oh hey

My loving husband has informed me that this blog silence has gone on long enough, it's been nearly a year(!). So here's a little update ....

Lucas: not much has changed in this area ... still works for The Journey, still loves working with delinquent rascals. Luke is maybe the best dad I've ever seen, he and Delta are the best of friends. Every single morning the first thing out of her mouth is to ask for Daddy (then Brok, but that's beside the point). She loves his truck and his beard and his tickles. And everything else about him.

Mindy: pregnant! Due in a week, in fact. I'm sorry if this blog update is the way you're finding out about this. I started a job at Utah Valley Dispatch last December, and despite the fact that I hate working full time, I really love working here. I love dispatching, and I've made lots of fun new friends ... At church I'm teaching primary to the 10 and 11 year old girls. They're so smart and fun and LOVE Delta and made me cupcakes for my birthday. We're studying the Old Testament, which I secretly love reading and learning about.

Delta: 20 months old. Probably Definitely the smartest and cutest kid alive. She is so excited to have a baby sister (maybe ... maybe she doesn't really understand), and is already practicing her mothering skills. I love to hear her messing around in her crib saying "night-night baby" as she tucks in her doll and animals. She is very independent, very loving and sweet, and as mentioned before, a genius. She's starting to put words together into sentences and surprises us daily with the use of new words. I know that she's MY kid and I'm a little bias, but she really is the sweetest little gal.
Delta loves reading, animals, the bath, kids (cousins especially), nursery, Grandma's house, veggies, jewelry, babies, singing, and outside. She can name her colors and animal sounds, and is working on ABCs and counting. She especially loves purple, Peg+Cat and Daniel Tiger (TV shows), could eat eggs (with cheese, obv) for every meal, and Brok is her BFF. She's just such a character, I can't believe how lucky we are to have her in our family.

Highlights from the past year:
- Mindy's new job - Utah Valley Dispatch
- Delta turned 1 in January!
- quit proctoring this summer (bittersweet)
- anniversary trip to Vegas in May with the Meachams
- Whole 30 in April - changed our lives and bodies (for a minute)
- awesome family reunion to Missoula with Luke's siblings - I wish we lived by all of them
- quick weekend in Chicago for Luke's birthday
- my little bro got married - welcome Danielle to our family and B&D to our basement :)
- a million other things I'm forgetting

Here are some pictures (a million and out of order, sorry):

1 - kids/grandkids LOLO, MT
2 - grandkids LOLO, MT
3 - L Kane fam LOLO, MT
4 - hike CASCADE SPRINGS
5 - B&D wedding

1 - hike CASCADE SPRINGS
2 - Delta
3 - family reunion LOLO, MT
4 - Delta & Sophie LOLO, MT
5 - prayers LOLO, MT

1 - Easter
2 - baby girl
3 - Delta
4 - about halfway ...looking huge
5 - LOLO, MT

1 - Christmas
2 - winter hike SOUTH FORK, PROVO CANYON
3 - Delta turns 1!
4 - Delta 18 months
5 - MOAB

Now everyone say a little prayer that I'll keep this space updated a little more regularly :)

a couple of things

I'm sorry if you were expecting an update on my darling daughter ... but this post has nothing to do with little Deltie. I just have a couple of things to share, and ask that you check them out:

1st - my sweetheart of a niece, Sophie. Her family is raising money for their local Down Syndrome family support and advocacy group. They are super close to reaching their goal - check it out and donate if you can!

Click HERE for details and to help them reach their goal!

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And 2nd - Jillyn. My dear friend who is in ROUND 2 of her cancer battle ... In Dec. 2011 Jillyn Larsen was pronounced cancer free after almost a year of chemotherapy for Colon Cancer. Recently, after a surgery to remove a tennis ball-sized cyst from her ovary, Jillyn and her husband Brandon received the hard news that the cancer had returned. Now they face a second round of chemo for an indeterminate amount of time...possibly for her lifetime. With Brandon being a full-time student the family's income rests solely on Jillyn, including their health insurance benefits. Click HERE to see how you can help.

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and just for fun ... my sweet babe

links!

Link posts are my favorite thing to read on other people's blogs ... so here are some of my recent finds and enjoyments:

I am by no means a vegetarian, but I did find this little article and video interesting. It gives an interesting perspective on the cycle of factory meat.

The Great Gatsby comes out on video today ... I didn't see it yet, so I'll have to redbox it. Any thoughts? Worth the $1?

Sometimes when I'm bored I look at this website. Maybe someday. I'd like this one, or this one, or this one.

Perspective.

Crazy pictures - just like in the movies.

Prime campfire time is just around the corner - I might need a couple of these.

Pretty cute.

I just really loved this. Great read.

Clever.

My favorite party blog, this one looks super fun. Or this one.

I love stationary. Here's a free printable!

I love reading this travel blog, but this post made me super homesick for Kiev. I'd really like to go back.

Disney + Insta = super cute

I love love love this song - but here it is, just slowed down a bit ...

How much do you love Seinfeld? Enough to watch these (fake) movies?

Super neat - b&w photos colorized.

early tuesday morning

Just when I thought I had my online shopping problem under control (ha!), H&M decides to get their act together and open online shopping. Oh, and they have a new "home" section .... super awesome.
Here are some of my favorites:

(all images from h&m.com) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- This article made me cry just a tiny bit. I hope I can be this kind of mom to Delta. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I don't know if I've shared this here ... but this is my favorite song (and favorite band) lately:
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- Amazing camping food - this will come in handy next week in CANADA! -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Has anyone been to the new Provo Rec Center? I know I'm a little behind ... it opened in the Spring. But please check out this awesome photo tour and then tell me when we can meet for a pool day. I just love it. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ... and here are a couple more of Miss Delty, I can't stop.

photos - 6 months

Here are a few photos from Delta's 6-month photo shoot - she was a bit tired, but still darling. Enjoy!

Special thanks to my sister Steph for taking these - she's the best.
(feel free to contact her for photos if you're in the Salt Lake/Utah county area)