I like Fridays.
They are the movie trailer for the weekend. They get you all excited for the real deal. And, they go great with a glass of wine and a hot tub, might I add.

Hot tub, courtesy of Poppa’s Place, but in my imaginary house, I have one too.
We didn’t have bathing suits, so we improvised. She went naked; I wore a strange hodge podge of undergarments. She had juice; I had wine. But together, our glasses made a nice clink when we toasted to a fabulous weekend.
And, speaking of fabulous…
Brett and I set out for our anniversary date last night. He asked me all day where I wanted to go. I’m all for traditions…and this night has always had us chopsticking shrimp and sucking the last remains of the most delicious ginger dressing of all time off lettuce scraps (and I admit, I once tipped my plate and slurped the final puddle of dressing like a dog–it’s that good) at our favorite Japanese steakhouse. But last night, I wasn’t feeling it. I didn’t want to sit in a booth with people I didn’t know. I wanted to wear jeans and eat something fried and drink freezing cold beer belly up at some cool bar. So, that we did.
…and the combination of live music, fried mozzarella sticks, a cold beer and a chair where my feet could dangle and not touch the floor was just perfect. And who says grafitti-walled bars aren’t romantic?
And because we are just a little bit sentimental, on the way home we passed the church where we were married, desolate that late and enchantedly lit up by a smattering of street lights, and we couldn’t help it. After one of those are-you-thinking-what-I’m-thinking glances, Brett pulls a U-ey, and out we jumped for this pic.
Aw. Sacred ground, Baby. Sacred ground.
And the best part? Coming home all relaxed and full to snuggly babies who were safe and happy with Poppa.
Insert another shameless opportunity to light candles and sing…because we love us some candles. This time…”Happy Anniversary to Us” is, I think, how it goes.
Just in time for my annivesary, this little package arrived.
My fingerprint necklace from Tina Steinberg. Its smooth silver pebbles are impressed with my girls’ little prints on one side and their names on the other…so they can hang close to my heart. I keep finding myself reaching up and grasping them, rubbing my fingers along those sweet impressions. Love, love, love.
And, today’s favorite moments?
What Nella sees:
What we see:
I used to call it “The Brett and Lainey Show” when Lainey swooned and smiled and went completely mush at that same age. And the ratings for Nella’s spin-off show are just as grand.
This weekend, summer calls.
Cheers to that, Baby. More to come.
For now…Enjoy.
And this song so makes me want to run through a field of daisies, barefoot–waving ribbon wands and leaping into blue skies. Summer anthem, Baby.
…and check out our quick little ditty about blogging over at Nickelodeon’s ParentsConnect HERE.






















I like your Fridays better than mine! lol.
Glad you had an awesome anniversary. As much as I love to get all prettied up I love casual date nights. I added Tina Steinberg’s page on FB a while back and I keep eyeing those finger print charms myself.
Ok you just have to be on the of “Hippest” mommies around. A girl after my own “much younger” heart. 🙂
CHEERS to you!
My husband and I just celebrated our 24th anniversary.
Loving the photos of the girls and your carefree night.
Enjoy!
Teri
Love it…
Im glad you had an awesome anniversary..
Beautiful pictures, isnt love wonderful?
So glad you had a great anniversary!!!! I love, love, love Nella’s smiles!!!!!!
Happy Anniversary! Your date seems like so much fun. Off to enjoy some summer myself 🙂
Hey – Kelle – Can I call you that? Just had my own glass of wine. Off to my version of Island of Capri tomorrow but instead it is in the heavenly Adirondack Mountains of NY complete with crystal clear lake. Love every post. Can’t get enough. Keep them coming. Let’s share another glass of wine soon!
ooo this post i love!!!
happy anniversary! How special it is to come home from a perfect date night to snuggles with the babes. have a wonderful, fun filled weekend!
