November Date Nights

We had a lot going on in the month of November, so we made some of our hectic weekends dates and squeezed a couple in different days of the week.

Here we go:

November 2nd: We were headed to Kansas on the 3rd to celebrate my grandparents 65th wedding anniversary, so we spent the 2nd packing! No date night. But we had a great time in Kansas celebrating and seeing family! Plus, the next week we had two date nights. 

November 9th: Trevor has a goal to play guitar by the age of 35. So, he chose to get a guitar lesson from me for date night. He is now on the road to success. 

We also had a date night on the 10th. Trevor’s work celebrated 20 Years with a celebration event. So, Trevor’s mom came and watched the boys and we got dressed up and had a fun evening hearing stories about the company. We also got to eat a fancy meal with both hands, which is rare these days! Unfortunately, I didn’t get one picture of the evening. It was great getting to meet Trevor’s coworkers and it was more confirmation on what a great company CCK is. 

November 16: We were headed to Denton the next morning around 6am so we didn’t have a date night. But, the whole weekend was kind of a date. Trevor’s mom and step-dad came with us and watched the boys during the rehearsal dinner and wedding. So, Trevor and I had a lot of quality time this weekend. You can read about it here. 

November 23rd: This was Thanksgiving, so we had our date night earlier in the week. We did a craft with the boys. It didn’t go as smooth as I was hoping. Both boys FREAKED out when the paint touched their hands or feet. Haha! But, the end result was super cute...

November 30th: We were planning to put up our Christmas tree but we were both exhausted and Rhett was a bit cranky, so we watched a movie. We watched The Prince of Egypt. We talked about it in our life group like a month ago and kept saying we were going to watch it, so we finally did. 

It was a great month. We were really intentional about quality time whether we were at home or traveling. I’m excited to see what December dates hold as we wrap up 2017. 

65 Years

I don’t know why I am so late blogging about this, but better late than never.

Other than becoming 65 years old, not many people celebrate something lasting 65 years. But, my grandparents broke the mold and this year they celebrated 65 married years. Wow! That is party worthy, which is exactly what my grandma did. She planned the perfect party.

November 2nd was their actual anniversary and we got to celebrate with them November 4th. Trevor and I drove to Kansas with the boys on Friday and got there by dinner. It was nice to have some extra time with them since most people weren’t arriving until Saturday.  

On Saturday we watched football. First, we watched K-State and then we watched our Cowboys. Brooks even enjoyed football, but I think he liked his tractors better. 

Aunt Lorri even gave him basket rides around the house. ;)

At the party we got to ask them questions and share special moments we had with them. It just proved to me that marriage isn’t always easy, but when you put God first, you aren’t the center of your world. When God is the main character instead of you, it’s easier to forgive, to extend grace, to love through all circumstances, to never give up...the list goes on and on. 

My grandma said one thing that stood out to me (well, she said a lot, but this one was thought provoking). She said she has enjoyed time with us here on earth, but she better see us in heaven so she can spend eternity with us there. Wow. Can you imagine being in heaven and seeing that not all your family will be with you. Or imagine the flip side, you are the one person who doesn’t get to be with the rest of your family. Let’s take the focus off ourselves...do you really want to live in a world without Jesus. Jesus is love. You would live in a world with no love. If you had the choice to spend eternity with the people you love most, why wouldn’t you take that step of faith and ask for a relationship with Christ. “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere...” sign me up! I agree with my grandma...I hope and pray I get to spend all eternity with my friends and family.

I’m so glad my kiddos get to spend holidays on the farm with these two like I did. 

What a great picture of father/daughters

We wore Brooks out!

We had such a great trip seeing family, hearing memories and stories from everyone, staying up too late and talking, eating my grandmas awesome cooking and just having family time.  Happy Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa! Thank you for setting the bar high and modeling for us a marriage built on the foundation of Jesus. We love you both so much!

My Best Friend’s Wedding

#happilyeverhinck

This picture is beautiful!

