Life Lately - Via Instagram

I am in love with Instagram.

Here's (some) of what life's been like lately - 

(according to my iPhone)

My Rock Star Jordan graduated from high school and started college.

(yep, I am now the momma of an adult!  what?)

My Cutie Caden is excelling in 9th grade - 

and making us laugh - every. day.

And boy did we ever love watching him play football!

(for the last time - his momma hopes!  Time to break out the bribes...)

I am a lucky Young Womens President -

with 24 new lovely ladies in my life.

I sure love these girls and our adventures together!

My dream of getting paid to travel and take photographs - 

came true!  I am loving my new job.  Isn't it amazing the things

you can create for yourself?  

San Diego in the early morning hours.  

Just another day at the office.

The whole crew (plus one) on the train to the big city!

One of the many holiday traditions we love.

Christmas came and went, and we soaked up the time together!

We said good-bye to 2011, and welcomed 2012 with open arms.

It's going to be an AMAZING year for the Tanners.

The girls with Frosty.  

(glad he finally showed up - we've been waiting!)

These two girlies make my heart sing with joy.

Love notes.  My favorite!

Being a mom is the best.

Hiking (love) in Sedona (love) all expenses paid (love)

Did I mention? - I love my job!

What is better than hiking in Sedona?

(Answer:  Hiking in Sedona with Superman!)

So there you have it.

A quick glimpse into my busy, beautiful life via Instagram.

What do your adventures look like lately?

Life Lately.

(My beauties at Seal Beach where we spent our summer holidays)

Life.  Mine has been nuts.  Exciting and exhausting all at the same time.  It is amazing to me how much I have grown in the past 6 months.  (Not physically... I am in the best shape of my life!)  Grown as a person, a career woman, a daughter, a mother, as a wife, as a spirit, as a photographer, as a friend.  If someone would have told me a year ago what my life would be like today, I wouldn't have believed it.  So much has changed.  New chapters have begun.  Milestones have been celebrated.  It's been a rocky road.  There have been hardships.  But with those hard times there are incredibly GOOD times.  And hidden blessings around every turn.  Its a beautiful thing that God knows us better than we know ourselves, and will always give us exactly what we need.  I am a blessed human being.  I am grateful for all He gives me, good and bad.  Life is an adventure.  I am living mine to the fullest.

A love letter.

Dear Chad,

(Whenever I hear this song, I can't help but think of us!)  So, in the words of Uncle Kracker and in honor of February (the month for lovers) and Valentines Day (my favorite holiday!):  

You're better than the best.

I'm lucky just to linger in your light.

  Cooler than the flip side of my pillow, that's right.

  Completely unaware.

Nothing can compare to where you send me, lets me know that it's okay!

 And the moments when my good times start to fade... you make me smile like the sun,

fall out of bed, sing like a bird, dizzy in my head,

spin like a record, crazy on a Sunday night.

  You make me dance like a fool, forget how to breathe, shine like gold, buzz like a bee.

  Just the thought of you can drive me wild.

  I see the best of me inside your eyes... you make me smile!

I love you.  I love our life together.  19 years ago, we dreamed of getting married.  We dreamed of having a house full of children who would need kisses and tickles and talks.  We dreamed of traveling and new adventures.  We dreamed of creating new traditions and making amazing memories to last us a lifetime.  Those dreams have come true.  Thank you for your positive light and for always making me smile.          

(Me + Superman)

And now as our life together moves on, we have new dreams...

exciting, crazy, wonderful ones!

I. can't. wait.

xoxo

Happy New Year!

It's the new year already?  How did that happen?  Is your life flying by, as fast as mine seems to be?  Its just a roller-coaster ride and I am holding on tight and enjoying the ride!

Since getting home from my trip to Mississippi (yes, I still need to blog about that) I dove right back into work, family, and my calling as Young Women President.  Therefore, my blog has been a bit neglected, but something has to give, right?

