Intentional Living

  • Happy Halloween!

    'Brina made the owl and Karlie designed the scary face pumpkin!'
    We gave the girls a choice about what Halloween activities they wanted to do this year. They chose to stay home, play games, spend time together, carve pumpkins, make a special meal, and more fun instead of going out trick & treating! We had a lot of fun together! Thankful for our girls and sweet time together!
    'BBQ Mustard flavored pumpkin seeds - Jake's favorite this year!'
    Baked and seasoned pumpkin seeds!
    'Karlie working on her pumpkin!'
    Karlie’s scary pumpkin!
    'Caramel coated pumpkin seeds were our other flavor creation this year!'
    Caramel flavored pumpkin seeds!
    'Brina concentrating on carving extra cute hearts on the side of her pumpkin'
    Brina creating her owl pumpkin

  • Travel & Vacation: Galveston Island Ferry

    'Hanging out with my man! Loved our time together!'

    Exploring Galveston, Texas before our plane leaves for home! We took the Galveston Island Ferry boat over to Bolivar. On the ferry ride was saw a lot of dolphins swimming. We went to the Galleria Mall in Houston, TX. It was a huge mall with an ice skating rink! It was the first time we ate at the Cheesecake Factory and it was delicious!

    'The name of our Ferry boat!'
    Our ferry was DeWitt C. Greer!
    'There was a massive amount of birds following the ferries with all the goodies it stirred up!'
    Passing another ferry heading the opposite direction!
    'My Love'
    Jake – my man!
    'Having fun in Galvetson, Texas before heading back home!'
    Grateful for this week with Jake!  It was wonderful having one-on-one time!
    The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family, ways we relax, and tips on how to make trips more enjoyable.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!

  • Travel & Vacation: Cruising the Gulf of Mexico

    'Relaxing and beautiful views from our balcony....I could get used to living this kind of rough life, ha! Thanks for spoiling me with a week away my love, @[749272290:2048:Jake Hayes]! :)'

    Our last full day on the cruise! The week went by too quickly, but it was relaxing, packed full of great memories, and wonderful having extra time together! We need to do this more often Jake Hayes! 🙂 Thankful for an opportunity to celebrate our 15th Anniversary and looking forward to many more amazing years together with this handsome man! XOXO

    'Checking out the scenery!'
    Handsome guy on our balcony!
    'Our last night out together on the ship!'
    Last night on the ship with my Babycake!
    'Love this man!'
    Thankful for time with this man!
    'Loved being able to relax over meals, talk, and laugh together! We didn't have anywhere to rush off to, no places we had to be, or activities that we had to get done just time to hang out as a couple!'
    Enjoying one more quiet breakfast before hitting the road again!

    The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family, ways we relax, and tips on how to make trips more enjoyable.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!

  • Travel & Vacation: Ice Skating Show

    'Great times with my sweetheart!'

    Celebrating with my best friend!

    Loving our time together on the cruise! Thankful for a time to celebrate! We had a great day on the ship watching the ice skating show, going to various activities, getting a massage, and so much more!

    'Ice Skating Show'
    Watching the ice skating show aboard the ship!
    'It was a small ice skating rink but they did an awesome performance!'
    A lot of interesting costumes and neat performances during the show!
    'I am blessed to have this amazing man as my husband and best friend!'
    Thankful for a time to get away and spend together!
    'Loved these costumes!'
    Fun characters.  Jake and I went ice skating, but we did have any fancy moves or costumes!

    The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family, ways we relax, and tips on how to make trips more enjoyable.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!

  • Travel & Vacation: Beautiful Roatan, Honduras

    'Loving traveling with this guy!'
    Jake and I in Roatan, Honduras

    Visiting beautiful Roatan, Honduras! It was a sunny day in Roatan and we did probably one of my favorite ocean activities so far – Snuba! I LOVED it!!!! We were able to go down 25 feet and explore the bottom of the ocean. The ocean ecosystem was fascinating! All the sea grass, fish, coral, sand, and everything moving smoothly and peacefully in the ocean was simply AMAZING! I would do it again in a heartbeat! We were each hooked to an oxygen tank and could go down to 25 feet without needing to come up for air. Snuba is kind of a cross between snorkeling and scuba diving! If you have a chance to try it do it. It was much more gorgeous then even the pictures reflect!

    'LOVE waking up and seeing the beautiful ocean and an equally gorgeous sunrise!'
    Watching the sunrise as we arrive in Honduras!
    'Port at Roatan, Honduras!'
    Ready to explore this beautiful place!
    'We got our fins on and are ready to go on our Snuba activity!'
    One of us has small feet and had to wear the kid fins…..can you guess who, ha!?
    'The park where we did the Snuba activity was postcard pretty! I could have stayed there for a lot longer if we had more time!'
    Beautiful place!  Definitely want to go to do Snuba again sometime!

    The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family, ways we relax, and tips on how to make trips more enjoyable.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!

