summer 2013

Since I have been an uninspired blog-keeper this summer, a general update.

This summer has been one of transition. To a new house. To a more-official floral design position. To parenting a new pup. To much-needed involvement. To a hint of normalcy.

This normalcy looks like full calendars - a personal [possibly unhealthy] love of mine. So full that is calls for mini family meetings and plenty of time spent plugging in reminders and appointments and events into the calendar. I know that this is a very normal thing in the life of the average American [and beyond]. But for the last twelve months, our weeks have been the bare minimum. When you are a new member of a church or a business or a community, involvement is limited. Read: people-time is limited. This summer I am beyond thankful for the Lord providing us with busy days filled with events that need florals, church ministry responsibilities, dinner with new friends, family that needs celebrating.

This time last year, I was going to the grocery store because it was my only source of human interaction while D was at work. I know now that that was a season with purpose. But these days I wouldn't be surprised if I saw someone I knew in the Piggly Wiggly or Publix or (dreaded) WalMart. A wonderful, welcomed change even if I'm in need of a good hair-washing.

Summer 2013 began with our move to the new house. Things are shaping up, and there may possibly be some pictures soon since I'm learning to rangle the shedding dog and mulching area rug with this and this.

Less than a week later, we headed south for Anna's [who is absolutely "the apple of our eye"] first birthday party. It was all hands on deck for decorations and favors and food. At one point, D was slicing apples and cutting tiny little hearts out of their centers for apple and peanut butter sandwiches. We're rocking his all-boy-family world one birthday party at a time.

June, and then again in August, was peak wedding season bringing plenty of design and learning time. I did my first solo wedding and had the opportunity to assist Sarah with several more beautiful events. We ended the summer with bang: a two-wedding weekend with five venues in two days. I can honestly say that I've never been more exhausted in my entire life. Granted I've never run a marathon or given birth or, you know, climbed Mt. Everest. But I was worn slap out, y'all. And thanks to a poorly-chosen maxi dress, I was shuffling my chaffed self in on my extremely sore feet. Here's to adrenaline and pure creative satisfaction for carrying us through.

A trip to Ruston brought wonderful time with family, a bittersweet cleaning-out of Mamaw Mc's house, fresh Ruston peaches, and a tearful meeting of my best friend's baby boy. The pace at which our lives are moving is overwhelming at times.

We lost D's grandmother midsummer. It was the most sudden of any of our grandparents. And it's still hard to think that she won't be there when we visit this weekend. We had, as always, a lot of sweet family time through that heartache.

August began with a trip to Florida to spend some time with my dearest Ashley before her big move to the Middle East. It was perfectly timed, perfectly planned by a God who cares about details and emotions and friendships. We spent some time on the sand, around the table, at the outlet malls, and [most importantly] in our pajamas. We talked about memories and what life will be like after the move, what is most saddening and most exciting. An unexpected but completely perfect project was taking Ash's pictures and laying out her prayer magnet. Isn't she a beauty? We completely failed in our "no tears, just say 'see you later'" plan. So we cried and hugged and cried some more. And since then, we're thankful for international texting apps and email and prayer.

To wrap up a summer full of busy weekends was Audrey's SIXTH birthday. She's SIX. Impossible. We had a tea party with enough flowers for a small wedding ceremony. That evening, the entire fam went to the birthday girl's restaurant of choice - Chick-fil-A - where it's not difficult to get a table for thirteen on Saturday nights.

Today we are headed south for the wedding of one of D's groomsmen. This weekend will usher in [in my mind] an official beginning to fall bringing with it pumpkin-flavored purchases and LSU football. Here's to looking forward to sweaters and mums and Christmas trees and filled calendars.

daddy turns sixty

I have a few fleeting memories of my dad's surprise 40th birthday party. I was a few days away from four years old and Biscuit, our Shih Tzu, was brand new and had to stay in the bottom half of a tiny cardboard box in the corner of the room. But I remember lots of loved ones and lots of appreciation for Don McMahone's life.

For the big 5-0 I'm pretty sure we went out to dinner and took him shopping for a new recliner.

Which obviously meant that year sixty called for a very special celebration for someone who deserves the biggest party every single year. Or possibly every month.
Between five courses of choices like espresso-cumin rubbed chicken and honeycrisp apple rosemary sorbet and Argentine short ribs over roasted garlic polenta, we talked about what Daddy hoped to accomplish in his next ten years. We talked about the numerous close calls he experienced as a young and adventurous boy [e.g. climbing ten-story-tall water towers and plenty of cotton mouth run ins].

And after a final course of bread pudding and bananas foster, Moll and I shared a surprise toast – good and teary, of course.

Happy 60th Birthday, Daddy.

It seems nearly impossible to put into words the thanks and appreciation that this milestone birthday deserves, but we will, as you have always taught us, do our best.

We've gained so much from you. Like why to look both ways on a one way street, how to rig a dripping faucet with a shoestring, and how to shoot a gun and not miss. One of us even got your good looks.

From you we've learned the importance of hardwoods over pines, a strong tennis backhand, and a well-built fire. Of efficiently shaped dinner plates, a cup with a good handle, and never missing a historical marker.

Not to mention all of life's basic necessities - like how to drive and change a tire.

And because of you we have unique loves of house plans and residential construction zones, of meteor showers, and of flying squirrels.

We've always known that if there was a project you could build it, a task you could complete it, and a problem you could fix it.

