holiday homesickness

I woke up today with the feeling of anxiety/sadness/dread or maybe it's just homesickness. In my chest, in my head, in my feet, everywhere. It might be due to the fact that I am spending the Christmas holiday not in Utah and without my family for the first time ever. Which I never thought was that big of a deal but here I am three days before Christmas and I can't even say the word mom, grandma or sister without choking back a few tears (interesting...all female members of the family)...oh my god, I miss them so much. I have an 11 year old sister that pretends that she still believes in Santa!! I need to be around that magic.

Also (on a scale of 1-10) Sean has a 1 in holiday spirit, he does however have about a 10+ in end-of-semester-spirit, mostly because it's finally over but also he loooves school. Sean and midieval history k-i-s-s-i-n-g. He would kiss it if he could. Wait, he has. I saw him kiss one of his books once. If he only had the same enjoyment of Christmas time as history time...Louie also feels no excitement. He's made a few choice decisions, such as eating my favorite ornament off the tree, and the message has been made clear on his feelings toward this time of year.

But on the bright side! I am looking forward to this next week of relaxing, maybe a hike or two and catching up with friends that are in town.

Happy holidays and blog you in the new year!

weekly synopsis: episode 4

1. I've been trying to read every evening before bed which essentially has moved my bedtime to 8:30pm....

2. This is what our morning walk looked like on Tuesday. Magical. I love how quiet it is after it snows.

3. A picture from our annual christmas dinner. I made Louie put on the sweater for the event but he's gained a little weight recently and it was cutting off his circulation so he couldn't wear it for long.

4. I wore high socks the other day and it reminded me of high school. This look would normally have been paired with pig tails. No wonder I was so popular...

5. Christmas tree! Oh my gosh, my heart! I love my tree, so much!

6. Speaking of tree, I finally tagged all my ornaments. I've been collecting them over the years from vacations and I always forget where each one was from. 

7. What a crew.

8. I love this weather.

9. Not at all from this week but I want everyone to see this fun picture.

Happy week!

giving thanks and taking stock

Thanksgiving was once again spent here in Colorado with my future in-laws. I took the liberty of making a pumpkin pie from scratch that was horrendous on the outside but so delicious on the inside and homemade rolls. I miss turkey leftovers already. It snowed aaaallll weekend, a thanksgiving wish come true~spending time with Sean and his family also a wish come true.

Now taking stock of the things I am thankful for:

Making: I am so so thankful for my hands. I have learned to make so many different things this year. Especially thankful for my teachers and those who inspire me to continue to make things.
Cooking: I am thankful for the meals that I try hard to make that turn out edible.
Drinking: I am ever so thankful for water. 
Reading: I am thankful that I was able to take a anthropology class this semester. (I am thankful to be a homo sapiens sapiens)
Looking: I am thankful for all the nature I have seen, from the amazing hikes to my neighborhood.
Playing: I am thankful for my ever so playful puppy.
Waiting: I am thankful for next July (wedding time!!)
Loving: I am so extremely thankful for Sean.
Wearing: I am thankful for the clothes that I have made. 
Thinking: I am thankful for morning meditations.
Feeling: I am thankful for all my friends and family who bring so much happiness to my life.

the best turkey I have ever had!

Our annual trip every thanksgiving up to RMNP in powdery magic.

This is exactly how I felt after all the celebrations: happily exhausted and comfortable. Hope you had a wonderful holiday~

on the road again

 Now that it's snowing I feel that it might be a good time to finally recap our summer vacation road trip...It was a jam packed, amazingly organized trip but most importantly we hit 9 National Parks/monuments. And just in case you decide after reading this that you must head to that part of the world, I will share with you some details of our travels.

Day 1: Our first day was mostly driving. On the way to Jackson Hole we stopped by Granite Hot Springs to rest our tired bodies. After dinner we tried to catch a nice sunset against the Tetons. OH MY GOSH. Is this view being serious? It was incredible.

