Christmas Cards

I finally got around to ordering our Christmas cards and couldn't believe Brody and I have celebrated so many holiday seasons together.  This year's will always hold a special place in my heart because it's our first with the little goose. We decided on this picture in particular because it was one of the few with a genuine smile from Brody and I. And I can't get over that baby girl's expression, this was one of the few where she wasn't trying to grab the little tree I'm holding too ;)

I have loved doing our cards ever since we got married and I can't believe we already have six year's worth! It was so fun to look back at all of them and see how much we've changed.

Look at those young pups!

And because it's always fun to see the ones that didn't make the cut, here are some more from this year. Enjoy!

It Happened

I became one of those parents who just posts pictures of their baby. I knew it was a risk, but my goodness she's just so freaking cute I can't help myself.  I was looking back through the last couple of posts on here and realized that they are all mostly pictures (which is all anyone really wants to see anyway) but they were all a little too glossy and sunshiney and I don't want my life to appear edited. So here is some good ol' fashion text and some real life.

Brody is still looking for a job, the Utah legal market is quite small to begin with and with two feeder schools already, jobs for attorneys are very few and far between. We knew this coming out here, and I know it's going to work out and that he will find something eventually, but any leads and good vibes are totally welcome. Send them our way :)

We are still living at my parent's house.  And honestly, it's been pretty great so far. It's different for sure, but not in a bad way. Having so many adults around to help with the babe has been so nice.  We have our own little area of the house with our own bathroom so we don't feel crowded, surprisingly, considering how many people are living here. I totally get why people live in multi-generational households in other parts of the world. It takes a village, as they say, and living under the same roof as the rest of the village is really convenient.

I'm working part-time at my old job and can't believe how lucky I got.  Cadie just happens to sleep-in everyday during the hours when I'm in the office. The starts aligned in so many ways for this job and it just confirms that we are supposed to be here.

A Sandlot Halloween

For Cadie's first Halloween, I knew I wanted to do a group costume of sorts but kind of struggled for a while to find the right one--I also didn't really want to have to buy anything. We finally settle on Squints, Wendy Peffercorn, and the cutest little baseball from The Sandlot. I was pretty pleased with how it turned out and couldn't believe what an incredibly warm Halloween it was. This has truly been one of the best Utah's falls in living memory for me.

Having a babe has made me so much more excited for Christmas too--I may have already ordered all of our stockings and Cadie's baby's first Christmas ornament.  And if the radio doesn't start playing Christmas music soon, I may just have to be one of those people. I can't help it, it's so much more fun with a kid (even though I realize she will have no idea what's going on).  Bring on the rest of the Holidays!

Fall Magic

This has been one of the best and longest Autumns in Utah that I can remember. The temperatures have been perfect and it hasn't snowed yet! (knock on wood).  We have been trying to take the little one out to enjoy it and see all of the beautiful colors on the trees.  I think she's a fan, I mean look at that smile :)

He did it!

Just call him Brody Miles, Esq.

Brody had his swearing-in ceremony last week which means he is now a licensed attorney in the state of Utah. I couldn't be more proud! They held the ceremony at Abravanel Hall, and it was really interesting, they treat it as a special session of the Utah Supreme Court.  Three of the Justices were there (one even referenced Jackie Chiles and Atticus Finch in his remarks), and they had each new attorney stand when their name was read and had them all repeat the oath to protect the Constitution, etc. They even said 'court adjourned' at the end and everything. Cadence and I were just beaming with pride the whole time :)

Cadie is not a fan of that awful green carpet

Welcome October

I feel like the world gives a collective, relaxed sigh when October comes. Like our minds can just put on a pair of cozy socks and curl up next to the window with a cup of hot chocolate and watch the leaves fall lazily from the trees.  Mmmmm, isn't it the best?

I'm desperate to drive up into the mountains and see some of the leaves and teach Cadie all about my favorite season :)

There's been some exciting developments lately.  Brody passed the bar!!! He has his swearing-in ceremony in a few weeks and he will officially be official. He's an attorney. My esquire.  A bonified lawyer.  He has worked so hard for it and I couldn't be more proud.

I've been pretty bad about updating the blog so here are a few snapshots of life lately, enjoy!

Not a bad view from my downtown office where I'm working part-time

She loves spending time with her Grammies

Celebrating passing the bar with a little surf and turf and Market Street

Matchy matchy on Patriot's Day

She feels the same way I do about DDP

Dillema

I'm having a hard time deciding how much of my sweet babe I want to put out there in the verse for totally random people and strangers to see.  I love social media for the convenience and ease of sharing photos with family and friends, but then I look at the traffic on my blog and I just get a little weirded out that some random person in Malaysia or Russia is looking at photos of my baby.  It's a whole new world now, but I don't necessarily think that it's healthy or even okay for a child's life to be completely documented online.........blerg. I just don't know where to draw that line.

My Little Animated Papoose

I'm sure it's because I'm her mother, but I am genuinely entertained by my little babe. Some of the faces she pulls are hilarious, she may have been cursed blessed by being too animated for her own good (I wonder where those genes came from).  But regardless of her expression she is just ridiculously adorable and when she smiles, it is like a shot of pure sunshine to my soul :)

Labor Day at the Cabin

My family all met up at the cabin on Labor day to take an updated family picture. It had been a few years since our last one and there have been 6 new grandbabies in the meantime, so we grabbed our camera and trusty tri-pod and headed up the canyon.  I was so excited driving up, I could see some pockets of yellow and orange leaves near Park City!! Eeeeeeeeeek fall is just around the corner!

It is always fun to try and get that many littles to all look at the camera at the same time, let alone smile, but I think we did pretty well.  And of course I had to snap a few candids because they are just the best.  I especially love that Lacey is fixing Brody's collar in one picture and then Lani is fixing it again in another one :) Too good.

It's just too beautiful up there, these are straight out of the camera

There goes Lace

I have no idea what Brody is doing here

...and there goes Lani too :)

There we go

And just because it's fun to compare, here's the one from 2010

And now: