fringe

Fringe is fun fad as of late, and I jumped on the band wagon

with this tutorial.

I like it.

AND even better, it's made from one of Jake's old shirts...

so really, how could you get better than a free fringe necklace?

A must try in my book.

I think I'll buy some real leather and give it a shot.

Who's with me?

pink and cupcakes

On Saturday I celebrated with some friends for a baby girl shower.  It's nice to be around pink, cupcakes, dresses, and flowers every once in a while.  And even nicer to be around friends.  Especially these ones because they mean so much to me.  Ladies-- it was a treat to be girly for a few hours.  Thank ya!

toddler finger painting

The heat does strange things to you, like thinking "Hey, I want to paint with my 16 month old son."  It seemed like a good idea-- inside, out of the heat, and strapped to a chair.  But not such a good idea when M wanted to eat the blue paint and lift up the newspapers to paint more than just his little piece of paper.  Whatever.  He was happy.  So I let him do whatever.  Nothing a bath can't fix.

a great week in the form of a list:

1. Myer's four teeth finally broke through.
2. Got an unexpected, but great, phone call for Jake.
3. Watched the Opening Ceremonies with my little family on the couch.
4. The person ahead of me in the check-out line paid for my groceries.
5. First experience crying in the grocery store.
6. Got two DVD's in the mail instead of just one.
7. Spent a morning in Park City.
8. Caught up with out of town friends.
9. Made some amazing easy Pad Thai.
10. And played in the crib with M.

One of my favorite weeks so far.  And it's nice to know that good people are still out there.  Feeling especially blessed and happy.  I hope your week produced a top ten too.

xoxo,

bryton

insta update

1. technology baby  2. green pleated skirt

3. in a hat like dad  4. Myer and Daisy

5. human parking lot  6. NBA.com

7. my family  8. firetruck escort

9. bath hair  10. laughs

pioneery things

For Utah's Birthday, we spent the afternoon at Thanksgiving Point Farm Country.  I was waiting for a cooler day and just as if Utah was reading my mind, it gave us perfect temperatures yesterday.  (When it's your birthday, you can do anything.)  Lately M's been fascinated with "hosee's", "moo's", "bawk bawk's," and "baa's"so as expected he was thrilled to be around it all.  

We found a mini pony just his size, and Myer stroked his head and ears for a good 10 minutes.  It was darling.  That horse probably liked it too.  We also saw a pregnant cow, sleeping pigs, goats smaller than Myer, llamas, and wild turkeys.  But we just couldn't stay away from the mini ponies.  It's hard not to when they're as tall as him and oh so willing for a head rub.  

A great Pioneer Day to say the least.  We got in touch with our pioneer/farmer roots and brought that smell home with us.  Happy Birthday Utah!

pioneer day

Alpine has it's own pioneer history and amazing men and women who sacrificed lots to settle our little community, as well as the state of Utah.  One man, who many know his story, is John Moyle.  His homestead is a mile west of us and we are lucky to know his history: (the following passage is from this link)

John Rowe Moyle, a master of stonework who came west with the earliest handcart companies in 1846.  He settled in Alpine Utah, which was nearly 22 miles away from downtown Salt Lake City.  He was called to be a stone mason on the Salt Lake Temple.  In order to fulfill his calling, and to be to work by 8:00 in the morning, every Monday Moyle would wake up at 2:00 a.m., and begin his long walk over the hill, and through the valley to the temple of the Lord.

He would spend the week in Salt Lake, working on the temple, and then on Friday, at 5:00 p.m., he would start the long walk home, where he would tend to the duties of his farm over the weekend.

One weekend, while tending to his farm, he was kicked as one of his cows bolted while milking, resulting in a compound fracture to his leg.  In the lack of any sophisticated medical help at the time, the only available solution for his injury was amputation.  His family and friends removed a door from its hinges, and strapped him onto it, and then removed his leg with a hacksaw.

As soon as he was able, once he could sit up in bed, he took a piece of wood, and using his carving skills, carved an artificial limb for himself so that such a little thing like the loss of a leg would not prevent him from walking each week to work on the temple.

As soon as he was able to stand the pain from walking on his stub leg, he again journeyed to the temple, and resumed his work, which he did for many years to come.

22 miles.  6 hours.  One way.  Every weekend.  By foot.  Then he even lost a leg....

Moyle's sacrifice and endurance is honorable and inspiring.  It makes me proud to be a Utahn and even more proud as an Alpiner.  Happy 24th/Pioneer Day/Birthday to you, Utah and all those in our memory.

picture taken by me 200 film