Summer Nights on the Dock

We had a lazy afternoon after Church today, but after Carter woke up from a nap we decided to take the kids fishing for a little bit.  Last summer Trav and Ava spent a lot of time after dinner together, fishing at some lakes near us.  Carter was young enough to not really know what he was missing out on, but this summer has been a different story.  He has wanted to fish with Daddy all summer and we just haven't been able to make it happen.  My parents did take the kids a few weeks ago when they had them for a week and Carter caught a fish on his first try! Fishing with the kids is not my favorite way to spend an afternoon but I knew they wanted to do it and I knew Travis would need my help to keep everyone on the dock and out of the water, so I agreed to go along!  

 We have this great campground just a few miles from our house and they have a nice dock that is usually very quiet.  We took the kids there on an overcast afternoon and within minutes Daddy had them ready to go!

Ava "caught" one right out of the gate on her lucky princess pole!  She LOVES to fish and has no fear of the fish or the worms, she gets such a kick out of the whole experience and it tickles Travis and I to watch her excitement.  I insisted she and Carter put their life jackets on and I'm so glad I did.  They were little busy bodies with no shoes on, running all over the place and being so loud it's a complete miracle that all the fish in the lake didn't pack up and leave!  

This was Carter's personal lane to run in for his big "race" that he kept insisting he needed to run! 

Up and down that dock he ran, back and forth, back and forth... not quite the fishing experience I was imagining! 

All smiles and hair blowing in the wind today!

Occasionally he stood still long enough to watch the bobber in the water, but mostly he was like a little bumblebee buzzing from one thing to the next.

This sweet girl just keeps looking older and older no matter how hard I try to keep her little!  

I love this picture of her, it makes me wonder if this isn't a glimpse of her at 15? 

And the same goes for this one.  So big, I swear he grows by the hour.  Those basketball shorts kill me!  Gone are the days of onesies and little cotton rompers  :) 

It's all so interesting when you are 4 and 2.  Touching a worm or touching a fish, there isn't anything quite as terrifying and exhilarating as that when you're little!

A two-for one, another fish and some "sea grass" as Ava likes to call it!

This time Carter got to reel it in and he was ever so proud of it!  He's mostly been too scared to go near the fish but with each one we caught he got more and more brave...

...until he finally was ready to reach out and touch it.  Or in his case, poke it really hard!  We had to tell him to be nice to the fish and then Ava informed us that he was ready to go back in the lake with his fishy family, ha ha! 

I have such sweet memories of fishing with my sisters and Dad.  I'm so thankful that Travis is not only willing, but excited to make these memories with our kids and when it doesn't quite go as planned (read: the kids run all over creation while he fishes and I yell at them to stay away from the edge of the dock and quit being so loud!) he is able to laugh and enjoy it for what it is.  Our kiddos think it was the best day of fishing ever because they each got a fish and we were all together.  That's really all it takes to thrill them.  Looking at these pictures makes me cherish this season for the innocence and the simple joys of childhood.  It also makes me want to gag seeing that finger of Carter's in his mouth after he reached out to touch that fish.  Poor Travis has a lot to put up with between the wild kids and his high maintenance wife who wishes she had hand sanitizer along and a hot cup of coffee...

 Everybody hum along now, can't you just hear the Andy Griffith theme song??

What a perfect way to spend the first day of September...

Finding My Voice

Hello again dear blog friends of mine... Happy Sunday! 

"I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High." Psalm 7:17

I have missed you.  My mind has so often "blogged" events of our summer, in phrases and thoughts and photos...while never actually typing a word here.  It's been such a different summer, a different year actually, and for so many reasons my blog has reflected the state of my mind.  Overwhelmed, sporadic, disjointed and often, quiet...

The fact that summer is coming to a close and labor day is here, is a welcome change for me.  I have been over summer for about a month now!  After a very draining year, followed by a crazy summer, I am intentionally standing on the brink of a very quiet Fall.  I sensed the Lord telling me back in April to fulfill my commitments through the summer and then to just be still.  It's such a weird thing to not be signed up for Bible study or any other ministry stuff, but it's also incredibly freeing to just have my little family to focus on.  You know, my little family that you've seen virtually no pictures of this summer?  

