Dashing Details. 9 weeks old.

Dashing Details. 8 days old.

Inspired Indeed.

After attending Ruffles and Rust this spring with two of my aunts and realizing how enchanted it is, I recruited my mom and Tess to join in the fun for the fall market. Ruffles and Rust is a biannual "vintage market to inspire," and inspire it does. The hubs fed us pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes and bacon for breakfast. It was so delicious we almost forgot we needed to get ready and go. When we remembered why we were together we each scurried off down the hall to get dressed. We had to laugh when we realized how perfectly coordinated we were. Before leaving the little people with my Mr. and heading out the door, we paused for this pic.

MamaTess: 32.5 weeks, MamaMeg: 34.5 weeks

I loved this sign. So Meganish! 

My mom assured me that I didn't need to buy it, "Everyone already knows you have more ideas than you know what to do with without having to read it on a sign in your home." she said. :)

Hours later we returned home with our goods.

A quick little display of some of our pretty new things grouped together.

Who doesn't need a sparkly 'A' and a couple of matching wire thingy-muh-bobs?!

We've needed a new end table since The Mr. crashed through my previous one. I knew this one was the winner the moment my eyes spotted it.

 It's taken up residence here and settled right into it's new role holding reading material and my current hand-sewing projects.

I keep photos of BamBam nearby. 

My little projects are powered by big inspiration.

 We love our wood-burning fireplace but without a poker it just wasn't as much fun. I was thrilled to at last have found an affordable set of tools that was not new and shiny...and came with a poker!

(It's the little things, people. :)

Until I scored this sweet dresser, I had not one drawer in the nursery. It was about to be a problem. Now however, the problem has been solved. It's quite cute, I'd say.

Our Home Fall-ified!

I've not been big into all the "Keep Calm" paraphernalia out there, but pumpkin spice lattes are my new obsession, so I caved when I came across this free printable at Vintage Dutch Girl.

Unfortunately I flubbed up when sizing/ordering this print from Costco. [See pixelation.] However, it's only a 5x7, which in the grand scheme of a mantel is very small. Plus, my eyes aren't perfect, so unless I stand very close I can't even tell. As for everyone else, including my hubs with his perfect-thanks-to-surgery vision, they'll just have to deal. :)

Amber glass. Fog-filled mornings. Crisp, cool air. Warm, spicy candles. 

Colorful, rustling leaves. Thick, bulky socks. Long sweaters & Leggings. 

Boots, Boots, & more Boots!

All things orange. Apple & Pumpkin Everything.

...

 Happy Heart.

Pit Stop in Leavenworth

We took a different route home from camping in EasternWa in order to add interest to the trek. This way we were able to stop, walk around, and grab lunch in Leavenworth. 

The lunch line was forever long so while Brian waited in the heat I ducked into Paprika which turned out to be the cutest store full of perfect gifts for many of my friends and super Megan-ish clothes. I wanted to buy the entire contents of the store and bring it all home with me. But that's what a hoarder would do and a hoarder I can not allow myself to be. Instead I bought nothing because there was no way to choose just one thing.

 Leavenworth is gorgeous.

 Lunch!

 This pregnancy has given me a whole new love for lemonade. I.can't.get.enough.

I actually exclaimed, "Thank God for lemonade!" when I saw this sign.

These misters topped off my excitement, as I sat in the shade guzzling my lemonade. Normally I hate misters. The feeling of water misted on my skin is clammy and gross and I always fear damage to my camera. The fact that I was thankful that day for misters indicates how nasty hot it truly was.

 It was hot. I was sweaty and makeup-less with unruly hair. I looked beat.

 But the sweet Bavarian town is completely enchanted, therefore I couldn't help but embrace the role of pregnant tourist. There was no avoiding it, we needed to photograph Babe's first trip to Leavenworth.

