3rd Annual Family Reunion- 2014

A couple weeks ago we spent a week on vacation in Red River, NM for our 3rd annual family reunion with my dad's side of the family. Before I show you how much fun we had, let's recap in pictures the last 3 years.

 2012-Watonga, OK 

 2013-We replaced the reunion with our wedding in Oklahoma. 

2014- Red River, NM

Every year we make a family t-shirt and each individual family gets to choose their color. This year the t-shirts were a surprise to most because we had a little something special on them.

5 of my cousins turned 40 in the last year so we surprised them with a birthday celebration and a t-shirt with their baby pictures on them.

 While the old farts went to pick up the pizza we decorated the game room, put on our t-shirts, got the cake ready, and blew our noise makers. I think they were a little curious, but for the most part they were surprised.

This year we started a new tradition of having a family challenge. We split the family up in to three different teams and we kept score while playing a variety of different games. My family is super competitive so there was a lot of smack talking, practicing, and strategics going on.

These were the three teams:

 Gary's team

 Rex's team

and the coolest team....Bruce's team

We were scored based on these games:

 1. Baseball- Each team member got one pitch and you had to hit the ball to get a point. It was great because some of the kids smacked the crud out of the ball and some of the grownups whiffed it....not going to name any names. Aaron got up there and broke the bat and the whiffle ball. Way to go Aaron.

 Three legged pillow relay race.

 Egg toss. You should have seen how intense this game was. I honestly didn't know if the kids would make it through the first toss, but they were amazing and so good at it.

 Kennedy was pumped! Love this picture of her.

 Look at those faces.....they are serious about this.

Kaylee and I were the only ones that broke egg all over ourselves. YUCK!

 Golf in Angel Fire was also a part of the competition. 

This was the winning golf team.

 This was the blindfold football game. You have 3 people blindfolded. The first person snaps the ball, the second person has to set it up for the kicker and the third person kicks it. The only person allowed to talk is the coach who is not blindfolded. We timed each team and the team with the fastest time won. I think the winning team got it down to around 15 seconds. It was pretty funny to watch.

 Wheel barrel races.

 It was a pretty close race.

 Until Trevor and Colby fell.

 And tried to stop Justin and Steph from finishing.

We also played this really cool frisbee game. After watching this one, we are for sure going to buy the supplies to play at our next cookout. Everybody loved this game.

 We tallied up all the points and announced the winning team!

 They were so excited. The winning team gets to take home a traveling trophy with a plaque that has their team name on it. The team leader gets to keep it the entire year, until the next year when it goes to the next winning team.

Team Gary won...not quite sure how with the uncoordinated people they have on their team ;) Just kidding, but really they didn't even have faith in themselves when we announced the teams and they ended up winning it all...kinda funny!

We also swam, tubed down a mountain, rode go-karts, fished, opened Christmas presents (we do Christmas in July), rode a ski lift up a mountain, had lunch, and played frisbee golf. It was an absolute blast and I loved every minute of it.

Love my family! 

 My Me-Ma and her three boys.

 Me-Ma and all her great grandkids.

 Me-Ma and her grandkids. We were missing a few...sad you guys couldn't come. We missed you!

 So sweet!

Love my Me-Ma!

I'm so glad we decided to start doing a family reunion trip every year. It is always so much fun and I look forward to it all year. It's so hard for everyone to get together at once, but this has been the perfect solution. We are already brainstorming ideas for next year. So far, we're thinking Lake of the Ozarks, MO. Can't wait!

The World's Greatest Foundation- Tarte Amazonian Clay Powder

You can thank me later for this post because if you go buy this powder, you will be forever changed and I promise you won't use another foundation again. It's seriously that good.

I heard about this product through the blogging community. I saw about 4,000 posts about how amazing this stuff was. They claimed it was 3x better than Bare Mineral's face powder. I'm super picky about my foundation and that's one thing I'm okay with spending my money on. Previously, you could find me wearing Bare Mineral's, MAC, or Arbonne foundations. I still think all three of those make great products, but this one trumps them all.

The price is a little more than I typically pay, but it is worth every bit of $36 dollars.