Although I am sad that I don't have a chronicle of our summer to look back on, creatively I've been incredibly tapped out.  Six weddings this summer took so much out of me, I am still unwinding from the grind of it all.  To be essentially a one-woman operation means that every detail and all of the pressure rests squarely on my shoulders.  I do hire some help out for large weddings and I could not do any of it without my extremely supportive and flexible husband, but I still carry the burden of each bride's and the details of her "dream come true day."  My computer has become my enemy this summer, the sight of it often makes me cringe!  In order to keep up with each wedding and each bride I had to force myself to pull it out and type proposals, write estimates, update notes and send a million emails all while I wanted nothing more than to play with my kids and hang out at the pool.  Any downtime I may have had this summer never felt like it was actually mine to spend...that part was hard!   

However, despite my exhaustion and the constant pace, these weddings were manna to us.  God gave me so much work this summer and each time Travis and I decided to say "yes" to another event, He gave us the blessing of extra income that we have been able to use in our condo saga (more on that in another post).  So even though it's felt so busy and so draining, God has provided for us over and over again, one wedding at a time this summer, and for that we are grateful! 

Last week was one of the first weeks I've had since Spring that was relaxing and simple.  I enjoyed time at the pool with the kids, we went to a local beach and splash pad as a family, we had a sweet play date one morning and we went to a couple of Trav's soccer games.  It was great, just what this Mama needed.  As life has begun to slow down, I feel like I'm finding my voice again.  My heart feels lighter than it has for months and my mind is not so cluttered.  God has been faithful to show me what needs to go, to gently restore me in areas that I've been lacking in or have needed correction and recently He's just been showing me that the choices I'm making are exactly what He's calling me to for this season.  THAT is great feeling...

I'm looking forward to sharing some pictures and thoughts on this blog again, I really have missed it!  I hope your summer has been a sweet one and full of memories and rest.  I would be lying if I said I wasn't ready for summer to end...I'm totally ready!  

I hope you have a blessed Labor Day tomorrow and a great start to your Fall!  I'll leave you with a picture I took of my kids last Sunday, it is definitely my favorite one from this summer!  Aren't they the sweetest??

Happy Sunday friends!!

Fun Friday Giveaway!!

It's Friday and I have a fun surprise for you today!  If you are a photo person this is right up your alley!  I recently ordered a 16x20 photo of our family on canvas from easy canvas prints and I love it!  I chose a black and white photo this time from our trip to Charleston, SC in the fall.  

I love freezing this moment in time when they look so little and were willing to hold hands with us! 

I chose to do a 2" frame with the print wrapped around the edges.  It's perfect on our wall!

16x20 is a great size but I'd really love to add some 8x10's around it too. 

I love it because it's a sweet pic that captures a memory I want to hold in my heart forever.  I always love color photos but there is something timeless about black and white. Someday I'd love to have a gallery wall in our basement of a bunch of black and white photos over the years, so hopefully this one will be part of that!  

Easy canvas was so great to work with.  Uploading and completing the ordering process was a breeze, it seriously took me like 10 minutes and it was done!  Now here is the great part!  Easy canvas wanted my readers to enjoy a free 8x10 canvas too!  The giveaway starts today and goes through July 31st.  Enter below and hopefully you will win!!! I know you will love having art on your walls in the form of a photo on canvas.  You could choose a picture of your kids, you and your spouse, a favorite destination of yours or even upload a print with words on it!  They have a fabulous feature that lets you even choose a whole configuration of canvas prints for your wall with multiple photos in multiple sizes and they even show you how to arrange it when it arrives.  Genius! I know you will love their stuff so please enter and hopefully you'll be chosen as the winner!! 

Happy Friday friends!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

photo to canvas

From the Brink

Well, it's summer! Officially it's mid-July and we are enjoying the heat wave to prove it.  Thunderstorms, humid fronts of air, lazy afternoons in a swimming pool...it all feels so right!  A common refrain for most Minnesotans is that we have to work so hard for our summers (enduring winter) that we do not waste a minute enjoying them!  Lakes, cabins, trails, parks and pools, they all factor in to our weeks and are grateful.

