Love.In.A.Cup.

You're Welcome.. 

Yep, that's all I will say, YOU ARE WELCOME and enjoy friends…!!!! Get ready to live! 

Step 1: Drive to your nearest Starbucks.

Step 2: Pull up to the drive through or exercize your legs and walk up to the actual counter inside. 

Step 3: Order this: Mocha Latte (hot) with 2 pumps of mocha, 2 pumps of white chocolate mocha and 2 pumps of raspberry. You choose what size you want to splurge on...

Step 4: Handle your cup that was just brewed for you with special care. 

Step 5: Sip it, and drink some more… And fall in love all over again.. 

Step 6: Thank Lindsey for telling you so… 

* I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS NEWLY DISCOVERED FAVORITE DESSERT DRINK OF MINE… I CALL IT, "THE RASPBERRY TRUFFLE.. IN A CUP"

Fine Print: I will probably be gaining at least a pound or two a week just from this Heaven in a cup. I am so sorry Jesse…But… I am in love. 

Love is in the Air

Friday is Valentine's Day and something you must know about me is that I am one of those that LOVES this holiday… I could care less about the gifts, or the romantic dinners and surprises (Jes- I mean I love them… but.) For me it's much more than that- it's about the LOVE! I love the little things and I feel like there are so many little things that go hand in hand with Valentine's Day.  Now, I know there are many critics out there that say, "Oh it's just a commercialized holiday and a good way to make the card and candy companies even more wealthy." Well, so be it! What wrong with buying a card for someone to show them or remind them that you love them? What is wrong with indulging in a little chocolate… Or 2 bags of it for that matter? I know people think, "You should show those you love them every day, not just 1 day a year." Come on, really? Do you really think everyone just saves all their love and surprises for 1 day a year? Well, I sure hope not, and if they do, well then… They have issues to begin with.

Anyways, here are the little things I think of and smile at when I think about Valentine's Day..

Do you remember when you were in elementary school and made a Valentines box or envelope to take to school to collect all those little cards and heart shaped sour suckers? You might have even made a special trip to the craft store to stock up on heart stickers, glitter, and red and pink construction paper too! I loved spending hours decorating my special box just to be able to put it on my desk for 1 day! And as dorky as it was, I loved reading every single little cheap card inside from each of my classmates.. I even remember thinking that sometimes the wording on certain Valentines "meant something." Oh brother.. As a first grade teacher, this was always one of my very favorite things to do with my little sweeties! I loved when they brought in their bag of Valentine's Day crafts to decorate their special boxes! They LOVED it too! Their little tiny hands, working so hard to create something that would be filled with LOVE! Nothing wrong with that!

Because I taught first grade, first grade teachers tend to think in terms of thematic units.. That meant, when a holiday rolled around all things were themed around that specific day! The decorations in my room, the bulletin boards, the projects, vocabulary, read alouds, newsletters, stickers, etc… So, maybe that is why I have the problem I do.. I feel it quite necessary to bring all the heart shaped plates out, the sweet and yummy smelling Valentine's Day candles out, the desserts, and on and on and on.  I LOVE SO MUCH going to pick out a special card for my sweetie! If you know me, you know I love cards and write them all the time.  I love finding the perfect words to describe my feelings.. It's like Hallmark can read my mind or something.. It's like a treasure hunt for me, a needle in the haystack, ok… you know what I mean.. I just love it.. Well this year, I got to pick out 2 special cards for the guys in my life.. Yes, Oliver can't read, he'll never remember it and he probably will NEVER care about it.. But, you bet your bottoms it's going in his little baby book on the "My First Valentine's Day" page… Oh yes! And you also better believe that I painted his little foot red to always remember how little it was.  Remember, I was a teacher once? I loved painting little hands and little feet to make into projects and give to their parents! Those are precious little keepsakes!

