Life via Instragram

We went to Bear Lake over Labor Day with the Norton's. As you can see, it was beautiful up there!

Leah had just learned her new yoga move, Warrior. She loves to show that off! She's so serious about it, it's funny.

She loved the lake and could have stayed out there all day. Too bad it was rainy and cooler weather, but it was perfect weather to go outside and play some flag football and play at the park.

Our backyard view right now. I am falling in love with fall. I've never loved it as much as this year. Having a view like this sure helps.

Many of you heard about Leah's incident with eating the top of a red pencil. Not the proudest mama moment... but it made for some cute pictures!

Taylor has somehow convinced Leah that mate is delicious! She loves it! I can't quite figure it out... it tastes like grass and dirt. She also has been way into wearing her sunglasses. She constantly slides them up on her forehead to see better, and then back down to look cool. :)

Change is in the Air

A lot of changes have occurred in the Norton home recently.

I quit my job at the Plastic Surgeons office and started back into school full-time. It's a very different day to day schedule! But I am so happy with the decision that I made. I liked working and it helped with our bank account, but it was making home life very hard. Taylor was also working full time and going to school full time. So that left Leah with babysitters 4 days out of the week. Thank goodness we had our wonderful mom's and sister helping out! We were so grateful she didn't have to go to daycare. But it was still hard to know she was being dropped off at a different house everyday.

Anyway, long story short we decided I should quit work, and that gave me the opportunity to start school. I am doing most of my classes online, and just one class on campus. I love it so far! As much as I wish I was farther along in my education, I know that I needed to do it this way. If i've learned one thing in life, it's to just do what works for YOU. Not what works for everyone else, and not even what others think will work for you. So i'm back in school and loving being home with Leah!

Taylor is getting ready to take the MCAT and needs to be putting 20+ hours a week towards that. He also has a rigorous semester so working nights just wasn't going to work anymore.

Things have worked out, and he is taking a few months off from work until he takes the MCAT. Then he will be starting back up, hopefully with a day schedule! So right now we have to be very careful with money, but we are so happy with the changes that have come about. We know we are doing what's best for our family, and we are loving these few months that we can both just focus on school.

My Laugh for the Day

::thanks jamie for putting this up on your blog. hope you don't mind I took it::

...

why men are never depressed

men are just happier people

your last name stays put.

the garage is all yours.

wedding plans take care of themselves.

chocolate is just another snack.

you can never be pregnant.

car mechanics tell you the truth.

the world is your urinal.

you never have to drive to another petrol station restroom because this one is just too icky.

you don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.

same work, more pay.

wrinkles add character.

people never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.

new shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. one mood all the time.

phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.

you know stuff about tanks & engines.

a five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.

you can open all your own jars.

you get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.

your underwear is $8.95 for a twelve-pack,

three pairs of shoes are more than enough.

you never have strap problems in public.

you are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.

everything on your face stays its original color. the same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.

you only have to shave your face & neck.

you can play with toys all your life.

one wallet and one pair of shoes - one color for all seasons.

you can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.

you have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.

you can do christmas shopping for 25 relatives on december 24 in 25 minutes.

no wonder men are happier.

Spring

I think it's official. I have S.A.D. (seasonal affective disorder) I am such a happier and better person to be around when the sunshine is out and the winter is over. I'm loving it! Me and Tay have been pretty busy lately, as usual. We got a calling awhile ago, i'm sure I blogged about it. But if not, we're on the "Temple Committee". We've really enjoyed it so far. It's given us a scheduled time to go every month, and it's been great. It's helped me see the blessings of the temple a lot.

Amidst our busy schedules we were able to get some boarding time in. (Thanks mom and dad!) It was a lot of fun, but I must say..I am such a whimp! I don't know when that changed. I was never a daredevil, but I used to go super fast and try jumps on the way down. This time it was a whole different story! I was going a lot slower and every time I went over a lump of snow my stomach tightened up and I thought I was going to die. Who am I??? It was embarrassing really. But hey, we had a good time!

This weekend I was very productive! It's hard for me to decide what to do on Saturdays. I'm so busy during the week and get no time to relax, that I just want to do NOTHING on the weekend. I mean literally sit my butt on my couch and not move all day....(really, it's nice sometimes. Especially when America's Next Top Model is on) But on the other hand, I have so much to do and so many projects to work on that I want to cram all of that into one day. Can you see my dilemma? Well today I chose to be a productive women. I say woman because I was doing crafts like only a woman can do!

I had several idea's to change up my little apartment, and I finally got around to them. Tell me what ya think! I'm up for some advice. Ya know, if I should change this a little or that a little. Or if the whole thing was a disaster. We're all friends here.

We were in charge of bringing 50 potatoes to ward temple night. I've never seen that many potatoes in my life.

Our new table decor. Sorry for the bad picture, I wish you could see it better. I love green. I love it!

I've been wanting to this project forever. I just took foam from Hobby Lobby and covered in fabric. SO easy! And wahlaa...cute art work.

I would definitely say my Kitchen is seeming much more spring-ish.

See this popcorn bowl? Did we ever use it? No. Did I see it's potential? Yes.

When all else fails, add zebra print. I am loving zebra print just like I love green.

I will be finishing this project shortly....

Happy Spring Time!