Besides teaching us what you love, you've given an astounding amount of your time for us too. For dance recitals and choir performances and football halftimes. For science fair projects and multiplication tables.

You are our provider of senior trip funds and overpriced prom dresses and college degrees and wedding expenses.

Better yet, you've provided us with a daily example of the person we want to become and, more importantly, the person we wanted to marry.

That person is a fiercely loyal spouse, a hard worker, a non-worrier, someone of unwavering character, and the best Pops there ever will be.

It's someone who gave us a foundation of steel in a fragile world. Someone who made us feel like we had unmeasurable worth and potential. And, when the time came, it's someone who gave our husbands the perfect balance of a whole lot of love, plenty of advice, and a little bit of fear.

So here is to sixty years of life that have made all of us better spouses, better children, better parents, better church members, better employees, and better friends.

We love you!

the american girl doll store

Thanks for your response to yesterday's post. Those that have gone before us in this - your encouragement is priceless!

Somehow I forgot to share about Audrey's 5th birthday at the American Girl Doll Store. Me! The over-sharer!

I assume you haven't lost sleep over this. But, in the spirit of documenting life events and lessons on this blog, it's practically required. Hello - it's my first trip to my THE American Girl Doll Store.

Any semblance of maturity will be switched off for the remainder of this post.

After juggling some family schedules, the opportunity arose to meet Molly, Brandon, and the girls in Atlanta to celebrate Audrey's fifth birthday with her BFF Maddie and Maddie's family. So I came to "see Audrey on her birthday" and to "help Molly with Anna." I won't tell you that I considered getting Mom to send me Felicity so I could take her to lunch. Or that I couldn't sleep the night before.

These are [slight] exaggerations.

We are an American Girl family. And not just that, but the historical girls. Audrey chose Molly [all on her own] for her first doll which brings the family roster to Felicity, Kirsten, Addy, Samantha, Molly, and Kit.

Like if it was a history-filled girls basketball team roster. Oooh, or gymnastics. Also, I was almost too old to get Kit. Or not almost.

Being an American Girl family, we have spent many an afternoon dissecting the latest catalog. This is where my dreams of going to the store began. Remember when the first one opened in Chicago? I think it was around the same time they tried out that totally cool line of tiny rooms you could collect but ironically didn't have any dolls to go with them. Remember those? Anyway, visiting the store seemed nearly unachievable for a small town girl. A hair salon? A restaurant? A THEATER?! 

I guess, since then, my world has gotten smaller. And a store visit has been achieved!

I'm pretty much just kind of kidding about all of this. But it was exciting.

We had a blast! The store was all things pink and girly and a playground for those who appreciate the little details. The highlights?
-The hair salon and spa
-The big dude by the door who was dressed in all black with the "American Girl Security" name tag
-The assumed fifteen-year-old dressed in an identical Kit outfit taking pictures of everything on her phone [to whom I wanted to say, "Hey! I don't even have an iPhone!"]
-The bistro birthday party!

Lunch was certainly the best part. Except for walking in for the first time [pretty much just kind of kidding]. Miraculously, we fit five adults, three girls, five dolls, and a sleeping baby [a real one] around that table. There were doll chairs, menus, party hats, and goody bags flying in every single direction. It was bliss. My personal highlight: eating their surprisingly delish food with Anna asleep on my shoulder.

I was absolutely exhausted the next day. Physically and emotionally. Ok, just physically. Totally worth it!

Dreams do come true, y'all.

anna morgan

Meet the new love of my life.

She, like her sister, is an early bird. She was born at 2:15 AM. An hour and forty-five minutes after I got the call that they were headed to the hospital. Three hours and forty-five minutes before I would make it to Montgomery.

When I did make it, the most beautiful and saturated pink sunrise was strutting its stuff in celebration of Miss Anna's arrival. Or at least I like to think so. I did that still-trying-to-be-lady-like run through the hospital lobby until I found the delivery room whose hall was buzzing with plenty of other nurses and excited family members. Being the baby of the family, there is something extra exciting about births. About knowing someone from their very first breath. Especially someone you know you'll remain close to. I mean, I'm already crying dreaming about Audrey and Anna's wedding days.

 
Meeting that 8 lbs. and 14 oz. of perfection was no different!

 

Among the four of us (which is now eight!) we've joked about how you'd think my parents had 12 children instead of 2 because of the way huge life events seem to overlap one another. Audrey was due the day I began college. As in, my first college class ever. Kind of a big deal, I guess. She came early. Actually, Molly was sent to the hospital as soon as I picked up my very first bag to pack for the big move. Thankfully, my incredible best friends kept my house key and finished my packing while we were gone. With little Miss Anna, she decided to enter the world just a day and a half after D and I had driven into this brand new state and began to settle into our new home. Needless to say, it makes things much more exciting for our little fam!

What I know to be true of all those crisscrossing life events is the evidence of the Lord's graciousness. If Audrey had come on her due date, there's no way I could have been there. It may have been labor day until I met that beauty. If Anna had been a week earlier, we may have been wrapped up in graduation or our farewell party or some other unpredictable event. This time, I was able to stay through the weekend while D was at a wedding back in Louisiana which meant spending more time with all the girls and not having to stay in our house by myself. It's amazing and hysterical and unbelievable. And undoubtedly beautiful.

Next time? Who knows. Molly and I will probably go into labor at the exact. same. time.

Just kidding, Mom!