home sweet home.

thief

2012-01-30T09:07:00.002-06:00

saturday mitchell and i are sitting around talking and O is playing somewhere in the house.

out of no where he comes around the corner waving a $20 bill. now those things are precious in our house, so we both freak out wondering where he got it. i immediately assumed he was hoarding money and got excited that there might be more somewhere else. mitchell shot up, started chasing Owen, and proceed to chase him for a few minutes.

that kid is pretty fast!

later Owen revealed that he had daddy's wallet in the back of his truck and was able to get more money if he wanted. keep in mind, mitchell worked at abuelos the night before and still had all his tips in there. we needed to confiscate that wallet. mitchell eventually traded a $1 for his $20.

both boys were happy.

at the basketball game that afternoon Owen wanted a snack. i told him he needed to go get cash from daddy. "daddy cash. daddy cash. DADDY CASH!"

Owen got his M&M's.

this morning Owen is currently playing with my wallet and the $3 i have to my name. come to think of it - i think he also has my debit card. i better go see what he's up to.

and just for the record - he didn't inherit this pick-pocketing from me. i ALWAYS ask before taking money! :)

sir kicks-a-lot

2012-01-27T09:20:00.001-06:00

Eli is kicking up a storm so i told Owen to come feel him kick. he starts grinning from ear to ear, runs over and climbs on my tummy. instead of placing his hands on my tummy to feel, he puts his feet on my tummy and exclaims, "Owen and Eli kick!"

yes, but let's not kick the baby, ok?!?

brass duet becomes a trio.

2012-01-25T17:00:00.001-06:00

Mitchell, trombone.

Owen, trumpet.

Eli, maybe tuba or French horn?!?!

hair wear.

2012-01-25T13:54:00.001-06:00

ok so im dying to do something different with my hair - DYING! when i was pregnant with Owen i just kept cutting it, bangs, etc. and so i am thinking of maybe coloring it... ACK!

i colored my hair once and hated it. and when I tried to color it back it turned super red. so im a little weary, but I need a change.

i am a little obsessed with Selma Hayek's hair in this golden globes picture. and Sophia Vergara from Modern Family.

so what do you think? it obviously would t be that dramatic since my hair isn't that dark, but im sort of loving it!

all things Owen.

2012-01-22T20:06:00.002-06:00

i saw this... on pinterest of course and just had to do it. and my friend Andrea did it for her son Ston! of course Owen turned two at the end of November so i'm a little behind. but either way, what a cute way to remember my little man at 2!

tried it thursday.

2012-01-19T12:55:00.003-06:00

this week i tried making homemade pop tarts. now i didn't grow up eating pop tarts... i know how un-american, right? well, i never had chef boyardee or hamburger helper. my mom was one of those crazy "everything needs to be homemade, from scratch, just short of killing the chicken myself," kind of cook. but she did, have to go to the backyard (farm) and get the chicken herself for dinner when she was growing up.

and you wonder where i get it from?

so... back to the begining. i have already seen this several times on blogs and thougth i'd give it a try. i wanted to make the cinnamon filling ones, because everything with cinnamon is good. and i already had all the ingredients. all i added was butter, because butter makes everything better. hum, i just sounded like Paula Deen there - maybe i should go have my blood sugar checked!

this was all i needed for my filling. and i cheated and used pre-made pie crust. of all the things my mom taught me, this is one i just couldn't pick up. my pie crust stinks. i really should have used The Pioneer Woman's pie crust recipe that was on her show this past Saturday.

i'm sorry mom. i'm sorry Ree. i've let you down!

so you make the squares, fill it up, close it up, make your pretty little fork marks and that's it! and no, i didn't make icing. my kid doesn't need icing at 7:30 am.

i thought they were good. Owen didn't even give them a second look. mitchell ate one of my mom's homemade biscuits leftover from Sunday when she was here instead.

next time:

1. HOMEMADE CRUST

2. more filling

3. ok, ok, ok - icing on the next batch!

i'm rich.

2012-01-18T20:13:00.001-06:00

for those who think being a stay at home mom is a waste or not worth quitting your job - read this:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/much-homemaker-worth-182358580.html

p.s. i bet those who still feel its worthless, i am sure your mom stayed at home with you!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

stop. collaborate and listen.

2012-01-16T14:05:00.002-06:00

just a typical morning in my little love shack.

dancing. singing. rapping with Vanilla Ice.

if you can't flow. it would probably be really hard for you to be a member of this family. i'm glad i can dance.

look at those Spurs

2012-01-16T06:13:00.004-06:00

what? you say you want to see the most amazing dance team ever?

here they are. the HSU Spurs Dance Team 2011-2012.

these are an amazing group of young ladies and i am BEYOND BLESSED that they are my first team. i love each of these girls and would not change a thing about them.

they are talented. hard-working. have an amazing passion and love for the Lord. and they are what make our team unique, awesome, and simply the best.

*shoot courtesy Kimberly Hawkins Photography

tried it thursday

2012-01-12T09:57:00.002-06:00

as with the rest of the country, i love pinterest and spend more time than i should browsing and pinning and dreaming.

earlier this week when i was up at 2:30 am i found this picture and recipe for cheesey chicken spaghetti.

chicken. spaghetti. cheese. GOOD!

so, instead of Perini stew leftovers for dinner, this is what this pregnant mama was craving. after looking at the recipe and directions posted on this website i decided i could do better.

changes:

1. NO CHICKEN FROM A CAN. that's just gross.

2. NO MUSHROOMS FROM A CAN. i had tons of fresh ones.

3. no velveeta. if i was going to make this all together and not throw it in the crock pot, i might as well use real cheese.

4. sauteed veggies i a little butter and EVOO, added cream of chicken and mushroom and cheese.

wa-la! new and improved reicpe to fit my needs/tastes/pregnant mama wants! and it was so good. i probably would have also added chili powder to enhance the tex-mex flavor from the can of rotel. other than that it was great!

i don't know what's next on my pinterest baking list, but i would call that a fairly successful Pin!

these are by obsessions

2012-01-11T13:36:00.005-06:00

i have noticed i have been slightly obsessed with a few things lately. do you ever get a kick like that? like wearing the same shoes over and over because they are so cute and so comfy and go with everything. these three things are my leopard print shoes. I LOVE THEM!

it seems like everything i cook lately has to come from my Perini Ranch cookbook. i love it. i love it so much it stays displayed on my counter top. last week i cooked three things from it, all within 4 days. Perini Zucchini, Green Chili Hominy, and that yummy Cowboy Stew on the cover. i am just drooling thinking about the next dish i am going to make!

and in the light of camp fire/Texas cooking, i have been completely devoted to my cast iron skillet. sautes, brazing, you name it this baby has seen that action in the past few weeks.

next stop: cobbler.

now normally i am a green works by clorox mama, but i am super obsessed with this cleaner latley. i have always love the meyer's products, but it not only cleans my counter tops, and leaves them squeeky clean, but it smells fresh! it leaves the kitchen smelling fresh for hours. FRESH! that's our new thing: Owen are your feet stinky or fresh. FRESH!

weird i know - but really funny!

oh and the lavendar scent... to die for!

these are just a FEW of the things i am using over and over and over again lately. what have you been hooked on? what are you using over and over again in your house! i love trying out new products - share the love!

side note: i should be totally ashamed i just quoted a 1990's hip hop song for the title of my blog. it's not my fault, it's my husbands.

hello, my name is Eli

2012-01-10T13:56:00.001-06:00

this morning we found out our sweet bundle of joy is another little boy.

Eli.

we are beyond excited. well, we would have been excited either way. i just can't imagine having two little Owens running around. i love my little man so much, having two is going to be just amazing.

i love my boys beyond measure, and now i've been blessed with another. mitchell. owen. and now eli.

thank you, Lord that our baby is healthy, growing, and i hope really happy :) i imagine that he is!

baby oh baby!

2012-01-06T13:31:00.003-06:00

don't pass out.

yes, i am blogging. i have been absent from blogging, oh in it seems like a million years. but you know what? i realized that when i am not blogging, i am doing myself a disservice. blogging is me time. so you know what blog? it's you and me again. until like gets crazy again - oh on may 22nd!

that's right. baby etter will be making his/her debut into this glorious world on may 22nd. who said c-sections aren't wonderful. hello? i am going to know the exact date and approximate time each of my children will be born. not so bad if you ask me!

i feel just terrible that i haven't blogged or talked or even felt pregnant really lately. i have been so consumed with the outcome of my first pregnancy (Owen) that this second one is flying by. i am already 19 1/2 weeks along and we find out the sex of this baby next tuesday, the 10th!

please just pray for a healthy baby. finding out the sex is just an added bonus to that 20 week sonogram.

we are getting ready for Owen's big boy room and preparing for baby #2's baby room. it's bitter sweet saying goodbye to Owen's baby room. but he is no longer a baby. he is a big boy.

so here we go. this is to the next 5 1/2 whirwind months (now until June):

fix baby room
fix big boy room
pre-uil
uil
honors band concert
baby shower for a beautiful friend
spring break
beautiful friend having baby
more baby stuff
SPURS STUFF (basketball games, auditions, formal, etc.!)
parents moving to midland/odessa (pray their house sells quickly!)
mitchell band to six flags
end of year concert
baby (last three all happen within 5 days of each other, fyi!)
another beautiful friend getting married

word to your mother

2012-01-04T09:10:00.001-06:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

"i'm scared!"

