More catching up-Beach Trip

Here's the recap from our beach trip in May with a lot of Hedgspeth's. We headed back to North Topsail Island (NC) for another week of perfect weather, good food, and laziness. What else could you ask for in a week at the beach? Its so great to have this time together in the same house for a full week. I love that we're not just grabbing dinner; we're together all day, all week. The big treat for the week was having Katy and Brian join us from Connecticut. We haven't spent much time together in the last few years, so I was quite thankful for time with my cousin. And I'm pretty sure that all the children are obsessed with Brian after all the sandcastle building, wave surfing, game playing, fishing, etc.

Let's giggle about how posed I look in that group shot....an effort to avoid a smooshed arm gone wrong.
And I like how much brother Ben looks like a robot in that one.


Sadie LOVED the beach. Here's some evidence...

Pigtails!!
Can't wait until next year!

To Kentucky and back

The first week of April is always a big week for our little family because it is our anniversary and my birthday (clearly the most important day of the year). This year was even a little more special because it was our 5th anni and my 30th. We headed to Kentucky to celebrate with family and let Sadie spend some time with Gram and Pops while Stephen and I ate some good food, made no plans, slept in, and lived like a couple of adults.

We had a great week, and then this past weekend had to turn around and fly back to Kentucky because my sweet Nana Irene passed away on Friday. She was such a lovely lady, and her passing on was bittersweet. She'd struggled with Alzheimer's for nearly 18 years, so we'd really lost her years ago. The great news is that we have so many fond memories of her hospitality, love for others, generosity, love of the outdoors and golf, and more. Some of you probably saw this photo on facebook through the rest of my family, but I thought I'd post it here.

Back to the first trip, Sadie fell in love with wearing this baseball hat.

She also fell even more in love with Gram and Pops...
And with riding the big wheel with her hat and the princess bike helmet (her own idea, we're not that nervous).
Mom and Dad's cherry blossom tree was in bloom, which always signifies that its birthday time!
Please look at this picture below...does anything seem funny to you?
Wrong dog.

Going to post more from this trip later, but have to run. Happy Tuesday!

Back At It!

Well, I nearly gave up. Do you know how many times I've written this post (well tried loading the pictures)? Sparing you an invitation you to my pity party, let me say that I have risen from the online photo storage ashes, and I think I've gotten my technical difficulties under control. For now. That behind us, I think we should press on...well, actually take a trip down (recent) memory lane.

As you may know, Sadie turned one November 4th. It was super exciting to celebrate my child's birthday. It actually pushed me into a lot of retro and intro -spection. I am now the mother of a one year old, a toddler...no longer the mother of a little babe. It all went VERY quickly. Each phase has been so unique and in all honesty, rewarding. She's really pushed me to be more and give more than I ever thought I could. Stephen and I are both SO grateful for our Sadie Girl, and can't believe God chose to bless us with someone so wonderful.

We celebrated simply. Small soap box, mothers of America, don't be afraid to have a good old fashioned birthday party- homemade treats, paper plates, Funfetti cake mix and icing. Pretend you've never heard of Martha Stewart. Anyway. Here is Sadie's personal cake and the hat I made her out of a frozen waffle box and some fabric. And no. She would not wear it. Maybe one day...

Here is the during...
Sadie, if one day you read this blog, know how deeply loved you are. Already, at your first birthday. We cannot wait to see your life unfold, and I'm so thankful to have you here tagging along with me each day. You grow funnier and more friendly by the week, and you LOVE being around people and out and about. Thanks for making me smile a million times a day. Your Dad feels the same way :)

Sadie's First Birthday- check.

Now for Christmas. We spent a hearty week in Kentucky with my family, and despite a wicked stomach bug, we really enjoyed our time with them and friends. Sadie definitely enjoyed Christmas more this morning. Last year she was 6 weeks old. She pulled paper and jumped into playing with new toys with her cousins.
Speaking of cousins, here they are. Why can't 4 kids smile at the same time?


Gracie was really sweet to show Sadie how to have a proper tea party.

And a nice picture from Christmas Eve with my parents...
Next post- New Years (even though you're all over it)

Where you at?

Are you SO happy to pull up my blog and not see red lip stain anymore?! I apologize for the lack of posts, but we've had a lot of birthdays, a lot of work, a trip to Colorado, and now I can't remember what else. I'm going to do a special post to commemorate Sadie's first birthday, but I thought I'd at least put up one picture in the meantime.

This all reminds me that I want to have a mini-soap box for a second. I'm sick of people responding to "How are you?" with "Busy." Followed by an exhausted hmphf and an eye roll. We're all busy (at least as much as we think we are), and I can't really think of anyone that I know that is bored. Let me also interject that I am sick of myself answering with "busy, hmphf, eye roll." Don't I have more to tell people? Am I answering this way because I think it makes me look important and not so stay-at-home-momish? I am personally challenging myself to be more than a busy person, to have things of value to discuss with those around me. This also harkens back to another, and frankly more serious, soap box that I have with myself and with people in general. Why is it so easy to be negative? Why do conversations flourish when the topic is negative? Why does misery love company? Now I know I'll lose your blog reading attention if I don't move on to another picture soon, but just think about this...I know I am.

