Daffodil

Valentine's Day Party

2011-02-14T12:05:00.000-08:00

Inspiration

2011-02-13T13:48:00.001-08:00

As a mom of two young ones it is rare these days that I find myself in the midst of the perfect storm of inspiration and time and capacity to execute that inspiration. I often have inspiration of things I want to make, people I want to have over for special little treats, things to do with the kids that are creative and special, but more often than not I find myself, after a moment of said inspiration, feeling overwhelmed by all the little things that fill a life of a mom of a 3 year old and an 18 month old, and I have to be satisfied with just keeping my house clean, my family fed, and myself sane!

However, the perfect storm hit this week and I feel totally inspired and totally able to pull it off! I think its due in part to the wonderfully beautiful magazines that sit near my reading chair(Better Homes, Martha Stewart, Real Simple, and Southern Living), who wouldn't be inspired by so much pink, red, hearts, chocolate, and loveliness. I also think that after having a few weeks with very cold and crazy weather, I feel somewhat refreshed, we have been forced to slow down a bit, and I rather like it!

Anyways, I have decided that the kids and I (read, they are only 3 and 1 so really just me) will throw a Valentine's Day party for our fellow stay at home moms and kids! I am making jam sandwich cookies, homemade Oreos with pink filling, and sugar cookies to be decorated. There will be a card making station and all the heart and pink I can cram in with out breaking the bank. I am so excited!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Christmas List Starting

2010-11-19T14:35:00.000-08:00

I just found the perfect plates for me. I have been wanting new dishes because ours are chipped from our first several years of marriage with no dishwasher.

Daffodil Designs Debut

2010-10-23T12:06:00.000-07:00

I am starting a little company. Daffodil Designs. I have dreamed of this little guy for years and never known how to start or what to start with. I have decided to start with a small line of simi-customizable Christmas cards.

I have pre-designed 4 styles and can place your family's picture and text into anyone of the designs you like. You can choose from any of the 4 color combinations shown (red/green, blue/red, green/white, and red/white) for any of the cards. They are all 5x7 and are printed on flat white cardstock. A colored envelope is included for each card.

Leave a comment with your email info if you are interested and I will contact you. Pricing and samples are below.

***If you post about my Christmas cards on your blog, write about it on Facebook with a link to my blog, and or twitter about it, I will give you the first 10 cards for free, with an order of 25 or more. Just send me a comment and let me know!

Here's to making your holidays beautiful!

1-25 $1.00 per card
25-50 $.90 per card
50-75 $.85 per card
75+ $.75 per card

+plus shipping if you are out of the Waco area

Jack Turns 3

2010-09-29T13:52:00.000-07:00

Sept 8th Jack turned 3. We had such an amazing time celebrating our little guy and he had so much fun being celebrated. We had a construction party, as he loves all things to do with construction. Its a popular theme so I found a bunch of great ideas and had a few of my own as well. I loved putting this together and I feel it was every bit enjoyed!

House:ReDone

2010-08-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

After many rearranges, additions, subtractions, a lot of work on the part of my wonderful husband, many bargain finds and re purposed items, I have a totally new looking downstairs. I love it.

Jonathan pulled up all the carpet downstairs, sanded, stained, and sealed the floors--and they look better than I imagined. I love having hardwood and so do the kids. I am so much less worried about spills and parties with food and kids everywhere. I love the look, how much bigger and warmer it makes it all look.

We moved the dinning room into the sun room--a much better use of space for both rooms. Our dinning room was huge, I loved it, but I always felt we were wasting the space, so we moved the table into the sun room (where we love to eat now), and we moved chairs, a couch, a coffee table, the train table, the easel, and the TV on its new cabinet into the old dinning room. It all fits just right and makes a much nicer family room space for us. The living room is now all centered around the fireplace and not a TV--which I have always hated about the way the old living room was arranged. It is always clean and nice--which is nice since it is the room you walk into. Overall, I feel this is the way this house was meant to be and I am enjoying living in it even more than before.

I did new shades for the dinning room windows with clearance table clothes from Target, which is the final goodbye to the mini-blinds on all of our 36 windows!

For the time being I feel done and satisfied with all things "home". Oh, except the dining room chairs that I do have plans for...but it may be awhile, we'll see.

Claire's First Birthday

2010-08-22T15:03:00.001-07:00

Thursday Claire turned 1. I can't believe it--isn't that always what parent's say about their kids getting older. And yesterday was her party. I decided on a picnic themed party--I just wanted to do something very summery, but because we live in Texas and because it has been in the triple digits for over 20 days straight, it was an indoor picnic. I had so much fun(and kind of a hard time) finding picnicish things and decorating. I decided on mainly using watermelon, red gingahm,grass, and ants as decorations. I also really enjoyed making her invitation and thank you notes to match.

Claire had so much fun with all the kids around, the balloons to play with, eating her cake, and playing with her new toys. It was a really fun party. I worked really hard, but the party was a blast and I was sad when it was over. I would do it all over again this weekend if I had to. Well, I guess I kind of do, Jack turns 3 in two weeks. So, for this party loving mama, I am in luck-one more kid party and a husband party to plan all in the next two weeks!

If you are really into details you may notice that I no longer have carpet and things are moved around (I would be amazed if you did notice, but that is something I would look at). I know I posted a few weeks ago that I was done with redecorating, well, right after that we decided to refinish our wood floors under the carpet and totally rearrange the whole down stairs. I also made some new curtains for the new dining room (old sun room). I will take pics and post soon.

Dog Days...

2010-08-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

I think I love you. Really. I think I can honestly say this summer I have fallen in love with summer. I know when I was a kid I loved summer. But somewhere along the way, I lost sight of all the wonderful things about summer and I just started to hate the heat, humidity, schedule being all different, etc. But this summer, getting to live it through the eyes of an almost 3 year old, having a teacher for a husband-- meaning we get to be on a school schedule, taking a family vacation, doing lots of house projects, going to the beach, going to the mountains, getting to put Claire in fun summer dresses, and getting to go to the pool at least 4 days a week has all caused me to have a change of heart.

I have started to notice things again that I hadn't noticed in so long. How tan little kid legs in cotton shorts are so cute and so healthy looking, how summer nights in Texas are really heavenly, how great it feels to be so hungry at the end of the day because you swam and played in the water for so long, how amazing a snack of watermelon is, how good a dinner taste cooked on the grill, and how much fun it is to be with your whole family for days and days on end. I just love it.

Cold weather will always be my first love, and Fall, well, you should all know that I have long been obsessed, it was love at first sight. But I have realized that something that makes me love these dog days of summer so much, is the anticipation of the coming Fall. How this heat and all this wonderful warm sunshine just makes the cool of Autumn that much better. As school is almost starting, schedules are being made, the house cleaned and organized, birthdays planned and the last long, lazy days of family time draw to a close, I look back and realize I will miss you summer, and I never thought I would say that.

Redecorate Complete

2010-07-08T12:41:00.000-07:00

It is finally done, The living room is how I want it, at least for now, and we are really happy with it. There are always things I can think of that I want to do, of course, but we are happy with our space for now. I also put a pic of some new shades I did for the kitchen widows. I am slowly getting all the mini blinds in the house down or covered up!

inspiring

2010-05-21T18:28:00.001-07:00

I saw this on a friend's blog and liked the idea...

Things I am enjoying/being inspired by these days...

color: yellow. i wish I could wallpaper my sunroom in this

font: my talented friend's gorgeous calligraphy

pattern: damask, always.

shape: The romper is back and I love it. When I saw this shape in target the other day I was immediately transported back to a simpler time when all I was responsible for was playing outside all day and eating watermellon! I want Claire to have one for the summer.

letter: J. for my two guys.

number: 9. how many months my little is.

word: Satisfied. with life.

–adjective

Garden Party

2010-05-16T19:15:00.000-07:00

So, if you don't already know, I love throwing a good party. Hopefully someday I will actually be able to throw all the parties I have planned in my head, but until then I will be happy to help with baby showers and kids parties.
This weekend we had a baby shower for one of my dearest friends, Luci. She will be having her second girl this summer and we wanted to celebrate her.

Small Town Soiree

2010-04-24T06:18:00.000-07:00

A friend in town has started this great little party planning blog. She is featuring people in the Waco area who have thrown really great parties. Such a great idea. She is super talented and everything she has planned is super cute and amazingly detailed. The shower I helped throw earlier this Spring was featured recently. You should check it out.

Shrimp Pad Thai

2010-04-17T13:16:00.000-07:00

I'm not really cooking these recipies quite as fast as I thought I would, but I am doing it! This week we tried the Shrimp Pad Thai. It was super easy, tastey, and healthy!

I served it with some premade spring rolls and it was a hit! Even our two year old critic really liked it, which is always a plus and means we'll be seeing it again at our table.

My two added notes: I bought the frozen, deveined shrimp with shells on at our HEB, it was half the price of the fresh already shelled and took me an extra 5 min of shelling after I defrosted them. They tasted fresh to us and for the cost of a week night dinner, definately a good idea. I also removed the tails so that it would be a more kid friendly meal.

For an easy weeknight dinner--definately try it this week!

Still Cooking

2010-04-08T08:28:00.000-07:00

3 weeks, 13 house guests, trip to Dallas, trip to Houston, sinus infection, and the terrible twos later...I am back! Spring is here and it has been a little crazy so far!

But even through all this madness I am still being me--cooking, decorating, being mom to two and wife to one.

Before the craziness ensued, I did get a couple of my Everyday Food recipes cooked. Most were great. Some were not.

Sauteed Chicken in Mustard-Cream Sauce over Orzo and Spinach Salad with Dried Cherries. This was delicious. It was super easy and we all really enjoyed it. I added the orzo as a filler so that my husband would be full, they suggested asparagus, which we love but I knew I needed something a little more. The Salad was really good and tangy and fresh. I recommend this as an easy week night dinner option for sure!

Cream of Asparagus Soup. This was the one failure so far. I think I did not put enough asparagus, I just guessed and didn't weigh it so I think I needed more. The flavor was actually really good but it was too runny and not at all thick and yummy like the picture suggested. My 7 month old however loved it! I will try again some day and make sure I get the amounts right.

