Tag Archives: birthday

hello march

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hello-marchimage source

{what?  march already?  no way.}

have i mentioned that this is shaping up to be one crazy month?

hubby is taking his series 7.  elinor has a 4 month checkup.

{what?  i have a four-month old already?  no way.}

a birthday celebration.  st. patrick’s day.  a wedding shower.

woah.

i don’t know why this always happens to me.  february comes to a close and i have a mild freak-out that march has arrived.  mostly, it is a happy freak out.  like…hurray, spring is around the corner!  but it also contains a hint of panic and melancholy.  like…wait, i’m not ready for spring cleaning and to flip the closets and put away the sweaters and scarves!  and this year especially, i am feeling overwhelmed with that feeling of SLOW DOWN TIME!  this time last year i was getting ready to head to the doctor to confirm that we had a little peanut on the way.  and now, now that little peanut is a chatty little thing that rolls around on the floor and grabs at objects and smiles at me. and is moving through diaper sizes way too fast.  i am acutely aware of how quickly time can fly once springtime hits.  and it is thrilling but also jolting.

something deep in my bones starts buzzing with excitement this time of year.  i love the fresh infusion of energy and hope that seems to accompany the change of seasons. but i also mourn the cool breeze and coziness that fall/winter offers.  alas, time waits for no man.  the page turns.  the seasons shift.  and you know what?  i am going to embrace it.  let’s do this march.  i am ready for a fresh start.  i am ready for the warm, fragrant air of spring.  i am excited to see what new life and creativity and joy bursts forth from the stagnant soil.

jesus, you’re the one who saves us.

constantly creates us into something new.

jesus, surely  you will find us.

surely our  messiah will make all things new – will make all things new.

life is breaking out, it’s breaking out, it’s breaking  out.

gungor – dry bones

now blow the candle out my dear and make your wish come true. a very merry unbirthday to you!

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today is the official anniversary of my hubby’s birth.  but we kicked things off early with some celebrations this past weekend.  i am talking a family outing for brunch, a trip to the movies, and a dinner date at our very favorite spot.  and then, bonus!  since it was a long weekend {hurray for the market being closed} we got to spend an extra day together.  and we scheduled a leisurely day at home together.  after being out and about this weekend, we played homebodies and cuddled on the couch with movies and british telly.  it was a splendid day of doing a whole lot of nothing in particular.  just munching and chatting and laughing {and enjoying the many sounds and faces of miss elinor}  perfection.

here are some of my favorite shots from our weekend of birthday excursions.  very merry wishes to my hubby. i am so blessed to get to experience this life with him.  and the little miss thinks her papa is simply grand.  we sure do love him.  he is the best and we always have such fun together.

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snaps & snippets & blurbs

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welcome, my friends to the burger-palooza version of the s&s&b post.  this week, my hubby and i celebrated my cousin’s birthday, and coincidentally, national cheeseburger day, by heading out to the grind for some burgers.  it was pretty tasty.

and, in a stroke of good luck, we had also scheduled one of our before-the-baby-arrives-just-the-two-of-us date nights as a trip to zinburger.  oops.  burgers twice in one week!  you know, most people would have chickened out and rescheduled, but not us!  no sir, we powered through.  plus, if it is in the daytimer, it must be so.

here are some mouth-watering pics from our burger excursions.  enjoy, enjoy.

and make sure to clean up the drool from your keyboard.

the table is set + the super crispy fries + my man’s side of mac and cheese + my man’s gigantor burger complete with fried ratatouille and peppers and cheese + donuts with butterscotch for dessert + two very happy faces + hurray for az restaurant week! + the cool milk bottle chandelier at zinburger + my man’s plate + my bunless burger with zinfandel onions.  bunless so that i had extra room for… two, yes two baskets of truffle fries and a chocolate shake!  whew.

snaps & snippets & blurbs – double birthday edition

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whew!  happy monday, folks.  time is just ticking away.  this weekend was over in a flash!  but at least it was chock full of fun moments.  we celebrated two birthdays…we enjoyed yummy food…we had a leisurely afternoon “brunch” with my mom while dad is out of town [sorry to party without you dad...but don't worry, you wouldn't have liked the menu much].  all in all.  a great time.

i have a feeling that the next few weekends are going to be similarly stuffed full of activities.  it is going to be crazy but good.

enjoy some snaps from our birthday celebration for the dynamic duo of ben’s mama and his sister rach.  happy happy!

