SlappyCakes

Fridays are my favorite day of the week by far! They are our family day, our only full day off together. Yes, it is tough only having one day off but Brett's other day off is his Daddy/Daughter day with Emersyn and that is really special. :) This is just a season of our life too....someday we will enjoy two days off. Right now, "for such a time is this..."

ANYWAYS......

Yesterday we had one of most fun family days that we have had in a long time! Often times Fridays end up being days to run errands, get together with friends, etc. But yesterday we had no plans. Those are the best kind of days in my opinion!!!

We slept in a little because we were up so late the night before, even Emersyn! Once we got up we all got ready to go and headed to SlappyCakes, a brand spankin' new breakfast joint over in SE Portland. Brett had heard about it from one of his residents at work. (He is a property manager) We love trying new places and going on little adventures so this was right up our alley. We had such a great time there!!! You could buy pancake batter and make the pancakes right at your own table!!

The food was really yummy. Brett and I each got our own buttermilk batter and split a classic breakfast of hashbrowns, eggs, bacon and toast. It was really fresh and natural tasting food and reasonably priced too!

Excited for breakfast! (Side note: got her turtleneck at Gymboree last summer for $2. SCORE! Got her tights at Gymboree too last week, ALSO $2. Skirt is hand-me-down from neighbor/friend. Total for her outfit=$4. Whoo hoo!)

Emersyn: "So are we just gonna sit her or are we gonna order??"

"Can I have one of those E pancakes?"

LOVE this orange booth, such a sassy color!!

Can't wait for more SlappyCake adventures in our future!!

Cathedral Park Pictures

You are my sunshine...

....my only sunshine....

You make happy....

....when skies are gray....

You'll never know Emersyn....

...how much you're mama loves you....(but I'm sure gonna try to show you!!)

Yesterday we took these pictures at Cathedral Park in downtown Portland. It is underneath the St John's bridge and it is just beautiful!!

*Happy sigh* I never get tired of taking or looking at pictures of my sweet little girl. Her daddy took most of these pictures, he really has a great eye, don't you think?

Happy Saturday!!

Baby Brother

My baby brother and I.....hee hee.

My brother and I are exactly 4 1/2 years apart, to the day. I remember when my mom was pregnant with him and I insisted that I only wanted a brother, not a sister. My wish came true. This age difference was...interesting...as we grew up. He was a pretty typical "little brother", always getting into my stuff, bugging me, etc. But under it all, I know that he very much looked up to me as his big sister and now, through long intense hours of therapy, I am able to forgive him for the little twerp that he was. (Just kidding....about the therapy...not about the forgiveness..or the twerp, ha!). I certainly wasn't perfect (don't even get my mother started...), but I was usually not the instigator of trouble in our relationship. Except for the time when I told him that we should find out what happens when you climb into the dryer and turn it on, with the door open of course. I will never forget his frail 6 year old body flying through the air in the dryer as it turned....awesome memory. Or the time I caught him sneaking some Skittles from our parents pantry and I used that as blackmail for the next, oh I don't know, FIVE YEARS when I needed something. "David, will you go grab my water bottle for me". "Sis, I don't want to". "David, don't make me tell mom and dad about the Skittles..." "Okay okay, don't tell!!!!!" Hee hee. Other then that, I am certain I was always the victim, never the perpetrator. :)

I moved out right as my brother went into high school. I didn't know it at the time but he missed me terribly and he experienced very different years in a private high school as an only child (basically) then I did in a public school with a little brother at home. I tried to stay connected to him but with me working full time plus and him in high school, it was hard to find things in common and ways to stay in touch. Occasionally would come over to my apartment and spend the night, us watching movies, running to 7-11 for late night slurpees, him spilling an entire jar of nacho cheese onto my carpet, lots of good times. :)

When Brett and I started dating David was not a huge fan. He and Brett were friends and I think he wasn't a big fan of one of his friends stealing his sister. He had some bitterness issues with my state of romantic bliss and I think that made us grow apart for a short time. He bawled like a baby at my wedding, I will never forget. He is a romantic to the core and even at a young age, I think he recognized the importance of marriage and that commitment.

Shortly after Brett and I got married, David and I were able to really reconnect and it helps that him and Brett are so close too. David makes me laugh pretty much more then anyone and we enjoy the same dry sense of humor. He lived with us this summer over his break and it was fun to have him as our "roomate". He is so good with Emersyn and every day he would come home he would stop in the entry way and say "Uncle's home" and Emersyn would get a HUGE smile. In college, David has found a soul mate of his own and I couldn't be happier for him and Jenny. I can't wait for them to get married and to start planning family vacations together and watch our kids grow up.

Dave, I love you and seriously....I am sorry about the dryer incident. :)

Blog Award!!!

Awww shucks. An award?? For me?? :)

I got a comment once from this sweet gal, pointing out our EXCELLENT taste in baby names (she also has a daughter named Emersyn Grace). Thank you for the award Keely! I love reading your blog and I think your "Hot and Healthy Challenge" is awesome.....I just need to jump in and participate one of these weeks!

The award comes with strings attached however....here are the rules! :)

* Display the award logo.

* Nominate up to 9 blogs that make you feel comfy or warm inside.

* Link to your nominees.

* Let them know they have been nominated by commenting.

* Link to the person from whom you receieved the award.

