iPhone dump

Back at the end of February, Hunter and I finally caved and bought ourselves iPhones... After months of debating/agonizing over how we don't actually neeeed smart phones and/or the extra bill that comes along with them. But 2 months later we're certainly not regretting it. Mostly we're in love with having a camera with us everywhere! Here are some (tons) of my faves since I got this fancy thing.

(playing with water is Lily's #1 favorite past time... doesn't matter how cold it is outside)

(poor baby with a huge bonk on her head)

(oh just hangin' in the "fort") 

(I'll never get enough of watching this girl sleep)

(how come it's not as cute when I stare longing at ice cream like that?)

(sliiiiiide)

(this commute is killing me)

(we threw a baby "shower" for some of our favorite friends)

(got to see the unks and celebrate Ty+Beth's engagement!)

(played in the bath)

(watched some George)

(snuck the jelly beans out of the Easter basket when mom wasn't looking)

(decorated Easter cookies)

(grew into the pink polka dot raincoat from Grandma Ree)

(discovered how fun it is to take "peeek-chas"of ourselves)

(washed our "haaaaaaaynes")

(made new friends... brand new friends. Lily+Amelia=BFF)

(celebrated daddy's birthday)

(snuggled with her bestie)

(studied OChem?) 

(played with Gracie, another fave)

(just hung out. ha.)

(went swimming!!! ps this is my new favorite picture of all time)

(all fancied up for a pre-church family coffee date)

(painting & practicing colors: orange=oinch, purple=pupu, green=geeeeee)

(Survived the last (knockonwood) snowstorm of the year. In May. It sucked.)

Lately...

We've been eating almond flour muffins and coconut scones.
Good stuff :)
The girl's never looked so much like her mama as she does right there.
This healthy baking kick has produced some really fabulous healthy/tasty treats.
It feels good to step away from sugar but still get to have fun yummies.

I've been drawing.
New prints (that I'm super excited to share soon)!
But also fun custom stuff for lovely friends.
I really really really liked how these baby shower invites turned out!

Lil's just been doing what everyone of us wishes we could.
You know, diving into the peanut butter jar with reckless abandon.
You might be asking yourself why on Earth we just sat around and let this happen?
1) Girlfriend's been copping an attitude about eating lately & she needs the cals.
2) She's darling.
3) Hunter & I were busy eating pancakes, drinking coffee & enjoying the show :)

And we've been shoe shopping.
These lovelies were a whopping $4.99 on clearance at Target & she can't get enough of them.
They seem schmancy, I know, but you should see how they come together with striped socks, a tutu and a polka dot sweater.
We're high fashion up in here.

Source: kalbarteski.bigcartel.com via Ashley on Pinterest

My heart is happy & full these days.
I am beyond thankful for all of these little moments that make up life as we currently know it.
If I'm absent around here it's because I have a very intense desire lately to just slow down & be.
Not to write or share or improve.
Just to enjoy every drop.
I know the season will come again when I'll overflow with things to talk about & stories to record.
But now is the season for reading Goodnight Moon 30 times a day, finger painting and playing with baby dolls.
It's the season for shutting out the noise and listening.
It's nice & I'm praying it last for awhile.

Prayer for future (19 months)

To my Lily Belle,

In 2 short days you'll be 19 months old. 

Last night when you were splish-splashing around the bathtub, it hit me that in 5 little months you'll be 2. 

Just 2 years old. 

No one counts the months anymore after 24.

Which, I guess makes you officially not a baby.

Not that you act like much of a baby these days anyway...

Miss talking up a storm, eating with a spoon all by yourself, fixin' to get a whole outfit picked out & put on all alone!

I love watching you constantly changing & growing. 

But last night in the middle of our squirt-gun induced giggle-fest, I was overwhelmed by the realization that someday you'll be a gorgeous grown woman & you'll fall head-over-heels in love & someone else will make you laugh the way only mama & dada can now.

 

(Always a good idea to keep plenty of distance b/w you & the boy you're watching movies with.)

Someone else will protect, encourage and dance with you. 

It won't be my job anymore. 

Oh Lordy.

If that thought doesn't turn a mama into a melty puddle of emotions, I don't know what will... 

But you're observant & sensitive & you started giving me funny sideways looks as the hot tears streamed down my face. 

So I started to pray.

(Singing Ju-Juuu (Gigi) as you prance around in the tutu she gave you.)

I prayed for the man that you'll share your life with someday. 

I prayed that he's funny because yours, my love, is the most beautiful laugh there ever was. 

I prayed that he's strong & sensitive: that he leads you when you need it but isn't afraid to step back & let you be a leader too. 

I prayed that if you grow up to be anything like your daddy- which I'm about 99% sure you will ;) that he has patience when you need space & time to figure out what's going on on your head & heart. 