In a perfect world, I would have time to blog about:  Me, Chad and the kids sitting 8th row at the Jazz game, our delicious Thanksgiving holiday - specifically my pumpkin pie and Chad's amazing turkey, Caden shooting his first Elk, Jordan's broken toe, saying good-bye to our cousin Logan who is a missionary now, our failed winter family photo shoot in the cold/rain/snow, Christmas countdowns all over the house made by my darling children, Jordan singing another solo with his guitar in the assembly at WHS - he rocked!, losing 10 pounds and buying my first pair of skinny jeans, spending time in the temple with my darling young women and my two boys!, a December full of parties and festivities spent with people we love, the biggest pizza you have ever seen, a beautiful and wonderful and delicious and quiet Christmas eve with my favorite people, a magical Christmas morning filled with wide eyes and surprises and yes, some happy tears.... , and our amazing trip to California where we spent our winter holidays.


As I reflect on this past year, I am filled with gratitude for all the blessings that fill up my life to overflowing.  We are filling every year with some pretty amazing memories and traditions.  After all, that's what its all about, right?  Living your life.  I am so truly blessed and I am thankful for every single bit of it.  I am so proud of what we have accomplished this past year!  I get so excited as I write my goals for the new year, and think of all the amazing possibilities that are waiting for us.  Happy New Year!!

  (our Happy New Year card that will be mailed out today!)

The Dog Days of Summer.

Oh Summer. 

Glorious Summer.
I love you so.
Why do you come and go so fast?

We had SO MUCH FUN this summer.

My top ten twelve summer 2010 memories are:

1.  Birthday parties! Some of which included:  a cool party at Chick-fil-a, a sweet kickball game at the park and a jam session in the backyard.  The Tanner kids are all a year older.

2.  A major house remodel.  WE ARE LOVING OUR NEW LOOK!

3.  Camping - Amazing Flaming Gorge, Gorgeous Idaho and the Beautiful Uintahs.

4.  Fireworks with Friends.  ITS THE BEST.

5.  Spending ALL DAY at Boondocks - just me, Chad and the kids.  And laughing.  A LOT.

6.  Picking raspberries.  And eating them.  YUM.

7.  SWIMMING!  And lots of it.

8.  A weekend get-away to Las Vegas for our 18th wedding anniversary!  WHAT? 

9.  More swimming.

10.  A new adventure... Young Women's President!  WHAT? 

11.  Watching Jordan live his dream of front row Jack Johnson on his 17th birthday.

12.  Boating and playing at the Lake.

And here some pics of my sweet summer memories:

(Jordan wake boarding at Flaming Gorge)

(Shaye was finally talked into driving her own car on the race track at Boondocks!)

(Non-stop laughing at Boondocks - oh ya - and Cade had a mullet for about a week.  It was sweet.)

(Miss Gabrielle perfecting her high dive jump.)

(Me and Superman on our 18th Wedding Anniversary in Las Vegas)

(Our awesome house remodel - credit goes to Superman - isn't he amazing?)

(Jordan a.k.a. Jacks #1 fan, and Minden, FRONT ROW at the Jack Johnson concert on Jordan's 17th Birthday.  And yes, Jack wished him a HAPPY BIRTHDAY from the stage.  Needless to say, it was a very happy birthday and according to him - the best one yet.)

(Me and my cutie sis Cindee - enjoying Jack Johnson a little farther back.  Love my sisters.  LOVE.)

(One proud mama, with her A.MAZING Boy at the Jack Johnson show.  Man I love this kid.)

(Swimming.  Swimming.  And more Swimming.)

(Shaye and Luke - cousins - enjoying a soda and swimming at the Lake.)

(Caden skiing at the Lake.  LOVE this kid too.  What a smile!)

(Savana and Gabi - cousins and BEST FRIENDS - holding on for dear life.)

(Hot summer nights, jam sessions and songs around the fire, and don't forget the perfect s'more.)

Farewell Dog Days of Summer.
I will miss you.

A week at the Lake.

Remember when I used to have time to blog?

Ya, me too.

I guess I have just been too busy soaking up and enjoying the last of my summer!

Here are a few pics from our week at Washington Lake with Chad's awesome family.  

Gotta love the great outdoors!

