I purchased these adorable tea towels for our kitchen, because let’s face it, they’re the cutest ever! Let me let you in on a little secret about these amazingly adorable towels – not only are they cute, but they were only $1 apiece. Yes, you read correctly. I said $1. The website Cotton On has the cutest merch, and I couldn’t resist these when I saw them in the sale section. Go grab some while they’re still in stock!!!!
(helping scramble eggs, mixing up the fruit, a visit to our kitty friends, a late breakfast, a “new” blanket rug, candyland explosion, dance class prep)
These photos are from our five-year vow renewal we did earlier this month. It was such a special day for us, and our friend Ally did an AMAZING job photographing for us. This was a huge deal for us, because we have very few photos from our wedding because the photographer we hired lost them all before we got them. Heartbreaking, I know. This made up for years of longing for photos of our special day. I will hold this close to my heart forever and ever and ever.
This life takes us on twists and turns and bumps. It’s confusing. It’s heartbreaking. It’s beautiful. And through it all, my God is great, always seeing us through. Thankful is the one word that always rings true in my mind when I reflect on my life. So so thankful. I look at this beautiful family of mine and remind myself that it doesn’t get better than this, and I must always cherish that. This is life:
According to my phone:
we’ve had some outside times. it’s getting warmer out there folks!
date night.
papa got a new tattoo.
new four legged friend.
cupcakes with em.
cowgirl.
mama got glasses.
flowers, I cannot resist.
Oz.
bathing suits, all the time.
first fire party of spring.
unicorn.
So for lunch today, I wanted pizza, but didn’t want to make a big pizza. Ever have those days? So, I decided to make my own “bagel bites” although these are slightly larger than those little bagel bites you buy at the store. They tasted waaaaaaaaaay better too. Double points!
This is a really easy quick lunch or snack idea. Basically you just take your bagels and half them. Lay them all out on a baking sheet. I used tomato sauce and just spread some over each bagel, then sprinkled each one with garlic powder and italian seasoning. Sprinkle some cheese on top of each one, and stick them in the oven under the broiler until the cheese is melted. Done and done! Eat those things up before your kids take them all. They’re yummy.
In other news, I got glasses yesterday. And it was weird. After 13 years of not wearing glasses, contacts, or going to the eye doctor** I went yesterday due to some pretty intense headaches I’ve been having daily, along with feeling a ton of straining in my eyes. Yep, farsighted issues for this mama *(I wore glasses from age 4-12 due to an entirely different eye issue).* In all honesty, I wasn’t happy about it. I didn’t like the idea of having to wear glasses again AT ALL. I tried on so many pairs, and just wasn’t liking any of them, until I finally came across a pair that were the closest I was going to get to liking anything. I am still getting used to them, and it’s still completely weird to me, but they’re growing on me slowly (I guess they kind of have to, right? haha). So I took a few pictures of me in my new eyes.
For Olive’s birthday we had initially planned on taking her to the zoo, like we always do on her birthday, but this year it was very rainy when we woke up, so we had to change our plans. We woke up and I made special birthday cake pancakes, with candles and all. Then she played in her teepee I made her for a little while and her papaw came over to visit. We loaded up in the car around lunch and headed toward the city. We took Olive to my favorite little diner that I used to eat at almost every day when I was in college. I don’t get over there much anymore because we just never go to that area, which makes me a little bit sad. I swear to you, this diner has THE BEST grilled cheese you will ever eat in your life. The best. Is it hilarious to anyone else that after not coming in there for almost two years, the waitress (who is still working there!) realized who I was once I ordered ranch and honey mustard for my grilled cheese and fries. Does that say something about me? Probably that I am the only person who has ever come in there and ordered ranch and honey mustard for a grilled cheese. hahaha. It’s a must have. Anywaaaaays, back to the birthday day. After lunch we went to the movie theater to see Wreck It Ralph. Olive got her little kid combo, because she HAS to have popcorn every time we go. She loved the movie, so did mama. It was very very funny and I always love trying to figure out the voices in animated films. There were some good ones in this film. Once the movie was over, Olive pleaded to watch it again, and we tried and tried to explain to her that you can only see it once. Then promised to buy it for her when it comes out on dvd. Gotta remember that one. Every year for her birthday she gets a coupon from Barnes and Noble kids club for a free cupcake from the starbucks inside the store. So we took her to get her HUGE cupcake, and while we were in the bookstore she played with the Thomas set up they have for a little while. Once we were back in the car she devoured almost the entire thing. I may have sneaked a bite. That’s a good cupcake. Then we had to head over to a different town to get to the restaurant early enough to put our name in for a table for 14. We knew that one would take a while. It did. Almost an hour and a half. Oh Mellow Mushroom, why can’t you take reservations? Olive’s loves pizza, and we actually took her there for her birthday dinner last year. The kid’s got good taste. She enjoyed pizza with some people who love her a whole lot, and we had lots of laughs, as usual with our group of friends. I took her home (Caleb had to go straight to work from the restaurant) and she passed out instantly in the car. Long day? Yes. She woke up briefly when I got her out of the car, but only long enough for me to change her diaper and she was back asleep. Bless her little birthday heart, we wore her out. It was a great day of fun, and probably one of my favorite days of the year. I love celebrating her and making a special day that’s all about her. Being a parent is so rewarding for so many reasons, but just seeing her face light up is one of the most rewarding things in life. Here’s some snapshots of our day:
