family time!

so this may be a few weeks [or maybe months] behind.  its' all kind of a blur. i'm pretty sure this little fella is still an itty bitty so hopefully weeks is close enough.  its too early for math or i'm sure i could figure it out.  benny and i got to go meet the sweetest lil nephew in the whole wide world when he was about 2 weeks old.  i was super sicky so i didn't want to go running through the hospital nursery spreading my germs all over the place.  two weeks was too long but it was worth the wait.  what a cutie.

nana. cormac. proud poppa in the back.

.handsome hubs.

.me & my momma.

i really like him a whole lot.  if you want to see more updated pics of the cutie go here.

can't wait to see you all again!

and remember these, little tie onesies?  they're even more precious once they are filled up with baby!

[pic from greta's one month update]

hair today, gone tomorrow

i've been an admittedly terrible 'post-er' lately.  i don't really know what the deal is.  i think lots of thoughts {hahaha} and then keep insisting, 'i'll write them down when i have time to upload my pics.'  and then when i have time to upload my pics i think, 'well i don't have any time to write now.' and thus nothing gets accomplished.  what a sick cylce.  so, as i have a million times before, i want to be a better record keeper for our life.  i want to do one of those challenges where you take a picture everyday for a year or something to keep myself accountable & creative.  maybe that starts today? if my camera wasn't at home this would be a less challenging challenge.

annnnyway, i am itching like crazy to get things accomplished.  my calendar looks like a schedule monster ralphed all over it so i'm not sure how much 'task accomplishing' i'll actually be up for when its all said and done.  it always sounds so good in theory {checking things off my list, actually making my house home-y, projects, etc.} but once the opportunity finally presents itself i find myself saying 'maybe i'd rather take a nap instead of organizing the hall closet'. 'maybe i'd rather cuddle & watch a movie than repaint a dresser.' that's basically my life. 

today holds lunch with a friend {good fellowship & breadsticks}, a date with jenna to practice wedding hair before we're maids in september & a lhs girls soccer game.  it should be pretty fantastic - except that i might be showing up a soccer game with an updo.  this past weekend we practiced hair on a blanket in a field with only bobby pins and a small comb so having other tools {like a mirror & hot iron} tonight should only make us better hair dressers.  i think we'll actually be able to do a pretty great job.  our only downfall is our aversion to all things hairspray.  i'm not sure what we'll do about that - hard hair with those little frizzies that stick up on top...i just hate those. 

to get the creative juices flowing, here is some inspiration hair from pinterest for ya.

{sources attached here}

notice a trend?  i love messy low buns.  i can't help it, they're my fave.

watch out uk

it's become tradition around here that every first day of school i get to post my most favorite picture of benny as a student.  and since today is in fact the first of the school year for my hubs, here i am! 

it is actually the first day of your last year of school babe.  i'm so excited for you.  i know you're not excited about sitting in a classroom or doing busy work but i know that you're excited to someday [very soon] become a teacher that cares for & invests in the lives of kids.  just keep the end in mind, i know the rest will fly by.  i'm so proud of how hard you work and i wish you still had a backpack with green straps.  i love you dearly boo!

new & improved {blog by thirstyhearts design}

i am crazy excited to announce, my blog no longer looks like a homemade mess-tastophe!  my sweeter than sweet friend, ang, is starting up a lil design business and i was blessed to be a guinea pig of sorts.  i sent over all kinds of things that i love and she mixed them up into a photoshop blender and created the most wonderful, blognificant beaut, lovelier than i could have ever imagined!  she perfectly captured all the little details that i love so much.  i look at my blog now and think, "that looks like me".  i'm so proud of the way she's learned so quickly & with such determination.  she has many gifts but this one has been especially fun  to watch grow.  i'm so thankful for her time, energy & creative talent; she made something she knew i'd love & that is really special.  if you'd like to have an 'i have the cutest blog in the world moment' too, you should probably stop by thirstyhearts design right about now.

just so you know there will be some other updates around the blog as well {other than the look}.  i'm going to try and get them all wrapped up this week and do a little recap just so everyone can know what's what.

ang, thank you so much my dear friend.  i'm just going to go and stare at my blog now.  just let me.

