Mother's Day

Happy, Happy Mother's Day to my mom, my mother in law, my sisters and friends. I'm so thankful to have each one of you in my life!

I've had a wonderful day so far...it began with coffee and a cinnamon roll in bed followed immediately by cards from my girls and hubby as well as a little gift. We went to church and then walked down the street to a restaurant downtown...Johnny's Pizza. Yumm.

 My gift---Ree Drummond's book. I love reading The Pioneer Woman's blog, so I'm excited about reading her book too. I plan on packing it in my beach bag and reading it in a couple weeks while looking out at the ocean!

 Fresh flowers. :)

 Me with my precious girls!

Love them so much and am so thankful I get to be their mommy.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Just popping in to say, Happy Valentine's Day!

Life is busy....so please forgive the lack of posts. But until next time, enjoy these sweet pictures of our little Valentines!

 Such a sweet and cute Valentine!

 What is this thing on my head?!!

(Don't worry baby, you will eventually get used to it!)

...Well, whatever it is, I'm yanking it off!

 Time for a picture with big sis.

Evelyn was apparently over having her picture taken....until...

...you put my bib on, then I know it's time for lunch and I cheer right back up! :)

Happy Valentine's Day to my dear sweet husband! 

Thank you for the beautiful roses Babe, for me and the ones you gave to the girls too!

I'm so thankful to have you as my Valentine!

A post---finally!

It's been over a month since I last posted, which means my baby is no longer 6 months old, but now a whopping 7 months! Time is just flying by over here! The busyness of the holiday season made the past month pass in a flash.

I wish I had the time to post about all the individual things we've been doing, but it seems in this season I will just have to settle for "catch up" posts---at least for now!

We spent the month of December enjoying Kane's time off from work and we did several fun holiday activities like decorating cookies with Kane's family as well as constructing and decorating our own gingerbread house----both are annual traditions and both lots of fun!

Last Christmas was our first since we have been married that we spent Christmas morning here at home. Mara Kate was 4 and we decided it was time to start our own family traditions with her for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. We did the same this year and we love that special time to spend together as a family. Since we were planning to travel for the holidays we decided to simplify and go out to supper on Christmas Eve, rather than cook a big meal that would create leftovers we wouldn't be home to eat. It turned out to be really nice going out and we all got dressed up. It was so festive and we got some cute pictures as well that evening. After supper the girls got to open two gifts---new pjs and an ornament. Kane read the Christmas story and we put the girls in bed. Christmas morning was so fun with 2 girls! MK really enjoyed all of her presents and gifts and it was so fun having a new baby in the mix that morning....Evelyn's first Christmas and I think she had fun too.

After we were finished with all our Christmas morning activities we finished packing and headed out for our long trek to see both sides of our families. Our first stop was in Knoxville where we visited Kane's family and had a great time. It snowed and Mara Kate was thrilled that she got to go sledding.

After a few days we packed it up again and headed west to my parents house in Kansas City. It's a very long drive, so after 13 hours in the car we were very happy to arrive! We were in town for a week and enjoyed visiting with lots of different family members. Mom and Dad hosted a New Year's Eve party and we ate snacks and played gamed until time to ring in the new year. My aunts and uncles came and it was great to have an evening to visit with them. Mara Kate always enjoys time with her Kansas City cousins and we barely heard a word from her as she was too busy playing! Evelyn got lots of hugs, kisses and cuddles from everyone on her first visit to Kansas City!

We finally made it home yesterday afternoon after a one night stop over in Nashville to sleep (and to pick up Mara Kate's frog who was being babysat by her Aunt Bebe & Uncle Choonghwan). Thank you Choi's for giving us a place to crash on our way home!

Now the holidays are behind us and I'm feeling ready for a fresh start to a new year. I'm ready to get back into our normal groove, normal school routine with Mara Kate and just life in general. There's just something about a new year and a new calendar with little marked in it! A clean slate---I love that!

Maybe I'll post again in less than a month....so hang in there readers! I want to post more about Evelyn and all she is doing these days (like eating solids, sitting up, trying to get up on her knees and hands---so crawling may be just around the corner). But, for now, there is a recap of our last month or so. And for those who like pictures I'm going to post links to several different photo albums to recap our December in picture form:

Pre-Christmas Holiday Festivities can be found here.

Pictures of our Christmas Eve & Christmas morning at home can be found here.

Pictures of our post Christmas travels here. 

A Lovely Mother's Day

When I was a little girl, my Dad always made sure that on Mother's Day we fixed and took my Mom breakfast in bed. When we were too young to cook it ourselves he would make the breakfast himself and then wake us up to carry it into mom before she got out of bed. Then as we got older and were more capable we would get up and help make the breakfast together. It became a yearly tradition. Now that we are all grown, married and have children of our own, I'm so happy to know that my Dad has continued this tradition making breakfast on his own for mom like he always have, even though her kids aren't always around to help. Mom mentioned yesterday that she has had breakfast in bed on Mother's Day for 32 years in a row. Wow!

