Rodeo Cowgirl

Krissy and Matt invited us to a rodeo a couple of weeks ago so we braved the Utah heat and got our boots on! Well I did... it turned out to be perfect weather and even cooled off at night. This girl LOVES daddy shoulder rides! 

What is Georgia saying? "Yeehaaaaaaaw!" or "ROCK ON!" you choose. 

 She also spent a lot of time doing this: 

Ride em cowgirl!! Save a horse, ride a cowboy, right?? Just kidding, that's totally inappropriate. Gross.

This rodeo was pretty funny with it's kids mutton sheep racing (and scary for kids... I don't know if I'd let my babes do it, but it IS hilarious) I don't think G looks up for it either:

We love Auntie Kris!

 She stayed up the whole night with no afternoon nap and was happy as a clam.

  Love this girl. And her polka dot beanie.

The fair always calls for a good show, overpriced food, dirty feet, and the best company :) till next year! 

Around Our House

Things are starting to come together here at the house... we still have lots of projects in progress all the time, but little by little, it's happening! So exciting. We hung our first wall decor (finally) and I love it! Makes this corner so cozy.

New mirror up in our front room:

 I begged Zach to let me get this yellow mirror and white bench for our bedroom from Gardner Village (thank you Matt for breaking my full length mirror in the move... it called for a serious upgrade!) they have the cutest stuff there! And luckily, that mirror was on major sale, so I felt better about the splurge. I love furniture shopping in Utah, I find the neatest stuff here :)

 Talk about upgrading... Zach bought me a new SUV!! I am a lucky girl! With a nice new shiny speeding ticket to match!!! :( daaaaah!!! This thing is so stealth, I was speeding all over the place and didn't even realize it. It was the FIRST DAY PEOPLE. New car FAIL.

 I mean, I was driving tolerating this before:

I felt like I was lugging my life's baggage around with that thing, it drove so slow! Painful and swelteringly hot as that minivan was, it was loyal and convenient for our moves... it was the sweet ride Zach was sporting when I met him (that's right, I fell for a guy with a minivan. who then made me drive it.) it has seen many miles, held lots of crap, overheated much, and housed gobs of cob webs... but it is time to move on. We will let someone else bury this minivan! It has treated Zach well and we are grateful for it.

Back to my new ride:

A 2008 Toyota Highlander! Wooohoooooo! Thanks to my husband who spoils me and then overlooks ticket mistake #1 AND mistake #2 - paying it off before signing up for traffic school. I have received the majority of my tickets and accidents here in Utah... which tells me that Utah needs more traffic and better drivers. ;) some bumper to bumper freeway fun would solve all my speeding problems! 

 Georgia's room is almost complete. We painted the room aqua, built this ladder thanks to my crafty sister Kelly (crafty but lame. this was her idea but her unfinished ladder is a pile of wood waiting to be built by itself... get on it sister!)

 G loves her new room! We finally put some toys in there and she loves hanging out in her space.

My sister also gave me this sweet canvas print for my baby shower - matches the pink hook I found in Savannah so perfectly! And what it says is absolutely 100% truth. 

Little trinkets picked up here and there: 

Also around our house lately - gourmet eats!! Ever since the Alaskan cruise, I have been on a good food kick! This pasta was so delicious, I asked the head waiter for his recipe and then watched him make it! 

 And this rosemary bread from Costco.... to die for.

I also fell in love with the greek salad on the cruise. peppers, onion, cucumber, and avocado with block feta cheese and greek salad dressing. So good. 

I have been obsessed with pasta, namely pasta carbonara, which is not good for my love handles, but soooo good for my taste buds, mood, so ultimately my health right?? haha oh well... I'll learn to diet someday. Just not today. Or tomorrow. Or anytime in the near future.

More to come on the house! Zach is making me a baby gate door and finishing Georgia's room. I love this stage of building our home together. It is great fun. Except that I turn crabby and mean and accuse everyone else of doing it "the wrong way" (and by everyone, I mean Zach)... the perfectionist in me is MEAN guys. I'm working on it. Sorry Zach. I love you. You're the best.

Victoria, Canada

Last stop on the cruise! Time always flies on any vacation :( and especially a great one! Zach and I have actually already been to Victoria before on another cruise (that was meant to go to Mexico buuuuut the swine flu happened -_____- ) so it was nice to relax and just hang around town. Last time we went to the Butchart Gardens which are beautiful so we took it easy this time! 

The famous Empress Hotel, so grand and royal inside! Loved all the antique wallpaper and china and everything.

 After I got my phone back, I discovered this:

 Hahaha such a Blickenstaff move! Hilarious.

The entire hotel:

Street parades and carriage rides...this town is so cute!

We took a bus tour all around town since this stop was from 7pm-midnight. Not much time to do a whole lot! Nice photobomb Dave ;)

Beanie time again!!! It was actually very chilly on the top of that bus.

She is soooo cute and she was soooo good!

Beautiful bay:

 Lots of old churchs and buildings:

Amazing sunset & harbor:

 Crossing into China Town :)

 Jordy's AZN face:

 After seeing lots of eagles, roaming peacocks, dear, and beautiful scenery and suburbs, we strolled around downtown and got hot chocolate and shopped! The perfect ending to our chilly night!

And I couldn't leave without picking up one of these for G:

I can't wait for her to wear it this winter!!!! She has the cutest caboose ever :)

The parliament building all lit up at night:

Walking back onto the cruise ship... this trip was over so fast!! 

We had to get up early the next morning and book it to the airport because we only had a small window of time to make our flight. Zach decided to chance an early flight in hopes of getting home early. It worked and thankfully Krissy willingly, selflessly, and amazingly picked us up from the airport ;) hahaha we love you Krissy!!!!! 

The next week was sad and empty and the itch to go back to CA was bugging again! I just love Cathy& Frank and all those CA siblings!!! But I love the siblings here in Utah too so it's not so bad. Thanks Cathy & Frank for an amazing time!! Can't wait for the next family trip :) you never disappoint. 

Tracy Arm: Glaciers & Icebergs

Caution: overload of scenery pictures & a beanie baby!

On one of the sea days, we passed through Tracy Arm early in the morning and were not planning on waking up to look at the glaciers and icebergs, but thanks to Georgia, we didn't miss it after all :) and I'm glad. It was amazingly beautiful in the morning sunlight and really quiet and peaceful. They handed out warm blankets for us to use because that was definitely the coldest it ever was on the ship! 

 I didn't even think to put her beanie on that morning so thankfully, Cameron lent her his. Haha she's such a cutie!

  

 Yes, I know we look even better than this scenery with our bed hair and no make-up...

Her face!! Haha this is the kind of picture that Kelly would post and laugh about for days. Weird pictures of your children are the best :)

   I loved seeing the icebergs that were bright blue from being so dense for so long.

Georgie was the best cuddle bug that morning. I love her to pieces! 

 She's always happy, especially in the morning, no matter how cold it is!

So so so so glad I did not miss this beautiful morning :)