Mom and Dad visit WY! { day 1 }

The first day in town, my parents got to go to Luke and Isabel's soccer game! That was so exciting and special, and got our visit started off with lots of excitement! My dad took the pics from there, so he has all those and they got some great shots!
After the game we went for lunch at an outdoor spot right on the platte river, and it was a gorgeous day! Then, to downtown to visit the three level cowboy store, where josh and dad found great hats! I found a Pendleton blanket (didn't buy, but wanted to) They are awesome!!
It was a fun, beautiful day with my sweet parents :) But that was only the beginning...

Stay tuned!!!

Welcome June! {but sometimes i feel like saying Merry Christmas}

Happy first day of June! Feels good to me! Today we are on our way back from a farewell to our Nina. We dropped her off to catch her plane to Mississippi. We had a wonderfully FULL visit. We really packed in some great stuff! I look forward to blogging a lot this week in order to catch up. Here is a picture of us crossing over the Grand Tetons into Idaho. We couldn't believe the amount of snowfall! We were at about 10,000 ft.

Back at home, summer is here and we couldn't be more excited for warm days, lots of fresh air and veggies!!! We are doing our best to bloom and grow in our Wyoming garden ;) Its been a huge climate change for us, but it's been wonderful to learn all about this part of the country. They hold a farmers market that begins mid July. Their seasons are about a month and a half behind, and we are expecting our summer weather will be pretty short. Looking forward to a weekend at home with my babies and Josh. So, happy June!!! And Happy Weekend!! See you soon!

Watermelon salad { too good not to share }

Last week in anticipation of my parents visit, I bought a HUGE very green watermelon!  I love watermelon, but this time I wanted a little kick..something different.  So i have seen recipes with feta cheese and sometimes in green salads.  But I didn't want a lettuce salad, I just wanted the fruit.  So this is what I came up with!  If you make this, do not leave out the peaches, and find the ripest ones you can because they add the perfect touch of sweet. It all comes together for a flavor burst that is amazing.
We are having such a special visit!  My Dad had to leave earlier this week, but Nina is soaking up every minute...playing lots of Barbies, building lots of puzzles, legos, and doing lots of exploring around our town.  We've had an unusual amt of rain here this week, but it is so refreshing up here in this dry climate.
Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!  And make this salad.  It's EASY, and impressive!

Wonderful Watermelon Salad:  {the perfect summer side dish}

1/2 watermelon chopped {not too small - it's better in large pieces to get the texture}
3-4 ripe peaches, chopped
2-3 bunches of fresh mint, chopped {Don't chince on the mint} ;)
1/3 cup feta cheese {more or less to your liking}
Kosher S & P
Light drizzle of olive oil

Add the feta right before serving, and add S&P to the top.  Don't toss.  I suggest using a large flat plate/tray, not a bowl.  Trust me! ;)  You could also add prosciutto to this which would just be crazy good!
This way it allows each person to flavor according to their taste.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

They're on their way!!!!

Lots of fun pictures to come because Nina and Pops are in their way to WYOMING!!!!! :):):):):)

Springtime!

Here are a few recents..our blooming backyard...new friends..Isabel, Brigitta, and Marta from the Sound of music...pinky toes...Luke's first chocolate chip pancakes...our weekly hike to the waterfall (It will dry up at the end of June)....strawberry rhubarb jam and heavenly biscuits with chicory coffee from "Lucile's" in Boulder on mothers day..(highly highly recommend that place amongst a thousand other places there)...the butterfly pavilion...and some fishin with Dad!!!

I feel so blessed to enjoy life with these three!

Ayres Natural bridge

Over the wknd, we went out to the Ayres natural bridge. There are very few natural bridges in the world, so it was neat to explain that to the kids. Here's the three brave musketeers atop the bridge! I am so proud of how adventurous the kids are. They are getting used to hiking a lot because they rarely complain. We are outdoors nearly every wknd exploring and it's just incredible how much there is to discover here. I can't imagine we'll be going to the same places more than once during our stay out here. The neatest part of it all is that it's a simpler life, and there is so much to be said for that. Not to say you can't obtain that lifestyle in a big city setting, but here, it's everyone's way, so there is a sense of that everywhere and to everyone u meet and it's kind. of. refreshing.

Daydreaming of the Kelly Wearstler!

Earlier this year, remember when I visited my sister Shelly in California?  Well she surprised me one night with a stay at the OH SO OH SO PRETTY Viceroy, the Kelly Wearstler Hotel in Santa Monica! Pinch me - it was awesome!  So girly, so fun, just a girls dream!  The entire weekend she had such special plans for us, and we just had such a lovely time together, and ever since when I daydream, it's of California.  Shelly introduced me to "Kelly" years ago and ever since I am such a fan of her decor.  Josh and I also stayed at her Miami hotel a few years ago.  The story is that her husband does the design part of the hotel layout and such, and she does the decor.

What. a. TREAT. 

Dont we girls all love to decorate?  Well while I don't have Kelly Wearstler's budget, ha!  I did notice that our master looks a wee bit like this ....white bedding, sconces, and two matching side tables. And honestly my entire home is very neutral. I have such a hard time finding those perfect touches of color that just seem to make a room ,but that i dont tire of.   So...I was thinking my bedding looked so plain, but look at this?  She kept the bedding simple and those green chairs just added the perfect touch of color and fun.  So, since I can't get those stinking cute green chairs, I am going to add perhaps a "kelly" green pillow, and paint my side tables.  We do not have a mirror over our bed, but that may just be in the budget since mirrors are easy to find at a reasonable price if you are willing to hunt.  If I remember correctly she had incorporated grey into the room with the patterned wall paper, so perhaps I can find some way to do that without being too drab.  SHe had lots of natural light with the ocean view.  

Thank you to Shelly & Kelly, my design team!!!

I love you both!! Okay maybe Shelly a bit more than Kelly ;) ....but honestly, they are in the same league.

TALENT TALENT TALENT!  But Shelly, and all of my siblings will NEVER toot their own horns, because that's the people we are,  so I have to do it for her!

:)

Happy THURSDAY/almost FRIDAY!!!!!!!