{star wars party}

last Friday we had a Star Wars Party for Max and Evan.

{clay, max,riley,evan, caleb, wesley,travis, and tyler}

{goodie bags}

Yoda Soda...boys LOVED this. :)

storm trooper fruit

dinner
The boys fought Darth Vador to try and destroy the Death Star!

Jedi poses.


time for cake!

then take down Darth again!

woohoo!!!

jedi's!

{got the boys all shirts!!! ...they were all so amazed that I knew what size to get...I used the force }

a great time!


MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!

maxwell {7}

Maxwell,
you are 7 SEVEN!!!

What an amazing oldest brother you are. You are so good with your three younger broters, so loving, so sweet, so kind. You are incredibly helpful to your Dad and I. You listen well and are eager to help out (most of the time:).

You love to read(like me), and love math(like Dad)...and you are a great student. Your teachers always mention how sweet you are, and now that Evan is at school with you, you are a proud older brother ...showing him the ropes.

We are so thankful for you, our firstborn son...were we learned the ropes of parenthood. Thank you for being so patient with us, and so compliant as we figure this whole thing out...well try to anyway.
Happy 7th Birthday Max!
love you.
xoxo
MOM

holla. {another fab. find

{Street Level bag from Piperlime. $99.}



{ Destination Tote from Francesca's Clollection. $48.}

{back to school}

{evan. ~max.}
kindergartner

2nd grader

{fully equipped. evan with his new shark backpack and mario lunchbox. max with his northface backpack and star wars lunchbox.}

kindegarden :)" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6131/6032147584_7f1e558379_z.jpg" width="480" height="640">

{evan in his classroom. teacher: ms. walker}

cousins weekend.

this past weekend my cousin {and bff} Nicole, husband Marc and three sons,Miles Reuben, and Booker came down for a visit.

7 boys in our casa!

they had a blast together...and were COMPLETELY wiped by the time the fun ended and they headed home.

{Liam and Reuben}

{Ev, Max,and Miles}

{Booker and his mama}

{declan (and Evan's dirty hands) }

an AWESOME weekend!

Evan {5}

Today you turned 5! And this week you start school! You have such a great smile,one that is so sweet.
Your heart is so tender, you really have a love for people. A compassionfor others,and that makes my heart so joyful.

You recently have learned to ride on two wheels and you couldn't be more happy to ride with the big boys! {you are the youngestin the group of you whoplay together...3 8 year olds ,two {one nearly 7} 7 year old{max} and you. :)

You never sleep alone. If not with Max,with your Dad and I...even if you start in your own bed,you always migrate to someone elses.
Max and you are the best of friends. You are always playing together and really do get along quite well. I hope you two maintain this closeness for life.
Liam and you go at it a lot. You both are strong willed, know what you want and wrestle A LOT. You have your moments that you both just gie in, share and play nice together,and they are sweet.
You are completely smitten with your brother Declan. You always want to hold him, burp him,love on him and I love watching you with him. Being so caring and attentive.
At this age you are in LOVE with Star Wars and Poke`mon. You still have a deep affection for Mario, and the wii. You and Max have seen all 6 Star Wars Movies and have some characters and homemade lightsabers. It's fun to watch you guys pretend to be Obe Won, Luke, R2D2, or sometimes Darth Vador.

Your Dad and I are so thankful to have you in our lives. Your passion and love for people excite me for your future. You are a great son and we thank God for you!
lovey love you,
xoxo
Mom

{31...and a genius}

so I was looking online at Nordstrom for a dress and saw this adorable number...then I saw the price tag. {blech...it's obscene}

{$546. marc{ripoff} jacobs}

THEN! I found this little number at Ruche...I couldn't believe the similarity.

{$46}
{ruche clothing}

THEN even better...I found this baby.

{now $19.99 at Urban Outfitters}

(I ordered the ruche one...we shall see how it actually looks on )

I should SO be hired as a fashion consultant on the Today show or something, showing these dresses, in a segment called, " runway fashions at a price you can actually afford." I'm pretty amazed that I was able to find three of these dresses that were so alike in style.
{alright, I know that this isn't really THAT monumental, but it was a fun proud moment for me...so let me bask in it thankyouverymuch! :) }

{31}

nothing makes you feel more special than getting a e-mail from your insurance company on your birthday.