Here are my nine blogs, in NO particular order or ranking....

*Thoughts and Whatnots- my sweet bloggy friend LeAnna...love reading about her sweet baby boy, her love for her family and the Lord and her amazing photography!!

*The Leaking Window -Sister Sheri is an amazing mentor to me. She inspires me to dive into the Word more and be as good of an example to other women as she is to me. Plus, her 10 year old son is the sweetest boy ever and him and Emersyn are best buds. :)

*My Journey through Motherhood-my BFF's blog. :) Our kids are only a couple months apart in age so it is fun to read what Mr. Riley is up to, knowing Emersyn isn't far behind him. Plus, she has recently taken up cooking as a hobby and is always posting fun recipes that make me hungry while I am reading about them!

*Amore Dolce- I have known this blog's author since she was a little girl, maybe 6 or 7? The Lord has brought her back into my life through some fun circumstances (she is watching Emersyn on Wednesdays now) and I am so happy to read about the lessons that the Lord is showing her during this season of her life.

*Simplifying....me- I love reading Amy's thoughts on life. She has three small kids and is always writing cute and thought provoking blogs regarding her family and faith.

*Lemonade Makin' Mama- Someday when I grow up, I pray that the Lord would bless me with the quick wit and crafty-ness that Sasha possesses. One can dream right? :) This is the welcome message to her blog: Life often gives us lemons. You can either make lemonade with them, or you can organize 'em. I try to do a little of both around here, and I hope that it refreshes you.- LOVE IT! :)We need more Lemonade Makin' Ladies in our lives, don't we?

*The Crowther's- I went to high school with Jen and have enjoyed reading her blog since I found it. :) She has a great mix of recipes, pictures of her darling little boy and posts with that display her great sense of humor!

*This is Us!- Aimee and I also went to high school and it has been fun to reconnect now that we are both married with babies. I love reading about Aimee's life, half in the US and half in Vienna! I appreciate her insights on parenting and natural living.

*Life's Little Blessings- Sarah and I ALSO went to high school together (geez, lots of those today!) and our daughters are only about a month apart. Sarah is amazing; a marathon runner, getting her master's degree, all the while raising a toddler and blogging about her faith and challenges in life.

Okay ladies, your turn to hand out awards!

Happy Thursday! :)

Wordless Wednesday-Oh Dear.

Tuesday Blog Hop- Ask a Question

Today's Blog Hop theme is to ask a question.....

So here is my question to you! If you had a day that was 100% free of any responsibilities (job, family, etc.) and you had unlimited energy and motivation, what would you do? :)

Here is my answer:

I would begin my morning by waking up and putting on something comfy, probably a hoody and jeans and then head to my home away from home, Starbucks. :) I would enjoy a triple pumpkin spice latte and catch up on my Esther Bible Study, my "Crazy Love" book for book club, and then browse a parenting magazine perhaps. :)

After Starbucks, I would head home and do something I have been wanting to do for a long time.....ORGANIZE!!!! First off, I would take "before" pictures so I could document my productivity on my blog of course. :) Then I would start with my master bedroom closet. Toss out old things, organize clothes & shoes, etc. Take picture of finished product. Then I would organize the guest room closet. I am pretty sure that 50% of the stuff in there needs to be thrown away. Take another picture of finished product. Then I would probably go back into the master bedroom closet and just look at it again, so proud of my work. Then back to the guest room closet to do the same. This would probably continue, back and forth for awhile. :) After I had basked in the success of my organization, I would then head to the spa, but first let in the house cleaners who would do some deep cleaning while I was away getting pampered. At the spa, I would get a massage, a facial, and a mani/pedi. I would also be getting my hair cut and enjoying a light lunch during the mani/pedi...gotta multi-task, after all it's only a day to myself, not a weekend!

On my way home from the spa treatments, I would drive though another Starbucks, get another coffee...probably something lighter this time like a chai and then head home to my freshly cleaned house. I would thank the cleaners for so generously offering to clean my house free of charge (hey, it's my dream day...anything is possible!!). Then toss a load of laundry in the washer, light some candles, turn on the fire, and get caught up on blog reading while enjoying my chai.

For dinner I would go to SushiLand and bring a magazine to enjoy while eating some delicious California Rolls and Seared Salmon.

Hmm...that sounds like a pretty good day mixed with productivity and relaxation. :)

How about you guys? Either leave me a comment with your dream day or write a blog of your own about it! :)

Praying for Stellan

**UPDATE** Stellan's surgery was a complete success!!!! It went even better then they ever anticipated....hallelujah!!!!

MckMama's son Stellan is in heart surgery right now. I seriously have nervous tummy for him and their family. I read MckMama's blog and am inspired by her faith, her photography and her way of living. Stellan just turned one years old and is undergoing major heart surgery to fix a major defect that causes his heart to go into SVT frequently. Apparently he flatlined once and his mom thought she was watching her son die right before her eyes. My eyes fill with tears just at the thought of seeing Emersyn in a hospital bed, let alone her heart monitor flat lining. I can't even comprehend what that must have felt like. I am so thankful for my sweet and healthy baby girl. Lord, please watch over Stellan and guide his Dr.'s hands to fix his sick little heart!

A healthy child is an amazing blessing, one that I don't take for granted. Hug your babies today and thank the Lord for their health.