BlueGrass and GreenTomatoes

Christmas Collage: Catch-Up

2012-01-18T11:50:00.001-06:00

It has been a busy past few weeks.
We had a beautiful Christmas.

The new year is already showcasing new adventures for our family.

(And, no, we aren't pregnant!)

More to come later...

Happy Friday!

2011-12-02T08:44:00.000-06:00

I had this amazing post in mind to do today about how buying baby things can feel as if you are making a life and death decision...

... no matter how small or meaningless (to anyone else) that might be.

We got the thumbs up - and a slight shove forward - from our pediatrician yesterday to start solid foods, and now I'm at a slight loss as to what/which/when/how to begin this milestone.

However, yesterday was slightly traumatic, what with the twins getting their 6-month shots, Easton screaming at the doctor because he did not appreciate being poked, Mommy and Daddy getting their flu shots (finally), and everyone being slightly grumpy until bedtime due to the unpleasantness of the afternoon appointment.

Today feels like a recovery day, and everyone is sleepy and whiny.

So, instead of getting into the stresses and the blesses of child-rearing, I'm just going to say,

"Happy Friday!"

Thankful

2011-11-30T10:10:00.000-06:00

Over the past month there has been a phenomenon across Facebook where people have proclaimed the various persons, places, and things that they are particularly thankful for. Swept in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I began the "Thankful Proclamations" along with thousands of others.

I should have known that I couldn't keep up.

I mean, I barely have time to brush my teeth some days.

*I should note that I visited the dentist last week, and I didn't have ANY cavities.*

Anyway, my entries began to flounder, and by the middle of November my daily "thankful thing" turned into weekly "thankful things" as I attempted to catch-up. By the time Thanksgiving rolled around I was out.

Excuses for Neglected Facebook:

1. Easton

2. My grandmother's house exists in the sole United States location that doesn't have cell phone service

3. Samantha

4. Blake

I do, however, have many, many things that I am thankful for.

I am thankful for the obvious...

samantha

easton

blake

maysee and whiskey

health and happiness

friends and family

blake's job

our home

food on the table

I am thankful for the somewhat-obvious...

washing machine

dish washer

pizza delivery

side sleeper pillows

hand sanitizer

lye (don't ask)

tequila

I am thankful for the only-obvious-to-mommies...

boogie wipes

jauque

bla blas

the dot

breathable bumpers

sophie

snuzas

I could go on and on and on...

To sum things up, I have much to be thankful for.

Sometimes I may become overwhelmed by the stresses of life, but at the end of the day

as I rock a warm, tiny (or if it's Easton, medium-sized) bundle to sleep,
I know that I could never express my gratitude enough.

I am thankful.

Caramel Apples

2011-10-21T16:11:00.000-05:00

I have a secret...

... when I make caramel apples.

Instead of using water to give the caramel a perfect consistency to dip my Granny Smith's in,

I use orange juice.

It seriously makes the best caramel apples ever!

Really.

Seriously.

I also had a little help from the cutest assistant chef.

All the while my boys circled the kitchen like vultures.

Now go make some caramel apples!

Samantha Rae and Easton Miles: A Birth Story

2011-10-19T13:11:00.000-05:00

Looking at my past posts, I realized that while I have several entries describing how Blake and I got pregnant, I've never told you all about the most amazing day...

Samantha and Easton's birthday.

They were born on a Friday morning, June 3rd.

However, I am going to have to back up a little further for everything to make sense.

The babies' due date was on July 8th. We knew, though, that the chances of the twins actually making it that far was slim to none. I didn't meet any of the qualifications for women who normally carry multiples closer to the due date.

30 years or older

Previously carried a pregnancy full term

By the time May rolled around, I had stopped working and I was in the doctor's office each week for her to give everything a once-over. Each time that I went to see Dr. Bruce, she'd send me somewhere for some sort of testing or preventative this-or-that.

Timeline over a Period of Four Weeks

Visit with Dr. Bruce sends me to the hospital for an overnight stay to determine if I have pre-eclampsia.

I'm sent home that next morning with negatives on all of my tests.

An at-home nursing service visits to teach me how to monitor myself for signs of pre-eclampsia.

I am given two steroid shots in preparation for the possibility of the twins being born dangerously early.

(The shots will help develop the twins' lungs.)

Visit with Dr. Bruce sends me back to the hospital because she is certain I am in labor.

I am dilated several centimeters.

I spend five days, six nights in the hospital while undergoing monitoring for contractions that I don't feel and receiving ultrasounds, which have become somewhat boring.

Dr. Bruce assures me that nothing has changed, and I go home.

An at-home nursing service returns to teach me how to monitor my own contractions.

I start having contractions (that I still don't feel, but are shown on the at-home monitor).

Dr. Bruce prescribes an anti-nausea medication to stop contractions.

Blake and I head to the emergency room because I am sure that my water has broken.

After a couple of hours, it is determined that my water has definitely NOT broken.

(In my defense, I couldn't feel my contractions! I had no idea what was going on...)

A Monday morning visit with Dr. Bruce sends me back to the hospital because I have dilated several more centimeters.

She schedules my c-section for the upcoming Friday morning.

I stay in the hospital while the nurses scratch their heads because I can't feel my contractions and I don't want any sleep aids.

Blake's parents and sister drive down from Fort Worth for the birth of the twins.

Friday, June 3rd, 2011

The morning the twins were scheduled to arrive was strangely calm and fluid. I got up extra early (I was told to be ready by 6:00AM for my 8:00AM surgery) and took a long shower knowing that I wasn't going to be allowed back in the shower for a few days... Gross.

After the shower, Blake and I laid on the tiny hospital bed together dozing in and out as though we knew it was going to be awhile before we got much sleep again. Once Blake's parents and sister arrived at the hospital, the minutes began to rush past.

A nurse came in to put in my IV, and Blake pulled scrubs over the jeans and t-shirt that I had packed weeks before.

I moved into a wheelchair, all the while trying not to let the emotion of my mother not being there damage such a joyful occasion.

Once I got into the operating room, I just kept replaying in my head all of the "Baby Story" episodes that I'd seen. I knew what was coming, right?!

While Blake waited in a small room for the approval to come sit by my head, I received my epidural. It was insanely painless, and I was confused as to why so many women freak out about the tiny needle...

Okay, so maybe I didn't actually look at the needle because I was afraid it would put me into a panic.

After the epidural was placed, the doctor explained that either he was just awesome or I had a really high pain tolerance. (Maybe that would explain the lack of feeling of the contractions? Or maybe he was just really awesome?) Having the epidural was the strangest sensation. I've always heard that you can feel pressure, but I could feel my toes wiggling!

I was determined not to panic as the trays of utensils were wheeled out, as someone poked me with some scissors, and as I was painted with iodine.

"Where was Blake?"

Those nurses seriously wait to the final second before letting the husband in.

Blake barely had time to sit down before he was standing back up to take pictures of our babies being brought into the world.

Meanwhile I was trying not to let my curiosity get the best of me. I could almost make out what the doctors were doing in a small reflection on the rim of the surgical lamp directly above my head.

I knew Samantha had been born when I felt a release of pressure on my left lung.

Whoosh.

And then, there she was. Dangling over the sheet.

Blake was taking pictures, and I was amazed at the truth that a child had just emerged from my abdominal region.

It was 9:01AM.

And then Easton was there.

He appeared considerably larger even though he weighed only an ounce more at 5 lbs., 7 oz.

It was 9:02AM.

I saw my babies that had been kicking the crap out of my kidneys,

that had been doing flips,

that had been punching each other,

that had made nights so uncomfortable and standing so hard.

As quickly as they came, they were gone.

Whisked away to the NICU, Blake bounded after them.

I felt a sleepy comfort, and I was put back together before heading to recovery, which was nothing more than a curtained room surrounded by other women who had just given birth.

Blake made his way between me and the twins giving me updates and showing me pictures that he had taken.

"The babies are perfect."

"Samantha has a little fluid on her lungs, but she's just fine."

"My mom and dad and Heather are watching them get baths."

"The babies are doing wonderfully."

Back in the hospital room that I had already spent so much time in, I was positioned back in my bed.

Easton was brought in.

He was beautiful and lovely.

He cried and ate. Blake changed his diaper, and he was passed around between his grandmother, grandfather, and father. And then, he was back in my arms.

A few hours later Samantha was brought to us.

She was tiny and reminded me of a porcelain doll.

After all the tears, disappoint, pain, money, heartache, shots, and fear, they were here.

At 35 weeks, Samantha Rae and Easton Miles were perfect.

The doctors and nurses were amazed.

Blake and I were...

...and still are...

...in love.

Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-17T09:43:00.001-05:00

Almost two years ago to the date I posted a blog entry about how Blake and I were hoping that we would soon have a child to bring to our favorite pumpkin patch...

You can read that post by going here.

My gosh.

I remember that day just like yesterday. Blake and I had decided that we were officially going to start trying to have a baby. At that moment, as we blissfully wandered throughout the pumpkins, we thought that having a baby was going to be easy, fun even. We had already been off of any sort of birth control for several months, and we just knew that at any moment I was going to get pregnant.

We were so wrong.

After months of trying, we decided to visit with an endocrinologist, a reproductive specialist. At that time he assured us that we would be pregnant in a month, two months maximum. However, with the passing of several months and still no pregnancy, the methods by which the doctor used to help us get pregnant became more demanding of my body.

Injections, daily blood work, and stressful nutrition monitoring.

Where was the easy pregnancy that Blake and I expected?

After a year of tests and appointments, injections and hospital stays, we returned to the pumpkin patch, but there was less hope and a few tears. Would we actually be one of those sets of parents with our child taking pictures amongst carefully arranged pumpkins?

Two weeks later, I took a pregnancy test.

It was early in the morning. Before the sun had even had a chance to rise.

I snuck into the guest bathroom to avoid waking Blake, and I cried on the bathroom rug as "pregnant" appeared across the small window on the test stick.

After hiding the test under the sink I crawled back into bed, waiting only a few minutes before whispering, "Blake. I took a pregnancy test."

Jumping up, he looked at me.

"What did it say?"

This year we returned to the pumpkin patch. This year was much more different than last year or even the year before.

This year holds the best pumpkin patch visit yet...

In time that is measured by visits to a local pumpkin patch,

... I wonder what joy next year's visit will hold?

My Little Laughers

2011-10-15T20:13:00.001-05:00

Samantha and Easton are getting bigger with each passing day.
I can't get over each accomplishment that they've reached, and I'm watching with much anticipation for the upcoming ones that I know are only right around the corner.

I know that at any moment...

... one of them will reach out to me as I bend to pick them up.

... they will sit up proud and straight without any support from me or the couch cushions.

... they will spit out a word or grab at a toy.

They've already begun to chew on anything that happens into their grasp, including my hair.
Pacifiers are making surprising flights across the living room without any notice.
Bouncing chairs have lost their appeal, and demands are constantly being made to interrupt boring pauses throughout the day.

Oh, and one more special milestone...

Laughter is filling our small apartment.

Life Lately

2011-09-28T11:15:00.001-05:00

Lately there has been a lot of sleep...

I'm pretty sure that we are heading through a growth spurt (or maybe I'm just really boring!)

Even with all the napping, we've still managed to explore.

Over the past couple of weeks we've been busy with test runs of getting out of the house.

I'm gonna go stir crazy if I have to stay in this apartment much longer.

Remember, I've been stuck here before and since the twins arrived for bed rest, etc.

Last Tuesday, we went to visit Daddy at work and had lunch with him and a few friends.

This past weekend we went to visit Grandma and Pawpaw Rick.

Aunt Erica and Uncle Jonathan met us there for the weekend, and my dad visited for a couple of hours.

The babies were definitely spoiled by dozen of hands holding them throughout the day and lots of attention during "tummy time".

We took the twins to Grapevine,

walking around the main street,

going into a few shops,

grabbing a wine-a-rita for the grown-ups.

There's truly nothing that says "I'm an awesome parent" than an alcoholic beverage in the cup holder of your children's stroller.

Other Notes of Interest

1. Samantha and Easton love to watch me cook/bake/clean.

2. Samantha's favorite thing is watching me wipe down the shower's glass doors after I've showered.

3. Easton rolled over for the first time two Sunday's ago, and now he's a pro like his sister (who's been rolling over since she turned two months).

