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!