Pan Fried Shrimp with Green Curry Cashew Sauce and Sesame Carrot Salad. This had the best flavor of anything I have made yet. The green curry cashew sauce is amazing and I had to stop myself from licking the bowl. Next time I think I will serve the shrimp over rice and maybe use the sauce to drizzle on top to give this a bit more substance. We all liked the taste but we were a little hungry after, especially since the soup was supposed to go with it but didn't really turn out. Will make this again! Would make a nice party food too.

Will be updating with some decorating progress soon and hopefully will still keep cooking!

Day One of Cooking through Spring

2010-03-17T19:08:00.002-07:00

Steak with Parsley Sauce and Sauteed Mushrooms with Parmesan Steak Fries

Tonight was the first night of my new goal of cooking through the Spring section of Everyday Food.

From start to finish it took me about an hour (now granted, I had to entertain a two year old and a 6 month old while I was starting and so there is no telling how many times I left the kitchen) It was very simple though.

I used these pre-cut smaller pieces of sirloin instead of whole steaks because they were a lot cheaper. They worked out quite nicely and cooked even quicker than the whole steaks.

The parsley sauce definitely tasted like parsley, but in a small amount and mixed with the yummy mushrooms on top of the steak, it had a wonderfully earthy taste. We all enjoyed it.
The steak fries were also good, they were of course Jack's favorite as he got to dip them in ketchup!

This was an easy weeknight dinner that was pretty healthy and very delicious.

**I took several really great pictures but somehow they went away, so sad, and I couldn't find any pictures on the internet so this is a picture less email. I will do better next time.

Great Food Fast

2010-03-16T06:49:00.000-07:00

I have this wonderful cookbook: Everyday Food, Great Food Fast--it is a compilation of recipes from the little recipe magizine that Martha Stewart Living puts out. I used to get the magazine and loved the recipes so much that Jonathan got me the cookbook a couple of years ago. So far, everything I have made from it has been good and relatively easy and quick--which is the idea, stuff you can make everyday.

I really enjoy making new recipes all the time, it keeps me interested in cooking and makes an otherwise mundane task, exciting for me. This week, however, as I was looking through my cookbooks to plan our weekly menu, I realized there are a lot of recipes I just pass over because I am not sure what they will taste like or if everyone in the family will like them or because they require ingredients I don't normally buy.

So I decided I would just take a section and cook through it--Julia and Julia style. This particular cook book is organized by season--which I think is such a great way to decide what to eat--and so I am going to cook through Spring over the next 8 weeks.

Here is the break down:

4 soups
4 salads
23 main dishes
10 sides
5 desserts

My plan is to do a soup and salad every Saturday and to cook the main dishes on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights.

I plan on blogging on the recipes and our reviews of them--the ease, the taste, the cost, etc.

Here's to being motivated on a rainy Tuesday morning to do something different and ambitious!

adding color

2010-03-04T09:02:00.001-08:00

My main mission as I redo the living room is to add some color. Right now I am in love with turquoise. So my goal is to add it in with my old favorites--brown and red, to make the living room look fresh and welcoming.

Here are a couple of picks of the redone mantel, some wonderful roman shades I made out of old curtains and the mini blinds that were already on the window(find directions here), and the new side table and lamp I got at a local antique/junk store.

I am still waiting on the upholstered pieces to be done, so the whole room isn't quite finished, but hopefully it will be soon, and don't worry pictures will follow.

Baby Bird Shower

2010-02-13T18:33:00.002-08:00

Though I have been wanting to spend all my extra time redecorating the living room, I had to put it off a bit to help get a friend's baby shower put together, and let me assure you, I didn't mind! I don't think I've had so much fun making decorations for a party. I really wanted to make this shower special because she is having identical baby girls!

I was wanting to decorate using her bedding as inspiration, because I thought it was lovely!

I like to start with the invite and then go from there. In her bedding there are trees, birds, and owls, and boy did I find the cutest stuff to make!

My favorite part was this adorable mobile. I found it here and just had to make it. It was our center piece and the mom-to-be got to take it home to be a part of the nursery. It really wasn't super hard to make.

These cookies tasted as good as they look. A lady in town, Cecile, makes adorable custom cookies and she did a great job going along with our theme.

This is the whole table put together.
The menu: Mini Frittatas, sausage balls, turkey and cream cheese sandwhiches on raisin bread, berry and yogurt parfaits, bird shaped biscuits with honey butter and jam, and sugar cookies.

I made these cute little paper bird cages as accents for the table and decorations she could use in her nursery as well. The template is found here.

Brooke, one of my fellow hostesses, made this adorable garland for the mantle/gift area. She used felt, beads, and some of the fabric scraps from the birds on the mobile.

I just thought this was a really thoughtful gift. Erin's mom gave her these little Bibles for the girls and had their names engraved on them.

A picture of my lovely friend Erin. Congratulations and best of luck with your two little princesses! We had so much fun throwing you this "birdy" shower!

Redoing the living room

2010-02-10T14:48:00.000-08:00

I am in the process of redoing our living room. I had a small amount of money with which I decided I would try to redo my entire living room with. It has been my least favorite room in our house, which is such a shame since we all spend the most amount of time there. I have grown bored with it. It is filled with hand me down furniture and a neutral wall color. I actually really like my wall color, but my original thought was that everything else in the room would be the color. And so that is the mission, to add color and to give it a more eclectic, homey feel.

So finally I am getting around to making it just how I like it.

The first step was getting a new couch. I ended up totally lucking out and got a really nice couch off Craig's list for a really good price, and a new coffee table that I wasn't expecting to get. Next is to get a custom loveseat cover and to redo a couple of junky chairs I found. I also found an amazing lamp I am painting, an antique card table I am using, and a beautiful mirror that will be the main inspiration for redecorating the mantel.

I will be redoing these lovely finds over the next few weeks and will be sharing the progress.

Daffodils are blooming

2010-01-27T12:57:00.000-08:00

My poor little blog was starting to feel like a real daffodil I am afraid. Hidden under the cold winter ground where no one could see her, but... ahh, thankfully it is almost February, and the real daffodils, along with my blogging (hopefully) will start to pop their heads out for us all to admire their beauty! Oh, I really do just get so excited when I see the first daffodils of the year!

The good news is my life has not been on stand still or as unproductive as my blog has been. Actually it has been quite the opposite. I feel that the infant stage of fuzziness is over and we have fully transitioned into life as a family of 4. Claire is now 5 1/2 months and is a joy! Not to say we always know what we are doing or that it is totally stress free all the time, but I feel comfortable here, like I was always meant to have more than one kid, and specifically, like my kids are the perfect kids for me! That might sound silly but I feel that is so true of how I feel. Like, hey, this is what I want to do with my life and these are the very people I want to do it with.

I turned 31 a few weeks ago and that gave me fresh vision to really organize our home and my own personal life. I am following this blog called "fly lady" to get a handle of keeping our house clean and organizing the things I am in charge of in our family. I am really enjoying the structure. I am also trying to redecorate our living room and think of new ways to lay things out so we can function as best we can in this wonderful house we are blessed with.

I hope to be blogging about all these things this year and look forward to sharing this little life with you.

For now, keep reading and I'll keep posting.
Sara

Black Oak Art Opening

2009-12-12T14:15:00.000-08:00

This weekend we are hosting a Christmas Open House for Black Oak Art. We are taking advantage of this season to start our little business. My husband Jonathan is an artist. He is a potter and a painter and a teacher.

We are opening the doors of our 2 bedroom back house as studio space to be rented out to local artist.

We want to be a community of local artist. A place where artist can create, meet together and feed off of the life that comes from doing things in community, where non-artist or aspiring artist of all ages can take classes and learn and grow, and a place that sells quality, unique, beautiful handmade art.

If you are in the area tomorrow, feel free to come by and check us out and have a cup of coffee.

Thanksgiving

2009-11-30T19:17:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Denver with Jonathan's family. Jack had so much fun, we've spent today detoxing from all the excitement. He loved playing with his three cousins and time with grandma, grandpa, and great grandma.

Claire and Grandma

Jack loves icing--just like me!

My handsome boy blowing a whistle

There was some left over snow for us to play in

Claire and Jack loving an early Christmas

Last Monday Pumpkin recipe

2009-11-30T18:36:00.000-08:00

I have two last pumpkin recipes that have been a hit this Fall, a pumpkin bread and the classic pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. The cookies I've been making for years and are a favorite and the bread is a new recipe I found this year and it was a huge hit! It makes enough for two loafs which is nice to have some at home and some to share.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Original Recipe Yield 2 dozen

Ingredients

1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well.
Add vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts.
Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm.

Pumpkin Bread

3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, lightly bean
16 ounces canned unsweetened pumpkin
3 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
2/3 cup water

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 2 9 by 5 loaf pans. Stir together sugar and oil. Stir in eggs and pumpkin. Combine dry ingredients in separate bowl. Blend dry ingredients and water into wet mixture, alternating. Divide batter between two loaf pans. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool.

Pumpkin Enchiladas...a day late

2009-11-24T17:53:00.000-08:00

Sorry I didn't make it to blogging yesterday, however, I am here now and with the promised pumpkin recipe of the week.

This is one of our families favorite fall and winter meals, from one of my favorite cookbooks, Every Day Food Fast, I think it could be a good use for some left over turkey too. The pumpkin in the sauce blends in well and you are left with a yummy sauce, that isn't too pumpkiny.

Spicy Enchiladas with Pumpkin Sauce

Ingredients

Serves 4

1/2 rotisseri chicken skin removed, meat shredded
6 scallions, thinly sliced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1 jalapeno chile, quartered (remove ribs and seeds for less heat, if desired)
1 teaspoon chili powder
8 corn tortillas (6-inch)
1 1/2 cups grated sharp white cheddar cheese (6 ounces)

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine chicken and scallions. Season generously with salt and pepper; set aside.
In a blender, puree pumpkin, garlic, jalapeno, chili powder, 2 1/2 cups water, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until smooth (hold top firmly as blender will be quite full). Pour 1 cup of sauce in the bottom of an 8-inch square (or other shallow 2-quart) baking dish.
Lay tortillas on work surface; mound chicken mixture on half of each tortilla, dividing evenly. Roll up tortillas; place, seam side down, in baking dish.
Pour remaining sauce on top; sprinkle with cheese. Place dish on a baking sheet; bake until cheese is golden and sauce is bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

Pumpkin Scones

2009-11-16T19:02:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite pumpkin treats in the fall are pumpkin scones from Starbucks. I found this recipe online and was so excited when they were easy to make and delicious (I actually like them better than the ones from Starbucks!) When I made these I only made the white powder sugar glaze and drizzled it on--for a less sweet version, however, I think if you use the icings like she suggest, they would probably be even more like the Starbucks ones.

