Hummus = Yummus!

Didn't you know? And it tastes WAY better if you wear it too. You know, using all of your senses ;)


















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Growing Up

Despite the title, this post is not about Weston … but me and my growing pains.  No pretty pictures this time, just some real life (and some helpful links).

I am many things, but disciplined is not one of them.  This is a problem.  It is my form of rebellion.  Its obviously stubborn, but really born of weakness.  It's my Achilles heal.  But it's a problem mainly because it keeps me from the true desires of my heart.

And I am tired of it. 

But I think that's the best place I can be.

This year has been full of much faithfulness from my God.  This shouldn't be surprising to me, but my doubt and self-focus seem to attack my memory.  Even though my favorite verse is Hebrews 10:23 – "For He who promised is faithful" – I still seem to forget, or at least don't allow it to permeate my thinking.  It's my favorite because God has shown this to be true so many times in my life.  So many.  I keep waiting for it to really stick and praying that it does so that it becomes a part of who I am.  That I would be someone who lives a life full of faith … one where it is obvious that I whole-heartedly believe His promises.  Someone truly changed.

Despite the frustration and embarrassment I feel for being in this boat again because of my pride and unwillingness to fully rely on God, I have hope.  He is overwhelming me with truth.  And most of the time it hurts, but more importantly, it is freeing.  I have been reminded that He is ever-present and eternally faithful.  The 53 days of 2011 have been FULL of help, delivering the same message everywhere I turn for each area of my life.  I wanted to share some of the vehicles He is using (and how He is using them) to bring His truth to light about my need for discipline and growth.  I'm praying that at least one of these will be encouraging to at least one person reading this!

