While Daddy’s Away…

A few weeks ago I signed up to do the April Foolery mini sessions with Samantha Kelly and Heather Nan at the Charcoal Loft.  I thought it would be the perfect way to do Sloan’s 18 month pictures + Easter pictures and call it good.  I got the photos back this week and I am thrilled with how they turned out.  I was super hesitant when I realized the backdrops were going to be yellow [not my favorite hue, to be honest] but I was pleasantly surprised.

Heather Nan Photography - Family Photography

Zach and I have two watercolor portraits in a gallery wall in our bedroom by Elizabeth Mayville.

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I contacted her about doing a commission for us of Sloan, to match our set.  Turns out she is booked out completely for custom stuff this year and I couldn’t get her to even start one until 2017.  So, with a little ingenuity and some help from Photoshop, I made one myself.  Sloan has this curl in the back towards the nape of her neck and it has always looked like a little duck tail.  So naturally (Zach gives everyone nicknames – I think I have like 12) he started calling her Ducky.  I’m grateful the ladies captured this shot – it is exactly what I wanted to do a watercolor version of.  It’s not Elizabeth’s quality, but it will fit in nicely, I hope.

Heather Nan Photography - Family Photography

Zach was in Cabo most of this week with his friends.  We missed him terribly.  I never sleep well when Zach’s out of town, truthfully.  I end up staying up all hours of the night binge watching shows [Call the Midwife] and working until I can’t keep my eyes open any longer.

Zach had a great time.  His friends are a super close group, if you can’t tell…

IMG_0676So what did Sloan and I do to pass the time?  One word:  Target.  I think we went three times whilst Zach was gone for 7 days.  IMG_0621

And visited a few of our parks, of course.IMG_0632We also had a little drama with my car – which meant I got to drive around a gigantic F250 on loan from the Ford dealership until mine was all spiffed up.  We couldn’t even fit it lengthwise in the garage, which means my dream of getting a Ford Raptor isn’t possible while we live in this house…which is going to be a while.  Besides, trucks aren’t really “mom-friendly” automobiles.  I guess I’ll have to wait until all my kiddos are grown to get one of those bad boys.  But really, I loved driving it around.  I felt on top of the world.  Literally.  And Sloan loved the view from way up high as well.

Sloan had no trouble sleeping while Zach was gone.  In fact, she even slept in until 8:30 a few of those days he was away.Sloan sleeping

I loved spending time with her – just the two of us.  I know I get it all day every day – but when Zach gets home from work, Mom is old news and Sloan is a total daddy’s girl.  I got extra long cuddles at night and plenty of slobbery kisses.  Sloan silly smile

Thursday I went to a Favorite Things Party at my friend Melinda’s house.  I had never been to one of these shindigs before – and I have to say, it was so creative and fun!  Everyone brought a gift to exchange ($10-15) and then a small gift to share with everyone.  I walked away with a free car wash – Zach was beside himself with joy – and some delicious treats.

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Sloan has always had a thing for sunglasses – but lately she’d rather wear mine.  She kept mine on through two grocery store visits and was devastated when I made her take them off so I could use them in the car. Screen Shot 2016-04-17 at 10.10.29 PM

Zach got home at the end of the week and we spent Saturday doing things together as a family.  We fed the ducks at Sugarhouse Park and ran errands.  Sloan liked the other kids at the park more than she did the ducks.  She’s a social little soul. Screen Shot 2016-04-17 at 10.12.35 PM That night Zach and I had our date night – which I got to plan.  I chose to eat dinner at Brio [but the wait was 1 hr 30 min] so we ended up at the food court at City Creek.  We spent the next few hours shopping for an upcoming trip.

Sunday Zach had a full day of meetings and a fireside – so it was just Sloan and I most of the day.  We reached a new record at sacrament this weekend:  Sloan lasted 45 minutes without us needing to take her out in the hall.  That’s a huge deal for her, considering her track record.  She was also sporting a new dress her Mimi got her.  The skirt was so full that you couldn’t see her legs underneath it.  She looked like a little floating doll and couldn’t get enough of herself in my full-length mirror.  Screen Shot 2016-04-17 at 10.13.08 PM

We had Sunday dinner at my aunt’s house and we all brought our own meat to grill.  Sloan loves her uncle Blake – so he got his exercise in running around the house with her.

I know Sloan doesn’t get it yet – but I loved our little girl’s only weekend.  I can’t wait until she’s older and I can force her to go on trips with me.  Hopefully she won’t realized how uncool it is to hang with your mom until she’s much, much older.

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