Happy Halloween

Ryan loves holidays and Halloween is probably his favorite. So, I am trying to create some family traditions. This year was filled with a few trips to the pumpkin patch, a Halloween parade at D's new school and an attempt at trick or treating. We only made it to a couple of a neighbors houses to say hello. D was more interested in playing in grass and getting into the flower beds than actually taking any candy. He looked so cute walking in his spider costume...the bottom legs were dragging on the ground because D is so little!

One Year One Love

Happy Birthday Dylan!

I cannot believe it has been a year since D was born. Well, actually a year and a few weeks now because it has taken me forever to write this post! So, lets rewind and pretend it is still his birthday. We had a little Reggae themed birthday party which included homemade jamaican food, a bounce house, and one super sweet cake. It was a lovely afternoon surrounded by some of our nearest and dearest.

Swim Class 101

Today was Dylan's first official swim class. He has been in the pool a few times and was cool about it. Today though, today he absolutely hated it. Hated. It. The teacher dipped him under water a couple of times and she let go of him. Yes, she let go of him! He cried, I bit my nails, and Ryan video taped the whole thing. No, I will not show it to you. Why? because it is heartbreaking. Heartbreaking. The class only lasted 15 minutes, but the truth is I am still recovering.

love,

Jamie

update: on a mango

So, yesterday I was walking by Mr. Mean Mangos house and...he cut the mango tree down. What. I know. Lame.

party like its 2010

Since we have so many little ones with summer/september birthdays, we like to have oneMAJOR family party. The afternoon was filled with toy trucks, swimming, and a cupcakes. The best part by far was trying to capture a "boys club" photo! Please note the adorable matching polo shirts.

my sisters

kristin, me, amber , and leslie

dylan having his first taste of cake

the family

5 out of the 6 boys

mango mishap

So, yesterday Ryan, Dylan, and I went for an evening summer stroll. As we walked around the neighborhood, we came across a house that had a mango tree that had expanded over the wall and onto the sidewalk. There were a bunch of old rotten mangos on the ground and a few ripe ones hanging on the tree. Since D and I are in a total mango craze, I got excited and asked Ryan to pick one. ok fine I got really excited and asked for two. Then, we heard a loud "HEY!" and the old man who lived there, who just happened to be outside at the exact moment we picked the tainted mangos, came running up to the front yard and proceeded to yell "WHAT, YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY YOUR OWN MANGOS!" Of course we apologized and explained that we simply felt bad that no one was eating any of the mangos and didn't want to see them go to waste. Old man cranky pants then yelled, "WEll, THEY HAPPEN TO BE MY MANGOS AND I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT WITH THEM!" Totally embarrassed, we said we were very sorry and placed the mangos on his from lawn. Dylan found the entire thing hysterical and laughed the rest of the way home while Ryan and I kept looking over our shoulders in fear that he was going to follow us home. So, tell me...if you saw some gorgeous looking mangos hanging over a fence would you pick one?

Ps D and I walked by the house again today and the mangos were still sitting on cranky pants lawn!

lazy days

Hello. It has been awhile since my last post. We went out of town and came back with a very nasty bug that has lasted about two weeks! I will be back soon with some current pictures and updates.

love,

Jamie

Happy 4th of July

"In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved."

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Happy 4th of July!

Our weekend was filled with family, sun, and sleep. I hope your weekend was filled summer love and fireworks.

"One night a father overheard his son pray: Dear God, Make me the kind of man my Daddy is. Later that night, the Father prayed, Dear God, Make me the kind of man my son wants me to be."

Source Unknown

This Sunday will be a Father's Day first for my hubs! He truly is an amazing papa. Our baby boy is completely smitten by him and I am so thankful that my son has a solid role model to look up to.

Thank you Ryan for being such an all around great guy...

And a special thanks to the grandpas...

nordies girl

I was shopping at Nordstroms the other day and spotted this adorable girl...

Alex is wearing a vintage dress that she turn into a skirt and a simple white tee. I love how the beat up boots and belt toughen up the sweet look.

image

Coveting...

This week, as memorial day kicks off the start of summer, I am seriously coveting some of these cool outdoor pieces. I am not sure how many lazy summer days I am going to have now with an infant crawling around...but these pieces make me swoon!

via anthropologie

via anthropologie

via rikshawdesign.blogspot.com

roses

" a rose by any other name would smell as sweet" shakespeare romeo and juliet

The smell of roses is both utterly romantic and subtly fresh. It reminds me of spring mornings and gentle breezes. Red Roses by Jo Malone, is my favorite scent to wear. I first starting wearing it on my wedding day and have been faithfully wearing it (almost) everyday since. The rose garden at the Huntington Library and Gardens in Pasadena, Ca has the very same scent effect on me. We spent Saturday afternoon strolling through the blooming bushes, drinking rose petal tea, and eating chocolate chip scones. Could possibly be one of the best days ever!

"keep Austin weird"

Last week we went to Austin for a little family time and I have to say it is now one of my top places to visit. Everything was amazing, from the people, the music, and the food...oh the food

A few of the highlights...

Dylan blissfully slept while we enjoyed the most delicious drinks and cheese plate I have EVER had. Red wine mixed with tangerine soda...oddly sophisticated!

The Blanton Museum at UT and the Capital Building

María Izquierdo

Gilbert Gaul

And the shopping. Ah-Mazing! I bought this red Batik jumper at Bows and Arrows and scored the jagged turquoise ring at Mercury Home Design.

mother's day

"Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible"
Marion c. Garretty, quoted in A spoonful of Chicken Soup

This will be my first "offical" mother's day and I have to say...I think it is my new favorite holiday! My hubs has sweetly supplied gifts from our dogs for years, but I have to say it is totally different. We will be celebrating with a picnic at the beach spot where we were married last year. The idea of watching Dylan crawl around on the grass while I sip chilled apple cider truly makes my heart flutter! A round of applause to all the mamas out there!

The women who made it all possible

One of my first mom moments

Herb Garden

So, last year I was all about starting a vegetable and herb garden. I had all these lofty thoughts of cooking homemade goodies using things I picked in our backyard, like lavender shortbread cookies and tomato basil pasta sauce! Our garden lasted oh maybe two weeks before it dried up and died. This year, we are trying again and added a drip system to help keep it alive. Lets keep our fingers crossed!

first post

This first post feels a bit like a first date. Awkward get to know yous and such. So I leave you with some images of my life...after all a picture is worth a thousand words.