happy thanksgiving!

we had a wonderful thanksgiving last weekend in cabo. 

(aside from passing on a bug to every member of my family. so, so sorry.) 

we had the best time, and ivy was in. heaven.

she loves playing with staples and esther and being their mini teacher. 

it's the best watching them together. 

they're the cutest, smartest, funniest, sweetest little girls! ever. 

the weather was beautiful, and the weekend was relaxing and perfect.

(except for the sick bit. sorry again.)

these times are so dear to me, as we're far away and our family is ever growing! 

i'm so thankful for such a beautiful place to spend some time with them. 

thank you mom & dad! 

{olive, staples, eli, ivy and esther. minus baby truett}

the only picture of the whole weekend. i officially am the worst.

pleeeeeease do better over christmas, chaiss!!  

hope y'all had a very happy thanksgiving! 

father's day

i love kevin as a father.

he maintains such a long-sighted vision for his children
and the way he is raising them,

and is ever so patient and calm. 

so with my daily worries and little goals, 

we make a great team. :)

kevin already started his new job in california, (living in a totally empty house)

while we're waiting in houston until the movers deliver our stuff.

 i told him our absence is our present this year :)

(but i know he wishes we were there.) 

actually, it's a perfect picture of what a father should be doing:

providing and sacrificing. 

missing his babes.

and eagerly anticipating our arrival. 

of course i'm thankful for my own dad too

and all the good things he stands for and teaches us

even still. 

happy father's day! 

happy easter!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

According to His great mercy, 

He has caused us to be born again to a living hope

 through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading..."

1 Peter 1:3

baking with gramma

christmas with the mcconnells

a sleeping car...

equals a happy mama!!

(note: kevin is not sleeping, i just didn't want him to feel left out :)

it was only an hour and a half drive (that's nothin for us).... but still!

gotta count yo blessings.

we drove back today from visiting the mcconnells in beaumont.

we were there celebrating christmas

before they leave for charleston for a few weeks.

i didn't take ANY pictures so i snapped a few in the car.

hardly makes up for our time there. but we had a wonderful visit.

nancy had her new little house all decorated with stockings for ivy and eli,

lots of gifts under the tree,

christmas tree sheets on ivy's bed,

snowmen, wisemen,

christmas towels, etc.

such a fun time of year.

it was fun watching ivy open her presents this year

since she understands what's going on and gets really excited.

she got a new play kitchen (that she loooooves - the girl can multi task)

a tutu and ballet leotard from craig to encourage her amazing dance skills,

new books, bubbles, a stuffed puppy.

eli got new clothes that will solve our everything's-too-tight problem.

the boy is huge.

but i have to say i think i won in gifts this time.

i got some really thoughtful, nice things.

including the miette pastry book with a set of little 6 inch cake pans...

perfect for baking with ives!

craig was crazy as usual......

atleast he:

A) made fun of my husband for being out of shape

B) got us a date night to a concert in boston

C) didn't terrify ivy with his spontaneous yelling

D) didn't cause our son to throw up multiple times.

E) effectively communicated 15% of the time.

so we're making progress.

juuuust kidding. he's awesome and he knows it.

thank you mcconnells for being so wonderful to me.

and ivy.

and eli.

and of course kevin :)

we love you!

thankful

i'm thankful for butter, pies and babies.

i'm thankful for my cozy, working kitchen

and the french doors i can close to make it my own little space,

and the big window i can open to let the fall breeze blow in.

i'm thankful for the oldies station in our kitchen that never turns off.

i'm thankful my husband will finally let me play christmas music tomorrow!

(thanksgiving is his favorite holiday so there's a strict rule about it).

i'm thankful for holidays,

even if it's just my own little family (and uncle craig!)

i'm thankful for them.

kevin, ivy and eli.

i'm thankful for the role they need, want and expect me to play.

i'm so, so thankful i get to be their wife and mom.

i'm thankful for this season to be on my own,

to grow and stretch,

and just when i think i can't do it,

i do it.

i'm thankful we will one day live close to family and my beautiful nieces.

(right, Lord?)

i'm thankful for a husband who supports me no matter how crazy i am sometimes.

i'm thankful for the awareness of my craziness, meaning i am not really crazy. haha.

i'm thankful for this goofy blog that makes me feel closer to you.

and you and you and you.

i'm thankful for my awesome rain boots that keep me warm

and for my awesome mom who gave them to me.

i'm thankful that my awesome mom loves most to be at home and with her children.

and her children's children.

she is probably sitting down right now,

serving them a fabulous meal,

and thanking the Lord for her family.

i'm thankful my mom is thankful for me,

and can't wait to have us home for christmas.

i'm thankful for christmas.

for turning another year older.

for baking.

for music.

for home.

for togetherness.

for Jesus.

for love.

for grace.

i'm thankful for tomorrow.

for rest.

and for leftovers.

amen.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM OUR TABLE TO YALLS!

elephant + peanut

(i think the flash startled eli.. haha)

we drove over to a new friend's house for a big chili party and then headed out for trick-or-treating! ivy loved it and her face lit up with each new candy, then she'd run to the next house. it was really cute to watch. eli on the other hand was pretty mellow. we kept each other warm in the 40 degree weather... seriously, i didn't even need sleeves. kinda weird, since everyone else was in puff jackets and scarves. then we came home and had a glow-in-the-dark necklace party. ivy was fascinated. anyway, good times.

ps. i love that when she had a choice, she picked the pencil. then, after dumping out her bag, she went for the pretzels first. haha who does that??

happy 4th!

4th of julys at the beach are the best! i think this is my third or fourth one at folly - and many more than that for kevin (with funny pics to prove it, see one below). we had nancy's family over, kevin grilled and it was a nice, laid back evening. ivy's tucked in and we're headed to the porch for the best part - fireworks!! happy 4th y'all!

cherry dump cake

recipe from leigh peveto

1- 15 ounce can crushed pineapple, drained

1- 20 ounce can cherry pie filling

yellow cake mix

1 1/2 sticks butter, melted

1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat to 350.

In a glass 9x13 baking dish, evenly dump drained pineapple, then pie filling, then dry cake mix.

Drizzle with melted butter and sprinkle with pecans.

Bake for 1 hour and let cool a little.

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy!

kevin & craig

folly beach 1994

happy memorial day

from our watermelon lovers to yours.

A humble thank you to all the men and women who fought for our USA!

easter garden party

we hosted a few friends for the easter holiday in our little garden behind our flat.

it was fun getting everything ready - really just a bunch of flowers, chocolate bars for place cards, some pretty napkins and a lot of desserts!

huge thanks to kevin for the yard work and lugging up the tables!

as is our favorite custom, we all contributed to the dinner

and it was delicious.

a very beautiful day.

no one could find plastic eggs (trust us, we tried) but jess came to the rescue and filled little bags with the goodies. we couldn't find easter baskets either so it was total improv all around.

just before bed, i remembered ivy's easter basket that i hid away in the closet. it was impossible to find regular baskets anywhere, so things had to get a little creative. it was tiny but i think she still loved it. favorite thing: the stickers! i knew it.

hope you all had a wonderful easter!

matthew 28:6