my two loves

Work took us to Orlando Friday, and our heartstrings took us to Tampa for the rest of the weekend. I love these two kids and I was SO happy to spend time with them.

We had SO much fun!

He is so sweet. I think this pic will always be one of my favorites.

I pray for the day when seeing them becomes more of a weekly occurrence!

under the big top

I love it when books have pages like these.

I just read the last words of Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and I am ready to start in on the first few again. This is a story worth reading. It's the classic good versus evil with a little bit of whimsy, camaraderie, and romance throughout. I could not put it down!

I thought about reading it awhile back when I saw it on a friend's coffee table. The title and cover intrigued me, but my abhorrence for the circus deterred me from reading the book. Then the movie trailer came out and I was captivated by it once again and requested the story from the library.

The tale that Gruen weaves is nothing short of beautiful. Of course there is the love story, but it's the loyalty and love that a few of the characters have for their animal friends and the longing for good to overcome evil that had me reading long into the night. There are a few scenes that are gruesome and a few that are graphic, so those of you that are faint at heart or want to preserve some innocence may want to skip it.  

However, the real facts and history of the old time circus found within the pages are fascinating and have me planning a trip to the Sarasota Ringling Museum. The sweet rapport between a circus clown and his dog, 12 magnificent horses and their rider, and a young vet and his elephant is enough for this animal lover to call this book a favorite. Then add in some unlikely friendships and a damsel in distress and you've got a darn good story. 

You won't ever find me in line for a show when the circus rolls through town. I cannot condone a show that causes big cats and elephants to be enclosed in tight quarters for the sake of entertainment, and I think this book showcases my point. But I do so love this story and it endears me toward those who love these animals while out on the road.

Check out the movie trailer!

it's one of my favorite places

It's a quaint street with a lot of character and I adore it. Years ago I came here with my family while I was in college and made up my mind to find work in one of the boutiques along the street. The very next day I was hired and one could find me enjoying my lunches on a park bench just across the street from the shop I worked in shortly after that.

I come back here every chance I can get to do so. I love hanging out in the park, lingering in the rose garden, walking along the street, going into the shops, and eating at the restaurants. It's a place where I can go and instantly feel content and happy. I like that. 

There's a train station on the other side of the park and it stood directly in front of the shop across the avenue and the park. The trains that pass through are both freight and passenger trains. When I worked here there would be some slow days. I'd end up standing outside the doors of the shop and when I heard the train whistle blow I'd wait in anticipation of the thundering locomotive to round the bend and I'd begin counting cars. I counted 88 cars on a freight train one day. 88! But my favorite would be when the passenger trains came through and stopped at the station. You'd see families and friends saying goodbye or greeting one another and it always made me happy to see people embrace one another for both reasons.

This is a favorite breakfast spot for friends and I. It's become a tradition and now I cannot go to Orlando without stopping in! The Briarpatch is a must on Park Ave!

Yesterday I got to sit here while my Mister was in a meeting nearby. It was the perfect afternoon. Perfect.

 

And this little lady came over for a visit.

If you ever find yourself in Winter Park, a treausre of a suburb in Orlando, you really ought to take the time to enjoy Park Avenue. You'll thank me for it. I promise.

she got hitched

It's official. My little sister is a Mrs. She and her husband are quite literally a match made in heaven. They met on a mission trip when she visited El Salvador. Then a few months later he was here interning and working with the middle school kids when she was a small group leader for the middle school girls at church. They began dating and so began a romance that would be tested with distance and time. God saw to it to bring them together and He saw to it to grow them together despite the Gulf of Mexico standing between them. They went through an entire year without seeing one another in order to save up for the visa paperwork and wedding. The day we got to pick J up from the airport is one that will always be sealed on my heart. I am so proud of them and happy for them.

My husband and I, along with friends and family worked all weekend to make their wedding a true celebration of their love for one another and our love for them. It was worth all the sweat, tears, and lack of sleep and I would do it all over again in a second. In the process of the last several weeks I have learned that I could be a wedding planner, make-up artist, florist, etc. and that I have THEE BEST family (including my sweet in-laws) and friends a girl could ask for. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from my little sister's wedding day!

Isn't it just gorgeous!?

Two of the lovely bridesmaids. An honorary sister and the youngest sister all dolled up. I love these girls!

I was so proud of both of my sisters that day. K married a great guy and didn't settle or compromise. And as the maid of honor, S did such a fantastic job reading the verses during the ceremony and giving a toast during the reception. She has grown into such a lovely young lady. She is beautiful from the inside out. She and her best friend, our honorary sister, did some serious prep work with me and they gave up an entire Saturday and Sunday which is usually devoted to homework to make the wedding an event for our family to remember. You girls rock! For real!

