my starry night

I love going on little adventures (this really shouldn't be new information to anyone). So, yes, the idea of driving an hour up to Strawberry Reservoir and standing out in the freezing cold to take pictures of stars was a very appealing idea to me, and that is exactly what I did last night. One of my friends wanted to try and get some pictures of star trails, and I really wanted to look at some lovely stars, so win/win.

There were a few mishaps including: not being able to find where the camera was left out in the field and damaging of equipment. But, other than that, really even with that, I truly enjoyed my evening with some real great people. Sorry I don't have any pics to share with you, I wasn't the one taking them and iPhones just don't really capture the night sky very well, but picture every star you have ever seen and that is how lovely it was. I think if I had reached out far enough I could have touched the big dipper. 

Nature is so perfect.

peace. love. and stars.

wait! also, this little cutie (my nephew James) and his mama (Diane) came to visit me this week. 

my Oregon joy

My mamma grew up on the Oregon coast and some of her family still lives there, so it is always such a treat to go visit every summer. I even got to cross three things off my life list while I was there. Oh boy!

So one of my favorite places to go to in Oregon is this wild life park in Bandon where they let you play with the baby animals. Even at 21 I beg my family to go here. Haha. nothing makes you feel like a child like family vacations. But, I mean you KNOW how I love my baby animals...

Just hanging with a baby black bear...

 and a baby fox!!!! My favorite animal. When they told me they had a baby fox I was going to get to play with, you cannot comprehend how excited I got. This little guys name was Todd, and I loved him, and I wanted to take him home with me. (life list check 1)

But, the fun didn't stop there, a baby bobcat!

 Ok this is just a regular baby. But, that face!

and last but not least, a baby caracal. 

The coast of Oregon is seriously one of the most beautiful places I have ever been in my life. I just absolutely love it here and it's always nice to get a little cool weather in the midst of a hot Georgia summer. I didn't to go to Oregon last summer for the first time in forever, and I missed it so much. I can't imagine not making my way to the other side of America (at least every few years) for the rest of the my life.

 Yes, I am so obsessed with my dog that we brought him to Oregon. 

Aren't my parents cute? They take me on the greatest adventures.

It was pretty much the first not windy day ever in Oregon when we decided to go fly our kite, but it turned out brilliantly with just enough breeze to get our sharknado into the air. (life list check 2)

And to finish off my trip I had my grandma guide me through making one of her famous blackberry cobblers. Blackberries picked that day, homemade crust, and lots of sugar, I was pretty proud of the results. 

Can't wait till my next trip out west. This place is so perfect.

peace. love. and coast to coast.

my friends and family

Aren't friends and family perfect? Well, I've been filled with both this past week and it has been so so lovely. I finally got to meet my precious nephew Daniel, or little Danny as I like to call him ;) I was also able to enjoy a visit from my cute married friends, Chandler and Alison Frame. Plus, the whole fam was here for one of my favorite holidays, the 4th of July (Go America!)

Thanks for visiting me Al and Chan, and for taking care of a little bit of my I miss my Provo friends blues.

Obviously I dressed up for the 4th, and of course I dressed up puppy too. We matched in our American flag wear and might I say, we looked fantastic. 

Baby bibs tell no lies. That's a thing right? I don't know, whatever, isn't my nephew James cute? Can't believe this seven month old is already so huge!!

But even if James is getting big, I still have tiny Daniel to snuggle with.

  Uhg, I just love my nephews SO much. 

All the Cronquist girls with their babies!!! Yes, Eddie is my baby. If I have to wake up with him in the middle of the night cause he is crying, I get to call him my baby. 

