We are moving!

Unfortunately, we don't know exactly when yet. The short sale saga continues... finally under contract, now a mix-up with title and such. I will spare you the details. We are still hoping to fly south November 14th, but it may be the 21st. I hate uncertainty! I'll keep everyone posted when we know a more definite date.

In the meantime though, I have moved this blog to a different site — one that will be much easier to manage and you may even hear more from us. Amazing, right? {I am so itchy to move to a new residence, I figured moving our blog in advance would satisfy me for at least another week or two.} I've made our new site a bit more secure as well {to keep away pesky prowlers} so you'll need to use password now. If you haven't received an email with the password, shoot me an email and I'll send it to you.

Follow us!

Happy Halloween!

I (John) don't usually post so here goes... :-)

Thanks to Jen and Chris, Jack was able to explore the "force" in him. He was the cutest Yoda EVER!!!!

Here are some more photos of Jack's Fall so far:

We took Jack to the Zoo for the first time. He loved it!

Isn't he cute!?

We saw a "Deere" at the zoo! :-)

Here are a couple photos of Jack enjoying the lovely Fall leaves. Utah has one of the best Falls I've ever seen:

Jack is enjoying the fallen leaves near our apartment.

The pumpkin is actually 500 lbs. Yes, Jack is getting huge! (The pumpkin is actually the size of a bowling ball, :-) )

Jack is trying to get the pumpkin to hatch. :-)

Happy Fall everyone!!!!

my rumpus room

I still have so many posts to go to update everyone on SLC Luangraths latest and greatest. But I decided to take a break and post up a link to one of my latest ventures. I call it my rumpus room: a place for me to post and keep track of all my creative research. {Read: anything cool I find on the web that serves as fantastic inspiration.} Here is a super example... product designers at Louise Fili created this classic packaging below which I absolutely adore. The New York-based studio is without equal when it comes to perfect use of type and older lettering styles. Their portfolio is my favorite to follow for my own inspiration. See what I mean?



I can't wait to set up my real rumpus room for my project space (and Jack's toy corner) in our new house. Those of you who have been following our short sale saga, stay tuned. I'm waiting until our happy ending to spill the whole story. We are so excited!

:: happy birthday Jack! ::

We can hardly believe it has been a year! Jack has grown up into such a good and handsome boy. It is an overwhelming joy having the privilege of being his parents. So much fun and laughter in our house, I can hardly remember when it was different! For those who couldn't make it for his birthday, here are just a few photos catching you up. I am still looking for the video of him walking for the first time at 11 months. That may come later. Here we go!


Jack's first present of the day from Nenna Boothe. Thanks for making Jack so cute on his birthday!



I don't know what this expression is... funny though.



Banana chocolate chip cake... yum! He seemed to know exactly what to do with his little cupcake. I loved celebrating on Jack's actual birthday with just the three of us. We took the party up to Grandma Reimschussel's the next day.



Proud Mommy & cute messy boy.



Number magnets! I'm so glad they still make these... and I found them at Target's one spot! Love a good deal. Yes. Jack is sticking his tongue out at his Daddy after opening his present.




First birthday, day two: we are so glad to have some of our family around! We had all the Duffins (minus missionary Taylor), Grandma & Uncle Ron, Nikki & Ty & Brooklyn, Soun & Hunter. Thanks to everyone for celebrating with us!



Thank goodness Grandma R. had a patio for this mess.





After the clean up and oh-so-tired!

Jack started picking up tennis on his own. His Daddy is so proud.



Jack — out of my sight for exactly 30 seconds + brand new dish soap = mischief. A very clean floor though. {Note: this was the day he discovered how to open cupboards. No more dish soap under cupboards.}



Jack & his buddy Braden people watching.

