Camping with Thirty One!

So, we've all been MIA lately!  It's been a busy Summer/Fall already however I wanted to post a follow up to one of my last posts.  

My family and I loooooooooooooooooove to camp!  We have a perfect tent for our family and we love being outside all weekend!!  

We have gone on two camping trips this September already!  We went to Silver Lake 3 weeks ago with another family.  The weather was perfect!!!  We are use to going to Silver Lake at the end of the season so it surprised me when the campground was completely full!  Luckily, it was warm enough to go swimming, which it usually is not!  Both families have rhino's, so we enjoyed those on the dunes!

It was my first time packing the truck! 

Here's the results from my first attempt! 

This is Abe in our rhino, he LOVES it!

Ready for the dunes - yes, Del has goggles too!

This is our tent and canopy!  The green bag in the middle of the two is our kitchen from Cabela's!  LOVE IT!

Abe helping me in the tent!

Nice blurry picture of a few of my Thirty-One products!  They were all wonderful and helped me to stay more organized and of course stylish!  :)

For those wondering, the above items are (from left to right):   All of these items are from the old catalog!

About Town Blanket

Organizing Utility Tote - I use this for Abe's diaper bag & the boys & I's bathroom bag

XXL Utility Totes - This was a hostess exclusive item in the prior catalog.  I have a bag, Ry has a bag and I put both boy's clothes in a bag, then I put our dirty clothes in the big bag that the little bags are in!

Large Utility Tote (w/Top-A-Tote) - I use this for everything!!!  It's wonderful to bring to the pool, to carry fragile food in the car, groceries, etc!

Not pictured:

Mini Organizer - This is wonderful to hold plates & silverware!!!

 

 

Reason for the Season

As I was making breakfast for the boys yesterday morning, I looked up and was reminded of just how wonderful our God is!

In His time, everything is beautiful!

Ry and the boys bought me this for Mother's Day and there were so many times I had forgotten to water it and it looked like there was no hope for it.  However, with some extra watering and a little love, I now have 1 rose!!!

That's exactly how God is with us!  We are this rose!  With preparing your foundation and reading your bible, going to church and learning what all God has planned for you, in the end you will rise up and be beautiful!!!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, 

"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven" (NKJV).

 

 

~Favorites~

Am I the only one that is loving this weather?!?!?

I was so excited for a session last Saturday for several reasons!  One, I was so excited to be capturing a good friend of mine's son's first birthday!!! 

 Isn't he a cutie?!?!?!

 Love this one!!!!!

 And I loved my outfit!!!  :)

Don't mind the terrible picture, I don't love the camera on my phone!!  

We're actually thinking about switching to Verizon from AT&T.  

Quick question...Do any of you have any suggestions for a phone or if you've liked Verizon?  I am hinting for a iPhone to my hubs!!  :)

If you have not invested in one of these yet...it's a must have for your kitchen!!!!  I bought this one at our local ACE Hardware and loooooooooooove it!  

I believe it was only $7 too!! 

 This is my favorite cookbook right now, it's a cheesecake cookbook and I bought it for $.50 at a garage sale!!!

 Our little 16 month old...ha, who am I kidding, he's not little!  He loves to play with his big brother's toys and he even knows what to do with this computer!!!

The boys having snacks this morning!!!  So cute!!!

Have a blessed weekend!!!!

 

This and That...

With our house for sale, I'm finding new ways to improve our space!  

*If you need to find motivation to keep your house organized and easy to keep clean, put it up for sale!  I am amazed with the projects I'm doing that are making my life easier!!

  

The most recent project has been our pantry!  It's pretty much a closet, but with some shelves and now storage containers, it looks more like a pantry!!  

 These containers are amazing!!!  You can fit pretty much anything in them and it makes the shelf look so much nicer!!!  Plus the boys can see what they want and I know how much is left! 

  And because they are just so adorable!!! 

 

 I also have been having fun with my own version of some braids from Pinterest!  This I'll take pictures of step by step next time...this was my first attempt!!  Pretty cute!!!