^^^her teepee^^^
^^^birthday pancakes^^^
^^^in princess attire, always^^^
^^^ready to go^^^
^^^mama was excited to be at Alex’s^^^
^^^playtime with Thomas^^^
^^^arriving at the restaurant^^^
^^^looking at herself in the glass^^^
^^^loving on aunt lizzy^^^
^^^such a long wait for a 3 year old^^^
^^^hey, there’s daddy^^^
^^^boys standing outside^^^
^^^love my girl^^^
^^^uncle jacob^^^
^^^aunt jenny^^^
^^^uncle justin, with a jenny photobombing^^^
^^^uncle b^^^
^^^mamaw love^^^
^^^hey guys^^^
^^^my loves^^^
^^^hey, presents^^^
^^^let’s open them^^^
^^^anna & jenny, with a photobombing kev^^^
^^^she makes some crazy faces^^^
^^^playing with her new toy^^^
^^^cheeeese^^^
^^^woooo^^^
^^^love my husband^^^
^^^pizzzzzzza^^^
Hello my sweet girl. Today you are 3, and mommy can hardly believe it. You are growing up so fast right before my eyes, and every day I look at you and just wish I could freeze you for just a little while. I can still remember when you were a tiny lady that I could hold in one arm, balancing you while your head rest in the palm of my hand. Oh, how the time has flown by. Now you’re sleeping in a twin-sized bed and I can sling you over my shoulder to carry you around. You’re talking to me in full sentences and making friends. You’re singing Disney songs with me and having tea parties. Playing dress up and reading Pinkalicious. I love the person you’re growing in to, and I know that everything you touch in life will flourish and be beautiful because you are nothing short of perfection in my eyes. Sure, you are insane at times and you scream at me. You throw your toys and you threaten to hit me with them. But just know how much mommy loves you, until my last day, and I would move mountains for you. I love you, my little (wait, BIG) Olive Emily. You will always be my princess, my boo boo.
And here comes the huge photo explosion of my little lady’s journey through life so far:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVE!
Olive is turning 3 this week. I really can’t believe it. So yesterday we had her a big PINK birthday party and it truly was the greatest day. Caleb and I stayed up for hours on Saturday night decorating the house….it really looked like Pinkalicious had thrown up everywhere. So much pink. Then Sunday morning we got up early and started preparing the food for the party. There was so much food, and again, so much pink. The party was a combination of all of Olive’s favorite things: Pinkalicious, My Little Pony, Lalaloopsy, Hello Kitty and Disney Princess. There was no way she could have decided on one theme, so I just let her have it all. We had pony plates, princess cups, hello kitty napkins, pinkalicious tablecloth/balloon, lalaloopsy balloons & a special cup for the birthday girl. I even put together my own costume and dressed up like a lalaloopsy character. I loved it too, it was so much fun. And it felt so good when she woke up from her nap and saw me in my costume and was so happy. It’s those little moments that I love. So everyone came over, and we had a blast. She opened a TON of presents and ate her pink cake. She got so many costumes (that’s what she asked for, she loves playing dress up). I think she got at least 12. Princesses and fairies, and we threw a unicorn costume in the mix. I can’t wait to see her wear all of them. A big thanks to everyone who was able to celebrate this special little lady with us, and for all of your love. So, the birthday week has commenced, and here’s some snapshots of the party to start it off:
One of my best ladies had a birthday last week, and her party was over the weekend. She decided to have an 80’s themed skating party, which all together terrified me (mostly the skating part). haha. I hadn’t skated in what I would estimate to be about 13 years, so I was just slightly nervous about strapping on a pair of wheels and attempting to maneuver around a rink. Thank you, Jessica, for making me face my fears, because I had a blast! Once I got the hang of things (after stumbling, holding tightly to the rail for about 10 minutes), I was flying around the rink solo, rail free. It felt good – to do something that I hadn’t done since childhood. Not to mention that we all got to dress up in ridiculous 80’s attire. I borrowed that neon tutu from Olive…..I squeezed it on, somehow. I still have no idea how I managed to fit into it. Elastic is amazing stuff. Olive was such an adventurer. She wanted skates instantly and she was ready to hit the rink. She held hands with some of our friends and daddy, but after just a little time, she was ready to skate on her own. She did such a great job too! I don’t even think I saw her fall but maybe a couple of times. Much braver than her mama was at her age, I must say. So that was our weekend, full of fun, fun times.
Redbird Brownbird 