LIFE IN IPHONE PHOTOS

1) cute soapery we found downtown and love. I bought the most divine smelling aluminum-free deodorant and coconut lip balm. no turning back! I gave justin the business card so he could refer back to it at christmas ;) 

2) emery posing as a bunny in a drive through at a local mexican restaurant. I'm THAT mom. we love tacos and photos. 

3) mimi and emery trying out snapchat and enjoying it.

4) grayson pre-haircut. he looks so much older now and it tugs at this momma's heart. 

5) grayson eating his mid-morning snack with "london the dog" at the "art area" where emery likes to show off her schoolwork for daddy.

6) exploring the hot springs downtown where grayson likes to trespass and venture off on his own with momma trailing (running) after.

7) celebrating sophie's second birthday at the park.

8) a snapshot taken on memorial day of a bathhouse rich in history and marble. 

9) just another frequent nursery visit

10) staying home and playing indoors on days it's way too hot to go anywhere. 

Our week has included muggy naps, schoolwork, reading alice in wonderland at bedtime until emery drifts off to sleep,  bedtime kisses through the crib slats, dance parties, as much watermelon as we can handle, watching emma the goat graze in our backyard, letting the kiddos stay up way too late, the smells of freshly laundered bed linens as they hang to dry, little pruned hands and feet from long bubble baths, movie nights, thrifting for treasures, scattering cut flowers from our beds around the house, "camping" in the teepee, racing diecast cars, and spaghetti dinners. The little things truly are the big things for us. I'm not usually a summer person, but I'd be okay with it staying awhile. :) I hope you all are having a lovely week! Happy Thursday! 

SALVATION MOUNTAIN

In 2014 Justin and I went on vacation to Phoenix sans kiddos and it was probably my absolute favorite vacation. Not because we went without the kiddos-even though it was nice to have a break and spend some one on one time with the hubster- but because we got to see and check a few places off our list. One of those being Salvation Mountain. Our drive from Arkansas to Phoenix took about 18 hours, and I just knew Justin wouldn't be willing to drive another ten hours (round trip) to So. Cal to visit Salvation Mountain. I was shocked when he so kindly agreed. I remember driving on really windy roads that had no shoulder and were spotted with patches of sand and tall mountains on each side. it was like driving through a sandy maze of rock formation. It was interesting and I loved it. Even if you're not a believer, i still think this place truly is a piece of art. Its beautiful. its creative. and it's very very hot! haha! I think we stayed a total of thirty minutes. once we had taken all the pictures our hearts desired, we packed up, all hot and sweaty to head back to phoenix. we actually ended up getting a little backwards and ended up at the U.S.-Mexican border checkpoint. In that moment I was thankful for blonde hair, alabaster skin and a southern accent!! ha! I knew my inability to tan would come in handy eventually and it didn't disappoint! anyhow, if you've never heard of Salvation Mountain, you can read about it here.

Thinking of our trip to phoenix and salvation mountain has me wondering where we'll go on vacation this year. I've got a few places in mind, but will be completely happy with whatever we decide to do! do you have any suggestions of great vacation spots that aren't the typical tourist scene? Do you have any vacation plans for the summer? Happy Tuesday, friends!!

                                                                                                         Amanda