I’m gazing on these pictures longingly, remembering just a few days ago when it was 85 degrees and the thought that there would be two inches of snow on my lawn today was a just a joke. A cruel joke that is currently a reality.

My sister Laura and family came and stayed with us for a week and it was dreamy. We went running, went to a movie, went boating, watched an amazingly inspiring conference, and canned peaches. I’ve never canned peaches by myself so I was so excited when Laura told me she was coming. The whole process was kind of ridiculous. Oh the pictures look like it was good clean fun, but I neglected to take one half of the way through when we had babies everywhere, peels and juice dripping and peaches starting to brown. Kind of a nightmare, but one that turned out 35 quarts of deliciousness.

Confession: I despise mopping, and cleaning bathrooms for that matter, but we’re focusing on mopping today. Geoff mops and the kids help me with the in between days when the kitchen floor needs a little help. I went back to my days as an innovative girl when I secured sponges to my little brother’s feet with shoelaces and told him to run around the bathroom. It was great fun, and the mopping got done, and I didn’t have to do the work myself. Fast forward twenty years and I’ve implemented “feet mopping” with my kids. It involves bare feet and some Clorox wipes and they think it’s loads of fun. They took it to the next level in this picture, using hands as well. Goodness knows after all that canning my floor needed it.

And then to top the week off, my parents arrived and we took them to the Missionary Training Center to start off their mission preparation. They were anxious and very excited. I was just happy it wasn’t our last goodbye so I didn’t have to worry about the finality of it all. We’ll get to have them a day before they leave for the airport to Fiji, yahoo!

The homeless man here would be the brother who I tricked into doing my cleaning.

Aren’t they cute?

Grandma Lola moved up here to an assisted living facility recently. It’s been rough for her to leave her home in Idaho and all she is familiar with. We invited her over for dinner the other night in hopes of cheering her spirits. After dinner, she and Geoff sat on our front porch and watched the kids ride their bikes as the sun set. I knew it was a moment that I needed to freeze in time.

Thank you to Kelsey Andersen of Evoking You for featuring me on your website!

My mom sent this video to me and I watched it through tears. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard about these heroes before now. I love the quote at the end where the man says that he never wants to say “I should have.”

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Just when I think I may be failing as a mother to this one, I picked him up from school today and ran into his teacher. She told me how smart, kind and helpful Isaac is. But the biggest compliment she paid him, was that he is “always happy.” We certainly have our battles at home, but if we can raise a happy boy, we’ve done something right. I truly hope that never changes.

He’s still head-over-heels for this little one.

Sometimes we go to the studio just to practice and stay fresh. And most of the time we have the minis and can’t resist taking pictures of them. I can’t say I mind. Having pictures with your babies is priceless. Go check out Kiera’s shots of Kate and I.

Mothers around the world PRAY for daughters like this one. She’s incredibly smart, talented, sticky sweet and the best big sister her five younger sisters could ever wish for. It blows my mind that she’s old enough to be leaving for college soon and I couldn’t be more excited or proud of her.

My family loves bread. I mean really loves it. But we’re kind of snotty breadlovers. Geoff served a mission for the LDS church for two years in Southern France which is where it all started. I always loved bread myself, but when we went to France together, that love took on a new level. I was never able to recreate that same crusty on the outside, chewy on the inside deliciousness that we love, until recently. I discovered this recipe a while ago and I feel it is my duty to share its life changing goodness with you. For the sake of all things holy, go make this bread now. It’s beyond easy to make. I make the dough before I go to bed at night and do the rest when I get up. It takes a lot of raising time but very little effort and the results are incredible.

This particular loaf I got fancy and put fresh basil and chunks of asiago cheese in the second raise.

Baking the Perfect Loaf of Bread at Home
Formula and Process created by Jim Lahey, owner of Sullivan St Bakery

3 cups (430g) flour
1½ cups (345g or 12oz) water
¼ teaspoon (1g) yeast
a little less than 1 tablespoon salt
olive oil (for coating)
extra flour, wheat bran, or cornmeal (for dusting)

Equipment:

Two medium mixing bowls
6 to 8 quart pot with lid (Pyrex glass, Le Creuset cast iron, or ceramic) *I use a dutch oven
Wooden Spoon or spatula (optional)
Plastic wrap
Two or three cotton dish towels (not terrycloth)

Process:

Mix all of the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add water and incorporate by hand or with a wooden spoon or spatula for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Lightly coat the inside of a second medium bowl with olive oil and place the dough in the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest 12 hours at room temperature (approx. 65-72°F).

Remove the dough from the bowl and fold once or twice. Let the dough rest 15 minutes in the bowl or on the work surface. Next, shape the dough into ball. Generously coat a cotton towel with flour, wheat bran, or cornmeal; place the dough seam side down on the towel and dust with flour. Cover the dough with a cotton towel and let rise 1-2 hours at room temperature, until more than doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 450-500°F. Place the pot in the oven at least 30 minutes prior to baking to preheat. Once the dough has more than doubled in volume, remove the pot from the oven and place the dough in the pot seam side up. Cover with the lid and bake 30 minutes Then remove the lid and bake 15-30 minutes uncovered, until the loaf is nicely browned.

It was such a joy and pleasure to photograph this family. They exuded so much love for each other, it was impossible not to capture it. Thank you St. Johns family for being such wonderful clients!