 

Give Thanks

 I know I haven't posted in a while, but things have been really crazy and blogging tends to slip my mind. ..I will try to get better :)

Today was a very emotional day as my 1 1/2 year old nephew had major surgery to try to close a hole in his diaphragm.  My mom called me a while ago to let me know that the hole could not be repaired and that he likely will need a feeding tube.  Poor Wyatt has already had many battles in his short life and continues to face challenges every day.  I am absolutely amazed at the strength my brother and sister in law have as they continue to be strong regardless of what happens every day.  They have great faith and believe that God will heal Wyatt and help them enjoy every minute with him despite the challenges.  As a parent I can't even imagine the challenges they face daily.  Today was a great reminder for me to give thanks for everything that I have and remember to love as you never know what will happen in life.

                                       Here is sweet Wyatt and my mom.
 

 

You Never Fail...

So, it seems like everybody setting goals for themselves lately...which is great! 

However, when I set a goal...I usually forget about it or change it so I will accomplish it and move on to something else.

I am not a runner, but I use to love to run!  A few of my friends are running/walking in 5K's this year, not me!  I'm totally okay with that!!

I love where I am with my photography business, of course there's always a new camera, lens, or bag I'd love to have but I really do not need right now.  I would love to be completely booked til 2013, but that's seems a little stressful so right now, I feel pretty content with my business!

So, that leaves our house!  Our house is still for sale, so I really do not want to do too many projects around the house, especially expensive projects.  

However, as many of you probably know, Pinterest is very encouraging in the project area so I'm going to commit to making 1 item a month!  

How fun, right?!  

For somebody who is crafty, sure.  Jen - I'm sure I'll be asking for your help!!!  But that's so not me!  

So, this is going to be a challenge but I think once I get the ball rolling, it'll be fun!  I'm sure there will be projects that are a complete fail, but at least I tried!

I have a saying in my kitchen - You Never Fail Til You Stop Trying!  How wonderful is that!!!  

My first project, is going to be a crazy new braid/twist/bun with my hair!  Hey, it counts!!!  I'll post the Pin and also my results!

 

Here's what I pinned...looks simple, huh?!  I can't wait to try it for girls night tonight!!!

 

I am also working on a little project of redoing the boys play area downstairs!  This area drives me CRAZY!!!  They love it, but it's SO unorganized and I cannot stand it!!! 

  

Here's a picture of the madness as of this morning!

 They love it, however it's way too busy for me!!!  :)

 

~Being an Aunt~

Being a wife is everything I have imagined. 


Being a Mom is wonderful!  However, no matter how many books you read or now a days how many blogs you read, you will never be prepared for parenthood.


Being an Aunt, now that is wonderful!!!  Don't get me wrong, I love my children but being able to spoil, spend time with other children and send them home, that's something special.  You don't have the challenging times like you do with your own children.


I have always been close to one of my aunt's.  I remember going to Traverse City every summer from the age of 9 or 10 until I could drive.  I loved being at my Aunt's!  I loved how she taught me so much and was and is always there for me! 


Now, as my nieces and nephew get older, I am spending more time with them!  I honestly do not know why I haven't spent more time with them.  I think as we have been expanding our family over the years, I have been a little busy with that!  I've always spent time with them but not nearly enough.


This week, my brother's youngest daughter spent a couple of nights with us.  She is so much fun!  The boys just adore her and she was a huge help!  I hope that she knows how much we enjoyed having her here and we are looking forward to VBS week when her and her sister will be here!


Have a blessed weekend!!

 

 

I Love T.C.

You have to admit we do live beautiful Pure Michigan.  Most people forget that the U.P. is a great place to take your family and make the best of memories!  I can say that from experience :-).  Traverse City is probably my favorite place in Michigan.  Its a beautiful city and I love the wineries (especially in the fall).  My mother-in-law will be camping at Silver Lake next week, so we will be joining her for part of it.  We plan to take Maddie to Lake Michigan, and give her some rides with the Razor.

My hubby and I will be celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary the first part of August.  We are celebrating in the Grand Cayman Islands but not until November.  So while we are at Silver Lake, Dusty and I are sneaking away to Traverse City for the whole day Monday.  I can honestly say that since Maddie was born, we haven't done anything together, not even a dinner date.  We have planned them before but always cancel at the last minute.  Its not that we didn't  want to, we just felt guilty I guess.  Now that she is a year old I think we are finally ready but it's not for over night :-).

Check back to see if we won big as we plan to check out the Turtle Creek Casino up there.  The Roulette table is calling me name. (Thanks Heidi!!)

 

 

Thankful reminders!