Here's why I love the product so much:
1. It's light-weight, but provides full coverage. You don't feel like you have anything on and it goes on super smoothly, almost like an airbrushed finish....and if you have any blemishes it covers very good!
2. It looks super natural and matches my skin tone perfectly.
3. It does not make my face oily, but it doesn't dry out my skin either. It has the perfect amount of sheen.
4. It stays on all day, even if you sweat (like me!). If you wipe your face with a towel, it doesn't even budge.
5. It doesn't make my face breakout, it actually has helped it stay clearer.
6. I can tell it will last forever. A little bit goes a long way and they give you a good amount of powder in the container.
7. It's not messy like other powder foundations. The packaging is great because it has a mesh net that you dip your brush into, instead of having to tip the container into your lid and use it that way. It's also in the shape of a bowl so it helps keep the powder from spilling over the sides.

picture source

 There is also a special kabuki brush that is supposed to really help work the powder in and make it appear more like an airbrushed finish. I didn't buy the brush because it was too high and I already had something similar, but I've read the brush really does make a difference. I'm satisfied with my results without their brush.

 

picture source

You can buy it at Ulta, Sephora, Amazon, Tarte's website, and I've also heard QVC had a really good deal where you could get the brush and foundation for the price of one...too bad I didn't call my Me-ma about that one. She is the QVC queen!

I hope you guys try this stuff and like it as much as I do. I promise you won't be disappointed. It is worth every penny! 

What I've Learned in Our 1st Year of Marriage...

I am not a relationship or marriage expert, but here is what I've learned after being married to

Aaron for 1 year.

#1. Once you become married, no matter how long, you will be asked eleventy billion times when you're going to have a baby. Just be prepared, it will happen over and over again. 

#2. Laundry folding parties are fun. Aaron and I pile the clean laundry on the guest bed and then when it gets unbearable, we have a laundry folding party together. It's amazing how a big stack of clothes can disappear so quickly when there's two working on it. Samson gets on the bed and joins in on the fun and it's actually a time I have grown to cherish. Lots of great laughs and conversations have taken place during said parties.

#3. When one person cooks, the other person cleans the kitchen. This is a rule we have established. It works great for us. I especially like the rule because 9 times out of 10 Aaron will volunteer to cook just so he doesn't have to do the dishes. 

#4. Going to bed together at the same time is a huge priority and can make all the difference in the world. Even if we're both not tired, or we still have things to get done, we ALWAYS go to bed together. I believe it is a good habit to get in to. 

#5. Making a pallet on the floor, snuggling up with Aaron & Samson, eating popcorn & watching a movie is probably my idea of a perfect night. I can't count how many times we've done this in the past year, and it is definitely one of my favorite things. 

#6. Long walks with Samson are good for our souls. That sounds super cheesy, but I really do believe it. I love them. We are outside in nature, getting exercise, there are no distractions, no electronic devices, and there are always good long talks. It's where we get on the same page....do our future planning, talk about important things, talk about how our day went, etc. Some of my favorite memories during our first year of marriage occurred on walks. 

#7. There are four things you can never over use in a marriage. Those four things are compliments, saying sorry, thank you, & i love you. It never gets old to me when Aaron looks at me during the most random time, when I feel like I'm looking rough, and tells me I'm beautiful. It also never gets old to me when I do something for him and he lets me know how much he appreciates it. For me, appreciation can make all the difference. Nothing makes me more mad than when I've done so much for someone and they don't even acknowledge it or say thank you. Don't forget to tell your spouse these things, and say them often.

#8. Dancing together in the kitchen or in the car will always lighten the mood and make you laugh. Aaron is not a dancer. I on the other hand, love to dance. For some reason, when I'm cooking, Aaron loves to come in the kitchen and either two step with me or booty bump. It will always put a smile on my face and make me laugh.

#9. Big burly manly men require a lot of food. A month of groceries for me is equal to a week of groceries for Aaron. I don't know how his mom kept up with feeding her 3 boys.

#10. There will always be some kind of season. When I was little and would ask where my dad was, my mom's response was always "what season is it?" My answer was either track or football season (my dad coached both). I totally get it now. Aaron has way too many seasons, I can't even keep up....turkey, deer, duck, fishing, hay, etc. Will they ever end?

