Let SUMMER BEGIN!

We have had such a wonderful summer this year! Last year I was a big wimp and bemoaned the loss of summers full of carefree days and sleeping in, since Ryan and I were both working full-time for the first time ever. This year, though, I knew what to expect and we did summer right. Planned lots of vacation time and weekend trips, used lots of PTO, but still kept our jobs. ;)

And let's be honest, for two Pacific Northwest natives in Utah, summer starts in May. Cause Utah is just so dang hot way too early in the year.

At the beginning of May we got to meet the sweet little babe of some of our best friends! This little miss is just the CUTEST baby burrito! Little did her parents know that we were expecting one ourselves at this time... But we weren't telling yet! [: 

It just made me that much more thrilled to know one of these babes was in our future.

Mothers' Day came, and so unexpectedly I got some gifts! My parents sent me flowers on Saturday (So sweet! I almost cried. They were so pretty!) and my niece Riley wrote me THE CUTEST card. Oh my goodness. Just look at this.

"Have a good baby!" I die. Hahaha.

Date nights to Salt Lake and our favorite pizza place. Settebello, I'm so happy we're friends.

Katie invited us to go on a lovely Saturday hike with her one weekend! The sunshine was gorgeous and American Fork Canyon never disappoints. 

Our original plans were quashed by residual snowpack (as someone who works in drinking water, though, I'm not complaining! Hang on as long as you can there, little snowpack!) so we changed to a pretty little hike called Pine Hollow (which, as a diehard childhood fan of The Saddle Club, made me laugh). 

While we hiked, we talked about pregnancy, baby names, parenting, family traditions, and more. The forest was beautiful, and the meadow where we ended up was the perfect place for a snack and long gospel talks. I loved this day and I love my Kates.

Sunday dinner at the in-laws.' While the boring grown-ups talked, Riley helped me whip up some chocolate chip cookies while we talked about baby stuff from a seven-year-old's perspective. My favorite quote of the evening:

Riley: "So... your baby is due November 26th, right?"

Me: "Yes! Good memory! What do you think about that?"

Riley (who was born in November): "Well... I kinda wish I was the only birthday in November... But it's okay..."

Hahaha. Thank you for generously sharing your birthday month, girlie. [:

The freight-train-hunger continues as the first trimester goes on. #pregtexts

We went on a wedding date to the reception of a friend of Ryan's from the Netherlands! It was beautiful. Heber is a gorgeous place to spend a breezy summer evening. Then we hit up froyo because we felt silly wasting our good looks and going straight home. Froyo continues to be one of the only sweet things I can eat this pregnancy. I love the strawberries and kiwis!

Oh man. This day. One Saturday, we went over to the Grays' to hang out and this tiny furry girl was waiting at the front door to greet us! Oh my word! 

We knew Rich & Laura were casually looking at dogs now that they had their yard fenced in, but a puppy? Best surprise ever! I think Ryan almost passed out of happiness. ;) That dog-lover man of mine. He just melts into a puddle around them. 

It was so fun to meet Abigail on her first day in her new home! Dragging Ryan away was pretty hard! We're looking forward to lots and lots of summer puppy playtime in the future. [:

And sunny walks with my love in the canyon.