I was reminded this weekend just how much our children look up to us!  They are smart cookies!  I believer that our children, and other children watch our every move, even if we don't think they are even listening to us!

They watch the way we respond in situations, they watch our tempers and they also watch our actions in normal everyday activities.

I am so very thankful for where my attitude is today!  As some of you may or may not know, I tend to get a little upset and frustrated with some situations however over the years of having a very laid back and go with the flow husband, he has helped me to appreciate every moment, good or bad and how to deal with my frustrations.  I am so very grateful for that!!

Saturday, Del, Abe and I were swimming at my sister-on-law's cousin's pool, enjoying the heat that summer has brought upon us.  We all ate lunch on the deck which is attached to the pool.  I cleaned Del up and went to clean Abe up and all of a sudden everything went into slow motion.  Those moments are never good!!

Del was in the pool before I knew it, and without his life jacket!  

I jumped up, ran to the pool and noticed he was okay!  Until, he looked at me and saw my face of horror.  So, I knew at that moment, I had to decide, do I jump in, do I calmly walk in on the ladder or do I encourage him to swim to the me. 

Since I knew he was okay and I chose to encourage him to swim to me! 

And he did it!  He swam from the middle of the pool all of the way to the ladder!  

I could not have been more proud of him!  

Once he was out, he was a little shaken up but pretty happy he did it.  He did say to me that he just forgot to put on his life jacket and that he wouldn't forget again!  

 One of Abe's many faces!  :)  He is saying "Ohhhh!"  And throwing the bucket around!

He loves to make noises in cups, bowls, and of course buckets.  So, he was yelling right now but loving every minute!

So, I love taking scary moments likes these ones where everything ends up okay which reminds me of how much our children learn from our actions!

 

 

Drummond Island

We decided awhile ago to spend 4th of July weekend on an island!  We'd been watching videos and looking online at what to expect but nothing can prepare you for Drummond Island.

It is beautiful, quiet, fun, relaxing and most importantly Pure Michigan!!!  

 This is Del's face when he finally saw the big Mighty Mac!!  :)

 Apparently, it was too much excitement for him!  :)

 After we got to Wa-Wen Resorts, and were all set up, we went for a ride!  Both boys LOVED every minute in our rhino!  Within, minutes Abe was usually asleep!  :)  

I believe the picture above is Scott Bay, not sure...

 This shoreline was breathtaking! 

I would highly recommend visiting Drummond Island!  Stay tuned to many more posts on our wonderful trip to the U.P.!

 

 

Perfect Timing!

Just when I'm feeling blue.

When I think to myself, "Okay, must not be our time!" 

Just when I'm making more house plans to where we are staying.

I love this!!!

God tunes in and guess what?!?!  Do you give up? 

We have a showing today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


It's been almost 3 months since we've had a showing!  Maybe it's our time or maybe our house needed to be cleaned!


Either way, it's in God's hands and we are completely trusting Him!  :)


Have a blessed day!

 

 

Father's Day weekend

The last week has flown by!!  I have every intention of posting after big events in our lives but it never happens!  I at least am getting better at taking pictures of our own lives!  :)

 Father's Day was wonderful!!  We actually spent all weekend celebrating Ryan and how wonderful of a Daddy he is!  Friday night we went and bought a bike for me, ok so it wasn't all about him!!  Then got ice cream!

 Abe LOVES ice cream!!!

 Saturday we were very busy!  I have an engagement/reception party that I took pictures at.  You can view their preview here!  Ry ended up getting called to work, luckily it was local so he took the boys with him and got the farmer up and running the best they could!  Then we met up at my nephew's open house (pictures coming soon!)! 

Sunday, I made a nice breakfast for all of us and then we headed to church.  We ate lunch at my G'parents house and visited with my Aunt, Uncle, parents and G'parents.  The picture above is Abe with my Dad!

 Me and my Dad!

 The best picture I could get with Abe and Ry!  :)

 Then we headed to Ry's parents house.  Ry's been working hard to get the rhino reading for the trails, so we took it around the field and the boys loved every minute!!! 

 

 These pictures are actually from Friday night!  I couldn't wait to give Ry his canvas'!!!  Isn't Abe a cutie?!?!?!

 Here they are!!!  Aren't they beautiful!!!  These are 11X14's, love them!!!

  We had a fabulous Father's Day weekend and we hope you did too!!!