2012-01-03T09:26:00.001-06:00

Owen and Mitchell are laying on his floor playing. actually, Owen is playing on top of Mitchell.

i had the idea of Owen trying to fit a bouncy ball in Mitchell's belly button. we thought it was really fun - Mitchell didn't.

either way it was funny to watch and see Owen try!

all Mitchell could say is, "i'm scared!"

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

love never fails.

2012-01-01T15:34:00.001-06:00

verse by Paul.

photography by Kimberly Hawkins.

cuteness. squeezable-ness. adorable-ness provided by Owen Etter.

our year in pictures (sort of)

2011-12-15T15:03:00.001-06:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

You'll love Shutterfly's award-winning photo books. Try it today.

thankful. day 23.

2011-11-23T07:31:00.003-06:00

i am thankful for Mitchell Lee Etter. i am so grateful that he was born in Irving, Texas on November the 16th, 1983. i am thankful for the man his parents raised him to be, and the love his family gave him everyday.

i love how he loves his family. i love how tender and giving his heart is. i admire how hard he works, and puts himself second. i am amazed at what a talented musician he is, and giving teacher. i love how he reminds me of my daddy; selfless, hardworking, loving, resonable, and loved by all.

selfishly, i love that he loves me. i love that he chose me, gave me love, attention, and a realtionship i never knew was possible. he showed me how to love in return, and give without question. i love how he loves me.

i love the father he is. the amazingly patient father that he is. i knew i first loved Mitchell when i knew i could see him with our children in his hands.

i love that Owen is silly, loving, and tender like his father. giving and thoughtful.

i love that i get to wake up to this man everyday and sleep next to him every night.

i love that he makes me laugh and that i have learned not to take myself or life too seriously. none of that matters - only our family does.

he is the lover of my heart, mind, and soul. he is all that i will never need, and more than i ever hoped for.

thank you, my Love for being you. thank you for loving me. thank you for giving me a family. thank you for our children and the house we have made a home together.

i love you more than you will ever know. deeper than i can ever express.

thankful. day 22.

2011-11-23T07:18:00.002-06:00

"Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but on Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."

1 Corinthians 8:6

day 22.

i am so humbled by God's renewed grace and faithfulness toward me. i stand in awe of all He does for me, day in and day out - a sinner by nature and unfortuantley by choice. though they are choices i hope and pray not to make, i still am a lowly sinner. though when i wake each morning, His promises to me are the same, new and beautiful as the sun rising in the sky; everlasting love, forgiveness, patience, peace, protection, grace, and heaven.

He gives me the ability to rise above my faults, transgressions, and sins to become the woman, mother, daughter, and wife that He knows i can be. i am nothing without His love and forgiveness.

the love i have for my heavenly Father is so great. it is a love and gratitude that i can never, never fully express. i feel it deep inside me - to where it almost hurts, it is so joyful and abundant.

althought i deserve none of this, not a bit of it - i will take this grace with open arms. and each day that i awake to His splendor and love, i will try to run the race that He has equipped me to run. and never be weary or faint. i will soar on the wings of eagles.

thankful. days 20-21.

2011-11-23T07:14:00.002-06:00

day 20.

i am thankful for body pillows. i wish i would have brought mine out the minute i was having problems sleeping, but regardless i am thankful for the intelligent woman who invented them. and i am very grateful for mine.

day 21.

i am super, uber grateful for school breaks, holidays, and vacations. i am so glad to have Dada home with us today (day 23) for a day filled with Muppets, lunch dates, my boys, and happiness all around!

thankful. day 19.

2011-11-19T13:26:00.002-06:00

ok so this is a super silly and not quite as serious of a thankful post. but it sure does make me smile. most days, like every day that me and my little BFF run errands we always go get some kind of treat; cookie at the United bakery, candy at target, or our favorite, Starbucks chocolate chip cookie with apple juice.

i love these silly and fun little moments when we are driving up or just driving around with dada and we mention getting a treat - his face lights up and we all get a little excited about having a treat.

i am thankful we get to do silly little things like this. enjoying a little treat every now and then... or a few times a week!

thankful. days 16-18.

2011-11-19T06:58:00.002-06:00

"Lord, how many are my goes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, 'God will not deliver him.' But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, to the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all the enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be in your people."

Psalm 3

day 16.

i am really very grateful for many, many books in the bible. Isaiah. James. Proverbs. i could go on and list every book in the bible, including the ones i wish i knew more. but i really do love Psalms. even when i was younger and couldn't quite understand the history and complexity of God's Word, Psalms was simple and executed what a young girl needed to know. Songs of Praise, Thanksgiving, Glory, and more. i know i can always open the book of Psalms and find exactly what God needs me to hear at this moment. including this third chapter.

you know me so well, heavenly Father - you know my heart, my needs, and my life. may i never stop giving you thanks and praise. YOU alone are MY SHIELD around me!!!

day 17.

i love Hardin-Simmons University. did you know that? if you didn't, then you probably don't know me very well. my HSU testimony has been sitting on the university's website since i started working there in May of 2005 to February of 2010, and is now posted again. i love HSU!

i went to HSU in spring of 2001. i had graduated May of 2000 not knowing where i wanted to go or what i wanted to do - so i stay at home for a year. i wasn't about to just go to school somewhere and then figure my life out. i needed to have a game plan before i left home. my brother visited HSU for a football recruiting trip and my parents quickly came home and told me i needed to visit. we did. and the rest is history.

i have literally been a part of HSU in some capacity since 2001. student, to staff member, alumni board member, board of young associates member, and now staff member again.

i love HSU for all the reasons that everyone else does. great, loving, family centered, Christian environment. the best professors ever. beautiful campus. encouragement everywhere. and the feelling that God truly lead me to HSU to serve Him in every capacity that i could possibly think of. i am thankful for these opportunites He has given me at HSU and grateful for a loving environment to serve Him in.

day 18.

i am thankful my niece Maggie accepted Christ into her heart a few weeks ago and will be baptized next Sunday. i am so happy for this most important decision she has made to walk forward in her journey with God.

thankful. days 9-15.

2011-11-18T05:01:00.003-06:00

"But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God;

may they be happy and joyful." Psalm 68:3

day 9.

i am really, really thankful for Mitchell's family. they are a wonderful, honest, and genuine family and i could not have imagined better in-laws. i remember the first time visiting Mitchell to meet his family - i was so scared. Mitchell was my first boyfriend, i had never done that before. would they think i was loud or crazy? standing at the top of the stairwell of his sister's apartment as Mitchell's mom is walking up, laughing as loud as can be i immediatley knew i was going to fit into this family perfectly.

i am thankful for my mother in law, Susan. i can call her and just talk for no reason and enjoy every second of our time together. i am thankful for Docy for always being so understanding. for Meredith and Mark, not just for giving me Maggie, Mollie Grace, and Micah for nieces and a nephew, but that is a big reason. for Matt, Sarah, Luke, and Ben. and so grateful for Nana and Bob Bob for being the grounding center stone of their family. for the beautiful foundation they created in each of the loved ones in their lives.

day 10.

i am thankful for our extended family. althought we might not see them or talk to them often, i know they are always there for love and support.

day 11.

i am so so so so so thankful for First Friends Pre-School at First Baptist Church. i really struggled with the idea of putting Owen into Tuesday/Thursday school. really - it was one of the hardest decisions i have ever made. i wanted it to be a true Christian pre-school. not just playtime from 9-2:30 pm. i wanted him to be loved and hugged on and given affection.

we could not be happier with FFPS. everyone, down to the janitor at FBC is wonderful, welcoming, and eager to have my child in their class. i am thankful his class is small and he gets more one on one attention than i thought possible. i am not ever anxious or unsure of how my son is during the day. i know he is learning about Jesus, his colors, being loved on, and having a wonderful time. having someone love your son so much is truly a blessing!

day 12.

i am thankful for my girlfriends, Jennifer and Natalie. i don't have many friends i stayed in touch with after high school, but they are the two women that have always been my friends and always been so caring and loving. i wish we lived closer, but i know the distance doesn't matter. so grateful for them!

day 13.

i am really thankful we live in a small town. i never in a million years would have thought i would attend college in a small town, away from my family of all things. and never would i have thought i would have met my husband and stayed here. but abilene has everything we need and we can't imagine leaving. we love everything about living here and are grateful for a small town community!

day 14.

today i am thankful for the two cars sitting in our drive way. they aren't the newest or fanciest cars (and i don't think i would ever want the newest or fanciest car), but they serve their purpose. they take us to see family, take my love to work, and allow us to run errands with my babies in stow as needed.

day 15.

i am thankful for access to good and awesome grocery stores. i could go on and on about organic and natural eating and living, but i will spare you. but i am grateful we have the opportunity to shop for the food and supplies that we need (i want) to keep our bodies healthy. it wasn't so long ago that this wasn't an option, so i am thankful for those stores in town. now, go shopping now so they don't disappear!

thankful. days 4-8.

2011-11-18T04:52:00.003-06:00

"Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silnece the fow and the aenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human being that you care for them?" Psalm 8:1-4

day 4.

i am so very grateful for our family that came into town to help us celebrate Owen's second birthday. the day would have been wonderful regardless of who was there, but having family in from out of town, family to help us celebrate, and family to love on my little Owen made the day so overflowing with love and happiness.

day 5.

i am thankful for the time and opportunity to celebrate Owen's birthday. when there are so many little boys and girls who don't get a special day to celebrate themselves, i am grateful for the opportunity to shower my little love with well wishes and love. it might not seem like a big deal, a party, but it isn't the party that was special, it was the people in the room that helped us blow out the candles in celebration. we are so thankful for each and every family member and friend that was there!

day 6.

althought we have all come down with the stomach bug in the past 2 weeks, i am so thankful and grateful for our health. the food in our tummies that keep us full, our incredible doctors that keep us well or heal our bodies when we are sick, and access to the best healthcare possible.

day 7.

i am thankful for my job. i can't imagine myself being anywhere else than at home with my son and babies to come. i don't need fancy clothes, or a high-paying job to validate who i am in the corporate world. my world is my Heavenly Father and the family He has given me. He has also allowed me the opportunities to take care of that family full-time. and for that, no amount of thanks can be expressed.

day 8.

i am thankful for technology. and computers. and smart phones. i know it's silly, but when you don't live near any of your family, these tools allow is to stay close to our loved ones day in and day out.

thankful. day 3.

