a hair cut & power tools

Jack was way over due for a hair cut. And if it was up to me, he would have stayed with the long n' shaggy look....


But daddy took matters into his own hands {literally}. And when things started to get "hairy", I handed J one of his power tools {thx Sanderson fam.}, and it was alll goood again.

Power tools make everything better. And in the end, he looks pretty darn handsome with his new hair cut. You were right daddy!

new things...

I'm trying my best to get back into the habit of blogging on a regular basis. At least a few times a week. My excuse this time is all the preparation for Jack's second birthday party. And let me tell you...it was one heck of a party. We had 35 people over for some good old southern bbq pulled pork and chicken and a bounce house with a slide for the kids. Which actually ended up being fun for us adults too. I'll share the pictures with you soon. I'm still waiting on a few guests who were kind enough to snap some pictures, to send them my way. I on the other hand was too busy running around to take any pictures, which I'm really bummed out about now!

On a completely different subject though, I have a new hobby, or what I hope becomes a hobby. I just started, so I don't think I can officially call it a hobby yet. Right? I mean I better make sure it sticks! Let me first share that my first and favorite hobby is running. I love to run. I love everything about it. I love being outside in nature {I can't bare the thought of a treadmill}. I love the simplicity of the sport. All I need is my sneaks! I could go on and on. I tell you this b/c now that the cooler weather is coming, I'm desperately craving some good long runs. And I'm tortured b/c I can't. I have to put on some weight and running in that case is the enemy.

I'm underweight for my height and I've been advised by my Dr. and my insurance company that I need to pack on the pounds. Therefore, I have to bag the running for awhile. So I started thinking about my past. What things I liked to do and what things I like now and what makes sense with my lifestyle. And also, simply what and who I love. I love my husband and son. I love my house, I love being a homemaker/stay at home mom...so what can I do that fits well w/ all that? The first thing I thought of was how much I'd love to play an instrument..again. I played the violin for 8+ years and the piano towards the end of that. There were days I could not stand to practice {that's an understatement}. Days when I highly disliked my parents for making me take lessons. And now....I wish so badly someone would pay for me to take a lesson weekly. Gosh, that cracks me up! And I think eventually I will play both again. Perhaps when we have more room, in a future house, we can even get a piano. Because you can bet, my kids are going to play a musical instrument to! Whether they like it or not! Too funny!

So once I ruled out music lessons, I thought about when my mom set me up with a friend and neighbor to teach me how to sew. And even thought I didn't take lessons from her for very long. I do remember liking the process and having a finished product and the construction/logical part of it. If that makes sense.

So I decided to refresh my memory in sewing and start again. The great part about it is I can tie in everything I love {mentioned above} into sewing. No pun intended. But seriously, I'd love to eventually make clothes for Jack and future children. I'll spare Matt. I'd love to make curtains, update areas of my house. I've always been a "nester", even before I was married, pregnant, a home owner..you get the idea. Ok, so onto the next step. I emailed a dear friends who lives around the corner, who I met at church. I adore her. She is a mentor and friends. Someone I look up to as a strong and passionate woman of God. She is a beautiful loving person. And she makes gorgeous quilts, sews, embroiders. You name it. I shot her an email and simply asked her advice on sewing machines for someone who isn't a pro but also not a complete amateur. Well, she kindly offered for me to come over and give it a go on one of her many machines and this was the end result....

The other side...

Which goes very well with the mural in Jack's room. You may remember it from an early post. I wish I knew how to directly link to it, but I don't! So just picture a beautiful sailboat {painted by daddy} above the couch that this pillow sits on.

Hope this finds you all well...talk soon.

I'm back!

Hey blog world! Did you miss me!? It's been a little over a year from when I stopped blogging. And it's taking me a few months to realize that I kinda miss it. A lot has happened in the last year. Jack turned 1, we finished our house {well let's be honest, is a house ever "finished"?}. We had a few mini vacays, I ran a half marathon in Chicago, we had dear friends move away, dear friends move home, long weekends at the beach {at my in-laws beautiful condo}. We had lots of highs, a few lows. We've made new friends, joined new groups and organizations, become more involved at our church, watched sweet family friends get baptized {baby Luke}, sat front 'n center at a concert and danced to our first dance again, celebrated 2 blissful years of marriage, watched best friends get married {Ben & Andrea}, bought bigger cars {w/ more room, wink wink}, took up new hobbies, learned new things, read new books, set new goals, house hunted, dreamed, prayed and most of all enjoyed every second we've had together and with our families and dear friends. I'm probably leaving a lot out because I seem to remember being too busy to blog..so as I think of what else we've been up to, I'll share it right here. But in the mean time....look forward to updates via pictures. Hope this finds you all well & happy.
Love of love and blessings,
chw