a day together

after working so hard this entire summer (more to come on my next project soon!), i decided to take a day for myself. a lot of mama's would choose a spa day or a day just to be doing something alone. trust me i crave those days too, but this time i wanted something different. i chose to pull nate out of summer school/camp for the day + take him to the perot museum. we met up with some friends we'd been missing all summer. while he's been having fun at school with friends + i have been able to get a lot of work done without him at home, i've been having working mom guilt. this was the perfect excuse to spend the day together without worrying about who i needed to call, what emails i needed to respond to, + my ever growing to do list. here is a little peek into our day together. sadly i didn't actually get a picture of the two of us, but i will always have the memories of that giggle filled day of discovery.

rockets were a huge success, our friend noah had to help launch.

nate just could not get that jump right. 

nathan's car he built beat the daily record + kept getting faster (final time 1.83).

we tried hard for the all time record, but it was a no go.

i am one lucky mama to be able to spend the day with this one. 

#foreverfink

we're engaged! we are beyond thrilled to share this amazing news!

back in march (geez its been a while since i have written) we went on a spring break trip to colorado + brian popped the question on the first night.

here's how it went down:

 nate woke up sick + throwing up, we decided we should go on our trip anyway, the last time nate got sick he was over it within a day. we traveled (just the 3 of us) all day to get to crested butte. our second flight was delayed so we didn't get in until about 11pm that night.

my happy place

driving up to crested butte from the airport in gunni. i began to cry, maybe i was exhausted, but i really think its because crested butte is my happy place. being there under a blanket of stars, snow shimmering from the headlights...i was home + i was happy. once we got to the house we got nathan cleaned up + in bed quickly. when i came downstairs brian had made a couple drinks for us + said we should celebrate being there on vacation. mama needed a drink so i had no suspicions or hesitations about what might be coming next. we decided to go outside on the deck so i could show brian the view (his first time to our house in colorado). i was looking up at the stars + then turned back to see brian down on one knee (in the snow might i add) with his mother's ring in hand. i honestly can't remember everything that was said, except for YES!

brian did an incredible job redesigning his mom's ring

it was the best proposal i could have ever asked for, that whole week i was a smiley, giddy, little girl. i am so grateful to be able to marry my best friend. i cannot wait to celebrate this love + spend the rest of our lives together as a family.

i love my family + can't wait to be a fink!

let the wedding planning begin...

// 52 //

last night when i put nathan to bed, picked up the kitchen + playroom, made lunches, then finally sat down i could not stop thinking about how fast time goes by. days to weeks + weeks to months. christmas felt like just yesterday or at least last week+ before you know it ill be wrapping up the school year. maybe its because we have to plan so far ahead in our fast paced world. i mean just yesterday i was being asked about what nate's doing this summer. ahh summer! i have so much to do! im so far behind! i wish i could just wear a sign at all times that states, "if you are going to talk about something two months ahead, you are causing me to slowly have meltdown inside...your choice."

i just want to take a breath + that's what my new series is about. taking a moment to be in the moment. i am challenging myself to take a picture of my family once a week. i know that sounds crazy, i post about a dozen plus pictures of nate a week, but i mean to take a photo of a moment when i am 100% in the moment. once i get home from work + after school activities i get so wrapped up in everything else that needs to be done. i am half playing legos with nathan + half cleaning, making lists, writing, lesson planning, life planning. these things can wait, these moments cannot. before i know it nathan will be four then five, six, seven, eight...then, well you know dating! i want to capture these moments with my little while he's still little. 

so here are the first moments of our year so far. enjoy a peek into our life with nate.

// 01 //

a date to chick-fil-a

// 02 //

playing with daddy at the park after a bike ride in the neighborhood

// 03 //

riding the tractor at the grocery store, that he begs to ride every time we go

// 04 //

running to jump into dad's arms after a day at our favorite museum

// 05 //

we made "ooblek" and played together for hours

// 06 //

snow! in dallas, we had to attempt to sled. 

five years

to the one i love fiercely. to the one who gave new beats in my heart. to the one who doesn't take my bull shit. to the one who loves me no matter what. to the one who takes care of me. to the one who stays up making me laugh when i can't sleep. to the one who thinks i'm sexy in dirty sweat pants. to the one that is my first true love. to the one who gave me my everything. to the one who stays up listening to music until the wee hours of the morning. to the one who makes me smile. to the one who is an amazing father. to the one i love. brian. thank you for the last five years. they have been amazing and i can't wait for a lifetime of years to come. you know my heart and you know my soul. i couldn't ask for more or want for more with you.

you are my love. you are my universe. happy five years baby. 

life around here

the lake might be the most relaxing place in the world. 

notes on nathan

growing up around kids - volunteering in the church nursery, babysitting, nannying, camps, + now teaching- three has always been my favorite age.

