Giving Thanks to you.

{free 16x20 download here}

Normally in November I do a daily thankful.  I've missed it a little bit this year but I think saying I'm grateful for Axel every day might get a little repetitive.   And while I have so many things to be thankful for, he is always the first thing that pops in to my head.  When I look back over the past few years and think about where my heart was when I started an I'm Thankful month it kind of seems like a lifetime ago, and a different me.  I feel like I am whole these days.  I feel happy and amazed that I feel happy.   Its good.  So this month I'm giving thanks.  To my friends and my family.  To everyone who has been a part of this story.  I couldn't have done it without you.  

: rustic graphics via 

2013 Fitness Goals

Is it too late to tell you my New Years Resolutions?  I hope not.   I really wanted to get them written down.  They have been sitting in my head and I'm kind of visual so this will help solidify them for me.  First up are my fitness goals for this year.  

Nothing too crazy.  The booty shorts one is going to be the hardest for me.  I don't want to run around in them or anything.  I just want to know that I could wear them and feel ok about it.  And you know the whole swimsuit thing...  Its going to be hard because of the whole pear shape thing.  But hopefully all of these other goals will help me get that one done.  

How about you?  Did you make any fitness goals this year?

A Million Words Or Just One Word Couldn't Explain.

We finally tracked down a video that we haven't seen in probably four years, lost after moving.  Lost forever we though when we switched to a Mac last summer.   Four years and I still cry when I watch it.

4 1/2 years have passed from this day and I still can't even believe I was so lucky to be able to actually experience it,  just once.  

4 1/2 years isn't even how long I begged my Heavenly Father to have those moments.  Maybe when Ivy has been here longer than I wished for her to be here I won't cry.

Or maybe someday I will only cry happy tears.

 Ivy Faith Warnick

video by Darin Warnick circa 2007

The Icing On My Cupcake

  The card is always the best part.  

Those two, Ivy and Darin, they are the jelly to my peanut butter...

The cheese to my macaroni...

The strawberries to my shortcake.  

Loving them and having them love me is the icing on my cupcake.

Day 2. Snow.

I'm thankful for snow.  Especially the, * Oh what we are visiting Colorado isn't it so fun that it snowed 6 inches and magically didn't stick to the roads so we can go get some gloves to play in it * kind .

Especially the * So pretty and white and sparkly you just have to eat it * kind.

And ESPECIALLY the *our whole family is going snowboarding today* kind of snow that we will have this winter.  Can she really be big enough? Geez.  Darin took me snowboarding on our first date... 12 years ago.  My how the days fly.  

{Yep thats me!  I totally rocked it back in the day. HA!}

Insta Catch Up pt.1

Oh man I am getting so super sad that Summer will be officially over next week.  It has been exactly what  I needed in a summer and in my life.  It always does feel good to have a bit of a change and we are getting back in to the swing of real life in our house.  Here's a bit of catching up in my fave Instagram fashion...

Every year my in laws grow these HUGE sunflowers.  There yard is the best place to be on a great summer evening.  It is the most beautiful light you will ever see.

My dear Lolo came back for a visit and we got pedicures.  My toes were green and sparkly and reminded me of mermaid toes.  

TOMS fall shoes started rolling in in August.  Hmm I wonder who would have ordered those? ;) 

I couldn't decide which pair to get so I didn't get any.  Guess I'll be waiting for those berry cords...

These 3 are so funny together.  Lyttons birthday is just a couple of weeks after Ivy's so we had to celebrate while they were in town.    Favorite part?  Dreaming of how fun these guys are going to be when they are 16.

Trying out the Silhoutte as a tshirt screener. Pretty cute and it works fabulously.

  

Pirate adventure at the mall.  Ivy got to make a hook and everything.  I loved asking her what a pirates favorite letter was.  She answered A?  no.  B?  no.  C?  all the way till we got to the right letter.  

I think this is one our last days at the pool.  She got tossed in probably 30 times.  Every time making a perfect pencil in to the water.  AHhh.  Pool days.  I can't wait to see you again next summer!

We had to cut our pool days short cuz this little lady got ear aches.  She fell asleep in the cart trying to get her medicine.  I don't know if I've ever seen her more miserable.  :(  

Luckily we had a super fun couple of weeks planned for the little lady.  I sent the two campers off for a week with Grandpa at Mt.  Hood.  She ROCKED as a camper.  Ivy caught two fish and didn't want to leave.   