Hi, Kelle~ Greetings from Soquel, CA again. I tried earlier and my comment didnt go thru, so here goes. “In the Summertime” by Mungo Jerry – yay! THE summer anthem! I was 17 when that first came out (yep, i AM that old). Your anniversary date sounds like so much fun! Oh, and how wonderful that Poppa is there with you and family. Love the neclace! Happy 4th of July – yay to Freedom. Thanks for lifting us all up a bit higher, as you always do – and for making Life bigger and better. Happy happy, fun fun, Love Love…
Kelle, you are simply AMAZING!!! I LUB how you LUB life!! It always makes me smile reading your posts!!! Happy Anniversary to you and Brett!! You did it good babe…cold beer and feet dangling from a bar stool is just the way I love to celebrate with my man. And your girls just keep getting more beautiful with each post!! Lainey with her fuzz hair and Rock Star sunglasses had me laughing…and Nella…sweet Nella-scumptious I say-she is one kissable baby girl!!!
Your right with Fridays being the movie trailer for the weekend…they go great my cold beer!!! Cheers to you and to having another FUNtastic summer weekend with your ever so gorgeous family!!
I adore the fingerprint necklace!!!
You just keep me coming back for more…your words & photos & music all together present as a gift to all your readers-I know I’ve said this before but…THANK-YOU, thank-you for sharing your gift!!
Monique
(I just wish I had a bit of your gift with words so that I can express how your blog truly touches me…)
Happy Anniversary!! Fabulous post!! So much fun!! Glad ya’ll went with the feeling of cold beer and fried food 🙂
Have a wonderful Holiday weekend!!
I love reading your posts!! I love how you are so positive! And, I also love how you don’t mind sharing!
I lub your sweet necklace with your babies prints and names on them….I have been looking for something like that for my own 2 babes and my one angel who I hold in my heart but didn’t get to hold in my arms. Very, very pretty in its sweet simplicity. 🙂
love how you spent your anniversary. eating where you want to eat, visiting the church where you got married. i love that.
Summer, summer, summertime!! Sounds like you had a great night out! Love the necklace!
You are right about the song…it sure is hard to stay still when you hear it! Thousands of readers are all in their homes dancing with imaginary ribbon wands!
Jill B. (Overland Park, KS)
Happy Anniversary! You guys have packed a LOT in 4 years!
Where did you get your headband? Super cute!!
Love the pic of you & Brett at the bar. Looks like a very great date! Happy weekend.
Your music made me dance in my bed. Thank you. I needed that tonight. Inspiration..accomplished. Thank you. As always.
Thanks for always be so real. I love, love coming to your blog each day to see what your latest adventure is!
Your blog posts always brighten my day, no matter how gloomy it is here in Texas after hurricane Alex passed..
Love the necklse!!!
LOVE the canvas photots on the wall, my ideal home wall 🙂
Happy Anniversary!
Sweet post Kelle, love how the last two have been a tribute to you and Brett afterall, that’s where these little angels of yours came from…LOVE!!!
The picture of you two at the table rocks! Fun to be reminded we still got it goin’ on even in the absence of kids. Hope you have a great holiday weekend (maybe we”ll see you at the parade)…and please give me a call next week to set up the shoot we talked about!
I love how IN LOVE you are!! Amazing post as always. I read your blog and I feel refreshed and always leave with a smile on my face. Great night-cap!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!
PS – love the song choice.
Sarah
http://mylittleheroine.blogspot.com
What a fun Friday! Love the necklace – what a fun way to keep the babies close!
Have you heard the song “Capri?” When I hear it I think of you – just seems like a song you’d like and, of course, reminds me of your Isle of Capri.
Took my favorite picture EVER of my little ones feet hanging out of the stroller tonight. Thank you for the inspiration! Haven’t put my camera down since I started reading your blog.
Have a GREAT weekend!
-Jenny in Iowa
I do love the necklace – nice photos – happy anniversary
http://www.teensandtriplets.com
Perfect timing, as usual. Sometimes all I need to get a swift kick of perspective is the latest Kelle Hampton post. And I agree- nothing says romantic like a little graffiti.
http://www.leemeandthegirls.blogspot.com
Love littles with fancy glasses!!! It makes them feel so special. My littles loves drinking juice out of martini glasses!
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z20/Kat95340/0193.jpg
What a great husband / daddy for your girls you have there! He always has th happiest smiles!
Wonderful post today! 🙂
I love your headband… Where did you get it???
Loved this post! My 21 mont old daughter loves to look at your pictures and just adore baby Nella, who she calls “Banilla!” 🙂
You are a lucky mom having those beautiful
daughters! Happy 4th of July!
http://momfashionworld.blogspot.com/
Hi Kelle. You have joyfully been posting alot lately and I love it! It’s always such a pleasure to read what you have to say. The wedding post from yesterday was wonderful – I wondered how does it feel that you weren’t able to take the photos yourself?! I know that sounds funny but as a photographer – how did you choose a photographer? He had great style. I think it’s amazing how different you look with blonde hair. When I first found your blog I read back and found that post where you coloured you hair – always loved that post!
The girls look so cute – that Nella is going to be a heartbreaker! Thanks as ever for sharing…it swells my missing Florida more than ever. You have a blessed life. Lou x
Perfect song choice Kelle. It has me dancing as we speak! *dancedance* (:
I also leave you with a quote.
“Summer is the time when one sheds one’s tensions with one’s clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all’s right with the world.” ~Ada Louise Huxtable
– Kayla.
Happy Anniversary to you guys! I love the fuzzy hair Miss Nella is sporting and Lainy’s cool shades! Hope ya’ll have a grand 4th of July!
Awww, Nella gets cuter with each passing day! She is looking so big now!
I’m glad you had a great anniversary 🙂
enjoy your weekend x
Hi Kelle,
Loved your necklaces. Your babies will always be round your neck all the time. Even after they’ve grown up!
Am a regular reader of your blog from Singapore. I am a teacher of children with special needs, mostly with severe & multiple disabilities.
Keep up the good work with your 2 kids (I love Nella! Can’t get enough of her. She gives quite good eye contact eh?) & the bloggie!
Cheers, Fiona 🙂
Love love love this! Happy weekend!
Fab post as usual…am LOVING the pic of Nella sporting the fluffy blonde hair and the colourful dress. Beautiful girls, beautiful mummy, beautiful life!! Keep up the inspirational posts Kelle, you rock.
-x-
Such a nice celebration.
Glad you could wear jeans.
Always love seeing Poppa in the pictures. He is a great man. I can just tell!
my 15 month old and I are dancing to your summertime song right now 🙂
You are on a roll with posts lately, as if you knew some of us out here really needed them. In the throws of wacky hormones that can happen for a few cycles after a miscarriage, I have been a wreck and really trying not to be so irritable for the sake of my little 2year old bean who is just loving up summertime here in MN right now. Your posts brighten my mood and keep me treking, thanks!
My hubby and I went on a date last night and I had fried cheese too! But with a yummy classic coke!
Necklace turned out great!
So lovely. Your family is just beautiful, and honestly that date sounds so good. What I wouldn’t give for a beer and mozzarella sticks right now. LOL
Steph
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Um, Nella is SO adorable and squishy! I just want to squeeze those awesome baby thighs! 🙂 My girlies have both had little chicken legs so I’m a little jealous haha! 😛
After reading this, I really want to hug& kiss my husband (who is napping with the kids:o)). Congratulations to you both!
I want to know where you get your gorgeous jumper things…I don’t know if that’s what they’re called but that’s what my mom called them when I was 6 and wore them – but yours is obviously adult sized, the thing you’re wearing in those last 3-4 pictures – it is so cute and I’d love to know where it came from!
You can rock that headband like no other..my cool cousin of mine!
This was one happy post. Loved it. Made me smile, as always. Love to you today.