[ps.  i'm going to adjust this post font to something that's a little easier to read soon.  right now blogger just hates my guts & won't let me do anything i want.]

i'm terrified of / weekend plans {not related}

greatest fears {that don't have eternal consequence}:

having ugly kids - you just never know what you're going to get.  i know if we have kids that i'll love the begeezle out of them no matter how they look or act but what can i say its an irrational phobia.  and just so you know, if i do end up having less than adorable kids i really don't want you telling me how adorable they are whilst thinking "that kid looks like lyndon johnson" {think seinfeld in the hamptons episode}

walking out of the ladies' room with my skirt tucked into my undies in the back.  i always triple check but i fear that in a rush i'll wash those hands and scoot on out the door {drawers showin'}.

also associated with bathrooms, walking into the men's room by accident.  i think the embarrassment alone would be enough to knock me over and while falling i'd likely hit my head on the sink {or worse, the urinal} & be passed out on a men's room floor which should be another fear all on its own.  it's not only unsanitary but double embarrassing because then even more people would have the opportunity to find out about my unfortunate error.

i'm terrified of becoming that couple that doesn't talk at the dinner table.  i'm sure you've seen them at restaurants.  they aren't doing other things like reading or being on the phone, they are just sitting in silence. it doesn't appear that they are just 'enjoying each others presence' either.  i always hope i've noticed them right after a fight and that that's not real life for them.

decisions.  not decisions that matter.  decisions like where should we go to eat tonight? should we buy this ice cream or that ice cream?  should we hang the picture here or about 1 inch higher?  seriously, who lives like this?

and finally / of course...clowns, spiders & things that are unsafe.

[updated]  one more.  one day living out the show 'i didn't know i was pregnant.'  i don't even really know how that is physically possible but if that doesn't scare you, i don't know what will!

what about you?  what are you most terrified of that doesn't actually matter?

*****

and now on a completely unrelated note...i can't stop thinking about the weekend.  so much that i'm excited about. lots to get done, people to see, resting to be had.  i made a little to-do list and i hope to do it all!  happy weekend friends.

::leah's two::

a few weeks ago my little cousin, leah turned two and i was so happy we were free to go celebrate with the family.  some of my favorite pics of the fam and of course, the birthday girl!

her dad & grandpa {my uncle & grandpa} built her the most precious little house for her birthday.  it has a little window with a bar & stools so she can serve all her food {fake for now, maybe real later}.  all the kids {big and little} really loved it.

mom & pop

my little brother, nicky boo boo

my hair is stuck in ben's armpit. treat!

"i'm two!"

watching the birthday girl blow out her candles

happy birthday sweet little girl.  i know you won't remember but you ate about 400 blueberries and a plastic ice cream cone on your birthday this year.  and all your family was there and gave you hugs and kisses.  you're so big!

cooking out with the babes

hi friends.  i'm back as promised and finally think i'll share all the things i've been holding for forever.  starting now.  here are some shots from last saturday night.  our sweet friends, the poston's, had us and friends over for ribs in a fancy smoker & sundaes.  they were bomb awesome and the company was my favorite.  the three couples {besides us} all had babies there.  it was great.  and then there was a gigantic thunderstorm to top it all off.  it ruined our campfire but i still love a good storm.  here's some of my favorite shots from the night.  i'm so thankful for our sweet friends.

