Sometimes I just need a reminder...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WINTER!!

5-years-old? That can not be right! So far in her 5th year of life Winter has been a dream child. She has been nice to her brother without having to be asked, she puts her dishes in the sink when finished eating all of her dinner, and she communicates her frustrations in a calm and non-dramatic manner. It has only been one day, but if this is what it is like to have a 5-year-old, I am much happier than with a feisty 4-year-old.
This was the flag banner I ever so carefully cut out by hand to welcome Winter home from school on her birthday.
Here are the materials...
Here is all the tulle needed to make 9 little girls tutus.Last week I was extremely disappointed with a few things and then I realized I had completely forgotten to plan anything for Winter's birthday. Cory's family is a "come over for cake and ice cream" kind of family, where as my family is a little more "you are queen for a day" kind of family. I felt awful that I didn't even know what kind of cake she wanted. Then I saw this adorable fairy party idea. The bug had bitten me, I was now in full out creative crafty mode.


As an activity the girls made magic wands. The stars were cut out with a cricket machine (I'm not that crazy) The wands are made from star shaped scrapbook paper and ribbon covered dowels.
They danced around and we played fairy-freeze dance.
They also played fairy-freeze tag which they came up with all on their own.
Opening presents
The fairies had glitter in their hair and ribbons around the wrists and tied in their hair for full fairy attire. The girls were really cute and Winter loved it all. She was very excited when her daddy came home with her gift from us too. She got a shine new pink baseball bat so her and Cory can play hit'em in the yard.

Now some photos from the past 5 years.
We were in the pet store and she put a dog chain collar on her head like a head band. Cutest thing ever!
Cooking Grandma Dutton's famous raise cake with her Grand Dad.
Newborn photos
Mmm
Wild child

My favorite was when she would fall asleep all around the house.
One-year-old at-ti-tude !
Good morning Winter
She has always loved that purplue blanket. She still sleeps with it every night, although it is not so bright anymore.
They both like to lay in the sun
As soon as she could walk she loved the park and is totally fearless.
She makes the funniest faces
Learning to crawl, here she comes to get me.
Who let her put that in her mouth?!
Her eyelashes have always amazed me. They are so dark and long. They have been since the day she was born We are so happy to have Winter in our lives. Love you baby girl!

7 big reasons I love him

1. He does something every single day that makes me know we were supposed to be together. We went to the plant nursery the other day and saw a pretty yellow tree. Cory looked at the name of it 'forsythia.' 3 seconds later I say out loud 'For Cortney.' Cory laughs and says I read his mind. This kind of thing happens all the time!

2. He is a wonderful father. Winter and Ledger adore Cory and love to be involved with anything he is doing. Cory is great about letting them help in whatever small way that they can and he really takes the time to teach them things. He has never missed a baby appointment, not one in now three pregnancies. He is there every time by my side smiling uncontrollably. AND he looks really good with a baby in his arms, like irresistibly hot!3. So supportive! It is not easy to quit your stable job, follow your dream and figure out how to grow a business. Cory has been wonderful about it all. He is my rock when I have a down day, my comic relief when I can't take it anymore, and my understanding listener when I go off about yet another set back or frustration.

4. He is obsessive about things. For example, recently Cory read something about colonizing Mars. He has always been fascinated with Mars, but hearing this news sparked a whole new fire of thoughts and ideas for him. He started researching means of energy, how much food a person eats in a year, what resources exist on Mars, etc. He should be working for NASA! Most of our conversations lately have been about Mars and colonizing it. His brain continues to mill it over and over. I found an article on our iPod touch about breathing liquid oxygen. It's true, he is way too smart to be that good looking.

5. His masculine side doesn't make him stupid. To explain, what I mean is, Cory is totally willing to nurture my feminine side. He is so willing to do things with me, without complaint, without ego, without "I wouldn't be caught dead doing that." Instead he buys the tickets to the ballet because he knows I crave culture in my life, he watches the chick flick and makes fun of it with me, he feels a baby kick in my belly because of the brightness in my smile it adds to have him attentive. He has never let his testosterone level or society decide what is manly enough. He is a guys guy for sure, we watched nearly 82 Jazz games this year, he is painting the lawn mower John Deer Green, he's been in a fight at a hockey game (love you babe), etc. etc. I am just in love with the fact that pig headedness isn't one of his masculine traits.

6. Family first. Cory was raised in a family that really appreciates each other. His siblings are all very smart, talented, genuinely good people, and so are their spouses. As our family grows I am very thankful that Cory puts family first. I'd say 90% of the time we do things together, all 4 of us. There is no other place he'd rather be than with us. It makes me proud to be his wife and the mother of his children.

7. He rises to a challenge. There isn't anything Cory can't do, and do well. The bar is set very high for my husband and he not only meets it, he exceeds it. I have high expectations, I am particular about most things, I have a millions food specifics, I am difficult most of the time. I am, to say the least, a challenge. Cory has never let me down and has always made me feel loved.
I'd be lost without you. Love you Love. Happy 7 years!

Red Butte Gardens 2011

Click me, I get bigger.

Everyone always says 'you're a photographer? you must have the best photos of your kids!' Well, here's the skinny on photographing my own children. They are not easily captured, they move at the perfect moments, and I have one little man that wants nothing to do with having his photo taken and one little miss who is a poser with an awful fake smile. Put them together and try to get just one decent shot, pehshh, never going to happen. Today I took them to Red Butte Gardens and just let'em go, I dressed them up nice and said stay close.

This one is my favorite.

Why I married the perfect man...

for me. 7 little reasons for our almost 7 years of marriage.

1. Yesterday morning he put a roast in the crock pot

2. He is funny

3. He is affectionate

4. He is forgiving

5. He loves to be outside and has so much knowledge about everything outdoors

6. My boy is wicked smart

7. He is learning to work mechanically on our riding lawn mower. This was the one and only area I knew Cory was likely to never venture. He doesn't like his hands to be greasy-dirty. He has taken on this small engine project and is completely awe-inspiring. AMAZING I tell you, AMAZING!