a few of my favorite things.

Here are some recent things that makes my heart beat.

Enjoy.

CHALK BOARDS: Ben & I still have some leftover from the wedding & love using them. They are such a great way to write a quick note on your way out the door, or to add beauty to our small room.

STAYING ORGANIZED: yes, please! I fractionally inherited some of my Mom's talent in organization. I love coming back to our room when the bed is made & things are where they belong. Love this unique way of organizing office supplies.

RECIPES: A few days ago I browsed through one of the cookbooks that my Mother complied for one of my bridal showers. It was such a joy to see each recipe that family members crontributed, knowing that each was the result of many labors of love. I am so looking forward to this fall when (crossing my fingers) I will have the opportunity to be able to USE all of my wedding kitchen gifts & make food for our family of two. Love this funky recipe box from FreestyleGifts on etsy. Oh, etsy...

FLORAL PRINTS: Something deep inside of me has fallen in LOVE with floral prints. I really enjoy being a girl, and love wearing, drawing, & (hopefully someday) growing flowers. It would be a dream to take a class on flower arranging someday. If your reading this Ben, that would be a great birthday present in the next couple of years :)

How lovely are these spring poppies? I am such a grandma...

CALLIGRAPHY: I have always loved handwriting, even as a young girl I remember trying to perfect my handwriting with new swirls and techniques. I am horrible at cursive, and wish with all my heart that I could write like a calligrapherist (how do you spell that?). This blog is my fav, fav, fav!

Thanks for hearing about some of my favorite things! (Sooooo cheesy, but LOVE sound of music & Julie Andrews!)

Tervis, my love.

My fav: TERVIS TUMBLERS!

Words cannot express how much I dig drinking out of this little dandy. Thanks so much MADISON & EVAN for the cup & MOMMA for the lid.

Go get one!

Nathan

Love these sweet pictures that my Mom posted of baby Nathan on her blog (www.mikeandjudy.blogspot.com). Such a precious baby boy!

ladies night!

Last night, some of us Institute girlies got together for a GIRLS NIGHT! The evening started at Olive Garden and ended at my dear friend, Lauren's house. She made the greatest desserts: chocolate pudding cake, strawberry cupcakes, & my favorite (pictured below) lemon tarts with raspberry filling.

After eating, we had some craft time. Love all of LK's fun buttons!

The project that I chose to do was this fabric flower. It was really easy to make & I'm pumped about the results!

 These headbands are my absolute FAVORITE! My Mom found them at the walking street in Thailand, and I have been hooked on them ever since. I decided to attach the flower to my headband & with the help of a sweet friend made a way to slide the flower on & off the headband!

 The turnout! -As a side note, can you agree with me that Spring cannot come soon enough (my skin coloring...)?

The other favorite of the night were these rolled flowers. SO cute!

It was the greatest evening: crafts, food, & sweet friends!

Thoughts about my life & family

WHAT a weekend!

Driving home last night from Fayetteville, Arkansas, I had some time to ponder my weekend with my family. I had such a great time with my mom and sister & saying goodbye (as usual) was such a bummer.

Being a missionaries kid (or just mk) provides an unusual life for me and my three sisters. I am convinced that we are the closest family, even though we live everywhere: Thailand, California, Arkansas, and Missouri.

On Sunday afternoon Mom, Marisa, & I went shopping together and had a great time bonding, the GIRL way. I loved our sweet time together and treasure them both.

Looking forward to the next time our WHOLE family is together, especially with all the new additions!

princess summer & her princess party!

Summer's 5th birthday party was a magical success. She requested a PRINCESS party & her momma & nina went all out. It was so fun to arrive just in time to help tie up loose ends & get the birthday princess all curled, dressed & crowned.

Summer is such a great little/big girl & I LOVE being her Aunt Jen!

Here is a "station" that the little princesses could be pampered at. 

Here are the adorable party favors that Marisa & Mom fashioned together.

