Full Disclosure

Remember this post? Ya know, the one where I told you about helping my parents clean out their house?  Well, in that clean sweep we found a giant ziplock bag full of film... like 30 rolls of shot film.  My mom was dying to know what was on it but obvi it was going to be a pretty penny to get it all developed annnnd since it was so old we knew we couldn't just drop it off at Walgreens.  So for Mothers Day my dad surprised my mom and had all this old film developed at a camera specialty shop and put on a CD.  SOOO FUN, especially because we had absolutely no idea what was on these rolls!  Lately my family has been so nostalgic with all these weddings, baby cousins being born, and the passing of my grandpa so we have been doing a lot of looking at pictures and watching home videos so it was the perfect gift.  And in the interest of full disclosure on this blog, I thought I would include a few (or few dozen...) of said pictures.  Please don't judge my 11-year-old self.  I should also add that it's good that Callie is already married off as am I and Maddie is committed because it would be risky business posting these if not- two words- awkward stage.  Emma, on the other hand, never really had one.  Lucky girl is the youngest of 4 and didn't have to learn the hard way to not wear chokers or bear her midriff.

I mean is she not the cutest?

Y'all, in the other pictures of this event, I am the only one wearing a mustache.  Just normal.

Choker & midriff noted. Y'all should know that Emma was 9 in this picture.  Her tininess was no joke.

Probably 95% of my childhood centers around my cousins.  The best thing.

Just me dancing with my first boyfriend.  Obviously not mad at all about my mom taking our picture...

An average night at our house... my dad getting his hair brushed.  I have no doubt that bows or clips were following.

My sister, Babushka.

Glad Maddie's football whistle necklace made it into the pic, phew.

annnnnd the outfit.

Noel- Look!  She totally looked like Madeline!

Limited Too silk pajamas- a staple.

Just Emma in her Asian Gardener getup trying to ensure she doesn't get an ounce of sun on her.

patriot.

Maddie and her BFF, Honey.

The happiest family.  Oh man.  I have the absolute best memories!!  In a nutshell: I always got in trouble, Maddie never got dessert because she never ate her dinner, Emma was perfect (ha...) and couldn't say her "r's," and Callie was the guinea pig who was parented with an iron hand but besties with my mom... that's how I remember it.  haha

Have a happy Monday.  Maybe this post will make you laugh your way out of The Mondays

Hannah K.C. Burton

Happy Mothers Day!!

So Friday Karl & I went bowling with a couple of his work friends.  At the bowling alley they were giving a discount to moms so they asked me if I am a mom to which I responded, "nope."  I felt sort of slighted.  Then today at church they had all the mothers stand up and again, there I was not standing.  Again, felt sort of awkward.  Normally I'm at home and with my parents, and not married on Mothers Day.  Then Karl & I went out to eat and the hostess said, "Happy Mothers Day," to me... I mean, is she assuming I'm a mom? Because that somehow offends me.  DO I LOOK LIKE A MOM?  Because although I'm of age and married, your assumption is now rude.  And now I'm over you.  So, I've entered this weird phase of married-without-children and now I'm acutely aware of it.
In other news: HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to my awesome mom and both of my awesome awesome grandmothers!!  I feel like the most blessed person everrr to have been raised by my mom, surrounded by my grandparents, and poured into by more women than I can count on two hands.  I mean seriously, I have just been absolutely submerged in Godly advice & wisdom, biblical knowledge, housekeeping tips & secrets, marriage tidbits & counsel, school & studying how-to, and just man... more information, knowledge and guidance than anyone deserves in a lifetime.  I am beyond thankful.  So, thanks Mom & Gammy & Nana.  Y'all rock.

Happy Mothers Day!!

Hannah K.C. Burton

P.S.- I realized today that I didn't have all of my bridal portraits on my computer... so I put them on and decided that it would only be appropriate to post some bridal bloopers and out-takes this week... because there are a lot (of both me and my sisters... your welcome Callie, Maddie, & Emma).

Easter

I realize I'm back tracking with this post but I don't want to miss it because I have become horrible at taking pictures of Karl & I and things we do and I finally did ANNND because this is our first married Easter together so WHYY not talk about it?!?  This was the first holiday that involved a large meal and Karl & I not being with additional family and let me tell you, it was kind of rough, as in boring.  There is nobody I would rather be with than Karl but cooking for like 5 hours, sitting down at the table with one other person and eating for 20 minutes, then cleaning up your mess for an hour is kind of overrated.  Maybe it is even if there are 30 people involved and I just never knew it because I've never had to cook before?  Or clean up afterward?  I'm not sure.  BUT I missed my cousins and Gammy and Pa and my parents, sisters, aunts, & uncles.  Since the Easter meal doesn't normally involve as much hoopla as Thanksgiving & Christmas, I was glad this was our first trial run as far as holidays with just the two of us go... if we ever have to do Thanksgiving or Christmas meals just the two of us it will A) be MUCH more rough B) I will know what to expect C) we will probably eat out... whoops.  We just need a dog.  Or somebody else's baby to play with when we are bored.  I mean, is it normal for newlyweds/couples without pets or children to be this bored?  Like have nothing to do.  OK so far this sounds like we had a horrible day.  Not true at all: the food was great!  It was seriously so fun to spend all afternoon cooking with Karl and having quality time with just him.  I now have a serious appreciation for my Aunt Sally that makes green bean bundles for every family meal.  They took forever to make and I do not have the patience for that kind of tedious cooking and prep annnnnd mine were not as good as hers are.
    amateur cook lesson: 1) use thinly cut bacon for green bundles and ask Aunt Sally what her secret is before you waste your time again 2) as good as the The Honey Baked Ham Co. hams are that Gammy buys, my Bi-Lo ham + glaze were adequate (I, not kidding, had plans to drive an hour to Columbia to the THBHCo. store. 3) not having enough poppy seed for strawberry poppy seed salad did matter. ew.


