oh my goodness...

most of you know that jenny and i photograph weddings together. well, we had one this past saturday that was absolutely beautiful!

this post is so not about the wedding or about the photography.

it is solely about this salad.

i know, weird.

but if you had tasted the thing, you'd know what i'm talking about.

if you can't tell, it is made up of spinach leaves, watermelon, cantaloupe, some version of dark sesame seeds, and some kind of vinaigrette dressing.

it was so good that jenny and i both had two of them. we sat at a table alone and there were extras. don't judge. we didn't want it to waste.

anyway, i'm so in love with it that i bought stuff yesterday to recreate it. although i couldn't find the sesame seeds, i don't think they contributed anything to the taste anyway...just made it look pretty.

here's my version: baby spinach leaves, cantaloupe, watermelon, and regular italian dressing.

it wasn't exactly it due to the dressing, but man, it was still good! there's something about the juice from the watermelon mixing with the dressing that just makes it. and i'm pretty sure there's a set way to make it. i'm convinced that you must put the dressing on the bottom of the dish and then layer with the spinach leaves, cantaloupe, and watermelon. if you let it sit a little while, the juice from the fruit will seep down into that dressing. then, glorious!

try it!

(okay, this is probably one of the more bizarre posts i've ever done, but it's that good! even jerry ate it.)

four

my baby is four today.

i'm still in awe.

at four years old, he:

• counts to 49 all by himself
• counts to 100 with a little help
• does a 100-piece puzzle in no time
• writes his name all by himself
• asks questions like nobody's business
• LOVES transformers
• is terrified of tornadoes
• loves the weather channel
• would spend every waking minute outside, if i'd let him
• weighs only 30 pounds and is almost 38 inches tall
• likes to wear his hair in a "mohawk"
• makes his brother smile like no one else
• steals my heart with just one look

my sweet boy, i love you so much. i can't believe how much you have changed my life. i look forward to you waking up everyday and giving me that sweet, sly smile. i can't wait to see the look of joy on your face when you get something you want. and i love the way you can make everything else seems so miniscule just by giving me a hug. i miss you, baby. and i love you.

happy birthday!

back to school spirit

i'm really trying to psyche myself up for back to school. for me, it's only two and half weeks away! where did summer go?! anyway, i was hoping these would motivate me.
(and they're grainy on purpose. :))

j-a-c-o-b

jacob has known how to spell his name on his own for a long time. but lately, we've been working on actually writing it. we write all kinds of things. he does pretty well with me instructing him on each letter. for instance, to make an "m" for momma, i tell him to start with a straight line, and then go down, up, and down. he does wonderful.

yesterday, jerry's dad came over. i told jacob to show him how he could write his name. this time jacob instructed me that he could do it on his own. and in about 10 seconds, he did!

i don't know if this is something extraordinary for an almost four year old, but i'm definitely impressed. my little baby is growing up. i couldn't be prouder of him.

i heart red.

i keep thinking my house decor is complete, but then i always find something that just fits. here's the latest.

a little pop of red in the living room. i love it!
of course, it still needs a few things to adorn the shelves, but you get the picture.

here's a lamp i already had, a $3 whatever-that-is from hobby lobby, and that little box has a collection of photos in it from the past year.

half-price wall art, again from hobby lobby.

and i actually bought this lamp to go on the table, but it was too tall. turns out, it works perfectly with my copper-toned office decor, so i just switched them out.

cutie pies

these are two of my nieces...jaycee and lexi. how cute are they?!

my parents came down this weekend to pick up their new camper. as always, i got to take a few pictures of these girls.

and this is why i don't need a girl!