I usually say the 4th of July is my least favorite holiday because it's alway a sauna outside and fireworks make me a nervous wreck. It's hard for me not to love it now, our little Magnolia Caroline literally lights up with joy with all the festivities that come along with America's birthday. I think we did it all this year from decorating our house with the American flag and banners + 100s of sparklers + firecrackers + blue cupcakes that stained the kids' mouth & faces + driveway parties with country music + bomb pop flavored seltzers + hot dogs + s'mores + homemade strawberry crisp + days at the pool + sun tanned cheeks + cherished time with family & friends. My brother moved to Jackson Hole last summer and made his first trip home since to celebrate with us & now we just want him to move back home! Last night I was getting Magnolia ready for bed, way past her bedtime for the second night in a row, and the last thing on her sweet little mind was to sing Happy Birthday to America. The older I get the more I realize how blessed we are to be born in the USA. We are so grateful for all the veterans that have sacrificed their lives for our freedom. 

Magnolia is five years old, but this was my sixth Mother's Day. I looked back at all the years past and got incredibly sentimental. It was Mother's Day 2016 that we were just a few days shy of our IVF transfer. I'll say it a million times, but I will never ever forget that one. It was the year we had one single frozen embryo waiting for us. Only God knew what our life would soon look like. My heart ached for a child and all my thoughts revolved around a baby. FAITH OVER FEAR was/is the motto of our life. Mother's Day is always such a bittersweet day for me because I know there are so many women suffering for many different reasons, many of them longing for the gift of a child. For all those women I hope you feel comfort and peace each day knowing that God's plan for you will turn the darkness to light. 

This year we spent Saturday picking out new rose bushes and few annuals to add to our yard. We planted wildflower seeds in our garden and they are already sprouting! We had a quick Mexican lunch and then spent as much time in the sun as we could. Sunday, Magnolia and I went to lunch with my mom, sisters, and all the babes. Ice cream for dessert plus play time outside with tons of people around us was the end of a happy weekend. And I mention all the people because before 2020 I took for granted how much I enjoyed being in a crowd and all the glorious energy of strangers having fun. I hope we never have to experience a lockdown again. 

And of course we snapped lots of photos! 

Easter 2022! It was a memorable one to say the least. Other than our strong cookie limping around on a broken leg it was a good one. Honestly, I was in a funk, I think I intuitively knew something was wrong with our baby girl since she wasn't walking on her leg, but I was trying to be optimistic and hopeful that she was okay like the ER doctor said. Easter is always my favorite because of all the pastel colors, flowers blooming, birds chirping, cute little bunnies everywhere, and of course because of God's reminder and what our Pastor always says "the worst thing is not the last thing." Hope, it's the season of hope. Magnolia and I spent Easter Eve baking brownies and coloring eggs. The Magical Jelly Beans arrived and she planted them in our garden where they grew into lollipops overnight. All the family came over on Easter Sunday and we had a casual day inside because it was cold and rainy outside. The kids had a blast searching for eggs, and then re-hiding them in all the hardest places for the adults to find. I'm still finding Easter eggs around the house, and they were smart enough to remove the candy before the adult hunt. So no more Easter peanut butter eggs for me.