Friday Feet w/Elah Tree

I am so excited to show you all my feet,

but as a bonus you get to see my sweet friend, Samantha's feet too!

Check out her sweet easy shop here! 

(I won a simple women's wallet and it's super!)

Samantha :: Blogging and sewing take up the majority of my days,

 but this week was filled with painting, baseball (my first Dodgers Game!), 

and late nights of AnimSquad. 

As for me, I really enjoy sidewalk chalk, in the morning with my Nora girl.

(note the crazy baggy jamas)

Especially after late late night talks with awesome friends!

I love being with family.

And it was legitimately cold this morning! Yipeeee!

want to join in on the fun? 

#ARHfridayfeet

autumn senses (here's to hoping)

Ha! Despite the disgusting heat, 

I know that it should be fall!

Here is why...

look at those burnt yellow leaves!

seeing :: Halloween costumes at Wal*Mart... and pumpkins everywhere!

talking :: about how Mama is going to make Wonder Woman, Superman, and Minion costumes for her littles.

smelling :: fires and fall spices. 

feeling ::  an actual cool breeze, which to me symbolizes summer as over, even if days are still rather warm. Summer in Oklahoma feels like there is a constant hair dryer being blown on our town, so I welcome a slight drop in hot, humid temperatures.

reading :: just finished The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and it was awesome, intriguing, a book that had me laughing out loud, crying so hard I made my girls worry, and wishing I wasn't so callous about the hard things that have happened and are happening to our world. The movie comes out November 15th, and I can't decide whether to allow many strangers to see my ugly cry face, or to wait till I can blubber in my own house. 

listening :: to The Oh Hello's per usual. Check out the violinist's sweet mustache, reminds me of my Grandpa Brown.

teaching :: letters and sounds to "Nordie". We are also reading this book on Fairies, and making them houses outside.

planning :: sweet baby Pip's 1st birthday!! Swings, balloons, and of course, chocolate cake! 

crunching :: leaves!! At the park, in our backyard, around the church. Cordie even gathered a bouquet of yellow leaves at the library!

tasting :: Zucchini Bread, reminds me of my mama!

Autumn Zucchini Bread

recipe from my mother, makes about 2 loaves.

1 c. sugar

1 c. packed brown sugar

3 c. flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

3 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

a dash of cloves

--mix together--

then add

3 beaten eggs

1 c. oil

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups zucchini, shredded

pour into loaf pans, Bake @ 325* for 1 hour,

then 350* for 15 minutes. 

Enjoy warm with a nice spread of butter over the top and a cup of coffee!

Happy Fall everyone! I hope it cools off soon!

friday feet day

something funny about me is that i find feet disgusting,

but not pictures of feet.

i rather like pictures of feet,

and to me, 

pictures of my feet are 

the only "selfie" i feel okay taking. 

so on fridays, occasionally, i will post pictures of my feet.

so you can see what we'll be up to in a fun way.

---

this weekend.

we are still recovering from a crazy trip from last weekend.

so we're just laying around eating cinnamon rolls.

oh wait,

i should conquer this...

Happy Friday all! 

I hope you enjoy your weekend!

A Toast to the Happy Couple

My baby brother married the most beautiful ballerina 

this weekend,

in the Smokey Mountains.

It was a wonderful, simple ceremony,

oozing with love and joy.

---

Let me catch you up on the longest trip of my life.

we woke up early on friday, ready to make what google maps told us would be a 13 hour drive to North Carolina.

we dressed and packed up our little car, Melvin, and headed east on I-40.

Not far down the road we needed to stop, I took all three girls to the restroom where within a matter of minutes,

i was reaching in a gas station toilet to get my keys that my precious baby knocked out of my hands while wiping, washing, and dressing my two other children.

18 hours later on the road at the great hour of 1:30 am,

we arrived, after a bajillion stops, terrible traffic through Nashville, and winding mountain roads.

Don't you feel sorry for me? 

You don't have to, I was pitying myself hardcore.

---

So the ceremony was followed by a cute lunch of sandwiches and southern sweet tea in mason jars, yum! 

It was crazy to look at the head table and see my little brother and his WIFE,

eating and smiling together. 

My brother asked me to stand with him,

and boy was that an unexpected honor.