4. I just ordered the babies' baptism outfits... December 18th is the big day!

5. All of the diaper bag's materials, car seats, and stroller have been labeled as the property of "The Bastin Family" in preparation for church this Sunday.

6. Fall decorating begins on Saturday!

7. Samantha and Easton are HUGE fans of the Beatles and Bon Jovi. It's weird, I know.

Awake My Soul

2011-09-15T20:30:00.000-05:00

Is it possible that I've been asleep?

I feel as though I've been living in a fog for the past few months.

I know that I haven't been me.

I've been distant.

I've been distant from the things that I love the most.

Cooking

Writing

Traveling

Friends

Family

Blake

I've focused solely on two things.

Survive losing my mother.

Survive having two newborn babies.

It's strange that both are connected, woven together with interlocking bands.

I don't know how to explain it. I am both immensely happy and sad all at the same time. It is such a crazy feeling. The most amazing moments in my life are happening at the very time as the most heart-wrenching. My best day and my worst day were only moments apart. How else can I explain it?

But I can see now, as though I woke up.

My mom is still here.

She is in my children.

I love when someone asks me where Easton got his sharp blue eyes.

I smile when Samantha focuses every bit of her attention on the swinging pendulum of a clock that hung in my mother's living room when she was young.

My soul is beginning to awaken.

Blake has noticed, asking where I've been.

I have been here all along.

I don't want to be anywhere else ever again.

A Few Photos

2011-09-08T09:14:00.000-05:00

Lately, the babies and I have been spending our weeks lazily watching the Today Show, folding loads of laundry, and cuddling in bed during the early morning hours just moments after their daddy heads out the door.

I'm excited for cooler weather to bring more opportunities to escape the apartment.

We can walk to museums, the park, and the zoo from where we live.

I'm still trying to learn Samantha and Easton's schedules.

We've gotten a bedtime down, and the two are sleeping through the night.

From 7:00PM until 7:00AM.

With an exception of one middle of the night feeding, which Blake and I secretly love.

This Sunday, we are planning on taking the twins to the nursery at our church for the first time.

I hope that everything goes smoothly since I'm a little nervous about leaving the babies with strangers.

Blake keeps reminding me that it is only for an hour.

I can't believe that they've been here for three months!

Every day is as great as the day before.

Grief

2011-09-07T12:56:00.000-05:00

I've been recently keeping up with a blog.
A young mother and father chronicle their feelings and their journey in wake of the death of their seven-month-old son.
It's a devastating story that I can't begin to fathom.

Recently, the father spoke about grief.

He described it as a very lonely process. A journey that is taken alone.

Behind closed doors in the privacy of your own home.

At night when everyone is asleep.

In the shower where the water can wash away the evidence.

Grief is lonely.

My mother passed away almost six months ago.

She died after a long battle with breast cancer.

When she was first diagnosed, almost fifteen years ago, it was only a little lump in her breast.

The little lump spread into her bones. Her hips, her back.

The cancer in her bones spread into her liver.

She discussed the possibility of her survival with her doctor.

She wanted to see Samantha and Easton, and her doctor assured her that this would be their main goal.

A new goal.

She died three months before her grandchildren were born.

The weekend before her death, she was able to rub the belly that housed the two sweet beings.

She missed it when they kicked though.

I didn't want to wake her up after she had gone to bed.

I miss her everyday.

I want to talk to her everyday.

I know that people lose their parents all the time.

It's not fair, though.

My mom did her part. She worked her ass off to beat the thing trying to kill her.

Her world was infected with appointments, medications, and treatments.

She deserved those three months to reach her goal.

I'm grieving.

I'm grieving the loss of the person I could talk to about everything.

I'm grieving the loss of being able to call my mom when I have a question about motherhood.

I'm grieving the loss of my children knowing someone who was so important to me.

I'm grieving the sadness that surrounds my brother and my sister during moments that should be happy.

I'm grieving all of the regrets that I have and the time that I lost.

Grieving is more than just lonely.

It is quiet and intimate.

It is raw and overshadowing.

Grief is consuming.

I know things will be easier, but it's still not.

Top 10 Things Learned...

2011-07-19T21:38:00.001-05:00

In the past month and a half, I've been a mom.

That's right; I'm someone's mama.

Not only that, but I am a mama to two some-ones.

I think I was born to be a mother.

This feels so right and so perfect.

Not saying that it doesn't come with a few rough spots.

Good Lord, I need a good night's sleep like no other, but...

It's worth it.

They are worth it.

I'd like to present to you:

The Top 10 Things I've Learned in the Past 47 Days

My mom was an incredible mom. The best. She made having three kids look like it was the easiest thing in the world, and her hair, nails, and makeup were always perfect.
Spit up can, and will, shoot over that stupid burp rag onto your lap, floor, table, refrigerator, pretty much anything within a two foot radius.
Having two adults, two dogs, and two newborns in an apartment in the middle of the third largest city in America is suffocating. I would't recommend it.
There are now two categories in life:

Things that are Important - Babies, Sleep, Deodorant, Food (in that order)
Things that aren't Important - Clean Car, the Lemon Tree on the Balcony, Angry Birds (in no particular order)

Babies know exactly when you have pulled that dirty diaper from under them and before you've had a chance to put a clean one under them.
Blake and I are one of those couples who talk about their kids whenever and wherever. We are consumed.
I can change a diaper in 30 seconds flat... I'm pretty sure I'll be able to enter a contest or something here in a couple of months.
Tiny lungs can make some impressive sound.
As if it was possible, my love for my husband has changed in such an abrupt way. He is not just my best friend; he gave me the chance to be a mother. He gave me my children, and he loves them just as much as I do.
The second I wrapped my arms around my son and my daughter, I knew that I would do anything, give everything, be whatever they needed to allow them to have the happiest, most successful life possible. I will love them more than they will ever know... Until, possibly, when they have their own children.

Photo Credit: CameraShyCreations

"A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world.

It knows no law, no pity, it dates all things and

crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path."

Agatha Christie, "The Last Seance"

Insensitive

2011-04-19T08:53:00.001-05:00

I do not want to rant.
I am not going to rant.

Ok. I'm going to rant a little.

What is up with people?

Not everyone, but the few that seem to baffle me into thinking, "What is the purpose behind his/her existence?"

... First and Foremost ...

I am blessed with a magnitude that I could never express. I mean, it took me over six hours (six hours!) to write out the thank you notes to everyone for the largest of gestures to the smallest, kindest expressions amidst our pregnancy. Dozens upon dozens of people celebrated the lives of our two unborn children with us at three baby showers, and I know that I have never felt so much love for two people who have not even stepped foot on this earth.

It is amazing.

... However ...

If I have one more person ask me if I am having twins because I suffered through infertility...

Tell me my babies are "drug babies"...

Ask me if we "resorted" to IVF...

Ask how expensive it was...

Tell me how my pregnancy compares to their brother's wife's cousin's daughter's pregnancy who took a pill for a month then miraculously got pregnant...

I'm going to punch them.

In the throat.

This pregnancy is mine.

It is precious to me.

It is real and raw to me.

I fought for my ability to have children just as hard anyone.

The road that Blake and I took is not the same road as everyone.

But...

Here we are.

So.

... if you are incapable of keeping your opinions to yourself, especially if I do not know you and you do not know me ...

The next time I tell you that I am indeed having twins.

Yes, one is a boy and one is a girl.

Just say, "Congratulations!"

Then walk away.

... Or else ...

BAM!

... Right in the throat ...

And that is the end of my rant.

Here is a little video from YouTube that my brother-in-law shared with me.

Seriously, people say these things.

On to the Nursery...

2011-04-18T11:52:00.001-05:00

Blake and I (mostly I) have been spending ridiculous amounts of time in the twins' room.

There have actually been a few occasions where I have caught myself just hanging out in the room wondering what life is going to be like once the room is occupied.

I can only imagine, and my aunt told me last week that,

"You just can't realize what that time is going to be like until that time is here."

As Blake and I patiently wait to become an official mother and an official father, there is nothing wrong with nesting until your fingerprints are dissolved with bleach and your dogs are cautious to drink water out of the bowl for fear of getting water on the wood floors.

Around Christmas, Blake and I picked out furniture. We brought home two cribs, and we waited patiently for the matching, three-drawer dresser to arrive.

... But ...

Is it ever that easy?

Of course not.

The matching, three-drawer dresser never came in, and it was on to Plan B.

Introducing Plan B

Plan B was found on the side of the road and was repainted twice.

The first paint color was a lovely turquoise blue.

The second paint color was a pale dove gray/blue.

Upon purchasing the dresser and placing it in the twins' room, I went to work creating a plan to make this dresser into the perfect changing table.

The Plan

Keep in Mind the Following Numbers

Matching, Three-Drawer Dresser - $518.00

Budget Dresser (Nine Drawers) - Roughly $350.00

The Final Product

Money well spent.

I think.

Growing Babies

2011-04-17T16:21:00.000-05:00

Every time we go to the doctor ...

... and I mean EVERY time ...

I get an ultrasound.

*Here are a few pictures from the beginning to now*

6 1/2 Weeks

Blueberries

10 Weeks

Prunes

13 Weeks

Peaches

16 1/2 Weeks

Onions

23 Weeks

Papayas

28 Weeks

Eggplants

Growing babies is a lot of work.

I think I deserve a cookie!

I Am Never Alone

2010-12-22T14:07:00.001-06:00

I know, I know...

... It's been forever since my last post.

But I must warn you, Blake and I have been busy.

Very busy.

Where should my story begin?

I guess I should take off right where I left off.

Stupid pink bubble gum ice cream.

No worries, though. My tooth is fixed.

My dentist even gave me permission to eat pink bubble gum ice cream.

He said I shouldn't necessarily blame the pink bubble gum ice cream.

So I won't.

I blame my kidneys.

They must secretly hate me.

******

At the beginning of July, after our trip to Istanbul, London, and Greece, Blake and I decided to make the leap. The leap into the unknown, the unreliable, the unpromising world of IVF.

We had learned from our fertility specialist after a battery of tests and treatments and blood work that we would not be able to conceive on our own.

I was 25 years old, and I carried the label of being infertile.

After coming to terms with this probable forecast on our lives, Blake and I wanted to challenge the odds.

Adoption didn't seem right for us.

Blake was perfect, and I was capable of carrying a child.

We were going to give this a shot.

I'm not going to lie.

It was expensive, scary, and with each phone call and appointment, there was an emotional tole that I can't really put into words.

It seems easy, right?

Take the pills. Take the injections. Give the blood. Go to the appointments.

IVF is not easy.

It comes with no promise.

There is no fine print telling you that everything will work out for the best.

There is no guarantee.

Two months after the pills, the shots, the blood, and the appointments, Blake and I came out of the operating room with 25 of my eggs in a doctor's petri dish.

After 12 hours there were only 16.

After 24 hours only 11 were left to be frozen.

This was a promising number, but Blake and I had little time to reflect on our accomplishment.

I had landed myself in the hospital with OHSS, which pretty much means I was going to be very uncomfortable and confused for about a week.

The first night in the hospital, Blake and I were terrified.

Wait, that's not right.

Blake was terrified.

I was starving and tired.

I hadn't eaten or slept in over three days.

If I ate, I threw up.

If I tried to relax, I would cringe in pain until I curled into a little ball all over again.

If I sat up or stood up, I would pass out.

After experiencing this, I was thrilled to be in a hospital bed.

I mean, they weren't going to let me die.

At least, I hoped they weren't going to let that happen.

A Few Highlights from the Week in the Hospital:

1. I got to use a bedpan.

2. I had to be carried/lifted to be moved or weighed.

3. I wasn't allowed to eat solid foods until three days into my visit.

4. My kidneys stopped working. (Hence why I think my kidneys hate me.)

5. I had human plasma pumped into me. Twice.

6. A nurse spilled my urine all over the floor.

7. I had to have a six inch long needle stuck in between my ribs while I was awake. Twice.

8. I had two and a half liters of fluid drained out of my chest and stomach. Twice.

9. I had a nurse ask me whether I had given birth to a boy or girl. (I tried to punch her.)

Blake and I didn't exactly know what was happening.

We were tired, and the doctors kept telling us that I might get to go home "tomorrow", but tomorrow would come and pass.

My doctor kept telling me that I was dehydrated on the inside, but I was so swollen with fluid, Blake and I didn't know what to think.

