Snowvid 2021

Fossil Rim & Dinosaur Park

Spring Break 2020

Mother's Day 2021

The Quarantined Life

Over a year later as I look back, these treasured memories of being “stuck” at home will forever be cherished. The Lord kept us safe, sane and healthy, knitted us tighter as a family and made us appreciate life in a deeper way.

New Home. New Memories.

Let’s rewind to a warm September Saturday. Our whole life’s were neatly packed and taped up in boxes ready to call a new place home. Friends gave of their time to help us move, humbly and grateful we fed them donuts and pizza. I filled our car with our houseplants from the tiniest to the biggest and promised them new sunny windows. We were greeted by the the sweetest letter from the previous owners while the boys rushed to run wild in their new backyard. The neatly packed boxes slowly unraveled into chaos, room by room we slowly began to fill the corners of our new house with warmth, love and new memories.

Our Quarantined Easter

Our Easter this year was bittersweet, it’s one we will never forget as we spent it quarantined and away from those we love most celebrating the one who loved us most. We’ve been so used to seeing friends at church on Easter Sunday then gathering with family and cousins for lunch and egg hunts but we made the most of it with our party of five.

We all got dressed in our Sunday best, let me rephrase, I dressed all of us in our Sunday best, they groaned as I made them change out of pajamas for once but they indulged me. We sat on the couch for our online Easter service and rejoiced at Christ’s sacrifice for us and thanked him for our many blessings through this time.

Then of course mom had to have her annual Easter family picture, we found the perfect spot at the trails down the street from our house, nature declaring what was once barren and lifeless now bloomed with life echoing the celebration in our souls.

After they indulged me and were slightly annoyed because they can barely stand still for two seconds to snap a picture it was time for baskets and egg hunt! I don’t know what’s more fun, being sneaky and hiding all the eggs or watching the boys thrilled, running around and desperately searching for them, I love it!

For dinner Fred made us homemade ravioli, it was amazing! I made carrot cake from scratch with cream cheese frosting and went all Pinteresty on it and made the cutest bunnies! And if that wasn’t cute enough our friend Amy surprised us with her beautiful decorated Easter cookies at our door!

It was a sweet day that brought about lots of gratefulness, I was able to slow down and remembered to soak it in and rejoice! HE IS RISEN, HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Our Last Semi Normal Outing

On Tuesday March 10, 2020, we decided to get out of the house, we got in the van and just started driving, “Where should we go?” asked Fred, ”anywhere except there” I answered. We were on Spring Break and already “social distancing” ourselves before the stay home rules had been implemented, aware that it was slowly starting to spread in the city we usually congregate in. We drove the opposite way, heck we drove and drove that we ended up in a different state!

Fred wanted to see buffalo, or bison, I don’t think he knew exactly but he heard there were some north of us or maybe he made it up, sometimes he makes up facts out of thin air, I find them amusing. All we saw was cattle and maybe a donkey but we kept driving and instead ended up at the Red River, the border between Texas and Oklahoma.

We parked under the bridge and made our way towards the river. The air was warm and a little damp. Our steps became heavy as we began sinking into wet, red clay. That’s when I remembered we had just bought the boys new Vans shoes the week before but it didn’t bother me, I let them run around and get as muddy as they pleased. I felt like such a cool mom until another mom showed up with her two boys and I realized she was way cooler than me.

She let her kids jump into the red river, careless and free, those boys swam and splashed, we watched them with huge smiles on our face, my boys looked at me as if maybe I too would allow them to jump in. I’m not that cool guys, sorry.

We did however stop at a Braum’s in tiny town trying to earn some cool points back from these boys. I didn’t know it was going to be the last time we sat in a booth as a family. It felt very uncomfortable though, it’s like every cough or sneeze sounded louder than usual. Like in the movies when everything goes silent except certain sounds and then those sounds start making a melody and Fred and I just stared at each other with wide eyes then Luke asked how it was possible for people to spill coffee on ceilings as he examined the leaks from the roof, I laughed so loud and it brought me back to enjoying the moment. I took a deep breath and ate the rest of my rocky road sugar cone, it was delicious.