2011-11-03T14:00:00.002-05:00

"Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Hebrews 10:19-25

day 3.

today i am so very thankful for my Spurs. i am grateful to call these beautiful young ladies my team. i am grateful for their giving and selfless spirits, their hardworking bodies and hearts, the Grace and Love that they speak of everyday - giving thanks to our Savior. they are an amazing example of God's love and His spirit living on this earth everyday.

i am thankful to spend at least 3 days a week with them, thankful the selfless choices they make to serve their school as ambassadors, to praise God with their dance, and to love and encourage one another. little do they know how much they encourage me every single day.

i am thankful for Hope, Julee, Elizabeth, Sarah, Lindsey, Rebecca, Shelby, Kirby, and Caitlin.

thankful. day 1 & 2.

2011-11-02T14:43:00.002-05:00

Psalm 100

A Psalm for giving grateful praise.

"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladeness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is GOD. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations."

day 1.

i am thankful for the house that i live in. the house that my husband works hard to provide for us. the house that we call home. we prayed and looked for over a year for our home, and the Lord answered our prayers one Sunday as we visited a random open house driving down Meander Street. it is all that we will ever need. it keeps my family warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and provides a place to gather and give thanks with our family when they come to visit.

we may not have extra bedrooms, or a fancy bathroom, but our house is always open and happy to have friends, family, and anyone who wants to come and visit.

day 2.

i am thankful for our dog. Romulus was our first child, and takes a very far backseat to Owen and now baby number 2 on the way, but he is a good dog. he protects us and our house. warns us of unwanted people in the alley. and keeps us safe. he is a good and loving dog and i am grateful for his protection.

Benjamin Edward

2011-10-10T14:17:00.003-05:00

i'd love to introduce to you my newest little nephew who will be one week old tomorrow.

tuesday, october 4, 2011. 9 pounds, 10 ounces, 21 1/4 inches.

i can't wait to love and kiss and squeeze you, Ben!

Aunt Mandy, Uncle Bubs, and Owen love you SO MUCH!

wolves or whales?

2011-10-07T13:33:00.002-05:00

according to Who What Wear, photo shirts are really in right now... see?!?! i didn't make this up.

but, apparently their photo shirts are a little different than the photo shirts we see in abilene. sort of like these. wolves seem to be the most popular, whales coming in a close third. to nascar shirts.

i went out on pseudo-date with a guy once who ALWAYS wore these shirts. it really wasn't an official date - it was more like i don't want to tell you no, but you are kind of nice, but not really my type - kind of ice cream afternoon thingy.

in addition to never letting me down and wearing these shirts, during our "date" he talked endlessly about bottle rockets. and his nascar shirt collection.

this is no exaggeration. if you can ID this person, please leave his name out of it.

dislike button

2011-10-05T15:32:00.002-05:00

i seriously dislike going to the gym this late in the afternoon. i don't really like going after 12pm.

when i do, it's full of those body building-type guys, walking around like they are sniffing the air, their arms carefully swinging at their sides at like a 90 degree angle from their body because their muscles are so huge. they carry their 1 gallon water bottles and lift weights and walk around with other guys that look JUST LIKE THEM!

they fill up the free weight section, breathing like wilde beasts as they pump their iron.

i'd rather go in the morning with these kinda moms/women. you know the ones that are aching to start on Real Housewives of West Texas.

yea, you know. half a dozen one - six the other i guess!

life is a battlefield

2011-10-03T08:02:00.001-05:00

life is full of choices. I choose not to argue with Owen when he insisted on eating pudding with his breakfast.

He chose to humor me and eat his whole wheat, flax seed waffles... With his pudding.

1 for Mama. 1 for Owen. We'll see what the score is at the end of the day.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

30 vs. 130

2011-09-18T17:52:00.002-05:00

my not quite 30 pound kid chased my 130 pound dog around the backyard trying to feed him and brush his hair.

i don't know why Romulus is afraid of Owen. maybe it's because Owen talks to Rom like i do. telling him to "shhhh!" and "sit" and "here!"

i'd be a bit afriad too, but really Romulus. just let the kid brush your hair!

taco soup-day

2011-09-16T12:07:00.003-05:00

get it?!?! taco soup-day, taco tues-day!?!?

i know i'm so funny it's really not funny!

wednesday i was extra home-makerish and made mini pimpkin muffins with cream cheese icing for breakfast, and taco soup for dinner. everyone asked for the recipe so here it is! every week i'm going to make a yummy, delish, warm your tummy and heart kind of soup and will post the recipe on Friday.

here's to your happy soup-making fall!

taco soup

1 1/2 pounds of lean ground meat or ground turkey

4 cups of low sodium beef broth

Corn

1 can of petite diced tomatoes

1 small can of diced green chilis

1/2 white onion diced small

1 can of beans rinsed (i like pinto or black the best)

salt, pepper, ground cumin, 2 garlic cloves (or garlic powder), chili powder

side note: yes we do organic on all of the above except the meat (because that's really expensive and we don't have much of a selection of that in little A-Town). do what you want, but you know i'm a hippy... so organic we go!

in a big stock pot put beef broth with equal amounts of water (add 1 more cup later if it's too beefy for you, or even more if you want it more soupy. i like ours more stoup-ish, so i make it with a little less water), can of tomatoes, chilis, onion, corn and beans of medium heat.

in a pan, cook meat. season with a little bit of salt, pepper, and one clove of garlic.

after meat is cooked drain if needed, add to beef broth.

add the rest of the seasonings. all are to taste. i like my soup really garlicy, that might not be your cup of tea - so just do what tastes good to you. but DEFINITELY add the ground cumin and chili powder. even if you think you don't like it - you will. trust me. this tan doesn't lie.

bring pot to soft boil, reduce heat to medium low and let simmer for 30 minutes or so.

ladle into bowl.

top with some or all of the following: diced avocado, shredded cheese, pico de gallo, sour cream.

eat. get some more. be happy.

next week: easy smeasy tomato basil soup.

33 & 5

2011-09-11T18:44:00.001-05:00

my parents are at the Santana concert tonight in San Antonio celebrating their anniversary. they've been sending me pictures all night like the little love birds that they are. in the driveway leaving the house. at the concert, hugging and loving in each other!

i hope that in 28 years Mitchell & i are that silly and crazy in love... i know we will be.

so thankful and blessed for the loving, Godly example of a happy marriage that they have illustrated for me, Richard, and Victoria.

love it!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

words of wisdom

2011-09-09T10:10:00.002-05:00

i sowwy (i'm sorry)

deh duh (thank you)

yey ma (yes ma'am)

heh meh (help me)

peeeze (please)

as if i needed another reason to love my little guy, he's super polite! :)

should-a had it.

2011-09-01T08:29:00.002-05:00

i so should have had this shirt in school.

granted i helped Ricky with more homework than he helped me through the years, but that one semester in college where we had the same history class would not have been the same if he hadn't sat right beside me!

another look-a-like

2011-09-01T05:09:00.003-05:00

another mr. etter look-a-like. mark diaz from HGTV's design star.

i think mr. etter likes the target commercial comparisson better.

but i promise, you will never find my husband in a vest.

courtesy

toilet seat = hat

2011-08-30T08:24:00.002-05:00

my kids walking around with a toilet seat on his head.

to be fair (to me of course) it's clean and it's his toilet seat. not his fathers.

oh, and i only make him do that when he's been bad.

just kidding on the being bad part. my son doesn't even know the meaning of being bad nor has he really ever heard the work "no".

yes, i'm one of those mothers. that and he rarely ever gives me a reason to tell him "no".

back to the toilet seat... its clean. he's having fun. and we are all happy. and that my friends, is reason enough to let him walk around with a toilet seat on his head!

shaun white hoodies. denim.

2011-08-26T07:43:00.002-05:00

there have been several Mr. Etter sightings lately. a friend posted a picture on my facebook wall with his twin playing in a piano bar. Mr. Etter? very likely.

but this, this my friends is my favorite Mr. Etter look-a-like.

i think we should make our own commercial with the real Mr. Etter.

will the real Mitchell Etter please stand up. please stand up. please stand up!

a man and his dog

2011-08-17T14:14:00.001-05:00

gettin' messy

2011-08-12T12:50:00.002-05:00

i found this recipe for chalk paint here on Meg's blog Whatever. (if you don't read her blog, you should!)

i can't wait to get messy with Owen this afternoon after nap time.

if you're looking for us, we'll be on the driveway painting our little afternoon away. i can't wait.

p.s. O will be the one in a diaper and crocs. i'll be in the grungy clothes. incase you passed by and were wondering.

thirty three

2011-08-12T09:29:00.003-05:00

happy birthday to my sweet, sweet parents, Mona and Richard. aka Grammie and Poppie. today they celebrate 33 years of marriage.

