The Bright Eyed Brunette

 Merry Christmas friends! I didn't do a great job of blogging or taking pictures of Christmas this year. Here are a few from all of our Christmases: Wrenley with her cousins Peyton and River at the Garrett Christmas. Wrenley at her school Christmas party. Maggie Mae, the Christmas dog Ready for our church Christmas program! Just a little angel, casually waiting. Four generations of strong women. Grammy with Savvy and Wrenley. They are best friend cousins💓 Wrenley got a little crazy with her stickers. They have been missing each other since school has been out. My family with Grammy (and Toby) My Grammy with all of her kids/spouses minus one. One of the only pictures I took at my parents. Trey got a pair of Ugg slippers.  Wrenley got a new baby and stroller from Nanny and Pop On Christmas Eve we traveled to have Christmas with Carl's family. They are about an hour and a half away. We took Carlie and Wrenley with us because Caleb was on shift. I think we watched the little merm...

 We had the gender reveal for Carlie on the first week of December. Makena had known for over a week and somehow kept it a secret. We had pizza and played scratch offs that revealed the gender of baby Price #2. It's A BOY! We are thrilled to be getting a grandson in June. We love you so much already, Wesley Dean, and we are praying for a healthy delivery and baby💙💙 Wrenley wasn't happy about it at all that night. She threw a huge fit, in fact, but she has come around to the idea a little bit. She said, "my have a brudder in momma's tummy. I'm gonna dress him like a girl."  She will love him and be the best big sister. Our family is changing, stretching, and growing in the very best way. And while we know that life will look a little busier (and a little louder), we also know it will be sweeter. We're so thankful for this new life and all the moments to come. Much Love,  Beth

 Some blog posts are carefully planned. Others are born from scrolling through your camera roll and thinking, "Huh..this feels like a moment worth remembering."  This is very much the second kind. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, my dad and my nephew, Elijah ran the Duck Race 5K in our small town. They were pumped, can't you tell?! I'm not sure how Elijah finished, but my dad got first place in his age division! We are proud of Pop! I am proud of them both! Wrenley loves to watch the neighborhood kids get off the school but when she stays here. She thinks she wants to ride the school but when she gets big. This night was so cold, I think I had icicles on my eyelashes. Caleb got the Rookie of The Year!! We are proud of him. My mom's dog, Toby.  He is the most spoiled dog you have ever met, but he gives the best birthday presents! Carl's great nephews (twins), Carter and Cooper. They are so cute💗 There's something comforting about random photos. They don...

Okay, I have failed you all. I never posted any of my dessert recipes and this is going to be one big Thanksgiving recap post!  I will start off with our Harvest Supper at church. Me and my girlies If nobody else loves me, I know for a fact that Wrenley does💕 Personality pic :) Then we had our immediate family Thanksgiving at our house on Wednesday. Since we had turkey at church and were having turkey on both Thursday and Friday that we would do something a little different: SEAFOOD! Trey and Maggie 💓 Carlie and Wrenley My silly little girl My family. Wrenley was obviously mad about something. She hides her feelings about as good well as BeBe! Our next Thanksgiving was with Grammy at my parents' house. Wrenley loves BeBe's deviled eggs. My family with Grammy Our last Thanksgiving for the weekend was with Carl's family. I didn't take many pictures at all. Carlie was on-call and unable to go with us. So it was just the four of us. Carl's sisters, mom, niece, and Mak...

 Thanksgiving might be all about the turkey in theory... but let's be honest, the real magic happens in the side dishes. That's where the cozy flavors, secret family recipes, and must-have holiday comforts live. Every year, I look forward to the moment the table fills with those colorful bowls and casseroles--each one carrying a little nostalgia, a little comfort, and a whole lot of flavor. Today I'm sharing my absolute favorite Thanksgiving side dishes--the ones I pile on my plate first and would happily eat as a meal all on their own. Let's dig in! First and foremost is baked macaroni and cheese! Just look at that cheesy goodness! Ingredients: 2 cups elbow macaroni (uncooked) 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 cups milk 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (reserve 1/2 cup for topping) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional) 1/4 teaspoon paprika (optional) Instructions Cook the macaroni.   Bring a pot of salted w...

Today, I thought I'd share a little peek into what I've been reading--what I loved, what surprised me, and what I'd absolutely recommend curling up with next. Whether you're here for your next favorite book or just love a good book chat, let's jump into my recent reads! First up is The Mad Wife by Meagan Church.  This book has a blend of historical fiction and psychological suspense. It is set in the perfectly polished world of 1950s suburbia, and follows Lulu Mayfield--the ideal housewife on the outside, but a woman quietly unraveling on the inside. The book shines in its emotional depth and slow-building tension. What makes the story so gripping is how Church keeps you wondering what's real and what's being hidden-- not through shock twists, but through quiet, creeping dread. The pacing is deliberate, the atmosphere rich, and the sense of unease grows with every chapter. This is a must read! Next on my list is The Lawyer and the Laundress by Christine Hill...

 Hey friends! It's been a minute, so I thought it was time for a little catch-up. Life has been doing that thing where it sprints ahead while I'm still tying my shoes, so let's rewind and chat about what's been going on. I'm going to go back to the beginning of November. Makena and I made our annual trip to a fly-in at the Air Base and Cold War Museum in Blytheville. It is roughly two and a half hours from our house.  Makena is a natural at presenting her information about our museum's exhibit on the Stuttgart Army Airbase. We were thankful that the Civil Air Patrol let us take shade under the wings of their planes! It was a beautiful sunny day, and without the shade we would have been toast! We had a fun day :) There is nothing like the smell of jet fuel first thing in the morning! That day also happened to be the opening day of the modern gun deer hunting season, so both Carl and Trey were busy hunting (neither of them saw a buck and Trey was told not to shoot...