a heart-y start

terrific twos...

2010-09-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

the goal: a photo of noah holding his age up on a piece of card stock...

First attempt: "good job, now can you smile and hold it the other way"

whatcha see?

OOppe don't crinkle it

you can take a nap in just a second, work with me bubs.

oh okay you want to go out back to get the shot, i can work with that.

yes that is a two, great job, can you look at me and say that. pretty please.

monkeeey, reaally. are you just being funny now?

don't even think about it silly boy.

no no no please no.

the result: not exactly the shot i was hoping for.

better luck next year!?

homemade bread & the cutest pregnancy book ever

2010-09-01T11:53:00.000-07:00

i came across this clever pregnancy book and i just had to share with you guys. I first spotted it on apartment therapy and was created by a very talented photographer/graphic designer. you can check out more of the pages she created on her blog.

on another note while i am writing this noah is busy building a bike ramp out of kitchen bowls in our family room. apparently just riding the bike is not entertaining enough. so a quick update on my homemade bread project. I decided to include noah in on the fun, thinking he would love to get his hands dirty and help me out. well lets just say it turned from baking to crafting, lol. our poor bread didn't rise. not to mention we made five batches {probably not the best idea your first time trying it} so what to do with all that dysfunctional dough? i decided to experiment with colors and let noah go at with the food coloring. you should have seen my kitchen when we were all done. needless to say even though the bread didn't turn out we had a lot of fun attempting. I called my mom because that is what i usually do when a baking project goes bad and she sent me a great link about bread, yeast and how to work with them both. so in a few weeks i will try again...when noah is napping of course : )

magpie's cake

2010-08-29T21:36:00.000-07:00

i wish i would have known about magpie's cake when I got married a few years back. how stunning are these cakes?

Hello!

2010-08-22T13:19:00.000-07:00

{source}

“Motherhood is the greatest potential influence either for good or ill in human life. The mother's image is the first that stamps itself on the unwritten page of the young child's mind. It is her caress that first awakens a sense of security; her kiss, the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness, the first assurance that there is love in the world.”

- David O. McKay

I really love this quote. I hope this finds you well and hope you have a good sunday!

as for us, have I ever told you this is my favorite day of the week? andy is working so noah and i are going to relax a bit and go to church this evening.

i have a recipe for homemade whole wheat bread that I hope to try out today so i will post some pictures and let you know how it turns out this week.

happy sunday!

raspberry-lemon whoopie pies

2010-08-12T23:46:00.001-07:00

After I put little man to bed at night I have been spending some quality time with my electric mixer. a few days back I decided to try these whoopie pies, they turned out really good! Definitely a must try recipe... I love that the lemon is in the cookie and the raspberries in the cream. They are very soft and dreamy tasting and pretty easy to make too.

The Ingredients

[] 1/2 cup or 1 stick butter

[] 1 cup plus three tablespoons light-brown sugar

[] 1 tbsp grated lemon zest

[] 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

[] 1 large egg

[] 2 1/4 cups all purpose flower

[] 3/4 tsp baking powder

[] 1/4 tsp baking soda

[] 1/2 tsp course salt

[] 1 cup whole milk

[] 3/4 cup heavy cream

[] 1 cup fresh raspberries

1. Preheat oven to 350 and in a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter, 1 cup brown sugar and lemon zest until light and creamy. Add vanilla and egg and beat to combine, scraping down bowl as needed. In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. With mixer on low, beat in flower mixture in three additions, alternating with milk and ending with flour mixture. Beat well to combine.

2. Drop batter in 2 tablespoons mounds about two inches apart, onto two parchment paper- lined baking sheets. Bake until puffed and pale golden brown around edges, 17 - 19 minutes, rotating sheets half way through. Le cakes cool completely on sheets on wire racks.

3. In a large bowl, whip cream and three tbsp brown sugar until soft peaks. In a small bowl mash raspberries with a fork and then fold into whipped cream. Divide raspberry cream evenly among bottom of half of the cakes, then sandwich with remaining cakes.

4. pass around table and watch disappear : )

recipe source: everyday food {May 2010}

Instant Classic

2010-08-10T21:14:00.000-07:00

I was flipping through the August issue of Better Homes and Garden when I saw an article about the Polaroid Camara, they're bringing it back! Two years ago they took it off the market but fear no more this summer they unveiled the new instant classic for only $90.00. Now that's a deal. I am thinking it is time to start my birthday wish list : )

what about you? any hot items you want to purchase?

mammoth

2010-07-17T14:29:00.000-07:00

we are headed to mammoth for the next week and I am really excited to soak up all of natures wonderfulness. can't wait to take noah fishing, find a tree we can carve pictures into, fly our kites, skip lots of rocks, and maybe even do some star gazing. last time we went noah was three months old and cracked his first smile for us. two years later I have a feeling he is going to eat this trip up.

happy weekend to you all!

love. britt

hello...BEAUTIFUL PARTY!