Loving all these posts Kelle, don’t stop!!
How many times can I say Nella is so heavenly before I make a complete fool of myself? I have a few more left I think…
Ditto all of you including Poppa…must be so great having him there right now.
Gosh, Nella is heavenly. Ditto all of you.
Sounds like the beginning of a great 4th of July weekend!
I love your sharing a special anniversary with all of us, just shows your generous heart! Happy Anniversary again and again…you and Brett make magic you know that!
Happy Anniversary! I loved my wedding like you did and I love my man like you do and I love anniversaries like you do…and this reminds me that Andy and I NEED a date. WIsh we had a Poppa in town. Does he travel for his services?
What a beautiful life. Love! And, talk this weekend?! x
Love how you celebrated your anniversary, Nella’s magical smiles, your beautiful fingerprint necklace, your Nickelodeon’s ParentsConnect little interview about blogging, Fridays, wine and Mungo Jerry’s “In the Summertime” C:
Wishing you a weekend filled with lots of love, light and laughter~
“It is love alone that gives worth to all things.” -St. Teresa of Avila
Sounds like a PERFECT evening. And I absolutely LOVE the necklace. Congrats again to you guys!
The pic of you and your husband kissing in the booth–adorable- I think your husband is handsome and even more so when you talk about how much he loves his family–you can see it all over his face. But when I was the pic you of in the booth with his profile I immediately thought of this guy.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0185819/
I think you have the better of the two but you know..I just thought it was funny. 🙂
I love the picture of you and your man at the bar. You both look fabulous! Happy Anniversary!
I love the picture of you and your man at the bar. You both look fabulous! Happy Anniversary!
Cheers, it looks great on you.
What an adorable little family you have! Looks like a great start to the weekend too!
That necklace…just, WOW. Your hubby is goooood.
And where did you get that headband? I adore it, and I think I need one.
WOW I am LOVING your blog! I just found you over at Parents Connect and glad I have. Your children are beautiful. Now following you 🙂
Cheers to a happy anniversary! I absolutely love reading your blog. You’re fabulous and your kids are adorable. Cheers, again, to a happy summer!!
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nice, Mands. Daniel Craig was hot in the James Bond movie. We’ll take it. Ha
Your, “What Nella sees, What we see” seriously made me tear up.. Okay, it made me full on cry, I’m not gonna lie! 🙂
Love, Love
Lo Mc
I like the no-bangs look on you, super pretty! I love Fridays too, I usually just pretend it’s already the weekend and make it a long weekend every week. Why not? Life’s short! One of the advantages of being a stay at home mommy, or a work at home mommy! 🙂 Have a great one!
super cute thumbprint necklace!
hi Kelle, i have been reading your blog, like many since i randomly came accross a link to Nella’s birth story. I can’t tell you how many times i have sat here crying reading your blog, the way you write is magical! you truely are an inspirational mum, and an awesome photographer! i have my own little man who is 13 months and everytime i read your blog it makes me stop and appreciate all the little things in my life! your girls are simply gorgeous too!
have a fabulous weekend!
Love your necklace. Your babies are gorgeous. I also love your playlist. I have started to just have your site open just to listen to the music. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thanks for paving the path to a daydream Kelle ~ “In The Summertime” ~ Fourteen going on twenty and summer vacation was amazing! Long, summer days you wanted to last forever – surfing The Lane, and baking to a delicious never.dark.enough.tan in the hot Santa Cruz sand!(Linda in Soquel – From one Cali girl to another – Whoo-Hoo for Santa Cruz Summers!! Longboards … Surfwax …the Boardwalk and Giant Dipper… parties at the Cocoanut Grove and Catalyst).
Totally enjoying your Summertime blog Kelle! Thanks for resurrecting memories of summers nearly buried under years gone by.
Happy Anniversary Kelle and Brett! Anniversaries (and birthdays) should be celebrated for an entire week – like the festival they are!
