happy birthday ktb

To the pretty girl in the white dress, happy birthday. Graduation, wedding, moved to Texas, first job. What a changing year it's been for you, but every year has felt that way in our twenties. So glad not to be alone in it. Glad you have a good man to experience daily life and big moments.

No matter how we change or where we are, I'm always here for you. Rooting for good, great things in your life. Love you, Katie.

(photo by Alicia Wines Photography)

june is one

Oh, baby June, you're one already. It goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway. You are a babe. Good luck to your dad and brothers keeping boys away from you when you're older. I have faith they'll protect you, adore you, love you. It's already so evident. When Daylen looked at these photos, he said, "June is so pretty. She is beautiful." I adore every time Ari comes over and kisses you on your head. In those moments when I see the three of you together, I have flashbacks of my brothers and me. Such sweet moments.

June, my prayer for you is similar to your cousins. I pray for good health and safety, for who you'll become, that you'll be caring and loving. I look forward to continue being a part of your life. I trust God to protect you even when our family can't. But know, we will always fight for you, support you, care for you, love you. Because you must know, your aunt and uncle, our family love you so very much, June.

We always will.

indiana peonies

Logan graduates from his Master of Divinity tomorrow. I'm just so proud of him. I'll save all the nice things for a post when I can show off photos of his attire and that gorgeous university chapel. 

And we are blessed to be surrounded by our families this week. Glad to have them back in Princeton. My parents spoiled me with a bucket of peonies from Indiana. I have a bouquet of these pretty things in every room of our apartment. Our home smells like a garden. It's my favorite.

two days late mother's day

"Mom, Always sounds like Love, Always."

To my mom, this is true. And to my mother-in-law and grandmothers and great-grandmothers. Thank you. You deserve to be celebrated, to be thanked, to be honored. I love you so very much.

(quote from NYTimes via A Cup of Jo)

happy birthday, kati

I'm a little behind on things, but for good reasons, we visited Indiana last week and are now in Arizona visiting my grandparents. Last week, this pretty girl turned one. It still warms my heart to remember receiving the phone call telling me she was born and leaving finals to go hold her, such a week of celebration.

Kati is precious. It's crazy to believe she is already a year old, less a baby and more a toddler. She is a sweet girl, and I 'm excited to see her personality develop. It melts your heart to see her brother Moses hug and kiss her. When she ate her cake for her birthday, Moses fed her bite by bite and then would sneak two for himself. I'm glad for her babysitter who sends photos of Kati when she watches them. Thankful for technology that lets you share experiences even with distance. Because I definitely want to keep up with her as she grows. Love you, Kati. 

weekend fun

This weekend was fun with beautiful weather and so many celebrations. I spent time skyping with my family on Saturday since it was my dad's birthday. At the same time, I made apple pie for my neighbor's birthday party. I should have taken more photos. It was "Downton Abbey" themed. Funny for many reasons, my neighbor's name is Abby. She lives downstairs. Her and her husband Scott decorated the doors with Mary and Matthew peeping from the side, and they filled their wall frames with different characters: Bates, O'Brien, Countess of Grantham, Daisy, and Thomas (ew, gross).

I should mention that Scott is who pushed us to watch Downton. Then it became a routine, we watched most of season two with Abby and Scott after weekly Monday dinners. We just love them. They're good people, really good friends. I've written about our friendship before, so thankful to find friends that we easily can laugh and pray together. Abby is such a special friend, so thankful for her honesty and courage, such a blessing to my life.

I'm so thankful for the weekend, even if it was quick, it was restful and fun, filled with friends.

my friend katelyn

First, can we talk about this 60 degree weather in Jersey? Live it up.

And next, more importantly and excitingly, I purchased my bridesmaid dress for ktb's wedding. I'll wait to share the dress until we have the works. You know, wedding photos next July with that pretty little bride and us lady friends who are like her flowers that hold flowers, looking at her and smiling, adoring her smitten face.

I can't wait.

Did I mention after the bride's yes to the dress the second confirmation... dress on sale. Glad that Katelyn is a good reason to buy an Anthro dress because I haven't ever had a real excuse. Yeah, she's worth it. I miss this girl.

haley is five

This girl, sheesh, she's pretty. Today, my niece Haley turns five. As I mentioned on Daylen's birthday, five seems like a big deal to me because I vividly remember my fifth birthday.

She is creative and strong. Seems weird to describe a five year old that way, but she is all girl with her stamps, coloring, and singing then she has this pleasant courage and strength. She can stand up to all her boy cousins that outnumber her. Luckily, this past year she gained two more girl cousins.

Plus, who knows whether she'll have a baby brother or sister next June? Either way, Monica and I both think she'll be pretty motherly to her new sibling. She received an American Girl doll for Christmas, and tomorrow, she's going to the store in Chicago to have tea. I am super jealous.

Happy Birthday, Haley. Your aunt and uncle love you.

over the rhine

Week began with an awesome couple from church making an amazing meal, spent in an old Princeton house, good conversation. Neighbor's birthday on Monday, celebrated by seeing the Milk Carton Kids and Over the Rhine in Philadelphia. First shifts off orientation, first week working part time (opposed to full time in November). Wait, November happened? It's December. Christmas tree up. Buying presents. Making presents. Thankful for friends. Preparing for friends to move. I have a husband, I have a job, I have a good community. I'm so thankful for what I have. I get to see family in two weeks, miss my nieces and nephews. And last week, it was 60's, this week it's raining, I think, I might be ready for snow.

I feel so much joy.

twenty-eight

Happy birthday, bro. Wish you were having another Indian theme party. Thanks for always being there, for marrying me and Logan, for loving your wife and family well, for loving God. Miss you, love you.

nursing license

After four months and seven days, I am a New Jersey registered nurse backed up by a twelve digit number, probably the last in my entire nursing class, but still thankful. Logan brought home these beautiful hydrangeas (thanks, babe). We're going to go eat sushi for dinner, and then I'm heading over to Jamie's house for craft night.

He is faithful.

Nothing is better than celebrating a friend's engagement. This is my great nursing friend Courtney and her poet of a finance Austin, and they are simply the cutest.

via amy's photography