  • Travel & Vacation: Visiting Belize City, Belize

    'Room service and breakfast on the balcony. Great way to start off a new day!'

    Visiting Belize City, Belize! We had a wonderful day learning about the country of Belize, seeing the area, going to Jaguar Park (thankfully we didn’t run into any real jaguars), going zip lining, and floating through massive caves on an inner-tube. Plus a great time that evening on the ship at dinner and the shows. It was a fun day!

    'Our friend the pirate! We tried a different brand of sunblock today, it was not our favorite because it was so greasy. Jake wiped most of his off, but I still look all oiled up from it!'
    Look out Belize here we come!
    'My hot man!'
    My Handsome!  Love this guy so much!
    'Sunblock on...check, hat on....check, swimsuit on....check, camera packed....check! Ready for our Belize adventures!'
    Excited to go
    'Jake all geared up and ready for take off on the zip line!'
    My Handsome getting ready to fly through the trees.

    The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family, ways we relax, and tips on how to make trips more enjoyable.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!

  • Travel & Vacation: Exploring Cozumel, Mexico

    'Good morning sunshine!'

    Beautiful ocean sunrise in Mexico!

    Exploring Cozumel, Mexico! We had a blast sight seeing, meeting people, shopping, and going Snorkeling at 3 different reefs during our day in Mexico. We even got to talk with the girls for a tiny bit because we got cell phone service while walking through the area!

    'We had a little stow away on the balcony. The bird stayed there for over a day. Whenever we came out on the balcony it would just hop around our of our way. Guess it thought we weren't too much of a threat.'
    This little guy caught a ride on our balcony and stayed there for several hours.
    'Port security worker telling us about the bird he is holding. I even got to pet it, super cool!'
    Talking with one of the security guards about the bird he was holding.
    'Chatting'
    Ready to go on our snorkeling adventure.
    'My man all ready for our adventure!'
    I get to check out Mexico with this hot guy!

    The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family, ways we relax, and tips on how to make trips more enjoyable.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!

  • Travel & Vacation: Cruising the Gulf of Mexico

    'Love this guy!'

    15 years and counting!

    We cruised the Gulf of Mexico on our 2nd day of our 15th Anniversary Celebration! We woke up to a beautiful sunrise, explored the ship, played card games on the balcony, tested our surf boarding skills, tried a round of Bingo, took a nap, ate amazing food, saw a gorgeous sunset, went to shows and more fun. Thankfully I married a man that not only loves me, but has a large amount of patience!!! It was our first formal diner night and I “attempted to do a new hairstyle” (let’s just say it didn’t turn out great after over an hour working on it so I went back to my usual style for that night).

    'Hanging out with my man!'
    Loved having a balcony!
    'He is such a sweetheart and even played a round of Bingo with me.'
    My bingo partner!  He was a good one and was only 1 away from winning a free cruise!  Thankful for the extra time with this man!
    'Heading out to dinner with my Handsome Man!'
    Hanging out on the ship for the evening with this awesome man!  He looked amazing!
    'Love waking up to a beautiful sunrise in the morning!'

    We enjoyed watching both the sunrises and sunsets from the balcony.  Gorgeous and peaceful!

    The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family, ways we relax, and tips on how to make trips more enjoyable.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!

  • Travel & Vacation: 15th Anniversary Cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas

    'We went on Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas!'
    Thankful for an opportunity to get away with my man for our 15th Anniversary Celebration! Our first day cruising!  Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas.
    'We made it on board!'
    Ready for take off!
    'Our first anniversary celebration meal on the ship!'
    First dinner on the ship!
    'Thankful for the extra time with Jake!'
    Loved my time with my Handsome man!
    'It was great hanging out together!'
    It is hard to believe it has been 15 years.  Thankful for this amazing man who loves me despite my craziness!

     

    The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family, ways we relax, and tips on how to make trips more enjoyable.  Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away.  Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories.  It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine.  Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn.  You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!

  • Flashback Friday: 1st Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

    Our 1st Pumpkin - Karlie and Brina (Oct. 2005 - 8 Months)c

     So proud of their pumpkin!

    Today’s Flashback Friday goes back 10 years when the girls went to their first pumpkin patch.  They were so excited to check out the pumpkins.  They didn’t like the feel of the prickly hay and grass on their feet, but were fascinated by the pumpkin and it’s stem.

    Flashback Friday - Brina and Karlie both wanted to hold the stemc

     Investigating the pumpkin

    Mommy and the girls checking out their pumpkin - Brina and Karliec

     It was like a cool new toy to Brina and Karlie

    Daddy and his girls at the pumpkin patch - Karlie and Brinac

     Jake and his sweet girls Karlie and Brina

    Daddy, Karlie and Brina at the pumpkin patchc

    Karlie and Brina hanging out with Daddy at the pumpkin patch

    The whole crew at the pumpkin patchc

    Our 1st pumpkin patch adventure as a family of four.