vacationland

we are alive, well, and enjoying our time in vacationland! take a peek at our fun!

view from my old neighborhood. love it! tahoe is my favorite place.

great grandma & hunter overlooking emerald bay, lake tahoe.

at 8,200 ft elevation in squaw valley (a huge ski resort where the winter olympics took place). growing up, i went to ski school there.

at kings beach (the town i lived in) on the north shore of the lake.

where i went to middle & part of high school.

kelly & hunter enjoying squaw valley.

mommy & hunter overlooking squaw valley.

he has been a good little traveler.

on a gondola.

the graham fam at emerald bay.

enjoying the mountain air!

emerald bay with the tahoe queen passing by.

my grandpa & i visiting taylors creek.

kelly scoping out fish.

my old house. i miss it!

it was fun to show my boys where i used to live.

visiting my favorite spot in my old neighborhood.

my old church.

northstar - ski resort near our house. my brother and i tried to go skiing here at least 3 times a week. so fun!

truckee...an awesome lil' mountain town.

eating outside at in 'n out (we have been twice already).

my family...aunt christine, uncle steve, cousins kim & kerri.

in 'n out...yummmmm.

hunter on the plane. i know its blurry...but what a silly face!!!

we still have 4 more days of fun ahead of us!

it's golden!

although it may be bankrupt, it's still beautiful. that's right folks...i'm talking about my home state of california. the golden state. in a few days we are headed out there to visit my family. i am so excited and can't wait to introduce hunter to everyone! here is what i am looking forward to...

family & friends

the ocean with cliffs

lake tahoe...i like to call it paradise. kelly has never been. i can't wait to show him around...where i went to middle & high school, where i lived and all that fun stuff. i am pretty convinced he is going to fall in love with it. when people ask me if i like living here in the south better, i just tell them, "well, i moved from lake tahoe to goose creek." and that answers their question. don't get me wrong, south carolina is beautiful.

of course, how can you not be excited about cable cars, seafood, a beautiful bridge, and hills. i miss hills! hello san fran!

if you have never had the pleasure of tasting see's candies, i am so sorry!!! this stuff is my favorite chocolate ever. will definitely be picking some up!

in 'n out. i love this place. they even have Bible verses on the inside of the bottom of their cups. i mean...this is california we are talking about.

the best grocery store on earth. they have free samples, too. think whole foods only tens of dollars cheaper.

i'll try to keep you updated on all our fun! oh, have i mentioned the best part about this vacay? it's free! that's right. we used skymiles for our airline tickets and we will be staying with my family. we will spend some cash eating out every once and a while (but, i do already have some coupons to use for restaurants out there). overall, this is a very budget friendly trip. that makes me very happy.

rare occurrence!

(yes, i am make-up less in this pic, but that's beside the point)

if you are ever around me for any length of time you know that i hardly ever wear my hear down. not only do i hardly ever wear my hair down, i never wear it straight. it just takes tooooo much time. like an hour. since i would much rather spend that hour playing with my boy, working out, reading, etc - the list could go on and on...i never do my hair straight.

don't let this pic fool you. i didn't spend an hour on my hair. i got my haircut (it had been over 6 months since i last did this - cray-zee!) and my sweet stylist friend, annie, spent an hour on my hair! she is awesomely talented!!! if you live near me and need a haircut ask me about annie! n-e-ways, i didn't really get anything different...if it were up to me i would chop it all off. but, my husband loves my long hair and i do want him to find me attractive :).

so, i thought i would just share with you this rare occurrence that kelly captured on camera.

hello.

my mommy calls me chunky but you can call me hunter. i know she tells you all about me, but i thought it would be most polite to introduce myself to you.

i love to eat! my favorites are plums, bananas, squash and sweet potatoes. i used to like peas but today i decided that they're gross.

yesterday i started rolling over. this is me in action. i think my mommy was proud. she said, "finally" right after i did it. then she clapped. i love it when my parents clap for me.

my favorite thing to do these days is sit up. oh yeah, and i love to do anything that involves being with my mommy. that's why i don't like the church nursery very much. mommy always says she's crazy about me. i think that's a good thing.

my finger serves a few purposes. right now, i am getting a tooth in and its my favorite teether. i also have my daddy wrapped around it. my favorite time of the day is when he gets home from work.

it was nice to meet you.

feminine appeal...

