The Quinn-Dunlop Family

Sunday, November 10, 2013

These are the days of our lives

My brother turned 40 last month. How is that possible. It really makes you realize that time is wizzing by and you need to live every day as if it were your last. Our house didn't sell. We lost our Brian house. We are contemplating moving into the TV room so the kids can each have their own room. They are fighting, and Pipes has to wear head phones to bed because her brother keeps her up. It is an understatement when I say our current living situation is not working. I am trying to be grateful for all that we have, which is a lot, but I want to do better for my children. I want them to have more space, and live on a street that is not the local bumb route to the liquor store.
Seth and I celebrated our 12 year anniversary Oct. 27. We went to The Montage in Deer Valley. We might have to eat Top Ramen for a week, but I for one don't care. We made it most of the night and then at midnight Pipes had an asthma attack at my mom's house and we had to head down. Total bummer, but the 8 hours we got to spend there was amazing. I dream of when we can go back.
We have actually been together 21 years. I was just 16 when we met. It's so hard to believe. How lucky are we.
Piper and Quinn are amazing. Piper is loving kindergarten. We are trying to figure out where she will go next year. She has that funny birthday which misses the deadline, so she has to start kindergarten again next fall. They may decide to test her into the first grade. We'll see. Her teacher informed me that we need to look into ELP programs for her. That Pipes is a bright little lady.
We need to figure out where she will go. It is looking like Uintah Elementary School. My childhood elementary. Kind of depends on where we are living. My mom lives in the district so we can always "move in with her." There are great private schools, but my god we would have to sell everything we own and work 15 extra shifts a week to afford it. You should hear these moms waiting for our kids to get out of school talking about it. I feel like it's a Saturday Night Live skit. One mom is in the corner rocking, one mom is vomiting, and I am in the corner crying hysterically. Give me a break. I feed into the hysterics of it like everyone else. I just know how much an education matters to your future. I also know that if my children don't go to Rowland Hall, they are going to do just fine. Quinn is going to start preschool in the fall. We are going to put him at the U of U Preschool. Fabulous program. What am I going to do? One kid in kindergarten and the other in preschool. This September we went to Maui for a week. The place never changes. It is so amazing. Our kids were so great on the flight and the trip. They just go along with whatever we are doing. Complaining and fighting definitely follows us, but all in all, they are great. Pipes celebrated her 5th birthday October 12 at the Grand America for high tea. What a great experience. Best birthday ever. Effortless and classic. We all loved it. Piper's little friends all came dressed up and were total angels. The kids she goes to school with are so adorable. No brats or meanies. I wish they could all just stay together for school forever.
Piper is full on swimming without any floaties. She does laps. Swimming lessons just might be the best money we have spent. Quinn is right behind her. The hysterical crying has stopped at his lessons. We are making progress. Piper is also taking ballet at the SL Ballet Conservatory. She loves it and she is absolutely precious. Her instructor is a Columbian guy named Cristobal. He is amazing.
I have been so amazed at the wonderful moms and families that we are meeting thru this new adventure we call childhood. Growing up in SL and not belonging to the mainstream culture, we were treated very badly. I have been so afraid that my children would face that same treatment, but we have found our niche, and I couldn't have asked for a nicer bunch of people.

Summer evening trip to the lake

Berry picking at McBride's Berry patch with my babies on my 30something birthday. Best birthday ever!

Friday cupcake trip with the kids

I have never in my life seen such a sweet berry picker

My absolute heaven. Perfect in every sense

Best friends

Stop at Rays in Green River on our way to our heaven, CANYONLANDS.
Piper's little Eli.

My husbands boyfriend, Jaren. We love him!

Perfect camping trip. I am head over heels in love with Canyonlands. I could go every month

Hello, did I hear amazing

Summer evening drive up to Alta.

Murray City Pool. Hidden gem.

Our fall fling to the fair. Way too much drink and way too much fun. My first derby. These people you are looking at are a damn good time.

Two of the best ladies I know

Seth ran a race UP the tram at Snowbird. The kids and I waited up top for him. Pipes took him into the finish line.
Way to go Seth!!

Canyonlands

Man lessons

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Summer Is Winding Down

We have had to get creative this summer on things to fill the time during open houses. Yes we are still trying to sell this bloody house. I don't get it. This neighborhood is exploding with greatness. It is a hipsters paradise. I keep telling myself to be patient, but keeping a house clean for showings with the tornado is a little impossible. As Seth likes to say, white people problems. So true my love.

