4 Years

On Monday I came home from work with a wonderful surprise! My parents surprised me for our wedding anniversary, and while I was still at work they came over and made dinner! It was so very sweet. Kel was in on it the whole time, too :) They are so so sneaky!!!

The table is set!

They are the very very best

They got us these cutest little cupcakes

They were like mini wedding cakes

delish!!

I can't believe Kellen and I have been married for 4 years (Thursday the 28th)! I can honestly say I have more respect for our vows now than 4 years ago. And with that respect comes a deeper love that I look forward to growing more and more for the rest of my life as Mrs. Heavin :)

I remember my wedding day like it was yesterday. I know that is had only been 4 years ago, but during my engagement I remember everyone telling me that their wedding day was a blur. I didn't want that to be me. I made a point to remember every detail of that day...and I still do. I remember that it rained first thing but then cleared up around 10am while were getting out hair done. I remember eating cucumber and dill sandwiches made by my mom's best friend's mother and drinking out of a yellow straw to not mess up my makeup. I remember the smell of the freesia and lily of the valley. I remember giving my mother an embroidered handkerchief. I remember the moment my father and I had before we walked me down the isle. I remember how the organ made the ground shake as it played. I remember looking out at our guests and being amazed at how full the church was. Of course I remember when Kellen dipped me during our first kiss. I remember the perfume of the women I hugged at our receiving line. I remember the chill in the air as we drove to the reception. I remember that our DJ played the wrong song when we entered (haha, what is a wedding day without drama?). I remember the food. YES I ate my entire plate of food and my corset had to be loosened. It was totally worth it. I remember the speeches everyone gave. I remember the cake and how the table cakes made the room smell like a sugary heaven. I remember our first dance, and watching everyone else join us, including my grandmother who fell as she was doing the twist because they had just waxed the floors. I remember never wanting the night to end and being so very happy for the future. What fun memories :)

Kel and two of his buddies from high school did a surprise performance...long story ;)

This last weekend we went to a Halloween party at Kellen's dad's house. It was so funny to see everyone dressed up. I didn't get as many pics of the costumes as I'd like to, but I got some of the highlights.

Clayton (Kel's brother) was Jack Sparrow

Yabba-Dabba-DOOO

Pebbles spray-painted a milkbone for her hair!

Kel's dad, YIKES

Clay won the apple bobbing contest, and there was even a trophy for it!

Pumpkin Carving

This was Kellen and mine's. Guess who designed it.

The next day we celebrated Mallory (Kel's little sister) birthday- 22! I just cannot believe she is that old! I remember when we first started dating she was a little miss in high school; and now she is a senior at IU! It has been so cool to see her grow up. I have never had a little sister, but having her in my life the last 7 years has given me a taste of it ;) We have laughed, cried, and pretty much everything between together. I am so happy I have Kellen in my life, for many reasons, and she (being his little sister) is one of them, because she has filled a void that I never even knew I had before her.

This is one of my favorite pics...Kel's little sis and my little bro at our wedding :)
They look like babies!

This was at a Kenny Chesney concert when Kel and I were still dating
Happy birthday Mallory! XOXOX

Here are some of the sights and smells that have been running through the Heavin household lately.....

I made some sugar cookies for this weekend and they took me all day! I was inspired by one of Gretchen's friends who hand cuts all of her cookies and does the coolest designs. While I didn't hand cut mine, they did take some major planning. I enjoyed it...I spent the day blaring Michael Buble and baking. Great therapy.

My cookie blue prints!

The spiderwebs were my fave!

I was very happy with how all of them turned out but the bottom leaves...I had a better vision but they just turned out looking like brown tomahawks.

This is my least fave part of baking...the clean up :(

I found these and are currently obsessed with them.
I love how retro they look.

Tell me what's wrong with this picture- yes, my petunia's are THRIVING! They were puny all summer and now that it's nearing November, they are happy. Oh well, I'm getting as much use out of them as I can.

This was an old Christmas wreath I found on super clearance....I added a black fury spider and viola- Happy Halloween

Fresh, homemade applesauce (thanks for the hints, Gretch!)

The grower at the Farmer's Market recommended using vanilla instead of cinnamon with the butternut squash. It gave it a totally different spin on the flavor.

Okay, so everyone always curls up their nose when I even say it...
PERSIMMON PUDDING!
This is something I grew up eating with my grandparents as they had a persimmon tree. It brings back fond memories of shaking the tree for the fruit to fall, then obtaining the pulp. It is an art that I feel has been lost. During the cooler months I always like to make up a batch and share it with my dad (he's the only other person on the earth that I know what loves it as much as me- that's fine, more for us ;) )

One of my favorite things is how it bakes into this beautiful plum color and smells better than any candle!

Happy Fall everyone!