My baby + Freshly Picked Moccs! (GIVEAWAY)

This is my fourth baby.  Isn't he adorable?  I can't get enough of him... he really is awesome everyday (when I saw that shirt it screamed Greyson and I couldn't pass it up).  Also, when I tried these sunnies on him he cried when I took them away so I also had to get those.
Anyway, since having four babies I can honestly say the hardest part of having a baby (once they start walking) is protecting their feet.  Either shoes easily fall off or seem to hurt their feet in some way... OR it seems the shoes are keeping them from walking normally (you know the ones) and when they're just learning how to walk, I don't want shoes making it harder.
Enter Freshly Picked Moccasins.  These shoes not only arrive in an adorable way but they look adorable on my baby.  The best part is how easy they are for my little one to get around in.  It's like wearing no shoes at all while still protecting his feet with strong leather.  They are also very well made!
I kept these shoes on my baby all winter and just layered with socks and he never seemed to have a problem being cold.  I would recommend these to anyone who needs a fashionable and smart shoe for their littles.

Freshly Picked has so generously has donated a pair of moccs to one of you!  You'll have to follow me on instagram to enter (@connieballuff).  I'll be posting the giveaway March 9th!!

Thank you mild winter that we could play in our backyard without shoes...

Some days have been cold don't get me wrong!  We got snow this past Saturday night.  But many days in February (and days in January) have been so nice!  We even had several days in a row of 60 degrees.  So anyway... we took advantage.

Donuts in the morning.

We've loved exploring our new town.  Tony has been around a lot too which has made it even more fun!  We loved trying out Provo Bakery.  OH ThE swEEtneSS.  I dream about those raspberry and orange rolls...
Here are some film shots I got that morning on my Contax.  Good times!

Why I Stopped Blogging & Why I'm (kinda) Back

Over the past few years since I stopped blogging religiously I've had people ask me... "are you okay?" ... "I hope everything is okay with you."   It always kinda baffled me (but also flattered me that they cared) because OF COURSE things were okay!  I didn't have to be blogging weekly for my life to be perfectly okay... in fact, when I WASN'T blogging consistently things were BETTER than ever!  I have more time for my kids and my husband... we don't bust out the camera when a dance party ensues- we just live in the moment.  When I was a "blogger" I couldn't imagine NOT documenting something like that.

Why did I stop blogging?  I did already say... (you can read the post if you missed it).  And I stand by those words with all my heart.  (The:  "Good, better, best" philosophy... and what is more important than this space?)  Truly?  Blogging is not all that important after all (I found that out when I quit).  Sure, it was fun to document my families every move (give or take), to have readers, and to get free stuff to promote.  But the bottom line was, it wasn't where my time should've really been invested as much as it was.  I knew that.  I quit to get my priorities straight.  After that, I focused more on my Instagram account-which I shortly quit too.  (I am back on IG at the moment of course.. you know because you're awesome and follow heh heh jk).  I can see though, from an outsiders perspective, why they would think something was wrong with me when in a years time I quit Facebook, blogging, and IG (the only social media I was into).  But honestly I was just trying to simplify.  I wanted more focus on my family and that's what I got (I STILL want that!).  I definitely needed a break from those things when I took them.  But....

That doesn't mean I think blogging is bad.  I never did.  I was just so wrapped up in it I could hardly fall asleep without my next post filling my brain.  Now do I even think about this space?  Ha!  It's awesome I feel like I control it.  And when I feel up to it, if time allows, I'll post.  When I want to take a few months off, I take a few months off!  I feel the occasional blog post fits my life again.  So what changed?  And why am I explaining anything to anyone?  (heh!) Well, the BIGGEST reason why I want to blog here and there again (and say HI) is because (drumroll please)...
We moved!  I talked a little bit about this on some posts... about change... if you know my life at all you're not surprised we moved again.  I am though!  We thought we'd live in Arizona forever!
Another reason I feel I should post now and then again is for all our awesome family I left behind in Arizona (and my parents still in Germany) that would hardly ever see us if I didn't share a thing or two now and then.  Plus, being in a new state, it would be nice to connect with past friends.  You read me?  So.  Incase you don't know where we are by now...