Hey, ANONYMOUS< who just posted above me. Linda here in Soquel! YAY for Calif girls – YES!! Woohoo! The boardwalk, oh yes..And I SO agree, we all celebrate Birthdays for a week!! Have a great summer~
That necklace is gorgeous 🙂
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There is something magical about cold beer in the summer!
The fingerprint necklace is so lovely. What a treasure!
The church photos were great! I love the spontaneous moment you captured.
Congrats.
Hubby and I are celebrating our 8th this month, and with a 2nd baby due just after. Family makes my heart burst!
Here’s to many more happy years,
Kristen in Boise
Happy Anniversary!! Ours was just last weekend,but we were much more lame. no graffiti walls. love your necklace! im going to check out that site now… btw,nella is so stinkin’ cute my heart hurts from smiling at her!
Kelle,
You have inspired me in ways I can’t even explain. Honestly, my life has change since I started reading your bog about two months ago. I learned how to use my camera (after owning it more than a year) and I started a blog about two weeks ago. I love reading your old posts and I wanted my own memories of my girls to look back on. It’s the ultimate scrapbook! I just wanted to thank you for helping me find a wonderful new hobby and a way to document the lives of my girls. Thank you, thank you.
Happy Anniversary! I am so glad you two fell in love because I love reading how your story unfolds. Hope the credits of your weekend movie are as great as the trailer was.
Happy 4th of July!
missing my friend. i’m kelle-homesick:(
love you and the photos in this post.
also, i posted some really cool comment complete with inside story and all on your last post about the anniversary date to come, and it didn’t come up.
so, again…happy anniversary to a couple of my favorite married peeps!!! xoxoxo
love you. back from golabki!
One wonders how you find the time to parent or to be a partner while holding that camera so much – on yourself. Visit a plastic surgeon for that schnozz of yours.
You make such a simple time be so special…
Kelle, its so nice to see all your pictures and I love that you take pictures of yourself too. Most of us mommies are never in the pictures because we are behind the camera. Love the in the mirror pictures of you and Nella. I have read your whole blog now and have seen the ones of you and Lainey in the mirror when she was very little too. Beautiful. I think both your girls look very much like you and the big boys favor Brett. You and your husband are a great couple and its awesome that you and he make sure you get some alone time and you make an awesome parenting team too. Your girls and the big boys too, light up your blog its apparent they know how very loved and cherished they are! You can see it! Keep taking pictures what a gift for all of you that the “small things” are forever documented.
Kelle, its so nice to see all your pictures and I love that you take pictures of yourself too. Most of us mommies are never in the pictures because we are behind the camera. Love the in the mirror pictures of you and Nella. I have read your whole blog now and have seen the ones of you and Lainey in the mirror when she was very little too. Beautiful. I think both your girls look very much like you and the big boys favor Brett. You and your husband are a great couple and its awesome that you and he make sure you get some alone time and you make an awesome parenting team too. Your girls and the big boys too, light up your blog its apparent they know how very loved and cherished they are! You can see it! Keep taking pictures what a gift for all of you that the “small things” are forever documented.
haters – July 5, 2010 at 5:25 a.m. – sad – if you don’t like what you see look elsewhere! Very sad and immature. Post elsewhere we love Kelle, her blog, her husband, and their family!
Keep up the great work Kelle we love you! and your nose is perfect!
Love this song! Happy Anniversary! Your wedding was SO much fun!
Dear Anon,
Why would someone more beautiful than Cindy Crawford, with the heart of an angel to boot, have any reason to visit a plastic surgeon? Go put on some glasses…jealously has a tendency to make us blind.
ignore that hater. please. ignore. we don’t want to give it the attention it craves for.
LOVE YOUR BLOG KELLE!!! YOU ARE TOTALLY AWESOME!!! YOUR CHILDREN ARE BEAUTIFUL AND SO ARE YOU!
We welcome haters here at Enjoying the Small Things! Welcome Aboard, my Anonymous Friend We welcome EVERYONE!! And thanks for reading!