We left Braums and a trail of dried red mud behind us I’m sure and drove some more, we saw old buildings, tore down buildings and more cattle but no bison. Made it back and ate at our favorite taco shop, Torchy’s, my biggest regret that day was not ordering a frozen margarita to go with my tacos. Bummer.

Then like dominoes life around us started collapsing one after another, schools got canceled, restaurants began shutting down, grocery stores depleted, the stock market plumeted, some started losing their jobs, people began getting sick, some dying, we were told to stay home and to top it off there was literally no sunshine for days only clouds, fear and uncertainly seemed to remain.

It’s like the rug got pulled out from under us and left us on our knees. And thats where I’m at, on my knees praying. It’s a good time to pray. Not that there’s ever a good time not to pray but if you haven't prayed in a while I’d urge you to. I don’t know what God is doing but He’s in control and He’s at work.

I started reading the book of Joshua, in the book, Rahab, a prostitute saves the lives of the spies scoping out the land God had promised the Israelites. She had heard of what the LORD had done, how he had dried up the water of the Red Sea and how he had given them victories over their enemies. “And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted and there was no spirit left in man because of you for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” Joshua 2:11

Her fear brought her to faith.

Her faith is revered in the New Testament, and her name is listed in the genealogy of Jesus. God saves her and her family as the Israelites invade the land and pass over her home seeing the scarlet cord hung out her window.

I’m not saying have faith like Rahab and you will not get sick or die from Covid, there are countless of saints being martyred by their faith as they spread the gospel throughout the world. I’m saying as scary as this virus is, we need to be aware that there’s is a greater evil out to destroy us, our sin.

Theres no cure to Covid-19, not yet, praying for a cure, but there is a cure to sin, thats faith through Jesus. God came down as a man, Jesus, sinless perfect. He willingly was nailed to a cross because sin required a blood sacrifice from a perfect being, a spotless lamb. We couldn’t earn salvation or work hard enough for it, our DNA was stained with sin from the time Adam and Eve sinned in the garden. But because God so loved the world he gave his only son Jesus that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life, John 3:16. At the cross Jesus cured us from our sin and made us perfect, earning us a place a future home in heaven, not of out own doing.

But Nancy, I’ve met Christians and they were stuck up, self righteous, judged me even hurt me.

I’m so sorry. We’re saved but not perfect because we are not Jesus but should aim to live a life like he did. If someone who claimed to be a Christian hurt you in anyway don’t let that be how you view God. For a clear look at who Jesus is go to the direct source, the bible, read John or Luke if you’re curious.

I’m passionate about the Lord, I’m not perfect but if you have any questions I’d love to chat with you or if you just need prayer or a friend right now I’m here! Zoom anyone?

Friends, stay safe, stay healthy, stay home and read your bible! HUGS!!!

Halloween Sleepover!

Last week we had a fun cousin sleepover!

With an upcoming camp trip and a brand new tent we had never set up, we decided it would be a good idea to practice setting it up beforehand and take advantage of the set up by having an indoor camp sleepover.

We made it Halloween theme and invited cousins over for a night of pizza, pumpkin carving, s’mores, star gazing, dancing and late night movie watching. First one to fall asleep would get whipped cream on their face!

They had a blast, Fred and I really teamworked to keep the fun going and the mess contained! He also took one for the team and pretended to fall asleep so the kids could put whipped cream all over his face! I love him! I loved seeing the joy on their little faces, they had a blast, we might have to make this into one of our Fall traditions!

Stay At Home Mommy Goes Back to Work After 7 Years

After 7 years of being a stay at home mom, I put away my stretchy mom pants, set my alarm clock, put some makeup on my face, brewed my coffee and went back to work… Yes! Work! Let me tell you, boy, has it been an adjustment for our family.

All I have known these last 7 years is home, glorious home. When I was pregnant with Luke in 2011, Fred and I made the decision that I would stay home to raise our littles until they were all old enough to be in school. This wasn’t an easy decision, this wasn’t something that we could afford to do but we both felt it’s what the Lord wanted for our family. I felt a calling to be home and invest in my boys. So I traded in my full time job in education to become a stay at home mom.

