instagram winstagram finstagram.
lets face it, social media is taking over the world.
but quite frankly, i can’t decide how i truly feel about instagram.
i love you. i don’t love you.
i’m over you. i’m addicted to you.
irony irony irony – – with a side of oxymoron.

it’s doing a stellar job of capturing our little moments + keeping them all in the same place.
so for now, lets just embrace it.
happy gramsday, to you from us.

do you know this gal?
if not, let me tell you – she is out of this world.
i cannot say enough good about her.
you’ve seen a few snipets of our family photos here + there.
B U T there are more where they came from.
literally.
{ok, maybe i just love saying that}

we clicked like sour patch kids + crystal light.
she took the word genuine to a new level in my book.
sami is the type of person who will help you succeed whether she knows you or not.
does that make sense?
basically she is impossible not to love + she is going places! f a s t.
i am obsessed with her work.
if anyone needs family, wedding or just for the heck or it pictures taken, CALL SAMI JO.
you won’t regret it.
thanks again, sami.
the parrish clan loves you.

i have said it before + i’ll say it forever –
jon is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
like, ever e v e r.
he has helped me become who i am + he loves me for it.
his love is very unique, it is real + i swear it was invented for me.

i prefer a 5 pound bag of sour patch kids to 5 dozen roses
+ a jon cooked steak to anything ruth’s chris can whip up.
we are weird, but we are weird together, so it balances out.
jon taught me that it’s good to be different.
he taught me that good fashion isn’t based on where you shop.
he taught me how every girl should always be treated,
+ that happiness is found when you are true to yourself.

i hope that every single person feels loved today.
it really is easier to love than to hate or have hard feelings.
let them go, trust me – you’ll be happier!

i love you, jon.
thank you for being my very favorite valentine!

last month i went ahead + issued myself a month away from blogging.
maybe you noticed, maybe not. more about that later.
today i’m just excited to start fresh with our fun blog circle, a happy attitude + some snippets from our month.
make sure you head over to valerie’s amazing space next to check out her month so far.

february is one of my all time favorite months.
i love love, did you know?
jonah + i have been working on valentine’s for e v e r y o n e we know.
our family goal this month is : SPREAD OUR LOVE.
so far we have conquered vegas, st george, salt lake + just got back from logan last night.
feels good to do good, to be loved + to love everyone around you.
jon + i have really tried to make an extra effort as parents to help jonah know how loved he is.
that is a goal we wrote down together before jonah came into our life.
it’s one of those feel good goals that instantly rewards you in return.
one more day until valentines day.
after you make your way through the february blog circle,
put on your “lovey lovey squishy dovey” face + go leave someone a special note.

i was pretty thrilled when cass asked me to be part of her 2013 project.
she rounded up a group of amazing gals to participate + i am just giddy about it.
she issued a challenge to capture “real” scenes from our month, each month, for a year.
ya know, the r e a l real ones.
the scenes that often go undocumented because it’s not the ideal time of day, or because the house isn’t in tip top shape
or for whatever reason or excuse you can think of.

how fun will it be to go back through all of them at the end of the year?
i am excited – – here we gooooooo.

j a n u a r y.
to tell you the truth – this month has been a bit of a wrestling match for us.
with the freeeezing cold weather that keeps us cooped up in the house all day,
to attempting a positive attitude after being sick almost the entire month.
good thing jonah brings the sunshine with him wherever he goes.
here’s to the sunny days ahead.
happy january, to you from us.
i hope your month has been delightful.
___________________________________________________________________
i am excited to be linking up with wynne + her darling family today.
i dare you to head on over to her blog + not fall absolutely in love with her sweet little family.

often, when i lug my big camera down to something “unimportant”, jon jokes that if we don’t get a picture – it didn’t really happen.
whomp whomp whomp.
he’s since learned that everything is important.
+ i’ve learned that those dang words creep into my mind all too often when it comes to blogging.
like, if i don’t post the pictures, all those adventures never happened.
wrong!
but right for anyone who wasn’t there with us, ya know?
all i know is that i like remembering everything + i like taking pictures.
being a new year + all, here i am in catch up mode. soooo consider yourself warned. or something.
oh + hey, you’re welcome for remembering to include you in this day full of pumpkin stealing + temper tantrums.

the day i took these picts – jonah was rocking my world.
you already know that he never E V E R walks. always runs. A L W A Y S runs.
which also means i’m constantly on my toes + never not out of breath.
i distinctly remember this day + wanting to throw in the towel when he covered my keyboard in candle wax.
his mischievous little personality just kills me.
he’s my best friend, my greatest helper + my favorite frustration.

fast forward.

this week – –
jonah hasn’t been himself + neither have i.
we have been down in the dumps.
we haven’t left the house. it’s cold. we’re sick. + we are all out of milk.

what have i learned?

jonah’s never too sick for kisses + he’s never too fevered for snuggles.
he knew exactly when i need a hug the very most.
from now on, these dennis the menace days will be looked at with a new perspective.
i can’t describe the love i have for this little guy. his heart is pure. he is perfect in my eyes.
i know it might sound silly – but he has truly been taking care of me this week.
i feel like i know a sure reason why heavenly father gave us a son.