(Sleepy eyed little independent woman eating your own yogurt.) 

Mostly I just prayed that he'll love you the best he knows how. 

That you'll be a better woman with him than you ever even thought you could be without him. 

That he makes you want to love Jesus & people better. 

(Oh, and that he's the only guy you ever date, and you don't meet until you're 26... oops.)

I love praying for your future, Lil, but I'm also thankful that you're still only 19 months.

Thankful you're still my baby & that it's still me & dada's turn to: 

• teach you (you're getting pretty good with your words)
• encourage you (sooooo close to buttoning your own coat)
• read books with you (your new fave past time: Dr Seuss, Goodnight Moon, My First Words Book, Sesame Street Colors book "aka shteee")
• sing songs & dance with you (C is for Cookie, Hokey Pokey, ABCs) 
• and make you giggle (by squirting you in the bathtub with the "booger sucker" turned squirt gun I swear it was clean & it was your favorite game ever ;) 

Love you forever & ever, 

Mama

Company Christmas Par-tay!

Hunter & I went OUT on a whole night away! (Only our second such adventure in the 17 1/2 months of Lily's existence.)
And we had a BLAST!

(This would be our impatient faces as we wait in stand still traffic for 45 minutes.
We're ready to party!!)
 

This would be my extremely handsome date. 

Also, we're models. 

You knew that right? ha! 

I think we were just feeling extra fancy in our swanky hotel room ;) 

Anyway, the party was great.
I'm super thankful to have a great company to work for, a fun husband who loves to dance & an amazing sis-in-law who gave up her whole Saturday night so that we could enjoy a whole night out :)

True Lovey

Today's story is a real life love story.
Love at first sight even.
I don't know if you believe in that kind of thing, but I'm here to tell you it's real.

(Lily+Lovey= Love Forever)

Last June we threw a big fun circus birthday bash to celebrate Lily's 1st birthday.
When it came time to open presents she tentatively tore at the paper, gladly handed shiny new toys over to her older & wiser buddy (he's 3 & definitely knows how to fully appreciate a plastic drum set) and squealed with delight at cardboard boxes.
But there was one particular present that stole miss Lily's heart that day.
We gently coaxed her to the bottom of a pretty gift bag where she found her soul mate.



Lovey is his name. Snuggling's his game.
I promise this is honestly the very first thing she did when she saw him.
In fact, this is still how she falls asleep every night (5 months later).
We recently forgot Lovey at MorMor & PaPa's for a day and life did not go on.
The girl honestly refused to sleep all day & wailed for nearly an hour before collapsing with exhaustion at bedtime!

These are the stories I want to remember forever & the pictures I want to come back to someday.
These past 17 months have flown and I'm so thankful for every little snuggle, smoochie & sweet sweet smile.
Happy 17 month birthday Lil & happy 5 month anniversary to you & your true lovey ;)

(Linking up with From Awkward to Art for Mommy Brain Mixer.)

Oh so thankful.

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!"

((Psalm 107:1)) 

Together in the Kitchen {A new recipe link party!}

Hooray! It's finally here :)
I'm so excited about this link up you guys!
A of all I love working with talented ladies like miss Aimee, who seems to be awesome at everything I'm not awesome at (ie she designed all of the beautiful graphics & has been promoting like a champ!)
2 I love love making new friends, like lovely Amy, who is so fun and has a beautiful blog & shop!
And lastly I just really love baking & sharing recipes & hanging out with my rad fam.
Dude, I'm getting so worked up over here. That's a lot of love.

Anyway, on to the point of this shin-dig.
Getting your family & friends in the kitchen with you!
I tried this out and it looks a littlie different than you might have expected.
What? Were you thinking matching aprons not glitter boots & a diaper?
Yeah, me too but the girls likes what she likes.
And she likes licking the spoon... and not wearing clothes.

Hunter prefers to contribute in the kitchen by occupying Lily so I can get my bake on :)
Still counts in my opinion.
Also, my heart melts into a puddle every single time I look at this picture.

So, how do you share the kitchen with your loved ones?
Don't think it has to look a certain way! I think whatever works for you & yours is beautiful.
Now link up those tasty creations.

meet the co-hosts & check out their recipes...

<a href="http://www.bowandarrowart.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://smallanchors.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/150Together.png "></a>

1: link up a recipe. any recipe. as many recipes as you want to share.. then add our button to the bottom of your post!!
2: visit at least the two links before you and either comment and/or pin their recipe to Pinterest
3: visit a few others, since this is all about sharing recipes!!
4. if you want to share our little get together, please tweet: “share a recipe with @evystree @bowandarrowart @byAimeeSki today at http://wp.me/p2PzO1-3u"
5. leave a comment below sharing a memory of spending time "together in the kitchen"

*we encourage you to subscribe by email to one {or all 3!} of our blog posts so you never miss a link up!