33 years of love, frienship, family. hard times, good times, struggle, hurt, happiness, tears of joy and tears of sadness.

growing up and to this day my parents have illustrated what a Godly marriage should be. and early on i knew i wanted that. i knew i wanted to marry my best friend who puts God above all.

i knew i wanted to be a selfless wife whose love for her family knows no limits. i wanted a husband who provided for his family no matter what needed to be done.

i cannot put into words how much their love and friendship has influenced me nor how much i love them. i love seeing my parents together. i love who they are. i love what they have done for our family.

love you mommy and daddy. happy anniversary.

fore

2011-08-07T13:17:00.003-05:00

a few weeks ago Mitchell went golfing. we decided that it would be a good time to get Owen out on the course. he has some clubs and LOVES them and hits every ball in sight. we just knew he'd have fun our on the course.

of course the boys had to practice their putting before heading out.

tell me that isn't the CUTEST golfer you've every seen. Andrea, the popped collar is for you.

Owen found it much more efficient to just put the ball in the hole when he finally got it closer. personally, i agree!

NS Ohhhh!

2011-08-01T16:13:00.003-05:00

i am so excited about hosting a NSO family for a dessert party again this year. this will be my 4th time to host. is that right? let's see, how many years have we been married:

1. first year married, hosted @ the state street house

2. second year, didn't host. we were in a matchbox apartment.

3. hosted, meander street house.

4. hosted again, i was big and pregnant.

5. didn't host, wasn't technically working for hsu.

6. this year hosting!

ok, so my 5th time. let's hope this year isn't quite as crazy as the first time we hosted here at our love shack or the last time we hosted a family for NSO9.

let's just say each time has been fun, memorable, and crazy.

i'll go with less crazy and more on the fun side this year, please!

i can't wait to host these new students. WELCOME TO THE 40 ACRES, Y'ALL!

goodnight moon

2011-07-28T20:57:00.002-05:00

Owen has heard Goodnight Moon as his night time story since he was an angle in my tummy. it was one of the first books we bought him, and the one we read to him everynight.

he hears it everynight before he goes to bed. i think it's the favorite part of his bedtime routine.

my favorite part in the book is when we come to the page that says, "And goodnight to the little old lady whispering hush."

before we even get to that page, Owen has his little finger up to his lips, whispering shhhhh!

my little love. how you have my heart. goodnight my love. precious dreams and sleep tight my love. may tomorrow be sunny and bright...

countdown

2011-07-24T12:51:00.002-05:00

46 more days until my best friend Aimee is here to judge fall auditions with me.

30 more days until kids are back at school.

25 more days until my Spurs check-in.

25 until Auntie Vicki is here for 5 days.

24 more days until Spurs camp 2011 starts.

23 more days until dada goes back to work/school/band.

20 more until abuleos is no longer a part of our lives. unless we are all eating there as a family.

whew. i think i'm ready. I Think I'm Ready! I KNOW I'M READY!

sweet emotion.

2011-07-22T12:35:00.003-05:00

monday afternoon we loaded up the car and headed toward the gym. about halfway there, we (i mean i) decided we didn't want to go work out. so we're driving down Pine St. and Owen sees the McKay's billboard right infront of the civic center and starts screaming cooko, cooko (cookie). it just so cute when he does that, especially because it's always followed by peese (please).

off we go to get my little dude a thumbprint cookie. before we could turn toward Cypress St. i noticed the new bakery on Pine, Sweet Celebrations. we decided to give this place a try.

Sweet Celebrations is located where Abilene Coffee Company used to be. did you ever go there?it closed down 5 years ago. it is where Mitchell and i had our first date. where we had lunch together every week while dating and engaged. and where i was supposed to have my bridal luncheon, until it closed.

it wasn't a fancy place. just a sandwich shop with really good coffee, Abilene Gold. the people were nice. we had our special table. and ordered the same thing every time. with coffee to go.

we walked into the bakery, ordered our goodies and sat down. across from mine and Mitchell's table. i look around, surrounded by my two favorite men and get super emotional, super sad, and super teary. that totally came out of nowhere.

it was the place where mitchell and i began. talking about our families, how much we had in common. how both of each had 3 kids in each family, two dogs. the place where i first realized i loved Mitchell. planning the rest of our lives together.

and there i was with my love, and my little love.

i was sad it was no longer Abilene Coffee Company. but our little memories weren't gone.

it was so fun. we sat there, had our goodies. except Owen because their thumbprint cookies sucked. you know it's bad when a 19 month old won't eat your cookie.

then we left. me, with my boys in hand! full of mine sweet emotions.

for reals. dawg.

2011-07-20T16:17:00.002-05:00

from: pinterest

lets be pinterest friends.

rx for the day

2011-07-16T12:35:00.000-05:00

"A cheerful disposition is good for your health;

gloom and doom leave you bone-tired."

Proverbs 17:22 The Message

aint too proud

2011-07-15T19:59:00.003-05:00

*warning. this post might be too graphic for you. especially if you don't have children. but when you do, oh you will share my JOY!

Owen totally went number 1 AND 2 in the toilet tonight.

and you remember how excited i was last time he did number 1, and how hard he trys... then you know how totally PUMPED i am that it was both big jobs.

lets just say it was a total surprise to mommy. i at least knew something was up when it got stinky while i was getting the bath ready.

can i tell you changing a dirty diaper is TOTALLY different than cleaning out a little potty.

give me the dirty diapers any day. no matter what color they are.

was that too much?!?!

yep, there's the line. and i am WAY passed it!

the best part of waking up

2011-07-15T04:10:00.002-05:00

thebestpartofwakingupat4amismakingcoffeeandbeingsoexcitedtodrinkityoualmostburnyourtoungebutyoudoitanywaysoyoucanhavecoffeejittersthenyougetworriedabout2pmandhowyou'regoingtofeelbutdontcareandstartdrinkingmorecoffee.

can you say sleep deprived?!?!

condiments

2011-07-11T12:03:00.003-05:00

i think that my son permanently smells like maple syrup and ketchup.

no matter how often we wash, clean, or how hard i scrub - he always smells like syrup and ketcheup.

it could be worse.

there are many other condiments that he could smell like that aren't so nice to take a whiff of. like mustard, or bar-b-q sauce, or mayo. that would be the worse.

so, from now on i am going to bottle his smell after he's freshly bathed at night and lotioned like a butterball turkey so i can smell that all day long.

you, know now that i think about it - it may be me that smells like syrup and ketchup. that is always a possibility.

really?!?!

2011-07-10T15:32:00.001-05:00

http://bit.ly/qmCPLD

kids don't get tooth decay because of sippy cups. they get it because their parents.

come on government.

why don't you put warning labels on hoochie clothing saying, "may cause your teenager/child who's too young to wear this piece of clothing to act and do inappropriate things."

just say it: you parents make bad decisions for your children... lazy parenting.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

this is how we do it

2011-07-07T11:48:00.002-05:00

sha la la la la la la.

do you remember that song? who sings it, criss cross? oh no, that's the jump jump song they sing. anyway. i'll spare you and singing! this is what made me think of that song:

Owen has a potty. we aren't heavily potty training or anything, but he tells me when he's dirty (shhhewie), trys to take off his diaper when he's dirty, etc. so we figured it was time to start leaning in that direction.

yesterday, we go to the bathroom together to go potty, i sit on the big potty - Owen sits on his. he then decides he needs to take of his shirt, then pants. apparently he thought that would help him. or maybe he saw his father do that, i certainly don't sit there wtith no clothes on!

we're sitting, doing our business and all of a sudden Owen says, "Ugggh!" quickly followed by, "Whew!"

i kid you not.

it was amazing, and one of the most hilarious things i have heard/seen him do.

i proceed to give him toilet paper, told him we were finished so he needed to wipe his bowhinney.

he grabs the TP, wipes his bowhinney (standing up), turns around and closes the lid to his potty holding the TP, re-opens it to throw away the TP, then flushes, smiles at me, then leaves.

i wish you could see the replay of this going on in my head right now. oh, Owen. you are so silly!

p.s. here's that song... i finally remembered what it was. now you can have it stuck in your head!

who are we? SPURS!

2011-07-05T07:15:00.004-05:00

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created."

James 1:17-18

i am so excited to announce i am the new director of the Hardin-Simmons University SPURS Dance Team. (yea!)

i accepted the position last week and wanted to scream it from the mountain tops, but had to wait until this week. i am so blessed to be a part of the HSU staff family again, and to be apart of the team that meant so much to me while i was in college.

while on the dance team, we competed for a national title.

i met my hunky Cowboy Band husband during Spurs and CBB practice during football season.

my best friends cheered along side the Spurs on the sidelines. (side note, that good friend Katie is the HSU cheerleading coach!)

i am also following in the footsteps of my dear friend Kimberely. without her i would be aimless in this journey.

before deciding to apply, during the applicaiton process, and while waiting for a decision i prayed the first chapter of James over and over again asking God for His wisdon, will, and for peace about the position. i wanted this not only to be a perfect for my family, but for the young ladies i would be coaching.

He answered my prayers not just with the offer of the job, but by giving me a true peace about whatever decision came my way. i truly and whole-heartedly leaned on my Heavenly Father, and my friends who were a wonderful support system to me. i took me out of the prayers and the decision and it was clear about what i needed to do.

what was also a HUGE factor in this decision was being able to commit to my first job, being a stay at home mom. Owen is after all my little boss, but he is my first committment and most important one next to his father. my family comes first in every decision i make - that is why this was not about me, but about them. i will be able to coach the team and keep my number one priority, my son.

friends, i ask you to continue to pray for me, my family, and the young ladies i will be coaching. pray that in all we do, we bring Glory and Honor to the most high Jesus Christ and to our heavenly Father.

if that is all that i do day in and day out with this position, i will have been successful beyond measure.

i'm so excited!

