Beatrice sandwich! And some of the very best pizza we have ever eaten behind us 🍕@pizzeriabianco
These two are obsessed with “Fancy Like” and mostly obsessed with watching @walkerhayes dance to Fancy Like with his family 😎😎 It’s currently their top pick for the bedtime song🎶 and here’s a snippet of what went down last night! #fancylike
“Mama— take a picture of this face…” he says. And I’m grabbing my camera and trying to contain my laughter as I think to myself, “I’m just the absolute luckiest to know this kid.” 💛 Everyone needs a mister Conrad in their life.
When you convince (bribe?) the entire family to take a family photo with the real camera 📸 ps- spot the camera remote😂
Sometimes I raise my voice. Sometimes I beg. Sometimes I make ultimatums. Sometimes I hate bedtime to the freaking goodnight moon and back.
But then they’ll grab my chin and cheeks and lean in close to tell me they love me. And they’ll thank Heavenly Father for “no witches and no robbers” during their bedtime prayers. And insist on giving each other 17 silly hugs before the lights go out because “I’m gonna miss her so much when I sleep.”
I’ll take the 48 minutes of squatting between their beds for back scratches and the unexpected trip to the potty 12 minutes after the last potty trip if it means they keep this bond forever. Witnessing their complete love and sisterhood changes me. Even when I say I hate bedtime with my three-year-olds, I’m such a sucker for this stage of life with them.
A few photos from life lately over here - enjoying family time and life in Arizona. Thanks for being here while I’ve kind of been away for a little while… haven’t been doing well physically (some health issues) but that doesn’t mean I haven’t stopped taking one too many photos☺️
The game of “Who Can Stand on Mama’s Back and Wiggle Their Feet Around Without Falling Off!” …which is really just code for “mama would like a back massage” but they think it’s crazy fun and my back knots are screaming happy so everyone wins. #momhacks
One wall and pipe at a time, the home renovation is coming together. 💛 #renovation #homedecor #wallpaper (wallpaper is @riflepaperco🌸)
Just over here holding all my (not-so-little) babies close and stepping away from pretty much everything else. Trying to cuss less and write more. Often feel on the cusp of big breakthroughs I want from my life (yay!) while simultaneously giving too much power to my anxiety (ugh). Clinging to my evening prayers and favorite yoga class and busting out the Christmas music a season early. My footing might be terribly wobbly at the moment and who wants to hear the girl on the verge of nervous tears dish out any kind of life advice, but for anyone else in a similar rut (I’m so sorry) – might I suggest the biggest serving of strawberry shortcake as a remedy. Plus standing outside during a warm rain (Arizona, you healer with a perfectly timed monsoon season, how’d you know?)… and maybe put the phone down more. Or whatever version of these three things might float your boat. I’m sure chocolate soufflé with a dose of sunshine instead of shortcake and rain could also do the trick. The phone one I’m sticking by though. Sending you lots of love.
Bringing our summer along with us forever by way of new freckles scattered across most of our faces! ✨ …you can see B’s first sprinkle of itty bitty dots across her little nose and cheeks in the 2nd pic and even with all the lathering of sunscreen and my blessed daily nagging about sun hats, I’m nothing but proud in this moment!🥳 #summer #motherhood #magic
We are slowly making our way back to Arizona this week (my kids school year begins August 2nd😱) and we’ve never been more out of routine (definitely missing black out curtains right about now) BUT we’ve clocked in so many striking sunsets and got to hold and hug so many loved ones, it’s been everything.
I meant to share earlier this week that Amazon is running a promo on my book right now through the end of the month (until 7/31)— use the code 3YELLOW for $3 off your book purchase!
If you’ve been considering purchasing, it’d mean so much to have you do so! Thank you for supporting me and my book and I hope you find it worth your while and time.
For those of you who have already purchased and read— if there was a takeaway or something that resonated with you as you read, would you consider sharing in the comments below for new potential readers to see?
Thank you again for your support! This has been such a vulnerable and thrilling and challenging and exciting and scary endeavor and I’ve really appreciated the support. 💛
Just trying to keep up with these three on the mountain and ignore how sore my butt is from my saddle😅
On a boat! With a lot of laughs! And a few tears. Plus a whole lotta sunscreen and a couple of epic tube flips 🚤
Our summer adventures are getting a little jumbled when it comes to me sharing anything in chronological order (a part of my brain is freaking out right now but another part of my brain is feeling a little bit more free.) Sparklers are our family’s happy place so we continued our 4th of July celebrating tonight with a few on the deck. Of all the summer activities so far, a box of sparklers a few days post holiday was Samson’s favorite. He hugged me so tightly at bedtime as he told me for maybe the 18th time how much fun he had tonight. Somehow I forget anything else I loved this summer… his enthusiasm for an evening of sparklers brought sparklers to the top of my favorite summer activities list, too. 🧨
The BEST time learning all about bees 🐝 with the bee expert herself @mckayjo in Salt Lake City. We haven’t stopped talking about all the impressive things those hard working bees do each day and somehow honey has made its way into more of our meals this week 😋 Thank you for having us, @mckayjo!