:: july with the luangraths ::

Here I am again. Playing catch up. My goal is to make through the "best of" photos from the summer before we move. {more on that later... stay tuned}

July was full of excellent reunions... and here is another one. John's sister Mali and family came out to Utah from Virginia before they moved to Thailand. We were so glad that John's parents came too! We missed Sean, Derek & their families, but we still had a fantastic time in our Luangrath half-reunion.



I just had to get this photo in first... I'm so glad I stuck with Reimschussel family tradition making homemade ice cream! It was a perfect mix: Laotian food, for the pioneers around me and Nenna's ice cream, for the pioneers before me. It may have been a little runny, but that's what I get for making it on a 98 degree day. Tasted great even so.




Pioneer Day wouldn't be the same without requisite swimming. I'm so glad this kid loves his water.




Jack loved his new fellow riders... here are my awesome inlaws after picking them up from the airport.




Jack and Thou Ta.




Jack and his cousin Jane hanging out for the first time.




Our motley crew.




Forever 21. I love their sense of humor.








Mali, Brent & gang.





Finishing up our great time downtown & temple square.




That's the life Jack. By the end of the day, I wanted my own chariot too.




Jack & his grandpa passed out after another Laotian celebration in Ogden.




Nieces and nephew + Jack. We really missed the rest of the boys from Sean's in Cali and Derek's in Illinois. We'll catch y'all soon though we hope!




Same age... Sarah & Brooklyn. So dang cute.






Dinner with John's parents and his cousin's family. We love having everyone here with us!




Happy Jack at Five Guys. If you've never tried it, go! A pricey burger, but pretty darn great and absolutely huge!




I'm so glad that John got to take his parents through the Oquirrh Mountain Temple while they were visiting. I feel so blessed that we have so many temples this close to us — one more coming in Brigham City now! After being in a part of the world that is thousands of miles from the nearest temple, I am so humbled to be here.

So there is my update through June. August is next with Jack's birthday etc. Coming soon!

:: july in montana ::

I have been going to my Grandma Reimschussel's cabins every summer since I was 6 weeks old only missing one. {A worthy cause. I was in Mongolia.} Last year was our family's 50th anniversary of owning the cabins on Hebgen Lake in Montana... this year we had our Boothe family reunion of sorts. Ryan came in from Ohio, Mom & Dad with the brothers came from California, the only one missing was Jen's husband Chris. We had a fabulous time... here are pictures!





I think it really was that funny... whatever it was.




Cousins. Olivia had so much fun teaching Jack how to splash in the bucket.




Ryan teaching his kids how to fish off the dock.




Worming with John. We found the best spot on the side of Stowaway (the main cabin). A dozen worms in 5 minutes flat! Not too sure what happened to the photo of the fish he caught with the worms. No fish story... he caught 2 in no time.




Love this. Abby so excited and happy! Technically, she was running away from the camera, but it turned into a great shot just the same.




My cute nephew Spencer and his sweet sisters Abby & Olivia... Happy Birthday America! {Okay... so it's a little late, but we're still proud, right?}




Dad. Saw in hand. Raised to the branch. Nothing but mischief. :)




Stealing a little us time while waiting for Jack to drift off to sleep.




Cute Olivia!




Emma is 10, Spencer is 6.




Battleship grey or light blue? I'm leaning toward the light blue until it weathers through the winter. Wonder what color it will be next summer?




Coyotes in Yellowstone.




My brother Ryan meeting Jack "the lug" for the first time.




Playing peek-a-boo with Nenna.




My amazing Grandma.




My boys. Yes Jack is trying to eat dirt. We are so proud.




Best part of family vacations in Montana... nothing but being lazy floating around the lake with Jen.




One of these days I need to do an "ode to Jen" post. Here she is in all her glory with the requisite cowboy hat. Love the tube.




Exhibit A of how completely ridiculous we get when we are all together. Notice my sister and I in the tube being pulled by two of our brothers in the canoe. Fabulous time.




More fun with the tube.




Jack and his Grandma. Pure joy.




This pretty much sums up our fantastic Boothe Montana trip. We can't wait until the next one!