Friends Archives - Page 2 of 9 - Enjoying the Small Things

Weekend Celebrations

January 17, 2012 By Kelle

Our Weekend:

We are well now, our house thoroughly disinfected by my germ conscious husband. Besides predicting weather patterns and diagnosing ailments, Brett happens to dabble in germ-spreading prevention as well. I’m going to be kind and call it a “hobby,” although there are a few other terms that come to mind by which I’d like to refer to it.

Appropriately timed for a good home cleanse, we’ve enjoyed a nice cool front which has prompted open doors and windows and a steady current of germ-sweeping airflow. We spent more time outdoors this weekend, the medley of blue sky, filtered sunlight and cool, crisp air reminiscent of early spring days up north.

I like the layers of tank top-plus-sweater-plus-jacket that shifted throughout the day this weekend. And socks–seriously. I can never find a pair of matching socks for my kids. Ever. We get by on sandals and bare feet so much down here, when socks are actually a necessity, I just start digging to the back of drawers and the bottom of laundry baskets praying I’ll find two socks–matching and appropriate size total bonuses.

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Saturday evening, we celebrated Heidi’s baby who will debut in less than a couple of months. I love seeing my friend so happy. She is anticipating this little tag-a-long with such beautifully expressed enthusiasm, and it felt so good to share it in an evening of maternal praise.

Our friend Wylie made homemade pizzas which were out of this world

I am so thankful for my friend, a constant support and continued source of laughter. And babies? Oh, we know how to celebrate babies round here. This one is no different–infinitely loved.

Shower attendees taking turns wearing my fake very refective glasses.

And because my friend is super human, not only did she go to bed late after the shower, but she hauled her bump out the next night for karaoke. Sang and danced a pregnant jig. And my oh my, did we ever have fun last night.

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It’s funny, here I was packing up my Christmas tree last week, hesitant to close shop because I was sad to let go of celebration, and yet January has done nothing so far but call for more of it. Babies and birthdays and friends and all the little things that continue to unfold all year long, inviting little bits of fanfare, toasts of gratitude, occasions for togetherness and remembrance.

Dancing to celebrate another year.

Happy Birthday, Cash & Rocco!

Welcoming new babies.

Lainey gave up face painting, balloon art, dancing and a slew of her friends to hold Baby Ethan at the birthday party. It’s her favorite place to be–holding a baby. I may be raising an introvert, but Sister’s like her mama when it comes to the babies.

We visited my birthday buddy, Baby Sage, today. She is yummy.

And I noticed even more this weekend, my big sister girl has some precious nurturing qualities.

This morning, I wrapped Nella in a towel and set her down while I drained the tub after her bath. Of course she escaped the towel shackles as I heard her palms slap the tile down the hallway a second later and saw a wet footprint trail out the bathroom door. By the time I cleaned up and headed to find her, she was fully dressed–diaper, shirt, pants–and all properly done. Lainey was smiling. “I dressed her,” she proudly confessed.

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Our girl turns two in less than a week–hard to believe.

Nella’s shirt, Tea Collection, half price clearance now

Things have been a little crazy this month and I’m traveling for the first time by myself next week for a couple days, so we moved her party to February. This weekend will be special though, and her day will no doubt receive its deserving honor. Tonight, I watched a short segment on NBC Nightly News about a gorgeous little boy with Down syndrome who is being featured in Target and Nordstrom ads and how, while this is deservedly getting attention, really it’s no big deal–just exactly as it should be. This isn’t the first time a child with special needs has been included in a major ad, and it definitely isn’t the last time. But I still smiled and cried watching it. I just feel so entirely grateful to be a part of this–to have two children who are different, beautiful and bright. To raise a child with special needs during an age when all the hard work of other families is being recognized. Life wouldn’t have been the same for us thirty years ago and it won’t be the same thirty years from now if together we continue to broaden our perspective. I am thankful for the message of acceptance and inclusion–a way that has been paved for our family by so many other families before us. And I am encouraged to continue the fight for more. Please keep the message spreading and help us reach our goal of 2 for 2. Final countdown and a little more than $40,000 to go.

