Our Little Blueberry

So for those of you who didn't know, at the beginning of April we found out we were pregnant and couldn't even contain ourselves as the joy just overflowed! We'd been trying for a few months and just couldn't believe it. Our hearts were just filled with love for our new little life growing inside of me. Last week our baby was the size of a blueberry! Amazing how such a tiny thing was already forming into a little baby and had a heartbeat. Last Tuesday we had our first appointment, and we were set to have our first sonogram this Thursday to hear that little heartbeat for the first time...however this past Thursday I had to go back to the doctor's office to get some more bloodwork done due to some things that had started to happen and Friday we found out that we had lost our little blueberry. You never how much it hurts until it happens to you. The nurse called me on the phone just as I was pulling out of the parking lot after having lunch with Allen. I pulled back around, he drove us home and we cried ourselves to sleep in each others arms. Never before have I felt such loss as I have now. We pray that through this loss, God will draw us even closer to Him and to each other, that we would find comfort that only He can provide. We never realized how many people we know have gone through the same thing. There are times when we are doing fine, and other times when it just hits you out of nowhere. But "we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,^a]"> for^B)"> those who are called according to his purpose."


We have decided to plant a blueberry hedge in our backyard in memory of our little blueberry. I'll post some pics once we get them planted!


Thank you for all of your love and support through this tough season in our lives!

My man...

Ok, so for those of you who check this blog and it never seems to be updated, I'm sorry! I have enough trouble keeping up with one blog...you can check out this one.
But here's a little something that should make you smile....this was at a shoot last year with a couple and Allen was just being Allen...

My sister's card...

Well, I have been super busy this week finishing up clients' pictures for Christmas and cards...and in that time I made my sister's christmas cards as well as mom's...hopefully I'll get to mine and Allen's card soon!....so what do you think?

Shelley's card

Mom's card

Cake Balls, I'm 27!!

I can't believe it---27! It's kinda funny, sometimes when someone asks how old I am, I have to think about it for a second before I answer. But I usually get it right...unlike Allen, who for some reason, on our honeymoon, thought he was 28. About the third time he told someone that, I stopped and was like...wait a second...no you aren't! You're only 27! Crazy boy...trying to grow up too fast! ;) Anyway, in April he did turn 28..and now I'm 27. 27. 27.27. I need to remember that for the next year...HA!

Anyway, I think life only gets better with each birthday. And this one was indeed the best so far! I mean, it was in fact, my first birthday to have a husband!!!(and the best one ever at that!) This year I used my birthday as an excuse(as usual) to have a party! Back in college I would have had some huge party where people have to park 3 blocks away and then walk...and while I'll ALWAYS be a party thrower(I just LOVE being a hostess!)...I have toned down the numbers since college...we just don't have room for 75-100...I don't even know how we fit that many people back then(I think it was just our HUGE back yard). Ok, this is random, but at one of our parties, my roommate's room was on fire and we didn't even notice!!(Don't tell our landlord, we never did!)...moral of that story...don't burn a candle in a wooden candle holder on a wooden shelf on your wall...I LOVE YOU LAUREN!! haha! ok...back to present time....I digress...
Anyway, yesterday was my birthday and we had some friends over for food and fun! A friend of mine let me try a cake ball she had made the other day and it was so delicious, I decided I had to make them for my party...they are FABULOUS!! I can't wait to make them again for Thanksgiving at my parent's house! You can find the recipe here. This blog has so many fun and delicious looking treats! I totally bookmarked it!

It was sooo easy, you just bake a red velvet cake...

Then let it cool, crumble it into a bowl. Mix it with a can of cream cheese frosting and roll it into balls(this can get messy). Then let them chill for a few hours in the fridge...

Then you just melt some chocolate bark and roll the balls in it and plop each coated one onto wax paper to harden...and get THIS!!!!

mmmmm....does it make you want to try it now?! It makes like 50 balls and cost maybe $5 total?? YAY!

