Red Butte Gardens

Red Butte Gardens is one of our favorite summer hang-outs...

I love it because it reminds me of the gardens at

Balboa Park in San Diego. :)

Krystian's favorite spot is the children's garden...

Kayla loves all of the hiking trails (like me)...

And Cammy loves searching for small animals and birds...

The Foothills

Camryn

Playing in the children's garden...

Overlooking the Salt Lake valley and the Great Salt Lake

Little Missy and Mom

What's ahead...

So I made a choice about 10 months ago to really focus on my girls and give them the most important thing in the world... a mom that is always there when they need them. :) It hasn't been an easy adjustment... any mother who has been torn between family and career understands exactly where I'm coming from. You kind of lose your identity in a way... the guilt of not being home for your children rivaled by the feeling of needing to provide financially are, in my opinion, some of the hardest feelings to cope with on a daily basis! Not to mention that carrying all of those responsibilities and feelings on your own, makes things very difficult at times. In all honesty I was torn with feeling like I have to work because I'm a single mom. I've found that what the rest of the world says and what my heart says are two completely different things... and with careful planning, a whole lot of faith, and listening to what your heart is telling you to do... anything is possible.

So I spent the year planning and preparing for this summer, my moment to give my girls the one thing they need the most... me. I'm sure there will be times when I long for the adult conversations, the lunch appointments with clients and vendors, and I might even long to dress in something a little less casual... but I know that there is no better place for me to devote my energy and time than to be at home with my girls.

With my sweet sister-in-law, Elizabeth and many other at-home-moms planning our every moment this summer, it's sure to be the greatest! School's out June 5th and then we're off... watch for pics and postings from the girls... and most important... remember that anything is possible so - DREAM BIG!

April...

What a crazy month April has been! I swear I've done more in the past 2 weeks than I did in the last 6 months combined! Anyway, check out the pics from graduation, portfolio and the fantabulous party my friends threw me for graduation... good times!

Grad Party...

sweet...

Okay, so let me explain... a little over a month ago I was shopping at Gateway with my cute friend Jolynn.
One of my favorite stores there is Anthrolpologie... this is one of those "look, but can't afford anything" stores, but I still LOVE the store for the randomly unique, but beautiful things they carry... so we went in and spent an hour trying things on and just pretending like I could afford the $300 dress I tried on.
Anyway, as we were leaving I found the absolute cutest aprons ever... this was one of those things you see, don't buy, but wish you had bought later, items! So, at my graduation party, Jolynn brought me a little "happy graduation" gift... as I opened it I about died because it was one of those totally fabulous aprons! That was SO thoughtful of her!!!
So, 2 things... THANK YOU SO MUCH Jolynn... you are just one of the sweetest friends ever and is it okay to just wear this around the house even though I NEVER cook!!! :)