2010-07-08T21:22:00.000-07:00

Ashley Ann has done it again and you won't believe that she made all the decor herself for around ten dollars!! You can check it all out here.

Hope you all had a great fourth of July!!

Dear Birthday Boy,

2010-07-07T23:34:00.000-07:00

My favorite things about the past twelve months with you:

- hearing you say c c c car for the first time.

- our nighttime routine

- dance parties in the car

- teaching you about prayer

{watching you bow your head and hold your hands together melts my heart}

- the way you ask me to itch your itchies.

- the way you light up and yell PAPA when dad comes home from work.

- your little belly and your farmers tan

- starting new traditions with you

- waking up to you holding your blanket and blue every morning.

We Love You!

Happy Birthday!

blueberry farm

2010-07-02T11:55:00.001-07:00

This great family that we met at our church invited us to their blueberry farm after the service on sunday and I was so glad that my camera was in the car so that I could snap some shots. We literally felt like we were in blueberry heaven. There were acres and acres of blueberry bushes. Noah was asleep when we got there but luckily he woke up and was able to run up and down the rows and stop to pick a blueberry every now and then. It was such an awesome day and definitely one of the reasons that I really like Temecula. The next morning I woke up early and made blueberry pancakes. SO gooood!!

Love. Britt

Party Ideas

2010-06-12T09:59:00.000-07:00

When looking for birthday Party Ideas for noah's second birthday I found both of these parties. The idea is similar with variations in the details. I love them both. The little red car party I spotted on party perfect and the second party you can find here.

Boy Crazy

2010-06-11T12:41:00.000-07:00

I am happy to be back, finals are over and for now I am going to stay home with noah - more posts to come on that topic. So I thought I would kick things off with a little note that one of the bloggers I read wrote to her son. Her blog is called boy crazy because she has three little boys, cute right. And to one of her sons she wrote this...

my little child, my boy.

you have a fire within and a spark thats contagious.

your cheeks are the softest I've ever felt, ever kissed.

Sometimes I project your traits

on a teenage version of you.

and I worry for those days when you will push me away

defiant and strong.

You are my boy, and your fiesty-ness is mine to cherish,

to recognize in myself.

So I will nurture you as best I can.

Loving you, directing your energies into safe places.

And I will love you completely.

I loved this when I read it. Noah and her son sound so similar. So sweet with a fiesty edge, lol.

I love that kids have there own unique personality so distinct and evident, even in the womb.

Well it is great to be back. stay tuned.

love. britt

ruby tuesday

2010-02-27T21:11:00.000-08:00

hello friends! okay so I have been working on my new tumblr. I am pretty excited about it and think it will be easier for me to manage with a toddler + school. It is just a place to collect all my favorite photos and quotes with the occasional update here and there. If you are interested in checking it out, you can find it here. As far as the blog goes I am going to take a break {or continue my break for a little awhile} hopefully I can pick back up at some point. Thank you for all your nice words and support over the past year.

much love. britt : )

25 days

2009-11-20T00:25:00.000-08:00

With Christmas inching up on us I thought it would be a fun time to start a new tradition. I read about this idea on Oh Happy Day's blog ~ an advent calendar but with a little twist & I really liked it. I thought it would be fun to try it out, so each day leading up to Christmas we will do something little to get us in the spirit : ) This is Jordan's list {slightly modified} with a some ideas...

Watch It's a wonderful life, make spiced cider
Tell your favorite pastime Christmas memory by the fire
Make Christmas Cookies for friends
Find Mistletoe, hang it in our house and kiss under it
Address and Mail Christmas Cards
Go to Borders and Pick out one new Christmas CD
Drink Sparkling Cider
Leave out wooden shoes on December 5
Find a nativity that is set up in town
Make Thick Hot Chocolate and Homemade Marshmallows
Slumber party in the front room, watch home alone and Christmas vacation
Put up a ribbon sash for Christmas cards
Donate canned goods
Make a wreath
Give neighbors a present
Make a Gingerbread house
Make a popcorn garland
Drive around to see neighborhood lights
Sew Christmas pj's for the little one
Read a Christmas story from the Bible
Make a family traditional dessert
Eat out at a festive restaurant
wrap gifts to the tune of classic Christmas songs
Have a romantic candlelit dinner by the tree
Make decorative sugar cookies
Sign up to purchase gifts for a child in need
Write out a Christ-centered goal to start early for the New Year
Attend City tree lighting event
Have a full traditional breakfast while listening to Christmas music
Open one gift from under the tree

I love this time of year so something little everyday seems nice : )

much love. Britt

baby girl nursery ideas

2009-11-10T17:41:00.000-08:00

I am loving these two names for little girls

and this color combo (yellow + coral) for the nursery

and lastly a little poem for the wall perhaps?

you are only new to this world so just take my hand and we'll
tip-toe to the edge and there we shall look at how beautiful it all is until
you are ready to take flight.

since there is no little girls or little boys for that matter, on the the way i guess I will have to leave these ideas in the drawer... for now : )

much love. britt

name images via what a lovely name.
inspiration board via snippet & ink.
poem via you are just my cup of tea.

