U2 2011

Mid July some of our great friends came in town for the U2 concert. About 2 years ago we saw U2 in Chicago with some of the same friends and I was so mad at myself for not bringing my camera because we ended up getting crazy close to the stage. Well, this time I grabbed my camera, put on my 50mm lens and prayed we would get close again...and boy did we.



Its a good thing, because I don't know if I'll ever be able to do general admission again. First of all, most of the girls had to stay behind until the last minute because we are all breastfeeding so we sat around pumping; not quite the pre-party of our younger days. Secondly, I had to wear a back support brace due to the mess my abs are after having a 9lb 6oz baby. Thirdly, I had to wear running shoes and socks with shorts (leaving me looking like an American tourist) to further help my back. Lastly, we all piled in our new minivan to get to the concert. This is all proof that we are in fact, getting old.



The concert was, of course, amazing. It was worth all the standing and sweating (it was about 100 degrees outside). There is only one thing that disappointed me, and this is where I confess a secret life long dream. Sometimes U2 sings "Mysterious Ways" at their concerts, and when they do Bono pulls a girl up on stage to dance with him. I have secretly always wanted to be that girl. I mean...it would be amazing. At this summer's concert they sang the song and we were right by the stage and Bono even walked right by us in the beginning. My heart was beating so fast as he got closer to us...I thought that my dream might come true. But also I was panicking, because people...I had a back brace on and those socks and tennis shoes with shorts! So embarrassing, and more likely that I would move in awkward ways, not mysterious ways. I may as well have had pleated mom jeans on up to my neck. So, in the end, it was better he didn't choose me. In fact he didn't choose anyone for some reason.



So, maybe I will have to stand in general admission again. Someday Bono...someday. And next time I'll try and dress a little more mysteriously.

9 years

I knew Shane Duggin in high school. I always thought he was cute. He had these huge green eyes and it seemed like he could see through me. We were friends who's circles of friends overlapped at times. When he asked me how I was doing it seemed like he actually wanted to know what the answer was. He seemed wise beyond his years even then. We ended up at the same college and our friendship grew. At times I thought we might end up together, other times I was sure I wouldn't be so lucky. After 3 years we finally started dating. I freaked out and broke up with him. I was scared I guess. He waited patiently for me to come around and I did. He asked me to marry him on a mountain peak and I couldn't believe how blessed I was. Nine years ago tonight we were dancing our first dance. And then we bought two houses, survived law school, and had two cute kids. Time flies. I still can't believe how blessed I am.



photo by the always brilliant Jen Seris

Shane got me this awesome bus roll for Christmas (cuz I told him to) designed by Kal Barteski. If you don't know about Kal check out her blog, she is amazing. It pretty much sums up how I feel about our life together. Happy Anniversary Shane. Love you forever.

a trip to the mountains

We spent what felt like FOREVER packing up the car and kiddos and headed to our favorite state, Colorado. It was a stinkin long car trip, but when we got there we were welcomed by some of our favorite people. Our friends Bill and Peggie recently fulfilled a dream of theirs and retired to an amazing house in the mountains. I tried to get them to let me do a photo shoot of them while I was there but they just wouldn't do it. Stinkers. I did get this one though...



Love those two. I hope Shane and I are brave enough and in love enough to embark on such an adventure when we retire. So cool.

Marlie was in awe of their antique swing set in the front yard. Now that is what I call a view! She was so inspired that she learned to pump while we were there.



What a sweet girl...



Tate was a pretty perfect little traveler and just went with the flow. Its a little soon to tell, but I think he'll be a mountain man.



Our friends the Days were there too. You may remember them from this post.

Liddy and Marlie were little buddies...



Chad and Shane rode in a benefit bike ride for Children's Hospital in Denver. More specifically for the Children's Hospital Metabolic Clinic. Two of Chad and Sarah's girls live with an incredibly rare metabolic disorder. The clinic and the amazing staff are a large part of their lives. We've watched them make their way through this journey with their girls so I couldn't think of a better ride for Shane to be a part of or a better friend to do it with.



Chad had the girl's names written on his arm for inspiration to keep going...



And it worked. I was amazed at how far they rode. Huge hills, high altitude. Amazing, and all for the kids.



If you want to donate to the metabolic clinic you can click here to donate even though the ride is already completed.

Such a fun trip. Traveling with two kids is exhausting, I think I'm still recovering. But, it was worth it just to be with these folks. I miss the cool mornings and evenings, a warm cup of tea on the porch, the smell of an afternoon rain storm, the huge mountain peaks, but most of all I miss our friends. Love you guys!

baby Finley

My brother and his wife added another baby the family late last month. Miss Finley is one tiny sweet lady. They came over a few weeks ago for her newborn shoot. Yes, I am still on maternity leave, but family is family. Plus when it's my brother I can do the shoot without cleaning the house or changing out of my jammies :).