We weren't sure whether this was life-threatening or not.

At one point my sister-in-law, who is a nurse, told me over the phone,

"At least you know now that you aren't going to die."

Wait, was that ever a possibility?

Maybe, at the beginning.

I didn't die, though.

I left the hospital swollen and scarred from all of the IV's and needles, but I was alive.

There were 11 embryos waiting for me and Blake.

After giving my body a chance to recover, we quietly dove back into the process.

On October 19th, in the very same operating room where my eggs had been removed, two embryos were placed back into me.

Less than two weeks later, I couldn't wait...

And then, 9 weeks later...

We saw them.

There are two.

There is no joy more simple or complex at the exact same time.

"The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me."

Psalm 116:6

Pink Bubble Gum Ice Cream

2010-08-11T08:12:00.000-05:00

I might have a teeny, tiny obsession with Baskin Robbin's pink bubble gum ice cream...
Really, it's pretty small.

Okay. Who am I kidding?

I'm completely, utterly, and entirely obsessed.

When Blake and I first moved to Houston, we would go to Baskin Robbins every night to help soothe my homesickness.

I would always order a scoop of pink bubble gum ice cream on a cone.

Yum!

After a few months of doing this, our tradition slowly faded.

(I'm pretty sure it had something to do with money, time, and other adult-related things.)

But, I soon regretted my fading relationship with pink bubble gum ice cream because Baskin Robbins discontinued the flavor, announcing that stores would no longer carry it regularly.

Alas, my heart was broken.

Until ...

... Last week I was watching TV when a commercial came on advertising Baskin Robbin's Flavor of the Month ...

[Insert drumroll]

PINK BUBBLE GUM ICE CREAM!

I know!

I was beyond thrilled and proceeded to share the glorious news with anyone and everyone who would listen.

I pulled Blake into the car and demanded pink bubble gum ice cream.

A scoop on a cone and a half gallon of reserves later, I was satisfied.

Until ...

... The next evening after dinner I asked for a little pink bubble gum ice cream.

It was delicious, perfect, and everything a girl could possibly want.

Until...

... I bit down on a frozen piece of bubble gum and chipped a tooth.

Now...

... I'm taking my final day off to go to the dentist to get my stupid tooth glued back together.

You just can't count on anything can you?

P.S. I still love you, pink bubble gum ice cream.

2010-08-05T22:12:00.000-05:00

Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts.

Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts.

Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me...

Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.

-Shel Silverstein

Greece: Day 2

2010-08-04T08:03:00.000-05:00

I should be sleeping.

It is 6:49AM, and I am up.

Wide awake.

I should be sleeping.

I start back to work on Monday, and I'm pretty sure the early hours aren't going to come as easily as it has over the past few days.

I have a few hundred things running through my mind.

Lists of all sorts:

Things to be done to finish setting up the classroom

Lesson plans to plan for the first few weeks of school

Chores to complete at home

They won't all get done, and that's the beauty of it all.

It will work out regardless.

I have faith that it will all be fine in the end.

... Day 2 of Greece ...

Our first full day in Greece started early.

I couldn't sleep then either.

Each summer my family takes a trip to the beach, where my mom always rises before everyone else.

My brother, sister, and I would always wake knowing that she'd already be on the beach claiming her perfect spot in the sand.

It was key to claim that perfect location.

I was determined to have a perfect spot here in Greece.

[Good morning, Santorini!]

[Our views that we woke up to.

It may or may not have been a consistent event throughout our trip to sleep with the drapes pulled as far back as possible.]

Up and dressed in our bathing suits, Blake and I climbed the stairs from our room, hoping to rush through breakfast and stake our chair for the day with our towels, books, sunscreen, and sunglasses.

Craning our necks over the pool to where a row of chairs stretched to welcome those wanting a view during breakfast, Blake and I scoped out our territory.

It was 8:00AM.

No one was awake.

Where is everyone?!?

Apparently, I was a little overzealous.

Oops.

Regardless, the staff was setting out the gorgeous buffet and was all too happy to have us sit and relax, bringing us tea, eggs with a Greek twist, and (my favorite) sparkling Greek wine.

The evening before, our waiter for our private meal was appalled that in America the waiter/waitress will bring you your check while you are still eating.

"In Greece, a meal should be an event... Lasting 3, 4, sometimes 10 hours!"

This same waiter was determined on this morning to create a perfect atmosphere for a leisurely breakfast.

On several occasions, I would rise to claim my chaise lounger to relax on, but he would wave his hand and tell me to "Sit. I was just coming to refill your wine."

Have I mentioned that Blake and I are considering moving to Santorini?

To live?

At this resort?

Forever?

'Cause we might.

Eventually, Blake and I did make it to the lounger and spent the morning and afternoon, with our arms and legs stretched, our sunglasses hiding our short naps, and our wine glasses continually being refilled by sweet Phillippe.

Good Lord, Phillippe.

He reminded me of that character that Brad Pitt plays.

You know, the Trojan movie where Brad has long hair and tan skin and wears see-thru, white linens.

Wait. That was just Phillippe wearing the linens?

Oh, well it was lovely.

[But, then again, so was this guy.]

Kristin and Brandon were smart.

They stayed in bed later.

But, did they get 12 refills on their sparkling wine?

I'm not sure.

I wasn't able to keeping count.

"Phillippe?" *Clap, clap* "More wine!"

That evening, after showering and taking another crazy taxi ride, we all headed into the most infamous town on the island for shopping and dinner with a view.

Oia

[Oia is best known for its' charming roads and shops.

It is magical and pretty much what I imagine when I used to picture Greece in my head with its' white churches with blue domes and cobblestone paths.]

[We stopped in several shops to pick up gifts for our families.

This shop was full of wooden carvings. I picked up this cross for my little sister. It is painted on the front, and the shop owner was kind enough to carve a quick reminder as to where this gift was from.]

[Blake and I stopped in this art shop where a local photographer showcased his pieces. We enjoyed them so much we brought one home.]

Our resort had kindly called ahead to a restaurant that had a perfect, earth-shaking view of the sunset.

We climbed up and down the sides of the cliffs of Santorini.

We never found the restaurant.

So, we settled on the first restaurant that we came across with seating available.

[People were camped out everywhere, in every nook and cranny, to watch a famous Greek sunset.]

[Blake and I have seen some of the most famous sunrises and sunsets.

How can there not be something more powerful out there who creates such masterpieces?]

It was an amazing day, ending with an amazing close.

[Good night, Greece.]

To Be Continued...

Greece: Day 1

2010-08-03T07:38:00.001-05:00

Okay, okay.

I know, I know.

It's been a staggering two weeks since my last post.

I may or may not be allowing precious details of this amazing trip swirl down a drain.

But, this is not simply because of my own laziness.

(Well, kinda.)

However, for the past few weeks, I've been working very hard to set up my new classroom at my school.

I'm teaching kindergarten this year!

A new grade, a new classroom.

It's a lot of work, I'll tell ya.

With sincere apologies for my absence, let's return to the trip.

... Greece: Day 1...

A long time ago (three years ago) Blake and I were married.

Doesn't time just fly?

A long time ago (three years ago) Kristin and Brandon were married.

On the exact same day as mine and Blake's wedding.

Crazy how the world works. Right?!

To celebrate this momentous occasion, we decided to take advantage of our current location to take a trip to a fabulous destination.

Santorini, Greece held the ticket.

As we flew into the island, we experienced a rough landing that came close to sending me into a panic.

When the plane landed, a few people on the flight cheered!

Apparently, there are several days out of the month when the island experiences a couple of days where the wind is out of control intense.

All of the flights into and out of Santorini the day before had been canceled.

It was pretty windy, but not enough to keep us from basking in the view from our hotel.

[These chairs are where we spent most of our time over the following days.]

We spent the late afternoon sipping chilled Greek wine and soaking in the final rays of sun for the day.

It was such a treat to sit back and do nothing after our touring of Istanbul.

My feet were thanking me!

We capped the night of our 3 year anniversary with a private dinner with the resort's chef.

After six amazing courses, a bottle of wine, several cocktails, and coffee, we were high on life.

What a perfect way to celebrate our anniversary!

To Be Continued...

Turkey: Day 3

2010-07-19T09:10:00.000-05:00

Note:

It has now been several weeks since we arrived back in Houston from this amazing trip.

As more time passes, I am more likely to make mistakes on facts and such.

Therefore, if you are reading this (and your name is Kristin), and you happen upon a mistake, please let me know!

Thanks (Kristin).

... Turkey: Day 3 ...

Let me start off by explaining the whole "the-sun-comes-up-at-like-4:30AM-in-Turkey" thing.

So, the sun comes up in Turkey at like 4:30AM.

It is different;

it is confusing;

most importantly, it is horrible the morning after a night of movie watching and "the drinking game."

Bleh.

Horrible.

I did not feel like getting up.

Neither did Blake, and I'm willing to put money on the fact that Kristin didn't either.

But we all emerged from our cozy, warm beds to shower and step back out onto the Turkish streets we were to explore that day.

Luckily, there were no "little hills" to climb on this day!

After arriving in the area known as "Old Istanbul", we headed to our first site:

The Blue Mosque

Apparently, a young sultan wanted to create an impressive building for which he would always be remembered for creating. However, once the Blue Mosque was under construction, the government (or whatever) went bankrupt.

It was finally finished, after much cost and embarrassment.

It is gorgeous, though.

[Because the Blue Mosque still hosts worshippers there are strict rules as to what can and cannot be worn inside.

Shoes = No

Visible Knees = No]

[Even though we all agreed that the Blue Mosque seemed to have more red than blue, it was still overwhelming with its' beauty.]

[And yet another knocker]

[This structure was a gift from Germany to persuade Turkey to join the Nazi forces during WWII.

The gift fulfilled its' intentions.]

[Egyptian Obelisk and the Serpentine Column in the Hippodrome]

[Kristin was an amazing guide.

She patiently answered all of our questions.

She probably heard a million times, "What's that?"]

[The Golden Milestone, the lighter structure pictured above, was once thought to be the center of the world by the Romans.

The other structure was a corner of a fortress wall.]

The Underground Cistern

Apparently, this entire cistern was completely forgotten about.

People were just drawing up water from under the ground, not even thinking about where it was coming from.

I wonder if anyone ever caught a fish in their bucket?

It was so peaceful, cool, and quiet.

The only sounds were the rustling of tourist's feet, classical music softly being played, and the dripping of water from the arched ceiling.

[All of the columns were recycled from those left behind from the Romans.

Two of the columns are supported by heads of Medusa.

No one is sure if the heads are placed with a certain intention or if they simply were the right size.]

[It was kinda creepy.]

Following the Underground Cistern, Blake, Kristin, and I enjoyed a lunch at Lale Pudding Shop.

The Pudding Shop has such an interesting history.

(Click on the above link to be directed to the restaurant's website.)

After enjoying lunch and some tasty chocolate pudding, we ventured towards our next site:

The Hagia Sophia

[It's hard to say but, I think that this was my favorite place in all of Istanbul.]

The "church of holy wisdom," Hagia Sophia is among the world's architectural achievements.

More than 1,400 years old, it was of paramount influence on architecture in the following centuries (even though the dome fell in a few times before they got it right).

This is the "perspiring column" or the column of St. Gregory, the miracle worker.

For centuries people believed that the column wept holy water.

To have your ailments cured or your prayers answered, you must place your thumb into the hole and twist your arm to make a complete circle.

If your thumb comes out wet, your prayers will be answered.

[These two pictures were taken by Kristin.]

[In the 15th century the Ottomans converted the church into a mosque.]

[All of the mosaics were covered in the process.

Crosses were scratched out.]

[The Blue Mosque seen from the Hagia Sophia]

I was floored.

I was inspired.

I needed some tea to relax after such overwhelming sights.

We all needed a chance to sit back and relax for a few minutes before continuing to the next item on our list.

Blake requested his desire, and Kristin, in all of her awesome-ness, knew exactly where to go.

Hookah Bar

I was the only one who didn't want to smoke, but regardless, it was an amazing experience.

We sat alongside locals, smoking and drinking tea.

Only once did we see another tourist.

Blake was in Heaven.

But... We must return to what was next on our list:

My Heaven

The Grand Bazaar

Nothing could have prepared me for the Grand Bazaar.

