The Center of it All

Some people seem to come up with really catchy subject lines for their blog posts. I really suck at it. Just so you know that I am aware of this. Yep, you just looked again at this subject line and thought, "she's right. that sucks."

Anyway, Buck is working still tonight- so late! But once this is done he will be a published author for an article that will be in text books and stuff! So basically what I am saying is that my husband is famous. ;)

So what the heck? One more post for the day.

We just got back (okay a couple hours ago) from a family gathering. Every few months all my cousins and aunts and uncles here in Utah from my dad's side get together to celebrate the birthdays from that time. So tonight we celebrated June and July's birthdays. And since June's birthday is in July (wow, awesome sentence she'll be dealing with her whole life) she got lots of presents tonight!

So whenever we have these or any family get togethers June is pretty much the coolest kid around. All the cousins want to play with her and make her laugh. At this rate she will be one of "those" teenagers who thinks the world revolves around them. Oh wait. That's ALL teenagers. But right now it is so much fun to watch. Tonight the boy cousins wanted her to come play with them so I gave June over and suddenly I hear from the lawn, "Everyone surround Master Yoda!" And I look to see this:

June. My "Master Yoda" apparently. I laughed so hard at this. But she was loving it. She loves being a "big kid" and being included in games.

The other week was my cousin's mission farewell and here are some photos from that where little miss show stealer was caught in the act.

True story. She's such a story teller.

Also, these photos happened yesterday and they should be seen:

There is nothing more June loves in life than her dada. The tipi toes in this photo kill me. Trying to be tall and be like dad.

We've been babysitting a very large love sac. Everyone who sits on IN it looks like they're sitting on Jabba the Hut's lap. Except June, who looks perfect in this photo.

And I guess that is all from me tonight. Hey Buck, it sucks that we can't really hang out right now BUT I am so GRATEFUL for all that you do for our little family and how much you rock at what you're doing. Your professors and bosses are obviously noticing you and impressed. And so am I. :)

Like Sands Through the Hour Glass,

so are the days of our lives.

Today I had a little adventure with a couple of my friends. We went to a pioneer museum and then to Tangie's (hole in the wall) cafe. We even stopped at the "Gypsy Wagon" store where they sell spell books and magical capes and crystal balls. Good to know if I ever run out of magic....

Pioneer cabins. Built in the 1890's. All originals from American Fork.

Alicia cooks us a meal.

 

I'm sure I make my ancestors proud.

 

Emily poses, just like a pioneer...

 

The main museum

Lunch time!

 Yep. Pretty much a classic hole in the wall...

Emily's son, Elliot.

Gotta love a free Friday!

June News

June took her first steps on Easter Sunday. So she was, what? 8-ish months old then. But oddly that was the same week she started crawling. So she's mostly been crawling since then, obviously. But she would take steps here and there. But as of about last Friday something changed and she started walking around a little bit without us dangling our phones in front of her. Last night she walked all over the kitchen and then peaced out and walked into her room, like, "see ya later, you boring adults." Like is was no big deal that she just walked all over. It's so crazy! Anyway, that our big news of the week. :)

ENFP

The reason I'm not crafty lies in my personality type- ENFP. Which stands for:

Extraversion

iNtution

Feeling

&

Perception

Never has a personality test fit me so well. And for some reason, I've taken a lot of personality tests. But I wont get into that. But there is one section from my "chapter" that I find affects me almost daily.

"If a teacher asks an ENFP the best way to get to Rome, the ENFP can devise 101 ways to get there and overlook mentioning the one best way!" (yes, they really had an exclamation mark there)

Often times I find myself coming up with the most bizarre ways to get something done. To me it makes perfect sense. Then Buck will come over and show me a much easier way. Which is why I don't do crafts. You should see how random the process is in my head to make June a headband. Then I see my friend Carrie make one and I'm like, "Oh, that makes a lot more sense." 

Also.

You guys. I have become sooo clumsy. I know that I've never been the most graceful girl but you guys. It's getting so bad. And I have no idea why! I am always hitting my head on the DUMBEST places or breaking things or somehow making the stupidest noises that wake June up. Oh I hate it so much. Every time I hurt myself I see how much Buck is trying not to laugh because I hurt myself in the DUMBEST ways. But I can see that glimmer in his eyes. I would laugh but I'm so BOTHERED at myself. Some moments I actually hate myself. Bah.

Either way. Here are some photos as of late. You know, of the "Instagram" variety.