{what happened to the paper cards I used to get in the mail Liberty Mutual? Budget cuts? Too tech. savvy? I want answers!}

so thankful for all that I have, and how God has worked in my 31 years of life.

our{24 hour} holiday

a couple of weekends ago we went on a 24 hour vacation. We left around 1PM for Indianapolis.

About 4:30 we arrived in Indianapolis and headed straight for the zoo which is in the heart of downtown. I found tickets fo $4 each, so we paid $16 instead of $56 to get into the zoo. And the best part {minus the heat}? Almost all the animals were out and active, and the zoo was practically empty. If you ever get a chance to go the the Indy zoo, do it. It may be the nicest one I've been to. It's set up well, you can see the animals so well.


{it was hot!}







TONY STEWART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then we headed to an AWESOME Hyatt hotel, swam in the pool, and had dinner. We stayed up late watching a movie and in the morning had a nice breakfast and headed to the chilrens musuem. Since it was another scorcher of a day the place was packed. As I stood in the MASSIVE line I looked at Justin waiting with the boys for me to get the tickets {cost-$65} I mouthed to him, "do we really want to do this?" To whcih he promptly mouthed back, "NO." We told the boys we were bustin' outtat there and would do something else. So Evan wanted his picture with the transformer Bumblebee in the lobby so we snapped a quick piture and left.

We decided to drop by Trader Joe's {and I ran in alone as it was quite busy} and pick up some fun things, since we have no T.J.'s anywhere near us...then we headed towards home via Cincinnati. We talked about going to a baseball game, but then decided with the heat, a newborn, and a two year old who didn't sleep enought the night before to just head to a place we'd been before.Newport. It's just south of Cincy, technically in Kentucky, on the Ohio River.


We walked around a bit and had dinner at an Irish Pub...and by then we were all ready to head home.

{proof Dex was with us! :) }

And around 6pm Saturday we were home sweet home. Just and I were beat, but the boys had a blast and it was a fun time together as a family.

{2 months}

still livin' the dream. you are an angel baby.

so sweet.

so go with the flow.

so quiet.

so happy.

you so make me want to have another.

you are two months today, can't believe that.

people ask me who you look like and while I can see all three of your older brothers in you, you are definately your own little guy.

your smile is constant.

your cries are few.

you're so dang handsome.

love you my 4th boy.

can't imagine life without you.

xoxo.

9 years.

{july 20.2002}


{07.16.2011}

9 years!?!?!
FLEW by.

Justin,
9 years ago we said I do. I remember when I stepped up to walk down the aisle I looked and saw you for the first time that day, I lost it. The months leading up to our wedding were so emotionaly draining, so hard and I was sad that Jared was not there to celebrate with us all... but all of the sudden in that moment I remember feeling so much joy and happiness that we were soon to be wed.

Nobody else can make me laugh like you do, nobody can make me cry like you do, nobody can make me happy like you do, nobody is you, my partner in this life, a true gift from God , I am so thankful that he gave you to be mine.

Wouldn't want to do this crazy life with anyone but you!

love you Just.

xoxo

Annie

Yucatecan Rice Salad

I made this salad for a baby shower a few weeks ago {pardon the cell phone picture} and while it may be claimed "girl" food, it is enjoyable for men and women alike. :)

YUJCATECAN RICE SALAD
{adapted from Cooking Light mag}

need:
1/2 cup water
1/4 teas. ground turmeric
1/2 cup instant brown rice {I used Uncle Ben's}
1/3 cup jalapeno stuffed green olives coarsely chopped
1/4 cup diced jalapenos {optional...but add a nice little extra kick}
1/3 cup red onion {chopped}
1/4cup cilantro
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 can {15 oz} black beans rinsed & drained
3 slices Pepper Jack cheese cut into 1/2 inch thick squares

1. Bring water and turmeric to boil in medium saucepan. Stir in rice, cover and reduce heat. Simmer for 5 minutes. Place rice in wire mesh strainer and rinse with cold water...drain well.
2. Combine olives,jalapenos {if using}, onion, cilantro olive oil, and black beans in a medium bowl. Add rice and toss gently. Then lightly toss in cheese.

enjoy.

Happy Independence Day! {4th of July}