Kingsley is SOOO into the sparklers!
Very cool! I went to DC in July once right after the 4th but one day I'm going for this wonderful holiday!
looks really cool!
x
This is the best! You all have really cute, festive outfits! Hope your July 4th is awesome!
How fun! You captured the sparklers perfectly! Enjoy July 4th in the capital! :)
Best,
Danielle
loveandlookpretty.blogspot.com
have fun! love the sparklers
I love this, how did you do this??
Oh I absolutely adore these photos :)
these are so cool! we did this in kenya with our mission team!
Love this so much!!
what shutter speed did you use to take this?
love the pictures, got to try this myself!
Fun photos! Happy 4th to you and yours!
Great photos! :)
LOVE the sparkler pics! I have been seeing that a lot this year, I was telling my boyfriend we should try it! Yours turned out soooo cool. My bf didn't want to try it though!
Happy 4th :)
love that yellow skirt.
i just thought to myself, "something's missing here…." oh yeah – eleanor :)
how cute!! Happy fourth!
I am guessing you are the one in the yellow skirt :)
I love those pictures. I've always wanted to do something like that but could never get it to turn out. Happy 4th of July! :D
oh. that is just freaking fantastic. happy fourth from the west! :)
You guys are so fun! love this!
oh my goodness I just love your blog so much! And those sparklers! Too cute! Kingsley loves them too :)
that is sooo cool – i wanna do this tonight!
Sparkler's = mucho fun!
xxoo,
Windsor
http://eatlovebikini.blogspot.com/
It would be super cool if you did a blog post on how to do these pictures. I have tried sooo hard but never turns out so wel! I love it!! Have a good 4th!
Cambria
http://www.camabia.com
It would be super cool if you did a blog post on how to do these pictures. I have tried sooo hard but never turns out so wel! I love it!! Have a good 4th!
Cambria
http://www.camabia.com
that takes talent, bravo!
This is adorable. Happy Fourth!!
absolutely love these images!
Awesome picks!! Kingsley kinda looks like a ghost in his :D
You are an absolute rockstar but you already knew that of course! I tried to this with my sparklers tonight but sadly it failed. I'm insanely jealous!
cool pictures! happy 4th!
Oh my goodness, how great did those sparklers turn out!!
Happy 4th :)
Minestrone Soup For the Teenage Soul
happy 4th! awesome pictures!
SO fun. Happy 4th of July!
Very cool how you did that with the sparklers! Happy 4th!
Angela
grahamandangela.blogspot.com
Those 2 photos are great!
Carla xx.
The photos are so great!! We love making stuff like that, too! Happy Independence Day!!
Katie
Love the DC pride! My dogs would look like ghosts if I tried to do a long exposure shot like that.
ahhh i love writing with sparklers!! so much fun :)
I love that sparkler trick. Happy 4th!
Sparklers are my all time fave!!! Glad you had a lovely 4th!
i also want to learn the sparkler trick. please tell!
this is all so lovely! i would love the planet gear gear or ruche looks stunning. you're such a rockstar!
AWESOME photos!
Great photography. Three cheers for sparklers.
ooooh! these photos are so great!
I love these photos! I can't believe you guys got it all in one try – best fourth of July weekend ever.
i'm sad i missed out on fireworks and sparklers because i was sick :(
Hey, Josh was in my ward growing up! Crazy…
You guys just have the cutest blog and the cutest family EVER! Eleanor is absolutely adorable, and you are super-talented. Love it!
-Angie (Porter) Wilson
These photos are awesome!
Fashionable Collections
oh my god , i just LOVE these photos! i'm so jealous of your sparkles , we don't have them in my country! :( i don't even know how they work! lucky you! have a wonderful week with lovely experiences like this one ! xo
I like that Kingsley is the only one not cooperating and not standing still. He has so many legs!
Love it! What settings did you use for the sparkler pictures?
I was in the capital last night, too! Weren't the fireworks amazing?
Love your photos- you look like you always have a good time celebrating :)
Ahhhh these are amazing! Looks like lots of fun was had!
you guys always have the best sparkler pictures! looks like you had fabulous fourth!
i love sparkly spelling! terrific photos.
Magical!!!
Love the sparklers! Adorable!
wow, i am very impressed with your sparkler skills!
Love how stylish you all are! Great, fun photos!
Kacie
http://www.acollectionofpassions.blogspot.com/
Those are really awesome pics!
how fun! and what great pictures…!
Yesssssssssssss painting with sparklers! Well done. Well, well done. Not even gonna ask how many takes this took. ;)
Yesssssssssssss painting with sparklers! Well done. Well, well done. Not even gonna ask how many takes this took. ;)
WOW That's awesome!!! Looks soo cool!
We approve of your photo :)
Don Whiteside
Managing Editor, WeLoveDC.com
Oh fun! I've always wanted to try something like this. Did you all have to write your letters at the same time? How long of a shutter speed did you use?