Day 2: Hike to amphitheater lake (10 miles round trip). We then checked into an awesome half cabin-half tent situation in which we stayed in for 2 more nights. In the evening we again went to see the sunset atop Signal Mountain (Where we saw a black bear!).

Day 3: Canoeing on Jackson Lake. BEST THING EVER. Please do not go to Grand Teton National Park without doing this! But maybe don't canoe for 9 miles. I totally over estimated my arm strenght..by mile 5 I was crying.

Day 4: We so sadly left the above wonderfulness and carried on through Yellowstone NP, Cody, WY and camped out at Devil's Tower National Monument. The stars were amazing this night.

Day 5: We took a candle light tour through wind cave (highly recommend!!), drove through the needles highway (again recommend), ate some ice cream at Mount Rushmore and then spent the night in Rapid City in a hotel! The hotel was the cheapest one we could find but after 3 nights of camping it felt so glamorous.

Day 6: Started heading home but not without driving through Badlands National Park and a few other monuments in Nebraska.

 The end.

hallowiener

Have you ever read the book 'The Hallo-wiener" by Dav Pilkey. It's amazing. This was one of my favorite books growing up and had always wanted to dress up my future dog as a wiener. I've started a little sewing so I thought that this goal was in reach but alas my eyes and mind have a bigger appetite for crafts than my actual hands. So instead we stuck Sean's gross high school cross country shirt on him and he was a homeless dog. We had such a fun halloween at the Babbs household! Carved pumpkins, passed out candy to the neighborhood kids while huddled around a fire with cheese, crackers and spiced apple cider. Couldn't have asked for a better night. 

...And now it's November, it's nice and warm today but there is a forecast of snow in the near future. Yay yay yay!!!

This week's synopsis: episode 4

1. Ah-mazing fall foliage in the neighborhood.
2. This sweet little napping puppy. He's been so good lately.
3. Roasted fall veggies for dinner!
4. Went to a hip restaurant in downtown Denver with a friend, also in the same afternoon rode uber for the first time and survived.
5. GOATS!
6. So much knitting has been happening.
7. Starting/finished my fen dress!
8. And how could I let October slide without the annual pumpkin patch pictures. I need to do a whole post on this pumpkin patch because it's so wonderful.
9. Hugs and kisses.

Happy week!

This week's synopsis: episode 3

1. Did I ever tell you how much I love knitting? For your viewing pleasure: my first sock!
2. We went on the most beautiful fall drive.
3. Mt. Bierstadt
4. A view from our evening walk. The moon this week was so beautiful.
5. Took an embroidery class in Denver with my friend meg and this is the feather we made.
6. Blurry selfie with the pup.
7. BABY!! My friend Jess is visiting from PA and we were able to go to our favorite breakfast place and I was able to cuddle with her sweet little boy.
8. Wonderland open space in the fall.
9. They recently had chalk artists decorate the side walks in our neighborhood and this one is my favorite.

Happy week!

yellow

We just came back from the most beautiful fall foliage drive...

This week's synopsis: episode 2

1. Sometimes an afternoon coffee is a necessity
2. I'm taking an online class at the local university and it's been amazing! Learning feels so good (nerd alert) I've also been catching up on a lot of knitting whilst listening to lectures...can't decide if this is good or bad.
3. Since I have been busier with school Louie has been semi forgotten. He just sits in that spot and plots my demise as I study. I'm slightly afraid.
4. Breakfast has been ON POINT these days. I mean come on! Baked egg with proscuttio?! Get real. And let's not forget avocado.
5. I also went and shopped around for a wedding dress. (Insert my mothers extreme excitement here, my $30 ASOS find was apparently insufficient)
6. Oh Louie. He just can't seem to muster up the courage to open his eyes when the car is going fast.
7. I've gotten up before sunrise every morning this week and it's been so nice to begin my day on the porch with my morning cup.
8. Played put put with the family for s's dads birthday. Note worth mentioning: I got a hole in one.
9. View from our morning walks

Happy week!

