Lubbock!

Ok, so Allen and I came to Lubbock for the weekend on a quest to find somewhere to live...and it only took one day! We left thursday after my last doctor's visit with my obgyn there in FW :( and got here around 4:30 or so....and it's a good thing we left thursday because snow was already covering everything and driving that night would not have been good. We started our search on Friday morning, and aside from a reeeeally quick lunch stop at the parent's house for about 10 minutes, we were driving around all day long looking at houses. We had found several possibilities and the next to last one was around 725 sq ft but only $525....we talked about it on our way to the last house for the day, thinking that it would be a very "cozy" house, but that it was just for a year or two and our ultimate goal was to save money and get out of debt, so it became the top of our list of houses. Or so we thought. Allen's grandmother had called us saying that her best friend was moving to Austin and they were wanting to rent their house...but we were pretty certain that it just wouldn't work out because they could get so much more for their house than what we could pay. But we agreed to at least go and look at it. We were prepared to politely tell them that it was just too much for us. So as we drove from the 725 sq ft house to meet Allen's Nana at her friend's house, we didn't get our hopes up or anything. As soon as we walked in we knew it was out of the range we were willing to spend. Nana's friend, Edna, showed us all around the house, which was absolutely lovely, and big! The shocker came when they told us how much they wanted to rent it to us for and I'm sure we had the look of pure shock and disbelief as we stared back at them! We told them that they could get much more than that if they were to rent it to someone else, but they insisted that they wanted us to rent it and wanted someone who they knew would take care of the house. CRAZY! seriously. We tried to argue with them about it but they would not have it. They insisted that we were an answer to prayer and as it turns out they were an answer to ours. Who knew we would find such a great place to live!? I know that through this Edna and JB will be a true blessing to us we hope to be the same to them. Anyway, we drove away in silence as both of us were in too much of a shock to say anything. I kept thinking I'd wake up to realize that I'd laid down for a nap and had a wonderful dream. But it was real!! Anyway, after we left I realized that I hadn't taken a single picture of the house so I went back yesterday to take a few...I'll post those this week when I get home! Anyway, we were able to just relax and hang out with the fam the rest of the weekend....so nice!

Well, I should go start packing up our things so we can head back to fort worth. More to come later!

And we're back!

Soooo, it's only been about forever since I've updated this thing...but figured it was about time that I start at it again! I've mostly just been posting to my photo blog, but figure I can do more personal stuff on this blog, especially with baby boy on his way! I don't want to overload my photo blog with pregnancy and then new baby stuff every day!

Soooo, here's to trying to keep up with this thing more!

Later today should mark a day of relief--we found a buyer for our house!! I'm just waiting for the contract to show up in my inbox and then it can be all official and I can breathe easy knowing we get to move to lubbock before baby comes....ahhhh.

I should have started this think back up as soon as we got pregnant again, but better late than never! Can you believe Allen and I will be married for 2 YEARS in just a couple weeks!? Craziness! Man how time flies!

Anyway, I'm now 24 weeks and counting! Baby is growing steadily and last week Allen felt him kick for the first time! It was so fun!

I'll have to take an updated belly pic to post soon!

Anyway, that's it for today--my brain is too excited to do much writing!

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!