Quiet Strength

2009-11-08T22:52:00.000-08:00

Faith and football are two things that are near and dear to my heart, so when I bumped into Tony Dungy's book "Quite Strength" at the book store awhile back i just had to get it. He led the Indianapolis Colts to a super bowl victory in 2007 and is well known in the football world as a coach of character and faith. I just finished reading it and I was inspired throughout! Here are some excerpts from the book that i really liked...

"Society tends to define success in terms of accomplishments and awards, material possessions, and profit margins. In the football business, winning is the only thing that matters. God's word however, presents a different definition of success - one centered on a relationship with Jesus Christ and a love for God that allows us to love and serve others. God gives each one of us unique gifts, abilities and passions. How well we use those qualities to have an impact on the world around us determines how "successful" we really are. If we get caught up in chasing what the world defines as success, we can use our time and talent to do some great things. But in the end, what will it mean? What will people remember us for? Are other peoples lives better because we lived? Did we make a difference? Did we use to the fullest the gifts that god gave to us? Did we give our best effort and did we do it for the right reasons? God's definition of success is really one of significance - the significant difference our lives can make in the lives of others. The significance isn't gathered in our trophies that are gathering dust on our mantels. It's found in the hearts and lives of those we've come across who are in some way better because we have lived."

"Tony handed out a message to his players before a big game, it read...
The first step to creating an improved future is developing the ability to envision it. VISION will ignite the fire of passion that fuels our commitment to do whatever it takes to achieve excellence. Only vision allows us to transform dreams of greatness into the reality of achievement through human action. Vision has no boundaries and knows no limits.
Our vision is what we become in life."

Tony had five children and one of them passed away when he was nineteen. It was such a heart wrenching chapter yet I was really moved by Tony's ability to praise God in the midst of such a tragedy. God's strength is what he had to rely on in those moments to get through them, is how he put it.

"Good teachers help all their students earn an A."
-Dr. Wil Dungy

I highlighted pretty much the whole book. He has always been a role model to me, and now even more so. He always stayed true to his faith, no exceptions and I really admire that.

Speaking of football...
The chargers cleaned up today!! Noah and I made up a victory dance, hopefully we will get to use it a few more times this season : )

and speaking of faith...
Church was awesome tonight! I love Sunday nights at church during the holidays. There is definitely something magical in the air.

Hope everyone has a good week!

much love. britt

hi..

2009-10-27T23:04:00.000-07:00

I have been out for awhile.

my days have been full of...sewing {i think i am in love}

prayers, some tears and more prayers for my uncle bill.
he had a heart attack and is recovering from open heart surgery. my uncle bill and his family are so incredibly strong and they have inspired us all the past few weeks.
get well soon uncle, we love you!!

a few family outings, our most recent to the Air and Space Museum in San Diego where we learned all about Leonardo Da Vinci...what an incredible man.

“ A well-spent day brings happy sleep.”
— Leonardo Da Vinci

good night.

noah's first flight

2009-10-03T14:55:00.000-07:00

Pre-flight

noah with his red baron

talking to dad during the landing

safely on the ground after the flight...all smiles : }

I have to admit I was a little nervous but flying over wine country when the sun
was setting was an awesome sight to see.

Happy Saturday!

Love. Brittany

everyday food

2009-10-02T21:57:00.000-07:00

top eight reasons why i love this magazine...

1. it's great for beginners
2. most of the recipes can be made in an hour or less
4. most of the ingredients are already in your pantry
5. affordable since most of the ingredients are already in your pantry. lol
6. the food tastes great
7. and looks great
8. and i love that the magazine is small enough to pop right in your purse

now for one of my favorite recipes from the october 2009 issue...