The labyrinth of streets is lined with thousands (literally, thousands) of booth-like shops, whose wares spill out to tempt those shopping and whose shopkeepers are relentless in making a sale.

But...

They didn't know who they were messing with.

I love to barter.

And there was nothing that I needed, so I bided my time haggling with the shop owners.

Picking up gifts and goodies whenever and wherever I got the price I wanted to pay.

Once I had a shopkeeper chase after me exclaiming, "Wait! Okay, you can have it."

It was awesome.

Before meeting up with Brandon for a dinner (and the best meal of the trip, according to Blake), we stopped for a little treat outside of the Grand Bazaar.

Sweet, yet bold and unique.

Nothing could better describe our second full day in Istanbul, Turkey.

To Be Continued...

Istanbul: Day 1 and Day 2

2010-07-12T12:04:00.000-05:00

I've decided to put our first and second days in Istanbul together because of several reasons:

I have no pictures of our first day in Turkey.
I don't have a very long synopsis of our first day in Turkey.
I want to, and this is my blog.

I feel that this are all sufficient reasons to break the pattern in which I was previously chronicling this trip.

Don't you?

Anyway, back to our trip.

... Istanbul: Day 1...

On this day Blake and I packed up our hotel room in London, and headed back to Heathrow (the airport) to catch our flight for the next leg of the trip.

The following hours weren't very exciting.

I'll sum it up for you...

We ate breakfast once we passed security. (I had hot chocolate.)

We boarded.

We sat at the gate on the plane for two hours.

The crew decided the plane was broken.

We got off the plane.

We boarded a different plane.

We sat at the gate on the plane for two hours.

We took off.

Blake told me eighteen times, "I hate British Airways."

We arrived in Turkey.

Wasn't that exciting?

When we finally made it through customs, picked up our bags, and found the only two Americans besides ourselves (Kristin and Brandon!), we were starving and ready to get out of the airport/ off of the plane.

The remainder of the evening was spent clinging to the seat of a taxi driven by a crazed typical Turkish driver, admiring Kristin and Brandon's amazing apartment (and newly acquired Turkish rug = Gorgeous!), and enjoying what Blake claimed to be the best meal ever.

We also experienced our first taste of the Turkish beverage "raki".

Yuck.

Following dinner, we all returned back to the apartment ready for bed, but with all the excitement of seeing each other, we didn't get to bed until sometime past 2:00AM.

... Istanbul: Day 2...

I'm not gonna lie.

Waking up the following morning was hard.

In a few days, we were still trying to wrap our heads around an eight (count 'em EIGHT) hour time change, and we hadn't exactly been good about getting a good night's rest before beginning our first full day in a new city, let alone a new country.

Lucky for us, Kristin was kind enough to start us off with a lovely day, which included a leisurely breakfast, a cool, breezy ferry ride, and a calming stroll up a "little hill."

(Keep in mind that those were Kristin's terms: "Little Hill")

We began our day with lots of Turkish tea and a traditional Turkish breakfast at a sweet, little restaurant near the apartment.

This is where Blake proceeded to smear Nutella all over everything on his plate, including cucumber and a boiled egg.

"Why have I never heard of this gift from God?"

After breakfast, we hopped into another crazed taxi, and headed towards the Bosphorus to catch our ferry.

At this point into the trip, Blake and I were already counting our blessings for Kristin's impressive ability to act not only as our guide but as our translator.

(Blake and I would still be at the airport scratching our heads, saying, "What's a visa?")

After we boarded the ferry, Blake, Kristin, and I sat back, enjoying the view we floated past.

[We traveled under Bosphorus Bridge #1]

[Gorgeous views of the city]

[Bosphorus Bridge #2]

[Rumeli Hisari;

We'll visit here later on in our visit to Istanbul]

[Jellyfish filled the Bosphorus]

[Such a Mediterranean feeling]

[Introducing "The Little Hill";

And, yes, it was as steep as it looks in this picture]

One word: Gulp

[The climb was quite a feat;

The view was worth every step]

[The Black Sea;

Seen from the Asian side of Istanbul]

[Ancient Roman ruins;

The oldest in Istanbul]

We ate our picnic lunch while sitting at a small restaurant that clung to the side of the cliffs of the "Little Hill".

Kristin had packed crackers, peanut butter, cookies, and other treats.

We added grilled mussels and a fresh salad to the mix.

What a perfect meal, accompanied with a perfect view and perfect camaraderie.

[What a lifestyle for those who live here]

[Goodbye, "Little Hill"]

After boarding the ferry to head back to our starting location, we proceeded to almost run over a couple of kids who, apparently, thought it was a wise choice to go swimming directly behind the gigantic machine.

They made it to their boat just in time to avoid becoming food for the jellyfish.

(If jellyfish would even eat children...?)

Upon our arrival at the port, we jumped back into a crazed taxi, driving to Chora Church.

[Chora Church has been credited for housing the first known images of Mary and Jesus;

All other images of the Holy Family are thought to be based upon what is found in this church)

[Like nothing that I will ever witness again]

[Another knocker]

[This is what I consider the best picture I took the entire trip;

It must be the lighting]

After exploring/standing frozen with an unexplainable awe in Chora Church, we wandered several blocks to the Walls of Constantine, which surround much of Istanbul and were built during the time of Constantinople.

There are a tiny tense moment where Blake considered pushing a man off the top of wall because he was so persistent in waxing Kristin's clothe shoes.

He eventually went away.

I would hate to be married to a murderer.

[The stairs to the tops of the Wall of Constantine]

[The wall and the views were tremendous]

After returning by bus to Taksim (an area that seemed to be the center of our travels), we met up with Brandon for dinner.

(The poor guy had to work for the first couple of days that we were visiting.)

We dined at another Turkish restaurant, Otantik, which was what Blake claimed the best meal ever before heading back to the apartment.

Back at the apartment, we popped in a Turkish movie, "The Mild West" (as it is translated), which makes fun of the American West.

Playing a game with an American beverage, vodka, we took a sip of our drink every time the following occurred:

The terms "outlaw", "cowboy", or "bandit" were mentioned
A gun was fired
A false historical reference was made

By the end of the movie we were...

... well ...

... feeling sorry for Brandon, who was heading to work again in the morning.

What a day!

To Be Continued...

Gulp, Swallow, Loosen Collar

2010-07-09T08:18:00.000-05:00

Pre-European trip, I had a difficult time pulling myself out of bed each morning.

I'm not a morning person.

I'm actually a bum that would sleep all day long without getting out of my pajamas if I could justify it.

(It's just that there are only a few times when that works out.)

But now... I'm having a hard time sleeping at night.

I just can't seem to turn my mind off.

I have a million things that I'm thinking about constantly.

As soon as I move past one worry, another pops into place.

There are several large (as in life-changing) events brewing in my future.

None of these are at my disposal to reveal.

And, I am having a hugely difficult time pushing these aside to live my day-to-day life.

For the record:

I am NOT complaining (aside from the "I want to shout these things from the roof!").

All of these storms brewing aren't really storms... They are more like rain showers.

Showers that will overwhelm and cover Blake and I for a short period of time.

Showers that will eventually reside.

Showers that will enable the growth and health of our future and our lives as a family.

These things that are clouding my every thought are wonderful and exciting, but for the time being must be kept under lock and key until the appropriate time.

(Which will probably be some time from now.)

Have I confused everyone yet?

Yes?

Well, okay then.

My job is done.

London: Day 3

2010-07-08T09:49:00.001-05:00

... Day 3 of London ...

Blake and I set off on our second full day in London.

It was gorgeous outside, with blue skies and soft clouds.

For breakfast we ate out on the outside patio of a small cafe, enjoying large frothy cups of hot chocolate and extra butter on our toast.

At this point, my feet were already starting to ache, but we continued our ventures...

... Only at a slower pace than the day before.

Can you guess what our first site was?

[Please excuse Blake's nose in the first picture;

he thought it was humorous to jump in front of the camera while I was taking the picture.]

Westminster Abbey was amazingly gorgeous.

As we wandered in between Westminster Abbey, Parliament, and Big Ben, I was baffled by the history, architecture, and grace of the massive structures.

There are hardly the words to describe the majesty as we held our breath at the glory of it all.

After soaking in the previous sites, Blake and I wandered down several streets passing pubs and the Prime Minster's residence on Downing Street.

[Let me warn you ahead of time:

I may have had a slight obsession with knockers and knobs throughout our trip.]

We eventually wandered into Trafalgar Square.

As the National Gallery is located in Trafalgar Square, we wandered through the displays, gazing upon artists that we had only heard of/studied in history classes:

Van Eyck

Michelangelo

Da Vinci

Raphael

Rembrandt

Monet

Van Gogh

The art was exquisite.

Something I could have only imagined in my wildest of dreams.

With tired feet, we stopped at The National Dining Room to grab afternoon tea...

... Or if you are like me, a glass of chilled white wine and then afternoon tea.

Sitting above the street, we spent several hours resting and watching the world float around us below.

After such a break, I was ready to tackle perhaps the most difficult task of our entire trip:

Finding a souvenir in London.

(I mean, seriously, where are all of the nice souvenir shops that sell things other than miniature Big Ben's and t-shirts proclaiming "I Love London"?)

Five miles and several hours later, we returned to Trafalgar Square with a teapot for me and some tea for Blake's mom.

Success!

(Even though we did get lost too many times to count.)

As the evening was starting to set, we entered into St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church.

[Stunning, no?]

In the evenings St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church hosts classical music concerts that are enjoyed in the sanctuary by candlelight.

On that evening, we were entertained by Bach's Mass in B Minor.

It was amazing;

it was surreal;

it was romantic;

it was kinda warm;

it was dimly lit;

it was making us fall asleep.

Now, don't get me wrong, I loved the music, and the church was simply stunning inside and out, but after walking/exploring all day long...

... how did we ever think we would last in those comfy, cozy conditions?

During intermission, we snuck out of the church and strolled back down the streets of London to our hotel.

Our evening was capped off with room service and sleeping, once again, with the curtains pulled back.

What a perfect final day in London.

To Be Continued...

London: Day 2

2010-07-02T16:42:00.002-05:00

... Day 2: Full Day in London ...

Blake and I woke up early...

Eating Pop Tarts that I had packed for the plane ride...

Showering in the most amazing shower ever (There was a TV in that sucker!)...

Before we practically skipped out the front door of the hotel to begin our first full day, not to mention our first fully awake day, in London.

The air was cool and sharp with the threat of showers, but we happily crossed over the Thames, patting ourselves on the back for remembering to pack coats and scarves.

Success!

Off to the first item on our list of sites.

The London Eye

It was so much larger in person. Once we skidded to a stop underneath the mammoth machine, Blake began to worry about his intense, knee-buckling slight fear of heights.

You definitely couldn't tell that he was frightened.

I mean, look at that unintimidated face.

(Blake's "face o' concern" was a reoccurring event through our travels.

Who knew?)

We had a spectacular view of our hotel and of Big Ben and Parliament.

Gorgeous.

After purchasing the most-wonderfully, touristy souvenir from the London Eye, we dropped it off at the hotel before venturing out further from the hotel.

[Elevator mirrors present the best opportunities for photo opts.]

[Hi!]

After our quick stop, we returned to the streets of London.

*Side-note: All poorly taken pictures were taken by Blake... Just so ya know.

[We were relieved that there were reminders on the streets.]

Our first stop was the very oldest-style tavern to be see in the "domestic tradition".

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Pub

It's located on Fleet Street, as in Sweeney Todd's Fleet Street.

Cool, huh?

But...

... it wasn't open yet.

So, we stopped for some traditional English coffee at this sweet, little local shop.

Or not.

I could be lying.

Delish!

(Well, the beer was tasty, but the fish still had bones in it.

We neglected to know this until it was too late.)

After lunch we headed down the street to St. Paul's Cathedral.

It was breathtaking!

We climbed up the narrow, narrow stairs to three different viewing levels.

(Did I mention the stairs were narrow?)

The first level that we came to is the Whispering Gallery inside the dome of the cathedral.

It was located inside, and is shaped in a manner where if you are sitting on one side you can hear someone whispering on the other end.

We heard several interesting conversations while catching our breath before heading up another 400+ stairs to the next levels.

[This is a picture of the inside of the dome that I took while sitting in the Whispering Gallery.

It is a huge "no, no" to take pictures in the cathedral, but I couldn't help myself.

Plus, I had Blake there to distract the guard by asking mundane questions.]

