hello friday...

Favorites from this week:

*Going to the pool with Finn twice already!  Loving warmer weather which gets me in the mood for summer!

*My morning coffee.  I believe I may be addicted to my morning cup.  After Landon got me some amazing local coffee, I have had a cup nearly every morning.  It just starts the day off right.

*Seeing my mom and dad, and Landon's parents all in the course of a few days.  Family is so dear to us.  Finn spent last weekend with my parents, and Landon's parents came on Wednesday to spend the morning and afternoon with us.

*Hearing Finn say new words.  It's almost like his vocabulary sprouted as soon as he turned a year and a half this week.  He is saying so many new things to us, and you can see his little brain working to communicate with us.  Our little guy is turning into a toddler as I write this!

*Having deep conversations with my husband.  Over the past few months, our relationship has gone from deep to DEEP.  We have hit a new level of marriage, defining how we view our roles in our relationship, becoming more open with each other, and getting through tough moments.  This week was a tough/rewarding week.  I love this man so much, and I'm thankful to be his partner in the journey of life.

*Eating coffee cake.  This recipe was delicious!

*Bike riding.  We are hoping to get out a lot this weekend on our bikes.  Finn is in heaven as he rides in the front of my bike on his little seat.  The simplest things like riding bikes give us the most fun around here.

*Having amazing fellowship with our church community.  We went to a goodbye party on Tuesday for a family that has been a huge part of the church we attend.  Our church is very small, so we are like a giant family and very close.  Landon and I have seen so much good come from this group of people that we are living out life with.  It was sad to say goodbye to the Black family, but we know they will bless whomever they meet in their new city.

Looking forward to a slow weekend, partially here at home, and partially in Ohio with our family for Memorial Day.  Feeling so happy these days.  Life is rewarding.

hello friday...

Favorites from this week...

*I bought these Sanuk Yoga Mat Fip Flops at REI and they are ahhh-mazing!!  I have been looking for some good flip flops not from Old Navy for a little while, and fell in love with these.  They were reasonably priced, and I literally feel like I'm practicing yoga all day as I walk in them.  Heaven.

*Taking morning bike rides with Finn.  I am loving this amazing weather we are having, and Finn and I both got our tans on the other day, it was so warm and sunny.  Gotta break out the sunscreen soon.

*Book reading.  I picked up a sci-fi thriller novel from the library and I am already a third of the way through.  It is good, and it feels good to read a book that has nothing to do with babies, food, boobs, parenting, health/medical issues, recipes, or anything else related to being a mama. :)

*Working on an adoption video.  It's almost finished, and I can't wait for people to see it.  The family I'm working on it for is so sweet, and they have one of the most touching stories.  It's an honor to hear their story, and put it into video format for others to hear as well.

*Having my husband bring home a Flying Cupcake after a rather terrible day earlier this week.  I have been battling headaches off and on, Finn is going through some sort of phase (what's new), and some days it can be challenging to handle everything I need to get done.  A cupcake from my guy makes a world of difference on days like that.

*Finishing a financial class!  Landon and I have been taking a financial class for the past 9 weeks, and we finished up this week.  I will tell you that over the past 9 weeks, our view of money and how we use it has completely changed.  We are on the road to becoming debt-free, and it feels so good.  We have decided to post-pone buying a house until we have reached our debt-free goal...which may be a couple more years, but it's going to be totally worth it for us.  We aren't taking the popular route by any means, but we are totally fine with that!  We are aiming to live very simply now, so that later, we will be able to buy things and enjoy things that we are wanting to do, and give in the way we have always imagined.

*Making music.  Landon and I were on worship team on Sunday, and I played guitar instead of violin, and Landon played the accordion!  He enjoyed switching things up as well.  One of my favorite things to do is play music with Landon at home.  When we sing together, it makes my heart happy.