skewers and kabobs for the grill + an assortment of dips and sauces + homemade cheese straws + honey for the marinade…complete with a cute little smiley face on the lid! + beverages galore + scenes of coke sipping, goofy faces, mingling, chatting, and snacking

mr & mrs whitehaüs at the brat haüs

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this place has been on our list for a few months now.  so when my sister gave me a dinner double-date night for my birthday, the brat haüs was my first pick.  i mean, you can’t go wrong with brats, fries, and pretzels, right?  right.  it was quite scrumptious.  so get ready to see more and more of these tasty links appearing on the blog.  i have a feeling that we will be visiting this establishment on a regular basis.

try not to drool…

the haüs.  so cool + food & brew menu [or, "bru", as they call it] + hubby’s beverage + a half-eaten pretzel.  the pretzels also came with assorted mustards and a beer-cheese fondue…but we all kinda jumped in before a formal picture could be taken + okay.  seriously.  the best fries i have ever eaten.  these are the winners by far.  belgian style [the homeland of the fry] which means that they are “thrice fried” in duck fat.  duck fat is the best.  PLUS, they come with gourmet dipping sauces.  we chose homemade dill ranch, bacon bleu cheese, sriracha aioli, and truffle aioli. + spicy sausage with hot peppers and root beer onions + my selection for the evening…turkey, apple, sage sausage with apricot onion chutney + my beverage of choice…arizona date shake.

snaps & snippets & blurbs

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what a lazy and lovely weekend we had!  filled with good food, family get-togethers, birthday celebration, some bourne action, baby room decorating, and much-needed do-nothingness.  ahhh…lovely.

happy faces + happy birthday balloons for mark’s b-day + mushroom, onion, prosciutto, goat cheese tart + smoked salmon toasts with lemon horseradish creme and fresh dill + sassy family faces + some post-grocery shopping shakes from whole foods…kale, strawberries, acai, spirulina, flax, almond milk, and dark chocolate + the fantasmagorical wall o’ prints for miss elinor’s room + yummiest cream cheese EVER + a random plate of deliciousness for lunch + my hubby’s plate of heirloom tomatoes with fresh mozzarella and balsamic drizzle + grabbing some lush burger after bourne legacy + cookies and cream shake + basket of fries + the dogpile.  coco likes to sleep on charlie’s lap.  those buddies… + the most amazing ice cream sandwich in the land!  chocolate chips cookies with brown butter candied bacon ice cream from cool haus.  just. so. good.  thank you, whole foods frozen department for bringing this into our life.

snaps & snippets & blurbs

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this was a pretty great weekend.  don’t you just love birthdays?!  what a perfect excuse to eat yummy food, indulge in way too much dessert, spend extra time alone with my man, and do some shopping!  fun. fun. fun.

even though my birthday was technically on friday, i received my hubby’s blessing to commandeer the entire weekend.  we did it up.  we kicked things off early with a whitehouse family dinner on my birthday eve. then we enjoyed a hubby & me date night on friday for dinner and shopping…shopping for baby goodies.  we walked away with a bag of tiny little apparel to begin her wardrobe.  a very merry un-birhday to you, baby girl.  it was so much fun. then we had an ice cream social [okay, there were only four people there but there was ice cream and we were social] followed by some additional baby girl shopping.  this time, it was off to home depot for paint.  wahoo!  and finally, we wrapped up the birthday-palooza weekend with a dinner with my dad, my fianc-ed sister, and her man.  whew!  needless to say, it was a splendid few days.  i feel quite celebrated.  quite full.  and actually, quite accomplished.  i couldn’t ask for more.

here are some snaps. 

date night with my handsome man + citizen public house.  yes.  again. + fondue with pears, grilled bread, and peppered sausage + the famous and scrumptious [gf] fried chicken and waffles with almond butter and desert lavender honey + plate o’ bread and sausage and cheddar and grainy mustard + rockin’ the scarf and looking like a “fashionable, old-fashioned cleaning lady” as ben’s sister katie calls it + a bag of tiny baby goodies for our tiny baby girl + a table-full of gifts from my man.  the contents thereof: a cookbook, chocolate bars from vosages, baubles and a scarf from j.crew, a giant bag of my favorite decaf coffee beans from local roaster matador, and a fancy-schmancy cold coffee brewing system + miss coco.  she was very jealous of the my presents and the baby’s clothes… + enjoying some of the aforementioned fancy-schmancy cold brewed coffee + a vegan peanut butter cookie from tammie coe.  ah.maz.ing + heading out for some ice cream + sweet republic artisan ice cream + some sweet republic press & a sassy face + my huckleberry ice cream + painting supplies for baby girl’s room! + off to church + dinner at the greene house + the california-cool decor + my dad + my b-day balloon + the menu + the goods…tuna; potato gnocchi with sausage, peas, and mushrooms; chicken ravioli; and scallops + some share-able birthday dessert…chocolate bars of yumminess.