[These pictures were taken on the next two levels. The first on the lower of the two, the second on the highest level]

The following two levels were outside, must to the distaste of the hubs.

[This was a little window halfway up the stairs that looks directly down into the cathedral - straight to the floor.

Obviously, this didn't make Blake feel queasy at all, and he didn't yell at me when I hovered over the hole to take a picture.]

[Had to beg him to quit grasping the railing to take this picture]

[Streets of London]

That evening, after Blake and I returned to the hotel, we changed clothes and headed to London's West End to see a play.

We saw "Wicked", and it was amazing...

... Although, it would have been much better if the producers had included Toto.

I have one they can borrow.

But only if I can come with her, and we can stay at the Royal HorseGuards Hotel.

Just a thought.

To Be Continued...

Cohen

2010-07-01T08:28:00.000-05:00

London: Day 1

2010-07-01T07:28:00.002-05:00

I'm on my second cup of coffee.
The first was dedicated to simply gathering my thoughts, organizing my words.

It didn't happen, though.

Hence my need for another cup.

Home.

We are home!

We really haven't been gone for that long, but with each day feeling like three days...

Well, it was an intensely full trip.

I'm not even sure where to begin to describe what we experienced.

Each location more different and beautiful than the last.

... Let's Start with Day 1...

After swinging by Blake's office to picked him up after a long day of work, we jumped into a taxi and headed towards the airport for our 8:30PM flight.

At this point we boarded, and I must, MUST share my secret to obtaining the perfect seat on a 9+ hour flight...

Book the aisle and window seat in a section of three seats.

Blake and I did, and we achieved our goal.

We had the whole row to ourselves to lounge, sleep, eat, etc.

... 9+ Hours Later ...

We arrived in London at 11:30AM, dropped our bags off at the hotel, and enjoyed lunch on the Thames.

[Our Hotel: Royal HorseGuards Hotel]

[Our View at Lunch]

Following lunch Blake and I did the unspeakable...

We crawled into bed, exhausted by the overnight flight.

(Gasp!)

We slept for three hours before forcing ourselves to get up, get showered, and head downstairs to the hotel restaurant for dinner.

At this point, I committed a single act that I believe single-handedly allowed for our entire trip to go off seamlessly and without a hitch. This story is know as:

The Return of the Ring

Okay.

So, maybe I'm over-exaggerating.

Whatever.

Here's the story.

You decide.

During dinner, I excused myself to go to the restroom.

...I had a lot of wine...

(Keep in mind that I was on vacation, please? Thanks.)

While washing my hands my eye caught a glimmer, a glimmer of a big, fat diamond ring sitting on the rim of the sink next to me.

Someone (a wealthy someone) had left their ring in the restroom after taking it off to wash her hands.

This ring could have paid for our entire trip.

Long story short.

I turned the ring in to the front desk.

(Blake didn't have to kick me under the table when I took it back to the restaurant to show him my find.)

The clerk's eyes bulged at the sight of the ring I placed in her palm.

(I don't think she could believe that I was turning it in.)

And, then... Ta da! Good karma for the remainder of the trip!

After dinner...

... cocktails and a bottle of Bordeaux...

Blake and I jiggled up the elevator, down the hall, and into our room,

falling asleep while curved towards the view shining through our window.

[Our View from Our Window in London]

To Be Continued...

(...with many more pictures; promise.)

Packed

2010-06-15T10:04:00.005-05:00

It's here...

Our trip!

The excitement bubbles behind everything that Blake and I do.

The pups are safe at Blake's mom and dad's.

Thanks Mrs. Kathy and Mr. Rick!

The bags are packed and weighed.

I made it to 49 lbs with our largest bag. Score.

Our passports are tucked safely in my purse for safe keeping.

I'm too terrified to let Blake hold his own.

Controlling? Yes, I am.

Cameras are charged and lenses are safely packed in my sweet, new camera bag.

It was purchased from this awesome Etsy site.

All liquids have been placed in plastic baggies.

Including my nail polish should my toes need touch-ups after walking all day.

The itineraries have been printed out and tucked into our carry on bags.

Would you like to see it?

I'll post our London one, since it's the only one I have made.

Thanks, Kristin for making the one for Turkey!

So much has been done in preparation for this trip Blake and I are taking.

Probably because I'm secretly nervous/anxious for our first trip over the Atlantic.

And, when I'm nervous/anxious I compensate by over-preparing.

Doesn't everyone?

No.

Just me?

Oh.

London, England

Istanbul, Turkey

Santorini, Greece

Here we come!

Gulp.

(You can click on each page to make it larger for viewing. Also, sorry for all of the black caterpillars, you never know who is reading this thing, and I don't want to give out any information that could come back to haunt me.)

What did I tell you about over-preparing?

All maps are from Rick Steve's book on London.

Singular

2010-06-11T09:49:00.001-05:00

Early yesterday morning, Blake slowly crawled out of bed, swung into the shower, and hurried out the door to avoid missing his 7:00AM flight to Midland, Texas.

I slept in late, stretched my way out of bed, and calmly sipped on hot coffee until I felt ready to start my day.

Blake may have gotten to stay in a huge, comfy hotel bed last night, and I missed the steep slope he makes in the bed, causing me to slide into him sometime during the middle of the night, but...

...I enjoyed my day of being singular.

I wasted away the morning and afternoon by tying up loose ends in preparation for our trip we are taking in the upcoming future.

And yesterday evening? Well, let's just say it involved the following:

coffee ice cream

girly movie

a little red wine

homemade spaghetti sauce

the food network

snuggling with two pups

Nice, right?

Right.

Anyway, I spent a little time creating a template on my computer for packing during a trip...

I thought I'd share.

You know, cause I'm thoughtful like that.

I'm off, with computer in hand to start pulling out piles of clothes that I plan to pack...

Wish me luck!

Published

2010-06-08T08:12:00.001-05:00

I am...

... super excited...

... ecstatic...

... elated...

... to announce that...

I've been published!

Several weeks ago, I read a posting on a super sweet blog that I often frequent.

www.SugerPieFarmhouse.com

The blog owner, Aunt Ruthie, was writing a book filled with recipes, stories, and ideas to create beautiful summertime memories and looking for contributors to submit personal summertime tidbits.

My summers as a child were always filled with happiness and bliss:

Running through the grass with towels wrapped around my shoulders as a makeshift cape

Chasing ice cream trucks

Diving for plastic rings in a crystal blue pool

Smelling tanning oils rubbed into my mother's arms and legs

Imagining swinging high enough to flip over the wooden beams of the swing set

Turning the in-window air conditioner up while watching movies in the upstairs game-room

However, some of my most defining childhood moments were lovingly created at my grandmother's home.

Each summer I would look forward to spending a week or two with my father's mother.

In preparation to my visit, my grandmother would always bake a lemon iced box pie, leaving it waiting in the refrigerator for me to find.

I would stretch out in the back bedroom with her cat that I had found and begged for my father to let me keep when I was only two years old. At that time, she had stepped in claiming the responsibility of pet ownership so she could avoid seeing a heartbroken toddler send away a kitten.

She kept that cat for me for over twenty years.

I would escape to the storage room in the garage, pulling all of her keepsakes out of boxes and off shelves to create a perfect place to play "house".

I would drive my grandfather's old, black truck up and down dirt roads in search of turtles and to release squirrels that we had caught so they wouldn't eat the birds' seeds for the feeders in the backyard.

I wanted to share these moments.

These wonderful, quiet, summertime moments.

So I submitted a short summary of my summers with my grandmother, which I have copy and pasted below for those of you who are curious to read what I wrote.

It was chosen by Aunt Ruthie, and I am pleased to share these precious memories with all who will read her book.

Check out her website, and if you'd like, you can order her book (which is only available electronically at the moment). I received a free copy, and I must admit...

It's really cute,

But I might be a little biased.

When I was a little girl, I would count down the days until my momma and dad would pack up my little purple suitcase, load me into the backseat, and drive to the middle point between Memphis’ sliver of the Mississippi River and the mountains of northern Arkansas. There my grandmother would whisk me into her towncar, and we would return to her home that I visited every summer.

My weeks with her would be filled with a blackberry and tomato pickin’, pear preserve makin’, sweet tea sippin’ nostalgia that I could only experience in the arms and kitchen of my sweet grandmother.

We would drive through the rolling Ozarks on our way to town, throwing our hands in the air as though on a rollercoaster as the old truck flew down one side of the mountain and strained to climb up on the other side.

We would find turtles crawling along the gravel road behind her house, of which I would proclaim the poor reptiles as my “pets” for the duration of my visit.

We would catch lightnin’ bugs in the evening and honey bees throughout the morning. Old mason jars served as my netting of choice, and we would gaze at the glory we had captured in the jars.

When it was time for me to head back to my home in Tennessee, I would climb into my father’s truck and wave to my grandmother. I would always try to hide my tears, but years later she confessed to seeing them and hiding a few of her own after each visit.

There is nothing quite like that sweet Southern summertime.

Check out page 41 if you do decide to purchase!

Past of Firsts

2010-06-04T11:05:00.000-05:00

Over Memorial Day weekend, Blake and I drove up to visit my family in Oklahoma.

We dropped the dogs off at Blake's mom and dad's house, stopping to spend the night.

We woke up early, pulling into my parent's driveway sometime in the late morning.

It's an odd feeling, revisiting your past.

It is such a rush of emotions each time Blake and I are back where we first met...

... Where we experienced our first kiss.

... Where we first held hands.

... Where I first told him "I love you" a few hours after he first told me.

And these are only moments that happened at my parent's house.

I could stretch the distance out another mile or so, and we could move into other "firsts".

met when we both played basketball

watched a storm roll in across the Oklahoma night

note left on a windshield

hint of jealousy

playful hug and laced fingers

Each time that Blake and I visit my family, we are surrounded by the beginnings of us.

It's nice, it's sentimental, but it's fading.

The little place where Blake and I attended high school and began our relationship is slowly fading from our past home to a place where my family lives.

When we visit, we are visiting my mother, father, brother, and sister.

We aren't visiting our past.

I kind of feel as though with this revelation, we have taken a step forward in our adult lives.

Our home is now Houston.

But for how long?

(500) Days of Summer

2010-05-26T12:07:00.000-05:00

So...

Have you seen (500) Days of Summer?

Blake and I watched it for the first time last night.

Very randomly, we decided at around 10:30PM that we weren't tired, and that we should camp out in our bed with the dogs to watch it.

Did you know that Blake and I used to like to do things on a whim?

There have been a lot of decisions...

... from big (like that one time we bought a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon because I was having a meltdown about commuting 2 hours every day)...

... to small (like that instance when we decided to stay up late to watch (500) Days of Summer)...

(Hilarious, I know.)

... made on a whim.

Anyway, Blake and I have no trouble balancing each other out,

except when we make a rash decision.

Example:

Kim: "I found this amazing chateau in Southern France. We should go sometime."

Blake: "That is awesome!" (As he looks through the pictures online.)

"Wouldn't it be amazing to go in December, right before Christmas?"

BAM!

Our trip for Southern France in December is booked.

Goodness.

I have totally gone astray from my original intention for this post...

(500) Days of Summer.

Well, if you've seen the movie, do you remember the game that the two play in the park...?

The one where they say a certain word louder and louder until someone gets too embarrassed and quits?

Blake and I play that all the time.

We played that throughout high school, college, and into our "mature" adult lives.

Our best showcase was when we were walking home from a Mexican restaurant after too many margaritas.

No one quit that game.

Have you ever played?

Someone please tell me you know what I'm talking about.

"I'm Einstein, You're Beer"

2010-05-24T11:30:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend Blake and I traveled down to Frisco, Texas to attend not just a Jimmy Buffett concert, but a weekend of tailgating.

Below I have listed some of the highlights of the two full days of sitting in a parking lot, drinking...

Reservations :

Totally weren't allowed to reserve spots in the parking lots before paying, but we did

Rum Runners :

Caused passers-by to stop and beg for their cups to be filled with this insanely deceptive alcoholic beverage

Squawkers McCaw :

Our beloved fake parrot that seemed to be the center of attention at every waking moment

Drive-by/Walk-by Flashings :

By both males and females alike... None of these people were fun to look at

Coconut Bras :

Oddly found mostly on men

Golf Carts :

Is it illegal to drive a golf cart drunk if you are in a parking lot?