If you’ve done this before or even if you’ve spent more than 24 hours with a baby or toddler whose motives are completely selfish and will literally suck out all the life and energy from you, you know it’s hard. Times that by 3 boys…

It’s been hard but its been an amazing experience and privilege. I used to take it as an insult when strangers at grocery stores would say, “You’ve got your hands full” while I pushed a cart with a baby strapped to my body and a young toddler threw every item on site into the cart while the other daredevil jumped off the cart or barely made it out of the store alive. This was my normal and I loved it. Yes I had my hands full but my heart fuller. But trust me, after a few years of marathon outings and grocery trips with littles I would eat up all the pity from strangers I could get. They weren't judging me, well at least most weren’t; they sympathized with me and their giggles as I rolled by weren’t always malicious, at least that’s what I told myself to get through. Those were some fun times. Now that they’re a little bigger and have a little more self control, rolling into Costco doesn’t always feel like the circus just rolled into town, on most days…It’s taken years but I’ve learned to tame those wild things.

Yes outings were hard, sometimes miserable but home has always been sweet. It's been our safe place. Most of the boys life training has happened here. How to treat and love others, be a friend, problem solve, be polite, gain independence, have dinner as a family, read the bible as a family, how to respect authority, how to show hospitality, how to tidy, how to help in the kitchen, how to wipe your butt, pick out you clothes and be responsible, dance like no one is watching, these are just a few that come to mind. I guarantee you we have not been perfect in our raising and have probably allowed more iPad and video games than some responsible parents are comfortable with but I can rest assured in God’s kindness that his grace will abound in the life of these boys.

And it’s with the Lord’s grace and kindness that we finally send them all off to school! Luke 2nd grade, Noah Kindergarten, Nate Pre-K. All 3 going to school full day. Time flies by ya’ll. Hold on tight to those sweet babies because unfortunately they grow up! (Insert crying emoji here) And with all my babies going to school that opened the doors for me to go back to work! I love how the Lord prepared me for this.

Back in the spring I had a conversation with Fred, I was in tears as I told him I felt the Lord telling me “Change was coming.” I had no idea what that meant but it felt like the Lord was preparing us for a big change. I’m a person that does not like change, I don’t even like to update my phone if means my settings are going to change. At that time I thought for sure it meant we were going to be switching churches because Fred had been applying for graphic design jobs at some churches in the area.

As time passed we didn’t change churches and I had forgotten about that conversation. One day I found myself looking through jobs online to see what was out there, not actively looking just out of curiosity. I saw that the day before they had posted a Receptionist job for a brand new elementary school that was opening up in the fall only a few miles from our home. Receptionist in an elementary had been my first job when we moved to Texas, while I only did it for a year before I moved into a classroom I really enjoyed it and I saw myself doing something similar once the boys were all in school, so I talked to Fred and he encouraged me to apply and just see what the Lord did with that. So I applied and didn’t hear anything for months.

Summer started and the boys were out of school, all that was in my mind at that time was our upcoming Italy trip, then I got a call. “Can you come in for an interview next week?”

Still unsure if this was the right decision I went in for the interview. I felt a calmness and confidence that I know was not of myself but of the Lord. There was literally a rainbow that morning after some rain had passed and I drove to the interview. God is good. They asked many questions but one stood out to me, what do you think would be hardest part of the job for you? I was 100% honest. I said learning how to be a working mom after being home all these years and figuring out how to balance time and life. Well, somehow my answers didn’t scare them and I got the job!

We flew to Italy a week later and we felt like not only was it a celebration of our 10 year anniversary but also a celebration of a closing of a big chapter of our lives, we knew come Fall our lives would look different and that change God had spoken to me about in the Spring was indeed coming. God’s timing is good and he knows best.

This season of me working full time has been chaotic, the transition has been stressful, I’ve cried more than my pride wants to admit but I’ve also found a deeper dependance on the Lord. Our lives have changed and were still adjusting, finding our rhythm and what our new normal will look like. Weekends are sweeter, time together as a family is not taken for granted and a home cooked meal is much more appreciated than before.