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Scones

2 cups all-purpose flour
7 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
6 tablespoons cold butter
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
3 tablespoons half-and-half
1 large egg

Powderered Sugar Glazze

1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
2 tablespoons whole milk

Spiced Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 tablespoons whole milk
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 pinch ginger
1 pinch ground cloves

TO MAKE THE SCONES:.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or line with parchment paper.
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spices in a large bowl. Using a pastry knife, fork, or food processor, cut butter into the dry ingredients until mixture is crumbly and no chunks of butter are obvious. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, whisk together pumpkin, half and half, and egg. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Form the dough into a ball.
Pat out dough onto a lightly floured surface and form it into a 1-inch thick rectangle (about 9 inches long and 3 inches wide). Use a large knife or a pizza cutter to slice the dough twice through the width, making three equal portions. Cut those three slices diagonally so that you have 6 triangular slices of dough. Place on prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 14–16 minutes. Scones should begin to turn light brown. Place on wire rack to cool.
TO MAKE THE PLAIN GLAZE:.
Mix the powdered sugar and 2 tbsp milk together until smooth.
When scones are cool, use a brush to paint plain glaze over the top of each scone.
AS THAT WHITE GLAZE FIRMS UP, MAKE THE SPICED ICING:.
Combine the ingredient for the spiced icing together. Drizzle this thicker icing over each scone and allow the icing to dry before serving (at least 1 hour). A squirt bottle works great for this, or you can drizzle with a whisk.

30 min | 15 min prep

6 scones

Pumpkin Monday

2009-11-09T14:59:00.000-08:00

For the month of November I am going to post a different pumpkin recipe every Monday. I love pumpkin (oddly enough, pumpkin pie isn't one of my favorites, but everything else I love!) and in my quest to cook with pumpkin as much as I can in the fall, I have collected a few recipes that my family really likes, so I thought I would share them. I am going to try to stick with some that are more unusual, but I may sneak in a few classics.
My personal goal, besides sharing these recipes with you, is to try as many new pumpkin things as I can over the next month or so.

So here's to pumpkin!

Cheese Ravioli with Pumpkin Sage Sauce

1/3 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup shallots*
10 oz Alfredo Sauce
1/2 cup canned 100% Pumpkin
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage or 1 teaspoon ground sage
18-20 oz Four Cheese ravioli**
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
*in a pinch onion works great
**I use the Hillcountry Fare frozen four cheese ravioli (from HEB) but any brand frozen will do, or the Buitoni refrigerated kind

Cook wine and shallots in medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about 1 tablespoon. Stir in sauce, pumpkin, and sage. Cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Prepare pasta according to package directions; drain, reserving 1/4 cup cooking water. Stir reserved water into sauce; toss with pasta. Sprinkle with green onion and season with ground black pepper.
Makes 4 servings.

Fall Happenings

2009-11-08T20:14:00.000-08:00

This beautiful young lady has made this a wonderful Fall.

Claire Elizabeth 2 1/2 months

One of the best parts about living in Waco is getting to participate in all the Baylor stuff. Homecoming was a couple of weeks ago and we took the kids out to the parade with our dear friends the Walkers. Here are the boys giving a big "Sic Em Bears" with their dads.

We are so blessed to live in between two wonderful families that both have boys around Jack's age. When its pretty outside the boys like to play out front in our yard when the dads all come home from work. This is Jack learning about being tackled.

We went to a turkery shirt painting party--Claire was a champ to let me paint her palm!

Halloween

2009-11-08T19:44:00.000-08:00

We went to Houston to visit my mom for a week and spent Halloween with them as well. Jack had so much fun! Their neighborhood has a little party, complete with bouncy slide, hot dogs, a firetruck and a parade! It was literally everything Jack loves! Jack was a bear as you can see, and Claire was our little ballerina. I think they were the youngest trick or treaters and they were a hit! It brought back such great memories for me as a kid and was great making new memories with our family.

Life with Two

2009-10-23T15:29:00.000-07:00

I have literally been trying to write this post for a month( in fact I still didn't get this post out until three days after I wrote it). Of course, now it is a completely different post then it would have been then, but it is at least a post and hopefully a catch up.

That is how its been --wonderful, busy, exciting, overwhelming, constant, unending, and better and harder than I could have imagined!

I love Claire, she is a really great baby. She has easily fallen into a schedule that works for our family--not quite as structured as we were with Jack, but still at least regular and somewhat predictable. She sleeps well--especially at night and that is a blessing. We are down to just one early morning feeding and that means one stretch of 5-6 hours of uninterupted sleep for me, so that is nice (oh, how your standards change for good sleep). She likes to be held and doesn't love to be left alone really, so that is the biggest challenge, learning how to take care of myself and Jack with a baby in my arms. She is beautiful and we love gazing at her, in those few still moments when we have time to gaze!

Jack is on the go! He is full of energy and learning so rapidly that I can't keep up with him. He is definately two and is pushing all boundaries, but he is also learning those boundaries really well-considering he is two! I am being challenged in my patience every moment, and hopefully, by God's grace, I am learning to be more patient and wise as we train and raise these amazing children God has put in our care.

Here are a couple of pics of our life lately. I would promise to write again soon, as I fully intend to and have about three posts written out in my head right now, but I also know that probably won't happen. So thanks for being patient with me as I am learning to juggle all the things I have to do and all the things I want to do each week. Keep checking in on us, we will post again--and not too long from now, and I will get more regular.

My Dad came in town a few weeks ago to meet Claire and spent time with us.

This was one of my favorite two children moments. I knew Jack was playing with his cars by Claire--just didn't know that he was playing cars "with" Claire--she was perfectly happy and he was being very gentle as he carefully piled all of his cars around and on her!

One of my favorite parts of having a girl--all the fun stuff I get to dress her in. These are currently my favorite thing of hers.

Jack turns 2

2009-09-12T14:31:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe that it has been two years since Jack was born. It has been better than I could have ever imagined! Jack is such a joy. I love his easy going personality and his constant happiness. I love his curiosity and his eagerness to learn. I love his goofiness and his love for laughter. It has been so great learning who he is becoming and seeing him grow.

Here are a few pics from his birthday week. For his actual birthday we had some friends over for lunch and then a cupcake play date after nap. We went to McDonald's as a family for dinner. We gave Jack some cars and a fire engine for his present and that's all he talks and thinks about--CARS!

Jack also had his first day of Mother's Day Out this week (we call it school). He really likes his new class... he naps on a cot, goes to the sanctuary for music and active time, they play on the playground, and do art projects! So much fun!

Then this morning we had his birthday party. We had 6 friends over for music, playing, and cake. Jonathan played a few of Jack's favorites on the guitar and all the kids sat around and sang and played their instruments. We also had cake and PB&J and then opened presents. It was a really nice morning. I made the cake in the shape of a guitar and I have to say, it turned out really good! I loved making it and hating having to cut into it! This might be my new favorite part of our kid's birthdays now, besides making the invites--making a fun cake!!

I have to say, after this really full and fun week of celebrating my Jack, I am prouder of him then ever and also more sad that he is growing so fast and changing every day. It makes me appreciate Claire and each stage she is in, maybe more than I did for Jack. I realize how fast it all goes and I want to fully enjoy each stage of each of my kids!

Introducing Claire Elizabeth Martin

2009-08-30T16:50:00.000-07:00

Born August 19th, 2009
3:40 pm
8 lbs 9 oz
21 inches

I am doing great. Claire is a joy and is healthy and happy. I've had an amazing amount of help and am having so much fun getting to know Claire. Jack is in love with her and can't stop kissing her and patting her. We will have grandparents in town for the remainder of this week and then we will be on our own.
I have more to post, so hopefully it will be coming to you soon.

Ready for Claire

2009-08-16T20:09:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday I am being induced! We are very excited and can't wait to meet our little girl. I finally have the pictures of her room. It and our whole family are ready and waiting for her! It's been so fun putting a girly room together. I painted her name on the wall in the frame and made the curtains while Jonathan painted the old window with a silhouette of a chandelier.

The crib will be moved in from Jack's room soon, we are waiting on the arrival of his big boy bed!

Family Fun

2009-07-27T15:41:00.000-07:00

A lot has been happening and yet I haven't blogged at all, oh, the story of my life, but I guess I would rather it that way than nothing happening and having nothing to say.

I am very pregnant, just 3 more weeks, and feeling it more and more everyday. The next blog entry will be all about things I am doing around the house to get ready for Claire--curtains, painting, projects, etc. But this is just a general catch up.

The beginning of July we went to Colorado on a last minute trip to visit the grandparents, it was a great get away, especially from the extreme heat we've been having. I will share some of those photos below.

Jonathan is officially off for the rest of the summer and that has been great. We've gotten to do a bunch of things as a family--the zoo, swimming, the museum, flying kites, playing with trucks at home, and going to the library. Jonathan is also getting to spend a lot of time in his studio finishing a painting and designing some new pottery to hopefully begin selling. I am loving his work and I love that he is getting so much time to do it--as well as work on my list of things to be done around the house before baby comes!

I will post soon pictures of Claire's room--I am very proud of it and can't wait for her to be in it, as well as a couple of other sewing projects and painting things I've been doing.

In the creek by the family cabin in Colorado. Jack loved playing with his cousins, especially in the cold water!

Kite flying as a family.

Great Shoes to Fill

2009-06-21T14:32:00.000-07:00

I am so blessed that my son has some amazing shoes to fill. I couldn't ask for anything more than that my husband loves me and my son more than I could have asked, and that my son loves his Father. My heart is full as I think of how much Jack looks up to Jonathan already, at such a young age. He wants to do everything his dad does and he listens and watches everything he does and says. I couldn't be happier with such a great role model for my children.

Some of the things that I see already that Jack gets from Jonathan:
-love of tools and fixing things
-curiosity into how all things work
-love language of physical affection and quality time
-love of all things electronic and mechanical

Jonathan is such a good and faithful Father. I couldn't do it without him, he serves me and Jack in so many ways. He is so gracious, faithful, kind, loving, fun, consistent, patient, and so much more.