I have been spinning my wheels since May really, just trying to keep the ship afloat and everything straight on our calendars.  It's been a good summer but most of it just a whirlwind so far.  I personally have had 5 weddings to do this spring/summer with 1 still to go; Trav has been hopping with a boys summer Bible study, weekly Wednesday/Sunday stuff and lots of prep for JH summer camp and an upcoming mission's trip.  The kids have endured a million grad parties, a week of swimming lessons, a week of VBS, a week at Grammy and Grampy's, a visit from Texie and just normal day to day stuff.  We sort of feel like ships in the night, coming together when we are able to and then just each of us finding our place week to week.  There is a sweet spirit of teamwork between Travis and I, lots of give and take these days.  I share that not because we are to be commended but simply because it's the only way we are able to  take on what we do and still remain married!  He is such an encourager of me and this little side business that seems to keep multiplying.  Whether taking care of the kids, or helping me deliver and set-up for a wedding, he's always the one who keeps me from freaking out and endures my waves of panic the night before a big job.  There is always some bizarre thought that attempts to rob me of sleep and often, it's Travis and his steady presence that calms me and speaks reason to my anxiety.

I get to be the same voice for him, the one who runs the details of our home, takes on the burden of single parenting here and there, and listens to the last minute requests and complaints he's dealing with from parents, usually the night before camp! This year for the first time in 5 years, we left our kids with my parents while we went to camp together.  It was a little sad, but mostly a huge blessing.  As only The Lord could have known, we had a great week serving together, but also had some significant challenges that would have been much more stressful had our kiddos been along.  I was able to really just stand by my man this year and be a support to him, something I haven't been fully dedicated to since having kids.  It was a great week away, albeit exhausting, and I came home a little early to jump right into another wedding!  By the time Trav wrapped up the details of leading 190 some students and volunteers and I set up and delivered a huge wedding, we placed the last centerpiece on the last table and then collapsed at our favorite restaurant...So tired of working, so exhausted from being with people, and so hungry!  We sat there barely able to get a spoon in our mouth, but so delighted to be with each other and satisfied after two jobs well done.  Sweet and kind of indicative of our summer so far!

We have had pockets of time we've gone to great lengths to protect and enjoy, days to just be home with the kids or enjoy some downtime away at my parents.  We enjoyed a great water park in Iowa together, which was such a treat for the kids, we had a blast!  We also have benefitted from the generosity of some friends at Church who invited us over to swim and then opened up their pool to us while they've been on vacation.  It sounds so simple but in the blur that is summer ministry, those pockets of time are truly priceless.  As we floated in the pool yesterday, just the four of us, laughing and playing with the kids I realized what a gift every quiet moment is.

I was away for a few days at the beginning of the week, on a retreat with my dear friends, the Pastor's wives at our Church.  We go on an annual retreat and this one was special because it was the first one for three of my sweet friends.  It was a wonderful time away to just unwind with each other, laugh, sharpen each other and share our hearts.  One common thread we all share is that we each know what it's like to be in the spotlight and to be "on" quite a bit.  That isn't necessarily a complaint, it sort of goes with the territory, but it does require a great deal of constant reflection.  It's so easy to slip into a performance based existence or always trying to please other people or even live up to our own unrealistic expectations.  It was so refreshing to encourage one another in the ways that we are challenged, keeping our main priorities the main thing, and living for an audience of one.  I just love each of those women and so many of the others who have been in my life for previous seasons of ministry.  It's a joy to be married to a Pastor and there are definitely wonderful things about it that I wouldn't trade for any amount of money or career success.  However, it's not easy to live this life well or to find joy in the many unique challenges along the way.  Truly no one understands what it's like unless you've been there too.  The older I get the more introverted I am becoming and it seems many of my friends too.  I think there is a real toll on being in a public role of serving people.  In order to stay healthy and joy-filled I realize more and more how much I need time alone and time with my little family to refuel and protect what's been entrusted to us.  This season of our kids at home is ultimately so short!  I want so much for them to love Jesus and love the Church when it's all said and done and when they are free to make their own choices.  So as busy as we are with Church stuff and weddings, we are careful to plan lots of fun in there for our kiddos and time just doing family stuff...walks after dinner, treats at DQ, pool time, bike rides, etc.  We haven't had as much friend time as I imagined but I just haven't had the time or energy to host or plan.  Someday the friend thing will be a huge part of their life, but Trav and I are in no rush to get there!

