25 July 2013

Remembering the moments with pictures



Today, I remember my dear grandfather. He passed from this world on May 25, 2013. It's been two months and it feels like forever ago and like it was just yesterday all at the same time. I want to tell you about him, but it's hard to fight the tears today, so the words I am trying to write for him will probably come tomorrow. Instead, I'll post some of my favorite pictures of us. I am so grateful that these moments were captured!























Eternal rest grant unto him, oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.  May the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.


Blessings! and Joy!
nicole mArie

12 July 2013

Color Me Rad Pittsburgh Family -- Lights, Camera, Color!

This is a long overdue post from the Color Me Rad race that was in our city on June 8th. 
So here I am finally posting.  It's an indulgent post chock full of pictures -- what do you want from me? My family is super cute and we're colored up. It screams, "post pictures of us!" We didn't run most of it as the race was on gravel and our running stroller doesn't easily stroll through gravel. Instead we made sure to "run" through all 5 color stations and have colored powder thrown at us, and on us, and get drenched in colored water -- it was hilarious and wonderful.

We -- when I say, "we" here, I am referring solely to my dear husband who went to Target ten minutes before it closed because I begged him, he's a gem. Truly -- bought white shirts the night before and I wrote everyone's names on the back of them, and we wore crazy sunglasses from the CMR people. Super Cool.


The child with blue glasses managed to get purple powder in his mouth at the first gate which disturbed him greatly. Sigh. Throughout the rest of the race he told me, over and over, "Mama! This is your fault. This is ALL your fault, you made us do this!"  Yes, yes, I did. I made us have fun. Good grief.  

My other kids, on the other hand, really enjoyed the color. Little boy with the green glasses?  He ran through the color gates and cheered and laughed and loved every single second.  He even tried to run with me, which was terrifically sweet. 

The pictures below progress from before the race to clean up at the van.  I will say this about my little boy blue, that when we were crossing the finish line he got super excited and started cheering since he was crossing his first finish line. Redeeming sweetness after crabbiness. 

They were all still a little leery when walking to the starting line. (see, they're still squeaky clean here)



 look at how cute they are! awww.

and now, see this face. Oh little boy blue (and purple).




I don't exactly know what we were looking at...



We had a hand at popping the color packets and bursting them on each other.

again, look at little boy's face. ha!

 We went with our not-a-cousin cousin, Deanna.  My kids love her, she loves my kids, we all had a grand and fantastic time.  She actually DID run the whole 5k while my family skipped many parts of it ;)

We did it!  Woo!


We are stinkin' cute!

I apparently didn't get the memo to stick my tongue out, too. whoops. (gosh, i look like i'm in pain)


This was left behind after many many baby wipes.

 And so was this.
Oh yeah, we had to drive two hours after the race without bathing the kids, so they rode in the car like this. Just keeping in all sorts of real. ;)  hehehe 

 hehe, and this.
 gah, and this. I've colored my hair since. You can't see those grays at this point in time. Check back in a few weeks.
 (i like this)
and this makes me smile big :D



While this is an overdue recap of the Color Me Rad race, I just realized that I am posting it on the day that "The Color Run" has announced that they are coming to Pittsburgh in October -- we might have to sign up for that and do this all over again! Woot!
blessings! and joy!
nicole mArie



10 July 2013

Ohio Valley Blogger Meet & Greet 2013



So my friend, Natalie, who is The Busy Budgeting Mama, decided to host a fun event for local and local-ish bloggers and yes, I am going!  I am kind of excited. Okay, I'm a lot excited.

I keep laughing to myself though because I don't really feel like a "real" blogger, I keep thinking that I might be one, you know, someday, but that today is not that someday. I don't think.

Anyway, check out the details! You can still get a ticket, if you want to join us.  You should!  It's going to be a fun time!























Woo!

blessings! and joy!

nicole mArie

05 July 2013

A girl and her sparkle dog





So this one day we went to the mall. At the mall my daughter spied a bedazzled ridiculous looking, cheaply made puppy dog purse, and she fell in love. And she walked her dog all through the mall. And she named him Coco. And she walks her dog everywhere. 


blessings! and joy!
nicole mArie

04 July 2013

with strength and dignity





Do you ever get the feeling that life is a little bit heavy to carry?  That so much is going on around you that you react without thinking?  That you become so overwhelmed that you get lost in it all and lose the moment? 

I do. You're not alone. 

And it's hard. And it's messy. 

I keep telling myself that somewhere in the difficulty and messiness is beauty to be found.  It's true you know, that beauty is here. You know what else is true? That blessings fill this life, that grace abounds, and that there is light somewhere when it's dark.  Also, just throwing it out there -- you will probably light up your dark. 

Embrace the mess, embrace the difficulty, feel the tears fall down your cheeks, and know, dear friend, you are not alone.


That I may be strong and dignified and filled with grace in life. In all ways.
On all of the days. This is my hope and my prayer. Especially now, when life feels heavy. 


blessings! and so much joy!
nicole mArie