Summer is winding down. I can feel it in my bones, and I don't like it. We are going to end our summer with a trip to Canyonlands with the Quinns and Harbertsons. I love that place. We are camping in a new group site called split top. Look it up. It's in the Needles district. It's almost like it's in a cave. It's supposed to be awesome. If you haven't been to Canyonlands in a while, please GO. It is so great. Truly amazing.

Our bike trip to Hiawatha was magical. We stayed in Wallace, Idaho. This town is a gem. A true old mining town. What Park City would have been if California $$ had never come it. Take your family to ride the Hiawatha trail. Stay at the Wallace Inn in Wallace, ID. Great, inexpensive family vacation.

Frankie had her little surgery. It was really interesting explaining a hysterectomy to a 4 year old and why we don't want Frankie to have babies.

Seth and I got to go on a date the other night. I'm talking great food, cocktails, and no chasing our kids around or begging them to eat. It was FABULOUS. If you haven't tried Flatbread in Sugar House, GO. It is my favorite.

Our little family, (little for Utah standards), is great. Quinn and Frankie are true besties.

Seth and I soak up any time we get together these days. We are so lucky for everything we have. Good health (oh yeah Seth's blood counts are doing amazing) jobs, food, education, and the fact that we met when we were so young (thank you East High) and made these amazingly beautiful babies that are the best things that ever happened to us.

Thank you!!

Seth and Piper at Lindsay Gardens

Summer evening Ensign Peak hike

Our beautiful nephew Ronan (another gift we are so grateful for)

Billie Blanks (Quinn's blanket) nice travel style

Missoula farmers market

Huckleberry beer in Wallace, ID

Seth on the Hiawatha

Summer evening ice cream

Piper's selfie.

Everyone loves Seth

Friday, July 12, 2013

Dunlop family update

I can't ever remember a time in my life when we were busier. Think of a mini tornado that never stops spinning or making noise, and that is what we have going on in our world. It's called the Piper/Quinn twister. It keeps us on our toes and encourages us to live to our fullest extent every day.

Seth's health scare and getting older were and are mini blessings. Don't hesitate ever at the chance to do something wonderful, or travel somewhere fabulous. Take chances and make change in your life. If you are just a talker, STOP, and DO.

Our summer so far has been amazing. Movies, water slides, and lots of ice cream in the evenings on our front porch.

We are still trying to sell our house, and nothing has happened. I feel like every house around us has sold but ours. I think we have a problem. Not sure what it is. If we are here by Christmas, we are going to notify our family that any present they have for the kids can't exceed 2x2 inches. Seriously.

Seth continues to heal and seems 100% to me. I know he gets tired, but you would never know it. He ran a 9 min mile the other night. He is incredible.

Piper starts kindergarten next month. Holy cow. She is beginning to read and can pretty much swim all on her own without any help. Emily Cannon you are a miracle worker. Piper has discovered yoga this summer. A yoga studio at Trolley Square does a yoga camp. She loves it. It might be her favorite activity she has done thus far. She knows all these poses. My favorite she does is the warrior pose. She is a mini cop and lets Seth and I know when we have said a bad word. Piper went to her first rodeo, and decided she was ready to do the water slide at the pool. She loved it.

Mr. Quinn turned 2 and graduated from his crib. He was fine with it, but I on the other hand had a good cry. He is wild and has a fabulous sense of humor. Quinn has started swimming lessons with Emily. He cries so much she makes me leave the room, and then I cry a bit.

Frankie is growing at an astronomical rate. Great idea. Buy a huge dog for our shoe box house that we were already busting out of. She is a great dog though.

I can't site my kids for being tornados because I think they got it from me. I don't feel like I ever stop. I seriously try consciously sometimes, but it's not in my DNA. Poor Seth. He is the most understanding man in the world.

Next week we are going to Idaho to ride the Hiawatha Rail Trail. So excited. Thanks you Jacbosen/Dunlop family for the inspiration for this trip. In September we are going to Maui, and I am trying to convince Seth to go to NY for a couple days in August to meet our favorite children's author, Oliver Jeffers. If you don't know his work, buy one of his books today. I live for traveling and adventure. I love being at home with my kids and not changing out of our PJs til noon, but I always have a bag packed and am ready to go anywhere just in case the opportunity arises.

Refresh your soul and enrich your mind. Plan your next trip today and GO. I know I know $$$. Get rid of cable, eat out once a month, ride your bike. Get creative on ways to save. We can all do it and it will be so worth it. Your kids will be better because of the adventures they get to go on.