Happy Father's Day!

My everything

2009-05-31T12:43:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share a song I really enjoyed in a new way this morning. The simplicity and yet the weight of truth in these words is profound.

God in my living
There in my breathing
God in my waking
God in my sleeping
God in my resting
There in my working
God in my thinking
God in my speaking

Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything

God in my hoping
There in my dreaming
God in my wathcing
God in my waiting
God in my laughing
There in my weeping
God in my hurting
God in my healing

Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
You are everything

Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
Be my everything

You are everything
Jesus, Everything

-Tim Hughes

Grandparents, gardening, and first haircuts

2009-05-19T18:50:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Jonathan's parents were in town for a visit. Jack had so much fun and cried so hard today when they left. My Mother's Day gift from my husband, and both sets of parents was some landscaping! So we spent a lot of the weekend weeding, mulching, and planting. I said "we" but I mean everyone but me--even Jack. I didn't do a thing, but watched and said what I wanted--I know, what a great gift! Jack wanted to do as much as everyone else and loved getting dirty in the process. He even got his own set of garden gear from Grandma!

I also gave him his first haircut this morning. I had been putting it off because I loved the way his hair looked, but it was getting in his eyes and hanging over his ears, so I decided that I could try it myself. I have been a bit sad all day because it makes him look older and that makes me sad--also I think it looks a bit like Jim Carey in Dumb and Dumber--maybe next time I will pay someone--though I know that is just how short boy bangs look.

Perfect Saturday morning to catch up

2009-04-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

This is a great Saturday morning. It is somewhat overcast and a little misty outside, so I don't feel guilty that I am still in my PJs. Last night Jonathan and I watched a movie at home so I moved the air mattress into the living room to make a comfy seat for us. It is still here so Jack and I are watching cartoons and sitting on the big "chair" as Jack calls it. I have been really good lately about no TV for Jack but I think Saturday morning is a really fun time to watch cartoons, and I really like that Veggie Tales comes on TV now. I thought I would take this opportunity to catch up on blogging.

We spent Easter weekend at my mom's and it was a lot of fun. My sister and her family were there and we had a big egg hunt(in the house and on the covered patio because it rained early that morning). It took Jack awhile to catch on, but when he did, he ran around trying to get eggs faster than his cousins--he got a few! We spent Easter at my mom's church, which is the church I grew up at, so it was so special to me to get to spend Easter at the place that I have spent it most my life.

Jack and I spent the week after Easter with my sister and her family--three girls. Jack had so much fun, he loves always having kids around to play with, and the girls love him, he was never alone, which he also loves.

We had to have lunch with each of the girls at school each day.
Jack loved doing "homework" with the girls after school. He sat there with them, coloring, for a long time.

We got to go to Nan's first baseball game of the season. Jack loved watching and running around! I guess this is a preview of things to come.

We have spent this week trying to get back in the swing of things after being gone a whole week.
We will be getting ready for our garage sale next weekend today. I want to go through each room and the attick and basement to get rid of everything we possibly can. I am in the mood to perge, especially before we add a new member of the family and all the stuff that is bound to come with a little girl!

I thought I would leave you with this favorite moment of the week. I was weeding and working in the yard with Jack earlier this week. He had on his apron (so as not to get too dirty--you should be laughing now because as you can see he got a little dirty!) and was following me around with his shovel and bucket collecting dirt and throwing out weeds I had pulled. I looked up to see why he was so quite to find him planted in a pot full of dirt. His shoes were literally below the dirt and he was shoveling handfuls of it onto himself. He was so proud!

Egg Tree

2009-04-05T13:53:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to make an Egg Tree for our Easter decor for many years, and this year I finally did it. I have to admit, I had visions of grandeur, of glittery and decoupaged eggs, somewhat like these, however, I decided that if I was going to have one anytime soon, I needed to just start with solid colors and then add to it over the years.

We're having a girl!

2009-04-04T13:56:00.000-07:00

The big news this week, is that we found out we are having a baby girl!!! That's right, we will have a boy and a girl! We couldn't be happier and we can't wait to meet our little precious. I have loved every minute of being a mom of a little boy and will continue too, but I tell you what, I am really excited to be all girly and to decorate with pink and to get to look at all those frilly things in the store!! I just know Jack will love his little sister and that she will melt her daddy's heart. We will be releasing the name soon, we just like to sit on our ideas awhile and try them out with us before we announce it officially, so stay tuned.

I know I promised to write sooner and to give pics from our Disneyland trip, so here are some if you are interested.

my growing boy

2009-03-17T19:14:00.000-07:00

I just love this picture. I have more to post about our California trip but for now, I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

XOXOXO

2009-02-09T18:55:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine has made these adorable valentine card sentiments available for free online. You can just download them, print them off, cut them out and make your own cards. I think they are so cute and so easy. I made a set of them tonight in 30 minutes with paper and cardstock I had around the house and I had to share them. Enjoy!

I've been a lazy blogger

2009-02-08T18:10:00.001-08:00

I am sorry that I have been such a bad blogger lately, but I have a good excuse, really. I have been pretty sick for about 11 weeks and just haven't felt myself. I have constant nausea, feel super tired, can't seem to get motivated to do much more than is neccisary to take care of Jack, Jonathan, and myself--and even that is bare bones these days. What do I have you may ask. Well...I am 11 weeks pregnant!

I have waited to announce it to blog world, well, mainly because I haven't felt like it until now. I still don't feel great, but I am hoping that in the next week or so as the first trimester comes to an end, I will start to feel better. But for now, I am grateful for the feelings because I know a healthy baby is growing inside me. Here is the picture from our first ultra sound, it was at 8 weeks.

And here are a few of Jack being his happy, silly, 17 month old self. He is a constant source of joy and even on the days when I feel my worst, he makes me laugh and he reminds me of what joy lies ahead!

This is Jack playing football in our front yard with the neighbor boys.

Jack dressing up as daddy. He put on Jonathan's hat all by himself and then got his coffee cup that he takes to work!

Making cookies with his Aunt Lori when they came to visit a few weeks ago.

Happy to be a big brother soon!

Thirty, Flirty, and Thriving!

2009-01-20T15:06:00.000-08:00

That's right I turned 30 this past weekend. It was a wonderful birthday weekend. Jonathan and my best friends, Luci and Adrianna, did a great job of making it a perfect 30th celebration. I got to go out to dinner and a movie with just Luci and Adrianna on Friday night. Then on Saturday morning they hosted a girls only brunch for me. It was just some of my sweetest friends drinking coffee, eating scones and quiche and having great conversation. Jonathan took me to see a matinee of Marley and Me. Then I was sent to the mall to busy myself while they set up for a party. I got to buy a new outfit or two! I came home to my house cleaned and party ready. Jonathan had thought of and planned the whole thing. It was a "This is your life" type party. He had taken the time to get quotes from different friends through out my life about memories and wishes for the future. It was very thoughtful and meaningful. He had taken pictures from my mom and put them up everywhere. It was really sweet.

I am excited to be 30! Stay tuned for the next decade.

oops, here's Thanksgiving

2008-12-12T14:49:00.002-08:00

I just realized I never blogged about our terrific Thanksgiving. My entire family--brother and wife and 17 month old son, sister and husband with 3 daughters-9, 7, and 4, and mom and her husband. We had a great time. I love my family and we have such a great time together. I loved having everyone here to play Jack and watch him, it reminded me of that saying, "it takes a village to raise a child", that is how I felt, everyone was feeding and taking care of everyone's kids.

Tis the Season

2008-12-12T14:01:00.000-08:00

to create! I love to entertain and I love to make fun things for our home--and this is the season where I feel super motivated to do both--and maybe slightly obligated.

We've been entertaining a lot--my family came to our house for a week at Thanksgiving, we had my best friend's surprise birthday party here last night and we have a church Christmas party here next week. I enjoy having a reason to have so many people over--I am just still learning to not overload my self and not stress myself out!

Here are some projects I've been working on.

A star silver pipe cleaner garland I made for out tree. I saw one very similar at a local store and just had to make it.

Jack's stocking (the middle one)

Our new tree skirt

I saw this at Potterybarn and fell in love but couldn't afford it, so I made it. I think it looks a lot like the real one.

chicken pox = clean house

2008-11-19T14:14:00.000-08:00

So, Jack got the chicken pox earlier this week from his chicken pox vaccine. Who knew that could happen? Not me. Thankfully it is extremely mild and he isn't even aware that he is sick at all. He only has had a total of 12 pox and hasn't felt sick or anything. But, because of the pox, we are stuck in the house. It has been a slight bummer for me--not for Jack, he has had a lot of fun in the back yard and having so much mommy time.

It has turned out to be somewhat good timing however. Next week we are hosting my whole family for Thanksgiving, 8 adults and 5 kids, for a week. So, I have been cleaning. Like a mad woman. I know that the house will get very messy and that every inch will be used, so I am trying to make sure that it starts off sparkling clean!

So, for now, Jack and I are making cookies, watching Backyardigans, vacuuming, playing with legos, chasing Lady, doing laundry and just having fun!

Parties, Halloween, and Homecoming

2008-11-02T11:17:00.000-08:00

This has been a full week indeed! Jack and I spent the first half of the week at my mom's in Houston. We made a last minute trip and had a lot of fun being spoiled by Nana. We came back just in time for us to host our annual Pumpkin Carving Party. It is my favorite thing we host all year and I have been looking forward to it. We had a lot of fun eating yummy food, being with friends, and carving our pumpkins!

We spent Halloween night with my two closest friends and their families. Baylor's homecoming is this weekend so we took the kids in their costumes to the bonfire and pep rally. They had so much fun and Jack's puppy costume was a hit!

