4th of July

 Happy Birthday America!!

While Michael is at work today, Carmen and I are preparing for our 4th of July Celebrations. I hope she learns to love this holiday as much as I do. I've got big plans for the years to come!

Last night our little family drove to Waterford, VA for their big fireworks show. It stormed 30 minutes before the start time so we ended up parking our car in a lot and watching from the front seat. It was actually perfect because we had the comfort of our car and the noise was a little buffered making it much less alarming for Carmen. Carmen loved the fireworks - a girl after my own heart!

Today we are celebrating with our fabulous neighbors who we are loving more and more every time we get together with them. We just threw together a BYO block party real quick and we'll meet at the playground pavilion right next to our homes. Should be fun and simple! (The above picture is my controlled attempt at decorating. It was really hard not to go all out and throw together a themed party, but again, big plans for the future.)

Tomorrow we are participating in something totally random and pretty cool so I need to go prepare for that. I'll write more about it later on!

I love America. Best Country Ever. 

Mommy-Daughter Days

With Michael being gone all last week, Carmen and I had lots of Mommy & Daughter dates. I tried to make the best of it and do lots of things to keep the days interesting for the both of us. We made a shopping trip to Reston Town Center on one of the gorgeous 70 something degree days last week. We walked around and shopped for her birthday party. It was so pleasant and Carmen was such a trooper. 

We spent time at the pool with Aunt Ashleigh and Devin:

We had a morning coffee and playdate with Colston, Ashby and Emery - Carmen always loves that time!

 I also took Carmen to the princess night at a local Chick-Fil-A. We were a bit bored and knowing that she loves to be around other people I thought that it would be a great night out. She loved it! There were little girls everywhere. Most of them had on princess dresses, there were horse and carriage rides around the parking lot, a real princess was walking around the store, they were setting up for a princess movie on the lawn - it was so festive. AND I gave her the very first taste of chicken! She loved that even more than the tiny princesses around her. 

Windy night

So the moment I post pictures of the patio we get a nasty storm that pretty much completely rearranged the outdoors. The above picture is even after I took the furniture down from being piled on the AC unit. The winds swept all that furniture, picked up the wheelbarrow and threw that elsewhere and obviously blew away the grill cover. During the storm I had heard banging on our front door step and turns out the mat was blowing around because it left it upside down. I thought that was hilarious - only after the fact though. I was scared when the storm was passing through. Of course Michael was out of town (recall the little tornado last summer that Michael was not home for either) and I was alone with my tiny sleeping baby. Our location as an end unit town home and up on a hill is particularly windy under normal circumstances, so when the 80mph winds struck, the walls were literally shaking. I was shaking too and trying to pack a bag because our power was flickering. I wasn't sure how long we would have electricity so I wanted to pack a bag in case we needed to sleep elsewhere. BUT we are so fortunate and did not lose power and currently have a nice, cool, air-conditioned home. Thank you Jesus!

Made by Michael

 Ta-da!

Just kidding! Although, yes, he did "make" her but I am referring to THIS:

Our patio! He finished it in May and it's been put to good use already. Look at each stone he laid by hand:

We're also attempting to keep somewhat of a garden on the side. Michael is actually a fabulous gardener, I had no idea. He prunes and maintains the rose bushes like they are babies. I'm still waiting for the gladiolus to blossom...Michael thinks I planted corn instead. I may have been tricked.

Summer

I've missed the blog. It's weird, I guess I'm more of a journal keeper than I thought. June has been filled with wonderful things. Having a 9 month old is certainly a blast. You folks aren't kidding when you say how fun 9 month olds are.

Michael and I celebrated 5 years of marriage!

My baby brother graduated from high school!

Some of my beloved aunts and uncles came to VA for the graduation, always a good time!

Knocked out a fabulous, rustic-elegant wedding at a vineyard on Sunday. Confession, I texted Michael after the ceremony, "Why am I so good at what I do?" Humble, I know. But I was pretty proud of the day.  Wedding #30-something was a home run!

Michael is still loving Chick-Fil-A and is more and more excited about the company. I am also more and more excited, as my intake of Combo #1s and chocolate milkshakes have increased.

Carmen's bed time is more well established now, so Michael and I have been able to have some great evenings grilling out with a margarita or a beer on our wonderful patio lately. I need to put up pictures of that!

 

We also have a tradition of family breakfast's when Michael is home in the morning. We have a new favorite spot that we are beginning to frequent. For some reason, breakfast always tastes better when someone else cooks it for you?

Carmen's favorite book these days is, "Charlie the Ranch Dog" by Ree Drummond (the Pioneer Woman) and her favorite toy is her dolly, Dolly. She is also great at playing Michael's keyboard and walking behind her babydoll stroller.

I've started the birthday party planning for Carmen's ....1st  Birthday?! How can this be, it's only 2 months away. I used to be more of a crafty person, but in my recent years I've had better things to do so I'm a bit rusty when it comes to hole punching. The first birthday is totally about the family and what kind of cake you serve. 1 year olds could care less and will only remember pictures. That being said, I'm trying to keep a good balance of catering to my baby girl's celebration and focusing on the rest of the family that will be there.

 

Here's some pics:  

Grandma Fran

My Grandma is awesome and needs prayer. Pray for her healing, strength and peace from the Lord!  

 Four Generations

We love you Grandma Fran and are praying for your healing!!!

5 Year Anniversary

On Saturday Michael and I celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary! Typing that number looks so small, but it feels like a greater amount of years. It has flown by but has been so good. It is so comforting, peace bringing, and exciting to know that we will be together for the rest of our lives - celebrating just like this. 

We were busy all weekend with college reunions at UVA but Michael set aside some time for just the two of us on Saturday morning. He booked a couples massage for us and a spa manicure for me at Boars Head.

It was so great! Best part is that Michael might now be hooked on massages which means more for me too. 

We stayed at our friend's beautiful home in Charlottesville - actually the pastor's home of Portico in Cville. Chris and Jenn were wonderful hosts. We had early starts to each day and I desperately wanted coffee each morning. Chris was walking out the door both days as I came into the kitchen but stopped to ask if he could get me a cup of coffee, with cream and sugar? At first I said don't bother, I'll get it myself, but he insisted. BOTH mornings books and bag in hand - heading out on Saturday to teach a class and Sunday to preach (THREE services mind you) he served me coffee. I know it's weird but I felt so blessed and so encouraged at the servant leadership displayed in the smallest of actions and at the most seemingly inconvenient time. It was his joy to serve. Portico is so blessed to serve under Chris's leadership. I hope that I can model that same type of servant's heart. It means a lot. 

Carmen was in little girl heaven because the Atwell's have 3 girls of their own. She was the happiest baby to get to interact and smile and laugh at the girls. I couldn't have planned it better myself! In a weekend full of adult activities and stroller confinement, I was thankful that Carmen had some good laughs first thing in the morning. 

A lot more to catch you all up on later!