I’m grateful to the Lord that I love my job, I love the people I work with, I love that I will be able to be off when the boys and Fred are off. I’m confident that the Lord will use me for his glory at work as he has used me for his glory at home. Today I celebrate Labor Day with more appreciation and countdown the days to Thanksgiving break!

Some pictures of the boys first day of school, mommy going to work and a few pictures of my office!

Dallas Farmer's Market; Italy in My Heart

We took a quick trip to the Dallas Farmer’s Market last week. Yes it was warm, but so much fun. We checked out cute shops and fresh produce. We walked around Ruibal’s, a nursery in downtown and checked out all the beautiful plants they offer to the public. After coming home from Italy I have been obsessed with flowers, especially bougainvillea which beautifully adorn the buildings of Positano with different shades of magenta. After seeing that Ruibal’s sells it and getting some tips from one of the workers there, I have made it a mission to grow it in my garden! I’ll let you know how that goes…

Before we knew it our tummy’s were rumbling so we headed to Velvet Taco and ate way too much, instead of walking it off we rode the trolley around town, same idea right? So we ended our Dallas family date with Slurpees for the boys and Fred surprised me with Gelato from Botolino in Greenville because I will just not shut up about how I miss eating gelato everyday when we were in Italy.

Growing bougainvillea, eating gelato, Italy will forever be a part of me. A sweet lady from my church, Janine, told me I would never be the same in the best possible way after going to Italy. I think she was right.

My Mother's Day Weekend

Hey there! It’s been a while!

Hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day.

My boys treated me to all my favorite things, carbs, shopping and picnics!

Saturday I got treated to coffee and delicious chocolate croissants at Tulla, a French inspired patisserie and cafe. It was my first time there and if I could have I would’ve tried every pastry they had in sight. I went basic and ordered a chocolate croissant but this croissant was far from basic! My mouth is watering as I type! A buttery, flaky pillow from heaven filled with chocolate goodness… Yum!

We then stopped for a quick Target run and of course I had to pick out something for myself since it was Mother’s Day weekend and it was only appropriate. Our run turned into a marathon as it usually happens every time I walk into Target. Out of a billion things I tried on I found a cute top and romper on clearance, $20 for both, score!

We then hit up a Frisco Festival, and forget photo booths, Magnolia Terrace a local event venue had the cutest bike set up for photos, and you don’t have to tell me twice! I’m adding a beach cruiser back on my wishlist if I get one it will most definitely have flowers hanging out of the basket just like theirs!

We ended Saturday with dinner at Outback Steakhouse, last time we went I was pregnant with Nate! I had prime rib, medium rare, the only way to eat a steak… For dessert we checked out a new snow cone place in Denton Square, Gnome Cones! It was an amazing experience, super thought out down to every detail, the sound of squeaky gnomes calling out your name when your order is up! I need to do a post on this place alone because it’s truly magical, check it out!

Sunday Fred made me avocado toast with his homemade jalapeño cheddar bread! We headed to church and I wore my Target find from the day before. We came home for lunch with family and afterwards I was ready to just relax and wait for Game of Thrones to start but Fred surprised me with a picnic and homegirl is always down for a picnic! Fred made us yummy sandwiches and we spent the evening at the park.

Grateful for my sweet husband who is so thoughtful, goes above and beyond for me and makes every celebration extra special. I love you with all my heart, you make me a better mommy grateful for you and our crazy boys! Love you!

Bread Adventures

Hey, how was your weekend?

Saturday, Fred spent all day baking, made us waffles, he made sourdough bread, french rolls, he’s amazing, he even sold a few breads to some friends. I’m loving this new bread hobby he’s into because I freakin love bread!

So after eating bread all day Saturday what did we do Sunday after church? Went to a bake sale!

Yea, the bread obsession is real.

Patina Green our favorite sandwich spot in McKinney was having a pop up bake sale and we had to go. Pamela and Brock, the bakers selling their bread could not have been sweeter despite our wiggly and chatty children, also their array of breads was fab.

After picking out our baked goods we grabbed some sandwiches and sat down for lunch, sliced right into the freshly baked bread and my heart soaked it all in, family and good food are some of my favorite joys.

Totally recommend Patina Green if you have not been there and check out Pamela and Brock their bread was everything you would want bread to be!