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There’s a winter sale going on over at our Dashing Bee sponsor. Remember, Dashing Bee is an online consignment shop for baby and kid gear. I had fun making some favorite picks from the shop tonight to throw a few outfits together. Everything you see is currently for sale on their site and, better yet…incredibly affordable.

All winter items and shoes are 20% off now. Use Code WINTER20 at checkout for your discount.
Happy Shopping.

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I’ll be stopping by more frequently this week with some special posts. Until then, we’ll be enjoyin’. Hope you will too.

On Weekends and Bowling

September 26, 2011 By Kelle

The weekend began, as good weekends do, spilling sunshine from blue skies. We went out for breakfast–my favorite out-to-eat meal–and dabbled in the art of weekend nothingness.

My Saturday gift came in the form of a trip to the hospital where I sat in my friend’s room and held her sweet new girl–seven hours old–and studied her features, ran my fingers over the cowlick of silky hair that hugged her perfect head, and inhaled the rare opportunity to experience the miracle of really new life. I speak fluent newborn, you know. And I could have sat in that room holding that baby all day.

Welcome to the world, Rowan!

But other babies called.

And today? It was gray. Not mysterious gray or depressing gray, but soft and calming stay-in kind of gray.

And while there are many different kinds of rains here–loud and thundrous downpours, beach storms, scattered showers–today, it rained soft and steadily. And it was cozy.

I can’t say the same for last night’s dramatic downpour that slammed windshields in blinding sheets and pounded roofs in a turbulent roar.

We braved the storm last night to head out to a bowling alley after one of those itches hit me out of nowhere. “Let’s go bowling.” Similar but less successful spontaneous itches in my past have included “I’m going to color my hair platinum,” “I’m going to sell Mary Kay,” and “I’m going to apply for a job at Victoria’s Secret.” These ended in purple fried hair, a closet full of make-up I never sold, and getting banned from ever being hired by any Limited company forevermore, respectively.

But bowling? Bowling delivered.

Lainey took right to the three-fingered grip of a bowling ball and quickly mastered the art of delivering a roll that would produce the least amount of momentum necessary to keep a ball moving. It took like three minutes for the ball to make it to the end of the lane, and then pins fell in sloooooowwww motttttiiiiiooon, one by one.

Insert victory dance.

But it was fun–being all holed up, literally, in a dark alley, while it rained and thundered outside.

Sister wanted only one thing–to break free from the shackles of her walker and high-tail it down the lane.

She got close once, but struck out, no pun intended. Okay, totally intended.

And I discovered some very important things one needs to know about bowling.

Things I Discovered About Bowling:

1) That alarm that beeps when your foot slips into the slick, waxed surface of the bowling lane? It’s there for a reason. You will fall. Hard. Like arms in the air and legs parallel to the ground kind of fall. Just ask my friend Andrea.

2) If you forget socks, you can buy them at a bowling alley. From a vending machine, and they’re only jacked up six times the regular cost of socks.

3) Bowling shoes are adorable. Keep telling yourself that.

4) Unlike golf, low scores don’t win. Shoot.

5) No matter how many times you try and will the music control guy to stop playing Nickelback, he won’t.

6) Wow, I really do know all the words to Phil Collins’ In the Air Tonight.

7.) Not everyone thinks it’s funny when you talk in a Southern accent all night and holler “Halleluia, sweet Baby Jesus” after anyone strikes.

8.) Waving your arms like this to make the ball go to the right does not make the ball go to the right.

9.) If you throw the ball so cockeyed, it bounces in another lane, someone will get it for you.

10.) Brett’s serious bowling stance is funny. Like I couldn’t stop laughing at my camera screen every time I caught him in a Neanderthal stretch.

11.) While waiting for your next turn to bowl, you can kill time by choreographing spare and strike victory dances, giving fake bowling lessons or impersonating Bowland tour guides even though there is no such thing as a Bowland tour. But if there was, it would begin with “Here at Bowland, we…” In a thick Southern accent, of course.