I LOVE the candy- well, when do I not.. But, pink and red candy? Somehow always tastes better so I need about 5 bags of it to declare that it is officially Valentine's Day.. I love the little conversation hearts, the cherry sugared hearts, and on and on.  I love the beautiful flowers I always see stocked in the grocery stores… Yes, people I am one of those people.  I love all the pink and red and hearts and glitter… Don't hate, but I do.  I love doing and making the little things that show those I love, that I love them, even if it's a card in the mail with cute pictures on it! Shouldn't there be more holiday's like Valentine's Day? Shouldn't we be happy that people actually want to do sweet things for each other? Believe me, life isn't always full of rainbows, unicorns, hearts and glitter over here.. No one's is.  But, thinking about those we love and cherish the most, what is wrong with making them smile or like Catherine said on the good ol' Bachelor wedding, "It's like filling her heart with love sprinkles." heheh, sorry I just had to. Ok, here's how we are spending Valentine's Day week. Hope yours is full of love and sparkle too!   :)

Love to all our family and friends, from the bottom of our hearts! XOXO

yes, yes i did. i added rhinestones and jesse made sure
that i knew it didn't look like a boy's foot anymore. oops. my bad.
BTW… try getting a perfect little 6 month old foot print with paint.
it's almost the hardest thing ever! 

red velvet brownies are going down. yes. you heard me.
i saw this recipe and made it a MUST to try! 

speaking of LOVE… Oliver.. AND SUCKING HIS BOTTOM LIP..
They love each other all day long. 

a little bragging is about to happen..
It's winter and our geraniums are still gorgeous, and the grass is still green.
And it's in the 70s and 80s… THAT IS LOVE for my heart and soul! 

you know me and my candles. I LOVE THEM.
Found this new Tyler gem a couple weeks ago and it's
called Family Traditions… It's a new LOVE and what a perfect name! 

I came across a recommendation to read these on a blog, so I hopped on Amazon pronto.
Sparkly Green Earrings is about motherhood and The Antelope in the Living Room
is about marriage. Melanie Shankle is the author of these and also authors The Big Momma Blog.
 I LOVE a new good book that CRACKS my bootie up! :) 

a newly found favorite. Abbey can vouch for this too- it's yummy,
pretty and Heavenly on your lips! 

Jesse will laugh. This is my "office" people and I conduct some serious business
right here.  All kinds of business. Mommy business, planning a 10 year reunion business,
Daily Devotional Business, Blogging Business, Oliver's Baby Book Business, and many more kinds too..
This is where it all goes down and I LOVE my little spot… Even though we have a nice
desk upstairs… I know I'm weird, but I love doing my "business.." (Gross, I know what you're thinking..)

I LOVE my daily devotional time.. It sets up every single day for a win,  I'm telling you.
I look forward to my time with God every morning! He does amazing things.
He is THE TRUE LOVE!

Just a little love for the boy! :) 

1/2 A Year Old!

Now I get it.. It finally makes sense to me why every Mom I know would say, "Time, please slow down.." or "They grow up soo quickly.." I get it… Never in my life have my days felt longer but quicker than ever. It's hard to describe.  It really does feel like yesterday that Jesse and I were shopping for groceries and my water broke. It really, REALLY feels like it was yesterday that I was in labor and praying our sweet little guy was going to be ok.  I CAN NOT BELIEVE he is already 6 months old, it just can't be!

I consider myself extremely blessed that I am able to have the opportunity to stay at home with Oliver and watch every single little day go by with him.  I am constantly uploading pictures to my laptop and one night I decided to look back at July.. WOW! Jesse and I were almost brought to tears just looking and remembering what a journey it has been from where we started.. We started with a 32 weeker ready for the world at only 4 lbs. 1 oz… He had 0% body fat and looked like the cutest little saggy skinned old man there ever was.  We had to teach him how to eat.  We had to minimize our interactions with him so he could just rest and grow.  We had to leave the hospital without him. We changed his little preemie diapers that were TOO big on him.. We worried about taking him anywhere in public because of the fear of getting him sick.  But… Most importantly, we've watched him grow.. and grow.. and grow.. If I could read his mind I think he would start out each day with, "Hey guys.. Let's do this thing!" No joke.  He has been a little fighter since day 1 and 6 months later is just as determined.. Never did I think I would be able to see so much personality or determination in a little baby that has existed a total of 6 months.  Oliver has it and isn't afraid to use it!  Don't believe me?  Come watch how he grunts and climbs up our shoulders to look over to the other side- it's hilarious! He now knows the word "Baba" and reaches for it when he sees it.  He cracks us up daily and Mommy and Daddy are in for it, we're sure of that… This guy would be walking if he could figure it out.  He doesn't mess with rolling over, but when he is on his feet, he gets the biggest grin on his face and tries taking steps.. He always wants to be on the move and see new things.  He can't get enough.  He is the Little Curious George that I have always been and wants to nibble on everything he can these days.