• No Other Gods, by Kelly Minter.  I bought this Bible Study for myself about 2 years ago and got about 4 days into it.  Lack of discipline rears its ugly head.  It was exactly what I needed to hear then, I just didn't make the time for it.  So I picked it back up in January while we were in Tallahassee and it is exactly what I need to hear right now, too! (Same lesson, 72nd verse …)  Its about modern day idols … not the golden calf assortment of the Old Testament (although those are no good either), but the kind that creep ever so stealthily into your life.  Some of them being things that aren't inherently bad in and of themselves, but the amount of importance you give them in your life become DANGEROUS.  We believe so many lies and it takes us out of the game.  We have so many more functional gods that come before our one true God.  It's been so good for me.  So good.  I would absolutely recommend it to any modern day ladies out there.  And it's got some fun recipes in there too.  Oh, and I just realized she has a blog too.  Subscribed :)
• Living Together … On Purpose, sermon by Dr. Matt Cassidy, Grace Covenant Church.  I love our church.  So much truth is taught there.  Our pastor started out the year with a 4-week series called Living Together.  Its so good … so practical … so truthful.  This sermon, in particular, (you can click the link to listen or download the text) has really helped me.  He talked about intentionality and how you can have effective change in your life and used the Vision–Intention–Method teachings of Dallas Willard, a professor at USC.  You really should listen to it, but the two parts that struck me most were that you have to have intention or be resolved about making change … meaning that you are willing to do whatever it takes to get to your vision.  That's whats been missing for me.  I've known my short-comings and need for change, but never been resolved to do my part in the changing.  The other was that so often we focus so much on the method (the hard work part) that we lose sight of the vision and everything becomes drudgery.  Good stuff.  The whole series.  Did I mention you can listen to it online? ;) You can also subscribe to the podcast.  Its all free!
• Organized Simpicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living, by Tsh Oxenreider.  The Author of this book grew up at our church and while I have not had the chance to meet her, I  know her parents and several good friends and have read her blog, Simple Mom … she is great, just like her people I know.  So grounded and practical and full of simple, creative, helpful ideas for everyday life.  It's no secret to those of you that know me well that I am still navigating the waters of being a stay at home mom and house manager.  We'll just be nice and say it isn't naturally my strong suit.  But I love that this is my life and desire to improve and be an encourager, helper and peace-bringer to my family.  And I love our house, but maintaining it, well … its hit or miss at best.  Tim actually picked the book up first when it arrived and was practically devouring it!  We've both read it and found it to be so helpful and motivating!  The focus of the book is the material stuff in our lives and how to keep it under control so that we can live the lives we desire and not end up being bogged down by our things.  So simple, but profound. The first half of the book has chapters explaining some of her theories about different topics like finances, etc. and the second half is all actual exercises you can follow including a 10-day de-cluttering of every room in your house.  Sign us up!  We have gotten started and while the work isn't fun, the results are glorious!  She also has great worksheets in the back to help you organize different parts of your life.  We will be photocopying some of these and using them.  Why reinvent the wheel?  I'm so grateful for this gem.  As much as I love figuring things out on my own … this book is going to save me (and my family) probably years of bumbling.  
• The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom.  I have borrowed several books from my friend and neighbor Becca this year.  Last time, she suggested I read this book, her favorite.  Man, am I glad she did.  Many people have read it, but this was my first.  It is about Corrie Ten Boom and her and her families experiences in WWII.  They were part of the Underground that helped protect the Jews and they themselves, while not Jewish, were punished for their work and suffered greatly.  Corrie and a few other family members survived.  I was totally shocked by this book for many reasons.  Most obviously, just reading of the evil that ruled during that time and all the incredible suffering that took place.  Its just unfathomable to me that that actually happened.  Truly unbelievable.  But what was most striking to me, was the perseverance of the people.  Especially Corrie and her sister Betsy.  The way that they prayed and thought and served and fully relied on God during the hardest of times is also unbelievable.  And challenging.  It put so much in perspective for me.  And then at the end of the book, it all came together to me that they were in their late fifties when all of this began.  And she did more than a lifetime's worth of good during the war and after.  I often feel sorry for myself (and I know I'm not alone in this, we are all so good at it) and really I have so much to be grateful for.  My life isn't perfect, no one's is … but wow … how many days have I squandered with pity parties?  I have so many loved ones, a roof over my head, food to eat, money to spend, clothes to wear, a car to drive, freedom of speech … but above all, we have a perfect, loving, gracious God who calls us His treasured possession!  Thank you, Becca, for introducing me to Corrie.  I will not soon forget her.
• Lastly, the Medifast diet.  Our friends, the Mayens, introduced us to this diet and Tim and I have been on it for about 4 weeks now.  It is hard.  I love food. All the food that isn't good for you.  This is one of the areas where I really struggle with discipline.  I've "tried" eating better and exercising … but I was never resolved to make the change.  I needed to go drastic.  And it is hard. (Oops, I already said that!)  But it's working.  And I'm doing it (with only a few rewards here and there) and its hard ;) but totally possible.  Besides losing weight, the biggest benefit from doing this has been to show my(immature)self that much is possible.  When I try to convince myself that I'm starving, I remember being so sick while pregnant with Weston and then I remember Corrie … and then I remember I'm not.  And Tim lovingly reminds me that we are the ones that got ourselves here in the first place … and it makes us not want to make that mistake again.  It's also been a reminder that we are stronger together … I'm not sure we would have lasted so long trying to do this individually and without the support and encouragement of Denise & Yobany who have gone before us.  We're going to go a couple more weeks and then we'll be easing back into real food and praying we remember the lessons we've learned.

He is indeed faithful!

Again Daddy!

I was lucky enough to witness this game on Sunday at home. Our little guy is learning new ways to express his feelings all the time. This is my new favorite. Absolutely melts my heart.

He's also kind of a daredevil ;)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Behind the Scenes of the Big Little Man Party

The preparations and decorations were so much fun themselves, I think they warrant their own blog post for those who are interested in this sort of thing.  Plus,  I didn't want to over shadow the joy of celebrating Weston's birthday with all the details of the decorations.  We got the inspiration for the party theme from our friend Kim who saw the idea here on the HWTM blog before Weston was even born ;)

 

DRESSING THE PART

I found Weston's adorable tie T-shirt here on Etsy. I mean, seriously, is he cute or what?  He thinks so ;)  Tim and I had to get in on the action too with Tim sporting his own tie over his T-shirt and an argyle sweater for me. I wanted these Trumpette argyle socks for Weston, but we just couldn't justify the $$ for socks that most people would never even see. It is so easy to go overboard. But aren't they just adorable?!?!