(Not that I did that, but it was definitely prevalent.)

Hotel Room and Breakfast :

At the end of each day, it was impossible to crawl in bed without showering all of the dirt, spilt beer/coke, sunscreen, smoke off

Sunburns :

"I think I'll be okay without sunscreen as long as I stay out of the sun." -Me and Mrs. Kathy

Drink Coozies :

Seriously, who invented those things? Awesome.

Beaded Necklaces :

Apparently important enough to do anything for

(Not me. I'd rather buy them later at the store.)

Blake and I have seen Jimmy Buffett twice in concert... It never gets old.

I'm always amazed by the devotion of his fans.

Seriously, they are all addicts... And it may or may not be a bad thing since Jimmy is pretty awesome.

As of Late...

2010-05-19T11:21:00.000-05:00

Blake and I rarely have time to sit down and watch television.
I can't keep up with any series out there, and unless Blake and I absolutely make a point to watch a show, we get lost by the drama, relationships, story-line, and we quickly lose interest.

That seems to have changed even only in the few days that Blake has graduated.

We both have more time.

Blake doesn't have school or assignments or readings,

and, in turn, he helps me with my responsibilities.

For the past two weeks that he has come home from work, we're finding that everything is taken care of...

... watering the yard and flowers

... feeding the pups their supper

... making our own meal

... ironing work clothes and making sack lunches for the next morning

... by 7:00 in the evening.

Now what?

T.V.

I'm definitely not pleased with this new schedule with which we have begun molding our evenings.

We could be doing something productive!

Walking the dogs!

Planning upcoming trips!

Plotting out our takeover of the world! (Not really...)

Still...

With this new television-watching-stage in our nights, I have seen a few episodes from a couple of shows that have made me think.

I hear ya... "Gasp! Television doesn't make you think?!"

Well, on the recent reruns of Friends and on a series of episodes of Bill and Giuliana (on E!), there has been much focus on fertility issues.

Without getting all into it, I'm going to say that I've been thinking about adopting.

No, not immediately, and, no, that's not our first option, but I'm still thinking about it.

You see, when all this first started to take place, I immediately turned down the option of adopting.

"No way! There is no control!"

(I'm pretty sure those were my exact words.)

Now I'm not so confident in turning that away.

I have to admit that ultimately, I will do whatever it takes to be able to have a child made by myself and my husband.

We do, after all, have "okay" odds considering Blake's excellent conditions.

(I won't explain it any further.)

Still, I just thought I'd it put out there that adopting isn't completely crossed off our list anymore.

I'm still warming up to the idea, though.

Plus, I haven't even discussed this with Blake. Shhh...

Aside from all of that, I've got some news!

Today is Maysee's 6th birthday... Happy birthday, Maysee!!!

You're the best dog/friend/listener/foot warmer ever.

P.S. Please don't be mad at me when we leave you with the neighbor to attend the Jimmy Buffet concert...

The Casey County News

2010-05-17T12:38:00.001-05:00

Press Release for The Casey County News

For immediate release after May 17, 2010

HOUSTON, TX. - Blake Christopher BBBBB, formerly of Nicholasville, KY was awarded a Master of Business Administration degree at Rice University on Saturday, May 15th, 2010. Blake graduated in the top 15% of approximately 200 M.B.A. graduates at Rice, one of the nation's most prestigious universities.

Blake is the son of Rickie and Kathryn BBBBB formerly of Liberty, KY. He is the grandson of the late Eugene BBBBB and Hazel BBBBB of Liberty, KY and the late Darrell BBBBB and June BBBBB of Hustonville, KY. He currently resides in Houston, TX with his wife, Kimberly BBBBB, formerly of Memphis, TN and his two dogs.

Blake completed the Rice M.B.A. for Professionals Program while working fill-time as a financial analyst for Occidental Petroleum in Houston, TX. He plans to continue his career at Occidental Petroleum after graduation.

The M.B.A. programs at Rice University placed No. 1 in Texas and in the Southwest U.S.A. Overall, the school placed No. 13 in the U.S. and was ranked 25th globally. Additionally, the M.B.A. programs have been recognized in the U.S.A. and internationally for leadership and innovation by U.S. News and World Report, the Financial Times, the Economist, and Entrepreneur magazine.

I wrote the above article for the local newspaper where Blake's extended family currently resides.

It is a small town paper that will be read by much of Blake's family, and I was more than proud to type out the article.

Not nearly as proud as I felt throughout this past weekend.

My throat tightened as Blake crossed the stage and accepted the truth and onsets of his accomplishments.

Because of the sacrifice that Blake (and I) have made over the past several years, we have ensured the ability to take care of ourselves and our family.

What an amazing time in our lives.

Congratulations, Blake!

A Little Cheap Never Hurt Anyone - Chair Recovery (Part 2)

2010-05-13T12:46:00.000-05:00

Several months ago, I blogged about three chairs that I had purchased from a garage sale for $2.00.

It was an impossible bargain to pass up.

To see before pictures of my lovely find and witness my masterful (kinda) recovering of the cushions, check out my previous post here.

Anyway, I finally dragged the final two chairs out of the attic.

The first chair was refinished with a rooster motif for my sweet grandmother.

(I didn't take any pictures of that one. Sorry.)

I sanded my little heart out and spent a good part of my day painting three coats of white paint on each chair. I had every intention of distressing the daylights out of the chairs when the paint had dried, but...

To be honest, I felt as though the chairs had finally gotten a fresh start, a new beginning.

Here I am with a hammer in one hand and a chain in the other ready to beat that fresh white paint to pieces.

So...

I left the chairs as is.

I kinda like the look.

I breathe easy when I walk past them each morning to open the blinds and allow the sun to come pouring in.

The white is nice.

The white is clean and crisp.

The white is refreshing.

Am I getting all metaphoric on you?

Yea, I am.

Oops.

Well, without further ado...

What do you think?

And...

On a completely different note.

Blake's graduation is tomorrow!

Tomorrow!

Holy smokes.

Lemon Ice Box Pie

2010-05-11T11:08:00.001-05:00

I'm gonna do it.

I'm gonna be happy.

I'm gonna be content.

I'm gonna recognize the blessings in my life.

I'm gonna move past the things that may be unpleasant or hard.

I'm gonna take it day by day.

There is so much that I can't even begin to be thankful for...

Free Rice Education

Maysee and Whiskey

Amazing Jobs

Sunny Days and a Topless Jeep

Travels to Turkey, London, France, and Greece before Christmas

Trusting, Loving Friends

Visits with Both Families in May

Full Refrigerator and Pantry

Finances in the Black

Church with Open Arms

Clean Cobra Resting in the Garage

Lemon Ice Box Pie

Blake and I are blessed.

From all angles.

From all sides.

From all viewpoints.

A week ago, I had my face buried in Blake's chest.

My words were stifled and wet.

"God doesn't want me to be happy."

That couldn't be farther from the truth.

He does want me to be happy.

I am happy.

Sometimes things just block that view.

Over the past few days, I having begun leaning around those obstacles that are blocking my view.

I'm not avoiding them or ignoring them, but I refuse to be defined by them.

I am not the daughter of a cancer-stricken mother.

I am the daughter of a woman who was a leader for lost and broken souls.

I am the daughter of a woman who pushed through the crushing diagnosis of cancer at 39, and made a life for herself and her family.

I am not a broken woman who is incapable of having children.

I will be a mother.

Just wait.

What does define me are the blessings that surround my life.

What defines you?

A Tiny Yellow Blossom

2010-05-04T09:29:00.000-05:00

Yesterday...

a. ) wasn't a very pleasant day in terms of marking things off my list.

b. ) I didn't get out of my pajamas until 4:00PM, and the only reason I showered was just because Blake was coming home.

c. ) was a gorgeous day weather-wise in Houston, and I managed to spend a good amount of the day outside on my sweet, little patio (in my pajamas).

Let's go with answer c.

Like I said, yesterday was gorgeous here in Houston.

It was sunny and warm, but unlike the normal, unbearable summer weather, the air was pretty dry and crisp.

The dogs wasted away the boring afternoon by basking in the warm sunshine, lying on the concrete and moving into the cool grass when it got a little too hot to bare.

They watched, with darting eyes and nodding heads as mockingbirds flitted across the yard.

I inspected my geraniums, marigolds, lemon tree blooms, and the short tomato plants, which were gifts from my neighbors across the street. Today, there is a tiny yellow blossom, which hopefully will hold a promise of one day bringing me a vine-ripen tomato.

The humming of lawn mowers in the distance provided a serene setting for reflection and thought.

There is something curious about the desperate moments in your life.

You are surrounded by a dark void that doesn't seem to allow happiness or joy.

There is no exception.

However,

I need to become that strong shoulder for my family, to put on a brave face.

I need to continue to move toward the goals that Blake and I have set for ourselves.

I do not need to remain in this state of ceased movement.

As I run my fingers over the silky fabric of my life, I want to appreciate all of the colors and textures of my existence.

I do not want to linger on these sad events that seem to have bombarded me in the last few months

In talking with a friend in the afternoon, and with Blake in the evening, there is one part of all of this that is necessary in order for me to move forward.

Grief.

I should be able to grieve the news and reality of my mother's cancer treatment.

I should be able to grieve the inability for me to conceive without fertility treatments as well as the possibility of not being able to conceive children at all.

I should be able to grieve in my own time and way before moving forward.

When I am ready to move forward, I will be able to make clear, more rational decisions about what the next step should be.

In considering grief, I felt a whoosh of relief.

I have a plan.

I have an immediate goal.

I know what my next step is.

Relief.

It's funny how well those two words fit together.

The Month of May

2010-05-03T12:03:00.002-05:00

The month of May is going to be a joyful, scary, emotional, intimidating, crazy, margarita-filled, and an overall exquisite month.

My lime green refrigerator calendar has every day filled with a new experience...

Next weekend, I am hosting a garage sale for Bandade Animal Rescue.

If you live in Houston (or close to Pearland to be more precise), come by!

We should have some amazing things...

Plus, it's for a great cause.

Blake's family is coming to stay with us for a few days for Blake's graduation.

I'm not going to get onto my little soapbox about how proud I am and how much work this has been...

...yet.

Just wait until he actually does graduate.

Be prepared to sift through a hundred photos of Blake in a cap 'n gown.

The Jimmy Buffett concert is only three short weekends away.

I'm prepping for the intense tail-gating that'll take up THREE days prior to the actual concert.

If you aren't familiar with how fanatic and obsessed Jimmy Buffett fans are...

...just Google "ParrotHeads".

Warning: Be prepared for an abrupt change of tone.

Seriously... Close this window if you can't handle any immediate awkwardness.

For Memorial Day weekend, Blake and I are heading further north to Oklahoma City.

We are going to visit my family.

There are a lot of things going on with my mom, dad, brother, and sister,

but at the front of our minds is the treatment that my mom starts on Friday of this week.

She'll start chemotherapy via IV.

I'm not afraid to admit that I'm scared... terrified of this new chapter.

I know I'm supposed to be optimistic and all, but I'm not.

I mean, how is this supposed to work?

She has a form of breast cancer that isn't curable.

From day one of her diagnosis, her doctor told us that this kind of cancer could only be maintained.

Will she be on chemo for the rest of her life?

Will she be bald the rest of her life?

Will she react to this chemo (physically and mentally) like her previous chemo treatments?

Two words: Chemo Fog

Yesterday, Blake was kind enough to push me into getting out of my pajamas and out of the house. We went out to our favorite Mexican restaurant for lunch, but in the midst of a margarita, I began to cry.

While. Sitting. In. The. Middle. Of. A. Restaurant.

That seems like a trend that is becoming more and more common.

I feel bad for Blake and my friends in light of my current behavior.

I'm a red-rimmed, runny-nosed, wants-to-sit-in-a-ball-all-day mess.

I just don't see how this is going to turn out in a good way.

With every year that passes, this situation gets more and more desperate.

When she was first diagnosed with breast cancer after a lumpectomy, everything seemed normal, like she wasn't even sick.

But now...

...it can't be denied how sick she is.

What's going to happen?

How much longer?

Can anything else be done?

How am I supposed to behave?

How often should I travel back to Oklahoma?

What can I do for my brother and sister?

If she's holding on for grandkids, should I start infertility treatments again?

Could I handle a baby/failure of conceiving throughout all of this?