Oh! And I started taking voice lessons! I think I have found the perfect teacher for me (except I wish she lived closer) and I am excited to get back into this part of my life. On my death bed, the one talent I would regret not using the most is my singing. So bring it on! She already has me learning an Italian aria. I really like those. I'm excited to sing in German as well. AND we're not just working on my classical voice but we're going to be doing jazz as well, my evening affair. I know that most people probably could care less about all this but whatever! I'm EXCITED as all get out. Is that a real saying?

Anyway.

Also, if you could take a moment and go over to my photography blog HERE and tell me what you think I would also appreciate that. I'm debating if I want to start pursuing this more or not. And even in my heart of hearts I don't have an answer. I know that I am not bad at it, so I'm not fishing for compliments but, oh I don't know. I just feel like there are a billion photographers in Utah. It's overwhelming. So to the three of you that will comment- let me know your thoughts! (you can comment too Carrie, even though I know what you think about this.) ;)

AND... that's all for now.

Board Game Map

When I was a young girl I used to take the “Candy Land” board from its game box, open it up, and stare at it. I looked over the green hills at the beginning and saw that there was adventure waiting beyond them. Great adventure. Filled with nutty grandmas and licorice men and lollypop princesses.

 

For me “Candy Land” was not a board game. It was a map.

 

After I had looked it over enough I was convinced that if I took it with me it would be my guide. I knew of some green hills not too far from home. I figured that was a good place to start. So I packed my backpack with some sandwiches and told my mom where I was going. She told me to be back in time for dinner.

 

And I never did find it. Yet all those curious feelings never left.

 

Instead, I started to grow up. And instead of seeing a map in board games, I saw a sea of faces. People.

  

Humans became my map.

 

I found roads and mountains and oceans in them. 

Got stuck in some sand. Found some unmarked trails.

 

And together we memorized the stars and used them to sail the dark seas. We found blackberries and happiness. We discovered fields of pain.

 

I had plans to go over the world, making my map; evolving my plan.

 

And in this pursuit I found something more.
 

I found inside each person, every single one of them, laid a map. So intricate and intriguing. The most adventurous maps I’d ever seen.

 

Especially in him. 

 

And now, to add to the wonder of it all, everyday I wake up to the best map I’ve ever seen- probably because I created her. She embodies all those sugary feelings- that epic sense of a journey. All I can make of it now are the green hills. And I know that over those lies the adventure I was always searching for. The adventure that has already begun.

I turned my back for three seconds, three, and I when I turned back around I found this:

Making art with her full container of baby food.

It's hard to be bothered by it though with this cute face.

 

Father's Day

For Father's Day I got a little crafty. Which rarely happens.

And THAT was the extent of my crafts.

Oh yeah. That and I crafted this cute baby, which made this Buck's first father's day.

Buck got some special tools for father's day.

 

And some photos:

And lots of cereal. The expensive kind that we never normally buy: (Buck is obsessed. He has a bowl every morning and then one before bed. And he likes boring, healthy cereal.)

great expression. I guess this is his cereal face?

And he got this painting that we have now added to our kitchen wall:

He got to relax and have eggs benedict for breakfast and baked salmon for dinner.

Buck has already been the most stand up father. You guys, it's insane to see how much fun he has with June, how patient he is, how much he helps, and how much he loves her.
I know that there are a lot of great fathers out there, hi, like MINE, but Buck is the best father for June and whoever else will be added to our little family. We were all made for each other. I'm kind of starting to believe in fate. It's that good.

Pow Wow

This past weekend we got to go to a Pow Wow! Or a Native American festival. And it was awesome.

 

At one point they invited all audience members up to pow wow with them. June and I were the second people out on the field. She loved it! She was smiling and bouncing the whole time.

Really June had the time of her life. It was funny. She sat there the whole time dancing to the beat of the drums and then started chanting (yelling) along with the singers. 

 

 

And she got to eat some snow cone.

And we bought her some animal fur. Which sounds weird but she loves Miso our cat and his fur so it seemed like a good idea.

I know that June is still so young and wont have memories to recall of these events but I feel like it still impacts her and helps her to be a better person. She is learning already that landscapes are different. That people are different. And that that makes this life beautiful. I want her to see colors and hear everyone's music. I want her to wonder at it all but have it be apart of her.

And I believe that those life forming experiences start at day one. 

It's funny. I am already understanding how, yes it's nice to get away, but I really want to take June with me as much as possible. It's so much more exciting to go through these things with her and watch her learn.  I can't wait to keep living and sharing the world.