1. baked chicken with onions, potatoes, garlic, and thyme
[] one whole chicken (3 to 31/2 pounds) cut into eight pieces and breasts halved crosswise
[] 1 pound white potatoes, quartered
[] 1 large red onion cut into eighths
[] 1 head garlic, cloves separated and left unpeeled
[] 6 springs thyme
[] 1 lemon quartered
[] 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
[] 2 tlbs balsamic vinager
[] course salt and groud pepper

Preheat oven to 450~ . Arrange chicken potatoes, onion, garlic, thyme and lemon in a 12-by-16-inch roasting pan. whisk together oil and vinager and drizzle over chicken and vegatables. Toss to combine and season with salt and pepper. Turn chicken skin side up. Roast until chicken is browned and cooked through, about 50 min.

enjoy.

photo shoot in laguna

2009-09-28T23:15:00.001-07:00

Mike was awesome to work with and i am really excited about the photos he has been emailing me. above are a few of them...

in other news:

my first sewing class went really well. I took it at Johann's and there was only three of us to one instructor. which meant for a lot of one on one time : ) very helpful! we learned how to thread are machines and do some basic stitches, terminology that kinda stuff. In sewing 102, which is my next class hopefully we will produce something fun that i can share with you guys.

go chargers...go!! and how about those angels!!

andy had the last six days off and i spent some time trying out some new recipes thanks to my trusty everyday food magazine. i love that little guy, i can't say enough good things about it! I tried out three new recipes and they all turned out to be pretty tasty, i will share this week...

I feel like we are all settled into our new church Revival, and it feels so good!!

other than that i am completely in the mood for some rain and homemade chocalate chip cookies...mmmm.

good night. britt

digital orange photography

2009-09-22T14:05:00.001-07:00

my cousin Aubrey was kind enough to give us the info for the photographer that she used for her wedding {her wedding photos were beautiful!} So we are headed out to the beach on Thursday to work with him & hopefully get a photo for our Christmas cards. The photo above is from a wedding shoot & you can check out more of his work at digital orange photography.

Besides that I enjoyed the day with my mom, andy & noah...taco tuesday, mmhmm : )

much love. brittany

nursery love

2009-09-15T22:58:00.000-07:00

love the vintage/handmade feeling this room has.

you are my sun-shine my only sun-shine = )

love the plates, baby's initial and framed alphabet above the changing table.

speaking of alphabets...

How wonderful is this idea, when you have an entire wall to work with = )

good night>britt

baby clothes quilt

2009-09-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

and this my friends is why i am so excited about my upcoming sewing classes!
I have been wanting to learn for a few years now and the timing is finally right where I have some extra time to dive in and take some classes. Andy and I have also been doing some research about machines, but for now i am going to borrow my moms (thanks mom!) to make sure i like it before we throw down some money.

So I have about 3 buckets full of Noah's baby clothes and i have had so much trouble handing them down or throwing them out, it's crazy how attached you can get to a silly onsie. I would love to pick out my favorites and make a quilt such as this one. each little outfit has so many memories attached to it, so why not bundle all of it up into one great quilt!

my classes start next week so i will post some pictures of my first project which should
be interesting! : )

much love. brittany

motherhood

2009-09-09T10:10:00.000-07:00

"The fundamental mission of motherhood now is the same as it always was: to nurture, protect and instruct children, to create a home environment that enables them to learn and grow, to help them develop a heart for God and his purposes, and to send them into the world prepared to live both a fully and meaningful life."

- Sally Clarkson (via http://www.flythroughourwindow.com/-- one of my favorite blogs)

Hope everyone had a good labor day weekend!

much love. brittany

chalkboard paint

2009-08-29T15:42:00.001-07:00

One thing that i definitely want to incorporate into our next home is chalkboard paint. I love the idea of putting up a quote everyday, or letting the kids use it as a creative outlet. In fact, I would love for every aspect of our next home to be very kid friendly, that is something that i didn't do with our first home and now i am paying for it= )

Happy Saturday!

Wild Animal Park

2009-08-25T23:51:00.000-07:00

mmm red slushy lips

Dinosaur Exhibit

the water park

and the animals...

Andy, Noah and I ventured out to the wild animal park in Escondido and had such a good time. We weren't sure if we should take noah at such a young age but he actually really like it. The have a lot of interactive activities for kids and many educational exhibits as well. A really nice day and glad that we decided to go!

much love. brittany

Tree House Play Room

2009-08-24T22:41:00.000-07:00

wow! I think the pictures speak for themselves here! I spotted this on ohdeedoh and fell in love. I have always had this thing for tree houses, one of my friends growing up had one and we spent most of our days in it = ) what an amazing space they created for their kids and i love all the storage space. We have learned with Noah you can never have enough of that! I have a feeling it might be hard to drag the kids out of this play room...

Random thoughts

2009-08-17T22:57:00.000-07:00

- lately i have been getting stuck on design blogs for hours dreaming about what it be like to create such a space. i would love to do that someday.

- church on sunday night was absolutely amazing, i have never been so touched by a single service. at the end of it i felt inspired to refocus my life on HIM. to do bigger things for HIM. to serve and poor my heart into others for HIM.

- playing catch with noah makes me happy.

- andy is working overtime tomorrow, by now i should be used to that phone call but for some reason i still always get bummed out.

- inspired to do something crafty tomorrow, i am thinking Noah's piggy bank.