I thank Heavenly Father daily for giving me the most incredible friends and family. I am so lucky to be surrounded by intelligent, funny, beautiful, and happy people all day, erryday. My life really is great and it's the people around me that make it great. So, if you are one of those people who make my life great, THANK YOU. Thank you for adding to my happiness, making me laugh, and really, thanks for putting up with me. I love you. 

peace. love. and friends & fam. 

my nephew number two

Welcome to the family perfect new baby!!! My big sister Rochelle and her husband Matt finally had their little guy last week. Daniel Dean Welker is an adorable 8 lbs 21 1/2 inches, and even though I haven't met him, I am already absolutely obsessed with him. I have been assured that even though Daniel and Danielle are awfully similar names my new nephew was not named after me. Deny it all you want Rochelle and Matt. Dani & Danny forever.

Ahh! Just look at him. I was never baby obsessed until I saw my sisters' kids, but I am dying to hold this little guy and to kiss his tiny nose. 

James came right between my mamma and papa's birthdays. My sister gave them another grand baby for their birthday...I gave them 30 min phone calls. Gosh Rochelle way to one (or one hundred) up me. ;)

I absolutely cannot wait to see my nephew's this summer. I am almost surprised at how incredibly bummed I am to be leaving Provo for the summer at the end of this month, but spending time with  James and Daniel is pulling me home (well, and some trips I am planning on taking to visit my friends interning along the East Coast, you'll hear all about those no worries). 

And just so James doesn't think that I've forgotten about him with the excitement of another nephew here...

I HAVE THE CUTEST NEPHEWS THAT EVER HAPPENED

......but just wait till you see my kids one day

peace. love. and baby Daniel.

my last winter hurrah

Happy Easter everyone!! Lucky me, I got to spend my Easter with my parents, my sister Diane, and my cute nephew James. I even got visited by the Easter bunny, but there is no denying that hanging out with this little guy was better than any chocolate bunny (but, ok yeah, the chocolate bunny was good too).

But, Easter wasn't the only reason the fam was in town this weekend., we were also soaking in the last little bit of winter--unless it chooses to strike again with this fickle Utah weather--with a trip up to The Canyons to do some skiing. The snow was definitely slushy, but it was still fun to hit the slopes with my papa and my sister while mom took over grandma duty at the condo with James. 

Other than being the usual, taking it easy and sticking to the blue square runs (intermediate courses for those of you who are unfamiliar with skiing), we did have a little adventure going down the slopes. Skiing what seemed like a nice run, we started to notice tiny rocks trickling down the side of the mountain, this didn't seem too bothersome, they were just pebbles, but then we started hearing giant cracking sounds...this is when Diane and I decided that perhaps we should ski off this mountain as quickly as possible.  When we got to the base of the hill, we looked back up and saw that an entire boulder had fallen right where we had just been skiing. We, of course, skied back later so we could get picture with our huge rock as evidence of our Indiana Jones moment...and perhaps to validate our momentary terror. 

Even though my face is now a little burned, my knees are more than a little sore, and I am very tired, but trying to catch up on all the homework that I neglected this weekend, it was a very fun weekend. Thanks for comin' out fam. 

   

peace. love. and slopes. 

oh and one last cute shot to wish you a happy week....

my new nephew

Just call me Auntie Dani!!! My sister Diane had a cute little baby boy, James Royce Kendall, and I couldn't be more excited to meet the little guy when we all go home for Christmas.

I mean just look at him...

 I facetimed with the cutie the day he was born and helped the new grandma and mamma sing happy birthday to the little guy. Thank goodness for iPhones so that my mom and sister can keep sending me precious pictures like these. Clearly the first time in a car seat was not so wonderful for James, but he still looks adorable anyways. I guess Diane was excited that his going home outfit matched his car seat.

The new mom and the precious baby. Really can't wait to see the two of them!!!

But, even with all this exciting news I am still stressin' out folks!!! I have 1 week left of classes (which involves me turning in a bunch of essays and assignments, so that's super) and a week of finals. Woof. But, as a final get together of the semester all the girls, really though ALL THE GIRLS, got together for a dinner at CPK. It was fun to catch up with everyone, especially since there are so many going on missions and getting married soon. 

Love every single one of these girls, and so lucky to call them my friends!

Well, wish me luck on those papers, assignments, and finals. Goodness knows I need it. 

peace. love. and nephews.