2011-06-30T11:36:00.002-05:00

i can't tell you why until next week. (no, i'm not pregnant)

but, still. i am just about that excited!

*the alternative

2011-06-29T08:47:00.001-05:00

Owen is finding other uses for his potty.

p.s. that's cereal!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

to callie's prayer warriors

2011-06-28T20:12:00.001-05:00

from her caring bridge page, posted last night:

Mon, Jun 27, 2011 10:39 PM
Today has been a very long day for Phil and Courtney, not a bad day, just a long day. The day started off well for sweet Callie. She had a good night's rest and a good start to the day. She had several moments of peace this morning. She said, "mama," "nana," and "mal-mal." She tried to bark when they showed her a picture of a puppy dog. She even told one of the nurses "no!" She loved on a stuffed animal, and had several sweet cuddle moments with her mommy and daddy. There were a few times where she was scared, angry, and aggitated, but they were able to calm her down.

The speech pathologist came to see her today to do her swallow test, but then decided to give Callie another day or two before they do the test. They want to make sure she will be able to do her best on the test, and another day or two could make all he difference. Callie is still slowly getting better at coughing, and Courtney said she saw some signs today that she may be trying to swallow.

A highlight of the day for Courtney was going to get a manicure. The hospital had "spa-tastic" day for parents to get pampered, so Courtney took advantage of it. It is amazing what a wonderful place Cooks Children's Hospital is. From the doctors and nurses to the great volunteers, they do a great job of helping to make the most difficult times a bit easier to manage. Also, the outpouring of love from friends, family, and strangers has been felt by Phil and Courtney. They are constantly amazed at all the little things being done to help them out. And of course they are so grateful to all of Callie's prayer warriors.

The afternoon was a bit of a roller coaster. First, Callie was allowed to leave the PICU! All of her stats were, and still are looking good. She is off of the oxygen and doing pretty well. This brought a little bit of anxiety, but it is a step in the right direction. The only problem was the move was very hard on Callie. A new room and new faces was just too much for her. She became very hysterical and scared. She had a very rough evening. They finally gave her some medicine to calm her down so hopefully she can get some rest tonight.

Courtney asks specifically that you pray for Callie to have a peace that only the Lord can provide.

Also tonight, they received the pathology results. The tumor is in fact an Ependymoma. The doctors thought it was, but now the results are finalized. Phil and Courtney have been preparing themselves for this news, but it is still incredibly hard to hear.

So, on this Monday night, I ask that you pray to our Heavenly Father for Phil and Courtney to have strength and wisdom to get through the day tomorrow. Callie will have an evaluation with an optimologist in the morning and possibly another CT scan. Then Phil and Courtney with be meeting with Callie's team of doctors to determine where they will go from here.

There are no words to relay to you the emotions that are being felt on this night by a mommy and a daddy who are despretaly crying out to the Lord for their baby girl. Please continue to lift them up in prayer as they face a difficult day ahead. We all know that the Lord has done many miracles for Callie over the last week, and we know he is not through yet because He is so Big, so Strong, and so Mighty. There's Nothing my God cannot do for Callie!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

chocolate pudding + ketchup =

2011-06-27T18:31:00.001-05:00

yum apparently!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

did i do that?

2011-06-26T16:03:00.002-05:00

Owen: OUCH!

Me: well, don't pull it. if you pull it, it's going to hurt.

Owen: ouuuuwch.

sardines

2011-06-26T11:26:00.003-05:00

when we found out we were pregnant with Owen we got a larger vehicle. that and a 1996 mazda 626 isn't the safest in the world. no air bags in the backseats, people.

and then came baby. and all of baby's stuff.

we haven't taken a really long or long (timewise) road trip since having Owen. and romulus who used to take car rides all the time, don't get near a vehicle unless it's his vet visit.

2 weeks ago we loaded up baby, baby's stuff, our stuff, food, coolers, toys, book, stuffed animals, and romulus and headed toward austin. then did it again 4 days later and headed to dallas.

it made for a lot of fun. haha, crazy fun.

but our once larger vehicle became really, really, really small. i guess anything is smaller once you throw a 130 pound dog into the mix.

but Owen didn't seem to mind one bit!

date night. anniversary. surprise.

2011-06-25T08:22:00.002-05:00

june the 10th was our 5 year anniversay. we didn't do anything special because we figured we be in dallas and austin the next week, and it's way funner to celebrate there than our regular restaurant scene here (copper creek/behive).

at the begining of the week mitchell told me we had an anniversary surprise Saturday night while we were in DFW.

i LOVE SURPRISES! so i couldn't wait. we get to grand prairie to the verizon theatre to see Chelsea Handler.

now, don't you go judge me now.

it was inappropriate. i was a little embarassed at times. but it was hilarious. come on, our parents went to go see rodney dangerfield and i know that wasn't PG-13.

needless to say we laughed a lot. i am sure the people around us couldn't even hear because of my cackeling.

above all. i enjoyed sometime with my love. and that was awesome.

stella & dot. fabulous K. obsessed.

2011-06-24T12:16:00.002-05:00

have you seen this giveaway from Fabulous K?

i love these earrings. i almost purchased them when i shopped at Stella and Dot a few months ago, but opted for the little lady bug earrings which they don't have anymore. glad i got them when i did. i wear them ALMOST every day with this necklace. which i LOVE even more!

i do own more jewlery. but sometimes i get a current favorite and wear in all the time. do you do that?

oh, look. i am wearing both today!

callie

2011-06-24T11:59:00.001-05:00

taken from Courtney's facebook page:

Please pray for callie. She is having a lot of secretions and is working hard to get them up but is still needing suction. They have her on hi flow oxygen this morning to help. They have also ordered a chest X-ray. Pray for nothing abnormal in the X-ray. Looks like we will still be in the PICU again today.

Also she still hasn't had any clear liquids and is having some pooling in her mouth so please pray she will and can swallow whenever they try. Please pray for God to touch her and heal her!

pray for the secretions to clear up. pray for no infections or pneumonia in the next few days. pray for courtney, phil, and carson's strength.

continue to pray for Callie

2011-06-23T13:09:00.001-05:00

continue to pray for Callie and her sweet parents. the easy part is over. they now wait for pathology reports, begin healing her little body, and recovery. PRAY the tumor is benign.

keep up with her progress:
www.caringbridge.com/visit/calliecochran

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

MOOA

2011-06-22T16:15:00.004-05:00

museum of owen's art.

it's not the MOMA. it's not the Kimbell. but we love our little artists works of art!

admission to the MOOA is free during early morning and afternoon hours. between the hours of 11-3 pm, the fee is a chocolate chip cookie.

psalm 121

2011-06-22T11:45:00.003-05:00

opened my bible to this chapter this morning.

Psalm 121

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm He will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

thinking of you sweet, Callie.

pray for Callie now!

2011-06-22T06:50:00.003-05:00

friends please stop and pray for Callie right now. she will be starting surgery within the next 10 minutes.

read her request here on my previous post:

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

pray for Callie

2011-06-21T20:14:00.004-05:00

Callie Cochran is a 22 month old little girl.

her parents are friends who attend church with us. after experiencing symptoms for 3 weeks, the doctors called for a CT scan yesterday and found a tumor in her cerebellum the size of a peach. last night Callie and her parents Phil and Courtney headed to Cooks. today after more tests the doctors confirmed her tumor and are almost certian that her tumor is malignant. they are not sure if the tumor is wrapper around her brainstem or not.

this is an update from Callie's mom, posted on facebook earlier this evening:

"Talked to the drs and she has peach size tumor in the back of her brain that is consuming most of the back portion of her brain. He informed us that almost always these tumors are malignant. He also feels that it is certain that she will have some type of side effects. Our prayers are for a benign tumor that doesn't involve the brain stem, no complications during and after surgery and that she would be the same Callie!!! Please pray for wisdom and skill for Dr Donahue and all staff that will come in contact with her. Our hearts r hurting but not broken. We serve a MIGHTY GOD!! If you would please join us in endless PRAYER And FASTING for our SWEET CALLIE!!"

please stop and pray for Callie. pray for her doctors. pray for her nurses and the staff at Cooks.

pray for Phil and Courtney. pray for her brother Carson who is 4 years old. pray for her family.

cry out to The Lord for peace, comfort, and understanding. You are Mighty O' Lord. You are our ultimate healer and comforter. You are the most high!

most of all, please send this post out to your friends, your Sunday School class, your Life Groups, everyone you know and ask them to stop and pray for Callie tomorrow at 7am as her surgery starts.

pray for Callie.

