patchin'

we finally rang in fall + went to the pumpkin patch. i love october, please let it never end. the sun is going down soooo much earlier + i can already feel myself moving into a season of mourning longer days... okay that's probably over dramatic, but i really don't look forward to daylight savings or november even a little bit. the darkness parallels my heart too closely in november + the cold is not as welcomed now that i have three small children, can we atleast skip to christmas lights + carols + sweet baby jesus to make up for it?! anyway, end rant. pumpkin patches + october + family + abby coming to town soon + new friends + lantern fest + NYC make me happy and i'll leave you with that + these happy pictures! enjoy these last october days + send me over your november loves to help me get on board ;) 

ESTES PARK || PART TWO + a little movie!

hello again!
photo round up part two + a little video!
pony rides, fishing + hanging on the porch, oh and elk... always elk.
...also, who isn't ready for daylight savings?! all hands raised. enjoy!

part one + trips from estes past!

here - here - here - here - here - here - here

a quick message brought to you by simultaneous napping by not two but THREE of my children.

this morning i was overwhelmed, and got down on myself feeling like i'd never again have time for myself to do the things i enjoy or write or edit photos or just be silent and still. 
as i sit writing this, i have three sleeping children (in the middle of the day- at the same time), it feels like fall out, and i'm enjoying a cup of coffee all by myself during this miracle of rarely occurring silence. thank you Jesus. 
being a mother has been the very most rewarding thing i've experienced EVER, ever, ever, ever... it's also drained me + i've lost myself in ways that i wish i hadn't. i take full responsibility for it, but almost 4 years is my breaking point. i need change. i need to start prioritizing myself regularly, because i can't be the insanely awesome + loving mom that God designed me to be + that i truly am deep inside, when often times i find myself feeling exhausted + worn out + don't know who i am or which way is up. in saying all of this, God knows what we need, and i'm giving him full credit for this moment brought to you by simultaneous naps. thank you God for loving me anyway + taking care of me always, and for choosing me for this ever so wonderful + challenging role. amen.
...now, how bout those faces + that glorious sunset!

ESTES PARK || PART ONE

estes park was one for the books this year! 

we are in a super sweet spot with the kiddos and their ages right now, and it has been serving us well! life with littles is constantly changing seasons, and i know that a few months from now we will be in a new one, so i am really trying to soak in the current one + relax into it as much as the non-calm person that i am will allow, thank you for chris.

we hiked one of the same trails that i hiked growing up with my family + took pictures on some of the very same rocks... silly hats, chapped lips and all... and now it's my own children! the nostalgia is real. it wasn't without struggle, but was so so worth it to me. at the bottom chris said to me, "that was hard... but life isn't supposed to be easy, we just hiked with our kids!"

we elk watched + got our christmas ornament from our regular little shop in town. we drank coffee + wine + gingeronnos on the porch by the river. we hot tubbed + talked + i felt like i actually rested vs. the fake resting i do at home. our kids rode horses for the first time, which lucy told us later was her favorite part of the trip, abel's was fishing. isla was a peach, chris forever, and i never had to wash my hair because BEANIE SEASON.

estes park, you've done it again. we love you.

trips from estes past!

here - here - here - here - here - here - here