snow in october.

When Zac and I woke up this morning, he peeked out of our bedroom blinds and said, "It snowed!" Our neighbors rooftops were frosted white and it was chilly getting out of bed. And when I finally got out the door for work, this is what I saw. The first snowfall of winter 2013! So I bundled up in a big, poofy scarf and 3 layers on top, and had to brush it off of my car before leaving.

A part of me didn't like it. Fall just came a couple of weeks ago, and it's only October! We still need to go buy pumpkins, dang it! Half of the trees here are still green, and we're going to a corn maze next week! But a small part of me kind of likes it, because snow means Christmas and hot cocoa and scarves and boots and Christmas records and cinnamon almonds and pretty lights on houses and trees. And that is my favorite, because there's something wonderful in the air. But I'd be okay if fall stayed around for another month or two.

Tonight we're going on a big shopping trip to get things we still need for the baby, my hospital bag, and freezer meals (that I still haven't started on). I think we'll catch a quick dinner somewhere and call it a date, because it is Friday! Our car seat was delivered a few days ago, and we have to install it soon. I'm waiting until we can clean out the car, though, because I like things to be clean. And I think I'll make cookies too, if I can find time tonight. I've been wanting some chewy ginger cookies or some chai spice cookies with pumpkin kisses. Maybe I can pull off making both. That would be ideal.

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a utah blizzard.

This morning I had no desire to look presentable before heading out to work. And on the way there, I drove the slowest I could, positive that the drivers who were passing me were annoyed. But last night, a blizzard hit! And it kept snowing and snowing all day today, and there was snow everywhere. And frankly, I'm terrified of driving in the snow. So slow I went.

Now I'm home, and I'm deciding if I should take down our Christmas tree (I know!) or make sugar cookies. I think I already know which one is going to win.

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out back.

Today at work, I went outside in the back of my building without my coat to move my restless legs a little bit. It was chilly, but warmer than I thought it would be. The sun was out, and the sky was speckled with clouds. It was pretty out there.

And just like that, the creative part of my brain saw things that would make for a good picture. So I took out my phone and snapped away.

The little details of this world are beatiful.

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january snow.

How are we already 2 weeks into January? I remember when I was counting down the days until Christmas, and now it's 2013? Time seems like it's going too fast, but at the same time, not fast enough. I'm still thinking of goals I want to set this year, for heaven's sake.

Lately it's been so chilly out. Like, you know, in the negatives. And it's crazy, because when it's 30 degrees here, it feels warm. This winter is playing tricks on me. I'm so excited for Spring to come, when I don't have to wear a winter coat to work (although I did wear my winter coat until about the end of April last year).

But right now it's January, and what do you know, it was still light outside when I got home from work! So I'll enjoy the piles of snow I see outside my window, and the pink sunset through the hazy clouds that I can just barely see over the buildings and trees while drinking my peppermint tea and waiting for Zac to be finished with night classes. 

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snow at temple square.

When I was probably about 10 or 11 years old, me and my two younger sisters, Rachel and Sara, who were about 9 and 7 at the time, were really into baby dolls, and bringing them everywhere (well, mostly me, I guess). 

One winter night, my parents had planned to take up to Temple Square to see the lights as a family. Of course, Rachel, Sara, and I wanted to bring our dolls. We asked my dad to get the strollers down from the attic for us. He brought down one, and then two, for Sara and me. That was all we had. 

Rachel still wanted a stoller for her doll, so my dad went back up to the attic and looked everywhere for something that resembled a stroller. After a few minutes, he came down with a plastic pink carriage, made for the tiniest of dolls, and the tiniest of little girls. Rachel took it.

We walked all over Temple Square that night, laughing at Rachel who was hunched over, pushing her tiny, plastic carriage with her doll inside. She was as happy as could be. I'm sure my dad was completely embarrassed.

On Saturday night, Zac and I made the hour-long drive up to Temple Square to see those lights again. It's an old Christmas tradition, and that whole block is magical. We love to see the temple we were married in, and remembered little snippets from our wedding day as we walked around there, while the snow fell on our matching fur-trimmed hats.

It was wonderful.

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snapshots.

Here are a few photos from Park City last weekend that I took with my iPhone. To sum it all up: we never left each others' side, and there was a lot of snow.

park city 2012.

We spent this last weekend up at Park City with the Swensons. This is a tradition that I've been a part of for two years now. We were pretty nervous about driving up there on Friday night, because of all the snow coming down on the roads, so we rode up with Lyle, Jill, and Sophie. We didn't die!

We spent our time eating (Vinto was first on the list, and it didn't disappoint), shopping for our Christmas presents, watching movies, and sitting in the hot tubs while there was snow all around us and in the trees (it was pretty surreal). 

I was surprised by just how chilly it was up there. It was below 20 degrees most of the time, so we stayed bundled up for a good part of the trip. And for some reason, I didn't take hardly any pictures. These ones below are what I snapped in a hurry today a few hours before we left. I should work on that.

Today, while Zac and I were taking a nap before we had to leave, our niece, Kynlee, who has the biggest, prettiest eyes, came in and played with us. Well, Zac was asleep, so she played with me. We played peek-a-boo, and touch-Zac's-face-while-he's-trying-to-sleep. He didn't appreciate it as much as we did.

Park City was so much fun, and I love spending time with these people! I'm always looking forward to the next year.

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