Pressing on, here's your Sadie birthday snippet! She was very sweet and LOVED her cake. Again, more to follow, but here's your teaser.

Stephen also celebrated a birthday- the big 2-9. I'm so thankful that he's been in my life for the last 7+ years, and I love when this day comes around each year to celebrate the wonderful guy that he is.
Yes. That is a homemade cookie cake- due to the unfortunate closing of the Toll House cookie store at our mall. Moment of silence, please.

Here are a few pictures from our time in Colorado Springs over Thanksgiving. Other than the cold we all passed around, we had a really nice time...we always love going out there, and Stephen's parents definitely spoiled us this go around by taking the night and morning shifts with Sadie. It was a wonderful gift, and I'm thankful for my thoughtful in-law's!
Everytime we go out there we walk around the Garden of the Gods since it is so close to Rick and Lucy's house. It's always so beautiful and the colors are so different than what we see here in NC.
Here's sweet Lucy and Sadie having a little playtime.

We also went to a wonderful Christmas concert at our church last week...

If it comes to your area, please see Behold the Lamb of God. Andrew Peterson is very talented and very humble. It was such a treat to celebrate the season, and most of all Jesus, in this way.

Anyway, let me tell you a funny story about last Thursday night. We bought our tickets for the concert more than a month ago, and a few weeks later, I invited my mentee to come along (who's awesome, by the way, and I'm so thankful for her). Tickets were sold out, but between the two of us, we found one through her roommate. This is relevant later in the story. Actually, I'm going to type this in a timeline so we don't all get bored in a sea of paragraphs...

4:30- Playgroup with fun friends I haven't seen for months

5:30- Leave playgroup, already running late to dinner with mentee Emily

5:40- Stuck in traffic, more late for dinner

5:50-Make it to dinner, 20 minutes late, Emily's gracious

6:15-Stephen calls to say he's leaving work. Confirms that I printed our tickets. I reply, "What tickets? Print them?"

6:15-Doors open at the concert

6:45- Emily and I arrive at church. They won't let me in because I don't have my ticket. Sweet Emily has to go in and save us seats. I'm an awesome mentor.

6:55- Usher asks me if 20 year old Emily is my daughter. Devastated. Do I look like I'm 45?

7:00- Concert starts

7:10- Stephen arrives

7:15- Sadie starts giggling and squirming and unfornately for us, this is an acoustic event for the first half

7:17- I'm out in the hallway with Sadie. Just what I wanted to do.

7:45- Stephen swaps me

8:30- Intermission. We thought this was going to be over by now, hence the company of our one year old.

9:00- Stephen gives up and takes Sadie, who's just exhausted beyond belief, home :(

9:45- Awesome concert finally ends. It really was great, we just should've gotten a sitter. Whoops. Live and learn

9:50- Meet Emily's roommate, who I'm supposed to reimburse for the ticket, and realize I've sent my wallet home with Stephen in the diaper bag. Again, up for mentor of the year.

Also, missed my dear friend's birthday party. I planned to go after the concert since I thought I could be there by 9.

Lessons to learn from this experience:

1. Whether it's one night or my whole life, don't plan too much. Stuff just happens. Go with it and laugh while you do.

2. Thank God for my wonderful husband who really sucked it up and took one for the team...both with the non-printed ticket situation and the missing half of the concert situation. He managed to be really gracious and patient about all of it. We could have had a major blow up over all of that, but because he kept his head, everything was fine.

3. Doing your best goes a long way, but don't forget to look out for yourself along the way.

4. Ignore random men when they put their foot in their mouth...I don't look like I'm 45, I don't look like I'm 45, I don't look like...

5. This sounds hokie, but don't get wound so tight that you can't laugh at yourselves and the times you fail. Hug your kids and love them even when your plans go awry. Be thankful for what you get along the way.

Now I have to go because I just turned on White Christmas. If you remember my post from last year, it's my all time favorite. Thanks for putting up with my absence, oh and the small pictures. I'm having a technical difficulty, but I'm trying to just roll with it :) Trying...

Be back soon with lots more- Sadie's birthday, pictures of some of my work, and more!

Happy December!!

Catching Up

Since we went to Montana, we've been busy peeps...lots of work, two trips, and everyday. Here's the catch up...

We took a last minute trip to Louisville for fun and for Sadie to meet a couple of very important people for the first time.