- went to the mailbox four times today. i am not paranoid about my test results, not at all : ) Decided that if i don't pass it's okay because. a. i put every ounce of myself into it for three months and prepared for it day in and day out. and b. prayed about it a lot and if i don't pass god's plan was for me not to pass and i am okay with that. he knows what best for brittany, i believe that.

- 15 girls + palm springs = some very gooood times. so excited.

- anxiously awaiting the arrival of baby Liam = ) can't wait to meet the little guy!

- and lastly speaking of babies, is it completely crazy that i am already feeling ready for another little babes. i never dreamed i would feel this way THIS soon, especially after the whole pregnancy with Noah. crazy i know! so now probably isn't the best time to start trying considering i am on a mission to finish school. just acknowledging my feelings, that's all.

Happy Tuesday!

Love. Britt

piggy bank

2009-08-15T19:23:00.000-07:00

what a cute and creative way to utilize baby's last can of formula. i love this idea for a piggy bank. She used a map from an atlas and then spelled out her sons name with red vinyl letters. a fun and simple project for a saturday afternoon : )

much love. britt

ticket-a-kid (the education citation)

2009-08-13T19:47:00.000-07:00

something that is important to andy and myself is raising kids that are respectful, responsible, and that have good values. at the same time i want to keep things fun so when i heard about ticket-a-kid on dr. laura the other day i just couldn't resist blogging about it. i think it is such an awesome idea. basically it is a little ticket book and any time your child violates a rule such as talking back or not doing homework a ticket will be written out and a fine of lets say 1.00 will be given. at the end of the week you tally up their ticket's and deduct that amount from their weekly allowance. there is also credit portion on the ticket that can be awarded for positive behavior. the money that is collected is then placed into a jar (i always love an excuse to make a cute jar) at the end of the school year and put into an educational account. i thought this was a great idea and wanted to share it with all of you.

thank you for all the encouraging words and texts before my exam. i took it this morning and i feel like it could go either way at this point. i will get the results in about week and i will let you guys know the results. eeeeeeeeek.

hope all is going well with everyone!

much love. britt

mother-to-be hospital bag

2009-08-06T12:05:00.000-07:00

I love this hospital bag that inchmark put together for a mom-to-be. In the bag she added this hospital gown, isn't it great! So much cuter than the over sized garment that i wore. You can find more patterns and colors for the gown here.

much love. brittany

sugarland

2009-08-04T20:50:00.000-07:00

did anyone else see them on ABC on monday night? I love them, my favorite band at the moment. Jennifer seems very natural and soo happy on stage. Noah and I danced the night away just like we were there : )

much love. brittany

in 14 days...

2009-07-30T13:22:00.000-07:00

In only two weeks I take my exam. I have to admit spending the summer reading, researching, and studying has not been ideal. But I am finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and if i pass, it will all be worth it! In the meantime I am taking a break this weekend and looking forward to...

hanging out with some friends on Friday night
Briley turning one on Saturday
and then heading off to big bear for a few days

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

much love. britt

carnival wedding

2009-07-23T10:39:00.000-07:00

What a genuinely happy wedding! I love everything about it! You can check out all the photos of the wedding here.

much love. britt

happy birthday america.

2009-07-11T23:08:00.000-07:00

It was our first fourth of july in temecula. We went to the city's parade and then headed to the park for the rest of the evening. Family's gathered, freebies flying, and flags waving. It was that day that I realized that the fourth of july is one of my favorite holidays. So many people have sacrificed so much to allow us to live the lives that we do today. I will always be grateful for that. happy birthday america.

much love. brittany

two for one

2009-07-10T21:46:00.000-07:00

I like this new European bike + stroller that i spotted on Tangled and True.

Home from Catalina, i think i really like it there...pics to come soon!

Andy is on a fishing trip and i am enjoying the weekend at my moms!

Two baby showers this weekend = )

Happy weekend, friends!

much love. brittany

happy.

2009-06-30T16:31:00.000-07:00

There was a moment during Noah's first birthday when everyone was singing happy birthday to him that i started to well up inside. I feel like this past year has been one of the best of my life. thinking back to all the little moments, all the milestones it truly has been amazing to watch our little guy grow into the independent person that he is today. i have always dreamed of being a mom and i have always felt that it was my life calling and having noah has completely confirmed all of that. Thank you to everyone that came out to temecula on sunday to help us celebrate! We had such a good time and feel so blessed to have you all in our lives.

happy birthday big boy!

love. britt

what a lovely name

2009-06-19T14:52:00.001-07:00

i found this new baby name website via marvelous kiddo,
fun for moms that are expecting!
or that aren't lol, i spent like an hour navigating through it : ]

Quick update: we are just getting situated in temecula, i think every box is finally unpacked! HOORAY to that! Getting ready for fathers day and then Andy has a whole month off! And Oh do I have the birthday surprise for him!!

