The Meadows

Monday, October 24, 2011

Last week, Steven did a lot of work cutting down trees that were dying/heavily damaged after the hurricane. We thought it would be fun to invite some of our friends over for dinner and smores by the fire on Saturday. Unfortunately, the fire did not want to cooperate...the boys diagnosed several different reasons why it wouldn't start, but in the end it was sort of a lost cause. We had a lot of fun anyway just eating, talking, and watching football. Here are some shots of the "huge" bonfire :)

Steven working hard to get this fire going.

the Yosts

Steven literally standing in the fire to roast some marshmallows.

the girls + Brock :)

Monday, October 10, 2011

Farmhouse Table

Last year around this time, Steven and I saw some men tearing down an old tobacco barn right down the road from our house. After a little inquiring, I found out that they were going to throw all the wood away, so I asked if we could take it off their hands. I am obsessed with old distressed wood (i.e. Restoration Hardware furniture). Steven decided that he would use the wood to build a traditional farmhouse table for our new dining room, which I was thrilled about! Below are some pictures of the process. Chairs to come soon!

The beginning of the building process. Auburn engineering textbooks put to good use here...weighing down the table legs... Interesting story: We actually picked up those table legs at a yard sale for 50 cents each! Lowe's price: $16 each...abooyah!

tobacco barn wood used for the top of the table

After sanding and staining we finally have the finished product!

I love all the imperfections!!!

Thanks, Steve! I love it!

Celebrating Baby Sawyer :)

Beautiful cake at the Meadows'

Last weekend, Steven and I made a whirlwind trip down to Alabama to celebrate the future baby Sawyer Meadows with our families and friends. After driving for 12 hours, we finally made it to Opelika and spent the night at the Meadows' house. I guess because we were so excited, Steven and I both woke up very early the next morning. We decided to go out for a walk because it had been over a year since we had been back there. The sun was shining, but the air was crisp and cool; it was a perfect fall morning! Later, we got ready and made our way over to Steven's Aunt Janet and Uncle Bo's house who hosted the entire Meadows family for lunch. Lunch was delicious and the company was awesome. They all showered us with gifts (we felt so blessed!). We were so happy to see everyone and catch up!

Later that afternoon, we went back to the Meadows' house and watched the Auburn vs. South Carolina game. We won! I was so happy for our team! Afterward, we grilled out and ate dinner while watching more football and telling stories. I love to be around the Meadows family! They are all so happy, and I know that Mr. Steve and Mrs. Theo are going to be excellent grandparents to little Sawyer!

Steven and I (plus baby bump) with the cake :)

Hanging out at Bo and Janet's house after lunch

Very early Sunday morning, Steven and I made our way to North Alabama to visit my family. We made it in time to go to church with my parents at Hillsboro Baptist. It was so great to hear my dad preach; it made me think back fondly on my childhood. Afterward, Steven and the boys went to run some errands while all the girls got ready for the shower in the fellowship hall. Mom and Dad got little man a crib and dresser, which will be perfect for his nursery, and we were showered with lots of presents, advice, and love from everyone else. All the ladies who helped were so amazing and made everything look incredibly beautiful! I couldn't ask for better friends and family!

Steven and I hung out at the house for the rest of the afternoon with the family. Later, we all went to Betsy and Michael's house in Huntsville. It was our first time to see their place. I loved it! Then, we met Mom and Dad at Zaxby's for a late dinner (we even got to eat with our friend Kevin Walsh!). After dinner, we went back to the Osborn's for a slumber party and video games. The next morning came way too early. We took our time packing up all the gifts and furniture and grabbed a last minute lunch at John's Bar-B-Que. We needed our white sauce fix!

There are no words to express how much we love and miss our friends and family in Alabama. You all mean so much to us. We can't wait to introduce you all to our little man in a few months!

Steven and I at the baby shower at Hillsboro Baptist Church on Sunday

the McCulloch girls

Mom with little Abby :)

I love these ladies!

Cutest cake ever, right?

Saturday, September 3, 2011

My Husband the Handyman

Most of the time, I feel that I do not give my husband enough credit for all he does around the house. He is really good at building things and seems to enjoy the process, but he will also do just about anything that needs to be done to maintain or upgrade our house...enjoyable or not.

Steven has went above and beyond to make our new house feel more like a home, even when that means long nights spent working AFTER he gets off of his "real" work. Below are just a few pictures I have taken of him doing random things around the house, but trust me there are so many more instances that I didn't catch on camera. I feel like such a blessed woman to be married to a Godly man who is always willing to do what needs to be done! I love you, Steven!

building our headboard

flooring our living and dining room

tiling the bathroom floor

putting shingles on the roof after the hurricane (at night=Scary!)

sealing the upstairs windows

hanging an extra clothes rack in my closet :)

heading down to the basement after the hurricane to clean out the water (notice he is wearing my leopard print rain boots haha...at this point neither of cared what we looked like)

painting the new tv built-in he made

Friday, September 2, 2011

Baby Bump Watch

Diclaimer: This post will probably bore a lot of you, but since I live over 12 hours away from my family and friends in Alabama, I thought I would finally update them on my rapidly growing baby bump. (My apologies for the bad lighting.)

We can't wait to meet baby Sawyer!

25 weeks

Monday, August 1, 2011

Week at Emerald Isle

This year, there was a slight "mix-up" with the vacation dates, so the McCulloch's made a last minute decision to travel up to North Carolina to spend a week on Emerald Isle. We all have crazy schedules, so everyone came up when they could get away from work. Whitney, Chris, Taylor, and Patches came up a couple of days early and hung out with us until we could get into the beach house on Sunday. Mom, Dad, and Cash came up on Sunday night/early Monday morning. Betsy and Michael got to the house earlyWednesday morning, and Steven came right after work Wednesday night. It was so great to finally have the whole family together!!!

We spent most of our time laying out on the beach, playing in the ocean, cooking, EATING, playing Mario Cart and Commotion, and of course laughing. There is nothing we like to do more than talk and laugh, so we definitely got our fill over our week of vacation.

I was so so so thankful that everyone got to come (even though it is a crazy long drive for all of them). It meant the world to me and Steven. Can't wait until next year because there will be a new little addition to our family to share in the fun :)

Below are some pictures of our wonderful vacay!