It's been a while....

My goodness! It has sure been a while since I last logged onto my blog.  For some reason, lately I have been contemplating getting back into blogging. For some reason, tonight I had a urge. The urge to pick up the computer and start typing.  I feel like so much has happened since the last time I wrote to you all.  I guess I have a lot of catching up to do.

I was trying to remember why I stopped blogging. It was right around Christmastime, last year. Blogging had become a chore. I didn't like that. I blogged mostly because I saw it as a way to document my life with my family and as an outlet for all of my thoughts. So, while on vacation I convinced myself to really try to relax, be with my family, and truly forget about all of my obligations.  I let go and well.....didn't really ever come back. Until now.

Why? Well...I feel like I have been through a lot the past year.  Some good. Some not so good.  I always want to share the good and happy things in my life. No question. The good is easy to share. The not so good, is a lot harder to share, but I feel that I am ready. A few of the things that I went through were hard for me.  I felt alone, and like I didn't have many people who would understand my situations.  This is one of the reasons I had such a strong urge to start blogging again. I want people who are in the midst of similar difficult experiences, to know that they are not alone. There are others faced with similar situations, and that it is hard.  Being a mom is hard.  It is tiring.  And it is ok to admit it.  Don't get me wrong, there are so many wonderful moments during this long and windy road, called Motherhood.  That is what makes getting through the hard stuff easier. I don't want to keep secrets anymore though.  I can't promise I will bear all, all the time, but I do feel like it is good for me to get some things off my chest.  If I can help a few people in the process, even better.

So, if you want to continue on my journey with me- pull up a seat, grab a snack, and a hot cup of tea.  I'm back for a few of the same reasons as when I started blogging. I still want to document life's big {and not so big} moments. I also still see it as a way to unleash all of my thoughts that swim around in my head all day.  But this time around, I will blog to be support for others. I hope that you can take away something from my stories. Not all of you will understand, but I ask you kindly not to judge.

Stay tuned for stories from the past year. Thanks for listening. Feels good to be back :)

Pinspired: Quotes For Our Family Photo Wall

In my previous post, I wrote about how I am adding quotes to our family picture wall.  Here are a few more quote prints I created within the last few days.  I was browsing through Pinterest for inspiration, and this is what I came up with:

Originally found, here, I love this quote

This was a bible verse that was read at our wedding. What a wonderful reminder to us of how we should approach our marriage. 

Originally found, here. Simple way of describing our journey through life. LOVE.

Do any of you have any favorite quotes about family, love or dreams?  If you do, do you mind sharing them with me?  I am always looking for good quotes with lots of meaning and wonderful ring to them.

Happy Sunday, Friends.  Enjoy your time with you families.

Friday Fun Day

We both love our Friday Fundays!

I love it when Friday rolls around...I am off on Fridays...which means more time with my baby boy.

Here is a Typical Friday Fun Day:
6:00am-6:30am: Preston wakes me up with his precious babbling. He has his morning bottle and then head to Starbucks to get coffee for Daddy.
7:00am: We arrive home and wake Daddy up with coffee and hugs. We all snuggle in bed and enjoy each others company.
7:30am: We head downstairs. Preston plays while we get breakfast going, feed the animals, make lunch, etc.
8:00am: Daddy typically leaves around this time.  Preston and I play and have fun together. We do tummy time (we are currently working on crawling...it is imminent), play with all of his fun toys, read books, laugh & giggle.  It is so much fun to have one-on-one time, as well as his undivided attention. I look forward to this so much.
8:30-8:45am: Preston eats breakfast.
9:00am: Finally change Preston out of his PJ's and he has a bottle, we read a few more books and then he goes down for his morning nap.
10:30-11am: Preston typically wakes up & we head out to go to lunch with friends, play dates, shopping...whatever is on the Friday Fun Day Agenda.
1:30-2:00pm: We arrive home and Preston goes down for his afternoon nap. ( He eats lunch in between all of this). This is the time where Mama gets all of her house chores done. If I am lucky I get a moment to sneak on to Facebook or Pinterest...my guilty pleasures ;)
3-4pm: Preston wakes up.  We sometimes go for a walk or run around this time or we wait for Daddy to get home and we go to an early family dinner at one of our favorite restaurants.  We try to go out to dinner once a week as a family. I love this tradition and think it is good for Preston to learn how to sit at the table and eventually learn good table manners.
6:00pm: We usually get home around this time.  We get Preston into the bath (he LOVES his bath time), get his PJ's on, read him stories, give him his bedtime bottle, and then he goes "ni-nights".
7:00pm: Daddy & Mama sit down and usually enjoy a glass of wine together, while our sweet boy sleeps.

He lights up my life

Being silly ;)

I love Fridays...not much more to say than that!

Jake's Birthday

Birthday Boy with his golf cake, stogie & Newcastle (A few of his favorite things) 

Last Saturday, I threw my Hubby a birthday party.  