I am so excited that my bff found the man of her dreams. They are absolutely perfect together and I’m wishing them a lifetime of happiness and joy! 

The festivities began Friday at noon. We left our house around 7am Friday morning. We rented an Airbnb and asked Trevor’s parents if they wanted to join us on a little vaca. They were so kind and accepted. This way, I didn’t have to be away from both boys all weekend, but we could still go to the wedding without kids. Thank you Tony and Vanessa for hanging out with the boys! Brooks stayed the night with grandma and papa Thursday night so we wouldn’t have to wake him up to leave for Denton. Plus, attending the rehearsal and lunch were way easier without a toddler. Rhett is in the houseplant stage, so he was no trouble. After lunch we went back to our Airbnb and I got to hang out with both boys before the evening festivities began.

Friday evening we attended a Happy Hour and then the Rehearsal Dinner which was at Hannah’s Off the Square in downtown Denton. It was delicious!!

That night was the night that everyone gave speeches. Here was mine:

Beautiful Nichole, that’s how she’s known by members of my family

And everyone here that knows Nichole, I’m sure would agree

She is absolutely stunning, especially on a day like today

But her heart of gold is what wins us over each and every day

For those of you that don’t know, I’m Nichole’s friend from Oklahoma State

We both pledged G-Phi and since then, we’ve been hard to separate

We lived together several times throughout the years 

And through it all, we have laughed a lot, eaten a lot of oreos and had our fair share of tears

I’m really not joking about the oreos, you see

We had several nights where we would watch One Tree Hill or Grey’s Anatomy and go on an Oreo spree

Nichole is also a huge fan of romantic movies

Prince Charming, love, man of your dreams, yes please!

If the movie didn’t have a happily ever after

We would have to mark that one off the list to watch forever

We were often mistaken for sisters, maybe it was the hair

And date parties we often got ready together and would coordinate what to wear

After college, it was separate states for the two of us

But that didn’t stop us from finding ways to still be part of the big events in our lives, plus

It always gave us a neat place to travel with a bed to put our head

Branson, Shreveport, Atlanta, Houston, Tulsa; we’ve been pretty widespread

Nichole has been there for me during the highs and lows

She’s seen me at my ultimate worst, and everyone probably already knows

Based on the person Nichole is, she did everything she could to be there for me through thick and thin

She truly is an incredible best friend

I definitely don’t know Stephen as well

But I do know that him and Nichole are just perfect for each other, I can just tell

Thank you Stephen, for pushing my friend to do things she’s never done

To love like there is no tomorrow and to be there for her beyond anyone

You are the true definition of a gentlemen, I know

I can tell that by how you speak to and listen to your bride, she has the glow

Even just being around the two of you for a couple weekends here and there 

You are both so kind, considerate, attentive and thoughtful - love is in the air

Even after you have been married for some time now, like me and some of you

Some of us could take a couple pages from your book on how to treat each other just watching you two

I think I speak for everyone when I say, we are so excited for y’all on this very special day

We are your family, your friends and your support along the way

We wish you the best in this exciting new phase

We love you so much and we are here for you always

Saturday morning came and I was so thankful I got to wake up to these two...

We all went to breakfast together on the square and then Trevor, his parents and the boys headed to IKEA and I headed to the wedding venue. 

All the bridesmaids

He is so handsome!

OSU girls 

I loved getting to hang out with you Katy!! It’s been too long! 

Nichole and Stephen, we had a wonderful time at your wedding. I’m so thankful that I got to be part of your special day. You are an incredible friend! We wish you all a lifetime of love and happiness! Love you!!

Rhett Michael Morris - Newborn Photos

I am currently swooning over these photos!! My cousin Carley is seriously an amazing photographer and a baby whisperer. Put those together and you get some AMAZING newborn photos! Somehow she even captured my wild child smiling in pictures...he is too busy to sit down right now, so pictures are a challenge.

Seriously amazing!!! I am so exited to get these printed and in my house! Isn’t that puppy outfit ADORABLE!!! Props to my sister-in-law, Katy for crocheting that cute thing!