Our Annual Camping Trip to Winthrop

True to tradition, this year's HemFam camping trip was filled with sunshine, water fun, memories, and a whole lot of really incredible food.

Puddle Play.

Delectable!

Some see an oyster, I spot butter. All say, "Yum!"

 Sydni kept playing in Luke and Moses' tent throughout the day. Luke kept telling her to get out. In the afternoon the guys cooked oysters and Luke asked Sydni if she'd like one.

  To his surprise, she said, 'Yeah.'

 He told her that if she would eat an oyster only then could she play in the tent.

 Note Luke's disbelief when she happily gobbled down her first oyster. :)

 She didn't get the big deal, but she did enjoy getting to play in the tent. :)

Grandpa Lawrence and Grandma B visited.

As always, each couple was assigned a night on which they were to treat the rest of us to dinner.

~Brian and Tessa's Night~

Appetizer:

.Grilled Bacon-wrapped Smokies.

Dinner:

.Loaded [lots of meat!] Chicken Tortilla Soup.

.Baked Potato Soup (with all the toppings).

.really good Garlic Bread.

.Sweet Tea.

Gma B dug right in. :)

One of my favorite things about camping is watching each of our sweet babes, wander one by one out from their respective sleeping places. This was my last year as just an auntie and I enjoyed every single second. I had a greater appreciation knowing that next year I'll be busy being 'mama' to my own little.

Men making breakfast. A 'happiful' sight, as my college friend, Rach, would say. :)

Steamy Sausage!

 ~Dad and Mom's Night~

Appetizer:

.Grilled Bacon-wrapped Mini Sausages. (Notice a trend yet?)

Dinner:

.Low Country Boil. (the delicious definition of a one-pot meal)

.Arnold Palmer's.

.Homemade Ice Cream.

It's hard to keep your eyes closed during prayer just moments after watching your nana 

dump a pot of goodness down the center of the table!

~Our Night~

Appetizer: 

.Smoked Bacon-wrapped Jalapeno Poppers.

Dinner:

.Po Boys featuring [our first attempt at] Fried Catfish.

.Jambalaya.

.Slaw.

.Sweet Tea.

.Fruit Pizza [Pioneer Woman style].

Us being posers. Brian, Tess and Co. being hungry. :)

A colorful po boy, complete with Louisana hot sauce. 

More breakfast!

Individual Darigold Chocolate Milks, one of Uncle Bri's contributions.

Frozen Pacific NW berries and whip cream!

Nana was so kind as to bring her waffle iron along and treat us all to berry waffles.

Bold Brewed Coffee+Crispy Bacon+The Great, Sunny Outdoors: 

This is how every day should begin.

Operation Un-wedge Millster:

Millie had a stroller obsession this year. 

Each time someone said, 'Where's Millie?!' She was soon after located happily climbing one of the strollers.

[Note Big Bro Mose standing by, hands on cheeks, concerned.]

 Happy Papa and Nana :)

Moses was anxious to get in the boat with his daddy. :)

 Sydni determined that 2012 was the year to be terrified of the boat. Goofy girl... (She used to love it!)

 Pretty Pedis.

 Flip Flop Tan Lines.

 Remembering our first little buddy...

 Playtime at the beach.

 [Somewhat] leisurely rides on The Ho for the pregnant ladies. ;)

~Luke and Amy's Night~

Dinner:

.BBQ [really well flavored]Pulled Pork Sandwiches.

.Cornbread Salad.

.Sour Cream Slaw.

.Mint Juleps.

.[the best] Dutch Oven Bread Pudding.

 Best Bread Pudding I've ever put in my mouth.

(It became even better with whip cream melted on top.)

A sweet sibling moment. 

 I love that Millie went from playing in the grass to eating a plum, still with grass stuck to her pudgy little fingers.

Kolter makes some seriously beautiful, serious faces.

It was a wonderful trip. Although we realize it will be far more complicated, Brian and I are itching to go again next year, as a little family of three.