DECOR & MORE 

I made a pennant birthday banner out of some beautiful paper given to me by my lovely friend Ofelia at one of my baby showers and hand-wrote the letters with a Sharpie on scrap card stock I had.  I used the scraps to make some bow-ties to hang from the ceiling with fishing line over our bar.  It was crazy how perfectly the paper worked out … there were 19 pieces of paper … the exact number in Happy Birthday Weston … and after making the bowties, I threw away only teensy scraps.  Talk about resourceful!  That was my goal for decorating … I think I only bought the paper plates, napkins, cups and party hats … the rest we just used stuff we already had. We pulled out Tim's ties the morning of the party and put my sister Kendall to work hanging them all over the house … over the curtains, on the plate rack, even the wreath on the front door.  The night before the party, both grandmas helped pull together our picture displays using pictures of W throughout his first year and attaching them to wooden kabob skewers and standing them up in styrofoam blocks covered in a paper tablecloth from IKEA.  And the picture in the bottom right corner is of the little birthday music box that was Tim's growing up … so special!  We also had a slideshow of pictures from Weston's first year playing on our TV throughout the party.

SWEET 'STACHE

One of my favorite parts of the decor were the cupcake toppers!  I found a mustache template online, shrunk it down and then cut out different shaped mustaches from black, brown and gray paper and attached them to toothpicks!  They were such fun!  We used decorations that we already have from around the house for the cupcake display … the silver W is normally in his room and the K in our living room.  The Weston Scott sign is from Danielson Designs and is the reason I fell in love with them and am now selling products for their new company, Rendi.  

I also made the cupcakes from scratch, for the first time.  Note to self … don't make things from scratch for the first time for a big event.  They were alright, I guess, but I seriously overcooked them (kept waiting for the tops to brown like boxed cupcakes … and they didn't) so while they tasted fine, they were the consistency of cornbread.  Sorry everyone!  But the food was delicious!  We had beef tacos that my sister Michelle made for us for the first time on Thanksgiving '09 when Weston was just a day old and we packed our hospital room with friends and family to watch the Aggies play t.u.  I honestly don't remember who even won, but that memory is a winner in my book for sure!  I thought they were the perfect meal of choice to celebrate the special day!  And easy enough to eat without a table and utensils.  There was also a baby snack bar with cut up strawberries, cheese, peas, corn, turkey and cheerios.

INVITATIONS

Believe it or not, I didn't make the invitations for Weston's birthday.  I LOVE MAKING INVITATIONS!  But, it took us forever to figure out how to make it all work with Thanksgiving and such that we just ran out of time.  BUT … I found a new website that I am absolutely in love with … www.pingg.com … not only is it FREE, but the designs are SO beautiful!  And you can send reminders and thank yous. It's like evite, but I love pingg WAY more.

I chose this argyle design that featured this adorable picture taken of Weston (at 9 months in August) by the ever talented Sarah of Fish Lips Photography.

Who could say no to this face?

Weston's 1st Birthday!

Well, Weston has been one now for almost 3 months and I am just now getting around to blogging about it!  The fall was nuts … so very fun, but completely nuts … and then the holidays and getting our act together to start a new year … oh well, better late than never continues to be my motto! 

**NOTE: I am now obsessed with making collages in Picasa and have spent entirely too long working on the ones in this post … but it was so fun!  If you are reading this in an email or blog reader, you might want to actually visit the blog so you can see the larger sized pictures and be able to see some of the smaller ones included in the collage.  And it would make me happy, so yeah, do it!

His birthday fell on Thanksgiving day this year and while we had a special birthday breakfast for him that morning, his Big Little Man birthday party wasn't until the Saturday after.  Even though it was a holiday weekend, we had a full house of family and friends!  It was such a special time for all of us with so much to celebrate!