Why?

WHY?

I need answers.

I need faith.

Faith.

I don't mean to sit here gushing about something so personal;

making everyone who reads this squirm with the awkwardness of my outpour.

It's just nice to let it out... with words that are carefully typed and edited.

(Which is a complete 180 to how I talk about these things with Blake... Poor Blake.)

The Month of May

We'll have to wait patiently to see all that you hold.

Sunday

2010-04-27T12:16:00.002-05:00

On Sunday morning, at 5:00AM our alarm went off.

Blake and I normally wake up early on Sunday mornings...

(not 5:00AM early)

...to get dressed and head to church.

But this Sunday morning our worshipping was not going to consist of pews and hymnals;

it was going to consist of sunrises and fresh air.

Pulling on t-shirts, baseball caps, and tennis shoes,

Blake and I pulled out of our driveway before the sun rose.

With the top off the Jeep and the heater on full blast,

we flew down the interstate.

We were heading to crew a hot air balloon.

We were excited!

We were pumped!

We were high on too much coffee!

But... Sadly... There was no hot air ballooning this day.

There was too much wind.

Back down the interstate we went.

Time for Plan B!

Stopping back by the house, we loaded up the dogs...

Packed a backpack full of sunscreen, bottled water, and the like...

And headed south...

...to Brazos Bend State Park.

It was a gorgeous day to take in the gorgeous scenery.

We hiked along a small trail, enjoying all of the nature that surrounded us.

I think the dogs enjoyed their little hike as much as we did.

Not only was there amazing greenery, but we were able to enjoy all sorts of wildlife.

From turtles, to birds of all kinds, to butterflies, to...

ALLIGATORS

... Extremely large, would probably eat you if they had a chance, alligators.

All in all, we really enjoyed our day.

Soaking in the sun and experiencing more of God's beauty than we had in a long while.

Even though going to church is important for the purposes of fellowship and growth,

every now and again, it is important to take a step back and soak in all that is around us.

All the beauty in the world.

Blake and I have to remind ourselves of that often.

We also have to remember to park closer...

Or we'll be carrying Maysee back to the car.

Australia

2010-04-20T13:39:00.002-05:00

Deciding to have a baby is like planning a trip to Australia. You've heard it's a wonderful place. You've read many guidebooks and feel certain you're ready to go. Everyone you know has traveled there by plane. They say it can be a turbulent flight with occasional rough landings, but you can look forward to being pampered on the trip.

So you go to the airport and ask the ticket agent for a ticket to Australia. All around you, excited people are boarding planes for Australia. It seems there is no seat for you: You'll have to wait for the next flight. Impatient, but anticipating a wonderful trip, you wait - and wait - and wait.

Flights to Australia continue to come and go. People say silly things like, "Relax, you'll get on a flight soon." Other people actually get on a plane and then cancel their trip, to which you cry, "It's not fair!"

After a long time the ticket agent tells you, "I'm sorry, we're not going to be able to get you on a plane to Australia. Perhaps you should think about going by boat."

"By boat!" you say, "Going by boat will take a very long time and it costs a great deal of money, I really had my heart set on going by plane." So you go home and think about not going to Australia at all. You wonder if Australia will be as beautiful if you approach it by sea rather than air. But you have long dreamed of this wonderful place, and finally you decide to travel by boat.

It's a long trip, many months over many rough seas. No one pampers you. You wonder if you will ever see Australia. Meanwhile, your friends have flown back and forth to Australia two or three more times, marveling about each trip.

Then one glorious day, the boat docks in Australia. It is more exquisite than you ever imagined, and the beauty is magnified by your long days at sea. You have made many friends during your voyage, and you find yourself comparing stories with others who also traveled by sea rather than air.

People continue to fly to Australia as often as they like, but you are able to travel only once, perhaps twice. Some say things like, "Oh, be glad you didn't fly. My flight was horrible: Traveling by sea is so easy."

You will always wonder what it would have been like to fly to Australia. Still, you know God blessed you with a special appreciation of Australia, and the beauty of Australia is not in the way you got there, but in the place itself.

Credits: Lynn at Adoption.com

I'm not looking for sympathy.

At all.

I saw this and thought of my friend.

A best friend.

She asked me the other day what it felt like to hold my new nephew.

If it hurt.

It didn't.

It just ached, the tiniest of bits.

My point is that she asked because she wasn't afraid to ask.

I love my friend.

Photo of the Week

2010-04-19T05:44:00.001-05:00

Dear Lincoln,

Welcome to the world!
We have been waiting to meet you for quite some time...

Things may be awfully bright and scary for the moment,

but rest assured that you will be well taken care of.

You are adored and loved more than you could ever fathom.

With an abundance of love,

Aunt Kim

It's Getting Closer

2010-04-16T09:44:00.001-05:00

When I say I'm excited ...

... That's an understatement.

I am thrilled, elated, uncontrollably giddy.

Yea, those adjectives seem more fitting.

If you can make it to Houston on this day...

You're invited!

(Sorry for the somewhat blurry pictures...

...I was excited.)

No, wait! I was... Well, you get the picture.

The Very Best Version of Me

2010-04-14T09:06:00.001-05:00

Let me start off this post by saying in advance...

I am not perfect.

I don't know everything.

I don't claim to know everything.

Half the time, I have no idea what's going on.

Okay. Back to our scheduled broadcast.

Over the past couple of days, I've had abundant opportunities to consider myself.

What makes me, me?

Or more importantly, what makes me the best version of me?

There are several pieces of advice, whether from an outside source, a friend, a family member, or made up by me, that I try to follow each day to ensure that I'm the best version of me.

I'd like to pitch some of those to you.

Guidelines for Being the Best Me

(Listed in no particular order.)

1. A friend is someone who builds you up, makes you a better person. If you associate yourself with people who make you anxious, negative, or feel as though you are inadequate, let me point out that those people are not your friends.

If the people you hang around with fit the above description... Drop them.

2. When you are stressed about anything at anytime, stop for a moment and think to yourself, "What is the worst thing that could come out of this situation?"

9 times out of 10 it won't be "you'll die".

3. Call your family. Often.

This would be an appropriate time to think to yourself, "What's the worst that could happen?".

4. Take care of yourself.

Eat right, exercise, get enough sleep. Yea, it's pretty important.

5. If you live in Houston and have a yard, hire a lawn service to take care of it.

It's cheap. It's easy. It'll save your marriage and your weekends.

6. Keep it simple.

If I explained it any further I'd be breaking my own guideline.

7. Go to church on Sundays.

Can you think of any way to better start off your week?

8. If you are responsible enough and not allergic, get a dog.

They make the best companions.

9. Leave your job at the office.

If you bring it home with you, when will you have time to relax and recharge?

10. Talk about it.

I'm still having an issue with this one, but I'm working on it.

Come on! Climb those mountains! Scale those cliffs!

So, the above are a few of my most important guidelines for being the best version of me.

I'm not perfect, though, and I find myself often neglecting one of the above pieces of advice.

I can tell when I'm breaking/bending one of my guidelines because I start to get cranky and bitter.

Like a little kid.

However, I do make a point to work on it daily.

I mean, what's the worst that can happen?

Every Now and Again...

2010-04-13T11:44:00.004-05:00

... I am left alone for long periods of time.

All alone.

*Insert Violins*

Last week was one such week.

Blake was at work every evening until the wee hours of the morning.

Work Hours (Blake):

Monday 6:00AM-2:00AM

Tuesday 6:00AM-1:30AM

Wednesday 6:00AM-... (Didn't come home. worked straight until the next work day.)

Thursday (Continued from previous day.)...-12:00AM

Friday 6:00AM-7:00PM

On Saturday, Blake was at school.

School Hours (Blake):

Saturday 7:00AM-4:00PM

*More Violins*

I must say, however, that throughout the time away from each other, I am often surprised at what I can accomplish by myself... All for the sake of having pure, uninterrupted time together when he returns.

Chore List (Kim):

Monday- Planted Flowers

Tuesday- Washed Exterior Windows on the House

Wednesday- Cleaned Interior of House

Thursday- Washed Jeep and Swept Out Garage

Friday- Bathed and Groomed Dogs

Saturday- Baked Peach Muffins and Finished Laundry

Today, I am here to celebrate, to be thankful for Sunday.

Sunday = A Completely Uninterrupted Day

Sunday Schedule (Kim and Blake):

Sleep in Late

Patio Lunch at Quaint Cafe'

Flower Shop Browsing

Ice Cream at Favorite Locale

Internet Exploring for Future Travels

Grilled Dinner

Movie in Bed

Notice that our Sunday Schedule did not include any chores, school, or work.

Blake and I live for these days.

It's nice to think of it as follows:

We live our lives knowing that the time we get together is far in between,

but the time we have together is worth every second of waiting.

Introducing my gorgeous violin... A gift from Blake.
Now if I could only learn to play it without the dogs getting all worked up.

Happy Tuesday!

Adventures with Photoshop - Photo of the Week

2010-04-12T14:11:00.000-05:00

This photograph was taken several months ago while Blake and I were in Hawaii with Blake's family.

I was blown away by the beauty that surrounded me.

This tree was located in a field outside of a tiny school which existed in a tiny town.

Blake and I are traveling to Turkey and London this summer, and there are talks of visiting the French countryside soon after.

I am excited for many aspects of our upcoming trips, but I am most excited to explore and soak in the sights and actual sites that I have never seen before...

And may never see again.

Blah, Blah, Blah

2010-04-10T09:38:00.001-05:00

Initially, I was planning on posting a nice, new update on what has been happening with our list: "We're in Our 20's, Dang-It!" However, when I started looking through it all, I realized that Blake and I really haven't touched on any of our goals since my last update here.

No worries, though.

These are all long term goals, as in:

"There is no way to accomplish these suckers in the next few months.

It's going to be more like a few years."

Moving on, though.

I haven't had the most blissful of weeks.

Actually, I've been in a bad mood for the past five days.

I'm moping. I'm feeling sorry for myself.

And the worst part? I feel as though these feelings are justified.

I know better than this... Right?!

Seriously, though.

I know I'm blessed, but blah, blah, blah.

I'm not going to sit here, however, and talk about the things that suck right now.

I'm going to talk about ten random things.

Starting now.

1. There are like four cats sitting outside my house right now, howling. It is the most annoying sound, and on top of it, Whiskey can hear them too. In turn, she is pacing up and down the length of the house, whining. She wants me to let her out, so she can ~~eat~~ ~~playwith~~ ~~chase~~ (I don't really know what) the cats. I'm contemplating letting her out just to see what happens.

2. I planted a bunch of flowers a little over two weeks ago. I'm pretty pumped that they are all still alive and thriving. I'm hoping that they stay that way at least until Blake's family comes down in May for his graduation.

3. I'm somewhat anxious/excited about my job for next year, but I can't say too much at the moment. I'll definitely share when I get the green light from the boss.

4. Last night I saw "How to Train a Dragon", and I ate part of the largest mountain of ice cream that I have ever laid my eyes on... Those are the kinds of things that happen when you hang with a group of 10-year-olds.

5. I have a few chores that I need to run today, but I won't because it looks like it's going to rain outside. I just washed my car (as in I washed it with my two hands), and I refuse to get it dirty already.

6. The house is clean. I spent all day Wednesday cleaning it. After I fold a load of laundry, I will have nothing to do. I should be elated to relax, but I'm just going to be bored.

(Remember, I can't go anywhere because my car is clean. Is there something wrong with me?)

7. Hmmm... Now that I think of it, I have some peaches that need to be used. Maybe I'll use my free time to make these: Peach Streusel Muffins

8. It's thundering outside... Yep, keeping the car in for the moment.

9. I need a vacation...

10. I love my IPhone! It prevents me from getting lost more often than I'd like to admit.

The End!

I apologize for the somewhat random post.

Okay, the cats are still howling, but I am feeling a little better.

After all, today is a new day.

UPDATE: My curiosity got the best of me. I let Whiskey out the front door, and like a flash, she was after one of the cats that was howling outside my front window. She chased the cat around the corner and down the street.

At first I was all, "Wow. She can run fast..." but then I added on "...away from me."

I stood there, in my pajamas, with neighbors everywhere, yelling, "Whiskey, come. Whiskey, come now. GET OVER HERE!"