 

some of my favorite si pics. the silas show

face.in.a.plate

give.me.back.that.cell.phone.face

happy.because.i'm.probably.holding.a.cell.phone.face

i.will.eat.all.your.popsicles

 

readin his baby bible

now for din din

the ridds

and their cutie

marsh & jenna,  i needed a pic of you all and eden.  next time please!  here's baby eden chatting it up on the phone.  i wish you could see her little ruffle top.

forever

i haven't checked in all week as i thought i would.  i found out on monday morning that my papaw had passed away.  that along with some other unfun & fun things have consumed my thoughts and time for the past few days.  my papaw was an incredibly sweet & strong man & he will be very much missed.  please be lifting up my mom & family in prayer - its hard to lose someone you love a lot even if means they are now without sickness or worry or ailment with their loving creator.  the visitation is tonight & the funeral will be tomorrow.  i hope it will be a joyful celebration of life.

pic from our st. john honeymoon, one of the most peaceful places i know.

"i will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
psalm 23: 6b

reflecting: the ryder's

if you've been reading our little blog you likely know that our friend, libby fought through cancer this past year.  i had the pleasure of writing out a little bit of how that affected me/us - witnessing their faithfulness & God's goodness for her to post.  if you'd like to take a look visit libby's blog {HERE}.  even if you don't want to read my long-winded-ness at least go check out their story, you will undoubtedly be encouraged.

one extra thought that i didn't include there but really weighed on me after i wrote that was this:

in the past few weeks we've read through daniel 3 a couple times.  we've focused on different aspects of the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego but one part stood out to me so distinctly.  in case you don't know, here's the jest: their king had erected an image of gold that everyone was to bow down and worship throughout the country.  these three men were confident that their God, our God, was the only one worthy of worship & refused to bow to the golden idol.  to the king this disobedience deserved death in a blazing furnace, so he called the men in to deliver their fate.

daniel 3:13-18
^"Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

their response:  we know that our God is more than able to save us {rescue us or heal us} but even if he does not - he is still God and he's the only one worthy of our praise.

that reminded me of libby & justin during cancer, during treatment.  full trust & confidence that God is more than able to bring a miracle but should he not, should their story turn out differently - he is still worthy of praise.

happy weekend

..happy weekend friends..

i am so crazy excited for it.

  

this past week we were so blessed to hangout with a crapton of students nearly every night. they wanted to be together as much as possible since school is starting next week.  house full of friends, watching movies, playing games in the park, ice cream & dinners.  it was good for the soul.  staying up every night past one a.m. however, makes me a bit of a sleep-deprived crazy.  perhaps needless to say, i'm going to be catching up on that this weekend.  ben & i have already had sweet time together & with family this evening.  i hope the next two days are a perfect mix of fun, productivity & relaxation.

this weekend will also hold blogging.  woot woot!  i have several things i want to write / complete / publish but just need a second to sit down and get to them.  i feel like i've been learning, dreaming & playing a lot lately - now i just need to record it.

and now for your enjoyment...road signs hacked in northern ky {where we're from} and lexington {where we live now}.  this kind of vandalism makes me really happy.

Stories seen here & here

calligraphy musings {updated}

if i could write & design like kate forrester or with even just a smidge of talent or creativity i would certainly launch that into my full-time/part-time job.  i could have quite a bit of fun prettying up invitations, placecards & love notes for everyone i know from the comfort of my home.  can this be taught?  i'd really like to know.

updated:  i wanted to add a few more of my favorites.  and my momma raises an interesting point about being taught.  but i can learn anything on youtube right?  i'm going to find me a pen, some ink, a tutorial & get to work.  see if i've got any hidden talent {wink wink}.  if i don't have great penmanship or creativity in real life, what do you think the chances are of having gorgeous penmanship & wild creativity once i have a special stick in my hand? 

nevermind, don't answer that.

 {found here}

and i'm mildly obsessed with this girls' work {shown in the last 3 images}.  i desperately want one of her gorgeous address stamps but they are a bit out of my price range {see here - or don't if you don't want to be sad that you can't afford it either} it looks like a lot of people use her calligraphy for letterpress invitations as well.  they are absolutely lovely.

{here}

{here}