Anyway, my dear husband, who also loves to try new things to cook(and I do mean cook...he's not so much the baker!) made some DELICIOUS meatballs...I don't have pictures, but just imagine yummy juicy maple-glazed meatballs...oh so good! We also made chocolate covered strawberries, which by the way, are my favorite fruit. Chocolate covered strawberries...remember that if you ever feel the need to give me a gift of any sort... ;)

OH OH OH! I almost forgot to tell you....Allen got me such a fun birthday present, and since this post is all about yummy foods, it fits right in...we've always talked about going to one of those cooking classes at Central Market but never have...but guess what, on December 1st, we ARE! He knows how much I love tamales(hey, i am from south Texas, what do you expect!?), and he found a Tamale Workshop they are having--YAY!! Isn't he just the best ever!? I'll tell you all about it after we go! We're supposed to learn how to make all sorts of yummy stuff...so Mom and Dad Ivey, looks like we're gonna make some Mexican food for Christmas this year? ;)

Sad Day...

Well...somehow Obama managed to deceive enough people and now he's our next president. It's disheartening...BUT, God is sovereign, so it's nice to know that no matter what, He's still in control!

So, life has been busy here on Vineyard Lane...but this last week Allen didn't have to work a single night! It was so nice to have him home...we finally hung the hammock out on the back patio, which made a great place for our sunday afternoon nap...then the night before last, Allen lit a fire in the chimenea and we sat outside in the chilly air enjoying the warmth from the fire and a nice beverage...it's just been nice!

We are looking forward to the holidays with our families--thanksgiving with the Schovajsas, and Christmas with the Iveys...and who knows what for New Year's!
Anyway, just thought I would post a little something since it's been a while...maybe next time I'll have some pictures!

Nice weather...and no patio furniture!!

Sorry about the lack of blogging lately...I think my last post talked about how much Allen's been working and well, he hasn't slowed down! And I've been swamped with work as well and other things have taken priority...but I promise I'll try to keep up with it better!
So about the post title...we have been having such nice weather lately and so we decided to look around to see if we could find some decent priced patio furniture...for our fabulous back patio...
Do you know that there is nowhere that has any patio furniture!! I mean seriously...it's not winter yet guys...and it's Texas. Give me a break!
So i'm guessing that if we want anything, we'll have to order it online.
After our disappointing excursions looking for patio furniture on Sunday afternoon, we came home...washed our cars with some new soap Allen wanted to try out with his pressure washer(it works great!) and pulled weeds...like 5 million or so...just in the front yard. And there's still more! I pulled another trashbag full today...they are some nasty little weeds!
It sure is nice though knowing that it OUR lawn we're working on...and not someone else's! God is good.
Well, I've got lots to do. I'm having a beginner's photography workshop so on top of everything else, I have to finish preparing for that! Should be fun!

Take care, we love you!

Hard working man!

So if you read this blog, you know Allen, and you know that he is just not a complainer and such a hard worker. I just thought I would reiterate that to everyone. He is simply amazing and the best husband in the world! This week he has been working day and night...literally. Starting last sunday afternoon, he left to work with Travis, was back that evening for about 20 or so minutes to say hey and change clothes...then was back out to work for the night...to return the next morning, sleep 3 or so hours, get up again, go to work at cellworld til 6pm...Casey and the kids were over on Monday so he got home and then had dinner with us before they left...then crashed at like 7:30. Exhausted, he slept through dinner, got up at like 6am the next morning, went to work at 7am, worked til 6pm, was home for a couple hours to eat dinner and then leave again for work with Travis, get home in the morning, sleep a few hours, go to work, come home a couple hours go to work with Travis again, get home in the morning, sleep a couple hours, go work til 6pm again....etc, etc. You get the picture. After a week like this, the closest thing to anything negative that I heard come out of his mouth was simply..."It'll be nice when this week is over."...He doesn't have to work this much, but he does so that we can pay off our debt...and save some money to hopefully have a baby in the near future...what an amazing man.

I am blessed beyond measure to have Allen as a husband. I love him more than I knew was possible and I never doubt his love for me. What a gift he is!


On a totally different note, if you don't keep up with my photography blog then here's a few pics of my precious nephew...from his 6 month shoot...too cute, huh?