Onto other Easter related news/thoughts... I loved getting to worship next to Karl on Easter Sunday.  Sometimes I think my thoughts related to Karl are similar to what my thoughts about my kids will be... for example, ever since saying "i do," I find myself doubly thankful for the cross- praise Him for Karl's salvation and for the eternity that Karl has waiting for him.  (In other child-like thoughts, I worry so so so much about Karl when he drives to work early or late or runs errands or when I go out of town and he has to fend for himself... I mean, is he my 16 year old son or my husband?).  I mean WHAT ON EARTH would it feel like to be unsure of Karl's eternity or to know that we wouldn't spend our eternity in the same place?  I mean, if I think I'm neurotic now... geeze, y'all would have to commit me.

Dear Cookie (this is what Karl calls my mom) Easter Bunny, thank you for sending us Easter goodies.  I know you had to hop an awfully long way to South Carolina to get us some fun things like new Rainbows and K's new swim trunks & the bubble bath he is obsessed with.  I bet you didn't know you got him bubble bath.  Sorry, you did.  Sorry if that's a weird thing for you to get him...

annnnd welcome to the world where you can never get a good picture because your husband is a baby sensitive when it comes to sunlight + pictures.  squinty galore.

Please look at the purple egg with the tree.  Callie has always tried to one-up my sisters and I when it comes to eggs (and other projects that make us look bad... like sending our grandmothers nice things) so I thought I escaped that when I married Karl.  No.  He hand painted a pretty tree on his egg.  Obviously.

 Happy to continue to bask in the wonderful gift of Jesus Christ and praying the "high" of Easter continues to tug on the hearts of those unsaved that may have celebrated Easter a couple of weeks ago. 
 "⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”- Matthew 28:5-7


Hannah K.C. Burton

Wordless Wednesday

While I was gone...



Hannah K.C. Burton
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

food for my soul

Y'all I just got back from Little Rock yesterday.  Get ready for the lonnnngesttt post ever 'cause I had about the best weekend I've had in a long time.  This past weekend fed my soul in a way I didn't know I was so hungry for.  I'm literally like crying over my keyboard thinking about it.  Sweet friends who have moved to unfamiliar and new places or who live away from dear friends know exactly what I'm talking about.  Girls just need time with girls that know them- like really know them- their life, story, soul, heart, drama.  It filled my tank this past weekend to spend time with some of these girls.  There were several that were sorely missed and many that I can't wait to have time with in Texas and other places but man, I can't adequately express how thankful I am to Karl for relinquishing me for this weekend and providing for me so that I could go enjoy myself and celebrate Maggie & Blake.  Anyway, hold onto your party pants because you are about to be on picture overload, even though looking at these pictures I am kicking myself for not taking more!

I know this sounds dramatic but it felt so surreal to be taking this picture!  Like, is this really happening?  I haven't been around these girls since my wedding.  I will never go that long again.  

TK- I need the picture from you that has Sus in it!!

always.

Sorry Priyanka & Francis.  Consider this your obligatory introduction to me, my friendship, & my camera.  Aaryn, you understand, right?

annnd begin The Leah Show.  I'll happily oblige.

just normal

Grandpa Mike enjoying his dinner in his recliner.  So demanding.

And obvi my camera focused on Chris.

Just the perfect picture to capture this weekend.  So many people loving on M&B all day Saturday.

annnnd I'll end with this gem.

I basically had 24/7 with friends I can't get enough of.  I landed Friday morning and was picked up by Charis to enjoy some incredible time on Friday morning and afternoon with her and Susanna then to enjoy Friday night dining at The Riggan's while watching the royal wedding amongst Pi Phis, my 'mate, and new friends and laughing until my (prosciutto-wrapped asparagus) stomach hurt.  I was hosted all weekend by Noel and her amazing family (can't leave out that I shared a bed with Susanna) and dined on homemade pancakes by Noel's dad.  Saturday was spent celebrating and blessing Maggie & Blake at two amazing events that just filled my heart to the brim while killing time in between with a lunch fit for a queen with the sweetest friends.  Saturday night was a joy- a drink in the pouring rain with a flash flood that I could've done without out in Little Rock while catching up with TKella and the rest of the girls.  And then Sunday, worshipping alongside The Riggans, Blake, Leah & her family, & Tay.  Nothing quite like it.  Lunch, perusing through Maggie's loot material blessings from the weekend and then a safe flight home back to my boo.  Can it go without saying that I was in tears pulling away from Maggie on Sunday?  I almost feel selfish for having such an awesome weekend on Maggie & Blake's almost-big weekend... almost.