these days, i am at times heartbroken by age three.

i know the correct, polite thing to say is that nathan has really been testing my patience lately, but what i really want to say is, nathan has really been mean lately. and i am left feeling lost. which makes me feel really unprepared for the even more attitude filled days ahead. i realize that i have no clue how boys are growing up. i didn't understand boys as a little girl + i don't understand them as a mom either. nathan has been mr. attitude around here + the sweetest boy in the world at times. he is defiant to say the least.

this has truly been my first inner dilemma with nathan. the first time as a parent, where i find myself staying up all night upset + worrying. (besides of course when we were completely sleep deprived with a newborn- i cried a lot then.) i can tell it is driving brian crazy as well. i know he is worried + can't fix it immediately.

we are implementing new rules + approaching our parenting in different ways. so far things are looking up + i think we will all be better off because of this in the future. (hopefully near future)

brian has been amazing. the other night when i had just had it + broke down so upset with nate's behavior that day. brian went to talk to him + they both came out to talk to me. nathan gave me a big hug (sweet nathan), then said, "mommy, i am not sorry for my 'haviors' today"(attitude nathan). brian told him that isn't a nice thing to say + nathan replied with a laugh. i know he is young + doesn't quite understand apologies + all of his emotions yet, but man that kid can really hit you where it hurts. brian has been teaching me to not spoil him as much. we are also implementing a responsibility chart to teach nathan we have to be nice + work hard in order to get the rewards we want.

i love this little one with all my heart, but feel very unprepared for this age. i love that nathan has his own voice + opinions. i love watching his personality develop more + more, as well as his independence. i just hope the attitude is a phase we can get through quickly. i love you so much nathan + can't wait for the next challenge we will face together.

in the mean time i am working on making sure i am always the nicest i can be to those around me. in the car stuck in traffic or when i get cut off, i am trying not to react negatively. if someone is unusually rude or irritating, i will try my hardest not to say a word, just smile. my mom always taught me to kill them with kindness, i hope to teach nathan this one day. if brian + i are disagreeing, we will move past it quickly or wait until nathan is asleep to talk out our issue. nathan needs to only see love to understand + show his own love.

thank you for allowing me to ramble + vent a little with you today sweet friends. any helpful guidance + advice would be greatly appreciated. sharing your stories would also help us to not feel so alone in this. what has been your hardest age?

life around here

nathan you are a complete goof. always trying to get some laughs + succeeding. you crack mommy + daddy up. i love being able to spend everyday with you in the summer. it's a true test to a mom's patience, doing well so far. i love you goober. 

calling all superheros

my favorite from the day, photo booth fun

the inspiration was nathan. he told us he wanted a superhero party, so that's what we did. we asked him which superhero specifically + he said, "SUPER NATE!" with enthusiasm!  this helped us to decide that we would highlight each kiddo's inner superhero.

the invitations

favor bags/ gift table + superhero entrance

my mom made a sign like this every birthday...love carrying on this tradition

decorations were simple + easy. a blue + red color palette + the kids' capes highlighting the backyard party with bright, vibrant colors. everything was handmade, from the invitations + decorations to the photo booth + capes. 

each kiddo got a personalized cape

mask making station

yummy + healthy snacks

we made sure to have the party at 1pm so that we didn't have to feed everyone a true meal, we just offered a few yummy snacks + drinks 

nathan gearing up for his party

handmade photo booth props

nate + daddy having fun in the photo booth

superheros taking over the backyard

the lab's truck backing in was almost as exciting as what was inside

to entertain these superheros we hired, the lab @ lakewood/ play dallas. everyone (parents included) really seemed to enjoy building + creating with the oversized blocks. the lab @ lakewood is definitely one of our favorite local companies! (might have to talk to Melissa about doing a feature soon) 

nathan building away

it was a great day for everyone!

a special thank you to my sister + bryant for coming in town. my parents were out of town (in italy), so having my sister around to help was amazing! she took nathan that morning for a special birthday lunch, which gave brian + i time to set up + get ready, uninterrupted. thank you also to all of our friends who came to celebrate + stayed late to clean up + open presents together. we love you all!

tired + hot faces at the party

cookie time with the birthday boy

nathan is not a fan of cake, so cookies is the way we go for birthday parties. i called upon mama jud's cookies. she is the mom of an old friend/ co-worker + makes the most unbelievable cookies. they not only look exactly how i imagined, but they taste wonderful! if you are in the area + need decorative themed cookies, call mama jud.

nathan, 

it is so hard to believe you are already a three-year-old. we love watching you grow + watching your personality take shape. you are a very sweet boy. cautious in everything you do. you tell amazing, imaginative stories + are the funniest kid we know. you truly are our best friend. we love you big boy. we are so proud of who you are. always + forever, mommy + daddy