the gaudiest little purse

While shopping at Hobby Lobby with Lita a couple weeks ago Keadryn spotted something that looked fun and her size-ish in the clearance section. She started fervently doing her "please" sign until Lita gave her this little gem:

the gaudiest purse I have ever seen

She played with it the rest of our shopping trip which, with my little busy body who bores easily, is quite rare. As we were checking out (where I usually put down whatever toy has been occupying Keadryn while I shop) Lita looked at the price and it was only a couple bucks (marked down 90%...did people really buy this thing for full price?)

So Keadryn is the proud owner of one beautiful gold dusted white pleather purse with leopard print accents. The buckles and zippers are the right size for little hands, and the strap fits perfectly on Kead's little arm, so that she can carry it without it dragging on the ground. She LOVES putting little things into it, and taking them out again and it has provided tons of fun (and lots of giggles for mama) around our house.

I'm in trouble when this one turns 16.

pool "fun"

When we were in Dallas, Drew's mom wanted to take Keadryn to the pool at their club on Saturday- so we brought her swimsuit, sunscreen and were ready for some fun...except Drew went to the conference with the car seat so we were stuck at the house! shoot...

Not to be defeated, Drew's dad went to walmart and bought a pool, came back to the house, went next store and borrowed an air pump, blew up the pool, and started to fill it up (which took about an hour and a half total) Keadryn LOVED helping fill up the pool and the fountain of water the hose created.

FINALLY we were ready to have some pool fun, so Granny got some cups to play with and Keadryn got in the pool. She had a lot of fun...for about five minutes. She started doing her "all done" sign and trying to climb out of the pool. We waded with her for a few minutes, but she was done. :) At least it is a pool she can grow into. Thanks to Granny and Pops for all the work!

morocco pics

Finally here are some pictures of Drew's trip to Morocco. He is FIRED for only taking 100 pictures in the two weeks he was there...oh well... I guess we know who takes the pictures around here. :)

He had a great time and is really encouraged that some of the people who went on the trip want to go back and start language school and live there! Super exciting.

Anyway- here are some of the pictures- enjoy!

summer tastiness

Our grill is used at least three times a week in the summer and this is one of our summer time favorites! SO tasty, easy, light and inexpensive!


personal grill pizzas

4 pieces flat bread (found with the pita bread at most grocery stores)
fresh mozzarella, sliced thin (much cheaper at Costco or Sam's Club)
2 tomatoes sliced
1/2 green pepper, julienned
2 grilled chicken breasts, diced
1 Tbs roasted garlic ( about 4 or 5 cloves of garlic) *
1 bushel fresh basil, torn
olive oil rub (see recipe below)

spread olive oil rub on both sides of the flat bread. Turn on grill to medium heat. Toast flat bread for 30 seconds, flip and assemble pizzas. (base of roasted garlic, then tomatoes, mozzarella, chicken and bell peppers and basil (optional). Grill until mozzarella is melted. ENJOY!

*a little bit of olive oil in a pan on medium heat and watch carefully until brown, stirring occasionally

olive oil rub

3 Tbs olive oil
1 teaspoon parsley
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon parmesan cheese


drew note: fresh mozzarella is not on drew's favorite list...so he uses regular mozzarella and loves it...I MUCH prefer the fresh though :)

home again

I am thankful that Drew is home because:

* Keadryn has someone whose not 6 months pregnant to throw her in the air.

* He brought me home a sweet leather bag! (that I am sure at some point will get its very own post)

* I have someone to talk to as I dose off to sleep.

* I don't have to be on "baby duty" 24/7.

* I have been doing a lot of thinking/praying about our future plans over the past couple weeks and it is SO nice to get to share what I have been learning with him.

* I love hearing the crazy travel stories he always has...he is such a great story teller.

* I get to re-experience the new fun things Kead is doing (like saying "aaaa done" for "all done") with him and see his eyes light up.

* I don't have to figure out how to fix the kitchen sink that is stopped up.

* Every time he leaves my thankfulness for him as a father, husband and friend is renewed and I fall in love with him all over again!

man, we miss drew

only four more days till we see Drew again! Kead has been walking around aimlessly chanting "dada, dada, dada, dada"...super cute.

Without Drew here to interject random sports facts, grill meat and other boy stuff- Kead has had a GIRLY couple of weeks, complete with new purses, new jewelry, new dresses, shopping with the girls and painted toes. Drew is going to have to rough her back up a little when he gets home.

sharing memories

One of the funnest things about Denver is the zoo! I have such fond memories as a kid there, when my grandma use to go with us. We went last summer with Keadryn and she pretty much slept (Burke did the same this time). It was so fun to see her take interest in some of the animals (mostly fish that are easy to see up close) and I am excited to watch her grow and make memories there too!

keadryn loved this snake!

waiting for it...

...still waiting for it....

whoosh...there goes the sea lion!

50% really cool....50% terrifying!

keadryn, where's the baby?

...the whole baby in my belly thing is a little confusing. :)
(pardon the clothes, we just woke up from nap)

marrakesh

Of all the cities we visited in Morocco, Marrakesh was my favorite. It is such a cultural center with a really fun old medina area (the narrow streets and adobe houses I think when I think of Morocco) and an AWESOME square filled with food and spice booths, old medicine men, story tellers, snake charmers, acrobats, street performers, fresh squeezed orange juice stands, and a few men trying to rip you off and sell you Moroccan souvenirs for triple the price you pay at the stores. It is pretty much complete chaos! It's great! Last time we were there, we found a place on a veranda at a restaurant, ate some incredible Moroccan food and sat for hours people watching. It's my most favorite memory of Morocco.

Drew and friends are there now, and I am super jealous. Hope they have fun- and pay too much for a man to put snakes around their necks. :)

looking out over the square, in all its craziness

yummy yummy tangine

I didn't really WANT the snake on my neck...

the cobra sitting in front of us

off to morocco

drew and the group from redeemer are off scampering around morocco and spain. They landed safely in spain this morning and will make it into morocco (marrakesh to be exact) tomorrow. I will try to keep everyone updated as to their whereabouts as often as I get e-mails.

love this boy

happy birthday keadryn!

wow! a year has passed and little K is one year old today! I cannot imagine life without her and the blessing she has been to our life.

here are some of her favorite things:

• being outside
• dogs
• stovetop stuffing
• her ocean puzzle
• bath time
• oranges
• walking around the house with stuffed animal in tote
• her stuffed camel
• people watching
• goldfish
• giving hugs (mostly to stuffed animals)
• being barefoot
• the park
• jewelery
  

and some pics of her birthday party on Sunday. Today she gets to celebrate by getting her one year shots :( so we wanted her to have a fun day with friends too!

much too busy with cake to look at the camera!

being very lady like with the cake and eating each frosting star one by one

getting the hang of it

finally making a mess!

Keadryn showing her little friends how to play our bean bag toss game, we let her get a bit closer than regulation :)

burke james is here!

I'm an aunt!!! Little Burke James Gentry arrived this morning at 7:30 he was 6 lbs 14oz. and 19 inces long. Kirst had a loooong labor (30+hours!!!), but everyone is healthy and recovering, getting plenty of rest at the hospital!

I can't wait to meet this little guy on wednesday!!! Congrats to Adam and Kirstin!

after the rain

it doesn't rain much in lubbock, so when we have a chance to jump in puddles and get wet- we take it!!!

oh yeah- mothers day

awhile ago i posted about some fun packages to send mom for mothers day from the martha stewart website . Since the day has come and gone (happy mothers day by the way!) I can now post pictures of the fun "bowlful of love" I sent my mama! Thanks for the fun idea, Martha!