every daughter needs a father, and every father needs a daughter.

Happy Father's Day!! I took these photos of my parents while I was out in DC for my sister's wedding a couple weeks ago, and these are those types of photos I could just look at all day and never ever get sick of. I am sooo blessed because of these two cuties, and will never understand how I got so lucky to be their daughter--for more reasons than I could ever fit into one little blog post. The title of this post is something my dad said while giving a few words at my sister's wedding reception that I thought were especially beautiful: "Every daughter needs a father, and every father needs a daughter." I feel like I'm definitely getting the better end of the deal, but shh don't tell him! ;)

I love my dad so much and hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day letting their dads and/or husbands know how much you love & appreciate them.

**Aaron & I are in Puerto Rico right now celebrating our 5-year wedding anniversary, so there will be plenty of gushing about him soon enough (lest anyone thinks I forgot about my own sweetheart on this holiday!). There's talk of thunderstorms hitting the island over the next few days though, so wish us luck the weather cooperates!

kraci love.

My sister Staci got married!! (I posted about her bridal shower a little while ago.) The wedding was on the first day of June, and maybe I'm biased (our wedding anniversary is next week!) but isn't the month of June just made for weddings (and birthdays ;)? It was such a beautiful summer night, and the reception was too perfect for words. It was on a farm with fences, barns, horses, fields, rolling hills, a big white tent, strings of lights...I could keep going! We all wished the night would never end.

Unfortunately some of the photos I took at the reception were lost due to an SD card gone on the fritz, but my friend came to the rescue by lending me one of her three SD cards she just happened to be carrying around in her tiny little purse. Christmas miracle! And such a lifesaver, for me and my husband...I was throwing quite the fit, thinking my whole life was ruined & absolutely horrified that I wouldn't be able to take any photos of my sister's beautiful wedding. (Honestly, it was a nightmare!) I wish I could say I am being dramatic, but rest assured my husband can most definitely confirm. 

But anyways! Picture time. 

Take 1 & take 2 of my sweetheart & me:  

The summer sun setting over the barn: 

Wooden flower boxes on all the tables: 

The lemonade bar:

My little sister Natalie (aka "Natbug"):

My sisters & me with the groom:

That beautiful white tent: 

My husband is one tall glass of water, and I'm so lucky he is mine all mine!:

First dance money shot maybe?:

The sweetest Father/Daughter dance there ever was:

Those lights!:

The beautiful, beautiful bride:

A darn delicious wedding cake:

Obsessed with that cake stand:

The happy couple!:

Cake cutting/eating:

My nephew enjoying a game of cornhole & kind enough to take a pic for his Aunt Whitney:

6 of my 7 siblings:

(I was behind the camera, and my brother Ethan is currently serving an LDS mission so he's excused :)

Whew! Maybe one day I'll be able to somehow magically recover the photos lost on my other SD card, but I am soo grateful I at least got these. My sister also asked me to design these little "Do You Instagram?" cards to display on all of the tables (see below), which was such a genius idea. I thought they turned out pretty darling, and it was so fun to support the cause (my instagrams from that day/night are here, here, here, here & here).

Hooray for June weddings and congratulations to Kraig & Staci!! <3

27!

Last Friday was my birthday, and I am officially (finally) 27 years old! I've been excited to turn 27 ever since I turned 26 last June, to which I have no explanation other than "27" just sounds better?? Aaron took me on a little surprise trip down to San Diego where we spent the night in a room with a view, ate dinner at a fancy restaurant, had two too many desserts, and explored downtown San Diego, which we really came to love. He is so good to me. 

I always get reflective around these kinds of life events (on birthdays, at New Years, on the first day of a new month, Mondays, etc... ;), just thinking of the possibility of change and new beginnings. My 26th year had its ups & downs (as every year does), but of course I'm grateful for all of it, and can't help but be excited to see where I'll end up at this time next year. Although I wouldn't mind if this year goes by a bit slower...I am nowhere near ready to turn 30, and I feel like any age above 27 is a little too close for comfort! Somehow I've convinced myself that 27 is the magic age, and am hoping it just lasts forever. (I'm obviously becoming much more realistic in my old age too, can you tell?)

P.S. There's a blurry pic of me holding a doughnut above (in honor of my birthday falling on "National Doughnut Day" this year), but I have to admit it was actually Aaron's doughnut. I would rather have a cookie (or any other dessert!) over a doughnut any day, but hope you all still got to enjoy the holiday! :)

a bridal shower for staci.

My little sister & best friend Staci is getting married in a little over two weeks (!!!), and a couple of weekends ago I got to fly out to DC for her bridal shower! My mom and sisters and I scrambled around making last minute preparations the morning of the party, and while I learned very quickly that party planning is definitely not my calling in life (the pressure!?), I was glad I was there to help out and celebrate her upcoming wedding. :) Her actual wedding will be even more fun, I'm sure, and she will make such a beautiful bride. I cannot wait!

I even got to play "photographer" at the shower, after having to literally dust off my camera (it had been a while!), and just looking at these photos again is making me miss my sisters & family like crazy. Typical, I know, but they really are so great. Staci & Kraig make an adorable couple, and how lucky am I to have caught that last pic of them together on the settee?? (Photo was taken when Kraig crashed the party...after the party was over. Just love those two.)

Today also happens to be Staci's 25th birthday, and I'd most likely still be procrastinating editing these pics if it weren't. So...basically what I'm trying to say is.... 

Happy Birthday, Staci!!! I love you, cutes!