Happy Mother's Day!

Here's a late mother's day post. :)

First, I wanted to add in the posts I made for my mom and mother in law on social media back on the actual day. And then I wanted to add in what my family did for me on mother's day. 😊

When my therapist asked me about my my mother, searching for anything that could lead to unhealthy behaviors now in my own life, she quickly found that there was nothing but good that came from my mom. “She always woke up early to be with me and feed me breakfast and pack me a lunch for school and always made the family dinner. She gives the most thoughtful gifts and always threw the most creative parties for birthdays and had fun decorations and traditions for holidays. If I ever have a problem, mental, emotional or physical, she will never stop trying to help or find a source of relief. She always has binoculars with her to see birds at any moment and if we’re driving in the mountains, the windows are down. She listens and thinks deeply about everyone’s thoughts. She loves animals and adventures and travel. She sewed my Halloween costumes and would braid my hair anytime I needed. She always has fresh cut flowers from her garden waiting in my room when we come to visit. She never put the pressure of her success on ours. She never told us we didn’t look good or dressed stupid, but instead allowed us to express our individuality. She’s the most thoughtful and loving grandma who always stops to take one on one time with the grand kids.” And with that my therapist was quiet. And probably wondered why I was even in therapy when I had the most loving and healthy childhood and parents out of anyone in the world. Happy Mother’s Day Mom! You truly are the best and anyone who has you in their life is the luckiest. 💖

Happy Mother’s Day to the best mother in law! Truly! Whenever friends might be talking trash about their mother in laws, all I can do is remain silent, because there isn’t anything bad for me to say! From day one she’s made me feel like a family member. She’s giving and thoughtful (always leaving celery or raw onions out of potions of dishes just for me 💙) and she loves to spend time with her grand kids and it shows in their love for her. And she never misses a recital or program. Also, very important to note is that Buck is so amazing because he has an amazing mom. 💜 Thanks for all the adventures and dinners, Jan! Feels like I’ve known you forever!

 Mother's day was great!  Buck made beignets from scratch and they were amazing. Then I got some funny gifts- including gifts from kind neighbors/friends! 

Buck's gift was super random haha But he knows how much I lvoe my ice water and how often I need ice for the many parties I throw. 😂 (when we're not in a pandemic, that is.

Buck had the kids get me this gift from 1997. I had this exact Yoga giga pet when I was in 6th grade. Haha!

The sweetest card from Winta! 

Later on we went on a drive and explored and then on a walk to a secret spot! 

I also took a nap and a bath with this amazing bath kit! 

And then Buck made me my favorite dinner. 

It was a great day and I felt very loved.

The Gift of Presence

It's been a weird year so far, hasn't it? (the understatement of the year, I know.) 

And I wish that I had a bunch of profound things to say about it all but honestly? I don't. It's been hard and exhausting but, you know, good in some ways too. 

It's not to say that I haven't been busy thinking, because I'm always doing that. ;) 

But I'm not done processing or going through it all. 

Mostly I just want to say that Buck took a day off of work for a Mother's day gift for me and truly there is no better present! I took that opportunity and made everyone go to the mountains to go on a little hike. (except Haben, who sadly wasn't feeling well.) Our cell phones lost service. We sang way too many rounds of "Down by the bay" and ate some sandwiches near the river. These small moments sure do breathe life into the weeks and I am grateful to live where we do. 

So that's all. Just a little outing and a few photos of my favorite people. :)

The Miraculous Tulip Festival!

I can't believe that we actually got to do this.... Everything's been closed and all of that, just like everywhere in the world, and, consequentially, Thanksgiving point canceled their famous annual Tulip Festival. My heart was CRUSHED when they said that. I mean,  I couldn't really be surprised, right? None of their venues were open but I secretly hoped that since the gardens are outside that maybe they would still do it somehow... but no- canceled and turned into a "virtual event." 

So imagine my joy when I found out that Utah was going to have a soft opening of certain things starting Friday, May 1st and that the Thanksgiving Point Gardens were one of those places that were going to open!!! I nearly wept! A dim light somewhere at the end of a long dark tunnel....

There are new restrictions, of course. Limited amount of people allowed in, six feet distancing, things like that. But WAHOO!!! We could go! 

And so we did! 

😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

I know not everyone is ready to leave their house, and I'm not saying I'm planning to just jump all back in, because I'm not, but being outdoors is so lovely and I'm so grateful that we had this evening together as a family.