is that he's started having nightmares about Alligators (we don't know why) and it's so sad! I'm hoping extra amounts of love will help him continue to adjust. I love this sweet boy. ♥️

{8.17.19}

I never thought of myself as really loving the newborn stage. You know, the 8 month range is the baby stage that I REALLY love. I love my babies, of course, but the newborn stage can be hard. But this lovely girl has highlighted all of best newborn parts (without much of the sleep deprivation aspect) and it's been so wonderful. She's two months old today and I can honestly say that I've loved this newborn stage in a way I haven't been able to before. I just love her. (Also, @_amyperkins You can see what now she's wearing in almost all of these pictures. I ♥️ it!)


{8.21.19}
First day of preschool (yesterday). He's got a full schedule this year: a Spanish class, speech development class, and preschool. But after lots of prayer, this feels like the right placement for him- at least for now. I love this sweetest boy of mine and am so proud of him.


{8.29.19}

It's the BYU vs Utah football game today and I'm over here like... "Utah State - Hey! Aggies all the way!" And "Show me a true blooded Aggie from Utah..." 👏📣🙌 See if you can spot the following on our "Aggie Shelf": Official True Aggie cards, Logan in Fall Puzzle (that we will start after we finish the Historical Logan puzzle we are working on now), picture from the night we officially started dating, wedding pictures in front of Old Main, the Aggie A that we used to top our wedding cake. I thought it was fitting to include one of my favorite dating pictures that was taken at the USU photography lab because it's hanging in our bedroom, too, and I'm not sure I have a digital copy of it. Also, I dreamed I was back working in the IT computer labs again last night, so the Logan vibe is strong today. #aggiesalltheway #utahstateforever #trueaggies

{8.30.19}

Doing some family history today with my kids for Family History Friday and found this photo of my dad and I riding his horse, Sugar, when I was just a little girl. I've been feeling extra grateful for my dad lately and the confidence and happiness that he instilled into my life. Finding this picture made my day. I love you Dad!

Butterfly Biosphere Field Trip

School has started for the year and that means field trips! We have really wanted to go to the Butterfly Biosphere and since it is August it is $2 Tuesday, so you can go to any venue for $2. It is usually crazy until after school starts, so we took advantage of being homeschoolers and went the last Tuesday in August. It was so nice that I was able to take work off. It was so much fun. Especially as we figured out how to get the butterflys to land on our finger. The kids thought it was great and it was so interesting to see the many different kinds of butterfly's. Here are some pictures from our adventure. 

Plein Air Painting

I have this friend, Ali. She's amazing. Such a wonderful mom. So real. Every time I leave after spending time with her I simultaneously feel like (1) I am wonderful the way I am (2) I want to be a better person, AND (3) I am a better person for having spent time with her. She's a gem of a soul. PLUS she has these great ideas and has the motivation and courage to make them happen. She recently initiated a girls night where we all met up Big Cottonwood Canyon and had an art class in Plein Air Painting. (Plein Air is a painting movement where you paint outside, using the outside as your guide.)

It. Was. So. Fun. 

We learned about tone, and using colors, and looking at light - a whole bunch of things that I don't remember any of the details about but I really enjoyed at the moment. 

Lucy tagged along with me. She is the greatest little tagalong. She slept for most of it, and was decently content in her wrap for another good portion. Honestly, I went into it for the experience - without a whole lot of expectation. I wasn't able to paint as well or as much as I might have been able to otherwise, but it didn't really matter. Fresh air. Good friends. Something new and different. 

An adventure. It was good for me. 

David was actually flying home from a work trip in Minneapolis this very night and wasn't going to be home until late - but something that I've learned (or decided - or started doing) is that I can do the things that I want to do even if David won't be there to help. I can make time for things that are important to me. I found a couple of babysitters to cover the time that I'd be gone and I went and did my thing and it was wonderful. 

Just grateful for the time and opportunity to do something to fuel my creativity and adventure-loving spirit.