I thought for about a minute that I had lost her, and I contemplated jumping in my car to drive around for her. I mean, seriously, the good dog, my dog, Maysee, was sitting loyally at my feet, and the bad dog, Blake's dog, Whiskey, was nowhere to be seen. And it was thundering. Great.

But, with one last yell for Whiskey...my neighbors now know I'm insane and probably drunk all the time...she came running back around the corner without a cat hanging from her mouth.

Talk. About. Relief.

That would have been fun to tell Blake.

"Hey. Yea. Your dog ran away today. She got out... the front door... because I opened it... and told her to run... Sorry?"

I'm going to nurse Whiskey's bleeding scratches now. Good-ness.

At least I have something to do... Right?

What Exactly is a "Happy Home"?

2010-04-08T09:34:00.000-05:00

Have you ever heard, "A clean house is a happy house."

For those of you who know me on a personal level,

(as in have met me in person before)

you know that I am a fairly clean person.

I like for my house to be tidy.

my yard to be freshly mowed.

my dogs to be groomed.

my porches to be swept.

my windows spotless.

my flower beds blooming.

my laundry fresh and folded.

(and on and on and on and on and on)

If you haven't guessed (or flat out told me at some point), I'm pretty much a perfectionist.

Not that it's a bad thing.

Not that it is something that controls my life.

Not that if it doesn't get done the world seems darker

and things start to spin

and my vision clouds with red... Where are I?

Seriously though, what makes a house happy?

Well, I convinced that it's not a "clean" house.

Secretly, I think a happy house is a house that shares...

Shares anything from laughter,

to food,

to celebrations,

to joy,

to pain,

to friendship,

to experience,

to holidays,

to love.

I hope that my house is a "happy home".

New Look on a New Day

2010-04-06T15:59:00.000-05:00

Did you notice I changed my blog layout and look?
Did you notice the little owl in my header?
Hehe... I feel so clever.

The owl is the mascot for Rice University.

Blake graduates in May from Rice University.

Get it?

Anyway...

When I initially started this blog, I wanted it to be all about simplicity.

It didn't matter whether each post tied in with the last; it didn't matter what topics I touched on.

All that mattered was that I was working toward one goal...

Living simply.

Isn't that what we all want?

I know that for myself and my family, I am looking for one thing and that is to be happy.

I know that I can accomplish this through the simple things in life.

I don't need...

...fancy cars

...expensive jewelry

...extravagant trips to exotic locations

...shoes that cost more than my weekly salary

(which isn't a lot)

...perfectly groomed fingernails

But, I do need...

...sunshine for my flowers

...lunch dates with a husband that I don't get to see often

...coffee to coax me out of bed each morning

...hope that tomorrow will bring change to a sick mom

...my two pups to remind me that I am loved constantly

I need the simple things that I know I take for granted.

But they are all I need to be happy.

What simple things make you happy?

Happy, Happy Easter

2010-04-04T16:53:00.001-05:00

A rare morning of sleeping in
The late service at church
Waffles with extra syrup
Champagne in Kate Spade flutes
Watching a movie while lying on the couch
Barefeet and sunshine

Today is Easter, and I hope that you are having a great one.

Blake and I are definitely enjoying our day together.

Luke 24:1-5

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them,

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen."

Happiest of Days to You!

P.S. Giveaway Winner...

Did you think I forgot?

Welp, without further ado.

Based on the results of the Random Number Generator, brought to us by random.org, the winner of my super amazing giveaway is....

(Insert Drum Roll)

The Guild's said...: I love reading your blog! My favorite thing about spring is being able to dine on a patio...not too hot, not too cold and no mosquitos yet, it's just perfect!; Congratulations, Heather!
And, thanks to everyone who entered...!
We'll have to do this again soon!

'O What a Beautiful Morning

2010-03-31T18:22:00.001-05:00

'O What a Beautiful Day!

I've Got a Wonderful Feeling...

...That Everything's Going My Way.

I spent the past two days filling my free time with outdoor activities.

Planting flowers in all of my seemingly bare pots.

Last year I gave up and put every one of 'em in the garage.

Playing in the soil.

AKA Getting my hands dirty and breaking almost every nail.

Preparing attack strategies for the weeds taking over my backyard.

I will win this war!

Hanging that wind chime that my brother always took down when we lived together.

Apparently he wanted to smoke his cigar without a deafening clanging above his head.

I'm using any and every excuse to be outside.

I've even met a few of my neighbors.

Everyone is enjoying this beautiful day/week.

Spring is here!

P.S. Don't forget about my giveaway! It closes on Saturday, April 3rd at 11:59PM EST.

Head here for details!

Best French Silk Chocolate Pie EVER

2010-03-31T09:54:00.002-05:00

You are about to witness the creation of the best French Silk Chocolate Pie EVER.
Seriously... Can you handle this?!

I originally made this for Christmas, but I was ~~asked~~ begged to recreate this masterpiece for Blake's birthday.

Yea, he wanted pie (!) instead of cake for his birthday.

Alas, no icing for me.

Anyway, on with the recipe.

Ingredients:

Pie Crust (I use the Pillsbury pre-made pie crust... It's not organic. I know.)

*Hangs head*

3 oz. Unsweetened Chocolate

1 cup of Softened Butter

1 cup Sugar

1/2 tsp Vanilla
4 Pasteurized Eggs
*Important: Since the pie is not baked, you'll need the pasteurized eggs, which have been flash heated, to avoid getting salmonella.

Instructions:
1. Heat oven to 450*F. In a glass pie plate, bake raw shell for 9 to 11 minutes or until light golden brown. Let the crust cool completely for about 30 minutes.

I try to be clever and crimp the edges, but I ended up going with a more rustic appearance. I meant to do that, swear.

2. In a saucepan, melt chocolate over low heat; cool.

At this point I sing a little song:

"I love chocolate. Yes, I doooo... I love chocolate. How 'bout youuuuu?"

3. With an electric mixer, beat butter on medium speed until fluffy.

All together now!

"I love butter. Yes, I doooooo....."

4. Gradually beat in sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in cooled chocolate and vanilla until well blended.

FYI: These pictures were taken pre-chocolate incorporation. It'll appear darker once the chocolate is added.

5. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating on high speed 5 minutes after each addition; beat until mixture is smooth and fluffy.

5 minutes may seem like a lot of time, but trust me, it's necessary.

If you don't, the sugar won't dissolve. Then your silk pie will be crunchy. Yum... not so much.

And, if you happen to try your mixture in the midst of your mixing, and it's crunchy, keeping mixing!

New song!

"Just keep mixin', mixin', mixin'. Just keep mixin'."

Yah for mixin'!

6. Pour mixture into cooled pie shell. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

If desired, garnish with chocolate shavings and/or whipped cream.

One last song!

"Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday toooo...."

Wait... Oops.

"Happy birthday to Blake. Happy birthday to Blake."

Sorry, honey. I got carried away.

P.S. Don't forget about my giveaway. It closes on Saturday, April 3rd!
Click here to head on over...

Let's Celebrate!

2010-03-29T10:00:00.002-05:00

Welp, I checked in on my little blog this morning and noticed that I have had over 1,500 people view my blog!

Additionally, I've written over 50 posts for this sucker.

I think that calls for a celebration...

Don't you?

Over the weekend I went to a couple of charming antique stores in Fort Worth.

I found a few little items which I may have treated myself to,

...and I also found a little something that I thought I'd treat one of my readers to.

When I saw this, I thought of you all.

Honestly; ask my shopping partner (who also happens to be my mother-in-law).

What do you say? Wouldn't you love to win this adorable treat for your home? In celebration of Spring?!

I knew you would.

So I bet you're wondering: How can I win this; what are the rules?!

Well, it's simple!

1. Leave a comment telling me one of your favorite things about Spring along with a valid email address.
(To leave a comment you have to click on the title of this post, "Let's Celebrate". Then you will find the comment box under the post.)

2. Become a follower! and then submit an additional comment telling me you've become one.

(If you're already a follower then leave a comment saying you already are... Thanks!)

And that's it!

Good luck!

I'll be closing the giveaway at 11:59pm EST on Saturday, April 3rd.

(The day before Easter! Excitement!)

So make some tracks!

A Little Cheap Never Hurt Anyone - Sofa Throw

2010-03-27T08:47:00.001-05:00

Over the past few months, I have been trying to find something to replace my current navy throw that is draped over the back of my leather ~~chair~~ ~~sofa~~ triad*.

Technically a triad is a chair that is 2 and 1/2x the size of a regular chair.

(I'm sure you were curious as to what a triad is.)

I needed something that wasn't woven since Maysee loves to snuggle with me.

Her nails have a tendency to pull the strings, making the fabric unsightly.

After trying to find something, looking everywhere...

T.J. Maxx

Steinmart

Tuesday Morning

Target

Etc., etc., etc.

...I was unsuccessful.

Everything that I saw that I liked was too expensive.

Enter fabric from Jo Ann's.

It took me longer than expected to sew the edges of the fabric (since I had to do it by hand; I don't have a sewing machine), but in the end I'm thrilled with the fact that I spent $20.00 on fabric and ended up with this:

Maysee was pretty thrilled too.

Can you see the unbridled excitement?

She can barely contain herself.

Sometimes I have to remind her to calm down and relax.

Vintage Love

2010-03-25T10:44:00.002-05:00

Several years ago Blake and I were aimlessly wandering through the Oklahoma City Art Festival.

As we glided from booth to booth, we tried to keep open minds, wanting to appreciate each piece we saw.

I wasn't doing a very good job.

We came upon one booth which was filled with intricate drawings done completely in pencil.

There were numerous drawings that were filled with such detail that it seemed to require hours almost just to take it all in.

As Blake and I stood in front of one drawing, I saw one thing:

An ancient hand.

It was disturbingly old with wrinkles and sun spots.

"Gross."

Blake saw something different:

A worn band.

Wrapped around the thin finger between the middle and end.

The scuffs and etchings in the metal showcased years of wear.

Years of devotion and love.

My sister and I were sitting in a restaurant last week. Enjoying a quiet, late lunch.

There weren't a lot of people in the restaurant.

A little ways into our meal, an older couple entered the restaurant.

He was wearing a suit.

She was wearing a dress.

As the host led the couple to a table near our own, the wife excused herself to the restroom.

As she disappeared around the corner, the husband stood by his chair.

Waiting for her return.

He didn't take his seat until she returned.

Such chivalry.

Such devotion.

Such love.

I hope that Blake and I have that opportunity to have that kind of love.

A vintage love.

Here It Comes

2010-03-22T17:14:00.004-05:00

Blake and I moved to Houston close to three years ago.

Well, Blake moved here four years ago.

We lived in separate states for a year while I finished up school and Blake began his career in Houston.

That's another story for another day, though.

But we've been living here for almost three years.

I remember the day we decided that we were going to move to Houston.

We didn't discuss the decision with anyone until our decision was made.

All that was left was to tell our family and friends.

Needless to say, some were more understanding than others.

We didn't let anything deter us from our choice.

Blake and I moved to Houston because of an opportunity that could not be ignored.

Our choices were:

a) Stay in Oklahoma where Blake would work at a bank.

b) Move to Houston where Blake would work for a company that would pay for a Graduate Education.

We knew that it was the best decision for us.

We knew that any and all sacrifices would be worth it.

My grandfather, who passed away in June of last year, was most pleased with our decision.

He simply stated that because we would be away from everyone and everything we knew, we would only have each other to turn to when things didn't go our way.

His words were comforting and true.

Blake didn't start school right away.

He waited until after our first married year, our first year in Houston before he applied to Rice University.

He was accepted.

Several people told us that this would be the most difficult time of our married lives.

Harder than our previous long distance relationship.

Harder than planning a wedding.

Harder than having children.

I hardly ever saw/see Blake.

He goes to work throughout the week, working late most free nights.

In the evenings and on the weekends, he goes to school.

It has been hard.

Sometime last year, I remember talking with a few teachers that I work with.

I was so excited that he was coming home that night for dinner.

I had made a roast.

But...

Blake never came home.

The roast burned.

The next day when the teachers asked me how my night with Blake was, I cried.

But there it is...

The Light

...at the end of the tunnel.

Blake will graduate in a little over a month.

3 years in Houston,

2 years in school, and

1 completely paid-for MBA.

The reason for our sacrafices,

the goal behind our choice,

the very purpose for the past three years.

We are almost there.

Until then, I'll hold off on the roast.