#11. Creating and agreeing on a budget and a financial plan is a ALWAYS a good decision. It might possibly save you from wasting a bunch of time fighting over money. 

#12. Marriage is more FUN than it is hard. Everyone always says the first year of marriage is the hardest. I would have to say I disagree. Yes, it does take some adjusting and getting used to. You have to learn to be selfless and you have to put time and effort into it, but it is very rewarding and fun. I truly believe that my relationship with Aaron has blossomed and thrived so much more living here, away from all our friends and family. We were forced to rely on each other alone and when all you have is your spouse, you don't take that for granted. When we fight, we learn to get over it a whole lot quicker, because we have no where to run to. Marriage is a wonderful thing and I'm so lucky to do life with Aaron everyday. His sweet spirit and his kind, giving heart make it easy to be married to him. I thank God everyday for making him my husband. 

We spent our anniversary week in Red River, New Mexico at my family's reunion. It was an absolute blast and we enjoyed hanging out and spending time with my family. We got some quality alone time on our drive and we went out to dinner and a movie alone in Bricktown last night. We went to Kevin Durant's new restaurant. It was amazing and we will definitely be back. 

Our Wedding Day 2013 vs. Our First Anniversary 2014

There are a few traditions that we have started surrounding our anniversary. You probably will think it is cheesy and corny, but I love traditions and I think they're really fun and special. I once read a blog about a girl who's parents put their wedding dress and tux on every year on their anniversary (regardless if it fit or not) and danced in the living room to their first dance song. She said it is one of her most favorite family traditions and it is something she cherishes most about her parents relationship. After they danced, then they took a picture and put it in an album so each year you can see how they've changed and grown. I thought that was the neatest thing so Aaron and I have decided to do a few traditions of our own. 

Here are the traditions we've implemented:

1. Go on a trip somewhere different every year for our anniversary.

2. Dance to our first dance song.

3. Watch our wedding video.

4. Take a picture resembling our wedding picture and put it in a photo album.

Happy 1st Anniversary Honkie!! Here's to many, many more. Love you!

Busy Bee!

Same story, different day....super busy and trying to keep my head above water...that's my excuse again for my lack of blogging. So far it's been a fun and busy summer. We are constantly going and doing. Our to-do list seems never ending. I'm thankful for that though.

I got to take a fun little weekend getaway last weekend to the Fayetteville area. I was photographing my college friend's wedding. It was a beautiful and sweet wedding. It was super fun for me because I stayed one night with one of my best friend's and her family. We got to do some shopping together before I headed to the wedding. My mom was a savior and drove almost 4 hours to be my "photography assistant". She never actually took a picture, but she seriously saved my life. She kept me on schedule, carried all my equipment, let me boss her around like crazy, handed me things when I needed them, and kept me sane. I couldn't have done it without her. We got to catch up while working at the reception and I would totally hire her again to be my assistant. After the wedding, we headed to my aunt and uncle's house and stayed with them for the next two nights. My cousin, Blondell met us there. We went shopping at the cutest antique/flea market store, had lunch with my college friend and her boys, sat on the patio at Jose's and listened to a live band and sipped on swirls, and had lunch on the lake the following day before heading home. It was the perfect weekend...so relaxing and fun to catch up with everyone. I loved every minute of it!

A few pics from the wedding. 

 Daisies & Olives....the cutest store ever. If you're ever in the Prairie Grove, AR area, you must go.

 Dinner at Jose's.

Lunch with these cuties.

The only negative thing about the weekend was I dropped my favorite lens at the wedding and it fell pretty hard on solid ground and broke. Thankfully, I had a back up camera so it didn't mess anything up. I had to buy a new lens this week because I had upcoming photo sessions. I'm so excited though because I bought an upgraded lens and it's amazing how much better it is. I'm so excited about it. I was playing with it the night I got it and took this picture of our sweet pup.

He always lays just like this with his paw bent back and his favorite "ducky" never leaves his sight. It is so funny because he will not get in his bed until he finds his ducky and brings it to bed with him. It is too cute. 