I was in charge of the "Nail" station & LOVED painting so many tiny nails. The major trend right now for young princesses is rainbow colors & of course pink & purple.

Summer in all her princess glory!

Everyone LOVED how the cake turned out. SO perfect!

I just LOVE these trips down to Arkansas. I truly have the greatest family in the world!

yeah, bobcats!

Ben & I had a blast last night at College of the Ozark's basketball game. It was so fun to travel to CofO and reunite with so many college friends. Even though we live in the same town as our alma mater, the Institute keeps us busy & we rarely visit. 

The gymnasium was packed & full of energy- so fun to be a part of such an intense game! Our school played the top team in the division and brought the heat!

And... we won! The last few minutes of the game were unbeatable with great free throws & a sweet dunk. 

Proud of our BOBCATS :)

homemade hair clips

It seems like every time I come down to Fayetteville, I always end up making something crafty for the Foltz kiddos. This time, I made these ribbon/button clips. 

 They were so easy and fun, and the glue gun and I are still friends. The red one below is my favorite!

I think I might even sneak one for myself!

little gypsy

Yesterday Hayley decided to dress herself in... her favorite clothes! I love her eclectic fashion choices and I love her monkey-in-a-plastic bag trend.  

She really is the cutest thing, and is even cuter when her Mommy dresses her! 

snapshots of life here at the foltzs...

Here are some more snapshots of what our week has been like.

There is no Chic Fil-A in Branson, so we LOVE frequenting them whenever we travel!

Here is an adorable picture of Ben & Collin doing homework together after we arrived Monday. Too precious!

Collin is growing up into quite the stud. He is super fast on this razor that his Uncle Michael got for him.

This picture is from my phone & it is my FAV of Hayley- so excited to be a BIG sister!

The girls asked me to take a picture of them- I think they were tired of everyone taking so many pictures of the newest Foltz!

Today Mom, Hayley & I are going on an outing to Sams Club- Mom is rewarding me for a challenge she gave me! So excited!!!

baby nathan

Busy, Busy, Busy= our life here in Fayetteville, Arkansas at the Foltzs. Here are some pictures of our last few days.

It was so fun to be at Marisa's baby shower Tuesday morning! Such great breakfast-y food: monkey bread, banana chocolate-chip peanut butter bread, mushroom artichoke quiche, and a fruit salad. Yum! I also LOVED the fresh flowers- spring is here!

Mom, Marisa and I! I LOVE this new scarf from my Mom- thai gifts are the best!

Here is Marisa and her youngest daughter, Hayley. This girl has the cutest personality & is in such a fun stage of life. She is just starting to speak in sentences & has the funniest laugh! Doesn't Marisa look great for being 9 months pregnant?

Ben & I spent the "delivery" day with Hayley & Summer. We had the greatest time pretending to be parents, but were very relieved to meet Marisa & Jon &...... Baby NATHAN! 

Ben, Collin & I lovin' on the lil' stud!

This picture is really random, but the interactions are so fun.

Can't believe Jon & Marisa have FOUR kids!

 And here he is!

We got a cookie cake to celebrate Nathan coming home from the hospital.

Just love being here!

it's a boy!

I have the GREATEST news.

Today I became an AUNT for the fourth time.  Jon and Marisa Foltz had
NATHAN CALVIN FOLTZ
at 2:33pm. He is a studly 9 pounds & 10 ounces.

It was such a joy walking into the hospital with Collin, Summer, & Hayley to meet their newest brother. Nathan is such a great looking baby, and I am SO excited for him to come home tomorrow so I can just watch him!

Today Ben and I babysat the 3 oldest Foltz kids & we had a great time "playing" mom & dad. They are the greatest kids, but a lot of work to keep up with. We still have a ways to go before we are ready for kids: relationally with each other & financially.

But we LOVE being an aunt & uncle!
Stay tuned for pictures of the newest heart-throb :)