As his co-best woman,

I felt like I wanted to make a toast,

but because of corralling my littles for their nap time,

I didn't,

so I am sharing it here.

(with a lot less tears, and hopefully it is way more coherent.)

---

*Chink, chink, chink*

Hi, I would like to make a toast for the happy couple.

My baby brother is one of my most favorite people in the world.

He was always so fun, and willing to play anything with me,

barbies, dress up, tea parties, the list goes on.

As he grew, I noticed how much he loved Jesus,

I was amazed by his diligence in his quiet time,

and his convictionsHe also became incredibly sarcastic and ornery,

cracking jokes became his love language.

Hugging him was like hugging a tree,

stiff and scratchy.

(insert obligatory chuckling here)

I always knew he loved me,

he just wasn't very affectionate.

Fast forward to last year,

I got a call from my brother,

which was a rare occurrence.

He told me about this girl he had been talking to,

the ballerina.

He oozed affection just talking about her,

he was giddy, telling me,

"She is not like any other girl in the world!"

I thought it was sweet.

then he told me he was going to marry her,

he knew it.

I loved that.

Then I met Grace for the first time this past July.

I had heard so much,

my family bursted with love for this girl.

And as I stepped back into my childhood house,

we were introduced, and she hugged me first thing. 

Then Bracken hugged me, 

and it was like hugging a boa constrictor,

so tight your eyes bug out a little.

(big laugh)

and I knew they would be an amazing couple together.

And from that day on,

love has just saturated everything about Bracken and Grace,

and today it was wonderful to get to be part of this celebration.

I look forward to seeing how God will use your intense love,

I am excited to see little Brackens and Graces running around hugging everyone.

(me sniffling right now)

I love you guys, I love your love for each other and your families.

So let's raise our glasses in honor of their love,

may it be full of blessings, perseverance,

and hope.

Best wishes and

Bracken, thanks for my new sister!

Cheers!

*clinking of glasses and lots of sniffles*

We're so happy for you Mr. and Mrs. Bracken Shivers!

snapshots

Cord's first movie Despicable Me 2 // Playing in the rocks // Pip in her happy place (1 year old next month!) // late summertime at the greers // sister love // they completed their summer reading charts and got a scooter // playing at the mall

We're dominating the last bits of summer!

We hope you are too!

Monday Mornings

Today, like every other Monday,

was Wal*Mart run day.

I try to hurry to get there ahead of the crazies,

I think some live there though.

But, seriously, some of the sweetest people 

shop Monday morning with us.

It is always fun to run into a few older couples 

that truly encourage me 

while I tote around my three girls.

I feel like they get it,

"Cherish every moment"

"Three girls so close in age,

they will be the best of friends"

"You are doing a fine job raising them,

they behave so well!"

Then Nora girl always pipes up with the latest Greer news,

"I brought my bunny purse,

with money in it, because I am going to ride the horse!"

"My mom said we could watch Justice League with my Dad today!"

"Have you seen Despicable Me 2? It is so funny,

although the purple guys can be scary,

so be careful"

And the Cord has started chiming in too,

"Despicable Me is my Favorite!"

"I can't find my bear purse"

"Look at my shoes!"

Pip just usually squawks or 

does her bashful smile.

I love these people that find it necessary to remind me each week,

how great my kids are, and what blessings I have in them.

I love that my girls are excited to tell these kind people about themselves.

I love that I get to sit here before lunch,

with a cup of creamy coffee,

watching a thunderstorm roll in,

and tell you about the really great people in the world.

little letters

Dear August,

Welcome! I am excited for all you have waiting for us!

More warm summer days,

more grilling,

and to finish you off,

a breathtaking mountain wedding.

You're going to be good.

Dear Humidity,

Stop. 

Just stop.

Please?

Dear Girls,

Let's just play all day.

I am excited for our "beach" party.

You have been great readers this summer!

Dear Crepe Myrtles,

Thank you for your blooms that greet me every morning.

And thank you for blooming when summer is at its meltiest.

Dear Levi,

We're going on a date this month!

And I look forward to our 13 hour car trip together,

it's some of my favorite time with you.

Dear Self,

You should probably get started on planning your 

preschool lessons.

Always with the procrastination.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for your faithfulness and love.

Help me to be more like you.

Love,

Eden