I took advantage of the quiet time and got a few things done.  I was a sponsor of Meg's Craft Weekend so I got that done.  Plus I managed to squeeze in time to see The Help with a few friends after meeting up for  Fro Yo.  Both were super good.

I love that every one of these bags gets a book in the hands of a little kid.  And I love the new updated logo Heather came out with.  

If Darin's gone that means I'm working at Greenies.  Its the perfect excuse to get the very best mac n cheese in the history of the world from our friends at Cheese Louise.  If you are local I suggest you get some.  Today. 

Then Darin and I switched.  He went back to work at Greenies and I headed to Portland to meet up with my fam and head to the Oregon Coast.  Yay for solo road trips and 4 hours to think.  

Of course I had to make a pit stop here.  It was all in the name of avoiding rush hour traffic.  I swear.

We went to Pacific City.  I haven't ever been there in all my life and it is my most favorite evah.  It might have something to do with the fact that it was actually sunny and somewhat warm.  The whole day.  Which is just about as lucky as you can get when you go to the coast.  Ivy and I got up early and took a long walk.  And I found my first whole sand dollar.  I knew it was going to be a fabulous trip.

I loved everything about Pacific City.  The fact that you could drive your car on to the beach.  Watching the dorys driving up on to the beach.  The pizza place.  And oh man the best fish tacos I have ever had.  Ever.  And I couldn't have asked for better company.

We took our bikes and got to ride around on these fun boardwalks.  I had a smile on my face the whole time.

The best one.  Seriously.

You can't go to the beach without going to the Tillamook Cheese Factory.  And you can't go there with out getting squeeky cheese.

Or the ice cream.

When we got back it was fair time!  The only ride Darin and I went on was the ferris wheel.

But we got my little dare devil a wrist band.  For the amount of times she went on the slide alone it was worth it.  {think 30 times.  no joke.}  And those grins and the excitement.  priceless.

I'll catch you up on everything else later!  Hope you are all doing awesome!

InstaFriday {can it be summer forever?}

Happy InstaFriday everyone!  Here's a glimpse of our eventful week through phone photos.  {Just so you know, breaking down and getting a phone that takes good pictures is one of the best things I've done lately.} 

These peonies were at the farmers market last Friday.  I really hope she is going to be back today cuz I need some of these beauties to brighten up my home this weekend.

Last weekend was Grandma Camp.  Darin's mom hosts it every year and everyone comes for 2 days of fun. There is tin foil dinners, a pajama fashion show, Christmas in July, S'mores {my favorite part} and story time.  And thats just the first day!

Our friends Rob and Stacy came in to town for the 4th of July so they came out to Grandma camp too.  My in laws live in the country a little bit and they always have the MOST gorgeous sunsets.  Perfect lighting for Stacy's maternity shoot with Darin.  It doesn't get much prettier then wheatfields in the evening light.

On the second day of Grandma camp we have a family friend bring horses for horse rides, water balloon launchers, homemade ice cream in a bag and an obstacle course.  This year the last task was to eat one of those huge marshmallows with no hands.  I think all the kids got sick. 

After Greenies closed on Saturday we headed out to Portland to spend the 4th at the beach.  The original plan was to go to the coast both Sunday and Monday but you can't count on beach weather in Oregon.  Even in July.  Since it was rainy at the coast we enjoyed an actual sunny day.  Right in Portland.  In all my life of living in and visiting Portland I have never been to Voodoo Donuts.  We stood in line for 30 minutes. I guess its a newly renovated locatation.  The entire building was painted with glitter.  I loved it.  

It was really good.  My favorite was the Voodoo Doll.

Luckily we had good weather for the 4th.  We hit up the Cannon Beach parade.  Ivy didn't think it was that great until everyone started throwing candy at her.  Then she def warmed up to the idea.

We got there in perfect time to explore the base of Haystack Rock {you know, the Goonies rock} when the tide was out.  The rocks are covered in starfish and mussels and barnacles and all kinds of crazy sea life.  Next time I'm taking my bike.

We came home and had a night out on the town with Darin's siblings.  They convinced us to go to Olive Garden.  Last time we went there was probably 6 years ago in Denver.  It was seriously like the Denny's of italian food.  The chairs had casters on them.  Luckily this was a much better experience.  Fancy even.  Yay.

Then it was back to our regular routine of pool, sleep, repeat.  Why do goggles make everyone instantly nerdy.  And super cute at the same time?  

How was your 4th?!

{ps... you don't have to use instagram to link up.  Any ole camera pictures will work.  Won't you join me?}