...is a fabulous book that i just finished reading (apparently i am in the mood to endorse things and promote them). if you are a wife or mother you have to read this. scratch that, if you are female you have to read this. the premise: seven virtues of a Godly wife and mother based upon Titus 2:3-5. and, if you aren't a wife or mom yet, it is good Biblical Truth to get into your brain until you get to that point. here are the seven virtues she discusses:

1. the delight of loving my husband

2. the blessings of loving my children

3. the safety of self-control

4. the pleasure of purity

5. the honor of working at home

6. the rewards of kindness

7. the beauty of submission

normally i don't heart books with a certain number of steps or bullet points, that insist if you master these numerous things you will be whatever it claims. i am fine with it in this case because carolyn draws these virtues directly from Scripture.

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled." Titus 2:3-5 ESV

read it! you will be encouraged, challenged, and blessed. and who wouldn't want that???

it's fixed & a must!

yay...i fixed my blog, or at least i think so. i never knew i could learn so much about html and actually be interested in it. anyway, if you are using an internet browser other than safari or internet explorer and the layout is messed up...please let me know. thanks.

now, for the must!

if you love worship music and are itching for a new cd, buy this one:

keith getty wrote "in Christ alone" along with stuart townend. this cd is a joy to listen to, not to mention the lyrics are meaty and kristyn's voice is flat out angelic! they are from ireland and their music resembles celtic style. so good!

finally...the finale!

i ended my harris teeter 3 day shopping extravaganza on a high note! these were my best deals. all of this was $13. i saved $58.

now, its time for a break from grocery shopping. i do still have to go to bi-lo once this week to use my $28 certificate before it expires. after that, i probably won't need to go shopping for at least 3 weeks - not to mention that all this stuff will last us for months. yippee!

totals from all 3 trips:

spent: $46

saved: $166

what do you like to spend $15 on?

i like to spend it on this!!!

total spent: $15, total saved: $55

(yes, that means it would have cost $70 without coupons)

i couldn't help myself. i had to go back to harris teeter today. i am so glad i did. i have one more trip planned for tomorrow; i hope tomorrow will be the best deals of all. will keep you posted! um, so yeah, have i mentioned that

i love coupons?

totals from harris teeter so far -

total spent: $33, total saved: $108

one more thing...i went to bi-lo and bought $150 (unfortunately we guzzle gas...even with only one vehicle...that will probably last us 2 1/2 weeks) worth of gas gift cards to get $28 back to spend at bi-lo. what a thrill. free money.

just call me jenny

i ventured to harris teeter today because they are tripling manufacturer's coupons right now up to 99 cents. this is an amazing deal!!! i got so many items for free. i did what jenny, from southern savers told me to. it took me about 3 hours to get all the coupons clipped, printed, & organized. i plan to go back at least one more time (there is a limit to 20 coupons/day) and will get money back as long as it all goes as planned. -i'll update you on that in a few days.

these were my deals (or should i say, steals???) for the day:

retail: $71

after coupons: $18

isn't this awesome???!!! yes, they are all things you probably use too! i think there is often the misconception that there are only coupons out there for cat food and noodles. i am telling you, there are coupons for everything. it just takes a bit of work. since it took me 3 hours, i basically got paid almost $18/hour with all the savings. totally worthwhile!

silly me!

so, a few days ago i blogged about how hunter was not doing anything...he rolled over from tummy to back only a few times and was not sitting up at all. after going to the doctor on tuesday, we learned some exercises to help him out. the doc said to do them 10 min/day. i confess...i sort of put hunter through a baby bootcamp - yesterday we did 3 sets of the exercises and today we did 2 sets.

the doc said we would notice some big changes after we did them for a while. i was expecting a few weeks before we really noticed the exercises helping him. i was wrong! this afternoon he started sitting up really well all on his own!!! those exercises worked like magic. silly me, i shouldn't have stressed over it all a few days ago.

traveling tips

in less than 2 weeks we are going to california for 10 days to visit my family. i am so excited for them to meet hunter! i am really looking forward to taking a picture with hunter and kelly at the house i grew up in...sweet memories!

anywho...kelly often refers to me as a schedule nazi in reference to hunter's naps and feedings. if you want a happy baby a schedule is a must! i am flexible though, so i wouldn't call myself a nazi about it. i just have to have somewhat of an order to my day and love to plan everything out. so, i guess the schedule might just be more beneficial for mommy than it is for hunter.

anyways, i am wondering how i will get him on california time. i think he will probably be waking up between 4-5 am at first which freaks me out. i am determined not to get stressed out about it because i want to enjoy my vacay! if you travel a lot (i know my sister-in-law, cindy, is a pro at this with all the traveling they do; i definitely need to get her advice!) and have any tips to ease hunter into the time change let me know.

