Celebration.

Well, just as expected I was able to snap out of the funk I was stuck in for a little over a week upon arriving at my parents house.  You see, my Mom doesn't give herself enough credit... she is an amazing decorator.  I don't know what it is, but something about being back "home" and seeing the lights on their house, the town village, snowmen everywhere, and the beautiful tree... it just screams Christmas.

We had a great weekend together full of lots of laughs, homemade cinnamon rolls (a tradition of mine that I wanted to "spread" this year), game after game after game including some outdoor kickball, and of course a delicious dinner followed by the reading of scripture and gifts.  My brother's gift to my Mom was restoring their old wedding video from 1981 on a 8mm, so we were able to sit around and watch it late Saturday night.  How fun it was to see my Mom as a bride and my Dad as a groom.

One of the ways I'm different from my siblings is my time clock and how I'm up early and not a fan of staying up late.  After about 10pm, I either turn into a zombie, a giggle-queen, or a total crank... then in the morning I'm typically the first awake, which annoys my siblings to bits and pieces when I'm so bubbly as they roll out of bed at 9am.  All of this to say, visits to my parents house always equal hardly any sleep for myself, but it's always worth it.

Sunday morning after playing keyboard at church, we hit the road and headed back home.  We had our big fancy hot date that night to Trans Siberian Orchestra... and again, it did not disappoint.  Dinner with great friends followed by an AMAZING concert that had us speechless is a sure way to help anyone feel refreshed.  It's been way too long since Tyler and I have been on a date, and it was so fun getting super dressed up and having a night free of toddler breakdowns, poopy diapers, and early bedtimes.

I hope you all had a great weekend and are getting ready for a fun week with family, traditions, and celebrations.

Fog.

Do you ever feel like there's a haze over your eyes... you know, like you're living in a fog?

I'm having an off week and struggling to snap out of out... just in a funk.

Nothing particular wrong, and seriously if one more person asks if I'm pregnant... ugh.  The answer is still no.

Maybe it's the lack of sleep, maybe it's the lack of quiet times I've had lately, or maybe it's just the lack of gratefulness... to look around and see beauty and joy in every day things.  Especially in this amazing season, how can you be anything but happy?  I don't know either.

I am hoping a weekend at my parents house followed by a fancy date with my favorite man (to see Trans Siberian Orchestra...!!!) will shift me back to reality.

Someone tell me something good happening in your life so I can rejoice with you!

Greetings.

i really wish i could have sent each of you an actual Christmas card... but close your eyes, pretend you're at your mailbox, and open!

merry christmas to your family... and thanks for reading my blog.

{linking up with faith}

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

It's official.  I need another few days to recover from the last few days!

Friday night we kicked off the weekend by going to the Plaza to see the Christmas lights.  This is our 5th Christmas season living in KC and have never gone... I know I know, I hear about it all the time!  So with a son who LOVES, and I repeat LOVES "Kiss-mas yites", we knew this year we had to go.  Unfortunately he was not feeling so great, so he dozed in and out of it... so Tyler and I just pretended there were no kids in the back seat (instead of sleeping kids), and pretended we were on a date.  And what a fun date it was.

Saturday my plans went down the toilet when my husband kindly told me that morning he needed to work.  I somehow convinced him to go in after my 4 errands were ran, and he agreed... thank you Jesus for running errands in peace.  When I got home, the baking marathon began!  I had 6 dozen cookies to make... 3 different kinds (2 dozen each).

Later that night, I took a trip down memory lane as I watched Jaxon help his Daddy load/unload firewood.

Sunday, we never stopped going going going.  Worship team, church, Christmas dinner at church, baking the last cookies, wrapping gifts, making an appetizer... and we were headed out the door to the Cookie Swap!

It was a blast and as you can see I came home with enough cookies to feed an army... which is a good thing since we'll be taking them to my parents for our family Christmas next weekend.  My sweet friend Andrea did an amazing job hosting!

So, today I'm thankful for friendship.  Christmas parties.  And for busy weekends... because it means you have people who want to spend time with you.  And for that, I'm grateful!

Have a happy week!

Survival guide.

I've heard a lot of marriage advice over the last 6 1/2 years Tyler and I have been married.  

Some of my favorite's that stick out above the others...

Every single day you must make the choice to love your spouse with 100% of you -- no matter what you receive in return.


Never let the word divorce cross your lips... it is never an option, so why make the threat.


Spend time apart every once in a while.  As much as you love your spouse, a girls night or evening alone at a coffee shop will do wonders for your marriage!


Eat together + pray together = stay together.

What about you -- is there any advice you've received that you'll never forget?