A Line in the Sand

We have too many beautiful pictures from the beach. I'm still going through them! It was a memorable trip for so many reasons. I am so grateful to have added to the list of memories associated with this place this fun family trip. We missed Doug, but we were happy to be the rest of us together. After everything this last year has brought us and everything that challenged us, it means so much more than it ever did to spend this time together. I am so blessed to be here, to have my family, and to have the gift to keep making memories. 

This was my favorite time drawing a line in the sand. 

Janessa Dear

My wonderful friend Janessa was married to Daniel Wilde on Saturday. She is the truest of friends, and I couldn't be more thrilled for the exciting life she's about to start! Her wedding was beautiful, and she had an even bigger smile on her face than normal... which is saying a lot for this girl!

On Tuesday, before her wedding, I threw a bridal shower at my house for cute Janessa. It was so great to catch up, hear all her stories, and see some good friends! 

Max and Peter are our honorary boys at the girl party. Max slept the whole time, and Peter wore his jammies. Party on.

A personal highlight from the night, when Janessa is telling a story and prefaces it with,

"This is a Lindsey story..."

She proceeds to tell her story which included, "So we wore giant sweatshirts and just walked around looking like hobos."

Ha ha ha ha ha!!!

A Few Favorites

We have had a fun summer... and a busy one! We took a wonderful trip to our family beach house two weeks ago (pictures to come), spent a night at our cabin, and we've spent a lot of time with our friends and family with weddings, homecomings, and dinners. I am so behind on organizing all our pictures. They are spread out between a few different computers/hard drives/camera cards... so I'm going to have to get organized soon. In the meantime, here are a few from July.. as well as a few favorites of Peter's as of late.

Favorite Foods: Black beans, blueberries, string cheese, and pasta/pizza (anything with red sauce and veggies).

Favorite Game: Pulling things out of bags/boxes/baskets and putting them back in (and sometimes eating what he finds!)

Favorite Friends: His Dad and his Grandpa Dave are his two best buddies right now. He also loves Grandpa George!

Favorite thing to do with Cheerios: Anything but eat them! He loves to stick them to his face and throw them on the ground.

I don't know if hikes are his favorites or ours, but it's been nice to get up in the mountains a bit. 

My Favorite Thing about Peter: His silliness! He is the goofiest, most entertaining little guy! We have so much fun!

Weirdest Favorite Yet: Brushing his (five) teeth! It's his favorite part of the bedtime routine and the quickest way to stop him from crying!

Little Lobster

I think it's official. Peter's a toddler. 

Throughout each of Peter's many changing stages, I have always eagerly anticipated his next big milestone: "I can't wait until he can roll over! I can't wait till he can stand up! He's so close to crawling! He's almost walking!" 

I'm ready for him to stop now. Or at least slow down. I LOVE this stage! 

I love this guy so much I feel like my heart could just burst right out of my chest. Scott and I are having so much fun! 

Life is so good!

Motherhood is the most amazing thing. I can't even explain the love I have for my boy. It can't be described in words or wiggles. It's isn't comparable to any other emotion or passion. I know it's a feeling given to me that comes straight from my Father in Heaven. I am so grateful for this beautiful plan the Lord has for me. 

Scott left me a little message on my morning to-do list sitting on the counter (blogging was not on the list... whoops!) that said, "You are loved!" I have a note from "Santa" (in my dad's handwriting... suspicious) that lives in my jewelry box that says, "You are loved." My day is filled with daily reminders that my Heavenly Father knows and loves me. Sometimes I feel that love through family and friends. Sometimes I feel it in nature. Sometimes I feel it when things just work out. Sometimes I don't feel it at all and I realize I need to open my eyes and widen my gaze. Peter is napping. He is cranky when he wakes up and wants to be snuggled with a bottle for about ten minutes. Holding my baby -uh, toddler- I know I am loved.

Love These Two!

We are celebrating a wedding very very soon! Here are some of the shots we took of Johnny and Alyssa for their invitations. We love them both and are so so excited for all the fun times to come with these two! In the meantime, we are having fun celebrating with showers and seeing each other all the time! Alyssa lives on our street and lives in our ward! We are so lucky to get this cute girl in our family!

