to the falls.

About a month ago we took Franz up the canyon for the first time since last summer to show him the falls. We got dinner at Aubergine (our new favorite healthy restaurant) and took it up with us, then bundled Franz up and walked the short distance to the waterfall, where I caught the few seconds where the lighting was perfect for optimal picture taking. I love that.

I don't think Franz cared a whole lot about the waterfall. He was tired and was more interested in his binky, but this waterfall is where Zac and I came to eat our Subway sandwiches in the dark on our first date before we went up to Sundance to ride the ski lift, so we were excited. It's always a good time when we go to Bridal Veil Falls.

conference weekend.

We spent conference weekend up at the cabin, like we do every October. It was Franz's first time, so this trip was extra special. Franz loved playing outside, picking up rocks and leaves, and pushing his cousin Kaleb's toy car all around the cabin floor. We had to move the coffee table in front of the old wood fireplace because Franz was so enthralled by it. That boy likes fire, I tell you.

We enjoyed our time shooting bows and guns, listening to 8 hours of conference (more like... oh, I dunno... 2 hours for me, because Franz is a wild boy), eating pizza from a restaurant down the mountain and donuts that Whit and JT brought up, and playing Farkle--just me and Zac. 

During the last stretch of one of the Sunday sessions, JoJo and I took turns taking pictures of the other one sleeping through it. There's just something about being cozy on the couch next to your husband with the fire burning in the fireplace while your baby is napping that makes you so relaxed and so tired. It was bound to happen, really.

Before leaving on Sunday, Zac, Franz, and I found the tree where we carved my name next to Zac's back in 2011 (when we were newlyweds!) and carved Franz's name underneath (leaving room for a few more babies!). I can't wait for him to grow up and come up to the cabin and see his name carved there by his mama's and papa's. 

family pictures 2014.

On the day before the 4th of July, we met up with Heather and drove a windy road up the canyon for some family pictures. It was stormy that day, but by some miracle, it hardly rained (and when it did, it sprinkled for about 5 minutes). These were so much fun to do, and Franz was an angel (a wiggly angel) the whole time, giving Heather the biggest grins, especially when she brought out Holly the Owl.

Despite going hiking up a mountain in sandals, sitting on a dirty blanket in white pants, Franz being up past his bedtime, a gigantic bee flying around us, and being told there were field mice as we walked through a field, it was one of the funnest nights I've had this summer. And aren't these pictures gorgeous?!

Heather's taken our pictures five times now, if you count Franz's birth and newborn shoot, and I've never been disappointed. She's my favorite, and she'll be the one I go to for photo shoots for the rest of my life, I think. :)

five cheers for three years.

Our anniversary this year (which took place over 2 weeks ago) was so different, but SO much fun with a baby. It's like we celebrated [and paid most attention to] our love child, who is a result of our marriage and love for each other. (Yes, I call Franz our love child. Don't worry about it.)

We spent the day up the canyon where we had a picnic of Subway sandwiches, and then took a short walk up the trail at Bridal Veil Falls--one of our favorite spots up there, and also one of the stops on our first date (where we also ate Subway sandwiches). We dipped Franz's toes in the water, which he didn't like very much because it was kind of cold. On the way back to the car, Franz started getting fussy, so we made every kind of crazy noise we could think of to get him to laugh so he wouldn't cry. It worked.

^^^Of course, I didn't get a picture of the two of us together on our anniversary, so pretend that this is one picture of the two of us together. :)

That night, we went to my very favorite pizza place, Pizzeria 712, for some wood fired goodness. Franz was being the biggest flirt to the group of people sitting next to us. He'd stare at them until they looked back at him and then give them the biggest grin until he had them laughing and commenting on how cute he was. Then he'd do it again. For how introverted that boy's parents are, he's not so much, and I love it.

It was such a good day, our third anniversary. I can't believe it's been that long already! It seems like just a few months ago that we were getting married and being newlyweds in Provo together, enjoying that first summer together (probably my favorite summer to date). Now it's three years later, and we have a baby?! That went by so fast, but I love where I'm at right now. 

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