*Staying positive.  It's been a struggle, but a focus of mine to try and stay positive.  It's hard sometimes, with everything going on in the world, but life is so much more real and lovely when I aim to look on the bright side.  This doesn't mean that I discard struggles and hurt, but after processing them, I am trying to come back to focusing on what is good in my life.

Have a great weekend!!

hello friday...

It's sunny here today, and looking outside makes me so happy.  I am definitely ready for warm weather to be here, and even though it's cold, the sun just makes it feel so much better.

A few favs from this week:

*Going out on a wonderful date with Landon last night.  We went to an Irish pub and ate some delicious food.  We each tried a new beer, and both liked the ones we tried.  Afterwards, we went to our local coffee shop.  The barista (one of our favorite ones in there) saw we were alone without Finn and asked about him.  She also questioned why we ordered coffee instead of beer since we were on a date.  We explained we'd already had some at dinner, and she said "Ok, good."  I love that she was "looking out for us" in a way.  See, this is why I love local places.

*Watching Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou again.  I forgot how much I loved this movie, and it is so good watching a second time.  Wes Anderson is a brilliant director.  One time in college I dressed up (in a very rough handmade costume) as a member of the Zissou Society for halloween.  It was awesome.

*Enjoying time with my family.  We've tried to take it easy this week and just enjoy our spare time together.  Finn keeps us SO entertained lately.  He is imitating and laughing and dancing all the time.  Seriously, babies are hilarious.  We did a mini photo shoot last night (the photos above are from that) and Finn was cracking us up the whole time.  Love him.

*Beautifying our home.  We had a couple diy projects that have were on the back burner for awhile, and finally we made the time to get them finished up and hung.  I'll have to post some pictures another time, but we love the little touches they make to our cozy home.

*Having coffee with a friend.  I met with a friend from small group on Saturday, and we just sat and talked for a couple hours.  It was so encouraging and just nice to be out with a girlfriend talking about struggles, love, and life.

*Crafting.  I started working on an embroidery project again, and I didn't realize how much I missed doing little detail work.  It is so relaxing for me, and I can't wait to finish this one up!

*Looking forward.  I am so excited because tomorrow, my roommate from my last year at college is getting married!  We are driving to Ohio and back again for what is predicted to be a pretty awesome wedding.  I am so happy for my friend and getting to witness her day is such an honor.

We are also having a sweet family over this weekend on Sunday.  The Siler family, all the way from Wisconsin, is staying with us overnight while they are on a road trip.  They are a husband and wife photography team, and they have two young kids.  I lived with them for a few months when I was working at an internship in Portland, Oregon after college.  They only had one child then, and he was about Finn's age when I lived with them.  So excited to see them again and visit, eat good food, and possibly play some Settlers.

All in all, life is good these days.  I've been learning a lot this week...just learning how to be content, learning how to be a better mama to Finn, and learning what is really important in my life.  I am seeing how things quickly get in the way of living, and each day and each week, I am seeking to be more about experiences and people instead of things.  Looking forward to enjoying just that this weekend with some amazing family and friends.  Hope you all have a fantastic weekend yourselves!

hello friday...

Well it's Friday, again.  We have had a busy week.  Last Friday, Finn had surgery on his thumb to release what's called "trigger thumb."  He was such a champ, and I was more concerned than he was.  He didn't cry when the nurse took him away, he bounced back pretty quickly afterwards, and he got a balloon, so he was happy the whole time. :)  They had to put him all the way under, and I was nervous about it, but he did great and his thumb is on it's way to being healed.

I've also been working on finishing a wedding job this week.  It's not just any wedding though, it is my brother-in-law and sister-in-law's wedding.  It's been so fun to look through all the photos of their day again and remember how fun (and hot) that day was.  It is so amazing to me how photos don't necessarily show the temperature of the day.  It was very hot the day they got married, but you wouldn't know it from looking through the photos.  Same with our wedding.  It was super cold that day, but it looks like the perfect fall weather when you flip through our album.