In the remaining weeks of July and August there isn't much let up in our schedule.  I wrap up one more wedding next weekend and then we enter a new season of challenge.  Travis has a few more trips and camps before he starts coaching soccer but I will be shifting my focus entirely to our housing situation.  We are on the brink of some changes, hopefully we will be getting our condo on the rental market in the coming months and looking for a place for the four of us to land.  It's been a journey that we didn't necessarily see ourselves on but The Lord keeps opening doors and leading us in that direction so we are following Him.  It's a bit of an unsettling feeling, not knowing exactly where our next home will be or how the timing and transition will go, but we are trusting God completely and really looking for Him to open doors we can't see.  I told a friend that He seems to be giving us just enough light for one more step so we keep taking those steps in faith, believing that His plan is the best one for us.  In the mean time, we are doing a ton of updating and some remodeling that will be keeping me extremely busy in the coming weeks and months.  It's exciting and terrifying and will be the source of some serious sanctification I'm sure!

So there you have it, summer is off and running and we are doing our best to hold on for the ride!  The kids are well, Travis is having a great summer and I am so enjoying my role as wife, mama, florist, and overall keeper of the schedule and manager of our home!  I wish I could say I'm handling it all beautifully and have encountered no bumps along the way but of course, I'm only human!  Some days are better than others and some weeks we're just glad to have survived.  The Lord is so good though and He is teaching me many incredible lessons and helping me where I fall short...so glad it's sanctification He's after, not perfection.

I pray this has been a sweet summer for you as well!  I'm missing my blog but I know as things change from one season to another I'll be able to invest more time here and even get some pictures and updates posted!  But for now, the Armstrong's are well and enjoying life...a full, busy and blessed life.  Happy July friends!!

Rain, Rain GO AWAY!!!

So we aren't being plagued by tornadoes or hurricanes, nor am I comparing those devastating storms with our current state of affairs, but OH MY WORD! We are drowning up here in Minnesota!  Drowning!  I saw a stat on the news that confirms what we've been feeling lately.  After the world's longest winter (EVER) stretching through alllll of April, we were all ready for some May flowers around here and you know, a little heat.  We experienced approximately 2 days of that and boy were they glorious!  But now it seems we've skipped summer and moved right on into Fall, with temps in the 50's and 60's (70's if we're lucky!) and nonstop cloudy, dreary skies and endless rain. In fact, 27 of the 31 days in May brought some degree of rain , and of the 12 days in June so far, 9 of them have been rainy as well. So please forgive my complaint, but LORD HAVE MERCY!!!  Make it stop!!  Spring, summer and Fall in Minnesota are typically amazing and the reward/motivation to make it through winter.  But this year, I am losing my affection for this state we call home.  It is just downright depressing around here.  When I say I am fighting for some joy, I'm not kidding.  It's a deliberate choice I'm having to make, despite the real struggle in my soul to not pack our bags and hit the road for sunnier skies and a little warmth.  But that is not the hand we've been dealt for now, so we are limping through this Seattle start to summer and doing our best to get outside, even if just for a minute in between storms!

MUST. Choose. Joy.
Must. CHOOSE. Joy.
Must. Choose. JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, now that I have that off my chest, here are some pictures of what we're up to!

Another week, another wedding! If you're counting, I've had 4 weddings so far in about 8 weeks.  To say I've been busy is an understatement!  I'm currently enjoying a little break, but I have two more to go in the next 5 weeks.  Here are some of the bouquets from the wedding I did last weekend.  It was a small one, but I loved what the bride chose.

 Aren't those lavender roses gorgeous??  

 Bouquets

 Bridal Bouquet.  

Stock, lilies, freesia, and roses. 

It smelled so good!!  

Grad parties.  We've been to like 18 or something in the last 3 weeks and have more to go this weekend  too.  Mostly they are fun, we have so many students in our life we love, but they are exhausting too.  Two weekends ago, Travis and I got to go to a bunch without the kids (who were in Iowa with my parents) which was delightful.  Like a long progressive date even.  But last weekend with the kids?  A different story.  They had their moments of being human and well behaved, but they also had some other moments.  Moments that had their parents sweating, with literal stress and anger being held ever so delicately under the surface until we could get to the car and you know, have some moments of our own.  But you know what, we couldn't blame them really.  We were asking a lot of them and stretching them just a little too thin.  So we tossed our best intentions out the window, went home for naps and a break, and then took turns getting to the parties we could.  And our mantra became, "We're just doing the best we can.  And we're barely doing that."  Thankfully I've been able to make it to all of my Bible study girls' parties and to our family parties for my cousins's kids.  It would help if we didn't like students and didn't want to celebrate with them :) But that's not the case when you've been at a Church for 7 years in student ministry! I love this picture with my Bible study girls!

