Annual Arista Crawfish Boil

Mark's brother, Ben, for the past few years has flown in from Louisiana approx 200 pounds of crawfish and this year included some alligator- yikes!  We invite fun friends and have a blast for a few hours.  Jake and Pierce were super into it this year but I, on the other hand, eat my dinner beforehand and pretty much stay at a distance :)

i would love to know what Jake is saying to pierce :)  can you see him pointing his little finger?

such excitement!

 in case you were wondering what 200 pounds of crawfish looks like...

chowin' down- it got spicier and spicier as the night went on... or so I'm told- ha!

a little taste- wasn't a big fan...

attempting a thumbs up- you can tell that he wasn't thrilled with how it tasted :)

CUTENESS! 

Until next year!  Maybe one year I'll have enough courage to have a little taste... maybe...

Mother's Day Gift

For Mother's Day this year, Mark gave me a photo shoot with the same girl who did Pierce's newborn/Jake's 2 year old pictures.  I thought that it was the most special gift he could have given me because these pictures will last forever!  He earned major points and it is probably a gift I should come to expect every Mother's Day, don't you think?! :)

She just sent me the sneak peek and I couldn't be anymore thrilled with them!

Click HERE to see them!

My Little Farm Boys

Jake and Pierce LOVE LOVE LOVE spending time at Arista.  They love being outside.  They love digging in the dirt.  They love walking the vineyard rows.  They love "working on projects."  They love riding on the tractor.  They love being little farm boys!  And I wouldn't have it any other way!

helping out in the soon-to-be goat house at Arista

Project #2

The second project I wanted to work on with my dad was painting our powder room or our half bath downstairs.  Everyone out here laughs when I say "powder room."  It must be a southern thing.  It was red when we moved in and while I would normally love a red bathroom, it just felt really small and dark.  I had in my mind more of a sage-y green color but it turned out a little brighter and it has very quickly become one of my favorite little happy rooms.

I thought about my grandfather alot while I was painting the bathroom and while I was refinishing the picnic table.  Those were things that he used to be great at.  He was great with his hands.  He was great at building things.   I probably told my dad a dozen times that I wish I could pick up the phone and call him to tell him what I was doing and ask him the correct way to do it.  There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of him.  I miss him so much!

Anyways, here are a few pictures of my new powder room :)

i am in love with my new painting from Ballard Designs

and i still want to get a different light fixture too.  

Project #1

I had a couple of bigger projects that I was wanting my dad to help me with while he was here.  The first one was refinishing a picnic table.  Last year for my birthday, my sweet friend Sara's dad made me a picnic table for the boys!  It is truly one of my favorites.  But the weather had done a number on it and it desperately needed some help.

So, I borrowed a sander from my brother-in-law and went to ACE hardware and bought the rest of my supplies and we went to work!

here is the before.  i wish i had an up close picture. sorry for the shadow!

aren't you impressed that I'm using a sander?!  :)

all sanded and ready to be stained

VOILA!  Ain't she purdy?!  

I'm so happy how it turned out.  And I used a different "top coat" that should hold up to the weather better.  We've already had a few picnics and are loving it!

Thanks dad for helping me with project #1!  I love you!

Mother's Day

My sweet sweet boys, how I thank Jesus for you everyday!  You bless me beyond belief and I am honored to be your mommy.  Jesus knew exactly what He was doing when He gave me you and for that I am eternally grateful!  I was born to be your mommy and I will treasure that responsibility and that gift for always.

I was definitely sad that I couldn't be with my own momma on Mother's day 'cause I miss her beyond belief but was grateful to be with my dad.  She is an amazing mother and I am so proud to be her daughter.

and i had to post these 2 pics...

my mommy and i on the day that i became a mommy!

and this was mother's day last year... so thankful for a different picture experience this year!  :)

Tired...

... looks like this at our house today...

ALL of us are going to bed early tonight!