Yep, we moved to UTAH.  Crazy cause when I met my husband and told him how much I loved living in Utah he told me he'd never want to live there.  Turns out he loves it.  And right now is supposedly the hardest time to live here (in the winter)...at least, that's what I've been told.
So there you have it.  My family has relocated ONCE AGAIN and I hope my family/friends/non-creepy strangers will appreciate the tidbits I share while we are here.  We don't know how long we will be here (we were thinking forever) so in the meantime, when I have the time, I will share.

*Couple things about these pictures: it's been REALLY warm here lately.  Like, 60 degrees.  So don't be fooled at our jackets, we technically didn't need anything that warm but we WERE trying to find snow.  Also, yes, Tony fell in the creek.  It was literally right after he told Brody he shouldn't do it because he could fall in.  So hilarious.

I made another video...

This was actually my FIRST time doing a family video for someone else.  I did one for a couple once and my engaged brother but this was a first.  I haven't done videos for quite a while, it was fun getting back to it!  Want me to do one for you?  I totally can.

I'll have to tell you what I'm up to one of these days when I get a minute- life has been crazy.  I'll also explain why I'm sometimes blogging here and there again (:

Christmas Morning

Christmas day was wonderful for us.  I wanted to make a little video to remember it by since we are moving!  This is the first home Tony and I bought together and so it's definitely bittersweet leaving it.  We are excited for what's to come though!  My favorite part of Christmas is watching my kids get so excited about little things and the pure joy on their faces.  We enjoyed the afternoon at Grandma's house with all of our family.  A great day!  I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!
Christmas Morning 2014 from connie balluff | films on Vimeo.

In my last post I talked about some of our fun this month.  Let me recap the rest of the month:  We went to my sister-in-laws annual family Christmas party/steak dinner and it was so fun!  I missed last year since I just had a baby.  Tony and I were also able to go see "A Christmas Carol" at Hale Theatre in Gilbert (our yearly tradition!) and before it we went to Joe's BBQ one last time.  We also went to see the Hobbit with my niece and sister-in-law which was alright but the second movie was the best.  I've never really been a HUGE fan of any of those kind of movies but I can appreciate them!  We also went to the Zoo on Christmas Eve as a family and I guess a lot of other little Christmas things I just can't remember.  My mind has been so occupied with the move lately.  I'm excited but very nervous!

December, December...

The last 48 hours have been nuts!  Good nuts though (with maybe one bad nut).  Friday night Tony surprised me with tickets to see the Nutcracker.  It had been over a decade since I last went to a ballet, and he's never seen one so I was super touched by that thought of his!  We went to Kneaders for dinner first and then over to the Mesa Arts Center for the ballet.  On our walk to the place I decided to instagram something when my phone slipped out of my hand and crashed to the floor.  When I picked it up I noticed my screen was SHATTERED!  It happens everyday to SOMEONE but I never thought it would happen- even to me, the biggest klutz there is.  Serves me right for buying a cheap case that didn't protect it fully.  I just wasn't worried because I had my first iPhone for over 3 years and never had an issue dropping it (well, I dropped it constantly, it just never broke).  yeah.  I only had my new phone since it came out back in September so that was quick.  Anyway, the next day I woke up before the sun and went out in the rain to work out.  When I got home I scurried to get Greyson's birthday party set up with the help of everyone and then we had his party, and I was able to do a friends hair for her family pictures, and then I made cheesy potatoes and we went to our ward party.  After the kids were in bed I went to my appointment at the Apple store to find out I needed to buy a whole new phone since mine was damaged so badly.  That sucked but lesson learned!  Anyway my mom requested I make a bday party video for Greyson too since I did for Hyrum this year.  I don't mind, I enjoy it!  We had a hot cocoa bar, peppermint cupcakes, cookies, and apple spice cake with "fat sauce" that was in charge of making for the relief society Christmas dinner this year and loved.  Sugar coma!  It was a fun little time...
Greyson's 1st birthday party from connie balluff | films on Vimeo.