Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from somewhere over the rainbow! On Saturday, our neighborhood held its annual Halloween block party where all the kids/families dressed up in their halloween costumes and enjoyed a chili cook off and movie night.  Last year we had so much fun dressing up as a family for the event that we decided to go for it again this year in one of my favorite themes of all time, Wizard of Oz.  As a little girl I dressed as Dorothy for four Halloweens straight, so the love runs really deep here.  I even tried to follow in my mom's footsteps by making the costumes myself, but with very little patience for sewing, these little beauties' costumes had to make their way into the world with a yard of blue gingham, three sticks of hot glue (ha!), and one of my old skirts safety-pinned around Marin's waist.  Overall, I was pretty pleased with our efforts, especially the tin man's commitment to that silver paint.  Love this family and these fun memories.  There really is no place like home.  ;)

As for tonight, we have fed the babies and are watching Marin's choice of Mother Goose Club's Halloween special before heading out to trick-or-treat. And if all ends well, I'll be able to convince Andy to watch Hocus Pocus with me before we crash for the night.  Have a fun and safe night everyone! 

Britt Bass, Balloons, and Bears...

Oh my!  If you frequent this space then you know I have a true affection for all things party planning and hosting.  Well, just recently I was approached by a friend to help create hot air balloon centerpieces for a bear and balloon inspired Bris. Talie Shove at funnybeautiful.com came up with the fun spin of modernizing the centerpieces by painting a Britt Bass-ish style balloon and adding hand drawn teddies. I absolutely loved her idea AND loved how they materialized!  So glad to have been a small part of such a beautiful tradition.  And just loving how these hot air balloon centerpieces brought a little joy to the day.  Bears, balloons and Britt Bass for the win!

We're having a baby!

It's true! Another baby! Even eighteen weeks in, that news hits me with all its amazing force.  A baby, one of those things in life that can be planned and still be a shock. How on earth does God trust us to house a soul, a growing person?!  Such an awesome miracle. We see that, and we are grateful.
We are also TIRED.  Growing a person while raising two others is no small feat.  Let my recent absence from this space be a big blaring confession that we were on the struggle bus for a bit (and maybe still are at times). There is nothing like a first trimester to really highlight the endurance of your guy, and did it ever.  He worked full days and came home to babies holding onto his legs while he made dinner. He carried loads of beach gear and slathered sunscreen on two wiggly girls. He sent me off to nap.  He tried decoding my every aversion and craving. He gladly accepted every three-year-old invitation to play dolls.  BUT as the first days of Fall come peering in and all the nausea and tiredness of the first trimester wane, we have a fresh breath in our lungs and we are feeling good,  excited to meet this little one in February.  I can smell that soft fuzzy head already.  

Our Hilton Head Vacation

I'm having to brush some cobwebs off the blog with this post. Our girlies have been waking up extra early the last couple weeks and on top of that, they came down with the worst sickness they've had yet, so naturally this little space has been forgotten while we recoup and rest. Sigh. BUT, the girls seem to be on the upswing and on this one fine day in June, they are still sleeping at 9:04 am! 

A couple weeks ago we took an amazing trip to Hilton Head with my family.  We drove home talking about the highlights of the trip. Marin said fishing with Papa was her favorite part. Andy and I told her (with her proud beaming little face) that playing on the beach and riding bikes with her and Brite were special memories for us.  Especially after the week we had, I love looking through these pictures. Such a special trip for us and our girls.  Can hardly believe we are headed back to the beach in a couple weeks.  But first, laundry.  ;)

Where the Poppies Grow

More and more I'm finding that the smallest, most simple things in life are oftentimes the most treasured, especially in motherhood.  And last week, one of those small joys was waking Marin up one morning to see that her poppies had bloomed.  We planted a small box garden with my dad a couple months ago, and we have faithfully watered it every day since.  It has been so rewarding to watch Marin observe the whole process, starting with her tiny hands carefully (then not so carefully;) pressing each seed into the soil. Not going to lie, watching her prance around the backyard with her little picked-poppy trophy made my heart swell a bit because SHE made a way for that little flower to grow, from start to finish (with a little help from her Papa of course).  And on this very normal Tuesday, we are glad for the soil, the poppies, the hands, the simple moments that are building this life.
Hope your day also is being filled with all the ordinary moments that make these days so very extraordinary.  

Mama Gone Chattanooga

Every now and then, when the winds of motherhood blow just right, I find myself in the car ALONE, and this past Saturday I embraced that very phenomenon.

Once upon a decade ago, I attended college in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where I also met some of my dearest friends.  AND just so happens that one of those very dear friends moved back to Chattanooga in recent years.  Our families have met up in both Atlanta and Chattanooga to hang out on various occasions and we've loved watching our husbands and kids become buddies in the sweetest way. Ahh, but THIS TIME (you see where I'm going with this) our husbands so graciously sent us on our way to have a mom's day out.  Insert choir of angels.

We went for a jog like we used to in college.  We drove a scooter like the die hard biker chicks we are. We ate oysters and fresh guacamole at a restaurant by the river. We drank up the warmth of the day and sharing about our babies. We got pedicures. We welcomed texts from our husbands that read things like, Everything is going great! Stay as long as you want.  {Also, the baby pooped in the tub. Hope you don't mind if I leave there to clean later...}  Can't win them all, folks.  Wink.

I guess the point of the story is that sometimes sh*t happens (in the tub), but sometimes a mom's day out happens too and when it comes time to clean up the you-know-what, you do with a big smile on your face while you sing Fifth Harmony's song that got stuck in your head during your drive home.  And you're singing because your cup is so full and you feel SO flipping blessed to have the kind of friends that are pure human hallelujahs, and to have squishy precious babies to miss during a day away, and a super selfless partner in life who so graciously offers up a day such as this.  And a most AMAZING one it was!

Thanks for another fun adventure, Er! Love you so much.

Let's Party! Friday Favorites

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Hip hip hooray, it's Friday! And if that's not a reason to talk parties, I don't know what is. ;) I have always had a soft spot for a cute party with all the fun details that make a celebration unique and special, so today I thought I'd share some of my favorite party supply shops.  I'm sure there are oceans of shops out there, but here are a few I've come to know and love.

Shop Sweet Lulu is an online boutique that carries on-trend and adorable party supplies, bakeware, etc.  Their prices are super reasonable too. Bonus!

Ultra Pom is a rental shop I used to rent the sequin tablecloth for Greg and Kaitlin's baby shower.  I was a bit nervous about renting a tablecloth (that would have desserts all over it no doubt) but I was SO pleased with this experience! They make the whole process really easy. 

Shop Meri Meri Meri Meri party supplies are some of my very favorites.  If you are looking for unique and precious party collections, you won't be disappointed with this company. Amazon also carries loads of their party supplies if that is a more convenient ordering method for you.

Beau-coup I used this website to order custom, white-chocolate dipped fortune cookies for Greg and Kaitlin's shower (in the middle of the Summer!) and they arrived, packaged to perfection and really yummy.  They are a fun shop for unique sweets and favors. 

Luna Bazaar is a shop I used to order pink vases for Marin's Third Birthday Party.  They have a large (and affordable) inventory of party decor.  

 Anthropologie is always a good idea, but I especially love finding unique party and hosting gems here, including the tablecloth and cake stands I used for Brite's first birthday party.  

Hope these are helpful for all you party people! Have a fun weekend and if you need us, we'll be at the poooooool.
;)