July 27th

Sean and I have been together for a solid 5 years and pretty much since the day we started dating I forced him to talk about marriage. I was literally under the impression back in 2010 that I would be married by the summer of 2011...HA! Idiot. Anyway 5 years later, after very carefully analyzing and choosing the ring together, it came in the mail. I wasn't really into the whole proposal thing, but Sean insisted that he do the traditional asking.

We then went on a vacation and I was certain that he was going to ask that week but he didn't.

We came back to our normal work week.... I needed another little getaway before reality so I called Sean to see if he would want to go on a hike .

We drove up to Indian Peaks, found a trail we didn't know about and started off. We walked around and the trail took us to the top of a ridge that overlooks a few peaks. It was the most beautiful view.


Every time I go on a hike, I'm always so impressed by my body, and overwhelmed with the beauty of the mountains. I so easily forget when I'm not in that place of mind that I do love myself and that I live in an amazing place full of amazing people. This is why I love hikes. I looked over at Sean and told him that I love him. I'm so grateful that we can do these things together. I love going on adventures with him. He is always so good to me.


He then said that he loved me too, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

Of course Louie was with us and promptly attacked us as we hugged.  He is so weird about humans hugging. Thanks dude. You really know how to read the vibe.

It was magical. After the all the hating I did on any marriage related traditions, I will say this was a nice one. Thanks S (heart heart kiss)

Taking stock for the end of summer

Making: a scarf using this amazing pattern
Cooking: well trying to cook/figure out canning
Drinking: water, water, water.
Reading: my anthropology textbook
Wanting: to decide on wedding things
Looking: at the stack of flash cards I have to fill out
Playing: around instead of studying...
Wishing: to not wish anymore
Enjoying: this beautiful end of summer weather
Waiting: a cookie to magically appear
Liking: the color red
Wondering: if I will stay this motivated throughout the semester
Loving: our evening walks with Louie
Hoping: that tomorrow will be magical
Marveling: that I paid off my credit card!
Needing: some black flats
Smelling: ripening peaches
Wearing: the comfiest shirt
Noticing: that I haven't put my clothes away and they are strewn about on the bed
Knowing: that the honey roasted peanut butter at whole foods is the best. 
Thinking: about what I'm going to knit for all these babies that are coming in the next 6 months!
Feeling: very loved and happy
Bookmarking: my summer book that I never started
Opening: a website about canning
Giggling: about a story I heard on the radio the other day

the bride and the groom

Our very good friends Lucy and Graham got married this summer. Sean and I stood by there side as they said their vows and promised to be with each other for the rest of their lives. It was extremely touching and beautiful.

There was this point in the ceremony where Sean and I met eyes. The almost married couple sandwiched between us, we both had tears welling up...promising ones everlasting love and devotion is not for the faint of heart. It was absolutely incredible. 

Now 3 months after that serene momentous day for Graham and Lucy, we are engaged to do the same.

smile.

This little picture and story puts makes me smile every time I see it.

happiest moment of your life

...Here we are yet again at the end of summer wondering where it went. I've had a very eventful and sunny past 3 months. We were able to take a few trips here and there, hike around the neighborhood and have friends visit. Summer has been kind to us, BUT! The fall. Oh, fall. I love you so much. The evenings are starting to have that crisp to them again. I wore a jacket a few days ago! It was amazing.

12,183 feet above sea level.

Speaking of RMNP. Trail ridge road finally opened up! It's one of those places that makes you cry it's so freaking beautiful. Particularly the clouds during this trip were epically amazing. We've been up to Rocky twice in the past few weeks and it's a nice reminder of how lucky we are to be living in such close proximity. I LOVE COLORADO PERIOD.

where the elk roam

My birthday has once again come and gone and I'm suffering from the usual post-birthday sadness. Sean is just a gem and made my birthday ultra special this year. Firstly...he MADE me a terrarium, with his very own hands. I am so proud. Secondly he took me on a hike and birthday hikes are the very best.

Thanks S, love you from the bottom of my heart.