I'm thankful now that I'm a mother too, that my dear sweet husband has started this same tradition for me, with Mara Kate. Kane got up super early on Sunday morning and went to the store to buy me some cinnamon rolls and flowers. He and Mara Kate walked in the room with my breakfast, coffee, pink roses, a gift and cards for me. What a sweet and lovely way to start the morning.

Mara Kate was so anxious for me to open my present that she didn't even want me to eat my cinnamon roll first. She kept saying, "Mommy, you are gonna love this present!" So sweet. She and Kane had taken an evening last week to go shopping together and she was very good about keeping all they did a secret from me. Kane has taught her a phrase to say whenever she is supposed to keep a secret, so if anything comes up about what she knows she isn't supposed to tell, she'll say "Nowhere! Nothing!" She actually is a very good little secret keeper when it comes to gifts or surprises.

After I opened my gift (which was an iPod docking station with radio---something that I had recently added to my "wish list") we got ready and went to church. After church we made a drive to a town about 45 minutes away to eat at the closest Jim N Nick's BBQ. I love this place and since it was a special occasion we justified making the drive. It actually turned out to be a really nice, country back road drive. Although the place was packed when we got there we were seated in less than 30 minutes (I guess due to our small party size of only 3) and enjoyed some yummy BBQ! We also noticed a Best Buy on our way to the restaurant and Kane had gotten a gift card for his birthday, so we decided to run in there after we ate. Kane got a couple things for our Wii with his card including the game Mario Cart, which he was excited about. So, the drive we made was actually productive as well (as we don't have a Best Buy (or any other stores) in Rome).

After we got back home Kane graciously went to the grocery store to buy some groceries we needed (so I wouldn't have to) while I stayed home and rested. We had a very relaxing afternoon and evening and I couldn't have asked for a more pleasant Mother's Day. Thank you Kane and Mara Kate for making me feel so loved and taken care of! I am one blessed girl!

Waiting for our table at Jim N Nicks.
Not the best shot of us, with Mara Kate's eyes closed due to the sun being in her face. At least we were all together!

Family shot at lunch

Me with my girl!

Wonderful Easter Weekend

Lily, my newest niece sporting her bunny ears....so cute!

We had a wonderful Easter weekend celebrating the Resurrection of Christ together with
family! We were so excited to have the Guinans here this weekend and it was fun watching the kids play together and enjoy the Easter festivities together---from coloring eggs, hunting for eggs in the back yard, receiving their Easter goodies together in their baskets before church and worshiping together at our church yesterday morning.

On Saturday we also took the kids to ride the carousel at the mall here in Rome and then went out for Mexican food as well. We fit a lot of fun and memory making into the hours they were here, but it was great fun and the time together was enjoyed by everyone!

I took too many pictures (i know, big surprise, right?) to upload here, but click here to see my Facebook album of our time together!

Lovely

I think Springtime is just lovely. Don't you? I also love Easter as it's the first festive holiday in Spring where you can enjoy all the blooms and the pretty weather after a cold dark winter. The beautiful flowers just beginning to bloom is such a great reminder of Christ's life after He rose again from the grave!

We are excited to be having Easter at home this year. We invited my sister and her family to join us, so it'll be fun for Mara Kate to have her cousins around for the Easter weekend. We already have plans to color eggs with the kids, have a little egg hunt in the yard surrounding our house and to cook a wonderful yummy Easter feast on Sunday. It will include ham, hash brown casserole, green beans, rolls and a strawberry jello salad as well. Mmmm!

Some lovely yellow blooms I cut from a friend's yard yesterday.

Eggs nestled in a little bowl

A cute little bunny I picked up at a store in North Carolina
when Kane and I were on our baby moon trip.

Valentine's Weekend in Nashville

We had planned to head to Nashville late afternoon on Friday, but ended up skipping town about 1.5 hours earlier than planned as the snow was coming down in Rome and we wanted to escape it before we got stuck.

We had planned to go and visit Kane's sister and her husband and a February trip to Nashville has sort of become a tradition for us.

This is what our neighborhood looked like as we were driving out of town.

Thankfully we drove out of the snow just fine and the roads were clear once we got past Chattanooga. We spent the first evening in at Elizabeth and Choonghwan's. Then, Saturday moring we got up and after breakfast headed out for a busy day of fun! First we went to Cheekwood Gardens where they do something each Saturday morning for kids. Elizabeth and Choonghwan helped Mara Kate make several fun Valentine crafts which she really enjoyed.

