San Jose del Cabo

This year we spent the fourth of July in Mexico! Our sweet friends invited us down to Cabo for 5 days of sun, drinks (virgin Miami Vices for me) and utter relaxation. Hey, we even saw fireworks!

Days at the resort were spent getting up early and having my cup of coffee on the balcony and reading through 1 Timothy. Ashamedly, it's been a while since I've had/made time to sit and read the bible for more than 10 minutes, so this time was nice. Breakfast was always next. Cheese eggs and bacon wrapped in a tortilla, and pancakes with real mantequilla (mm!) After breakfast it was off to the pool for the rest of the day to read and nap, with maybe a trip or two to the snack bar to hold us over til dinner. 

One of the days, the boys took a boat out for some deep sea fishing. They didn't have any luck catching anything, but still saw a ton of marlin, which I'd say is still pretty cool. In the middle of our trip we took a barge of sorts out to the arch and Lovers and Divorce beach. This was such a fun day, and really the only day I took photos. We walked along the beach, saw puppies playing, and made homemade salsa! in a pestle and mortar, by the way, be impressed.

The "professional" photographer was really good at catching our jumping shots. 

We even had time to make out on the beach before we left. 

And now, the only photo of my actual bare belly that you'll ever see on here. 14 weeks, and outta the first trimester! success!

Thank you Mitchells and Ellisons, you guys truly are the best. Blake and I will play made-up card games, stalk weddings, drink Glitter Monkeys, eat waffle fries and cheese, and lay by the pool with y'all any day. 

mullin, dublin, and dakota

Reunited. With the thought of spending 2 and a half weeks Dakota-less really weighing us down with sadness, Blake and I embarked on a 3 hour arduous journey to Mullin to pick her up from my parents and spend a weekend with some Bakers and a Cooper.

The country air welcomed us in along with the perfectly placed stars.

Blake and Kota cuddled all night until the morning. She was happy to see her daddy.

Then we dabbled in a little homemade ice-cream making adventure. Apricot and Vanilla. I sat on the maker while Brandon and Blake took turns cranking it.

me supervising.

Dakota supervising.

20 minutes later. homemade icecream. what a delightful afternoon on the front porch in Mullin.

Sunday rolls around and we pack up the car and head back to Dallas. We made a stop in Dublin, Texas. Being a true Texan at heart, I was feeling a tad convicted that I hadn't been here before.

The Dr. Pepper bottling plant and Old Doc's Soda Shop. A Texas staple.

very cool ceiling tiles. getting inspiration for what to do with mine.

Blake likes his Dr. Pepper frosty.

Back home to Dallas. home sweet home, or shall I say apartment sweet apartment. I can only say that for 2 more weeks! yippee!

frio river

I have felt like a serious drifter the past couple of weeks, and with the move (job and home) coming up, I think this feeling will be with me for a couple more weeks. Stability is great. But, sometimes too, you've got to praise God for some change.

First off, a little river vacation with Blake's family. We had one great addition this year... my mom and her friends came down and rented a house nearby too! It was such a relaxing week. Life consisted of sleeping in, delicious fried meals, naps, miller lite, family, laughs, 42 tournaments, a touch of sun, one morning run and some rock painting.

(because you know how often Blake and I sit on tree swings together)

how about the story of Frio River 2011 through some random pictures found on my phone? I really need my SLR.

at Neil's - I suggest the pancakes, and for some reason - the toast - best I've ever had.. I can smell them now as I lay in bed and type.

the Frio river - just a tad too dry to float, with or without water - nothing could've stopped us from having an amazing week

a bottle of red from Aunt Martha and Uncle John's vineyard in Georgia. Love it when I'm sent home with a bottle of wine!

some sweet Texas Hill-Country Peaches brought in all the way from Fredericksburg, just an added treat.

and to top of the trip and make the 6-7 hour car ride home do-able. A stop at the, well, czech stop. West, Texas' finest. A quick fix for dessert, and breakfast for Blake and I for the rest of the week. mmm.. apricot and cream cheese.

I hope that we are able to make it to the Frio for many years to come. Such a fun time to have and get to pack it with memories year after year.

memorial day weekend.

Galveston. 42. jet skis. fish fry. friends. Houston. manicures. pedicures. family. Benihanas. Dallas. Mavs. beer pong. Dakota.

movin' on up..

to the South sideeeee! To that deluxe restored home in the ghettoooo... Ok, I kinda lost the tune to the song, but - we are A MOVIN! moving in July that is! and every time I think about it my legs start jigging - shoulders start rolling back in a rapid way - finger point down to the ground in one fluid dance motion.. For you visual people it looks something like this..

a rainbow really does appear too! it's crazy..


Our new home is 2 bedroom and 1 bath - fireplace - front porch - huge kitchen - a DINING ROOM (halleluiah! - now we don't have to eat at the bar or the coffee table!) a big ol back yard for the puppies! .. I mean pup - but need I make it public via the blog that Blake did promise we could upgrade to 2 dogs once we moved into a house!! look out!


We are going to be near jogging trails, which, everytime I mention this to Dakota she looks back at me like this - with ears straight up and eyes full of intrigue. "we'll be near what?!?!" "are you serious, ma??" "I can't wait to lose those couple pounds the vet has been buggin' me about!!"



we're both thrilled - considering my summer to-do list here is to run outside - a lot!


So, my next idea, later this summer that is, is to do a "house tour" - I've seen them on other blogs, and I just LOOOVVVEEE looking at other people's homes and styles and decor and ideas! I thought it would be fun to give it a whirl! Maybe this can be the start of my own Interior Decorating consulting gig I eventually want to do!


Here's the photo of the outside that was on the realtor's website.. It's a gem! Though I'm not madly in love with the house colors (a rusty orange-red) they chose - we're renting - so it will have to do.





I'm seeing tons of beautiful happy flowers in those beds in front of the window!



Here's Dakota's oasis. Look at all that yard! Here's to adventures in lawn keeping! Blake will have quite the job :)



oh, and did I mention we're down the street from the Bishop Arts District?? We drove down there on a Saturday - and I canNOT wait to explore once we're locals! I saw Zumba classes, ice cream shops, diners, and a million porches to enjoy a nice ice tea on - or a marg. either works!