our home away from home

we have been so lucky to spend a lot of time in colorado this year. 

frontier has had some awesome deals and of course it helps that mabel still flies free.

my mom picked us up from the airport and had this birthday hat and balloon for me - 

 

thanks mom! 

and thanks for giving birth to me 29 years ago! 

my aunt cathy and my nana both came out as well;

we had such a great time visiting and catching up.

i love these ladies!

mabel isn't spoiled at all when she goes to nana's house.

pedicure while eating some yogurt.

here is my mom preparing a prop for her early morning seminary class the next day.

she works so hard on each lesson and the kids love her class.

 

we break for sombreros and puppet time!

my step-dad kraig stayed home with mabel while nana, 

aunt cathy, and i went to my mom's class. 

good morning great ones!

the temptation sombrero! 

turned out so awesome. the kids were cracking up!

i was so glad mabel got to spend some time with my nana.

she lives in california and we don't get to see her nearly as often as we would like.

she loved looking at nana's long nails and trying on her rings.

  baking and reading

girl chat on the deck with some grilled goodness.

my mom's food never disappoints.

 

one night as we were all getting ready to go to bed 

i made jacob stop so i could take this picture of him.

oh you know, just a little before bed snack!

• two pieces of sourdough toast
• 3 muffins
• a peanut butter cookie in his mouth
• half of a carton of minute maid

 

we took a field trip to see kelsey and josiah's new apartment.

super cute little place.

happy to have a place of their own!
(they used to live with josiah's sister)

 

kraig and jacob watched mabel while we spent a few hours (not nearly enough time!) at the antique gallery.  loooooove it there. my mom's eagle eye found a perfect vintage bird print for our downstairs bathroom.  i have been looking for one forever!

we had planned to stay until tues the 11th but changed our flight when nate called and told us got called as the 2nd counselor in the bishopric in our ward! we were so happy we got to make it home to spend that special sunday with nate. when we sang the closing hymn in church and i looked up and saw our new bishopric everything felt right in my heart. (besides me bawling like a baby) bishop dabo will be a wonderful leader and nate is excited to serve by his side. i am excited and a little nervous for this new experience (wrestling mabel alone at church is SO MUCH FUN!) but I am so glad we have so many supportive neighbors, friends, and family. yesterday was nate's first sunday conducting sacrament meeting and he did great!  when he finally got home for the night (besides the 15 minutes when he stopped at the house to scarf down some dinner) he had tears in in eyes as he talked about all the good people who serve in our ward. 

Looking good in a shirt and tie even back in the day!
We love you Nate!