For the Love of Fall

Every year I try to enjoy fall to the fullest. My favorite things in the world are all wrapped up in the coziness of fall - family traditions, crisp weather with golden yellow sunsets, pumpkin candles burning, fried apple pies, and the feeling that the best of the year is yet to come, with Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner.

Continuing our family traditions is something we love. We hope one day our kids will say "every year our parents dragged us to the pumpkin patch" and of course, they'll sigh and talk about how annoying we were, but one day they'll be older and they'll see a sign to a pumpkin patch and they'll get that little grip on their heart and they'll remember these moments that we spent as a family. That's love and I want to create as much love for Devon and Dean that I can! I hope their childhood will be remembered as magical and with as much fondness as I remember mine. Right now I'm lucky, because they are as excited to go to the pumpkin patch as I am. In fact, Devon has pretty much asked me every day since September when we are going? So, it was time for our annual trek and this year, we headed somewhere new to Berry Patch Farms in Woodstock, GA.

This was a cute little family farm and lots of spots for some great fall photos.





















































P.S. I totally have "mom's regret" about not being in a single picture... Why oh why is the photographer always the one who looks like they weren't even there??? So, imagine me, looking like a J. Crew ad with my layered sweater and perfectly pushed up sleeves and a cute flannel shirt, with my faded skinny jeans tucked into tan suede slouchy boots with my gold watch and my hair blowing and lit by the golden rays of the sun. Yep, use your imagination cause that's not what I looked like AT ALL. :)

Capturing the Moment

So many stories...so little time.

I've got blog photos and stories that I could write. Endless hours of things we've done and friends we've seen. But, life is busy and time passes by and before I could even take a breath, the summer is over and school has begun again. Hopefully there will be time to post all these stories before I blink and Christmas is here!

But, in the few minutes I had today, I wanted to spend a few minutes with the boys trying to capture them right now...in this moment. I love a beautifully posed picture and I'll always have that, but Courtney inspired me this week with her new photo skills to try and capture another side.

So, today on our labor day...I tried to capture Devon and Dean, in this moment. Not all posed, but what makes me think of them and love them for who they are. There are a million reasons I love them to pieces, but here are a few:

For his serious swagger...


For his melting smile and Cassanova ways...


The ways he makes me laugh...


For his easy going self...


For his curiousity...


For his wild laughter...


For having the most incredible Ringo Starr hair ever...


For being brothers...for being everything to me.

Little Man Christian - A Baby Shower

Annie is one of my sweetest friends and one of the rare people that loves my kids like her own. That puts her in the inner circle! I was so excited when I found out she was expecting #2 and that it was going to be a boy. I wanted to throw her baby shower and when I was wracking my brain to come up with a theme, I thought what would be better than a "Little Man" theme for the newest little man about to steal Annie's heart...baby Christian!

I started searching the web for ideas and found out there is a wealth of party ideas out there. I took the best of the best and put together a list of ideas to bring my party to life. I knew I wanted the color scheme to be brown, navy and olive green. I wanted lots of mustaches, bowties, ties, and fedoras. I wanted great food and a fun game. In the end, it came together better than I expected.



This was such a fun theme and the best part was that I could make almost all the decorations with scissors and a sharpie!


The signature drink was a kiwi caipirinha. The cocktail napkins said "Get your Mustache On!" and they came from World Market.




I got paper cups and added my sharpie touch...mustaches, ties and bowties and then the fun black and white paper straws for some flair.

I looked for any "manly" antiques around my house and found I had lots of fun stuff...a 1930's antique car, a vintage silver trophy, a wooden champagne box, vintage liquor bottles for vases, antique cameras and other odds and ends that added to the décor! Add some butcher paper and some sharpie art, and you have some cool table settings!









One of my favorite parts was coming up with my "man menu" and the menu titles! Good things all our friends have a sense of humor!









A selection of "beers" for cheers at this man party... root beer and cream sodas in glass bottles.



Annie's family photo... lots of ladies, ready to welcome their newest little man!





Abigail got the boys to play London Bridge with her!







Annie and I...



Noune gives the best squeezes to Dean!







We had a huge turnout and ended up with about 30 people at this shower. For the first time EVER, my food table looked sad and empty after the shower was over!



For the one shower game, we played "Be a Gentleman!" - see which lady could tie a proper tie and look the best in her mustache, to the tune of "Suit and Tie" by Justin Timberlake blaring on the speakers! It was hilarious!!







Cam has the best poses!!



No one rocks a 'stache like India!







The winner's circle...two ladies that KNOW how to tie and tie! Jen and Angel!!









Gina had a little "baby crush" on Dean... so cute!



Congratulations Annie! You're an amazing friend and I'm so thankful to have you in my life!!