Places I don't like clutter: kitchen counters, bathroom counters, on my desk, on the dining room table...okay fine, I really don't like clutter anywhere. Including my email inbox! Even though I don't have a full time job and I diligently unsubscribe to unwanted ads and newsletters my inbox can feel out of control pretty quickly. But not any more! I've been using a Gmail organization system for over a year that has tidied up my inbox and keeps it tidy. Are your ears perking up? The way email inboxes are set up, with one long list of emails and maybe... Read more →

camping at Christopher Creek campground outside of Payson Did you go camping when you were growing up? As a kid there's no better adventure than spending all day outside exploring the woods followed by roasting a hot dog, eating s'mores, and then snuggling into your sleeping bag in a tent. When I was growing up my family went on one or two camping trips each year. I also went camping with my Girl Scout troop. I have such fond memories of those trips with my family and friends. I loved being outside, helping to lay a fire, taking notice of... Read more →

Swimming with the boys most afternoons. Temperatures have been over 110 degrees (!!!) most days and the pool is the only place to be. A few friends have invited us over to swim in their pools and I've found a local public pool that we love. As soon as I get in the water life instantly feels 100% better even if we've been having a great day. Ahhhhhhhh. Plus there's the bonus of wearing out the boys. Scrambling to read all the books that I have out from the library, eeep! I've been doing a bad job managing my holds... Read more →

This picture is my favorite of our family right now because it captures us just as we are: a lot of energy, a healthy measure of silly, and a lot of love. Perhaps you can tell from the photo that my boys have a lot of energy? Even as well-behaved kids (which I consider them to be) they wrestle, are fond of being loud, and make a lot of messes. While writing part of this my boys were having a pillow fight in front of me with our throw pillows. They're kids! It's just their nature and it's how they... Read more →

The boys and I are heading home today after three wonderful weeks in Austin. Like I always do, I'll have a little heartache at the airport and when the plane leaves the Texas soil. It's hard to leave the people, house, and city that are so deeply familiar and comforting to me. But I'm so thankful we could start the tradition of visiting Austin for several weeks. We'll do it again next year! On this trip I felt like I was able to take a break from some of the routine parts of life that can be demanding: cooking, cleaning,... Read more →

Have you read anything great lately? I used to share what I'm reading on Instagram but I've fallen out of the habit. (Although my Goodreads stays pretty up to date.) I like keeping a visual record of what I've read and hearing what others thought of the book so I want to get back to it! But first I feel like I need to get caught up sharing what I've been reading lately. And my lately I mean since early December (ahem). I'm about to inundate you with books so consider yourself warned! Here's what I've been reading... The Cuckoo's... Read more →

Being a mother is often an all-encompassing job with only sporadic praise or validation. A lot of our effort goes unnoticed or won't be appreciated by our kids until they're older – maybe even until they have kids themselves! Which is why it's so important to shine light on the effort that we put into parenting and to take the time to celebrate it. Thinking of this sentiment around Mother's Day I asked two of my best girl friends a simple question... What is one thing, big or small, that you are most proud of as a mother? One of... Read more →