Big News & A Yankees Game

Well its official. Sort of. We're leaving New York this month. I'm like so sad I can't even talk about it. We fly out on May 30 and are going to stay with Zack's parents and house sit for them while they're in Europe for a few weeks. I'm so excited to be in Utah to be with family and friends. But, I am so sad to be saying goodbye to our life in New York. We have made some amazing, lifelong friends here and have grown to feel at home in the city.

We are keeping most of our things in storage here while Zack is on the job hunt because there is a chance he'll get a job out here and we'll be back in no time (fingers crossed.) Then our trip to Utah will be more of a vacation. If Zack is going to find a job here in NY that means we're committing to staying for a long time. So a month with family is just what we need. Zack and I both crave the presence of our families in our lives, especially Gunner's. But, we also feel like New York is the place for us at this time in our lives. Needless to say, we are incredibly torn/confused.

We're hoping that spending June with our families will help us to clear our heads and figure out what is the right next step for us. Also, mostly we're hoping that Zack will find the job of his dreams and we'd move, literally, wherever that would take us. So its time to really buckle down and soak up as much city as we can, just in case we aren't coming back.

We FINALLY made it out to a Yankees game. Lately, I've really really wanted a Yankees hat. I've almost bought one like 5 times. But for some reason I always found an excuse not to. Well, when we started looking at Yankees tickets, the only day we could go happened to be CAP DAY!!!! Basically that means everyone gets a free hat at the game. I was so excited. Luckily, I had already bought Gunner a little toddler sized one a week before, so the three of us matched. Priceless.

The game was such a blast. We aren't huge baseball fans, but we are huge sports fans, and huge "spend the day in the sun" fans. The Yankees went down 3-0 in the first few innings, but then once they got going they were unstoppable and ended up winning 3-9.

that belly button.... 

People were absolutely crazy for Gunner. Everyone wanted to stop to wave at him and admire him. Especially the drunk lady who was sitting in front of us. She kept touching him and telling him she was going to steal his shoes. He wasn't sure how to respond to her, and neither was I. Haha. But people were so nice and helpful because of Gunner. Normally, people keep to themselves and don't go out of their way to help. But bring a baby into the equation and people are falling all over themselves to help. So my advice, if you're coming to NY, bring a baby. Although, having a baby sure does complicate things like subway stairs and taxis. But, its still worth it.

Gunner's first WAVE.

All in all, the the game was exciting, the weather was heavenly (aside from a few rain drops), and the company was best of all. I'm so in love with my little family, I can't imagine who I'd be without them. The only thing I love more are Gunners squishy little chubby legs in shorts. I. Could. Die.

Summer is just around the corner and I can barely contain my excitement. Watermelon, soccer games, Bar-B-Ques, cousins, swimming, tan lines, family. I already know its going to be one of our best yet! And no matter what happens with the job situation, I'm grateful to know that I'll have my Zack to keep me sane and my Gunner to keep my laughing. The future is bright for the Dupaix family and I can't wait to see whats next. 

Thanks for following us along on this journey. What summer plans are you most excited for?

XOXO 

SD

P.S. For more of our bucket list items go HERE!

May Flowers

Zack and I have decided to make the VERY most of the time we have left in New York City! I mean its possible we could be staying here forever, but more than likely we'll be moving at the end of the month! We don't want to waste anytime and risk missing out on what New York has to offer!

We finally made it out to see the Cherry Blossoms. I was expecting Sakura park to be billowing with flowers, but apparently they are blooming late because of the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad winter! Luckily there were 3 or 4 trees that were at their peak.

Sakura park got its name from the 2000 Japanese Cherry Blossom trees that were brought over from Japan in 1912. Sakura means Cherry Blossom in Japanese. The park is on the Upper West Side just a few blocks from campus so it was really convenient for Zack to take a quick break from his laborious studies.

There are a million pictures and they are in no particular order. I don't even know what to say about our afternoon in Sakura Park other than, WE HAD FUN!

 Gunner climbed his first tree!!

We smelled the flowers, which is a lot like kissing the flowers for Gunner. 

This may be my most favorite picture of us. 

Maybe this one. 

How dreamy is this lighting?? 

You just couldn't ask for a prettier backdrop. 

 Gunner is learning to give hugs. But only with a running start!

We kicked around a ball.

 My tiny little athlete

Its days like this that cause me to stop and reflect on how much fuller our life is with Gunner. Zack and I would have had a good time wandering through the park and admiring the trees alone; but to watch the wonder in Gunner's eyes as he touched, tasted, and smelled the flowers and trees and dirt. To hear the squeals and giggles as we chased him from tree to tree. To watch him steady his hand and focus so intently on reaching those tiny blooms. To him, everything is new and everything is worth getting excited about. I so admire that, and its something that I think we all lose as we grow up. 

Most of my brain power these days is focussed on my grown up responsibilities and stressing about our future.  How much happier would I be if I looked at every flower, every cloud, every handful of dirt, as if it were the coolest, best, most interesting thing I'd ever seen? How much happier would I be if I ran around in the grass with the enthusiasm of a one year old? How much happier would I be if I took a few quiet moments a day to breathe deep and smell the springtime in the air?

I know that God is good. I know that we live on this beautiful planet because God loves us. I know that He thought of me and my little family when he designed the cherry blossoms. He imagined us running through Sakura Park, and created something that would inspire us, and delight us. I know that He created beauty all around us to bring us peace, and to remind us of Him. Now if only we would take more moments to be present and still, to admire the treasures around us. 

How often are we really present? Like really in the moment? Not nearly enough. 

XOXO 

SD