This weekend we just hung out at home and played outside in the water. Saturday I floated the river for the first time with my friend, Jana. We rented kayaks and it was so much fun. I can't believe I've lived here an entire year and have never floated the river. I see many more float trips in my near future. It was so relaxing and we even got caught in a storm. We had to dock our kayaks and get off the river twice, but we did enjoying a little kayaking in the rain which felt wonderful. Today I went to the lake with my friend, her mom, and her little boy. We just laid out on rafts and soaked up the sun. My idea of a perfect weekend. Aaron has been working hard helping his friend out in the hay field while I stay busy with editing. He has got quite the farmer's tan going on. I'm pretty jealous about it. 

We've got lots of exciting vacations and weekend trips coming up in the near future. One is with my immediate family and my dad's side of the family, one with my in-laws, and one with my high school best friends and their husbands. Stay tuned for pictures and posts about those trips. I can't wait. 

We will also be celebrating one whole year of marriage this time next week. So crazy how fast time flies. 

Hope you are all having a fun summer so far!

Productivity Makes Me Happy!!

I had a very productive weekend. Although, I would have rather been outside doing something fun all weekend, I got a lot accomplished and that always makes me happy. I've been working full time so I don't have all my weekly spare time to get chores, errands, editing, and other projects done. It's been a while since I've worked 5 days a week and I just now realized how spoiled I've been for the last few months. Although, I'm not complaining because I'm thankful for a full time job.

This weekend I...
-Went grocery shopping. I decided I'm going to test out the whole meal planning on the weekend and having a menu for Mon-Sun. We'll see how it goes. I'm not a cook and I don't enjoy being in the kitchen so we'll see if I can muster up the energy to cook every night. Wish me luck.

I went ahead and decided to reward myself while grocery shopping. I was in the mood for some gelato and I discovered these guys. I thought the packaging was enticing and the flavors were making my mouth water so I bought them. It is probably the most expensive little pint of ice cream I've ever bought, but totally worth every penny. You have to try them...they are absolutely amazing. Your mouth will thank me later, or it might curse me because you will never want your freezer to be without these again.  They are vegetarian, gluten free, HFCS free, and hormone free. You can find them at Wal-Mart.

-Closed up shop and moved out of my craft booth. I just don't have time for it anymore and I haven't added anything new to it since Christmas so I decided it was time to be done with it. I am having a garage sale this Saturday (I promise this weekend I really am having one) and I'm selling everything that was in my booth for cheap so please come buy it all. I WILL NOT take it back into my house if it doesn't sell.

-Did a photo shoot for this cutie and I edited a newborn session that I've been needing to edit forever ago. I feel so much better now that it's finally done.

How great is his "duck face"? I love it! His dad was tickling his nose with a leaf and he made this face over and over again. So stinkin' cute. 

I really despise editing pictures...it is the absolute last thing I want to do everyday when I get home from work and it takes me a long time to convince myself to sit in front of a computer all evening and edit, but then I start editing pictures like the ones I'm currently working on below and I remember why I love doing what I do. Because these precious moments are what life is all about and I'm so glad I get to capture those moments for people that I love oh so dearly.

-I cleaned the house, washed and folded every last piece of laundry, washed the outside and inside of my car, took Samson on multiple walks, and met with a friend to plan her daughter's 1st birthday pictures.

Can't clean house without lighting a candle. This is my current favorite from Bath & Body Works....Provence Garden. It smells amazing.

-We also managed to squeeze in a fun date night to dinner & a movie. We don't go to the movies very often, but I love it when we do. We saw the movie Neighbors. It was sooo bad, but a little funny. One of those where you feel terrible for laughing at it. Or one of the ones you don't go see with your parents.

Love him! It's June and that means we will be celebrating our 1st anniversary this month in New Mexico. So excited....I am in desperate need for a vacation.

Hope you all had a great weekend. Sorry for a totally random blog post, but I thought I'd write a post while I was on a productive kick. Tomorrow I will be back under my rock editing away. I've got three more sessions to edit, a wedding to take this month, and two more 1st birthday pictures to take all before our trip. If I don't update my blog for a while, you'll know why ;)