visit to aunt dean's

Mid March...Aunt Dean was going to be celebrating her 91st birthday, so we planned a day to go and visit her!  She is my dad's mom (whom I never met)'s sister.  She never had kids of her own, so my dad and his sister were like "her kids".  She lives in her home semi-independently which is still so amazing to me!  We don't get to see her often, but it's always an enjoyable time when we do.  I'm so thankful she has gotten to see Ryder as much as she has.

Poppy fell asleep using Ryder as his pillow!

I made many memories on this porch growing up...now it's this guy's time! 

Ryder brought these flowers in for Aunt Dean...so I put them in the most perfect southern vase for her to enjoy! 

Aunt Dean has always been known for her chocolate cake.  When my mom and dad first got married, my mom tried SOO many different "homemade" chocolate cake recipes for my dad trying to make them as good as Aunt Dean's.  She never succeeded and finally had the guts to ask Aunt Dean for her recipe.  Aunt Dean told her "Oh honey...that's just Dunkan Hines cake mix!"  ...and now we know!

Up until the last couple of years, we never made a visit to see her and Uncle Joe without finding a freshly made, uncut chocolate cake, hidden underneath the lid, waiting for us when we got there.  Now we bring our own to carry on the tradition!  I'd like to say my mom's are just as good, but that might be a lie! ;)

I rarely drink milk...but when I do, it's always with a piece of chocolate cake! =)

5th birthday @ snuggle bug!

Ryder finally got his Octonaut birthday party he has been wanting for what seems like FOREVER! :P

We had his party at school the day after his real birthday...and it was perfect!  All of his friends were so sweet and wonderful and so happy for Ryder to be celebrating his birthday!

KeeKee made his wonderful cake!  Just like she made all of me and Uncle G's cakes when we were little! =)

He LOVES the birthday bear the Birthday Kid gets to hold on their birthday!

 Sweet Morgan made him this picture!

This is Ms. Cassy--she has been at Snuggle Bug since Ryder started over two years ago...and she recently got married to man that lives out in Utah...so she moved out there a few weeks ago!  We are so happy for yet, yet sad we lost her at the same time!  She sent this to Ryder's teacher on Ryder's birthday!  How sweet huh!?

5 year old birthday celebration

I guess I say it every year...but time sure does fly!  How can I possibly have a FIVE year old??  That doesn't seem okay!  This is his last year where he won't be in grade school.  I just THINK life is busy right now, but I know that it hasn't even started!

He had been wanting a new Paw Patrol set that he saw at Target.  But I told him after the one time he told me he wanted it, that he didn't need to talk about it any more.  I luckily got him the last one our Target had...and a few other things for his birthday.  He woke up in bed and I went and got him the new laundry basket I had gotten him for his new room.  I gave it to him and you could tell he was a bit disappointed, but thankful at the same time.  It was quit funny now looking back.  He looked at it...and then crawled right back in bed to watch TV.

I called him into the kitchen and he didn't want to come because it was "too cold" but I finally convinced him to come and he got his real present!  His reaction was so cute and I'm so glad I captured it on camera!

He even said, "You tricked me mom...that was funny!!"  I guess I should have gotten up earlier or stayed up late to put that thing together...I felt bad that he didn't get to play with it that morning before school!!

After I picked him up from school we met his dad, cousins Hannah and Caleb, Uncle Josh and Aunt Amanda, Mimi and Pawpaw, KeeKee and Poppy and Uncle G to do some bowling!  R wanted to go bowling all summer and we just never made it out there.  This ended up being perfect and he loved having us all there together.

As a split family we want Ryder to know he is what ties us all together and we all love HIM and I'm so thankful that we can still all do things like this together in celebration of Ryder.

Every single time any body did anything good (knocked down any pins) Ryder was the first one out there to hug them and tell them "GOOD JOB!"  It was the sweetest thing!

After bowling we went to Colton's for dinner!  Or as Ryder calls it, "the peanut place"!  We haven't been there since last year on his birthday and ever since he's been asking to go!  So here we were!!  Mimi got him a school sticker to wear!

We didn't tell the restaurant to do anything crazy for his birthday...but they did anyways!  Ryder was scared at first, but then he loved it!!  It was really sweet!  

By the time we got home he was one tired little boy...but a BLESSED little boy!  I hope he knows how much he is truly LOVED!

quarter of a century

My birthday was a little over a month ago...but I never really shared anything about it!  Here are some fun pics from the days leading up to and after my fun day!  

After seeing Planes Fire and Rescue I was obsessed with Blades--and I wanted him!!  I told Ryder that that is what I wanted for my birthday (so that I could give it to him!).  Sure enough...Poppy took him to Target, and this is what he picked out for me!  I also got a smaller version a few days later from Naynee and The Friends! ;) 

Abby sent me these pretty flowers with this hilar card!! 

My dessert request for Family Birthdays--sugar cookie pizza!  Mom actually made a sugar cookies version AND a brownie version--oh my word, so good!  And that's cream cheese icing by the way! ;) 

 Karleigh had fun playing with my hair! =)  Didn't she do a good job?!

Naynee got some prayer beads to match her! ;)  Mom had gotten her some in China and I thought they would look stupid hanging around your neck...well little did I know how you were supposed to wear them!  I was so jealous of them when I saw Naynee put them on her wrist like this and I told her so!  So, she took care of me and got me my own! ;)  I can't wait to get more!   

