what's your norm?

 Try and tell me this doesn't make you smile :)

I was driving to work yesterday during cross walk hours. You know, when the flashers are turned on and you have to slow down to 20 MPH because kids are walking to/from school? As I was cruising at 20 MPH I noticed a young, chipper little crossing guard I'd never seen before. She was groovin' to who knows what and waving enthusiastically to a car passing by. I couldn't help but stare her down (with an incredulous look on my face, I'm sure) when she looked across 4 lanes and caught me staring. My first thought was, "Oh crap! I wish I was wearing my sunglasses so that she couldn't see me staring...." when she gave me a huge smile and waved so hard she almost fell over. I had to wave back, it was obvious I was staring! I made sure I kept a straight face as I waved and then I kinda chuckled over the whole thing. As I kept driving I watched in my rear view mirror and noticed that she waved to every single car... so it wasn't just the ones she caught staring, ha ha! I kind of rolled my eyes and wondered what set her of her rocker that day..... and then I gave myself a huge, mental slap!
Why was I being so rude about a woman who was being happy and friendly? Why was I being so rude about a woman who was giving passerbys a reason to smile and brightening our day? I mean, if that doesn't put a smile on your face (for one reason or another...) then I don't know what will! Why was my first instinct to hide behind my sunglasses, or look away before I got caught, instead of smiling and waving enthusiastically as well? This world can be such a dark, angry, unhappy place. Why has it become the norm to hide behind whatever and avoid contact with the millions of humans we pass in our life? We all know that a simple smile or hello can change some one's mood, their attitude that day... maybe even save a life.
I am ashamedly admitting the obvious, my norm is to hide behind my sunglasses, my phone, my baby, my whatever to avoid the "awkward" smile or hello. But not anymore, people! I am a happy person and I refuse to hide that. And you know what? It makes me feel good to be happy, nice, friendly etc. So no more hiding! I'm just going to be myself and even when I want to hide, or I feel nervous, or I'm afraid of making a situation awkward... I'm going to stop avoiding eye contact, plaster a smile on my face and just be friendly. Maybe I can help brighten some one's day and make the world a little happier.

if you were a mind reader

You'd see that Mia and I had a picnic at the park with friends yesterday.... and we got HOT! This weather is unreal! Which means that we are going to get snow in June, or Utah will be on fire all summer. Both will be equally miserable, but for the sake of the state, I guess I prefer the snow.

You'd check out my Instagram right now to enter my Freshly Picked moccasin giveaway!

You'd know that I'm dying for all of my shows to be updated on netflix. C'mon already!! Revenge, Scandal, Pretty Little Liars, Vampire Diaries... I like the "good" crap, ha ha! Until then, I need a new show to become addicted to. I'm thinking about trying Friday Night Lights? Any other suggestions?

I'm daydreaming about stuffing my face full of Clif (kid, but I'm still a kid at heart!) Organic Fruit Rope. They are so, SO good! I just ordered a box from Amazon and I'm sure I'll have it cleaned out not even 2 days after it arrives ;)

You'd be packing your bags to join on us on our fun little trip we have coming up in March. I can hardly wait!! 

I'm dying to get out of this town. Part of it is wanderlust (hello, can I please live by the ocean??) but most of it is because I don't like this town. And Eric deserves a job that treats him like gold. I know, I know... doesn't everyone? My answer is YES! But especially Eric. He's good at what he does and needs to be compensated for that!

That being said... I do LOVE the friendships I've made here. I don't know how, but I seem to find the best people who are willing to befriend me with every move!
ALSO, I'm dying to have a visit with some of our dearest friends (hint, hint Nicole!)

Do YOU ever wonder why men's basketball shorts are a million times more comfortable than any other piece of clothing?! I don't get it, and Eric certainly doesn't get it. But there is an unwritten rule that I get free access to each pair he buys ;)

If you were a mind reader, you'd be scared to death with me because my sweet, little Mia has developed an attitude and it's my responsibility to teach her how to share all of her emotions... in the nicest way possible. What if I'm not doing it right? What if she ends up being the bratty kid no one likes because I taught her wrong? Scary, scary!