Weston's birthday was so much more of a milestone for me this year than any other birthday celebration ever.  It was kind of a big deal.  More so than I even realized until it was here.  Like, huge.  Expectations out the wazoo. I was just overwhelmed with so many emotions … thankful for surviving all that pregnancy and motherhood demand … full of anticipation for the many milestones in our future … sobered by what a responsibility and privilege it is to raise a precious child … eternally grateful for this new love and all the sweet time we have spent getting to know each other … more than a little scared by how quickly the time passes and how impossible it is to capture each moment … I just couldn't believe it had already been a year since our days in the hospital and that he was already one year old. And then at the same time, its hard for Tim & I to remember what life was like before this sweet little man became part of our family.  Our hearts are so full!

We took a few minutes before cupcake eating commenced to share some of our favorite things about Weston and pray for him.  There are so many things we love about him, but the ones Tim and I chose to share were his:

• His loving nature despite being all boy.  He is such a sweetheart and the best cuddle bug anywhere!
• He is a people person and has never met a stranger.  He even initiates "conversations" with people at the store and enjoys showing off his tricks (like clapping and waving). Quite the performer.  
• He also already has a good sense of humor.  He loves to make people laugh.  He already starts tickling and tackling games … so watch out if you are sitting or kneeling on the floor ;)
• He is determined.  We have seen this from so early on.  When he sets his mind to something, he'll figure out a way to do it or practice until he gets it.  Especially with physical skills like walking or climbing on things.  Seriously relentless.  We pray that this trait will help him persevere all that life will bring his way.

He seemed to like the cupcake, especially the icing and the accompanying ice cream.  My favorite part of the whole cupcake eating part of the party was singing happy birthday to him.  He totally knew it was being sung for him and he just soaked up the spotlight ;) He makes me laugh!

Weston wasn't the only one having fun with the "manly" cupcakes :)

(And yes, Anna looks that beautiful all the time … even with facial hair!  Weston just wanted to eat his.  George was rockin' the double 'stach. And that melt-your-heart-with-his-eyes-cutie-patootie in the bottom right corner would be my adorable nephew Jackson … I mean, is he too much or what?!?!)

The cutest little party guests!!  Clockwise from top left: Contessa, Braden, Anjali, Madigan, Caroline & Caden.



If these next three pictures don't tug at your heartstrings … then I don't know what will.  So. Precious!  We have such beautiful, loving friends.


More hanging out and baby love! (Isn't Anjali's outfit so cute?!? I did a little iron-on magic on her shirt and hoodie for her baby shower last April and actually teared up when she showed up wearing them!  Thanks for being so thoughtful Kim!)



And even more baby love!  You can never have too much.  Just look at those little faces!


Boys will be boys and hang together ;)


Speaking of men, did I mention how cute, adorable, and handsome our nephew Jackson is?  If you are like me, the single picture with the mustache is just not enough … talk about a knock-out!  (And he was a baby like yesterday … so this whole big kid thing still wigs me out.)


This little boy will surely never be that big.  He will always be little.  And find everyday objects like boxes and ribbon completely and utterly entertaining.  And make millions of hilarious faces in seconds. Right?


And now to admit that while I have spent hours in Picasa editing and making collages (obsessed), I did not take ANY of these photographs!  Such a gift to be able to just enjoy the party :)  Many thanks to our lovely, talented and hilarious photographers (from L-R): my not-so-little-anymore-sister Kendall and the unstoppable duo of TPalm and kmac.  (I bet you are coming up with your very own name right now! Maybe we should all moonlight as deejays … who's in? DJ DaniK is.)


Seriously, you are all so wonderful and talented!  As evidenced not only by the beautiful photos above, but the sheer magic of the photo below.
I mean, this picture of our backyard (which has not been edited at all!) looks like it belongs in a magazine.  And if you've ever been in our backyard … you will agree that the only explanation for this photo is magic ;)

Didn't get enough? Check out Heidii's blog post about Weston's party here.