Happy Friday to All!!
much love. britt

inspiration board

2009-06-02T23:02:00.001-07:00

i like this inspiration board from snippet and ink! the red and white picnic palette kinda puts you in the mood for summer : )

the best thing

2009-05-31T11:18:00.001-07:00

“ the best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness.
to an opponent, tolerance.
to a friend, your heart.
to your child, a good example.
to a father, deference.
to your mother,
conduct that will make her proud of you.
to yourself, respect.
to all men, charity.” -benjamin franklin

sore nipples

2009-05-27T23:09:00.000-07:00

Andy decided to run the la marathon with three other guys from work this year and his first complaint after the race...my nipples are raw, they are sore man. lol supposedly his shirt was rubbing against them. i would guess oh my calf's are on fire! or i can't breath! but the nipples, who would have thought! lol! the race was on monday so noah, myself and his parents went there to support him and it truly was an inspiring day. So many people with one goal in mind. two legs, one leg, blind, juggling, dribbling a basketball, an 8 year old. somehow none if it mattered that day, just a lot of courageous people pulling together, cheering one another on all to accomplish that same goal. It was pretty cool to see. Andy wanted to finish in 4 hours and he clocked in at 3:59:59. What are the chances of that!? Here are some pics from the day & my hats off to all those that ran that day!

noah lookin out for dada

about 100 yards to the finish line

little pool and relaxation after the run.

hope everyone had a good memorial day!
love. britt

mothers day

2009-05-22T10:27:00.000-07:00

between mothers day, our anniversary, and traveling to tahoe for holly's wedding, things have been kinda crazy especially our tahoe trip, man was that an adventure. Lets just say i don't recommend taking an almost one year old on a nine hour drive and then staying in a room the size of a small bathroom. ooooh man, lol. last night me and andy were laughing about it, but at the time lets just say there were fists flying. into the wall. i should clarify. glad to report we all made it home safe and in one piece & holly's wedding was absolutely beautiful! congrats to her and D!

the night before we left andy asked if i would go out and get some last minute stuff for the road, so i ventured out and when i returned home andy and noah were covered in paint standing proudly by this masterpiece they had created for me. it was perfect, thanks guys for making my first first mothers day so nice!

this post wouldn't be complete if i didn't talk about my mom. from my earliest memories my mom has been there for me. to wipe the tears, to celebrate, and for everything in between. now being a mom myself i have a whole new perspective and appreciation for everything that she has done for me. Sitting here writing this i can practically smell her home cookin, i love our long talks, i love her encouraging words, and mostly i love that she has loved me for me, and always encouraged me to be myself and nothing else. happy mothers day mom!

love. britt

kinda lagging

2009-05-15T20:48:00.000-07:00

http://maryruffle.tumbler.com/

so i realize that i am kinda lagging on the blog posts.
and really in all aspects of everything : )
there are posts to come on mothers day + tahoe trip + holly's wedding.

hope everyone has had a good couple of weeks & happy Friday!

love. britt

10 months

2009-05-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

love. mama

kid friendly spaces

2009-04-30T20:36:00.000-07:00

"kids it's time for dinner!" lol I am pretty sure andy would have to drag me off this! lol!

"JUMP, JUMP!"

This is a door that folds down to a ping pong table. pretty cool & Perfect for a small space. Again, i think the kids might be fighting andy & I for this.
oh & just for the record i am the raining 1st annual 08' mammoth ping pong champion, That's right!
he says he lets me win. but i am very suspicious.

back to studying. britt

guest bedrooms.

2009-04-24T14:34:00.000-07:00

http://kellymccaleb.tumblr.com/

I have always had this thing about guest bedrooms. i dream of this cozy place that my guests can snuggle up in. view of the mountains, freshly picked flowers, fluffy sheets, and maybe something personalized just for them.

someday : }

hope everyone has a good weekend!

love. britt

today. tomorrow. until august.

2009-04-18T23:49:00.000-07:00

today i...
- scrubbed the toilet
- cleaned up the toys
- made rice crispy treats
- baked muffins
- set up for the shower
- cleaned up a giant mess
- went to chads going away party
- picked up soup for andy
- watched the UFC fight
- bathed noah
- read to naoh
- put noah down
- read my bible
- posted a quote on my blog
- posted this blog

tomorrow i will...
- read the paper & have a lil french roast
- go to church
- take noah to the park
- read a book
- take a bubble bath
- maybe even a nap. okay so that's probably pushing it : )

the next day and the three months that follow...
- study my butt of so i pass this test that is in august.

good night. britt

barefoot.

2009-04-18T23:10:00.000-07:00

am thinking about
looking inward
and not outward.

knowing that you, alone,
are enough.
do all that you can
with all that you have.
in your space
in your time.

do not wish to be
in someone else's shoes.
they will not fit.
be brave
go barefoot.

