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)

6 months

Everyone tells you to watch out, it goes so fast, they grow up so quickly ... but it's true. I don't know why I thought I was the exception, but I was wrong. Very wrong. The last 6 months has flown by.

Delta is the sweetest little gal. She started out a scowler, but her face has softened with age. She has so many different expressions, and it's obvious that she wants to tell us everything she knows. She babbles and giggles all day long... She is all smiles, and only gets upset for a minute if she's super hungry or tired. She's a dream baby.

Her favorite thing lately is spitting ... she's discovered her tongue and loves to make farting sounds. She thinks she's hilarious. She usually spends 15 or 20 minutes spitting and giggling to herself in her crib in the morning before we get her up.

She LOVES Brok. She is constantly watching him when he's in the room. She giggles when he chases his tail, and lights up if he pays even the slightest bit of attention to her. They'll be best friends, I'm sure of it.

We couldn't be happier with this baby. Not only does she sleep 12 (un-interrupted) hours each night, but she takes 3 naps a day too. She's not a picky eater, she doesn't scare easily. She loves sitting and standing, and LOVES her bouncy jumping toy. She's such a joy, we can't imagine life without her.

(actual photos from her 6-month shoot coming soon....)

favorite things

This week has been grand. I love Independence Day. Every year I wish I did more to celebrate ... I will next year for sure. We did spend the afternoon/evening at Thanksgiving Point. We don't have many family traditions (yet), but we've gone to these fireworks every year since we've been married. It's super fun to set up our spot and play games, read books, have pizza delivered. Delta took a long evening nap and woke up just in time to watch the big fireworks. I only got one shot of her face during the big fireworks ... she was in awe.

On another note, here are some fun links:

Werd is my favorite gift-searching website for boys, but I recently discovered this one for ladies. I want just about everything they put on here.

This website is super cool. Mostly if you're a t-shirt designer, but also if you like to buy t-shirts.

I know it's for scouts, but this is a great way to make sure you've packed everything for all of your upcoming adventures.

Cute earrings from one of my favorite (local!) etsy shops.

My favorite things to watch on TV lately? Iron Chef America and anything on the History Channel (it's Civil War week this week!).

I have been a little obsessed with etsy lately ... I want pretty much everything in this shop.

and I love this quote for the 4th:
"May God give us the faith and the courage exhibited by those patriots who pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor that we might be free." –Ezra Taft Benson

Michigan! May 2013

Last month we headed out to the great midwest so Delta could meet all the family she has heard so much about ... We could only go for a few days, but we had a great trip!

I love spending time out there. I love the trees and the winding roads and the lake. I love that Lucas has a million memories and tells me the best stories (my favorite: finding dead frogs in the backyard swimming pool then leaving them on a [mean] neighbor lady's porch ... those Kane boys kids were sure a handful).

I love spending time at Grandma Kane's house. She's gone now, but we had the privilege of staying there on this trip. The house is just as she left it, and completely full of memories. We spent some time looking through photo albums and learning all about Luke's ancestors. We even found a prayer book that belonged to his great, great (?) grandpa who came to America from Austria. Luckily, my amazing SIL served her mission in Germany and translated some super old handwritten notes. (thanks Paulette!)

Here are a few pictures from the trip:

1)Delta on Grandma Kane's back deck
2)Grandma's backyard
3)Uncle Coco is a creeper
4)Grandma Hassler meets Delta
5)Luke & Delta on the front porch
6)Backyard
7)random Indiana barn that I fell in love with

We miss it already, can't wait to go back!

fine, I'll update my blog

I get that I haven't posted anything in a really long time. I'm sorry. Follow me on Instagram and you won't have anything to whine about (Blaine).