Celebrate Good Times!

**I wrote this post back in mid-December and wasn't going to post it (too many words, no pics), but I'm trying to get pictures from most of these events organized and put up on the blog … so for those who are interested (and for my failing memory), here is a flashback to our fabulous frantic fall.

That's exactly what we've been doing around here!  The fall is such a fun time in our family … everyone in our immediate family (except our nephew Jackson, he's special!) has a birthday in the fall. All of those with all the fun holidays makes for a super fun but super busy time of year!  Sorry, in advance that this post has no pictures :( …

In the past six weeks, we have:

• Hosted our small group for Halloween … we camped out in the garage with kebabs and handed out candy … so fun!  And we had three adorable babies in costume … can someone say, photo op?
• Celebrated my birthday (Nov 7) … despite our thwarted plans of going to the first annual Gypsy Picnic (it was way crowded, glad we heard about it before trying it) … we had a great day together!
• Celebrated Weston's first birthday Thanksgiving morning with Country Crunch Pancakes with Granna & Grandpa Kuykendall and Nana & Aunt Kendall Lindsey
• Later that night we hosted Thanksgiving for our family and friends, 22 in total.  It was the 4th Annual Mayendall Thanksgiving … check out the Casa de Mayen blog for pictures and a hilarious video at the end with the kids on the couch!  I highly recommend Thanksgiving with a big group … it is always a blast and doing the meal potluck style means that no one is overly stressed out! Definitely some of my favorite memories!! Oh … and WHOOP!  Way to go Ags :)  What an excellent first birthday present ... a W for W!
• On Saturday, we had Weston's big little man birthday party!  It was so fun :) It was a tricky weekend but we still had many family and friends who were able to celebrate with us!  Our friend Heidii blogged about it here ... thank you!!!!  I don't have all the pictures yet, but I'll try to post more later.  Such a fun day!
• That Sunday, we headed to church to see two of our favorite girls, Contessa and Anjali, dedicated!
• Then that afternoon, we headed to Texarkana with Nana and Kendall.  Thank you SO MUCH for driving mom!
• Then on Monday night, our wonderful friends the McGary's (who now live in Nashville but came to Austin to celebrate with us over the week) stayed the night in Texarkana on their way home.  It was such a treat to have a wonderful in-person, hours-long, late night chat with these amazing friends.  We miss you everyday.
• Wednesday, I played photographer for Kendall and her BFF downtown. SUCCESS!
• Thursday, I had a fever, went to the doc (upper respiratory infection), got a shot and slept alot. Ick.  So grateful to have so many helping hands around for Weston!
• On Friday (Dec 3), we celebrated Tim's birthday with his parents at Zapatas in Texarkana. Yum-O!  
• Then on Saturday, we had my sister Kendall's 16th birthday with her best friend!  The theme was boots & bling sweet 16!  Oh my … I will definitely be writing more about this later! :)
• And finally, on Dec 7, Kendall actually turned 16 and got her license the next morning!  I. Can't. Believe. It.  She and Libby (Lady Liberty, her new-to-her Jeep Liberty) are thrilled to be cruising the streets of T-town!
• Wednesday, Weston and I made the trek all the way home!  It only took us 8 hours (should be 6 sans baby) and he was a trooper!  Many thanks to the borrowed DVD player that helped us through Dallas traffic and the last leg.

And now I'm looking at the calendar and realizing that my older sister's birthday is in 10 days, Christmas is in 15, my best friend's is in 17 … and then in 21 days, 2010 will be over.  I am pretty sure I say this daily these days … but where is the time going??

I wanted to do Christmas cards this year … but I'm realizing that that just might not be feasible :( … or maybe they'll be New Years cards ;) … **Believe it or not, I got motivated actually got these out!

I've had so much fun planning and hosting and celebrating special moments with so many family and friends!  Even though its been exhausting, I wouldn't mind reliving these past 6 weeks over again … but hey, that's what pictures and memories are for, right?  And besides, CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!!