 Enjoy this little photo booth snapshot from Emily's fun party!  I think it sums up our experience well!

In the middle of all our craziness, Travis ran in a half-marathon on Saturday morning.  You know, because we don't know how to relax or enjoy a morning with nothing to do? Regardless, he ran it and I decided to surprise him and bring the kids to cheer him on at the finish line.  In classic fashion, I barely got us out the door in time and I pulled into the little town it was in, realizing I had no idea where the race was or how to get there.  So with a quick prayer to point us in the right direction, I just drove in a direction I hoped was toward the race, honestly not knowing what I was doing.  Wouldn't you know it, I ended up in the perfect place with just enough time to grab the kids and tell them to start walking toward the finish line.  I had no clue where Trav was or if he was even still running, but we kept our eyes peeled for Daddy and then I thought I'd call him to see if there was some random chance he'd answer.  Amazingly he did answer and low and behold, there he was about 200 yards from us!  We got to watch him run the last mile and heard his name called as he crossed the finish line.  It was so fun for the kids and I think Travis was thrilled that we were there to cheer him on.  It was not an easy course, lots of hills, but he did great and clocked a good time.  He amazes me.  He's like the energizer bunny in so many ways, I keep wondering when he's going to slow down but so far that day doesn't seem to be near!  

He ran with his good friend John and they were blessed with a cool, overcast day.  Maybe the one time lately we've been thankful for clouds!  

We were so exhausted by the end of Saturday and the kids were besides themselves, so I decided to keep them home on Sunday morning so we could just have a low key day to rest and play.  It was definitely a good decision!  We all slept in, Carter and I til 8 and Ava til 9:30!!!  Crazy!  And then we stayed in our jammies most of the day waiting for Daddy to get home too.  After he hit a grad party or two on the way home!  

  Carter was a fan of that plan!  I found him on the porch all curled up with his favorites, listening to the rain :) 

And after some chores of my own, I curled up with my favorites too.  New sharpies, some new magazines and a book by BooMama (which is so good!!!).  It was a great ending to a hectic weekend.  Although I'm really looking forward to Church this weekend, I missed my peeps!  

So in case you were wondering, yes, it rained today today.  Stormed in fact.  Such is life in Minnesota this year.  Here's hoping for some sunshine tomorrow though!  

In the Kitchen Lately

I don't know about you, but I go through seasons in my kitchen. Some seasons I make the same dishes over and over; because we like them, because they are easy, or because I know them like the back of my hand and they are comfort on a plate.  Winter brings that out in me. But I usually reach a point mid spring when I just don't want the same things anymore. Anyone else?? Sometimes a girl needs to shake it up a little, you know? 

My kids are not super picky eaters, although they are still kids. One day their favorite meal barely warrants a bite and other days they'll try the one thing I swore they'd never eat. They are about as predictable as the weather! Because I am trying to raise experimental eaters, I try to put new things in front of them all the time but I don't always believe they'll go for it. Sometimes I'm shocked and sometimes I agree to yogurt and string cheese instead. Or noodles. Ava is on a buttered noodles with parmesan kick and some days the battle is just not worth the fight! I'd rather have peace than tears and consequences over food. So we give grace but we try to instill a gratitude for what we're given and a desire to not waste whats in front of us. They are both getting more and more adventurous. Ava will eat quite a variety of foods and she's almost always up for whatever I make. Carter isn't there yet but he's getting better and better at trying new things. The bottom line is that their food preferences have nothing to do with their godliness or character (really) so we're not stressed about it. I think life is easier when your palette is broad but "whatevs" as our students say :) 

So, basically the person I'm trying to appease with my cooking is my man. He is the biggest eater around here and cooking is one of the ways I express my love for him. It works for us :) As we've gotten older and been together for a decade now, our palettes have really broadened too and we've both turned into foodies, kind of. We're not crazy or super weird but we both love a meal out and we like to try new things all the time at home. So we've got some new things in the rotation lately that I thought I'd share with you. Three of them are from PW (pioneer woman), one is my Mom's and one I just threw together one night. So here you go, here are a few things on our plates lately... 