Our mom made the cake!

Such a sweet moment. So glad my husband snapped it.

K and J, I am honored to have had the privilege of helping you coordinate your wedding day. You are so dear to me. I love you two lovebirds and I am so happy for you!

my favorite baby girl and little man: part two

After many months of anticipation, excitement, and prayer, Lucas Peter was born at 7:56am on Monday March 14, 2011, weighing in at 9 pounds even and 20.5 inches long.

His mom is a trooper and a rockstar. After bringing him into this world she and Lucas' proud daddy welcomed both of their extended families into the hospital room so we could love on them and their sweet son.

I did one of the things I do best and gave him his birthday present and promptly read him my favorite parts. (I start this out young so that throughout the years they come to know and expect a book for each gift giving occasion. His aunt is an avid reader and teacher. Would you expect any different?)

Uncle Andrew and Aunt Sha-Sha did their part in keeping this Cutie Pie entertained while the family did their part in visiting and fawning over Lucas.

Big sister practiced her taking-care-of-my-little-brother skills.

And she drew a few pictures.

Lucas and his big sister got to know each other a bit more.

The rest of these pictures need no explanations. I have a nephew! And I love love love him!

my favorite baby girl and little man: part one

On Friday morning we got up bright and early to go see this little one. I adore her. She is the smartest, most charming 18 month old on the planet and I can assure you that just because she calls me Aunt Sha-Sha does not mean I am one bit biased. ;)

We spent some time with my sister-in-law and her family just before they welcomed their first son into the world. We had a great time! She and I did a little shopping and got our nails done while the boys watched the Cutie Pie. It was great spending time alone, just us girls, and I was reminded again of how grateful I am that she really is one of my best friends and is like a real sister to me. It makes family time that more special and downright fun!

While we hung around this weekend in anticipation of Little Man's arrival we did quite a bit of playing.

Learning and teaching letters; now that's some exciting stuff!

We already share a love for reading. This makes Aunt Sha-Sha proud!

"I'm gonna get you" - one of their favorite games. (I wish I could bottle the laughter it creates.)

We leave the rough housing to the boys. Stickers are more Aunt Sha-Sha's thing.

Experiencing the playground through the eyes of a toddler. Her imagination and enthusiasm are precious.

Over the weekend there was a lot of practicing for Little Man. She took care of her baby doll so sweetly and gently. It was darling to watch her. She is going to be such a great big sister!

dates and decor and dresses

Last weekend seems like SO long ago already! Anyhow, last weekend Andrew and I went on another date. We went to our favorite burger joint. (Boring in the sense that it's a chain and you could go to a thousand other blogs in the blogosphere and find out about cooler, hip one-of-a-kind burger joints, but nonetheless awesome and true -- Five Guys knows how to make a burger.)

And right next door is one of the greatest cupcake establishments to hit a shopping center in these days of cupcake trendery -- Misha's Cupcakes. SO GOOD!!!

And then I stepped foot inside a Home Goods store for the first time in my life and I will never be the same again. It.was.awesome. I wanted to spend oh so much money, but instead I spent 15 buckaroos on this fantastic shadow box frame. I've been wanting one for wedding mementos, but never found one that had quite the right look and size. Then voila. There it was on a shelf all by its lonesome at Home Goods. Andrew and I came home, got down our wedding stuff, and within 20 minutes this baby was hanging above my vanity/desk in our room. It makes me really happy. I've stopped and stared at it a lot this week. I've had to factor it into my getting-ready-for-the-day time so that I don't run late. Our sweet pastor from Tampa who married us sent us his sermon notes for our ceremony. I placed a page of his notes along with the program front and interior page, and a picture I found in a box of extras from the photographer.

After we hung my new favorite piece of decor on the wall, we sat down to watch a movie (and all of the special features on the BluRay, which were so interesting) and eat our cupcakes. It was a great night. I've been wanting to blog about that everyday since, but have not had the chance to do so!

On a completely different note: You should go check out this blog that I recently discovered for 2 reasons...one, it's cute and I like it and you might also. And two, she's giving away an awesome dress from the Shabby Apple and it could be yours or mine!

On another completely different note: This weekend my hubby and I are visiting friends and family. And we will be welcoming our first nephew into the world and I am STOKED!!! Isn't it crazy how much love we can muster up for a sweet, little baby we haven't had the privilege of meeting yet!? I cannot wait to hold him, and to spend some quality time with his big sister and mama. His dad is pretty great, too.

The Laundry beckons and I must go attend to it. (The scary part is that there is more in the hamper AND the washer AND the dryer.) My motto: The sign of a happy social calendar and fulfilled life is a large laundry pile.