At Cheekwood with BeBe and Choonghwan

Then we went to the mall to check out the Disney store that is closing soon to see if there was anything Mara Kate could buy with some Valentine's $$ she recieved. But, first we hit the mall food court for lunch. Mara Kate chose Chick-Fil-A (of course) and finished her meal off with some PINK ice cream! So festive!

Excited about her valentine ice cream!

Mara Kate did score a Cinderella doll at the Disney Store as well as a princess t-shirt. She was quite excited. That evening Elizabeth and Choonghwan fixed us some very yummy lettuce wraps for supper and we pigged out on those until we were literally stuffed to the gills!

The next morning was Valentine's Day and we all exchanged little happies with one another. Mara Kate got some stickers, candy, and a princess balloon too! My Valentine surprised me with a sweet card and The Proposal DVD which is something I've been wanting. So sweet.

All the Valentine Day loot!

After present time we headed out for a brunch at the Pancake Pantry, a Nashville tradition! We've gone there three times now with Elizabeth and Choonghwan and it never dissappoints. It's worth the hour + wait in line out in the cold for the yummy food you get once you are seated!

Elizabeth & Choonghwan

Mara Kate with BeBe

Me with my Valentine. :)

Mara Kate with her sweet aunt and uncle.

After brunch Elizabeth and Chooghwan kept Mara Kate while Kane and I split for
a day-time date with one another. An absolute treat for us! We went to see the movie Valentine's Day, then over to Babies R Us to register for a few needed baby items then out to a lovely dinner at La Paz near Vanderbilt. It was cold, misty/rainy and very dreary out, but we still enjoyed a lovely afternoon together.

While we were out Elizabeth and Choonghwan took Mara Kate on a date with them! She felt so special and enjoyed everything they did together, which included: riding the big carousel at Opry Mills Mall 3 times in a row (spoiled!) and a trip to Chuck E. Cheese to play game after game after game and ride ride after ride after ride. She did so much that afternoon that we was completely worn out when she got home, but it was a great day for everyone!

It was a wonderful visit and we really enjoyed spending some good time with Eliz and Choonghwan in their city! Thanks for hosting us!! We love you guys!

A Post Holiday Update

We are home again from all our travels. We had a great Christmas at home, then in Knoxville and then in Kansas City. We got to see almost all of our family in a 2 week span which was crazy and wonderful!

We loved spending Christmas Eve and Christmas morning at home together (a first for us). I had a blast cooking a nice Christmas Eve meal and also a special Christmas morning breakfast too. We enjoyed the morning opening presents and stockings together. But, once our fun was over we packed it up and headed to Knoxville arriving there late Christmas afternoon. That evening we had a family get together with Kane's extended family and then opened gifts from one another the next morning. We had a really nice, relaxing time there.

The Monday after Christmas we packed the car once again and started the long trek from Knoxville to Kansas City. We made it in one day, although we were in the car for 13 hours that day. Thanks to Heidi and Jeph we had a borrowed DVD player for Mara Kate which helped keep her sane all those hours in her car seat. We were sure thankful for a warm bed that night!

We spent a lot of time in doors because it was just SOOO cold (between 0 & 10 degrees alot of the time). The few things we did do out and about were fun though. They included a Burton extended family Christmas get together with yummy food and games. We also all ventured out to eat Smokestack BBQ, which is a must when we are in KC. Mom and Dad also treated Kane and me to supper out on the Plaza one night to celebrate his graduation---we had supper at P.F. Chang's, one of Kane's favorite places. Kane and I also had a date night one night, which was fun in spite of the frigid temps. Kane and Mara Kate also got to go sledding with my sister's kids and my two uncles, which was a treat for Mara Kate since Georgia doesn't see enough snow for sledding probably ever! Overall, we had a great time just being together.

There are of course too many pictures to post here, but you can click here and here to see ones from Christmas and our time with family.

I have been busy since the minute we got home getting the Christmas stuff packed away and trying to get our home back to normal after being away. I've crossed a lot of those things off my to do list, but keep thinking of more that needs to be done. I keep telling myself that I have until June to get this house completely in order before the baby arrives, but my personality is one that wants to get it done NOW! I'm trying to pace myself though---I guess we'll see how that goes.

Only 4 More Days!

Christmas is almost here (only 4 more days) and about this time every year I feel myself begin to turn back into a little girl! I am just SO excited about Christmas! This is the first year since we've been married that we'll be having Christmas Eve and Christmas morning at our own home. The nice thing about it all is that by staying home for Christmas morning doesn't mean we are sacrificing time with family either, as we are planning to travel to see family the two weeks after Christmas. So I feel like we are getting the best of both worlds.