I thought it would be fun to make some of his favorite foods. I was so busy cooking and baking, and making sure everyone was enjoying themselves, that I didn't get a chance to take any of pictures of the food, but here is a list of the foods I made:

-Sliders

-Frech Fries

-Southwestern Egg Rolls

-BBQ Chicken Pizza

-Mini Wedge Salads

-Corona & Blue Moon Cupcakes

-Funfetti Cake Batter Dip w/ animal crackers & pretzels

The one thing I did manage to get a picture of was his cake

We had about 25 friends and family over to eat, drink & be merry.  Here are some of the few pictures we got of our fun night:

Jake having some fun with his Cousin Ali & Aunt Steph 

Our friends Chris & Kyle & sweet baby Kennedy. She is one of the happiest babies I know!

Book Club Girls! Lindsay, Jaime & Adria.

Some of the gang posing for the camera.

Jake likes to celebrate with cigars, so I thought it would be fun to set up a cigar bar outside.  Jake, BY, Brian and Chrissy enjoying the crisp beautiful night.

Stacy, Adria & I.  These girls are some of the best friends I could ask for.  They make motherhood fun & memorable.

Hopefully, next time I through a party, I will remember to take more pictures. I hate not documenting all of my hard work and the fun we have with friends.  No matter what, though, Jake had a great time ringing in his 29th year of life.  Next year he will be the big, three-oh.  That will have to be an even better party! I have my work but out for me!

Happy Thursday, Friends. One day closer to Fabulous Friday.  

XOXO ~ Jamee

Our Week in Pictures

What a fun week we had! 

We found these Marracas in the dollar section at Target...what a find! Preston loves them.
When I first gave them to him, he checked them out...

Put them in his mouth to decide if he liked them or not.... 

And continued to enjoy them by shaking them non-stop!!

Decided..."Yup!! They are winners!!"

We had a play date with Calia a few days ago & we played in their balls they had. Preston loved them so much, that we got him some of his own! He has a ball with them...no pun intended ;)

Preston has been experimenting with the idea of crawling. Notice the look of determination on his face...

He has been trying more and more each day to get up on his knees.  That is a lot of weight to carry around...he's not sure if he is ok with it ;)

Once he realizes this, he drops back down and inch worms to his desired destination.  In this instance, it was his box of books.

almost successful....

Saying good bye to Dada. Not only does this kid LOVE his Daddy, but he says, "Dada" non stop. I even told Jake on his birthday (Sunday), that he woke up singing Happy Birthday to him. I heard him go gagaga,...Dadadadada...gaga...Dadada. So cute :)

Jake's, "Man Bouquet", I made him for his B-day!

Auntie Ashy, Preston's (soon to be) Godmother, came into town to meet him!! They had a blast together! So Good to see you Ash!!

I threw Jake a birthday party....it was a ton of fun. Thank you friends,  for coming and making Jake's b-day special! 

Jake's birthday cake I made him.  Go here for the tutorial.

The Birthday Boy enjoying a stogie and a beer, while we sing Happy Birthday. 

We ended the week with Jake's Sister, Hayley, and her boys. Thanks for dinner guys!!

Happy Birthday, Jake! We love you!

Monday came way too quick....and I am exhausted....but all so worth it. Happy Monday, folks!

XOXO, Jamee

Mommy's Little Quarterback

I know...I know....it's been forever! But we are BACK!!

The last month and a half has been busy. Between travel, work, play dates, and home improvements, our days have been filled to the max!

I will be posting on each one of those topics in future posts, but for now, here are some pictures of my sweet 7 (well...7.5 month) quarterback.  Ever since the day he was born, weighing in at 8lbs 13oz & 20 inches, he has been a BIG boy.  He really is Mommy's Little Quarterback ;) I think he is the most precious little (well...not really little) boy in the world.  He makes me laugh and smile everyday.  I am not sure if he will ever know how much I really love do love him. I hope you enjoy the following pics as much as I do ;)

                                                           My Handsome Buga-loo

                                                                   Love his laughs

                                                     Already practicing throwing the ball!

                                                             

                                                        He can be so silly sometimes!

                                        We will leave you by keepin' it real...true Preston style!

Family Pictures

My sweet friend, Adria Ausmus is the best photographer in the Vegas Valley. I have proof.

A few weeks ago we all bundled up and went to a spot that Adria picked out in the middle of the desert for a photo shoot. The goal of the photo shoot was to get a cute Christmas Card picture and some unique and good quality pics of our sweet little boy. We were successful in both categories!! And no, the Christmas card picture we chose is not pictured....you have to wait for that one ;) We got some great pics, once again, Adria did not disappoint. Take a look:

Adria is an amazing photographer...and I'm not just saying that because she is my friend.  Not only is she one of the sweetest people I know, she is very talented. She is great for family portraits because she comes up with the most unique ideas.  She always uses us as her guinea pigs and I love it!! I leave all the ideas up to her and they always turn out great! She took our maternity pictures and Preston's newborn pictures, as well. She is great for newborn and children photography, too, because she is so gentle and patient with the little ones.  Check out her website and blog. If you like what you see it is definitely worth your time and money.  Pictures are forever....you can't ever go back in time and recapture memories.

Xoxo-Jamee