I also got a cookbook I had been wanting...I haven't had a chance to dive in yet, but hopefully it will happen soon!  And...how cute is that cow mug Allison got me?!  I die--utters and all!!

I had a fantastic birthday filled with lots of love...CFA gift cards, Blue Sail gift cards, new T shirts, essential oils, necklaces and candles.  I am a blessed girl and so thankful to see another year!  

birthday fun [giveaway]

UPDATE 9:40 PM 7/31/14:  There was only one entry available on the Rafflecopter giveaway earlier for some ODD reason--I have since added a few more entry options because I know not everyone has Twitter!  Good luck!

Do I have a treat for you today!!  To have a little BIRTHDAY fun on the blog--I wanted to give something away that I truly feel passionate about and want to share with my readers/friends!  Not just share as in tell about...but share as in GIVE ONE AWAY!!  Get excited!!!

You know I'm a huge fan of She Reads Truth and all that they God is doing thru them!  I've always "journaled" on my own through thru their studies in my own journals (TJ Maxx has the cutest and cheapest if you ask me) throughout each study.  

They recently introduced their own study packs for people who wanted more "structure"...But as cute and adorable as they were, I didn't want to change up what I had going on...and why try to fix something that isn't exactly broken?

Well...one day Allie told me she left me a surprise on my door step!!  It was the Sermon on the Mount study pack!  I was so excited and though it was such a sweet surprise!!  [She later told me...it was from her mom not her...ha!  So...thanks DeeDee!!]

Well...I hate to even admit it...but I LOVED the Study Pack and the way it was structured and allowed me to fill up those pages with my heart!!  The "She Prays" and "She Lives" sections really pushed me to think and write what was on my heart specifically for that day...in that area, which wasn't something I had normally done with my own journal.  

So...I have since fallen for them and TOTALLY understand why everyone wanted them in the first place!  Can I still do the study without the pack?  YES!  Can I always afford them?  NO!--Which is why I am wanting to give ONE HEBREWS STUDY PACK AWAY!!  Whether you have tried them before or not...somebody is gonna get one! ;)

The plan officially starts August 6th via their blog OR their new iPhone APP (but you can start ANY time after that...there are not dates written into the packs)!!  It comes with four postcards that you can choose to send to a friend or two or put in a cute picture frame, or hang on your wall.  It also comes with two business card sized memory verse cards to put in your dashboard of your car etc. etc.  FUN right?!

[all photos from She Reads Truth]

I hope you are as excited about this as I am!

Since the study starts so soon....I'm only keeping it open till Sunday, August 3rd at 11:59 PM.  You may enter a total of six times (some of them multiple days) using the Rafflecopter giveaway below!  Better get busy!! ;)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

mama's birthday wish list

If someone had an upcoming birthday, these are a few of the things she may or may not be wanting!  This is just a fun list of things I have been eyeing lately...and just won't buy for myself! ;)

[one] Against All Grain by Danielle Walker-I am no way PALEO or GLUTEN FREE, but I have found that my body responds really well when I watch the amount of gluten I feed it (I was recently tested for gluten intolerance to find out for sure and the test said I was not intolerant, but I some what disagree! ;))...and staying away from food found in the middle of the grocery store.  I've been eyeing this book since it came out, and Danielle is about to come out with a new one.  She shares her story of having an autoimmune disorder/disease and how eliminating gluten from her diet has completely healed her--as in she used to take hand-fulls  of pills a day, and have regular hospital stays every 6 months of so...and dealing with neither one since turning against grains!-which lead her to creating this cookbook!  The recipes in here look delicious and I am anxious to try them out!  

[two] Single Pearl Necklace-I saw this beaut on Pinterest...and usually when you see it there it's already sold out in the store, but this is actually still online and decently priced! {SCORE!}  I wear gold jewelry 100% of the time so this simple, dainty pearl necklace caught my eye as a good "everyday, classic piece" to add to my collection! 

[three] Capri Blue-Volcano candle in mercury glass-this is an oldie, and it seems like everybody and their Mama already has one!  ;)  I am usually one to steer away from "what everybody else has" but not this guy! =)  I've always loved the smell of this candle, just haven't ever had the guts to buy it for myself!  And....I really want to plant a succulent in that jar after I've used up the candle! 

[four] ACQUA di GIOIA perfume-this is not usually something I want or ask for...but I used it while I was visiting Abby and fell in love with it!!  AHH!!  I don't wear perfume everyday, but I definitely would with this yummy goodness!  Smell it next time your walking through the department store! {GOOD PICK, ABBY! =)}

What else am I missing on my birthday list?! 

Sadly, my birthday getting closer also means summer is drawing to an end, but don't let that get you down on the glorious Monday morning! =)

camryn's horse party!

A sweet little girl at R's school had her birthday party at a new horse arena here in town.  We hadn't been to see it yet (it also had a restaurant)...so when R got his invitation he couldn't wait to go!  

We had to dress appropriately for the occasion of course! ;)

Ryder with Grace & the birthday girl Camryn!

Ryder literally KILLED that piñata.  Poor fella...he waked his legs across the room!  Ha!

The cutest little cake!--I think it was done done by Patti Cakes here in town.

Ryder & Dexter...

Horse riding time!!  R was pumped!

Sweet little Abigail!  She used to be the littlest Snuggle Bug--but she has grown up so much over the past year!  I love seeing her every day when I pick R up!

We are so thankful for the friendships Ryder has gained from going to Snuggle Bug and all the sweet parents that we get to share fun things with!  So thankful for that place!