I am excited about the nice Christmas Eve supper we'll have together as a family. It will include my mom's hash brown casserole, fancy green beans, rolls and sliced ham from Honey Baked Ham. Since it'll be just the three of us (and I'm guessing Mara Kate won't touch it) I was able to pre-order 1/2 lb. of sliced ham--which should be just a few slices. Perfect since I don't want a lot of leftovers as we are traveling the next day. We've had the tradition of giving Mara Kate a new set of pj's on Christmas Eve that she'll wear to bed that night, so she'll get to open those that night as well as an ornament from us, which is another thing we also get her every year. Kane will read the Christmas story and we'll finish off our advent tree that night as well. I think we'll let Mara Kate use the nativity set to "act out" what is happening in the Christmas story the way my sisters and I did as kids on Christmas Eve when Dad read the story to us before bed.

Kane and I are filling stockings for one another (and of course MK too)---a first for us this year, as we have waited on that tradition until we decided it was time to do Christmas morning at home. I think this might be one reason I feel extra excited this year as stockings is one of my favorite things and I've never had the opportunity to be the one to fill them before. This playing Santa thing is really a lot of fun!!

After we are finished with "our Christmas" then we'll pack 'em up and head 'em out! We'll get to spend the weekend with Kane's family and have Christmas all over again on Saturday, then we'll begin the long trek to the mid-west to spend about a week with my family in Kansas City, celebrating Christmas a 3rd time along with New Year's Eve, which is something I'm also very excited about. Being at my Mom and Dad's for New Year's Eve is great as my mom always makes it special by making all the tried and true goodies I grew up with and also really helps the little girl in me come out once again. We also play lots of games and just hang out New Year's Eve, so it's always a very fun & special time.

Our stockings
I plan on having our names embroidered on them by next Christmas. Kane is the Nutcracker, I am the Ice Skater and Mara Kate is the Ballerina (she is planning on letting Santa know which stocking is hers by mentioning it in the note we'll leave him next to his milk and cookies. She was very concerned that he wouldn't know which one to fill with her things since our names are not on them yet) Ha!

I'm also excited to be adding another stocking next year---It'll be interesting to see if it is another girly one or not!!

Mara Kate in front of the tree yesterday morning before Church. She sang in front of the congregation with the other kids and I was taken back by how tiny she looked up on the big stage. She was one of the youngest, but I could see her lips moving so I know she was singing. She was so proud to be able to sing with the big kids too!

By the way, because you know how I am about finding good deals---the dress she is wearing I got at a consignment store downtown the day we toured Broad St. It is Gap, but I got it for less than $10 bucks and since it isn't out and out Christmasy she'll be able to get a lot of use out of throughout the entire winter months! Score!

Also, the "fa la la" decoration on the shelf above the stockings was something else I got for an absolute steal! I found it a couple months ago on the clearance table at Hancock Fabrics. It was originally $24.99 and I got it for $2.50. Double score!

Gingerbread House

Today we decorated our annual Gingerbread House. The fun thing about this year is it is the first year Mara Kate has helped! Normally this is a project Kane and I do together, but we decided to let her join in the fun this time around. We got one of the kits from Wal-Mart that included candy pieces as well as pre-made icing. I've decided this is the way to go, especially with a child helping!

We had a lot of fun, especially Mara Kate!

Waiting on the walls to dry

Picture courtesy of Mara Kate

Decorating the roof

More roof decor

This required much concentration on her part!

Back view

Finished product--there was a marshmallow snowman sitting there in the yard part too, but it is missing as you can see. While Kane and I were cleaning the kitchen Mara Kate ate the entire thing! :)

Our tree and the Gingerbread house


To see some of our other creations over the past years click here and here.

Cookies, Cookies & More Cookies!

We had a wonderful time on Saturday decorating lots of Christmas cookies with Kane's siblings. They grew up with this tradition and even though all three siblings live in different cities we've tried to keep the tradition alive as much as possible.

This year everyone gathered at our house for the day and we decorated lots of cookies together! Mara Kate loves this tradition as well and has learned from her Daddy that the icing is the best part, so they both pile it on each cookie!

It was fun to have people at our house during the holiday season---a treat when all family lives out of town.

Naked cookies!

Everyone in action

Some of the cookies---post icing.

Mara Kate and Daddy.
Sadly, Kane missed out on a lot of the decorating due to having to attend the Saturday graduation ceremony at Shorter, but we saved him a few and Mara Kate was happy to help him decorate when he got home.

Rudolph!

Looking A Lot Like Christmas

Here are some pictures from this month as we've been busy getting ready for Christmas and also enjoying some of the fun Christmas festivities in Rome as well.

Pizza party before putting the ornaments on our tree

Almost done---putting the angel on top!

Kane and Mara Kate putting together his Lego train that goes around the bottom of our tree

Mara Kate enjoying the Lego station Kane set up to go with the train



A few of my greenery arrangements this year...

And at the Rome Christmas parade...

Budweiser Clydesdale Horses---so big and beautiful. I love seeing these!

Santa Claus!


And before going to Handel's Messiah...

Merry Christmas everyone!