Gearing up for a nice weekend at home with my guys.  I've got a roast in the slow cooker, we're taking it easy tomorrow, and Sunday we are doing worship team at church.  We love being a part of the band on Sundays and I love getting to play my violin regularly.

I read this really good quote today in a parenting book I'm reading through.  It stuck out to me and I want to meditate on it all weekend, and beyond.  I feel like the concept is so true and yet so often overlooked.

"Love breeds happiness.  You really cannot have happiness without love." 

You and Your Child

I hope this weekend is great for you all.  Enjoy each moment.

hello friday...

Wow this week flew. by.  The funniest part is that nothing really profound happened...just a quiet week at home with the boys.

But I do have a few favs from this week....

*Favorite moment with friends:  Having an Oscars Party with my sister Hannah, her husband Jon, and our niece Emery.  We had appetizers, made these cookies, and watched Seth McFarlane make inappropriate jokes.  Also, Jennifer Lawrence is so cool...I once fell off the stage during a wedding, so she made me feel better when she tripped on the stairs.

*Favorite physical activity: At my boss's yearly color party on Saturday, we all made a Harlem Shake video.  Probably the best party moment ever.  It was a party, so no judgements please.  :)



*Favorite Pin: I have to post it because it's so funny.

Source: julia.blogg.se via Leah on Pinterest

I mean, come on.

*Favorite quote: "You cannot love someone you do not know." - You And Your Child

*Favorite song from the week: Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

*Favorite meal of the week:  Breakfast for dinner at small group!  Delicious casseroles, monkey bread, and fruit.  Ahhh.  Loved it.

*Favorite movie watched: Coco Avant Chanel.  If you've never seen this, you totally should!  It's a beautiful and artistic French film about the humble beginnings of  a fashion designer.  One of my favorites.

*Favorite design project:  Currently, I have none, but I do have two weddings I'm editing for work...and they are beautiful!  I love getting to work on wedding photos for my job!

*Favorite realization:  I don't have to worry about my future.  My God is in control, and He wants what's best for me.  My job is to embrace each moment of each day, and live them in love for Him and for other people.

*Favorite moment with Finn: The other night after an early supper, Landon and I just hung out with Finn in our living room.  He was crazy funny that night, rocking in our chair, screaming, playing, and just having a wonderful time.  I love that kid more than I can say.

Have a fantastic weekend, friends!  I am heading out for some girl time with my pal Ballard and a couple other girls.  Then, Landon and I are having a quiet weekend at home.  Looking forward to some great time as a family.

Hello Friday...

Well Friday is here and I'm excited!  We've had a pretty good week around here, and there are a lot of fun things to look forward to in the next couple of days.

We are headed down to Louisville today and dropping Finn off with my Aunt and Uncle, then staying at a hotel downtown that Landon scored a stellar price on using Priceline.  We'll go out for dinner at a local eatery, then SLEEP IN on Saturday!  This mama's excited.  Then, we get to spend the morning together before spending time with my Aunt, Uncle, and cousins for the rest of the weekend.

A few favs from this week:

*Favorite quote I read:  "The people God uses don't have to know a lot of things, or have a lot of things - they just have to need him a lot." - From Finn's Jesus Storybook Bible

*Favorite pin I found: Home T-shirt

*Favorite song for the weekend: Tongue-Tied

*Favorite meal of the week: Jalapeno cheddar burgers Landon made last night.  Ah, my belly is still happy.

*Favorite moment with Finn: When I picked him up from his class at bible study and he said mama and smiled really big.

*Favorite moment with friends:  Having dinner with an awesome couple on Monday night who shared openly with us and encouraged Landon and I in our marriage.

*Favorite current design project:  An adoption t-shirt I am working on for some friends of my sister.  I just sent it to the printer today and I am so excited to see the results!

*Favorite yoga pose from class: Warrior 3 pose

*Favorite realization:  I am blessed by all the friends and family in my life...so, so very blessed.