Saturday morning we went to the Baylor Homecoming parade and then some friends invited us to join them at the homecoming game. Jack loved his first football game and can't wait for his next. We've been practicing "Sic' Em Bears" and we've almost got it down.
I feel like the holiday busyness has already begun, but I love it. I know it may get stressful, but for now, I am looking forward to it.

meet Jesus

2008-10-19T10:56:00.000-07:00

This morning during communion at church I was struck with the overwhelming longing to meet Jesus face to face. All of the sudden I was aching with the longing to walk with Him and talk with Hm and witness Him as those who lived with Him did.
I am thankful that we have communion, only this morning it fell short for me. Now don't get me wrong, it fulfilled in the most profound way the purpose it was initiated for--made me remember Jesus, made me think of His greatness, made me long for His presence, however, it fell short in that it was not enough for me today. The small plastic cup of juice seemed too small to communicate the immense power of Christ's sacrifice, instead I found myself desiring a cup I could fit in, be saturated by. The tiny wafer seemed too bland, too small, too unsubstantial to be the very body of Christ to me this morning. This is when I was overcome with the desire to see Christ in person, to hold His hand, look into His eyes.
I guess I still have much to learn in what Christ said, "It is better that I leave" so that I may partake in the fellowship of the Spirit until the day comes that I might swim in his sacrifice and eat of His fellowship to the full.

afternoon snack time

2008-10-09T15:18:00.001-07:00

Everyday after Jack's afternoon nap he sits in my lap and eats his snack and drinks his juice. Today he was especially sweet.

3 years and a pumpkin patch

2008-10-07T19:05:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is Jonathan and mine's 3 year anniversary. We spent this past weekend in Houston celebrating. It was really nice. My mom watched Jack and we got a nice hotel room here, went to a great dinner and had tapas here, and had drinks and desert here. It was a really great get away and I highly recommend both of these restaurants for a great date night in Houston. I think the best part was sleeping in in the morning though.

I love my husband and I'm so grateful for the past three years, they have really been better than I could have imagined. Jonathan is a humble, strong, intelligent, teachable, creative, funny, faithful, and loving husband, best friend, father, teacher, artist, partner, and companion. I am blessed to have spent the past 3 years in marriage with him and look forward to a lifetime more.
Jack at the pumpkin patch in Houston.

Office Space

2008-09-26T18:05:00.000-07:00

I did it. I finished my office/laundry room. I love it. I can't wait to get to use it. All I need now is more projects to do in my office! I also got the hall painted and the upstairs office organized. I feel so productive.

Today was our third day of Mother's Day Out. I am loving it. I feel like for 5 hours a week I get to be just me. Not mom or wife, just Sara. It has been great. In the past three Fridays I've spent hours at Starbucks and Panera reading, painted a hall, deep cleaned the house, ran much needed errands, took lunch to my husband, and caught up on the new 90210 (I know, can't believe I'm watching it, but I was just so curious). I'm loving it and so is Jack, he loves his teachers and seems really happy being there.

next project..or two..or three

2008-09-20T18:33:00.000-07:00

Life has been project free now for two weeks! A much needed break. But, I am getting the urge to finish a bunch of little things around the house that I have been thinking of, actually, the list is endless it seems. My biggest struggle during Jack's naps these days is "which hour long project should I work on now?"

For this next week my goal is to start/finish my laundry/sewing/paper room, organize the upstairs office, and paint the newly drywalled 1/2 bath. I think I can do by next weekend, they are really not huge jobs, but we will see, one day or one nap, at a time.

Here is a picture of the current laundry room--my empty canvas. I have a lot of vision and hopes for this soon to be office of mine. I want it to be a place of inspiration and organization for my sewing and paper projects. I want it to be fun and inspiring, as well as organized! I also want to make laundry day easier and more desirable--because I hate it right now--always have, it's my least favorite chore! especially ironing, yuk!

Here are a couple pictures of the cutest one year old I've ever seen. Last week my project was to paint and cover this little rocking chair that was given to us. Jack loves it. He just climbs on up and rocks! He is also in love with his new 'snack trap'. It is a brilliant thing I am kicking myself I didn't come up with. A little cup with handles and a lid that allows you to get snacks out but keeps them from falling on the floor. He will eat anything you put in it and doesn't want to be without it--ever-umm, this could be a bad thing, I will have to limit his snack-trap intake over the next days.. but for now it makes him so happy and it makes my life a little easier.
Enjoying the Fall weather at the park.

Updates on this weeks projects to be posted as I get to them! Promise...

monkey business

2008-09-11T06:46:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been absolutely crazy in our home for a few weeks now. Jack turned one on Monday and Jonathan turned 30 the Friday before, so I was in full party mode. On top of that we were trying to finish our kitchen remodel for the parties. My in-laws came in early last week to help us get it all done. If it weren't for them, we still wouldn't be in a finished kitchen and it all would have been so much more stressful.

Jack's party was so fun and everything I have been imagining for the past 6 months (really I have been planning in my head for that long or longer!) It was a monkey theme and we had monkey invites, monkey decor, monkey cake! We had about 15 kids and more adults! It was crazy. Jack loved it, he just walked/crawled around the house looking at all his friends! He wasn't so sure about his first cake, but he ate some and got messy enough for a good picture. He loves all his toys and loved seeing so many people in the house. I can't believe it's over and I can't believe he is a toddler now. He is walking now, almost 70% of the time. And can get everywhere in the house, including up and down stairs, which makes my job a little more busy, but really a lot more fun! He is curious about everything. He leaves nothing unturned or undiscovered. He is brilliant, of course, and adorable. Really, I don't know how the kid stands himself, he is so freaking cute! He is always happy and ready to smile at anyone who will notice him. He is a delight and I couldn't love anyone any more!

So now I sit looking into my new kitchen, that I love, and eating goldfish with my one year old! What a perfect way to begin the Fall! (warning: what is to follow is a little bit of a tangent about how much I love the Fall)
Everything changes for me this time of year. I think maybe I am opposite of a lot of people, I think my Summer is Winter and my Spring is Fall. Let me explain. I love Fall, it is a time of new beginnings for me. The weather turns refreshing after a long, hot, tiring summer, and everything starts to look new. School starts and there's hope of new friends and learning new things. Time outdoors becomes enjoyable and exciting. The anticipation of holidays with family and friends is everywhere. I love it. I love the smells, the leaves, the colors, the temperatures, the food, the clothes. My whole perspective changes and I feel motivated to organize and get stuff done. I love winter too and look forward to the cold weather. I have such great memories of this time of year. Going to football games, school starting, raking leaves, getting new clothes, dancing at games, dressing up for Halloween, carving pumpkins, pumpkin itself, fall carnivals, caramel apples, scarves and sweaters, Thanksgiving, trying new recipes, decorating for holidays, watching You've Got Mail, meeting my husband, my wedding, having my son, LA in the Fall, pumpkin scones and non fat lattes at Starbucks, the Farmer's Market in Santa Monica...I could go on and on... but I think you get the point. I am full of joy and anticipation at this new season! A finished house (almost), a growing boy, a husband with a new job, a favorite season... stay posted.

The kitchen! I don't know if you remember the before picture, but I can re post it later, but the transformation is amazing! And Jonathan did almost all of it. We didn't call a professional for anything!

Jonathan's school. He is the art teacher and really liking it.
Jonathan's 30th birthday party!
The Martha Stewart monkey cake I made for Jack's party.
Jack got a small one all to himself! I will have to post some better pictures later, I realized the good ones didn't get on our camera!

I can't believe it's August

2008-08-14T16:25:00.000-07:00

Same story...busy, busy, busy.

The house is coming along. We are ready to start painting the kitchen this weekend, which means hopefully we can move in the kitchen in the next week or so. I have been cooking out of the laundry room on a burner that only has a high setting, a toaster oven, and a microwave. I will be glad when this is over, but for now we are hanging in there.

We just got back earlier this week from a vacation to Colorado. Jonathan's parents just moved to Denver and their family has a cabin in the mountains that we also spent some time at. It was a perfect break from the house projects and a really restful time before Jonathan started his new job as an art teacher this week.

Jack is growing and changing like crazy. He turns a year in just a little less than a month and I am in full birthday planning mode. Just sent out the invites and am having to restrain myself a bit in planning all the little things I imagined for my first kid's first birthday. I will have more on this later.

Jack's room at the new house. I am in charge of picking colors and painting. This was my favorite project so far.

Jack and Jonathan at the cabin playing in the creek.

Jack with his cousins Sarah Ann and Abby.

Hiking with Jack!

Jack's first Sonic Drink. (Don't worry its just water)

We've been busy...

2008-07-24T08:17:00.000-07:00

getting our new house ready, and we are moving in this weekend. I have been painting and taking care of Jack and Jonathan has been doing major demolition, plumbing, framing, drywalling, and electrical work--basically you name it and he is doing it!!! It is going really well and we are excited for it to all be done. It may not all be completely finished by the time we have to move in, but it is getting there! I have pictures of the house but will post them later.

In the midst of all our craziness, we had some great family pictures taken and I thought I would post them for you to check out. They were taken around our new house, just click here and enjoy!

Under Construction

2008-07-08T13:11:00.000-07:00

We closed on our house last Wednesday and have been working on getting it ready to move into. We still have three more weeks until we move in, but we are trying to redo the kitchen--floors, cabinets, counters, layout--and move a half bath downstairs, and paint before then! So here are some of the before and during pictures of us working on the house.

It is overwhelming and very fun! I feel like all those DIY shows are paying off. I am finally doing the things we have dreamed of...we'll keep you posted.

visit to Nana's

2008-06-26T15:17:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun at my mom's. Jack and Zane played together great (that is if sitting next to each other playing with separate toys is playing together). Enjoy the pictures!

the batchelor

2008-06-16T07:13:00.000-07:00

not the show...my husband, for this week at least. Jack and I are off to my mom's in Houston for the week. My brother and his wife and son (Zane and Jack are just two months apart) are coming in from Northern Cali and we are excited to spend the week with them.

I am sure I will have many pictures to post at the end of this week, so check in later.

Be thinking of my husband all alone and if you are in town and think of him, invite him along for a meal or time to hang--I think he will probably live off of Totino's pizza all week!

house

2008-06-14T12:09:00.000-07:00

The reason I have been so absent from my blog lately is because we are in the process of buying a house. It has kind of taken all of my mental energy, in a good way, and I didn't want to write about it before it was pretty for sure.

The house we are buying is actually the property that we are currently living on. We have been in a two bedroom back house and we are purchasing the front house and the house we live in now. So a few things needed to line up for us to be sure we are buying this house, and as of today, they have!! It is an old house, built in the 20's and so we wanted to make sure that this was a good investment and that the house was in good shape-which it is. We also wanted to make sure that we could get a year lease signed for the back house, which we just found girls for today! So, we are really excited! We have been living in pretty small places for the past 2 years and are ready for a house. It is 4 bedroom 3 bath and has that beautiful character that old southern houses are known for. The best part is the amazing front porch. We will have some projects to work on over the next few years, updating the kitchen and baths, but that is part of the reason we like it--we like projects!