- m. writes
(http://www.martawrites.blogspot.com/)

firehouse 171

2009-04-15T22:30:00.000-07:00

my husband and one of his captains have been working on a new actually i am not to sure what it is for. lol i think it is to write down there assignments for the day? anywho they just finished it and if i must say so myself i think it turned out pretty spiffy!

love. britt

one heart. touching many.

2009-04-14T23:01:00.000-07:00

Team Danny

Recently I have been inspired by danny on amercian idol. His wife passed away ONLY 4 weeks before he auditioned and he spoke of his wife's love for children and the foundation that was created in her name on one of the blogs i read. The foundation was set up to reach out to children that were dealt an unfortunate hand. Danny also talked about how children and there "let it go" attitude plays a big part in his own life. He says that when he watches kids play and they get into arguments they will fight and bicker however five minutes pass and they continue to play as if nothing ever happened. He tries to live by that same princible in his own life, by not holding on to anger and resentment. He said it was one of the ways it helped him move foward and live life after his wife passed. i like that concept.

love. britt

happy easter

2009-04-13T12:10:00.001-07:00

going for the bunny. lol.

mr. wonderfuls angels: )
minus kendra : (

aubrey & noah

andy had to work but besides that it was a really nice easter!
hope everyone had a good day with their friends & family!!

love. britt

noah's first haircut

2009-03-30T23:40:00.000-07:00

all cleaned up = )

love. britt

in nine. out nine.

2009-03-25T23:52:00.000-07:00

happy 9 monkey!

to grandmas house we go

2009-03-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

my grandma is the ultimate homemaker, something that i aspire to be. cozy home, tons of good books, yummy food, chocolate cake to die for, pretty garden, big lemon trees, & lots of love. every time i arrive she has big juicy strawberries and root beer waiting for me. My two favorites, and she has 17 grandchildren (that is quite impressive) although i dream about creating that environment something tells me that know one can be quite as great as grandma Jackie. We are going to visit her and my grandpa john tomorrow. those are some pictures from our last visit = )

much love. britt

red balloon nursery

2009-03-11T22:06:00.000-07:00

so when we have more kiddos. not in the near future, but when we do i am liking this nursery. and even better it was all done on a budget = )

source: http://alilovescurtis.blogspot.com/

thats all. britt

everyone is beautiful

2009-03-11T15:29:00.000-07:00

there is a new book titled everyone is beautiful that i really want to read.

what the critics are saying...

Everyone is Beautiful centers around Lanie, a thirtysomething mom of three young boys (in three years, no less), married to a wonderful man who she truly loves, yet her life leaves a little something to be desired. When Peter, her husband, gets accepted into a music program at a great university, they pack up everything they own to move halfway across the country into a tiny little apartment, far away from the comfort of family, friends, and everything else that Lanie has ever known. Everyone is Beautiful is the story of Lanie’s attempts to take control of her own life, coming into her own as a person separate from her roles as wife and mother - and in so doing, she creates far more problems for herself and her family than she ever could have dreamed. If Lanie’s going to hold it all together, it becomes clear that she needs to figure out how to remain true to herself and her own priorities while balancing the demands of being a great mom, a supportive wife, and a true friend to those she’s come to depend on through all of this.

I was drawn in by this novel immediately. The very first scene in the book is one where Lanie is at the park with her three kids (three boys under the age of three, remember), and as you can imagine, utter chaos ensues. The scene is absolutely hilarious, and through it, the reader gets their first glimpses into the details of Lanie’s life, everything she’s going through as a mom, and her fun personality - it’s impossible not to get hooked at this point. The story just got better from there - of course there was normal kids’ antics all over the place, but there was also a story about a woman who desires a huge change in her life.

There’s also something that I love about Katherine Center’s writing - although her books would probably be classified as chick lit or women’s fiction, there is definitely a literary quality to her writing style. The words just fit together well - I don’t know how else to explain it. It’s easy to get lost in the story partly because how seamless her writing is and how well each aspect of the book flows together with the next.

I would truly recommend Everyone is Beautiful for a quick, fun read with more depth than is typically found in this type of novel. I really, really liked the book and I think you will too!

going out to get the book and some coco = )

love.britt

P.S. Lori (a good friend of mine) is having a boy! little boys are fun!! SO excited for them!!!

all i want

2009-03-05T23:00:00.001-08:00

is a good nights rest for noah & i.

highly unlikely.

but every night before i go to bed i like to imagine if.

nite.britt

everything ikea

2009-03-03T14:09:00.000-08:00

so my new favorite store is ikea. andy and i partially decorated our place but we still have a long way to go. I am working on finding things to finish the house and every time i begin my search i always end up back at ikea. i love it there! great accessories, and all so affordable!!

i am loving everything white right now = )

happy searching!

love.britt

love.laugh.lollygag.