(classic self-photo of me and Superman)

We spent our time fishing, canoeing, kayaking, reading, resting,

eating, hanging by the fire, hiking, cliff diving, rock climbing, swimming,

and enjoying the time together away from all the distractions of life!

(Shaye with her first catch of the day!)

(Caden giving his mother a heart-attack)

(Jordan, Cade and Kail getting ready to cliff jump)

The boys had a lot of fun cliff diving up at Wall lake 

and they even talked Gabi into jumping from the lower rocks!

  (a brave little girl!)

(our home away from home)

Our friends let us use their trailer for our trip - yes, we have amazing friends - 

and it was so nice to have somewhere comfortable to hang out!  

The Uintas are my absolute favorite place to camp in the state of Utah.  

It is so amazingly beautiful!  

(the Tanner kiddos, enjoying the great outdoors and making some memories)

I just love making memories like these, don't you?

Happy Summer.

ARISE and SHINE FORTH!

A few weeks ago, Jordan was one of the 3,000 youth that participated in the Youth Spectacular

ARISE and SHINE FORTH!

(Jordan in the pre-existence waiting for his turn on earth!)

It was truly SPECTACULAR.

They performed for 2 nights at Weber State and completely filled the stadium both nights, (Chad and I were lucky enough to go to both - yes we are proud parents!) and in fact on Saturday night the stadium was overflowing with people and we actually broke the record for number of people in the stadium. 

It was rumored that the Prophet was there in attendance, but more than that - 

the spirit that filled the stadium was incredible!

(Our whole family came to enjoy the show!)

The Spectacular performed life from the pre-existence - to our life on earth - to life after death - and having faith in our Savior Jesus Christ 

and the power that is in each one of us and learning who we truly are. 

The messages in the songs were amazing, and I feel so grateful for Jordan to have been a part of it, 

to help him learn who he truly is, where he came from 

and have those messages and spirit touch his heart!

The Power in Purity!

power in the heavens...

power in the plan!

power in discovery...

learning who I am!

there's power in obedience...

the truth that sets us free!

To find a sense of confidence,

the power in purity!

 (Jordan on the earth - "Arise and Shine Forth that thy light may be a standard for the nations")

I never stand alone, when I stand with God.

And I stand with his prophets.

 Wherever I may go...

when I stand with God, I never stand alone!

I stand with Nephi and Moroni

with Abinadi who testified in faith, 

the saints through the ages,

the stalwart and faithful - leading me, telling me -

I never stand alone, when I stand with God!

(Jordan standing with God and the prophets)

Its hard to describe just how special it really was...

It was a beautiful way to spend a few summer nights.

To learn more about our faith and what we believe CLICK HERE.

Spring Time - Easter Time.

Spring Break came and went.

In the blink of an eye.

And yet, it still feels like winter.

That must have something to do with the fact that when I look out my window,

I see a winter wonderland outside.

 ***

Spring time - Easter time = Fun times.

We spent it with our loved ones -

playing games, coloring eggs, feasting on food, hunting for eggs, taking naps, 

kissing baby cheeks, taking photographs, laughing, loving, enjoying,

listening to prophets of God and wishing for sunshine.

Every year, Nana hides eggs all over her wonderful yard.

Its a delightful tradition.

On your mark... Get set... GO!

Find your treasures.  Get as many as you can!

Some have treats inside.  Some have money in them.

The coveted GOLDEN EGG has 10 bucks inside.

Jordan didn't waste much time looking for the regular eggs.

He had his mind on the GOLDEN EGG and the cashola it held.

He didn't find it.  Oh well.  Maybe next year.

18 years ago, I found an egg with an engagement ring in it.

I SAID YES.

Now look at the treasures I have...

And it just wouldn't be right if we didn't have this kid playing his music in the backgroud.

Hunting makes you hungry.

Nana made home-made pizzas for everyone.

(Have I mentioned how AMAZING Nana is?)

And my little Shaye makes her pizza the same way as me.

All veggies.

That makes me smile.

And for dessert I made these delicious little lovelies.

Happy Happy Spring!