Homemade granola. My Mom's recipe (she got it from a magazine years ago) that is so easy and super delish! Why I haven't made this earlier I don't know?? She makes it for Trav when we come to their house and we all love it. One recipe makes two big batches and it freezes really well, so we usually eat half and freeze the other. We both love it with milk, with yogurt, on ice-cream or just by the handful. This version had dried blueberries, craisins and golden raisins in it but you could do whatever you like. Oats and a variety of nuts are the other ingredients, along with olive oil and vanilla. It takes about 30 min to make and it's very worth the effort. Next time I'm going to add a little cinnamon for a different flavor. Google it. There are a million versions out there! 

PW's Chicken Parmesan. Oh my stars, was this good!!!! Like a hands down, top 10 dish in our opinion. We loved it!!! It's in her second cookbook and probably on her website too. It's not that hard and it made a lot of sauce which we used for a couple of days afterwards. I know people complain that her dishes are so rich and use too much cream and butter but the truth is, they aren't all like that. Some are, but you can always substitute with a leaner ingredient or you can just relax a little. One cup of cream in a recipe that serves 8 means you aren't consuming all that much by yourself.  

*Fair warning**-I'm about to rant...I get so sick of this country's obsession over "health food", excessive label reading and whether it's "organic" or not. Don't get me started on that craze. I'm all for healthy choices, but watching this generation of teenagers struggle so greatly with body image and food related disorders and self mutilation, leads me to conclude that we're food/body obsessed. Good and bad, by the way. We tend to freak out over the extremes and I'm saying let's just relax, gain some perspective and live in moderation. A great dessert with real butter is not worth a protest and does not warrant a 10 mile run because you had half a piece. Good grief, what messages are we sending with this workout crazed, food depriving culture we're creating??? Listen, I'm not anti-working out and I understand legit food allergies require watching every bite and knowing every ingredient. Moderation and good health is what I'm talking about with less emphasis on what size we are or aren't. *End rant*

Eat some chicken Parmesan and just enjoy it!! This dish is surprisingly healthy with NO cream, so all you cream haters can just relax :) PW has really taught me how to make great, homemade tomato based sauces and that is my favorite part of this meal. Travis and the kids and I ate it up! 

I came up with this one night when Trav was gone and we've had some variation of it a couple times now. I called it girl food on Instagram but actually Trav liked it too! Tomatoes, avocado, and fresh mozzarella tossed in Olive Oil and Vinegar salad dressing from Newman's Own that we love! Light and healthy. We had it with some romaine too and it would also be yummy with a balsamic vinegarette. Perfect summer food. 

This is another PW recipe from her second cookbook. BBQ chicken and pineapple quesadillas. You could adapt these several ways but I baked and shredded some chicken, tossed it in BBQ sauce and set it aside. It calls for grilled pineapple and that is the highlight of this dish! So, so good! She combines the chicken and pineapple with cheese and a jalapeño but I'm not a spicy girl so I substituted that with caramelized onion instead. It was amazing and really, really easy!!! Quesadillas in my cast iron skillet are second to none. They get a perfect golden crunch on the outside with a melted center inside and they are heavenly. I make plain cheese quesadillas for my kids all the time and we love them. This is a great dish and you can serve it with guac, pico, or salsa and sour cream. The tang of the BBQ chicken with the sweet pineapple and a hint of the grill, are a divine trio of flavors. You should make these! Tonight! I've got some more quesadilla combos on the way to try too. It's such an easy way to hide some ingredients from the kids under the guise of cheese!! 

Finally, last night I made PW's homemade pizza crust with a twist on her Potato Leek Pizza. I kind of made this up on the fly but it was really good! We all  ate it, but Trav and I loved it. I took pics while I made it so here you go...

Her Homemade Crust. Easy and yummy!

Pressed on a pan drizzled with olive oil and then drizzled again on top. 

Caramelized onion, bacon (turkey bacon in our house) and ham, lightly sautéed. 