So there. Bet you’re glad you know that now. Bowl on.

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Congratulations to the Scentsy holiday warmer winner, Comment #180, the doc:<em> Big laughs tonight? Gathering with 2 friends at a university reunion remembering our college crushes and piecing together where they are now – some info real, some imagined. So serious at the time but a few decades out it is giggle-worthy!

doc, please send your contact info to kellehamptonblog@comcast.net with “GIVEAWAY WINNER” in the subject line. Thank you!

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If anyone’s up for some Naples travel (does this entice you?), Bonita by the Beach is offering 20% off listed pricing from now until December 15th.

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And that leaves us at the end of this Monday night where I am wishing you a very happy week indeed.

We shall bake tomorrow. We shall bake and proclaim our love for a good fake Florida fall.

Friday Quicky

September 23, 2011 By Kelle

Last night I had the pleasure of hosting a surprise party for Heidi’s birthday despite the fact her birthday was weeks ago, a fact that only helped keep any suspicion at bay.

Girlfriend was all gaping-mouthed shocked.

And my heart swelled seeing her happy and celebrated by our friends because my selfless, ever-serving friend deserved to have the tables turned.

The fall freak flag unfurled with glowy votives and autumn scents. Huddles of conversation buzzed in every corner, heads tipped in laughter, a stellar playlist drummed out beats, and the walls of my house said “thank you” repeatedly…they like company.

Every time we gather to celebrate–shifting our schedules to make time–I remind myself how grateful I am for these women, even though now with kids and sports and jobs and husbands, we see each other fewer and farther between. When we’re laughing and toasting and hugging and reminiscing, I always make note, “We should do this more often.”

We talked and laughed until the wee hours of the night.

Happy Birthday, dear sister friend.

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End-of-Week Favorites:

The Girl Finally Rocks Braids.

…and is enamored with my phone. If she manages to score it off a surface in her reach, she goes right to scrolling her little pointers across the screen. It’s always the same: her body position, the intent little “o” on her face as she scrolls, and the angry fit that follows me taking it away.

…right here in River City!

And, this week she rocked new words: Dora (initiated by her sister, of course), apple and please.

yummy Fall Tea Collection tunic

We’re stoked for next week’s new adventure–little tyke soccer.

Brett and I spent a good five minutes gushing about the tiny size of these cleats today. And Lainey wants to wear them with dresses and skirts and pajamas.

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I wore out the old Facebook page, so I’ve finally created a public page for Enjoying the Small Things. Like it HERE and follow along. I’ll post something tonight to test it out. Pressure’s on.

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Friday Photo Dump:

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Congratulations to the Okllo t-shirt winner, Comment #22–Colby~Megan~Hayden:
We love doggy kisses at our house- my husband thinks its gross too for the same reason. I think it’s hilarious! Sometimes quality is hard to get- but doing the best you can with the time and resources given- moms triumph every single day.

Colby~Megan~Hayden, please e-mail your contact info, with “GIVEAWAY WINNER” in the subject line, to kellehamptonblog@comcast.net. Thank you!

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And just because Fridays are fun with free stuff, a random commenter on this post will be winning a free holiday scent warmer–your choice–courtesy of our sponsor, Jessica Clough’s Scentsy shop. (I am an addict now. I just got the Weathered Leather scent and fell in mad, mad love. It smells like old books and rich leather).

Tell me, what’s the last thing that made you laugh?

Mine: Thirty seconds ago, Brett comes running in from outside, all excited. “Dude, get your camera. There’s bunnies everywhere outside. It’s a freaking convention.” And then he lowers his voice and whispers, “I think they’re M-A-T-I-N-G.”

Thanks for spelling it, Brett. It’s a very, very bad word.

And while you’re at it…have a fabulous weekend.

Oh, check out this song by talented budding artist, Rachel Platten. Makes me happy, happy.