So, we are beginning a new season...and so ready for it. We sent in our last rent check today and that feels so good. We are thinking we will close early to mid July!

I am currently preoccupied with picking out paint colors and thinking about curtains I want to make and how to arrange the furniture. I am open to any paint color ideas for our living room and dining room so let me know if you've seen any colors that have caught your eye lately.

I am sure I will be writing about this a lot, so stay posted!

Still here

2008-06-04T13:40:00.001-07:00

I am still here, just been a little preoccupied lately. We are looking to buy a house soon (more on that soon) and in general it has just been busy.

Jack is crawling all over the place and pulling up on everything.

Jonathan got a job as the Art teacher at a local high school...we are very excited! It is the school and position that he really wanted and we are very excited.

I haven't really had the time to be creative lately, but hopefully I will be sewing something or decorating something soon.

I'm here and leaving you with a few pictures to make you smile.

meet kirk

2008-05-21T13:30:00.000-07:00

Kirk is the little kitten I found this morning in our back alley by the dumpster. I heard him all last night and couldn't figure out what it was-he has the saddest little kitten cry.

If you know me you know I am very allergic to cats and that I don't particularly love them, however, who can't fall in love with a little orphan kitten by the dumpster. So, I sent out texts and emails to those who might want to give him a home--not an option for us since I'm allergic and because Lady would scare the poor thing silly. I tried calling the local shelter that finds homes and doesn't euthanize them, but they don't have any spaces available, so I just can't bring myself to send him to the pound.

So my friend Adrianna came over and we put him in a basket, moved him under the car port, gave him some food and water and are hoping someone will take him home. We named him Kirk because of our love for Gilmore Girls.

diaper bag

2008-05-15T18:04:00.000-07:00

So, I finished the diaper bag and I absolutely love it. Of course, I can see all my little imperfections, but I love it so much. It was so much fun to make and I feel like I learned so much through the process. I carried it all day today and it was so much fun. It is really comfy to carry around, I didn't even put it down in the grocery cart for our whole trip to the store. I was very reluctant to hand it off to the child care worker at the YMCA this morning, I felt like saying, "I just spent many hours making this and nothing better happen to it."

Here are a few pics--if you're looking for a project I do highly recommend, this is a great bag--even if your not a mom, it has great pockets and a nice cell phone holder that make it great for lots of things.

Mother's Day

2008-05-12T17:31:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful 1st Mother's Day. My own mother was in town so that was special. Jonathan fixed me breakfast in bed complete with latte in a new mug. We had Jack dedicated in the morning at church, had a nice lunch, and visited the local arboretum in the afternoon. (Notice the very proud grandmother:)

In light of my new sewing hobby my mom and mother-in-law both gave me lots of new and old sewing supplies. My mom gave me quite a few things from her old sewing box, my grandmother's and her husband's mother's. My mother-in-law sent me a wonderful new basket and several great sewing basics as well as some stuff from her mother and her mother's mother. I love that sewing is something that can be passed down from generation to generation.
I am also including a picture of the changing pad I finished.

pin cushion

2008-05-10T09:10:00.001-07:00

I have finished my first sewing project. I found this great pattern for a really cute and pretty simple pincushion online and set out to figure it out.

The first one I made was not exactly perfect and it was a bit difficult because the pattern is so small, I didn't realize at first how small it would turn out--though it is adorable and a nice size to just sit by your machine, it was a little difficult for me to make it perfect. So after my first one, I decided to double the size of the pattern and it was much easier for me to make it look good. Now, it still isn't perfect, but I like my little pincushions and am proud of my first experience following a pattern. I think next time I will make one that is in between the two sizes, this would make a fun little gift and it is a great small project!

I am working on my diaper bag. I have finished the changing pad and really enjoyed my lessons. They really helped me to have confidence and it was nice to be able to ask questions and get help, especially since I really want this to look good. I will be starting the actual bag this Tuesday and will post some pictures later.

Fun Friday

2008-05-10T08:58:00.000-07:00

We had a nice day yesterday. Jack is really trying to figure out how to crawl/stand, half the time I am not sure which he is trying to do...maybe he doesn't know either. I constantly have out the cameras to try to catch a new learning moment...I love this stage of Jack's life.

We also had a fun little pool party at some friend's tonight. It was Jack's first big pool and first time underwater...I am not sure he loved it, but he didn't complain. It was cold so that probably didn't help.

8 months

2008-05-08T13:47:00.000-07:00

Today Jack is 8 months old. And to prove he is quite the big boy Jonathan found him after his nap, in his crib sitting up! Silly boy, we don't know how he did it, we haven't seen him do it yet, but he is growing so fast.

Here are 8 reasons I love Jack Henley...

8. The cute Os he makes with his mouth
7. His laid back personality
6. The way he laughs out loud at our dog Lady and little girls on TV
5. The way he gets loopy and silly when he is really tired
4. His ability to scream louder than anyone I know
3. His passion for pears and avacado
2. That he is a people person
1. He is the cutest baby I've ever seen!

Reality TV

2008-04-30T20:15:00.000-07:00

I am a late reality TV fan...I know people have been into it for awhile, but Survivor and the Apprentice were lost on me...but I do love Top Chef, and for the first season, I have gotten into American Idol--because of our lovely friends and neighbors who needed our DVR to catch it.

I was sad to say good-bye to Brooke tonight...I do like her, her sound and her personality, I think she will do well somewhere! My favorite on Top Chef is Stephanie and I was sad to see her in the bottom this week, but I have confidence she will step it up!

Yeah reality TV!

a Saturday morning

2008-04-26T09:12:00.000-07:00

As I sit here on this lovely Saturday morning, my windows are covered with plastic and the sound of Tejano music is streaming in from the painters outside, who by the way are singing along (our landlord is having our house painted and it is taking awhile!) and I wanted to share two things that were making me smile this morning-one fun and one slightly more thought provoking...

First, yesterday I received one of those thoughtful little notes in the mail from a friend that just makes your heart happy. sadly, they are rare these days, as we are all prone to email and blogging more than stamps and paper...but I was blessed non the less. First off this friend from Los Angeles has amazing handwriting and so to see the envelope is fun in itself and you know instantly who sent it :) and then I open it up to find a tear out from a magazine of a room with drapes done in this fabric covered in large chandeliers that I found with her in downtown LA and loved! Just a thoughtful little something to bless my day. Thanks friend!

Second, I was reading from a little book I have been spending time with every morning lately, A Godward Life by John Piper and he made me think, as this author always does. He is talking about how we are all a little emotionally crippled in some way or another. How very few of us grew up in houses where glad singing to God was spontaneous and frequent and praise and encouragement to one another was not a norm. My first thought was, my mom was and is a woman who did sing praise often and in front of us and who spoke kind and encouraging words often, and my second thought was how I want Jack to grow up in a house where these are normal practices. Where saying kind and encouraging things is easy and second nature and where praises to God go up daily and without effort!

just have to share

2008-04-25T15:08:00.000-07:00

I know, two post in one day... amazing, but I couldn't not share this adorable picture.

Jack is on the move and finding himself in all kinds of funny places. Enjoy!

sewing journey

2008-04-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

I am officially starting to sew. I had this idea that I would blog my process, from the beginning until I get to be good. Unplugged, the good, the bad, the ugly!

What started me actually putting the petal to the metal, so to speak, with sewing was my wonderful husband. I was wanting a new diaper bag and saw a little bag at Target I wanted, it was only about $10. But my wise husband pulled out the whole, "give a man a fish he can eat for a day, teach a man to fish he can live for a lifetime." He encouraged me to buy the pattern and learn how to make one--which is a much better idea.

So, today I went to a local store that sells amy butler stuff I like and bought a pattern to make a diaper bag and set up a private tutorial to help start me off next Wednesday. I am excited. I learn by being shown and doing something myself, so I thought the only way to really learn this stuff is to ask for help!

When I got home from the fabric store I was very inspired, so I started browsing some bloggers who like to sew and found some pretty fun stuff. I found a project that looked like I could sit down and do it with the scraps I have and started out. I have to tell the truth...I had a very frustrating hour. I had to remind myself how to pull up the bobbin and get it all started...after that the thread kept getting caught and breaking and all kinds of things that I don't even know about...anyways, finally I got it all figured out..well at least for now...and put together this little credit card holder. It definitely is far from perfect, but it is my first little project and so I am proud. I am posting the picture even though it is really not perfect and it still needs a snap that I didn't have, but hey, that's part of the process.

baby food and driving

2008-04-21T13:31:00.000-07:00

I've been making my own baby food and I really enjoy it. Its been super easy, really cheap, and fun. I just make a big batch once a week and it usually last. Last week however, Jack decided he didn't want to eat anything green so I had to be creative with how to combine broccoli, asparagus, and green beans with carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes. Avocado still remains the favorite though!
Something I really enjoy about watching Jonathan be a dad is all the fun and creative things he thinks to do with Jack--like strapping him into the front seat of the car while he adjusted Jack's seat in the back--sure makes for a cute pic and Jack loved it!

day at the farm

2008-04-12T19:25:00.001-07:00

Outside of Waco is a little piece of farmland called the World Hunger Relief Inc. It is a really cool place where people live and work the farm while they learn sustainable farming techniques, that they can use here in America as well as teach people in inpoverished situations how to apply these techniques.

