life lately // august

Somehow, in spite of mama being so sick with this pregnancy, we made it through summer vacation, and even had fun! While mama rested most of the day, the kids played. We are so lucky they are such great friends and play together so well. So this month, we got prepped for back to school, and right before school started, we got to catch a glimpse of our new baby...and share some fun news!

1) some days, it is all fun and games!
2) sunday besties!
3) teamwork
4) splish, splash!
5) rain rain - please stay!
6) puddle jumping fun x 4
7) always wondering about that baby in there...
8) 20 week ultrasound - and sneak peek at baby j!
9) hmmm...everyone voted girl...
10) and they were right! it's a girl!!!!!!

life lately // july

We finished our big road trip and arrived home to sleep in our own beds on July 4th, Independence Day. It's actually my favorite holiday, but we were all pretty zapped from our big long trip, so we kept it really low key this year. A little BBQ and fireworks on the front lawn with neighbors. We had such an amazing trip, but it felt great to get home, too. Unfortunately, about a week or so after we returned home...so did my nausea and pregnancy sickness. In all it's wonderful glory. So, honestly, the rest of the summer was super low key. It was hot hot hot and we tried our best to stay cool. The kids were troopers through it all, though my being sick profoundly limited our summer fun. But we did get out a few times, and we made a few fun summer memories.

1) grow your own...watermelon! hazel loved helping in the garden.
2) chop chop! aspen and mama donated a combined 22 inches of their hair towards wigs for kids and women fighting cancer 
3) mama's growing belly - sixteen weeks, poolside 
4) swinging like a big boy!
5) daddy is good at helping us keep cool
6) jammin'
7) giving baby j some morning cuddles
8) so proud of the sunflowers she grew from tiny seeds!
9) this boy loves the little waterslides!
10) that bucket is going to dump any minute!

life lately // june

As we seemingly slowly made our way to June, we had some big news to share - we could finally tell the world why I had been bed-ridden for the past several weeks, so sick, nauseous, and vomiting - and Hudson did a great job of sharing the news to our families with his little blue onesie and a big smile: he's getting bumped up to big brother status just shortly after his second birthday! School also got out the first week of the month, and we had two birthdays to celebrate! We kept things really simple this year since I had been so sick, and had a joint pool party for our birthday girl and boy. They loved it! Finally -- and quite miraculously, just days before our huge road trip, I turned a corner for the better as we prepared to head off on a 16-day adventure around the American Southwest. We visited 10 National Parks and Monuments and had a fantastic time! What a month! 

1) our big announcement! hudson's gonna be a big brother!
2) another library card holder in the house!
3) celebrating our two june birthdays with a pool party
4) big adventures this month - our great southwest adventure/roadtrip!
5) grand canyon national park
6) hiking up the narrows in zion national park
7) ruins at mesa verde national park
8) touring santa fe
9) hiking tent rocks national monument 
10) our climber girl - can't keep her down!

life lately // may

Oh, May. It was a blessed yet cursed month. I was sick for most of the month (hence very few pictures.) We watched our garden grow, and the rains fall. Texas is no longer in a drought - hooray! Everything is still blooming and lush and so green. It's lovely! We took a short trip to San Antonio the first weekend of the month to attend the San Antonio temple. On our way home, we explored the tiny historic town of Gruene - brimming with small town southern charm (and lots of crowds on Mother's Day weekend ;) We also cashed in on a Christmas Day gift of experience and went through the Wildlife Park, which was really fun. Mother's Day is when I started feeling sick, unfortunately. I could barely get out of bed for three weeks! Thankfully, I had a good day, or at least a good 3-4 hours, one day when the kids had a day off of school. We went to the Fairy Trail at the Zilker Botanical Garden. So magical and fun! Here's to growing a garden, making memories, and feeling better (hopefully) next month! Oh, and summaaaaaaah!!!!

1.  garden helper
2.  swing, swing, swing!
3.  golden hour 
4.  garden helper II.
5.  families are forever
6.  rest stop (gruene, texas)
7.  natural bridge wildlife park
8.  in search of garden fairies
9.  zilker botanical garden
10. brotherly love

life lately // april

April was an exciting month full of many adventures! This month was extra special as we got to spend some time traveling with our crew. We went on a grand adventure to West Texas and explored tiny towns such as Fort Davis, Marfa, and Alpine, as well as the infamous ghost town of Terligua. We saw a Star Party at the McDonald Observatory, slept in a teepee at El Cosmico, and best of all, spent a few days sleeping under the big stars at Big Bend National Park. It was a busy and super fun month!

1.  school carnival shenanigans
2.  when daddy comes home 
3.  little gardener
4.  spring adventures
5.  welcome to marfa
6.  glamping at el cosmico
7.  inside our teepee
8.  happy hammocking
9.  ghost town fun
10. what once was
11. beautiful big bend
12. music makin'
13. boys in bonnets
14. cannonball! (first pool day of the year)
15. on the trail
16. dino track hunting with buddies
17. 18 months - our handsome baby boy