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.

a walk along the lake.

When we were getting ready to move a few months ago, one thing we were really excited about was that our house would be less than a mile from a walking trail that runs along the side of the lake. So a few weeks after we had moved (I'll post pictures of our house soon), we went on a walk up the trail.

Franz is at the stage right now where he loves to run everywhere. He needs to get his wiggles out every hour of every day. Walking up this trail was a dream for him. He was so excited. He kept pointing out leaves left over from last fall and his mittens kept falling off. I couldn't keep track on how many times he fell. Running everywhere you go comes with a cost.

These pictures don't do it justice, but the view was incredible, even on this overcast and cold day. I'm already dying to go back there.

new years eve 2014.

The introvert in me thinks it's so nice to have kids, because you can go to bed before midnight on New Years Eve, and it's totally okay, and no one thinks you're crazy, because kids! So that's what we did on New Years Eve last year.

We were in the middle of packing up our apartment. We had just put an offer on a house, and were planning on moving in just a couple of weeks, with half of our stuff in boxes stacked in each open corner of our living room.

So for New Years, before Franz went to bed, we hung out in the living room taking pictures and videos of us just being us. Most pictures were blurry, and lots have stupid faces, but oh my gosh, it was so fun, and had us laughing like a bunch of crazies. It's one of my favorite last memories in our little apartment. Franz tried on my boots and was determined to get my camera and made the most hilarious faces.

After Franz went to bed, Zac and I poured ourselves some sparkling grape juice in a couple of wine glasses, changed into our pajamas, and played Mario Bros. It was the perfect night, because we were sick and just wanted to be lazy. Oh, and you bet your bottom we went to bed before midnight. Because kids!

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.