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as i was assembling the collection, i realized that this weekend was a pretty fabulous tour of some great local venues and vendors from the scottsdale/phoenix area.  fox restaurants, citizen public house, sweet republic, matador coffee roasters, tammie coe.  we are blessed to live in a cool town.

28.

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why does that feel like such a giant number?  27 felt pretty good.  how come 28 feels so much bigger?  hmmm…

not that i have a problem with 28.  this is shaping up to be a great year.  i have been blessed beyond measure and feel like a could just burst!  God is so good.

He has given me life.  He has given me spiritual life through the gift of His Son.  He has given me His Word as a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path.  He has given me His Spirit to watch and guide.  He has given me  incredible parents who seek Him and have lived obediently.  they love God and they love each other.  they raised me and taught me and disciplined me and prayed for me.  and now, i have the amazing privilege to watch them as they become grandparents and pour out love on our little one.  [she is pretty blessed]  He has given me a sister to grow up with, be challenged by, to learn from, and to share life’s little milestones with.  He has given me friends.  people who sharpen me and encourage me and experience life with me.  He has given me a church family who supports and protects and loves.  a family that i can worship and serve and fellowship with.  He has given me a loving husband as a lifemate.  a man who has loved me through all the ugly and who rejoices with me through the good.  someone who images Christ’s love.  someone who i cherish.  He has given me health and vitality.  He has allowed me to enjoy His goodness and pleasures on this earth.  He has given me vocation and work that i may produce and yield fruit.  He has given me a home and haven.  He has given me the honor of carrying and stewarding the life of another.  He has allowed me to become a mother.

not too shabby for ol’ 28.

a double date send off

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well.  my mom is at it again.  she is heading up north to spend some time with grandma in o canada.  she will be gone for six whole weeks!  so, we figured that a farewell dinner was in order.  that, plus, we still had some combo birthday celebrating [seen here and here] to do from back at the end of may.  this double-date-night-dinner was long overdue.

the four of us hopped in the car and popped over to beckett’s table for some up-scale, homecookery at its finest.  this place has a relaxed and homey atmosphere.  a fabulous gathering spot for friends and family.  love the decor and the love the food even more.

the non-preggos sipped some wine and we noshed on skillets of appetizers before digging in for the main event.  oh yes, and we topped it off with some of the most amazing pie i have ever eaten.  to be clear, nothing beats my mom’s apple pie.  but this, this definitely takes second.

smooches on the car ride over + beckett’s table + ahhh, that menu… + the cute little suess-esque plant on our table + cold water served in old-fashioned bottles [even if it were just tab water, it would taste better being poured from that cute little thing] + my man.  seriously surveying the menu options + my fabulously fashionable and perfectly polished mom.  isn’t that bright yellow the best? + FOOD…my short ribs.  mom’s shrimp and sausage.  ben’s green chile pork stew.  ALL so amazing + that pie i mentioned before.  fig and pecan pie, folks! with fresh cream cheese citrus zest ice cream.  oh my + using clothespins for marketing.  genius

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toodle-oo mom!  have fun up north…you will be missed. 

and i will have a butternut squash sized little one happening inside my belly by the time you return!

dear peanut

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hello again, little girl.  thanks for all of the somersaults and kicks and stretches.  it is so much fun to really be able to notice your movements.  it seems like you are having a good time in there.  we are praying that you continue to grow and stay healthy and develop into a sweet little peanut that we get to enjoy very soon.  your whole family is excited to welcome you to the outside world.  your papa and i have been talking to you and reading about you and playing music for you.  and everyone is praying for you.

i’m sure you’ve noticed, but your aunt breebles is engaged.  she is getting married in april and you will get to be there!  they have made an exception from their “no kids at the wedding” rule, just for you.  it is staggering to think that you will be here for the wedding AND that you will be five months old.  we will be a family of three.  we will have a five month old.  unreal.  it is going to be so much fun to watch you grow and change.  what fun it will be to watch you as you watch life unfold.  your first thanksgiving.  your first christmas.  your first smile.  your first birthday.  your first steps.  your first words.  your first tooth.  your first prayer.  there is a whole life-full of firsts to experience together.  we are pretty excited about all of it.  we pray that God will continue His mighty work of knitting you together.  and we pray that He will continue to mold you and hold you as you enter the world and navigate this life.  may you love Him fiercely and be His.

all our love to you, little peanut.

love, your mama + your papa