5 years {day one}

2011-06-05T13:37:00.004-05:00

this friday, june 10th, Mitchell and i will celebrate our 5th anniversary. we have been together for 8 years this past march.

everyday leading up to friday, i will post a few of the many reasons i love my wonderful husband.

my love,

look at you. i LOVE this picture. i love it so much that i placed it on every post, print piece, advertisement, HSU, cowboy band item that i could while i was working in the marketing office at HSU. but really, i'd be proud of that kick, too if i were you!

before our first date you asked for my phone number while i was walking to friend's dorm. you were nasty and sweat from playing basketball, complete with a pony tail on your head. come to think of it the first few times i saw you, you looked like this!

a long week and half passed and you didn't call. i remember asking my sister if i should call you or not - i was getting impatient by that point. she quickly said no, i quickly turned around and called you. i think i made you feel bad.

we talked for about 500 hours. i never do that. i don't even like talking on the phone.

you had no problem calling after that. even when you'd show up at my apartment by surprise with whilte chocolate frozen yogurt and gummy bears.

i love getting your calls to this day. your name and picture popping up on my phone still makes my heart jump and i get giddy all over again.

love,

quick to listen, slow to speak & slow to become angry

2011-06-02T19:20:00.003-05:00

James 1:2-8

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do."

i have found great comfort, patience, and strength from the first chapter of James. i could have quoted the entire chapter here for you, but the first 8 verses are those that read to my heart the strongest. although i have read it several times before, a friend urged me to reread the chapter. as i read, and reread this book i more clearly see James' comparison of wordly wisdom to Godly wisdom. he ends the book with encouragement to believers to be patient in suffering, praying and caring for one another, strengthening our faith through fellowship.

this is a major part of being a believer. encouragement, not just in yourself but in others. through that gift you will find patience in your longing. once again, through fellowship in others and in Christ.

now as i long for answers, a sign, or directions i have to remember James' emphasis that our actions will come naturally from us as we are filled with the Holy Spirit. James 5:16b "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

i pray this constantly not only in my time of need and want, but daily. through my prayer and thanksgiving i find my love for my Heavenly Father will naturally flow through my actions and words, praising Him. second will come what i am looking for... in Him.

yes, i was born in a barn.

2011-05-25T20:19:00.002-05:00

well, i wasn't. nor was my son or husband. but the goats, cows, pigs, ducks, etc. that we got to see and feed today at May Farm were. here are just a few pics of the glorious fun we had feeding the animals.

funny story, Owen went right up and practically hugged the lama and mule. the lady was surprised he wasn't scared. nope, he's got a dog that is the size of the mule. what do you think?

and... i am sorry for the rangers hat. the rangers are Owen's AL team, blah, blah. mitchell made me say it! he truly is a 'Stros fan... promise!

it is well with my soul

2011-05-24T19:51:00.003-05:00

we are incredibly blessed that Mitchell has a job that provids for our family. a job that he loves and enjoys day in and day out. even though no job is perfect and without its up hill stuggles, he loves to teach music. it is his passion and his hobby. and he is lucky enough to do it every single day.

Joe Mack Hill, his mentor and great friend has arranged a piece for Mitchell's Honors Band to play at their Spring concert for the past two years. this year it was, "It Is Well With My Soul." Ms. G, Mitchell's friend and the choir director at Clack performed while the band played the arrangement of this piece that was comissioned for them.

it was a blessing to be in the audience last Thursday to hear this piece being performed by the Clack Middle School Honors Band, conducted by my husband.

Untitled from Amanda Etter on Vimeo.

(p.s. sorry for the shakey hand. i was trying to hold a 18 month old in squeeky shoes. note to self, no squeeky shoes for the next concert.)

silly doggie

2011-05-15T13:36:00.001-05:00

i am sure you've seen this video by now, but it is SO FUNNY! i love it. it reminds me of my mom's dog Abbie who passed a few months ago. mom would talk to Abbie just like this, and she literally would respond. crazy, but true!

one year ago. one day ago.

2011-05-06T19:55:00.003-05:00

i can't stand it.

i just can't stand it.

you make my heart ache with joy and happiness and love - that it actually aches and swells. so much so that i think i just cannot stand it anymore.

one year ago you were into everything. wanting to do everything by yourself. nothing has changed today. but you are never too far ahead of me. you always run off, but come running back, look up at me and reach out for my hand. you love to hold hands. anywhere we are going.

my sweet Owen. your kisses are sweeter every single day. and now, randomly you will come at me and give me kisses. you will bend and swoop your face toward mine, and go in for a big juicy kiss. ahhh, there is goes again. my heart is just beating out of my chest thinking of it.

i feel sometimes that i cannot take so much happiness or this extreme joy in my life. sometimes i don't know what to do with it, my blessings are seeping out through my pores. i look at you and your father and cannot imagine what i have done to deserve waking up to you two every single day. getting to kiss you good morning and good night. i don't deserve anything my heavenly Father has given me.

but, oh how i bow down in gracious prayer every second of every day thanking Him for the life He has given me that includes you!

natural to the grocers

2011-04-28T12:55:00.002-05:00

it is no secret around here that we love organic. all natural. and organic. i was cleaning out our fridge and pantry (which isn't really a pantry, it's a cabinet. yeah, cabinets in our wash room. i obviously didn't think twice about that when we walked through the open house, but that was a dream compared to the DIY shelf in our apartment)

anyway, i was doing the monthly cleaning of the fridge and pseudo-pantry and realized we eat really healthy as a family. i am not trying to brag on ourselves, but we do. where we gain our unneeded calories is from desserts and drinks. that is my weakness, therefore becoming my family's weakness. one day, one day.

what i can't find or buy here in abilene my beloved mother purchases for me in austin at central market or whole foods. bless her, seriously, bless her. she brings me my spices, flour, maple syrup, olive oil - you name it, from those lovely places. all the little fun things that you read about on blogs and online that you can only dream about cooking with and you know you will never find in little a-town - she brings it to me.

first class service. that is what this is!

that is really why i love united on s. 14th so much. they have a lot, but not everything. and the natural food store on s. 7th. and was excited when the food co-op was coming to abilene. still so much work. i am used to just going to central market on westgate, people.

then... then came natural grocers. i didn't know what to expect. i really didn't get myself too excited. but then i walked in and almost cried. almost. it is magnificent. it truly is. if you haven't been then you NEED TO GO. just sample, just buy a few things. just having access to such amazingly awesome produce, organic, and all natural just might make you a believer if you aren't already!

the only sad thing is that my personal organic concierge is now out of business. sorry grammie!

dear brunette barbi,

2011-04-26T13:08:00.004-05:00

yes you, who works out at my health club.

i hate to break it to you but this is not the Real Housewives of West Texas.

real women don't workout in their wonder bras and pink leopard tank tops - with their long beautiful, curled hair in a conviniently loose poney tail, so that by half way through class you just have to take it out. who works out with their hair down and in their face? flowing from side to side, waving back and forth? who does that?

don't get me wrong. you look great. and you deserve to wear all that spandex and pink leopard tops, with matching nikes. at first you bothered me. and then i thought, hey if i looked that good maybe i would dress like that to workout.

no, i wouldn't. i still wear dance pants from college to teach in. the most i have spent on any single workout item are my tennis shoes. eveyrthing else is a tshirt or from target.

no one does that.

so, brunette barbi. please just let me know if you are auditioning for Real Housewives of West Texas and i will back off on all the mean and dirty comments i say in my head.

love,

amanda

p.s. i hope nothing pops out of your tank top tomorrow when you are doing juming jacks! because that would just suck for you. but maybe not for all the men at the gym.

things your mother never asked you

2011-04-22T20:15:00.003-05:00

as an almost 17 month old i am pretty sure my mom never asked me, "amanda, where's your ipod?"

not only does Owen have one iPod. he has two. technically they are mine and Mitchell's, but they are currently being used by Owen. just like he thinks the mac is his, and our iPhones. it might just be easier to get the kid his own.

today, i forgot to pick up the iHome that sits on the floor in Owen's room with my pretty pink iPod before room-time. (don't worry, it's sort of hidden, so you can't tell that a boy has a pink iPod in is room) well, i didn't realize it was missing until this afternoon when i went to pick up his room and get it ready for bedtime.

there i am frantically looking for it. if we don't have it, what's going to play our thunderstorm white noise? what are we going to do? (more like, what am i going to do?)

i'm looking, and looking. and then Owen comes around the corner, golf club in hand, cinnamon toast in the other. and then i ask (in a half playing matter), "Owen, where's your iPod?" without skipping a beat the kid, puts down his driver, walks over to the diaper champ, opens it up, and looks at me.

ugh. really? you put it in there? ugh. it was in there.

thank you for finding it Owen. i should have asked you 15 minuets ago. or should have picked it up before room-time because that was a nasty stinky iPod. thank you clorox wipes and lysol.

embarassing or emarassinger

2011-04-20T09:17:00.002-05:00

what's more embarassing than embarassing yourself you ask?

embarassing yourself infront of your class of 6th graders and older.

let me explain.

dancers wear tights under their dance pants. they just do. don't ask why. monday for class i thought, i don't need to wear my tights, these pants are thick. yes, that is exactly what i thought. these pants are thick. i won't wear my tights under my dance pants.

i make it through class number one. teach, dance, etc.

class number two is another story.

right in the middle of demostrating a dance move, ON THE FLOOR, moving around, i remember, these pants have a hole in them.

yea, they have a hole in them. i am infront of the class. with a hole in my pants.

did i keep going and dancing? NO. because that would have been the smooth thing to do and everyone knows i am not smooth.

i stop. cross my legs and exclaim, "oh my gosh, there's a hole in my pants."

well, of course no one noticed, except one girl who probably wouldn't have said anything.

don't worry. i had undies on.

