[ in love with family ]

Breck-a-roni, the Grand Rapids Michigan treat!... is the new song Mamaw made up for me, and she sings it to the tune of "Rice-A-Roni, the San Fransico treat!" Hear it here. I kinda like it. :) 

We had such a fun time this past weekend with Mamaw, Papaw, and Great Uncle G & Aunt D here to visit! We woke up to this on our first morning together! Our first snow!

It is a sin to have guests up to Grand Rapids, and not take them to Marie's! They weren't disappointed, and fell in love with her too! 

Our new discovered love. Sparkling Peach Izzes! Mmm.

Finally! We got a reaction out of this sweet pea! He never ever, ever shows any kind of face or reaction (good or bad) to food. I think this is the third lemon he's had in his life and this the first time he made a face. :) Isn't it cute! Is the base of your tongue cramping, and your mouth salivating as you look at this too? Mine is. 

My boys. 

Papaw found the perfect size race car for me! 

Faster Papaw, faster!

Can I just say how happy this picture makes me? Because I will anyways! The ability to have my family gathered around our dining room table for dinner in our new home... means so much to me. As life changes and leads in ways we may not have expected, it allows and shows us to cherish the simple things in life that otherwise might have been taken for granted had life gone the way it was envisioned. 

Punkin' buggie was present here, just sleeping in his crib instead of at the dinner table.

Uncle Greg, Aunt Donna, and myself. They are the best Aunt and Uncle anyone could ever ask for. More like a second set of parents to Holly and I, instead of aunt and uncle. :) 

We had so much fun! Lots of laughs! 

Mom and I even had a chance to get crafty! Isn't her flower too cute!? :)

She's so pretty! :) I love my Mommy! After BrettRyan, she is my best friend! :)

My Sunday afternoon creativity.

Mom and I were awestruck by these wreaths on this storefront as we were shopping and overwhelmed by the joy of Christmas that will follow in the next few months!

My best bud J-baby stopped by to meet my Mamaw and Papaw too! 

Is it a bite or a kiss?

One more cuddle and bottle before they had to go. 

Look who will be pulling himself up next time he sees Mamaw and Papaw :) 

Feeling so thankful. 

-Amber

[ date night delivered ]

You know that Amy Grant song, Big Yellow Taxi? Goes something like, Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got till it's gone? Well, I felt exactly the opposite last night. Ever felt like you never knew how much you needed something until you had it? Being a Mama has blessed me so much that when we are together as a family so much of my attention has shifted to Breck since he was born. Breck is almost nine months old and last night was our first date night out together since he was born. I realized as we were out that we need to take the time to reconnect and purposefully set aside time for us so that I'm able to focus solely on BrettRyan every once in awhile. And in doing so, in return, we can give more back to Breck. My Mom-in-law has frequently told me that  You will make mistakes along the way in raising your kids, but the best thing you can do for them is for you two to love each other, and to make sure your kids can see the love. (I felt like she said it much more poetically than that, but it was something along those lines!) Anyways... it has always encouraged my heart whenever she's said it to me. So whenever I feel "guilty" for needing alone time... that is what I will cling to. 

We had such a great anniversary evening!!! It started by my handsome hubby walking in the door with these beautiful thangs...

We had dinner at our absolute-hands-down-most-favorite restaurant ever... Marie Catrib's! 

((It’s Hard to Imagine,

but at one time Marie was banned from the family kitchen.

"They didn't want me in there - I was too messy," she laughs. After the dinner dishes were done, Marie would tip-toe past her napping mother and grandmother to perform her culinary experiments. When her blind Grandmother ventured back into the kitchen to begin the next meal's preparation, she could feel the dishes left in Marie's wake. "My God what happened in here?" Those early experiments paved the way for Marie to discover that with a twist of Lebanese, a hint of Yooper and a yen for unique pastries, she would bring her love here to Grand Rapids.)) 

Check out more of Marie's story and her menu here! 

 Love it's whimsy....

And of course I love this guy...

 I'm convinced this recipe was sent straight from Heaven! (during fall, might I add)... The Sweet 'N Sassy!

"Black forest ham and mild cheddar meet a sassy combo of caramelized apples and onions spiced with brown sugar and cinnamon on your choice of grilled bread with spicy mustard." (At Marie's you should always order, with out a doubt, her Challa bread!)

After dinner my honey surprised me by taking me to Oasis... (Hot Tub Gardens)! 

Happy two years to us! I'm the luckiest for sure! 

And by the way... look at what two years of marriage and nine months of pregnancy has given us! This, I am convinced, is the best gift ever! 

Absolutely amazing to think that two years to the day of us getting married... this is what I was looking at! And to think we had NO idea who Breck Reid was on October 18, 2008. And here he is on October 18, 2010! God is so very good!

Have a great day! Happy Fall! 

-Amber