i love cardboard

After recently watching this amazing story about Caine's Arcade, Cash and I decided to put some of our packing boxes to better use. I would take this sort of imaginative play over any kind of technological device any day. And while it took a lot of self control to not let out the crazy designer in me to take over the whole thing... it was so fun asking him questions about what needed to go where and let him do most the work.

(not sure what this was for, but it seems very outer space: we come in peace)

(alien target practice)

(control center)

(secret alien spy hole)

(blast off rocket mode)

library find

Here is another great library find that we loved. Extra Yarn, by Mac Barnett and illustrated wonderfully by Jon Klassen. The colors are gorgeous in this book and the story is sweet and simple. 

first day of school

Today Jack started the first grade. Something about him having his own desk and eating lunch in the cafeteria made him suddenly seem so grown up. He was so excited to go back to school. A kid after my own heart. I loved elementary school. The homework, the school supplies, the new outfits come September.

The day was so quiet and calm (especially my morning with Cash in preschool as well), and I found myself continuously looking at the clock wondering what he was doing. How did he do in the lunch line. Did he make friends at recess. 

For most mothers who would be craving the time apart, I found myself a little homesick for him and realizing it was an end of an era. 

Cash's first day of school a few weeks back: 

for sale

Selling our house is probably at the bottom of my fun list. For starters, trying to keep the house in an eerie state of perfection with 3 little boys is a feat in itself. It's down right exhausting. Each morning I aggressively go from room to room to prep it in case any showings are scheduled for the day. Today I felt extremely guilty when Cash requested a master fort (not to toot my own horn about, but I make a mean fort) and I immediately turned him down. No boy should go without a fort on a weekly basis really. But for now he will have to wait.

The other thing I have come to realize, is that I never appreciated how much space we had here until I went house hunting in Tennessee. I guess a mean case of lime stone prevents most areas from digging basements (which I still haven't figured out how everyone hides from the tornadoes without a basement). Our house has 10 foot ceilings in the basement. You don't even know you are underground down there. I will miss that.

I have packed away most our decor and belongs to supposedly help the buyer envision themselves and their many belongs in our space, and part of me secretly wishes I could keep up this level of order and pose. I tried to not show too much resentment when projects that I have starred in the face for four years have magically been completed in a few weeks time. This is how it goes I suppose. 

I really do like this house. It is on a quiet street with good neighbors and great shade in the backyard in the evening. The boys and I have been very happy here. I know we will be happy in our next place too, I'm just feeling very sentimental now that we are leaving.

a glimpse of Nashville

Ha. I know I said I wasn't going to post for awhile, but I guess I can't help myself. I have a lot of friends who don't instagram, so I'm trying to post my adventures here as well.

Ryan and I went out to Nashville this last weekend to scout out neighborhoods. Flying into Tennessee our plane was struck by lightening in one of the craziest rain storms I've ever seen. The wing right outside our window was hit. It made a loud clap and a strong "thud" was felt through the whole plane. People screamed, and the flight attendant promptly announced for us to all "take a breath, this kinda thing happens all the time ya all" which by her voice I could tell it didn't. Then we had to sit on the runway for another 45 minutes because the lightening was so severe, the ground crew could not come out to guide us to the gate. As we drove to our hotel, there were trees blown over in the road and leaves and branches everywhere. A proper introduction to the city I suppose.

Nashville is beautiful though. I can't get over how green everything is. So many trees!

We ate at some amazing restaurants, met up with Ryan's new boss and wife, caught a outdoor informal concert with Buddy Miller and Emmy Lou Harris and got a personal tour of Hatch Show Print. It was unreal.

I tried to soak up as much as I could. It all still feels very overwhelming at times. Our house is officially up for sale and I feel this nervous almost first day of school feeling as time winds down here for us in Utah. 

 

taking a break

So the word is out. We are moving. Nashville Tennessee to be exact. My life, house and projects seem to be in about 100 different directions, so I'm going to take a small break from the blog (not much different from my lack of blogging anyway as of late) as I take on this new adventure.

Once I have my feet back under me, I resume my blogging duties.

See you all again real soon.

nothing much

OH, I love these new Toms...

a camping we will go

Ryan took the boys camping this weekend for Father's Day with his Dad. They couldn't have been more excited. Here are a few shots of their adventures so far... both landed their first prize fishes. Victory!

 Brothers rule.

Cash was very excited to tell me he helped gut the fish with dad and it was "so cool". Gross.

 

  (I love that Jack took is sketch book with him on their nature walk. This is one of his pictures he sent me afterwards.)

inspiration: the wilderness downtown

Tonight while watching Ted Talks, I watched one on interface design... the speaker, Chris Milk ended his talk with this latest project he had undergone with Arcade Fire and Google Maps. It is wicked. You have to try it. 

I love how amazing and creative some people can be.

it's official

 Big news! The new Lower Lights album is ready for your listening pleasure. You can pre-order the album here. Ryan went to Nashville to have the cover artwork letterpressed at the famous Hatch Show Prints studio. It is beautiful. The tracks are amazing as always.

Get excited. You're going to love it.

yes please.

I have long drooled over the line of products that come from the Rifle Paper Co, and their latest excess of botanical inspired items are just heavenly. I want one of everything.

thought

the center point

Ryan just developed some film recently. Every time he does - I am desperate to find more wall space... I want every single one of them up. This most recent shot of a field in Nashville will be the focus of my living room I've decided. I need to get it printed large, really large, and find a frame large enough that I don't have to have a custom one made. Then the whole room will work around it.

It's hard to explain, but it says so much about me, ry and a life we keep trying to aspire to. I could be reading too much into it sure, but if it was just aesthetics alone - the colors and composition would still sell me. I just love it.