The craziest ingredient, potatoes!! Sliced paper thin to add a little crunch. I used my mandolin slicer and you would have to have one to make these thin enough. 

Fresh mozzarella slices on top. Did you notice there is no sauce?? Just cheese and potatoes and olive oil as the base. Yummy!! 

Onion, bacon and ham on top of the mozzarella. 

A sprinkle of Parmesan too! 

12 minutes later and this happened! My only modification for next time? I'd bake the crust first for 3 or 4 minutes, just to get the middle nice and crispy. Hard to do that with all the toppings without burning the edges. 

So, so good! A salty guys pizza for sure :) Next time we're doing a margarita version for me! 

So there you have it, a few things in the kitchen at our house lately that I highly recommend! What about you? What are you making these days that we need to try?? All this rain means lots of baking and cooking for us :) I've always got two kitchen helpers ready and willing to assist me; Ava reminds me daily that she is a "really good cooker!"  I love being in the kitchen but I fully embrace that not everyone does. I hate to balance a checkbook and I know some of you live for that! So no guilt if cooking is not your thing. Believe me, we consume plenty of frozen pizzas and frozen chicken nuggets over here too :) 

Hope you have a happy Wednesday, friends!! What's on the menu at your house tonight? Just curious...

Missed Me?

Good morning, blog friends! It's been so long but yes, we are still alive! Unlike the last post I left you with, the snow has melted and summer is almost here.  Life is good, everyone is doing well and the weeks are just falling off the calendar at warp speed it seems. Anyway, just thought I'd pop in to say hello and catch you up a bit. Clearly I've gotten a little behind! 

I'm trying a little blogging from my phone today, we'll see how that goes. My computer is more trouble than it's worth right now so this seems oddly, easier? 

Travis took me on a surprise overnight to this quaint little bed and breakfast. It was very sweet and a much needed chance to just rest.  Our week was so crazy last week with 2 sick kids, a wedding and 9 grad parties...I barely survived and thankfully before we picked up the kids from my parents, he took me away to relax. So sweet! 

I did wake up this morning thinking, "Who is bringing coffee and our first course to our room this morning??" I could have gotten used to that little treat! 

I had a wedding this weekend that was outside in a beautiful garden at our local Arboretum. It turned out to be a gorgeous morning but only by the skin of our teeth did we make it! The weather has been all over the map and we escaped the rain just barely! Too stressful. Although that garden was beautiful, I'm all about indoor weddings where you can control as much as possible! 

It was a pink wedding, with some simple but beautiful bouquets of roses. I love this raspberry pink color, don't you? 

Up close and personal with the bouquets

The grinning bride waiting to see her man!

Cute bridesmaids in their pink dresses and pink flowers! 

The bride had a lace, burlap and pearls theme going on so I tried to incorporate that into her bouquet too. We actually used an old dress of hers for the wrap.  I cut apart her old, stained dress from childhood and used the satin sash and some lace as her "something old" detail. Kind of fun! 

Some details from the reception. It was a vintage themed wedding with a ton of set-up. I'm so glad it's over for that reason alone! I slept 12 hours on Saturday night...I was wiped!! 

These were my favorite arrangements of the whole thing. It's always fun to do some big sprays, so I was happy when they ordered these! 

I had these two amazing workers on my team, helping me pull off the big day. I also had my favorite helper, Travy! When we arrived the girls from the wedding party were arriving too and some of them knew him from Church. I heard one of them say, "Wait. Travis is the florist??" Ha ha ha ha!!! Poor guy, I have dragged him along to help me on so many of these things, he just laughs and goes with it! I love him! He needed the B&B just as much as I did! 

Anyway, we survived a crazy weekend and yesterday I picked up my babies again. We really missed them! They both had strep at my parents house and I'm so grateful to my Mom, Dad and sister for taking good care of them! 

So cute!!! Best Grampy ever :) 

I missed this little nut and her giggles in the car! 

Hope you had a great Monday too! I have another wedding this week and we have like 12 grad parties this weekend again...someone shoot me now! Thankfully the wedding is a tiny one and it's on Friday so it will be over sooner than later.  This is our last week before our summer stuff kicks in so I'm trying to enjoy the pockets of unscheduled time as best as I can! I've got some bedrooms that need cleaning up so I'm off to put my organizing hat on. 

Happy Tuesday, friends!