Have you heard of houseparty.com? I hadn't, until my sister said she was having a Super Soaker party, sponsored by Nerf and Cheetos. Awesome, right? Well, it was. Houseparty.com sent Steph an awesome kit full of water guns and fancy cheetos. Then her whole neighborhood came over for a huge water fight and party. It was pretty sweet. Here are some pictures from the event:

in case you can't tell, this is Halle sharing her DC with Uncle Adam

Lucas killing it on the slip 'n slide

Lucas & Adam - kings of the water party with their (giant) homemade water guns

my favorite gals, Hal loves her diet coke

...and here are a couple of pictures from a few weeks back - we went up to my Grandma's house to do some yard work and visit:

4 generations: Me, Grandma w/Delta, and my mom

Delta with one of her favorite great-aunts (Ranae, who looks like she's my age)

Introducing ...

It was only 4 short weeks ago that I was sitting on the exam table and the wonderful Dr Bean "accidentally" broke my water ... I hate birth stories on blogs. Sorry to say that out loud and potentially hurt a lot of feelings, but I think it's generally way too much information for public view. But that's my personal opinion.
So if you want to hear the story of my lovely daughter's birth, you'll have to either call me or come visit and get the juicy details. In the meantime, here are adorable pictures of the little peanut (thanks to our family photographer, Steph):

It's hard to describe just how great it feels to be a mom. I just love her so much. I hate the thought of going back to work, even if it's only for a few hours a week. I hate the thought of being without her. She's the greatest little thing.

waiting

Even though she's not scheduled to be here until next Tuesday, I feel like she's late. It seems like we've been waiting forever to meet her, it's killing me.
But honestly, I could keep her in there for a while longer with no complaints. I love being pregnant. Sure, it's a little uncomfortable at times, and I have to pee SO much ... but the opportunity I have to share this time with just her ... priceless. I'm not quite ready to share her with the rest of the world. I do feel bad for Lucas, he's dying to hold her. I keep telling him that he'll get to have her on the outside forever, but I only have a few days left with her inside. I like it.

While you wait for me to announce the baby, please enjoy these fun things I found:

I love these thoughts on pregnancy and being a mother.

This fun multi-color search .... I'm easily entertained.

This is a fun place to look around ... I want pretty much everything in this store.

It was hard enough to think of some New Years Resolutions ... but my friend Katy did monthly ones ... I love this idea.

I loved Les Miserables ... here is a lovely list of books that apparently I should enjoy ... does anyone have any other book suggestions?

Winter is awesome this year ... I'm loving all the snow. But it makes me want to spend money on boots ..... I want these and these and these - I will take any color :)

I love this, from President Uchtdorf (Of Regrets & Resolutions):
"Let us resolve to follow the Savior and work with diligence to become the person we were designed to become. Let us listen to and obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit. As we do so, Heavenly Father will reveal to us things we never knew about ourselves. He will illuminate the path ahead and open our eyes to see our unknown and perhaps unimagined talents."

2013 -- to do

Sorry if you're sick of reading New Years Resolutions posts. If this is the case, please re-direct your browser at this time. Also, I know it's late and I already haven't done any of them. Fail. But I'm pregnant, and I'm running out of time to use that excuse. So give me a break.

First - have a baby! I'm not due until Jan 15th .... but I'm hoping she comes a little early. I'm dying to see her face.

Second - own less crap. Lucas and I were just discussing how much we hate the millions of piles of STUFF around our house. It's got to go.

Third - house projects. Upstairs floors, upstairs bathroom, KITCHEN. Backyard sprinkler system, siding on the shed, fence?? Good news? We're DONE with the basement! (well ... maybe we'll replace the carpet in the future... maybe).

Fourth - I want to memorize the Articles of Faith. I did it once, in Primary, but I feel like I should know them by heart.

Fifth - Instagram. Photo a day ... a kind of photo journal of the year. I think it will be much easier once the babe is born (those of you who follow me on Instagram will be overwhelmed with little lady pictures I fear).

AND, probably the most important of all: Make a habit of family prayer and scripture study. We kind of suck at it, but we have to do it. So the goal is to make it a habit in our life before our kids are old enough to know any better.

"Your habits of family prayer and scripture reading will create more lasting memories and greater changes of heart than you may realize now. Even apparently temporal activities, such as attending an athletic event or watching a movie, can shape a child’s heart. What matters is not the activity but the feelings that come as you do it."
Henry B Eyring - Help Them Aim High

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