Hope you have a great week! Eat something delicious.

Go, eat your bread in joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart… Ecc 9:7

Conflict Resolution on Valentine's Day

So let me tell you how I almost ruined Valentine’s Day yesterday or at least ruined it for part of the night…

Fred made the evening so special for our whole family. He got home from work kicked me out of the kitchen and made us his version of “happy meals” but called them “love meals,” with delicious homemade burgers, fries, and just like a traditional happy meal comes with a special toy he had a special gift for each of us.

Isn’t he just the sweetest? Gift giving and making others feels loved is his specialty, mine, not so much.

I struggle with gift giving, I don’t like to buy Fred gifts, I’ve sadly done it through the years mostly out of obligation, not just with Fred but with the boys too. Christmas shopping is a nightmare, everything I pick out I buy with hesitation and with the thought in my head that this will only bring momentary happiness and will end up in the trash or collecting dust sooner or later.

While yes that may be true, and it makes sense according to my minimalist ideology; I’ve selfishly been missing the point and have made the excuse of being a terrible gift giver so that I don’t have work at it or better yet not spend money. I’ve sadly missed opportunities to bless Fred, my boys and others in the name of sticking it to consumerism. Oh but when it comes to shopping for me I’m all for supporting Capitalism… Such a hypocrite!

So about how I almost ruined yesterday, I wasn’t planning on buying Fred anything for Valentine’s Day but because he had already given me 2 other gifts earlier in the week, I was like, Oh crap, let me head to the store, the guilt was real ya’ll. So in my “thoughtfulness” I bought Fred an oven mitten and a pot holder because he’s been getting really into this baking bread thing and we don’t own oven mittens, which is why I have a thousand burn scars on my wrists… Anyways he opened the gift and he kindly said thanks, he opened the card I picked out which I though was hilarious because I have the best sense of humor and all he did was smile and say, “Thank you.”

How dare he not laugh or express gratitude in a more dramatic way, does he not know how I went out of my way (last minute) to buy him this gift and express my love for him… So I was angry. After dinner we sent the boys to bed and how a typical Valentines night should go between lovers did not.

Instead we laid in bed, I expressed my hurt for him not being excited about the gift, like many of our conflicts I made this all about me, me, me, you hurt me, you don’t appreciate me, etc… My selfish anger completely blinded me of how thoughtful he had been to make the night special for all of us, cook for us, lavish us with gifts, the date from the weekend?

And then he dropped the bomb on me that left me at a loss for words and left us both in tears.

Fred had seen right through me all these years, how thoughtless I had been over and over when I’d buy him anything, and called it a gift. Ouch. I’m sure I have bought a good gift here or there or at least what I thought was good but I realized I had to change and I had to face the fact that I’ve been lazy in this area and I had to apologize.

Fred was gracious, I asked how he did it, how does he know how to get me the perfect gift every time. He said he studies me, he takes notes of what I say, what I point out when we’re out, what current things I’m into. He also said around the holidays he’ll sometimes drop hints for me here or there to give me ideas on what to buy him, sadly anytime he’s shown me something he wants I’ve inwardly given him the eye roll or just zoned it out…

So I’m making a vow to be a better gift giver, to do it out of love and consideration and not obligation. I want to work on making Fred feel loved and special because he does that with me over and over and not just with gifts.

After a long night and a hard conversation, I was able to see my wrongs, ask for forgiveness and move forward with a practical way to put what we talked to into practice. I’m realizing these moments are what people mean when they say marriage is hard work, these moments are what bond us and make us stronger. Thankfully because we were able to work out our conflict we were able to end Valentines night the way it should between lovers…

Valentine's Date in Deep Ellum

On Saturday Fred treated me to an early Valentine’s Day Date. He knows me too well and planned it just right.

Dallas, Food, Duh.

While a girl can eat a big meal, trust me… I’m more of the tapas philosophy, small bites so I can try a little of everything and take my time. So Fred decided to take me out to eat small bites at a few different spots.