meanwhile, take a look at what awaits us:

aww...bodega bay...one of my favorite places in the world. i had my last birthday with my dad there when i was 9 (he died a few weeks later) and it will always be a special place to me. can't wait to be there in a few weeks!!!

an interesting read & 6 month update on hunter

i loved 'nsync when i was in middle and high school. please tell me someone reading this did too! i fell in love with justin timberlake at the age of 13. i went to their concert and after getting the worst seats possible, i went home afterwards and cried for a week. i was convinced i would somehow get to meet him that night and confess my love for him. i had daydreams about moving to florida and becoming all their best friend. retarded? yes, i know. my mom even let me plaster my room full of posters. anyways...i say all this to mention a very interesting article about a guy who is a pastor now but previously turned down offers to be the front man for the backstreet boys and then 'nsync. my crush could have been on him. ha. read the article here.

hunter went to the doctor today for his 6 month well check and shots. kelly was so proud of him because he didn't cry after his shots, he just whimpered for a second and was fine. kelly said he is becoming a man. -i told him, no way, not yet!!! he is in the 90th percentile for height, weight and head circumference. -he is 20 lbs, 1 oz. he is having a hard time sitting up and rolling over (the doc. said that i would too if i was as big as him!) so we learned about some exercises we can help him with to get him farther along. he has only rolled over from tummy to back a few times and never from back to tummy. i am trying hard not to freak out about it. in a few months from now, i am sure he will be just fine. the other thing i am trying not to sweat over is hunter's flat head. the doctor had a fancy name for it - it is some sort of syndrome and said that he could refer us to an orthopedic surgeon but he really thinks hunter will grow out of it in 6 months to a year. the doctor asked us to trust him about that decision - i am trying to do that without worrying! overall, he is so healthy and we are so happy about that! thank you Lord!

birthday girls

yesterday was my mom's birthday and sunday was my birthday so we celebrated last night by going out to dinner (my parent's treat - thank you!). it was a fun evening and hunter behaved so well!

i am 24 years old. i began to think about this past year of my life and realized it certainly has been the best year indeed! i don't say that in a boastful way at all...i just want to give praise to the Lord for all that He has done for us! over the past year, i had a job that i absolutely loved, became a mom, have a wonderfully adorable son, and get to stay home with him everyday! this is truly such a blessing. and, kelly has a job that he adores (he has had it for exactly 1 year now) and after 3 years of being out of ministry and working retail and other odd jobs, it is such a relief for him to be in full time ministry. we are thankful!

"i am just going to try them on"

you know the feeling...you walk by a cute pair of jeans in the mall and say to yourself, "i am just going to try them on." it's like you never know when you're going to find your match - the perfect pair. i have been waiting all my life (well, maybe not really all my life) to find that one favorite pair!!! secretly every time i try on a pair i am hoping they will be the best fitting jeans ever, which is the whole reason i just have to try them on!!! -i would never want to miss out on the perfect pair! so, needless to say, after shopping today (i had coupons and it is tax free weekend here in SC!) i didn't find them. oh well.

delish!

there is a great sandwich that i have been addicted to for awhile now. i first discovered it at a deli (it cost way too much - i think it was close to $8 - which is why i only bought it a couple times!) and knew i had to make it myself at home. about a month ago, i had it everyday for probably two weeks. i got a craving for it again so i have had it everyday for lunch this week and twice for dinner! yes, when i discover something i like - anything from a song, shirt, or sandwich - i run it into the ground. it bugs kelly so much, just ask him about sausage. anyways, here is the sandwich...you have to try it!

• foccacia bread (i can't find it anywhere for a reasonable price so I make it with the sandwich thins) or Arnold's Multi-Grain Sandwich Thins
• deli style roasted chicken lunch meat
• cream havarti cheese or provolone
• craisins
• italian blend salad (just a little bit)
• balsamic vinaigrette

put it all in between the sandwich thin and sprinkle the inside with balsamic. enjoy!!!

last month in pictures

above: hunter can't get enough of his pacifier!

kelly's parents - what a sweet pic!

below: cousins! camryn, taylor & hunter.

below: my little brother, andrew, is sailing in one of those boats. he races pretty often now and does really well. i can't believe a 10 yr old can sail a boat by himself!

above: my mom, hunter & i.

below: my sister, hunter & i at the regatta.

also below: visiting a park with caleb & julie.

above: family shot on the morning of hunter's dedication.

below: julie & i at the park.

also below: hunter's favorite spot to nap - the couch.

above and below: 4th of july celebration. we are patriotic even though we weren't in red, white & blue!