It was fun to walk around, pick out some tomato plants, see the goats and chickens, shop through some really cool fare trade goodies, and learn how to compost--its something I've been thinking about doing now since we lived in LA and I think I would really like to start--if you've composted before or have any suggestion for starting, please share!

around the house

2008-04-02T13:32:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share a few of my favorite things around my house...

some pictures I framed using old Cavalini calendar pictures,

the roses outside (not planted by me),

and my little herb window garden I just made,

The herb garden...I have this great kitchen window that was just asking for herbs to be grown on it, and I saw these pots in the Pottery Barn catalog that had been painted with chalkboard paint and you write the name of the herb/plant right on the pot--loved the idea and was thinking how easy (and much cheaper) it would be to make these myself...and as a tangent I am slightly obsessed with chalkboard paint, so when I saw this very clever use for it I just had to do it...so yesterday I painted the pots, bought the herbs today and viola! a little herb garden in my tiny kitchen! I can't wait to cook with the herbs tonight, and as an added bonus, they make the whole kitchen area smell fresh and lovely!

my baker's rack in the kitchen,
my sewing table (yes, that's right, it is now not only out of the box, but on its own table in a prominent place and is being used--at least, practiced on!--thanks to my mother-in-law's private starter lesson),
my favorite cookbook of the moment-Everyday Food by Martha Stewart--it is a collection of all her recipes from her little magazine called Everyday Food, which I also highly recommend--this is a wonderful cookbook organized by seasons. One of my favorite things about this cookbook is that all the nutritional info for each recipe is in the back, making all my meals weight watchers friendly!,
and my wine rack/storage area.

playing catch up

2008-03-29T21:05:00.000-07:00

on blogging that is. The last two weeks have just slipped by and I just realized it! My problem with blogging is that when I have been away for some time, I have too many things I want to write about to actually write anything---do you find yourself as different events in your life are happening, that you are writing an internal blog entry about it in your head? I do.

Anyways, some things that have been going on....

Easter came and went--I love Easter and what it means! Christ died and is risen and is alive! Words fail and my finite mind falls short of capturing all the glory and grace that there is for us in that truth!

We went to Houston to visit my mom and her husband for Easter and it was a lovely time--full of family, church, and bluebonnets (one of my favorite things about Texas--the bluebonnets in the spring).

Then the day after we returned from Houston Jonathan's parents came in town to visit. We had fun catching up and letting them get quality Jack time!

Jack is growing so fast. Everyday he changes and it is so fun. Today Jonathan and I were reading in the living room while Jack was on the floor playing, and we both found ourselves unable to read because we were so entertained just watching Jack roll around and reaching for things and laughing at all the new things he was discovering! Amazing!

snow, solid food, and finished projects

2008-03-09T15:15:00.000-07:00

This past week we had some snow and it was pretty exciting for me--I love snow!! It was only for one morning, but I'll take what I can get. Maybe some day I'll live in a place where it snows more often...maybe not.
Jack turned 6 months yesterday and we celebrated by giving him his first bowl of rice cereal. We took a lot of pictures and enjoyed seeing him experience something new. Welcome to the world of baby food!

I also finished a project that I have been working on all week. A personal organizer/planner. I can never find a planner any more that really fits my life--they are either for school or business or someone with a lot of kids--my life is pretty simple these days, but I still need something to help me keep things straight. So, I designed a custom one just for me (thanks to an idea a friend gave me). I used an acrylic 8x8 album (check these out, my friend makes them and they are great, she has some great ideas on her site too). I have a section for calendars, to dos (both immediate and future), a food diary, and a call/email section. Its been fun filling everything out and feeling very put together (at least this week!)

Birthdays and Dogs

2008-03-03T19:21:00.000-08:00

So This weekend was Jack's first birthday party to go to. My dear friend Luci's little girl, Ana, turned one and we had fun celebrating her.

I also wanted to share about Jack's newest love--dogs. He loves our dog Lady and he had so much fun with Charlie (the dog at the birthday party). He laughs so hard at them and it is maybe the best sound I've ever heard in my life! We are enjoying our little boy so much these days, you can just see him learning and interacting with his environment everyday.

I've been tagged

2008-02-28T15:38:00.000-08:00

...by my sister in law Lori. So here are my answers...

10 years ago:
I was a freshman at Baylor. I would have just finished Rush and I am sure I was very busy with all kinds of social stuff for Zeta, a couple Bible studies and classes. I think I was trying to decide what to declare as my major--having decided after the first semester that Speech Pathology wasn't for me.

Things on my to-do list today:

Work out at the Y
spend some time with God
Dust and Vacuum
Have Luci and Ana and Adrianna and Keller over
Watch Gilmore Girls at 4
Update my blog
Fix myself dinner (Jonathan is closing so I'm just cooking for one)
Give Jack a bath
Maybe go to Luci's house tonight (we are both husbandless tonight)
have a glass of wine

What would I do if I suddenly became a Billionaire?

Buy this house on Cumberland that I want right now and put all the little details in it I have been dreaming of, buy new cars, set aside money for Jack's college, pay the rest of what our church needs to buy a property they want, pay for Adrianna's dental work...what wouldn't I do?

Three of my bad habits are:

1. Procrastination (especially on making phone calls--I hate the phone sometimes)
2. Going down random rabbit trails while I'm telling a story
3. Piling my paperwork instead of filing it(I just left this one the same as Lori)

Five jobs I have had:
1. Randall's (grocery store) video store worker

2. Express salesperson
3. Student Activities at Baylor-student worker
4. Teaching 4th grade resource
5. Paper Source salesperson

Five things people don't know about me:

1. I have a junk drawer
2. I have a goal of following the Martha Stewart Homemakers Handbook to the letter some day (I guess I'll have to get rid of my junk drawer)
3. I hate making phone calls (as mentioned above)
4. I love those snowball snacks--the pink coconut covered ones
5. I love Top Chef

Current Projects

2008-02-28T15:28:00.002-08:00

My desk with the papers I am wanting to do something with. Hopefully I will have pictures of a finished project soon.

Right now I have about three projects that I want to start on but haven't yet. I got a sewing machine for Christmas and I finally have it out of the box, but still haven't set anything up or sewn anything. I need some lessons and just need to pursue finding someone to teach me, or maybe just a fun and easy project to motivate me. If you have any ideas of something that I could sew let me know.

The Red Carpet

2008-02-24T20:18:00.000-08:00

Our friends threw an Oscars party tonight. It was nice for us, a little taste of LA, and it was really fun to get together with friends! Here is a picture of Jack and his friend Caroline on the red carpet waiting for the Awards to begin and my friends Dawn and Mindy and I choosing our picks for the winners.

Washing the Dog

2008-02-20T12:24:00.000-08:00

So for the past three weeks every time I muster up the motivation and energy to wash our dog (a beautiful husky mix) and mop our kitchen floor, I hear the weather man say its supposed to storm! And of course, this morning I was all excited to come home from lunch, put on some old clothes, turn on some music (not too loud because hopefully Jack would stay asleep) and give Lady a good bath, clean the bathroom and mop the kitchen floor--so just in case, I went online to check the weather (because it is cloudy today) and of course it is predicted to storm all night and all day tomorrow--so I will wait until this weekend when sunny skies are predicted and hope that I'll be in the mood again.

Side note: I am thankful for the thunderstorms however, after being in LA for a year and a half, because I missed those storms that you can see rolling in over the open sky and hear the thunder grow louder and closer to the lighting and then smell the huge rain drops right before they fall! I love a good rainy day and in sunny California we just didn't have any. I can actually only think of two days while we lived there that I would actually call rainy--and even then it was probably sunny by 3 in the afternoon!

365 Project

2008-02-18T14:49:00.000-08:00

I got this idea from a friend's website (that I really enjoying looking at), its called the 365 project, in which you take a picture everyday of the year and post them on a site like flickr, it allows you to chronicle your whole year in a creative way as well as improve your photo taking skills.

I haven't been too faithful, but I am trying (and trying to not just take pictures of Jack) but of things around me. Anyways, just wanted to share this fun idea and even though it is the end of February, its not too late to start.

The flickr badge on the side of my blog shows my 365 project.

my blog's facelift

2008-02-17T12:36:00.000-08:00

As you can tell I have been customizing my blog. Its something that I've been wanting to do since I started this thing, but just never got around to it. I want to make it more "me". The things in the picture behind the title are some of my favorite patterns around my house, a sheet of paper, a shirt and cataloge page from Anthropologie, and a jewelry box covered with paper that was my grandmothers.

The new name, Daffodil, is my favorite flower. I love that they are so delicate, so vibrant, and only come out once a year!

Hope you like the new look, I plan on keeping this up to date more and continue to design a little bit more on my own.

some favorite photos

2008-02-17T10:42:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my recent favorite pics of Jack. He is 5 months right now and a joy! He is so happy, discovering new things every day. His new love is Lady, our Husky, who he laughs at everytime he sees her.

our Valentine's Day

2008-02-15T13:54:00.000-08:00

We decided that for Valentine's Day we would go up to Austin on Wednesday night (we got a great deal on a really nice hotel) and spend the night and go to a couple of our favorite places to eat and hang out. It was really nice! We took Jack along and he did great. It was nice to get out of town. There is something that just allows us to have better conversation and relax when we leave our normal lives for a bit--not as many distractions--so it was perfect, and I was reminded of how much I love my husband and how grateful I am for him. It is amazing how God put us together, I can't imagine anyone being more perfect for me!

We ate at Hula Hut, had a nice hotel room with breakfast in bed, a great lunch at my favorite--ZTejas, shopped at Anthropologie, Jonathan gave me these amazing chocolate covered strawberries, and then stopped by the outlet malls before we headed home to have our favorite cheese pizza and watch Lost. All in all it was a perfect way to celebrate Love!

bye bye paci

2008-02-15T13:41:00.000-08:00

So, this week we decided that Jack needed to learn to sleep with out his pacifier (because I was having to get up 3-5 times a night to put it back in when he woke up with out it!!) He has been doing very well at it, but I was a little sad to see my boy growing--I think the paci is so cute and so babyish!

Anyways, I thought I would post some paci pictures...enjoy!

Fine Wine

2008-01-28T11:13:00.000-08:00

Last night we had dinner with my closest friends and their husbands. It was so nice. We all have kids now and are in similar stages of life. They made a nice dinner for us to celebrate my birthday.

At the beginning of the meal Brian brought out a bottle of wine that was given to him years ago. It was symbol to him of a time that would come of fully enjoying life! He wanted to share it with us at this time--so nice.

It was and will probably be forever the nicest bottle of wine that I've ever had. It was very good and it was a great start to our life here in Waco.

Texas, here we come!!

2008-01-09T23:51:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already heard, we are moving back to Texas--in 7 days! Crazy, I know, but that is how God seems to work in our lives. The story is kind of long, but basically we feel like our time in Los Angeles is coming to an end and God is leading us back to Waco. We found some ladies to take over our lease here and we have a place to live in Waco (at least for awhile until we decide if we will buy a house or what). In so many ways we are so excited to be coming back to Waco, our dearest friends are there and we miss our church there so much! It is such a place of life for us and we are looking forward to moving back.
Of course, we are also sad to be leaving friends here...and perfect weather! We've met some amazing people here and we will miss them greatly.
I will be posting with pics of the new place and details about the move as soon as we get settled!
(Jack's cowboy hat was a present from Papa and Judy--isn't he a stud?)