BUT THIS IS WHY YOU WEAR TIGHTS UNDER YOUR DANCE PANTS.

and that is how you more embarasse yourself infront of middle school and high school students.

keep in mind i danced right into the mirror a few weeks back. that was the other class though. i make it a point to do stupid things in different classes so that hopefully they forget by time the next act of stupidity and clumbsiness comes around.

think pink

2011-04-12T13:19:00.002-05:00

i love pink.

i really, really do.

i used to wear it at least, 2-3 times a week. in my professional wardrobe. seriouslly. then i decided to semi-retire it. i am 29 you know. (this is where you tell me i look no older than 25) you can email me my "you look really young" comments at maetter@gmail.com

anyway, i think pink needs to come back, like now!

what do you think mr. etter would think about this:

i didn't think so either.

band director vs. pro golfer

2011-04-11T09:10:00.004-05:00

ladies, if your husband golfs he secretly (or not so secretly) dreams of becoming a professional golfer.

he dreams of recieiving the call from the PGA that they have sent his tour card (or however it works) in the mail and he is officially on the tour.

that's just how it is for about 99% of men out there, i know it is for my husband. if he could leave his gig of teaching right now. this very minute. he would for all the fame and glory of joining the PGA!

yesterday as we were watching the end of the Master's together and the last 3 or so guys were neck in neck, they were cutting away to show their wives clutching their LV purses, 3 carot diamond earrings blinging in their ears, as they were convulsing with nerves. and then as Charl Schwartzel wins his wife crys and is elated. i told Mitchell that is how i feel at the end of his concerts. i am elated and start crying with enthusiasm. he thought i was totally being sarcastic and silly. (in part i was) but really, if you could do what he does with middle school kids and put on a concert that is worthy of what some high school bands does, you'd cry like some of those pro golfer's wives do. i do get that excited!!!

and then Mitchell decides again he is going to join the tour and give up the music world. i told him the only way i'd give up my posh life as a musicians wife is if he'd buy me prada sunglasses like Charl's wife. that's the deal breaker for me.

flash back friday

2011-04-08T09:14:00.004-05:00

6 years ago this past wednesday mitchell walked into my apartment. we were both in college. it was my senior year his junior. he was expecting a nice lovely evening of us just hanging out. i viciously told him that we cannot talk about marriage, weddings, or anything after that date until there was a ring with a diamond on my left hand.

and that was the end of that.

i don't remember the rest of the evening but i am sure it didn't go as mitchell had planned and i am sure it was a quiet evening.

6 years ago this weekend, as was already planned i took a trip with my college dance team out of town, and mitchell took a trip to the metroplex to pick up that diamond ring then to waco to meet my parents and sister to ask my family for my hand in marriage.

4 days later, April 13, 2005 we were engaged.

maybe i hadn't told him viciously that we couldn't talk about marriage anymore now that i look back on it. maybe.

it's 5'o clock somewhere, right?

2011-04-07T15:52:00.003-05:00

caution. this blog post contains the following content: ky jelly. feminine products. and target. i didn't say it all needed a warning. i am just warning you.

Owen and i went to target today for the second time in two days. not bad really if you ask me. i only needed one thing. feminine products. (i only tell you this to really fully illustrate this story. don't judge me)

i didn't want to just roam the aisles of target with that one little box and a toddler in my arms. so we grab a cart and naturally i remember that i need mascara. and quickly by time we make it to the magical aisle Owen is tired of being in the cart which never happens, but he has an ear infection and didn't sleep last night. so i grab what i need and throw it in our cart, and then grab him and let him run up and down the aisle.

well, if you didn't know ky jelly is in the same aisle as lady things. isn't that convinient? and it's at a 16 month old's reach. wow. that's great thinking. so Owen, now free from the cart grabs a few boxes like he knows what he's doing, starts cracking up like he knows what he's doing, and starts running. like Forrest Gump running. and i'm the stupid little kids running behind him who can't catch up. and there he is, with a box of ky jelly in each hand kackeling.

this sweet little thing:

i eventually caught up to him. and made a mad dash to the check out counter. i had had enough for the day.

but i wouldn't have it any other way!

i am woman

2011-04-05T12:07:00.002-05:00

hear my roarrrr!

that's right!

i love negotiating and getting our monthly bills down. down. down.

you hear of people doing that on the talk show, but do you ever do it? i've done it several times with our electric company, phone company... who else? open our mail box. anyone of those little comapanies and their pretty little logos - they've heard from me.

it's your right people. tell them you won't take it. you're paying too much, and you deserve better! but be polite, say thank you and pretty please. it will always get you much farther in life.

that's what mama always said.

awesomely awesome

2011-04-04T13:07:00.002-05:00

there are about 5 zillion reasons why my family is awesome, crazy, silly, and why they are the best.

this picture my mom sent me just about sums it up. the email subject was: "my smiling tortilla"

i won the lotto

2011-04-01T09:00:00.004-05:00

not really. but i thought i would try that april fools this year.

if you remember two years ago i april fooled my boos and my old boss on campus by telling them that i was pregnant.

4 weeks later i showed him this picture:

turns out i really was pregnant.

so i figured, maybe if i tried to april fools you all this year by telling you i won the lotto, here in 4 weeks or so i really would win the lotto.

don't worry. i would share my fortune with you all and throw a fabulous party.

i have already thrown a fortune away if you remember even farther back.

it has something to do with purple m&m's and 1 million japanese yen. but that's a story for another time.

let's talk about chalk, baby

2011-03-31T20:08:00.004-05:00

we like to chalk these days in our house.

a lot.

auntie vicki gave Owen a bucket of 500 pieces of chalk for his birthday. it's one of our favorite things to do.

one day while we made a random trip to one of our favorite stores (hobby lobby) i picked up a can of chalk board spray paint. why i purchased this i don't know. but i sat on it for a while trying to decide what i was going to spray paint.

i have several large empty frames i thought i would convert into chalk boards. but that wouldn't be fun. or large enough. then i had to decide where i wanted to put a chalk board. it then came to me. the wall in our kitchenette area.

but i couldn't use any old empty frame, i needed to have my music man make me one out of old wood.

and i was going to spray paint the wall with the chalk board spray paint... ? right.

well, i did.

it's not quite complete. and i know the paint isn't perfect, but the wood frame is going to cover that up! we need to trim one more piece of wood to finish out the frame, but i sprayed the wall, put up one piece and wood, and waaaa laaa. you sort of have a picture of what the finished product will look like.

home reno-redecorate in process. i will post a finised picture when it's finished. and this only cost me like $5!

lessons learned:

1. chalk board spray paint really not so useful. just go buy the paint. especially when you are painting inside. luckily we have good ventilation in the house and it was nice enough to have all the windows open today.

2. tape off more of the wall than you think you need to. if you are messy like me, paint is going to go everywhere. luckily (again) we have extra wall paint and i just covered up my mess... like new. and painted over some scuff marks in the living room.

3. wear your kid out the morning before this project so he takes a REALLY good nap and you get a lot done.

waaa laaa!

me me meeeee

2011-03-12T13:10:00.002-06:00

i am warming up my vocal chords for the 6 hour+ drive to ruidoso, nm tomorrow.

on the playlist of songs will be:

baby bumble bee

Jesus Loves Me

old mac donald

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvqxyz (did i get that right?!?!)

barbara ann

only girl in the world

and many many more per the request of Owen

if you'd like your own personal concert drop my 918 meander st. i'll be dusting, packing bags, and singing.

p.s. please pray for Mitchell, Matt, and Sarah. i think Owen and my nephew Luke will love the singing, though!

lists of four

2011-03-10T09:45:00.006-06:00

my lovely blonde friend amber who left abielene to bask in the golden rays of Florida did this fun post. and since i am on my kick of new and different posts... here we go.

fun little lists of four. take this and re-post your own little lists of fours.

4 shows I watch:

1. TOP CHEF: the mister and i love this show and have watched since the first season. shhhhh. we have last night's episode dvr'd. don't tell me what happened!!!!

2. REAL HOUSEWIVES OF _______ (fill in the blank): yes... i watch that filthy trash. it requires zero thinking and fries my brain. i know. but i love that crap. ugh, i hate that word... crap. but there really is no other way to describe that show than using that word. really. if nothing else, it's really funny.

3. SARAH'S HOUSE: i just found this show since being at home. i think it's fairly new to HGTV. go find it, dvr it. and watch it. i really like her!

4. another show that i am too embarrassed to admit to. my sister might end up calling me out on this. it airs on E! i'll tell you that. if you can't figure it out from there, you are probably a better person than i am.

4 things I'm passionate about:

1. MY HEAVENLY FATHER: His daily forgiveness. my renewed passion for Him EVERYDAY. His faithfulness. i could go on and on. i stand in awe of His beauty and power. HE IS SO AWESOME and truly so faithful to you and me. how great is that? i am truly so undeserving!

2. FAMILY: there is no greater gift (other than my Grace) than family. within 4.5 hours of calling my mom and dad in tears because my son had been sick for 1.5 weeks, to the doctor twice in 4 days, and we were all suffering, my mom and dad were on my door steps. within four and a half hours of my calling them. that is family. and that is why they are so special to me. each and everyone of them.

3. FRIENDS: i don't deserve my friends either. i am not the best friend to my friends that i can be. but i still have great ones. i have friends who give the best hugs, advice, send the best emails and phone calls, and they are all mine. i can only hope that i reciprocate that.

4. HOME: home is so important. it is where you sleep, and create memories. it is where you come to at the end of a long day. where you gather around the table to pray, eat, and laugh. home is where your family will always gather under one roof, no matter what city they live in. it is a central place for you to come to. where beds aren't needed, just a blanket and pillow. home is different to each person you meet, but something special to everyone. home is so wonderful and warm and to have our own home to create these memories is such a beautiful blessing. my parents always made our home so special and i hope i can always do that for our children.

4 phrases I say alot:

1. SHUT UP: no like, "you shut up" i say it in the context of when i am excited. either way, it's probably not appropriate.

2. HEY: i really need to say, Hello or Hi. well i do say those things. but i need to cut down on hey. i've been in west texas too long. 10 years, whew! i realized that last night!

