Birthday Camera

Jeff broke the rules and got me an awesome camera for my birthday. I could just kiss that man! (Actually, I did.) So naturally, I ran followed around my favorite subjects and tried it out. I've got a LOT to learn, but I can already tell a big different in the quality of photos I am able to take. 



Utah: Part 5

There is always ample oppourtunity to take cute pictures of the twins and being in Utah was no exception.

It was so great to have extra hands to help with the babies. 

 Jeff went golfing with his Dad and brothers, Matt and Chris, one morning.

Jeff and his cousin, Brandon, went to the Green River for their much-anticipated annual fishing trip.

Clearly he was a happy man.

I went to Amber's baby shower

 She met the babies for the first time.

Utah: Part 4

Here's some more stuff we did with the Black side:

 We had a picnic and Grandma's with cousin Lily.

We made crazy eyes at the camera. 

 We posed for Grandma.

 We swam.

 We giggled.

 We got excited to play with girl cousins!

 

 We saw vultures at Tracy Aviary.

 One of us went on a special date with Grandma and Grandpa Black.

 We played piano.

We loved the non-humidity by spending lots of time outdoors.

 

 We hiked around Silver Lake. (Gorgeous!)

 We spent the 24th of July with cousins. (Sam, Joseph, Kanon, Adam, Anna, Grace, Isaac, Ian, Ben and Lily.

 We had a Pioneer Day firework show.

 We snuggled with Gramma.

We tried not to burn our fingers.

We loved every minute.

Utah: Part 3

So, I was feeling a little weird about turning thirty. There have been a lot of changes this year. No longer am a a twenty-something just starting a family. I drive a mini-van. I have four kids. I pay a morgage.

 It's weird.

But here I am. Starting the next decade

.

 I told Jeff I didn't want any presents, I just wanted to throw a party. And since Jeff turned thirty in December and I was 9 months pregnant and totally lame, I wanted to celebrate both our birthdays.

This may be the worst picture ever taken of me. Ah, well. It was the only shot of Jeff and I together.

Mom and Dad were gracious enough to let me use their yard and all their equipment, tables, chairs, dishes, etc. Dad worked on the yard all day and then stayed up until well after 1 am putting away tables and chairs and doing dishes. Bless that man.

We had a good turn out and were able to catch up with some friends that we hadn't seen in ages. It was wonderful.

Liz, Dad, Matt, Amanda.

Love them for embracing the "Stache Bash."

Lare Bear.

My dear friend and former next door neighbor, Rebecca.

Jeff's good friend, Adam.

Sadly, between serving food and talking to guest I took very few pictures. It was a really lovely evening and I'm so glad that we did it.

Jeff and I posted thirty of our favorite things at the party. I wanted to record them here.

Here's to the next thirty!

jeff’s 30 Favorites

The Wasatch mountains

Italy

Dates with anna

The green river

Making music playlists

Geography facts

Old school rap

Giving nicknames

Playing guitar

Daniel day lewis movies

Jones hole

March madness

Fishing magazines

Traveling with Rachel

Provo canyon

Nordstrom dress shirts

The 4^th of july

Cut and edged lawns

Red starburst

Red robin blue ribbon burger

An organized closet

Coca cola classic

Long showers

Planning vacations

Western rivers fly shop

Wrestling with Isaac

Surprising others

Making ben and sam laugh

Fresh mozzarella

Pbs documentaries

Rachel’s 30 Favorites

Better Homes and Gardens

Top Chef

The color gray

Receiving packages by mail

Kissing isaac’s cheeks

Blogging

Road trips

Clean sheets

Family dance parties

BBC Masterpiece Series

The Wasatch Mountains

Fall

Chips and salsa

Halloween

Kissing isaac’s cheeks

Parades

Rain storms

Hot chocolate

Bookstores

Dusk

Planning parties

Nutella

Birthdays

Movie theaters and popcorn

Chocolate cake

Traveling with Jeff

Coke Zero

rocking ben and sam to sleep

Fresh flowers in small vases

massages