You'd also be constantly craving ice cream, white chocolate covered popcorn or some type of junk food because my sweet tooth is never under control!

This is just a fraction of the randoms that run through my head all. the. time. ha! If I was a mind reader... what are YOU thinking right now?

just some randoms {14}

I pulled out our play mat to lend to a friend and I think this brought back a lot of memories for Mia ;) She loved to go lay on it or to sit with a stack of books and read. Silly girl! (And yes, we still have Christmas gifts stacked against the wall, ugh! Does anyone else procrastinate exchanging for stainless steel? No? Don't worry, I am embarrassed!)

This picture cracks me up because Mia looks like the longest baby in the world, ha ha! But she's average for height, maybe even on the shorter side. Definitely a little peanut!

This girl knows what's up. Pack her blanket, her teddy and herself in the suitcase and she's ready to go! She's also got this new thing where I pull out the phone to snap a picture and she REFUSES to look at me. Daddy is rubbing off on her {insert angry face emoji}.

We tried having Mia sled by herself.... ha ha! Maybe in a couple more years she'll get it ;) (This totally makes me think of A Christmas Story...)

Once again, Mia is all about the baby toys. But she can't go anywhere without her trusty $2 back pack (her latest obsession) The things she comes up with these days are ridiculous and hilarious!

Mia's 1st time sledding {our snowy getaway}

Our home for the weekend... thanks mom and dad!

 

Daddy built Mia her first snow man :)

And then she was done with the snow!

 I've never seen this little snow in February! I'm afraid that Utah is going to be on fire all summer!

We got to spend another weekend at Brianhead Resort with my family (this is our 3rd year, we aren't complaining about this fun family tradition!) and I'd been looking forward to it for WEEKS! Unfortunately I came down with altitude sickness our first night at the cabin and it took 24 hours to recover which was a total bummer! But I did make it outside for a few minutes to watch Eric and Mia play in the snow. Saturday was the BEST day! I was totally feeling 100% so I got to enjoy a day of snowboarding with my favorite husband, dad and siblings while my mom watched Mia! The rest of the weekend was spent eating junk food and playing Avalon, a ridiculously ridiculous, FUN and addicting game :) This time out with my family is always a good time, and Eric and I are loving that we are able to get out and have some fun together while Mia is being taken care of just minutes away!

happy 14 months to my love bug

- Mia loves to "fix" her hair... which means she smears it all around with her hands and totally messes it up :) But when she sees my messing with my hair, she loves to fix hers and it's the cutest! She also "brushes" her hair and rubs "lotion/oils" in her hair. Heaven help me the time she does rub actual oil all over her hair, ha ha!
- She says her own prayers now... I think :) When she sees a plate of food coming her way she folds her arms, bows her head and speaks a quick little jibber, then digs in!
- Mia discovered toilet paper! She's only unraveled one roll, so far ;) And she's figured out how to flush the toilet.
- This girl loves her purses. Anything she can tote around on her arm and she's in love! But her newest obsession is backpacks!! She discovered one at a friends house and the next day I found some on clearance for $2. I bought her two and she wears them every day... sometimes at the same time, ha ha!
- She throws stuff away for us. Which means she also gets stuff out of the trash (we are working on teaching her that is off limits, but I think we've almost got that down!) We have got quite the little "helper" on our hands, ha!
- Someone has discovered her belly button!! (Hint: It was the baby toddler Mia)   
- Mia has learned to blow on hot food! She also just blows when she wants to be cute :)
- She says hi ('iiiiiiii!), hey ('EY!) and uh oh!
- Probably my favorite thing that Mia has picked up is grabbing our faces to give us a kiss. It KILLS me! So CUTE!
- Mia got 2 more teeth, totaling 8.
- She still wears 6-9 month and 12 month clothing. She just moved from 3-6 month to 6-12 month/size 3 shoes.
- And she's still in size 3 diapers.

I really couldn't pick a favorite age of Mia's so far because I've loved them all!! She is the funnest little girl ever!! But I must admit that we fall a little deeper in love with her each month! Mia is the best!