My Faves

To continue the trend of our blog club, I made a list of all the things I love. It is so easy to think if these things that make life sweeter! These are in no particular order...

1. Freshly washed hair and new makeup

2. That first bite of a fist sized chocolate covered strawberry from Candy Factory (fresh in my mind from v-day!)

3. The first time I heard my babies cry after they were born, and then looking into their sweet eyes for the first time

4. Sushi and wine picnics on my living room floor with Chris

5. Hearing "I love you, Mama honey" from Elyse

6. Zipping up the "skinny" jeans!

7. Hashing out life with Mom and Boogie on the phone

8. A clean car (inside and out!)

9. A hand written letter from someone I love

10. The stillness late at night when the girls are cuddled in their beds deep asleep

11. Opening a beauty product fresh out of the package and using it for the first time

12. Laying around the fire at mom and dad's house (the compound) talking for hours with my siblings

13. Back scratches from my honey (several times a week!)

14. A freshly cleaned home, complete with vacuum marks

15. Hawaiian sunsets

16. Playing at the beach all day and then taking a shower, getting pretty and going out for fresh fish

17. Venting what is exactly on my mind...and articulating it perfectly !! ;)

18. Finishing a novel

19. Weekly dates with Chris ---we've had some good ones over Thai food

20. Laying in a hot bath with a cold beverage

21. a visit from an old friend

22. brisk walks at the peak of autumn

23. devotions with Chris

24. a manicure, pedicure, facial, newly waxed eyebrows...any beautification treatment

25. reading to my girls

26. Hearing my husband play a song he has written for the first time --and listening to him play the piano in general....it is beautiful

27. Worshiping while Chris is playing and leading

28. Shopping with Brooke while Chris and Dan watch the kids (3 hours goes by like 5 minutes)

29. A roadtrip with a great cup of coffee (or latte), oversized 'bug' sunglasses, good tunes and a fantastic pink lipstick on

30. praying and dreaming with Chris about our future



...this will probably be continued.....

The Budding Chef Gets a Kitchen

Elyse doesn't have a ton of toys. Chris and I feel that kids don't need all of the items that Toys R Us makes you feel like you need to give your children for normal development. I have been on a toy revolt since she was born, actually...I admit, part of it stems from the fact that I don't want a house that looks like Chris and I don't even live there....the other part is that she seems to thrive just doing stuff with me and using the few toys she has with her imagination. The last several months she has loved being in the kitchen and loved playing with play kitchens at other peoples homes. I found this kitchen and had to get it -- she is loving playing with it.

The play food even came with a sushi set!

Every chef needs a sous chef

Whitney (Mot-ney, as Elyse calls her) has had enough of big blondie holding her.

Spring Fashion Preview

As the winter lingers on, I find myself getting more excited for Springtime. Don't get me wrong, I am definitely a 4 Seasons kind of girl...but a Spring thaw is highly anticipated by everyone in my family. I had the chance to plant some tulips, daffodils and iris bulbs this past fall, so I am looking forward to seeing them in the next few months. I think Spring has some spiritual symbolism...Easter is in the Spring and flowers shoot up after being dormant while the sun stays up longer. God shows us gorgeous colors and skies after a darker cold season.
Fashion is another reason to be excited for spring. Here are just a few of my picks: Gorgeous well-shaped eyebrows to go with the beautiful spring make-up colors. Anastasia has some great stencils to help the ameteaur shape the perfect brows. (Sephora.com)
A neutral spring pink lip color looks great on every woman. "lolishine" by shu uemura shown here.
For Chris, I have picked out a lighter weight denim with a fade down the front. The Diesel Quaratt style is a great men's jean for spring.For me, I like a bigger handbag so I can throw a bottle and a few diapers in along with all of my other personal items. I love this cool metallic italian leather blue draw top satchel by Francesco Biasia. (Nordstrom.com)
oh, and we can't forget a little outdoor set for grilling (a warm weather menu staple at our house). I can prop my feet up with a glass of iced tea while Chris takes care of the meat! Found at Crate and Barrel Outlet.

My Dreamboat

My husband, referred to at times as Abe, Chris, Daddy and Honey, is also known as my Dreamboat. I first called him my dreamboat one summer evening during our courtship...I came home from a date and exclaimed to my family, "He is such a Dreamboat!" Much reality has set in since that muggy evening in August of 2004, but he definitely still remains my dreamboat honey. He is a wonderful father, husband, artist, musician and leader.

What is his name?

Chris

How long have you been together?

4 year wedding anniversary is November 12

How long did you date?

3 months.
Engaged 8 weeks.

How old his he?

28, almost 29...I married a man 7 weeks younger than me!

Who eats more?
He does, but I am no lightweight, people. And we love our food. We love trying new things and blow our food budget frequently on specialties.

Who said I love you first?

He did, in a song he wrote for me the night we got engaged

Who is taller?

Chris is much taller, 6 feet tall to be exact.

Who can sing better?

He can! I belt the songs louder, be he can sing better. He is a professional.

Who does the laundry?

I do, I like doing laundry. We have several pink loads every week.

Who pays the bills?

We make decisions together, but I execute the actual bill paying and am more organized.

Who mows the lawn?

Chris, he even has these mowing shoes that he looks so hot in!! They are gray with velcro and big soles, totally a LawnBoy in these.

Who cooks dinner?

I love to cook and do mostly dinner...however, Chris has some homemade specialties that he does like Jambalaya, authentic French Toast, biscuits and gravy and yummy Oatmeal Pancakes. He is great in the kitchen. Very meticulous with measurements and food quality.

Who drives?
He mostly does...especially on long trips. He still opens my door every time we go out! He is a great driver....although both times taking our girls home after they were born he drove only 15 MPH through town. It was hilarious!

Who is more stubborn?
I am. Period. My family says he is the best thing that ever happened to me. That is all I have to say about that one.

Who kissed who first?

He kissed me first, of course!! On the night of our engagement September 10, 2004 at Cherry Street Artisan. He saved his first kiss for me.

Who asked who out first?
He did. We went to Shakey's...then I asked him to go to the Muny with me the next week. I knew I was going to marry him after only 3 weeks.

Who proposed?
He did, in a very wonderfully romantic way. (i'll save the details for later..)Then we went to his favorite spot in the woods of Rock Bridge State park and toasted with Perrier Jouet champagne.

Who has more friends?
Hmmm....we probably have about the same amount of really close friends....since we had the girls it has been harder to stay in touch with far away friends. One thing I have noticed is that everyone who gets to know my husband loves him.

Who is more sensitive?
He is more sensitive. He is very in tuned to the girls and I emotionally. He is extremely great at articulating his feelings and has taught me so much about healthy emotional communication. Chris is a dreamer and one of his favorite things to do is to sit and talk with me about them...Quality time is his love language for sure!

Who has more siblings?
He does. He is one of 5 and I am one of 4.

Who wears the pants?
Someone recently asked him this question and he said "We both do." He is the leader of our family in all ways, but he is sensitive to my desires and feelings. So much of a relationship is respect and I respect Chris SOOOO much!

Four years ago, just as I started to think I wasn't ever going to get married, or at least it would be many years before I would, God sent me Chris.
Hopefully those of you who don't know my sweet husband got to know him better through this post. You can see more of his creative side on the website he created by clicking here.

I definitely agree with my family and friends, Chris is the best person that ever happened to me.