Christmas...really late

2008-01-09T23:38:00.000-08:00

This is really late, our life has been crazy lately and therefore I haven't had time to even check my email lately, let alone publish new blogs. But, I wanted to share some Christmas picks. We were in Houston with my family and it was really fun! Having all the cousins together was such a blessing!

cousin zane's visit

2007-11-11T19:04:00.000-08:00

my brother's little boy Zane Wesley came for a visit last weekend. They live in Northern California and had their son was born 2 months before Jack arrived. Here are some pictures. Enjoy!

our garden

2007-11-11T18:53:00.001-08:00

Thought I would share with all of you my little garden. My mom is a terrific gardener and has passed her love of flowers on to me (at least I hope I can be as good as she is). She helped me get some areas started on my patio before Jack arrived.

I thought I would share my little patio with you all. I also added Jonathan's newest painting he is working on--its his own addition to our patio right now (our patio is his makeshift studio.)

Jack at 7 weeks!

2007-10-31T23:16:00.000-07:00

Here are some long awaited photos of Jack. He is getting cuter by the day and we are enjoying him more and more--if that is even possible! He started smiling a week ago and it is one of the most amazing feelings to have your son smile at you for the first time!

His Aunt Stephanie was here last week and we had so much fun together. This weekend Uncle Jeff, Aunt Becky, and cousin Zane will come for a visit! Boy is he popular!

Lessons from Dwight Schrute

2007-10-31T20:02:00.001-07:00

As we were watching The Office last week I was impacted by something Dwight said as he was talking about why he first made a life for himself on Second Life (an online world in which people can make for themselves an entire online identity and life). Most people go to this sight, I am sure, to escape their real life or maybe to make up for something they think is lacking in their real lives, however, Dwight says that he first made a second life just like his real life (except he could fly) because he loved his real life so much--he didn't want to change a thing (except to give himself the ability to fly).

Anyways, where this comes into my life these days is just learning to be thankful and satisfied in what each day holds. Not always looking to the next thing. The next season, the next vacation, the next paycheck, the next thing God speaks...but really being satisfied in where I am in each day. It is so easy to say the grass is greener on the other side, and what I've learned over the past months is that you will always be able to say that if you aren't taking time to be thankful for what is in your life here and now.

Living in the "nowhere" as Henry Nowen calls it is a constant struggle in this life, and I was happy that Dwight Schrute reminded me last Thursday night that we can be so thankful for our life that, if given the chance, we would rewrite our life in exactly the same way.

However I might like the ability to fly as well.

Fixed Link

2007-10-17T14:34:00.001-07:00

okay! okay! I heard you and have fixed the link in my last post so that you can see the pictures of Jack. I do have more recent pics, and I am planning on posting them soon.

Stay tuned!

learning to be a stay at home mom...

2007-10-05T11:45:00.001-07:00

So this is the end of my second week of being a stay-at-home mom and I am enjoying it so far. There have been a couple of days of frustration that I can't get anything done because of Jack crying or not being able to do the things I want to as easily, but over all I feel like I am getting into a groove little by little. I think having two weeks with Jonathan home really helped me gain confidence to go out and do things with Jack.

So far my favorite thing to do with little Jack is to walk to Starbucks in the morning to get a latte and pumpkin loaf. (Depending on the morning, and the night before, I might get "half caf" too!)
My biggest feat of the week however was getting to the YMCA yesterday to work out. Thanks to Jonathan having the afternoon off I was able to get away and get on the tread mill, however, my real motivation for going was the steam room and hot tub afterwards!!! It was a real treat.

I am slowly learning how to be on church staff also. Learning to take him to meetings and things like that. I look forward to his first round of immunizations so that I can take him to church to be with the other kids (and leave him at the Y's childcare, so I can go more regularly).

Anyways, here is a link to a whole lot of pictures of Jack. My Dad was here last weekend and really enjoyed photographing Jack--I mean, who wouldn't?

Enjoy! Pictures of Jack (at 3 weeks)

Jack Henley is here!

2007-09-15T10:35:00.000-07:00

Jack is here! He is a week old today and the joy of our life. Really, who knew a little one could be such a joy. So far, for his first week at least, he has been really easy. His favorite activities, in order are--eating, sleeping, and staying awake in daddy's arms and napping on his chest. He also really enjoys his dog Lady, morning snuggles with mom and dad, and being tightly swaddled.

My mom has been here all week and such a help. She left today and though she is missed and her help was invaluable, we are looking forward to being just the three of us and learning how to be a family.

If you want to check it out, this link is our online album from Jack's birthday.

ready and waiting

2007-09-07T09:38:00.000-07:00

So, Jack was due last Sunday, the 2nd of September. My mom came in from Texas on Saturday and Jonathan is off work (he had to take off in advance). We are all just waiting for little Jack to decide to come and join us. There are signs of his arrival, but nothing exciting yet. They will let me go the full two weeks late before they induce me, so we know that at the most we have 9 days before he comes. I would love to not be induced, my ideal, of course, would be to go into labor naturally.

Anyways, its been a little emotional waiting around. Its more all the questions and comments than anything. And I think the fact that for 9 months we've been focusing on this one date--SEPTEMBER 2nd--and it has come and gone very uneventfully. We are fine, and overall enjoying the down time, but we are ready to meet our little guy.

We'll be in touch as things progress, and of course, will let you all know as soon as Jack introduces himself.

We are sending out a text message when we go into the hospital, so people can pray, and we will send a text when he arrives. If you want to be on this list (you may be already) then just comment to this blog, or email us and we will add you (make sure that you give us your cell #).

getting ready

2007-08-22T16:58:00.000-07:00

So, its just a week and a half until Jack's due date comes!! It has been getting harder to wait these days, but I am feeling pretty good. I am looking forward to having my body back, whenever that may be, but most of all looking forward to having our little Jack with us.

I've pretty much finished most of the projects I set out for myself now, just a few more little things that would be nice to have done before he comes. But my bags are packed and we are anxiously waiting.

I wanted to share a picture of a little project I did for Jack's room. I covered some letters in fabric for Jack's wall.

Next post I will be sharing a picture of a screen Jonathan and I made to hide the desk in Jack's room. We just have some details to add to it.

Just Catching up

2007-07-22T20:19:00.000-07:00

So, I realized as I looked at our blog that it has been a lot longer than I thought it had been since we last updated this. These last two months have been busy, but they are slowing down--temporarily that is until Jack comes.

I (sara) have officially finished working! It has been a week since my last day, and I am loving not working. I do miss my job somewhat and the people I worked with, they were the funnest people I've worked with! But I have several projects started, most importantly putting together Jack's room. I have been looking forward to this the whole time I've been pregnant! Any chance to decorate a room is a treat. It is painted, thanks to Jonathan, and we have it cleared and ready for furniture. Jonathan's mom is making all the bedding and curtains, so we will get all that up in the next few weeks.

Now that I'm not working, I plan on blogging more. I hope that I can make it a habit.

We are 34 weeks, just 42 more days until jack is due to come. He moves constantly and I think he is a little big. But I am believing he will not be bigger than 9 lbs!! That is pretty big, but better than the 10 lb 6oz that Jonathan was when he was born!

I'll be keeping in touch.

this week with the martins

2007-05-03T16:47:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pictures from our life...

a painting Jonathan is starting on the patio

Lady and her friends at the dog park
Lady and our neighbors' dog Roxy our patio
Some cool views of Santa Monica Blvd I took on a walk, just a couple of blocks from our house
A picture in our neighborhood, there are some really cool houses around us!
the outside of our Apartment building. Love those stripes!!
this is our outside door (random picture, but it is a teaser for some pictures of the inside of our apartment that will come next week!)

hope you guys are doing well

And he will be called...

2007-04-16T17:27:00.000-07:00

So we have decided we are ready to anounce our little son's name!

Jack Henley Martin

Jack is short for Jonathan/John and means God is gracious! We knew the first time we said the name that it was the perfect fit. Henley is Sara's mother's maiden name. And we just loved the way they sound together!

It has been fun calling him by his name. It really helps make it all seem real. This is the 20th week and all is going well. Sara feels great and is getting bigger by the week!

We just watched this amazing national geographic special on a baby's developement called The Womb. It was amazing and just reminds us of the miracle that this little life is. It is a cause for worship for sure. Our God is amazing and He knew each of us from the first cell that multiplied in our bodies. And He knows little Jack intimately and has an amazing plan for his life. Amen!

Daffodil

Valentine's Day Party

Inspiration

Christmas List Starting

Daffodil Designs Debut

Jack Turns 3

House:ReDone

Claire's First Birthday

Dog Days...

Redecorate Complete

inspiring

sat·is·fied

Garden Party

Small Town Soiree

Shrimp Pad Thai

Still Cooking

Day One of Cooking through Spring

Great Food Fast

adding color

Baby Bird Shower

Redoing the living room

Daffodils are blooming

Black Oak Art Opening

Thanksgiving

Last Monday Pumpkin recipe

Directions

Directions

Pumpkin Enchiladas...a day late

Spicy Enchiladas with Pumpkin Sauce

Ingredients

Directions

Pumpkin Scones

Pumpkin Scones

Powderered Sugar Glazze

Spiced Glaze

Pumpkin Monday

Fall Happenings

Halloween

Life with Two

Jack turns 2

Introducing Claire Elizabeth Martin

Ready for Claire

Family Fun

Great Shoes to Fill

My everything

Grandparents, gardening, and first haircuts

Perfect Saturday morning to catch up

Egg Tree

We're having a girl!

my growing boy

XOXOXO

I've been a lazy blogger

Thirty, Flirty, and Thriving!

oops, here's Thanksgiving

Tis the Season

chicken pox = clean house

Parties, Halloween, and Homecoming

meet Jesus

afternoon snack time

3 years and a pumpkin patch

Office Space

next project..or two..or three

monkey business

I can't believe it's August

We've been busy...

Under Construction

visit to Nana's

the batchelor

house

Still here

meet kirk

diaper bag

Mother's Day

pin cushion

Fun Friday

8 months

Reality TV

a Saturday morning

just have to share

sewing journey