She Grew Here

The ranch has always been my ideal place (the ranch and the Needles section of Canyonlands... but very different concepts). When I close my eyes and picture perfection, I am in the middle of grove of quaking aspens... or perched on top of a jagged teton-range peak... or still, amid the asters, sticky geranium, yarro, and Indian paintbrush. This place is home to my heart. I can't keep away - I haven't kept away - each summer since I was 12.

I was managing the backpacking gear, greeting hikers as they returned from their overnight trips. I was checking in all the gear, organizing, cleaning, and repairing, while Scott and his fellow hike leader Linda downloaded with Dick how the hike went smoothly. My health prevents me from helping like I used to, so I had to be creative in finding ways to help this year. Linda saw me working, Peter in a hip-hamock, and said to Dick, "Look at that girl! Where did you find her?"

I love Dick's response. "Oh, her. She grew here."

I did.

Like a weed that can't be cut back and kept away! I just keep coming back. On another level though, I knew what Dick was saying. In addition to the important values I learned at home regarding testimony, work ethic, gratitude, sacrifice, and being myself, the ranch echoed those values and gave me the opportunity to reinforce them in my life... from the time I was very young. I very literally grew here.

The ranch, Sue and Dick, the nature that surrounds, the relationships I've formed, the realizations about myself, the creations of my hands and my heart, the songs that I sang, and the whisperings of the Spirit in all the quiet moments that witnessed of God and His love for me all gave me the vernacular to apply the gospel to my life. This beautiful experience represents all the best parts of who I am - including family, as I have been blessed to share the ranch with my parents, brothers, sisters, closest friends, husband, and baby boy. Lucky for me, I married a man who loves it just as much as I do (if that's possible). He has his own relationship with the ranch and doesn't simply respect or lean on mine. We haven't missed a summer since our wedding.

Peter was asleep in the car! I was sad we didn't get a picture with him in it. These are two (three!) of my heroes by my side.

Cute Peter on his first boat ride. Nasty side shot of me, however! We took the boat across Jenny Lake and took Peter on a hike to the Hidden Falls! Peter loved the windy boat ride and riding high on daddy's shoulders. But he got a little tired on the ride back. So was I! It was my first hike post-heart failure and respiratory failure. It was a beautiful start, but I have a long way to go!

We walked into one of those awesome, expensive fur stores in Jackson, where we spent one night before heading home on the most gorgeous drive through Star Valley I think we've ever experienced. We were both gushing over the beautiful northern farmlands, mountains, and fields. We started trying on some of the furs and taking pictures (aren't we a delight to have in the store?) when Scott says to me, "Now I can't run for president because somewhere down the line some animal rights activist will hold it against me that I even came in the this store."

I told him he could never run for president anyway because he's Canadian. So with that settled, we proceeded with the mortifying pictures before. When in Jackson...

That would be an entire bison my husband is wearing... naturally.

Rar!

I wanted to get Peter a little cowboy outfit... but after a quick photo shoot, I realized that the pictures will be souvenirs enough.  

He actually loved this hat! He was smiling at himself in the mirror behind some exhausted little eyes.

Peter's first Huckleberry ice cream (and ice cream in general!)

Uncle Ollie and Auntie M

Back in June (expect no rhyme or reason in the update order here), we had a quick visit from Margy and Oliver on their way east for school. It was fun to have them spend a night with us to break up their long drive ahead, and Peter had so much fun with his Uncle Ollie and Auntie M (aren't those good uncle and aunt names?). They were both so great with him and kept him very entertained! We love these two and hope to see them again soon!

Nothing like a little family tongue action. Peter was especially interested in his tongue this particular day.

When it rains...

... you get giant zucchinis in your garden! There existed no signs of zucchini life when we left for the Tetons. It rained a ton while we were gone, we hear, and after four days, we returned to find this sucker ripe and ready for the picking (the veggie, not the kid).