I am just aching for your 4th of July post!!! Where is it? Please post, please! lol
sounds like one fab night!
I don’t come by very often..but love it when i can and little nella is so dang sweet and getting so big.
xo
** KELLE !! ** Way to go, girl. You ROCK, always, but..LOVE your response re: “haters”. THAT’s the way to respond to those people. Rise above and be a bigger person. Besides, there’s nothing TO worry about, when a hater writes hate and untruths. YOU are so AMAZING! Love you as always…
Another amazing and inspiring post. I wanted to let you know how talented I think you are. Your positive outlook on life and the way you choose to focus on what is good in this world has had a deep and lasting impact on me. I have suffered with depression for many years and struggle often with finding the glass half full. After reading your blog for many months, I have seen how much better my life will be if I choose to live in the moment, to savor even the smallest of occasions, to stop waiting for tomorrow… You’ve taught me to love today, to live today, to find the good in today. Thanks for a gift that is truly priceless, Kelle.
Being down here and enjoyng some virtual reality with the gang, I haven’t been commenting…but felt the need. Depth is something one cannot gain through a class or achieve with training…it simply is. You either have it or you will live without it. Those with it are clearly known. Those without it share the journey with us, but when they are near others whose lives are marked with depth and a richness of character, they are reminded of what they didn’t know they didn’t have. They are generally unkind and critical. Those are their weapons–they work well on those without depth, but they really are sadly lame on those who live above it…or rather deeper than it…don’t mark them by response, don’t give them power they never had. Those are the only ones I pray God protects Nella from…they are the cold-hearts, the shell-spirits. There are no surgeons who can repair them–though they are very “plastic.” I shall choose joy. It is pure joy to be here, to hear Lainey tell me, with the sage wisdom of a vintage soul, “Poppa, your gardens are beau-fi-tul.” There is no correction needed.
I’m half laughing, half indirectly offended. I am related to Kelle. I have the same “schnozz” only larger. And I have modeled. It’s 2010 and there’s a lot worse one could be doing than having a blog. Sorry I know it’s dumb to respond but whatever. I had to defend my own family schnozz, which I love and would nevahhhh fix! ;>)
you go POPPA!!!YOU ROCKED THIS ONE!!! how sad that these people exist…best part is they do not even know who they are..I believe if we love our children and our grandchildren enough they will be strong enough to just flick them off!!! at the end of the day THEY are the better people!!!!
This quote reminded me of you…
“dedicated to the appreciation of the mundane in everyday life. It is about finding wonder and beauty in the simplest of things, and about knowing that there is always a story behind the cover.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umbrella_Cover_Museum
Jill B (Overland Park, KS)
Thank you for allowing us a peek into your world. Life is really not complicated at all once you’ve learned how to enjoy the small things. 🙂 And I have you to thanks for that – I mean it. 🙂 It is a blessing that my future husband and children will benefit from.
And I love the Picnic article – have been trying to perfect my own picnic basket for years now. Thanks for the tips!
Your posts make me want a family of my own soooooo badly! You are so blessed…
Such a sweet anniversary and that necklace is precious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
Re: anniversaries. Last year, for our 4th anniversary, we took our kids to Chick-fil-a a the mall for free kids meal night. Talk about romantic!
Happy Anniversary and wishes for so many more years to come filled with just as much (if not more) happiness!
FABULOUS shoes!
Its very, very sexi!!!!
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July 5th-5:25AM-could’t agree with you more. It’s too funny how this woman obviously feels she is so good looking. I can’t look at too many pictures of her though since her crossed eyes hurt my eyes! Have the eyes addressed and then the nose.
Liz
I must say that the black and white picture of you and Brett is just gorgeous. All of your pictures of you and your family are gorgeous, but I think that it is something special that you took the time to celebrate each other.
Thank you for sharing your life with us.
Is there something wrong with being as you call it “right-wing”? Would you want your girls to be “Hooter Girls”?