Jesse and I are amazed every single day with how perfectly God creates His children.  They are amazingly beautiful in every single way.  Oliver has shown us a whole new side to love- one no one truly knows until you look into the eyes of your child.  It's one of the best feelings I have ever experienced in my life.. To get a smile or giggle from our guy.. whoooaaaahhh talk about heart stopping!

So, before I get all teary eyed, happy half birthday buddy! This will probably be the only 1/2 birthday we'll ever celebrate and we were so happy that Nana, Papa and Abbey were here with us! We love you and can't wait to watch you grow even more! Now.. just slow down- Mama needs time to baby proof and mentally prepare to always be chasing you around everywhere.

Now.. don't judge. I couldn't choose. Sorry in advance for picture overload. 

probably wants to escape because he knows this chair
is used for rocking and photo shoots. 

maybe an all time favorite of mine. 

so BIG. yet so small.

what's going on over there? 

his favorite snack

one of the millions of Oli's famous faces

don't report me. he can't crawl and i was right there.
he lives on the edge

mini birthday party. gotta practice somehow!

Thanks guys, I'll dig right in! 

who knows what he is thinking. 

got a little nervous. maybe next time i should remember
to get the non-sparklery candles.. mom fail. 

Oli.. Momma will donate some of her
 lion's mane to your head, k? 

he always gets so proud to sit in his big boy chair.
and every time he rests his arm too.

purple, huh mom? 

k, i'll forgive you. 

The Phoenix Open

Living 2 minutes from the Ol' TPC Scottsdale or the Stadium Course, means that it was on our "Must Do" list to go to this crazy tournament this year! My parents wanted to come down to see what all the hype was about and then Abbs couldn't miss out either! Dan decided to come last minute and it was ONE GIANT PARTY all weekend long! Lucky for us, one of Jesse's Doc's is the Medical Director of the tournament… Ummm.. YES to free tickets everyday and YES to the awesome parking pass right across the street! Guys, I'm not kidding you.. If you have never gone to this tournament, it's a MUST for you to put on your bucket list! There isn't anything else like it! Compared to the U.S Open where people actually cared to watch great golf, this was ummm.. not so much like that.. It was a social event where there was literally a row of bars in the middle of the course. I am not kidding, girls were actually in their Kentucky Derby hats and sundresses… Boys were in their "Wasted Management" t-shirts or rocking their super Fratastic croakies and Sperry's… It was a show.. In fact I may have watched 5 shots the whole time because the rest of the time I enjoyed people watching.. I'm telling you.. It was awesome and the most fun I've had in a long time! :)  We were probably the most sober people there.

Thursday night Jake Owen was playing at the Birds Nest (which is right by the course and holds concerts every night of the tournament.) Abbey, Jes and I went (Thanks to the Doc for that too) and had such a great time rockin' to some good ol' country music.  The Birds Nest is where people stumble head over to after the tournament.. The party never stops people, seriously! I love me some Jake, so I was pretty stoked that we scored tickets to the show!

Good to get out for the night with my babe

this guy.. what?

We basically took turns babysitting and watching golf.. And having a drink or two as well… After all, this is the craziest tournament in all of the tournaments! The attendance record was broken again this year and it continues to be the most wild/most attended tournament on the PGA! :) We went Friday through Sunday and then continued our party and partied through the Super Bowl… Which was the World's Worst Game Of.All.Time.. So, we enjoyed our wings, dips and other yumminess and laughed our way through the awesome commercials! Such a fun weekend spent with family and more memories to go down in the books! Next year Oli boy can tag along and we can't wait!

Out for a stroll with Nana and Papa

watching the guys come in on 18

the cutest. ever

So once upon a time i said, "Arie.." And he turned around.
And I said, "Hi!" "Can we take a picture with you!"
I love the Bachelor and this is the only "celebrity" I have
ever recognized in public.  Proud Moment in my life!

The Boys

Why did I have to ruin this? 

Hey Bubba! Glad you and I get our hairs done at the same Salon!

Cheers

A must at the golf tournament: An ice race down the hill
called "Who can hit the cup.."

Dad was the judge.
BTW.. That's Abbey's ice cube. Umm.. Try Again.

oh you know.. just hangin with my Papas and Papos

He loves his Bee

on 16.. Finally got to see it!