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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Everyday Life, Life Lately, Shay ·

Life Lately.


Hey there Thursday.
Well, life lately has been a little shorthanded.  Andrew was in South Africa for 10 days, but he’s home now!  Woohoo!  Insert all of the excited emojis here!  We missed him big time and were super pumped when he arrived home yesterday :).  
So, here’s a little look at life lately: solo parenting edition…
Last year, I planned swim lessons while Andrew was gone and it worked out so well that I did it again this year too.  Here are my three on their last day of swim.  Medals, check.  Suckers, check. Another year of swim down, check, check!  I picked them up from school, we drove straight to swim lessons, and then we came home and had a leisurely evening. 

 I put this pic on Instagram…a sweet six year old boy fell asleep holding my hand in my bed next to me while we watched the Sox play.  I wanted to freeze time right there.

Napkin rings or binoculars?  When you’re at Pottery Barn, they can be either.
 On Saturday, we celebrated our sweet friend Manda (in the middle) with a Matilda Jane fundraiser for her and her family.  As many of you know, Manda is currently fighting cancer for the third time.  We love this friend of ours so much and we absolutely hate that she is going through this.  She’s a mama to two small kiddos and we want more than anything for her to be healed.  We know (and Manda will be the first to tell you) that healing for her is coming…whether on this side of Glory or the other, she will be healed.  We’re praying hard that we get to see it on this side, but we are confident in the Lord’s will for her life and the lives of her kiddos and husband.  Life is hard sometimes.  Sometimes, it just doesn’t make sense.  Thank goodness for the love and grace that comes from Jesus.

  Please continue to pray for Manda and her family.

Saturday night, we celebrated Catherine turning the big 3-0!  The only one missing from our fun night was Andrew (insert sad face here).  We had the best time honoring our birthday girl!

Hey there May 1.  I’m so happy you’re here.  My view for the afternoon.  Ebby Lee was over and the three girls swam all day.

 It’s starting to taste like summer!
After our time in the pool, we needed to walk Poppy.  Sweet Ebby Lee doesn’t have a dog (yet), so she asked if she could walk her.  She was so proud!  After I took this picture, I realized that: a. she was doing a great job and b. her dress was on backwards ;).

These two.  I mean to tell you.  These. Two.  They are always all over each other.

Walked into the kitchen and found a teenager doing yoga.  Okay, I really found a 7 year old doing it…but she looked like a teen.  I love that she loves doing things to make her healthy and strong.

Smith found a Christmas craft in our craft drawer.  He made me a Santa Claus.  Whatever keeps them happy ;).
So, that’s a little life lately over here!
Don’t forget, today is your last day to enter to win my $500 Nordstrom Gift Card Giveaway!  Details here.
And if you’re following along with this…
…you can see it here today.
And one more thing!  Oh girls, girls, girls…

…my Honey Pecan Chicken Thighs will blow your mind.  
Blow. It.  
(And yes, you can use chicken breasts if you prefer!).  See the recipe here.
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Comments

  2. Narci says

    Smith making his Christmas craft is so sweet!! 🙂 also, I love that Kensington was doing yoga! You go, girl!!

  4. Jamie Allen says

    YUM for your chicken recipe. i thought that was you doing yoga at first glance. holding hands with our littles is such a simple beautiful thing. when my granddaughter and i go somewhere and get out of the car {ie at target or bible study}, she instinctively grabs my hand to hold it as we walk. i think about how beautiful that is each time. dear jesus, thank you for manda. i'm a tad bit jealous about the pool and sunshine in texas.

  5. Tammy says

    I sure wish it would warm up here ! We love swimming and spend many days at neighborhood pool.

  6. kelly says

    I LOVE that Kensington was doing yoga!!! How did she even know what that is? Maybe she sees you doing it? Or do they do that in her dance class?

  7. Ashley Hogeland says

    Can't wait till it gets a little warmer here and we can have pool days! Although I'm sure my kids wouldn't mind it a little chilly! You should start snapchatting! I have been loving Andreas snapchats-would love to see you on there! 🙂

  8. Amy Androff says

    I love the pic of your hand with Smiths. I got tears. My youngest son is turning 18 next month. 🙁 His car was in the shop for almost a week and I got to take him to school 🙂 However, he always found a ride home! Haha
    Hold on to that hand as long as you can or he will let you!

  10. Tara Smith says

    I love that your kids PLAY and are so active! These are definitely mom goals that I share!
    The pic of Kensington doing yoga is great! Good for her to be so curious to try what she has seen her momma do!

  11. Rebecca Jo says

    Oh my gosh – she does look like a little teenager there doing yoga!!!

    My favorite thing – all of you adults sitting there in birthday party caps 🙂 That's a fun group right there!

  12. motheroftwo says

    Super odd question, but is your pool deck pavers or travertine? It looks like travertine to me. We are in the process of renovating a new house and are doing the pool deck. I want travertine and am leaning towards that. But I wanted to ask if you feel it's slippery….

  14. Mrs W says

    My 3 year old daughter doesn't always like to hold hands with me anymore, until last weekend when she kept asking me if she could hold my hand. That sort of broke my heart and pieced it back together in one fall swoop! I told her she never had to ask me if she could hold my hand, she can just grab my hand whenever she needed to. 🙂

  15. Kristina @ Ms.Modify says

    I love how Smith and Kensington are always clinging on to each other. I have a brother that's 19 months older than me, and we were like that as kids… and now he's still my best friend! xo, Kristina

  16. Jen Arthur says

    Sounds like a fun week! My husband travels a lot for work and it's always harder when he's gone! It gives me so much more appreciation for everything he does at home AND I am always in such awe of single parents that do it on their own all the time!
    Xo, Jen
    http://Www.bellenbrooks.com

  22. Casey says

    We are thinking of getting a pool in the next year. What size is yours, how deep, etc. I know we will use it all the time but there are just so many options! Thanks!

  23. Mia Fiore says

    So, this has nothing to do with your post today but I know you always brag about your Erin Condren planner and I finally just caved and bought one.. and a pen holder.. and some stickers. I went crazy but I am so excited for it to arrive!

  24. Megan says

    Why does Miss K look so big doing yoga?! She really does look like a teen! I'm praying for Manda and the entire family!!

  25. Taeryn Bemont says

    Is there any way Andrew would ever do a guest post about his visit to South Africa? It would be a wonderful way to raise awareness of the hardships so many people face there! Although I now live in London, I am a born and bred South African and so this issue is close to my heart! Thank you for a fantastic blog!

  26. Aubrey says

    Gotta give you props for surviving 10 days of solo parenting! Looks like you pulled it off and managed to have fun in the process! When Nick has to be away, that's when I think I truly realize how much he does for all of us. He's amazing.

  29. Kim says

    Love this post, well actually all of your posts!!! Thanks for sharing your world with us. Do you know where Manda's shirt is from in the group picture? I am in LOVE with the lace shoulders and the colors!! Thanks!