Also when its family they trust you when you say you are going to stick their naked tiny baby in a box...



I love this shot of all four of them. Just look at my nephew Charlie's little face. Don't you want to eat his cheeks? I do. Even though he pooped in my bathtub tonight. Really, he did. But I love him anyway.



Welcome to the family Finley! You can poop in my tub whenever you want.

DIY baby bow tie from men's necktie

This Sunday Tate is being baptized (or as Marlie calls is baptamatized) at our church. We are having family over to our house for a little brunch afterward to celebrate. So you'd think that today I would be cleaning and getting ready for company, but instead I decided to make a bow tie for Tate's outfit because I'm just sort of nuts like that. His outfit needed a little something. I read some blogs on making a baby bow tie from fabric, but I wanted it to be real tie fabric. So I got a tie on clearance at JCPenneys and just kind of hoped I could figure it out. I thought I would be cutting big pieces of fabric out and ironing and sewing, but as I looked at it I realized maybe the easiest thing to do would be to use the skinny tail end of the tie. I took some pictures as I went in case it did turn out cute so I could show you how to do it. So, here we go...

1) Buy a men's tie you like. Please refrain from buying a psychedelic one or one with cartoon characters on it because well...they are ugly.



2) Cut a strip from the skinny side of the tie about 8 inches long.



3) Fold the piece in half with the back side (the side with the seam) facing out. Dust off the old sewing machine and sew together the two edges to create a loop.



4) Turn the loop right side out so the sewed seam is now on the inside.



5) Cute a small strip a few inches long from the back of the neck tie.



6) Turn the small strip inside out and sew the edges together. Then turn the fabric right side out. This isn't easy, use a pencil or scissors to help you turn it right side out. Then hand sew the loop in the middle to make the bow tie. Make sure it is tight enough.



7) Measure your little man's neck to see how much elastic to use. Then slide the elastic through the small loop and sew the edges together.



8) And finally, put it on your little man.



Doesn't Tate look dashing in his new bow tie? He did get a little cocky though. I peed my pants a little bit when I edited the pics and found this shot...



"Heelllloooo there. Yes, I'm kind of a big deal. I have many leather bound books."

Anyways, that's how you can make a baby bow tie from a regular necktie. Here are some similar tutorials for other ways to do it Here and HERE.

O.K., now I really do have to go clean. Have a good weekend!

Tate boy - 2 mos 11 days

Hi Tate boy.

Hi Mamma.



How's it going? What are you up to these days?

Oh, pretty good. I've just been sleeping and snuggling and cooing.



You've been smiling a lot too. Why won't you smile for me when I get out my camera?

It makes me nervous. I'll give you a little smirk.



What about that big sister of yours? Are you guys getting along?

Yeah, she makes me smile. She can squeeze a little hard so I have to watch out. Oh, here she comes now!



You guys are the cutest kids I ever had.

Thanks Mamma.

1 month + 4 days

Tate turned one month old on Friday. Its only fitting that I am few days late on this post cuz you know...I have a one month old so I'm late for everything. Some random thoughts about this past month...



Tate is a pretty darn good sleeper. It was rough the first week or so but now he only wakes up once during the night. That is pretty amazing and I'm so thankful.

Dividing my attention between Marlie and Tate has been really challenging. I knew it would be, but that doesn't make it any easier. Its kind of heart breaking to watch Marlie adjust to the new normal. Its also really hard to keep my cool when she is too rough with Tate. I'm trying to breathe deep and be patient with her.

However, Marlie can be really cute with her new baby bro. When he cries she sings "Jesus Loves Me"...very loudly...to calm him down. Its really cute and also kind of maddening.

Baby car seats are even heavier than I remember. I hate the way it digs in to my leg when I carry it.

I love Tate's legs. They are really soft and his knees are wrinkly.

Breastfeeding consumes so much time. So...much...time.

My husband is amazing.

Friends and family have been making us dinner a few times a week. I cannot explain how helpful it has been. I cringe when I think about cooking dinners again.

I love my mom. She is such a good listener and encourager.

I'm trying to live out my goal for the year to take it one day at a time. Some days I am successful.

My body is starting to feel pretty healed up. However it doesn't look that way. Very few clothes fit and I look 6 mos pregnant. I know its early, but its hard not to let it get to me.

I don't know if its the hormones or what, but throughout the day I flip flop from thinking "Oh my gosh I can't do this." and "Oh my gosh this is so wonderful."

Today I saw a glimpse of the sweet relationship Marlie and Tate are going to have as he grows. They snuggled together as Marlie talked and he listened and watched. And then she wrapped him up like a burrito, head and all, and we had to have a little talk about that but whatever...it was cute while it lasted :).