2009-02-27T15:19:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

love.britt

things are lookin up

2009-02-22T09:46:00.000-08:00

noahs diarrhea and angry rash have cleared.
andy's nausea is gone.
& i got a record breaking 9 hours of sleep.

since things were going better we decided to take noah to the aquarium of the pacific.

some pics from the day...

lookin for the birdies
hello scuba man
little fishes, visit with grandma ann, and don joses for a little chip and salsa action.

nice day & exactly what we needed!

love.Britt

jillian goes home : (

2009-02-17T22:24:00.000-08:00

SO my husband & i are slightly obsessed with the bachelor (he loves that i am saying this right now..hee hee) I have to say i was very sad he sent jillian home. i thought they were so perfect together. jason apparently not so much!??
: (

i kinda liked it

2009-02-16T12:26:00.000-08:00

andy came home yesturday and we celebrated valentines day : )
with noah.
he probably would have preferred a sitter.
but i don't know i kinda liked it.
with all three of us.

love.britt

oh how i love being a figherfighters wife...

2009-02-14T13:07:00.000-08:00

last year andy went out of his way to make v-day really nice for me, and i wanted to do the same for him this year. SO i woke up at 6:00 am set up the table, made a lil breakfast, got in a little v-day outfit, what? And then for the afternoon i made reservations to harry's where we went last year for valentines day and even made arrangements to have a sitter. I was so excited i feel like ever since noah was born our relationship has taken a back seat. SO it was a whole day to focus on us! AND then (brace yourself) the phone rings at 7:30 "telestaff calling" followed by andy, "Ohhh man i got an overtime shift." followed by "I have to go, we just got a call." click.

so you'll have to excuse me i'm going to get wrapped up in some cozy blankets , make some hot coco and watch a lil lovers lane on lifetime. thats not so bad right!?

hope everyone has a wonderful valentines day!

britt<3

freakin out!!

2009-02-11T22:20:00.000-08:00

tomorrow is my first day back at work and my first day as a nurse. on an actual unit. without an instructor : / oh dear lordy!!!!!!!!!

im prayin it goes okay. not great, i am pretty sure it won't be great. but okay, i'll take it!!!
i will let ya know how it goes!

Britt<3

365

2009-02-10T23:20:00.000-08:00

i have taken a photo of noah each day for the first year of his life.
i started putting it together and its lookin good!

i WISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! haha
who are these people and how are they so creative??

courtesy of marvelous kiddo and Gavin's blog.

britt <3

dear noah,

2009-02-08T23:02:00.000-08:00

i want you to know:

that mom and dad love you more than you will ever know.
that mom and dad love each other and value our marriage when things are easy and tough alike.
brush, floss and swish twice a day.
people will be mean and say hurtful things. it is best to listen, but you probably shouldn't take it to heart, unless of course it is someones opinion that you value.
self reliance. self reliance. self reliance.
don't do what is easy, do what is RIGHT.
we will teach you of god, but the decision is yours to accept him and choose that path.
volunteer your time, reach out to others, think outside of yourself.
lonely? read a book. never want to be lonely? enjoy reading books.
when life throws you a curve ball, always ask yourself, how can i make the best of this situation?
always, always be yourself.
everything that you do give one hundred million percent. whether its mowing the lawn or fathering your children.
read the newspaper.
always be honest, people will respect you if you do.
spend your single life maturing into a person that someone else would want to spend the rest of their life with.
always pull your ladies chair out, even if you have been married for 38 years.
ask a lot of questions.
you have a choice each day. you choose the words you speak, expressions on your face, and the actions you take.
life is truly amazing, soak up each moment, smile a lot, and have fun!! and always remember there are two people rooting for you every step of the way.

love,
mom & dad <3

air show

2009-02-07T17:16:00.000-08:00

the gobosh, andy's first love : )
andy & noah
the tumbling bird
noah with grandpa parker
wyatt, binky & noah.

nice day : )

britt <3

american idol and edamame

2009-02-05T22:47:00.000-08:00

i keep a daily journal and my mom gave me the great idea to title my journal posts as i do my blog posts which i decided to implement tonight when i sat down to write. that way looking back and sorting through my journal will be a little more fun. my mom is full of great ideas! i love it! everyone needs someone in their life that is full of clever ideas. so today was a nice day. melissa and briley came over and we indulged in great chinese cuisine, something that we did almost everyday in nursing school. briley is absolutely beautiful and after all that melissa has been through each day that i get to spend with them just makes me smile and feel glad that she has been blessed with such an amazing little girl. melissa is one of the few people in my life that completely understands me and that i tell everything to. you also need one of those in your life. at the end of the night after running half a mile which i almost died i might add, i haven't been this out of shape ever!! i settled down with my edamamay and watched a little american idol. it was the perfect end to a great day. if only andy would have been home to narrate : /

britt <3