Sadie and PawPaw RG (my mom's dad):

She LOVED him and instantly reached out for him- so sweet. We are so thankful that he and Yvonne drove up from Dawson Springs to spend time with us. It was also great to meet Yvonne (my grandpa's new wife) for the first time. We're looking forward to lots more time with them at Christmas.

Then we went to see Nana Irene. This is special because Sadie is partially named for my grandmother (whose real first name is Katherine, Sadie's middle name). For those of you who knew Nana, this picture may make you a little sad, but I thought it was really important to share. Nana was a vibrant, active, sporty, sophisticated, artistic lady. Really a lady through and through. Nearly twenty years of Alzheimer's have stolen the spring from her step and the spirit from her eyes. She doesn't know who we are or why it was important that she meet Sadie, which is honestly heartbreaking. However, I am so glad that Sadie was able to meet her.
And again, for those of you who knew her, my first reaction at this visit was that I have never in my life seen her in a t-shirt with words on it :)

We also spent time with some younger folk- aka super fun cousins (well nephews and a niece)

Labor Day was beautiful in Louisville- the weather was perfect, so we spent lots of time in my parent's backyard, one of my favorite places.

A quick Sadie update- she will be 11 months old next week (unbelievable). She has grown so much lately. She's a little over 19 lbs. and is a smidge over 28" tall. She has some adorable chubby thighs. And has started wearing some super cute hot pink sneakers...
She's sweet, cuddly, funny, and pulling up on everything. Also, don't you think her hair looks like my brother's?

Okay. His looks better and is a little more tame.

This past weekend, I got to take a much needed, child-free trip to meet up with some of my college girlfriends in the mountains of North Georgia. It was SO MUCH FUN seeing everyone and getting to spend real time together. I am so grateful for each of them, and the weekend left me feeling replenished. There is nothing like laughing with your girlfriends.
We were in a super small town, so we just hung out at the cabin, ate tons of dessert, walked, and visited.
It was really great. The drive home was not my favorite, but I did get to see the Smokies being quite smoky in all the steamy rain.
Can't wait to do both of these trips again!

The Montana Memoirs, Chapter Two

While we were in Montana, we got to spend two different days in Glacier National Park. It is really incredible. The first day was spent with the whole family. We drove the Road to the Sun and hiked the Hidden Lake trail at Logan's Pass. If you look at the picture below, the Road to the Sun is the horizontal line in the backdrop. The views are incredible. This little deck is where is stopped to eat our lunch.

While hiking, we came across two goats- the symbol of the park. They were clearly happy to be around people.
Here's the hidden lake- beautiful glacier blue

We'd never used a baby carrier like this one before, and Sadie LOVED it. She was all smiles.

Except when I tried to have a mini-photo shoot with her in a small meadow. Oh, well. This one is still cute.
One more for good measure....
We took about one million pictures of the scenery in West Glacier, but I'm sparing you some of those because my next post (about day two in Glacier) is going to be mostly scenery. Hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

The Montana Memoirs, Chapter One

We took nearly 500 pictures last week. I decided that during this first post I would tell you were we stayed and who we were with.

We feel incredibly blessed that this was our home for the week (pardon the blurriness. I took this from the boat). We got to stay in the new guest cottage (the house on the left) and our hosts, The House's, stayed in the original cottage (on the right with the large picture window).

It's such a happy and charming place...
This was our host's first car. The house is actually on a cherry orchard, so we got to eat fresh picked cherries all week. The deer are always just hanging out in the yard. Check out their cute white spots...
Here's a portion of the view from the lakefront....who wouldn't want to live here? Check out how clear and clean the water is. You can easily see 20 feet down. This is Flathead Lake in Montana, by the way. The pebble beaches were really beautiful- so many colors.
Sidenote, but this house is built for hosting families. What hostess wouldn't love a dinner barn? You can't see very well from my picture (sorry, should've edited it), but there is a large counter in the back where you can serve everything buffet style- plugs for crock pots and all.
This house is also equipped for fun times and activities...
We had a blast: basketball, volleyball, badminton, jet skis, kayaks, canoes, paddleboats, a floating green you can chip at (if you'll don a wet suit to retrieve your balls, see below), and a massive slip and slide nearly the length of a football field...

(The weather was this gorgeous all week, by the way. Highs in the mid-eighties, lows in the mid-fifties- dreamy)
We also just enjoyed time reading on the awesome dock. Here's Sadie and her Papa.

Sunset cruises were in order...

As well as lakefront s'mores...
We had so much fun with Stephen's family, and can't thank the House's enough for having us (pictured below on the right, my sweet in-law's on the left)
Here's our whole gang on our first trip to Glacier National Park (can you say GORGEOUS?)...which is my teaser for my next post. I'll be back soon with pictures from our time in Glacier. The Montana tourism board is going to need to cut me a check for all the marketing I'm going to do for their state. I'm kind of obsessed. It was so beautiful and so green- wildflowers everywhere. Stunning...

See you soon with more...