We started our date at Jimmy’s Food Store, the best Italian market in Dallas. Italian cuisine and culture is so near and dear to us and being in Jimmy’s Food Store makes me feel like I’m there though I've never been but I like to pretend while i’m there! You can buy a glass of wine to sip on while you shop. You’re completely surrounded by every imported Italian ingredient you might ever need along with local goods. I found the perfect pasta noodles for my Galentine’s Party coming up and we bought our meats we needed for pizza night from the deli, the deli!!! At the deli you can buy sandwiches, the most amazing sandwiches in town, Fred and I split a prosciutto caprese sandwich, soo tasty!

We then headed to Deep Ellum, one of my favorite spots in Dallas. We walked around the outdoor market, hit up a few shops like Jade & Clover and Archer Paper Goods, seriously adorable shops!

Then came our second food stop, Revolver Taco. We had authentic street tacos with wagyu beef carne asada, cilantro and onions! The best part? There’s an abuelita in the kitchen making your tortillas, (insert tears of joy here) and you can actually see her throwing it down in a cute Mexican apron. You won’t find your typical Texas “fajita meat” tacos here, just the real good carne asada.

We ended our date with dessert at Emporium Pies. It was my first time checking out the Deep Ellum location so I was really excited to check out their floral mural, insta worthy. They have their seasonal “Valenpies” I had to go with the Dr. Love pie, a gooey brownie with red velvet cream cheese, need I say more?

Though it was a chilly 30 some degree date, my super hot Valentine kept me warm, like literally, my thoughtful Fred even bought me hand warmers to put inside the pockets of my coat. Thank you Fred for always loving me, caring for me, spoiling me. I love you my dearest Valentine.

Nate's Star Wars Birthday Party

Last summer we had an epic Star Wars party. Seriously, it was epic, I think it was one of my favorite birthday parties we’ve ever thrown. Light saber party favors made out of pool noodles, ice pops, cupcakes, piñata and a house full of wookies…

As with every event that we host in our home, I always try to implement my personal style into it while keeping it budget friendly.

So for this party I kept it neutral but funky with pops of bright shiny silver. Silver tablecloths and tinsel backdrop came from 5 Below, Star Wars plates from Target, paper cups, cutlery, party favors and black balloons from Dollar Tree, silver number 3 balloon from Hobby Lobby, cupcake liners and toppers from Williams Sonoma (which I got on clearance a few years back, but they’re available on Amazon. So I spent about $100 max, that’s typically how much I spend on decor for a party.

For food we kept it simple with hot dogs, mac and cheese and of course homemade cupcakes and a double stacked frosting cake that my kids are so tired of but I keep baking because I love them!

So that was it! Simple, laidback, epic.

October Celebrations

October is one of my favorite months. The orange tones, the fall flavors, cooler weather.

It’s also jam packed with festivals, parties, patches and candy, lots and lots of candy. This October we visited a pumpkin patch, as per tradition, we went to the Texas State Fair and once again asked ourselves, “why did we come here?” We’re Texas State Fair haters but we go every year because Fred gets free tickets, were also emotionally attached to the LA County Fair because its where we shared our first kiss and got engaged… So really every other fair doesn’t compare.

This year we were also invited to a Fall Painting Party! One of the highlights of my Fall. We painted as a group al fresco under twinkling lights with a brush in one hand and a glass of pinot in the other. All the feels, right?

We ended October with a giant pan of homemade lasagna, trick or’ treating and of course stealing all the Twix and Kit Kat’s from my boys candy bucket!

My Mother's Day Weekend

Denton Square

Forgot the napkins, wiped their saucy little fingers on the blanket...

Luke made me this necklace at school.

“Lazy mom picnic, buy lunchables, go to your favorite spot,
picnic away”

Spring Tonic from West Oak, Hibiscus Ginger Beer, Lavender Syrup, Espresso Shot and Rosemary

My definition of chill.

Mother's Day Breakfast

Fred made me Eggs Benedict with crab for breakfast! Inspired by one of my all time favorite dishes from Big Sur, Ca.

“You’ll never know dear, how much I love you, oh please don’t take my sunshine away.”

Lunch!

Then he made me a crab pizza with hollandise sauce... His best pizza to date.

---

My Mother's Day gift, Old Skool Vans.

My sweet boys.

From Noah.

From Luke.