3. ????

4. ????

4 things I learned from the past:

1. I don't regret anything: i really don't. i like to learn from things that have happened in the past. i have once too often dwelled on the past. God has forgiven and forgotten my transgressions, why i haven't i? it is a constant lesson for me.

2. i need to workout more when i am pregnant, and totally forgotten about the whole extreme nausea thing!

3. all those creams don't really prevent stretch marks. maybe the working out would have :) hey, there's a thought!

4. would eating carrots really have helped my eye sight?!?!

4 things I did yesterday:

1. TARGET: we are always there, at least once a week!

2. Playdate with Christina and Elizabeth. We've missed those the past 2 weeks since Big O has been sick.

3. Taught GA's last night.

4. Had fun and cut up with an awesome friend who I love at church last night.

4 things I'm looking forward to:

1. Mitchell coming home tonight for dinner. (that's an everyday thing!)

2. Park fun sometime today!

3. Hickory Street lunch date with friends tomorrow!

4. Celebrating the Resurrection of Christ!

4 things I love about spring:

1. Spring colors.

2. Spring clothes.

3. Sandals.

4. Warm weather. Not too hot, not too cold.

4 things on my wishlist:

Ehhh, I don't need anything. I've got everything I could ever need. And definitely more than I deserve.

that was fun. now i am going to go call all my friends. delete all the reality shows on my dvr. and paint my toe nails.

take over. make over. do over.

2011-02-28T12:27:00.003-06:00

i have decided to make over my blog.

or make over my blog.

or is it a do over?

i am not going to start writing about something different. can you imagine me not writing about Owen. or Mitchell. or my crazy life. of course not.

i just feel that my blog, which is really a journal of my life, our life has become a little bit of a sounding off board. driving without destination. i've been so busy after all i haven't read the past 3 Real Simple magazines sitting on my desk. craziness i tell you.

i have been thinking about more pointed blog posts. something more along the line of:

family

faith

being a decorista on a budget

cooking & recipes

hmmmm, something else... something more

flashback friday? thankful thursday? wordless wednesday? (these are all things i have posted on before)

this is just a starting off point and something i am definitley excited about. are you writing more pointed blog posts these days? it seems like more of my friends are. if so, let me know what you are writing about and are excited about sharing on your blog. or have you picked up a special post on another blog?

reading The Word

2011-02-27T15:12:00.001-06:00

Owen had been sitting in his chair with Mitchell's bible for the past 15 minutes flipping through the pages. and reading.

it really is no longer Mitchell's bible. Owen keeps it with his books, carries it around, and reads it. it's the most precious thing I've ever seen.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

115 is the magic number

2011-02-24T13:26:00.001-06:00

good luck to my music man and the 115 student competing in solo and ensemble today and tomorrow. (the most in the city) shhhhhh, did i say that?!?!

and why does the state of Texas want to make education cuts, especially in Fine Arts?

you've got me?

i think this music department needs more money if you ask me.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sunday morning blessings

2011-02-20T12:10:00.003-06:00

listening to my boys talk over banana chocolate chip waffles while i was getting ready down the hall.

a small snipit our Sunday school lesson: God's path may be narrow, but it also so very perfect.

although my love has to leave early from church every week to go to work, we are so very grateful for his job.

the lovely ladies who take care of my little love in the nursery every week.

the stories they tell me when i go to pick him up.

like how he sat there and let all the girls bring him toys and snacks this morning.

Sunday morning blessings.

flash back friday

2011-02-18T19:19:00.002-06:00

warming up my musical theatre 2/3 class the other day Thriller came on.

please take a moment of silence for the late great MJ.

my girls are upset i didn't have Justin Bieber on my iPod, they really didn't like my other music, but they freaked out over Michael Jackson. you weren't alive when this MJ was around. i was barely alive when Thriller came out. well... not really, but we won't go there.

i am just impressed they have an appreciation for the 80's. or just for MJ. i need to cut them some slack for liking Miley Cyrus and the Biebs. i did listen to NKOB.

i remember when my sister listened to Britney Spears for the first time. i thought her ears would start to bleed.

i also remember dancing to Womanizer a time or two while my first born was still in the womb. or was it Circus. hey, i have an appreciation for all types of music now.

musical prodigy?

2011-02-18T11:29:00.001-06:00

pretty much!

steve wozniak vs. candian brass

2011-02-17T08:07:00.002-06:00

this is a true story.

yesterday morning as i was making my men breakfast i very excitidly (is that a word? even if it's not, i was that excited) told my music man:

"Steve Wozniak is speaking at ACU next Monday. Maybe it starts after I get out of class and we can just find a babysitter for O while he is sleeping so we can go hear him speak? Tickets are only $10."

"Is he really? Wow?!?! Canadian Brass is performing at McM the week after for $25. I wanted to go, but really $25?"

The true musical supporter of a wife I am, but recovering, former marketing director says, "Whew, I am so glad they arne't on the same night. I wouldn't be able to choose between Steve Wozniak and Canadian Brass. I've always wanted to see them. But yea, $25. Who does McM think they are charging $25. I am glad they made that choice easy."

my music man didn't think that was as funny as i did.

oh, come on. it was pretty funny. Steve Wozniak and Canadian Brass in the same sentense. really, Steve, you are in good company dude. those are some talented musicians!

swoon

2011-02-14T12:36:00.004-06:00

have you seen this drawing The Pioneer Woman is doing today... ummm hello beautiful!

that is seriously one of the most beautiful things i have ever seen in my live. and it has never made me more proud to be an owner of a Kitchenaid standing mixer or an apron so i can be all domestic like and bake! except i am really messy and never wear an apron. who really has time for that?

anyway, forget i told you about this giveaway, because once you enter that reduces my chances of winning and never leaving my kitchen again because i will be cooking my life away. which really isn't such a bad thing!

reasons i deserve this lovely:

1. i love the Pioneer Woman (blog, book, cookbook, etc.)

2. i love color (if you've come to my house you know this)

3. i love cooking

4. and i love my kitchenaid standing mixer

i don't want to get rid of mine. i still remember that beautiful evening she came into my life. i registered for her not thinking i would ever have a chance in you know where to get her. the day before i took my wedding vows, at the hotel, aunt terri arrives. the sky opens up. angels start singing their hymns of praises. the light from heaven...

you understand. i was in love. and totally, totally swooning over my little black beauty. can you imagine if i had two what i could do. ahhhhhh, the possibilities are endless.

flash back friday * music

2011-02-11T09:02:00.003-06:00

i write about three things pretty much exclusively on my blog:

mitchell.

our home.

and owen.

but mostly it's all about owen.

i thought i would branch out and write about something different, and today i thought i would get back to flash back friday. seemed fitting since today is friday. and today's edition of flash back friday will be the music edition.

we don't watch much tv during the day. at all. except during nap time. then i watch my trash tv, but we won't go there. we listen to music all day long.

and we love all types of music. almost.

opening up iTunes today it was pretty easy to find something that takes me back. i found something in each folder of genres. today i chose oldies.

Frankie Valli's song "Walk Like a Man" is on the slideshow of pictures from our wedding of Mitchell while he is growing up. mine was "My Girl." that was so much fun picking all those songs for our wedding dvd. we chose timeless songs that everyone knows and loves. a cd of songs was our wedding favors also. everyone told us how much they loved it. that meant a lot to us. they were songs that were basically the soundtrack to our first 14 months together before getting married.

warm fuzzy feeling ensue... ahhh!

i love you burro much

2011-02-10T19:21:00.002-06:00

i never sent out christmas cards. and thought i could do new years cards. but that was too close to christmas so naturally it didn't get done. then my next best idea was valentine's day cards.

welllllll that's monday, right? i guess i can't get those out in time.

i think these loooovies are the next best thing.

courtesy kate spade

owen = love

2011-02-10T11:39:00.005-06:00

owen you are the love of my life.

i mean that with every breath in my lungs. every feeling i have. you are all i am. and you and your father are all that i ever will need while i am breathing on this earth.

you have completely rocked my little world and turned me on my head spinning. every day is brand new. and fun. and ahhhhmazing. i love learning new things with you all over again as if i had never seen them before. or tasted that strawberry cupcake before. it is all new and perfect. like it is in your eyes.

i love the way you look at the way God created the world for you. so bold and colorful and alive. everything is moving and growing. and you see that. nothing gets past you. you see the sun shining and the clouds rolling across the sky. and it is aweso

me to you.

your little hugs all day every day are the perfect amount of squeeze to wake up my body. they get my blood pumping all the way to my heart, and back from my heart to my arms, wrapped around you. your kisses blow your sweet warm breath all over my face and eyes. you little kissies.

before i know it you have learned something new. all in your own timing. your little finger rolls over letters and pictures, tracing and memorizing. sometimes that finger finds it way all the way up to your nose and sits there. that is pretty funny to you. and us, too.

there aren't enough words to tell my heavenly Father how grateful i am for you. but He already knows. He knows that i needed you. He knows how i prayed for you long before you came. He knows what an amazingly big blessing you are.

my little love.

you are my best, best little friend and i can't imagine spending my days with anyone else doing anything else.

hgtv & mickey mouse

2011-02-08T14:15:00.003-06:00

you can tell i watch WAY TOO much (there really isn't such a thing) HGTV when:

while watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Mickey and Minnie are cooking in the clubhouse kitchen and you admire the subway tile backsplash and what seems to be carrera marble counter tops.

really? i just can't turn it off.

but, really. what great taste! when the illustrators and graphic designers of MM are free, they can come re-do my kitchen! or at least draw me one.