The best weekend

Hannah K.C. Burton

Her majesty majestic queen highness of the royal court duchess of Sumter

So my alarm clock did ring at 3 am this morning but not for the reason some of my friend's did; I woke up to get to the airport that's an hour away for my 6 am flight to Little Rock for a LONNNNNGGG overdue visit with friends and celebration of my best pal, Maggie & her fiancé (whom I adore), Blake. more on that after this weekend Well, as I sit here getting a sneak peek of the royal wedding via twitter, I can't help but weigh a few thoughts...
A) can't wait to watch the actual video footage in Little Rock tonight
B) ok ok ok, do we really love her dress that much?! I mean there's so much gushing going on. I would venture to say it's actually fruitless sucking up... I know, I know, ridiculous but personally, in April of 2011 you couldn't pay me to wear a long sleeved ball gown, just being real. Yes, the girl is gorgeous and maybe I'm slightly jeal that I'm not a real live princess but whatever
C) I accidentally fell on the RW bandwagon. I was totally uninterested (which is shocking considering my love of all things wedding) until I realized I would coincidentally be awake for it
D) siblings are where it's at. Pippa- hot.bod. That dress steals the show. Look out, Maddie, I'm comin and imma rock your wedding. And Hello Harry! It's about time gingers got world recognition and favor bestowed upon us because of our elite good looks.
E) most importantly, Karl tells me I am a princess. And a queen. And I believe him. And sometimes I act like one. So there. And don't even tell me y'all weren't on the edge of your seat for months waiting to see who designed my dress and what it looked like. Pa leeeze, I know.

Her royal highness,
Hannah K.C. Burton

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

no 3rd wheel here

Emma has recently become the only single Cuppett girl.  In honor of this week and Emma's single status, I thought I would make her feel a little better by playing matchmaker.  Look who's been spotted?
XOXO

Your Welcome, Emma,
XOXO Hannah K.C. Burton

not so wordless wednesday

I don't have any cutesy pictures today so I'll substitute Wordless Wednesday for Quoteworthy Wednesday...

"Whatcha lookin at?"- Karl
"Well, you're going to think this is morbid.  And weird.  Butttt it's the blog of a woman who lost her baby."- me
"That is weird."- Karl
"Well, I don't think many people realize how many people lose babies.  I think it's good people talk about it.  SOOO many babies die."- Me
"Well, more crocodile babies die than human babies."- Karl

Thank you, Karl, for enlightening me this Wednesday morning.

sweet success

Yesterday marked 8 months of marriage for Karl and I.  No, we won't continue to "celebrate" every month of marriage from now until the end of time BUT everyone so discouragingly and annoyingly told us how hard our first year of marriage would be so why not celebrate every month for our first year?  In that case, I'm not pregnant, I haven't given either of us food poisoning or burnt the house down, we're still married, and I've only ruined one load of laundry... so I would say that we have had an extremely successful 8 months of marriage.  Congratulations to us!  I love him more than I did 8 months ago and we find ourselves happier and happier every single day.  You know how pessimists (like myself) say things like "set really low expectations for yourself and you won't be disappointed."?  Well, along those same lines, I would say that such a ridiculously not fun, sucky, and down-right lame dating relationship definitely sets the tone for what cannot possibly be a worse marriage.  I mean, we never lived in the same city, never saw each other for more than 14 days in a row (and that only happened once), were separated by war & school & oceans & miles SOOOOO how on earth could it not only get better then that?  Enter our first year of marriage.  Golden.  Money.  Perfection.  Pure Joy.  Like, we could be living in a cardboard box together and it be easier than our dating relationship.  That being said, these past 8 months have been cake.  Piece of cake.  Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Mom & Dad (ahem, the "the first year will be really hard.")  mmmhmmm.  Now I'm certainly knocking on wood, I mean, we do still have 4 months to go that could really dish it out to Karl & I butttttt, I'll call it in advance that this entire first year of marriage will be amazeballs.

Done & Done
Hannah K.C. Burton

mo money, mo problems

Well well well, I have been absent from the blogosphere for far too long and my online journal is definitely suffering.  To catch up, I just got back to South Carolina after a whirlwind of a trip to Texas.  I used Emma's Cinderella Charity Ball as my excuse to go home- it was so fun and our little Cindy looked adorable.  Cinderella is a huge Davis Family tradition and Emma was the 12th member of our family to participate and was 1 of 20 candidates this year that helped to raise almost $500,000- remember that you Pi Phis... rush 2012.  Anyways, so glad I got to go be there for it!  Here is a little proof that I was there, although I took it off Emma's Facebook so I'm not sure how good the quality is.

The remainder of my time home was spent tapping into my Professional Organizer persona by helping my mom go room-by-room of my parents' house and seriously clean out.  We purged, organized, threw away, and went crazy with Spring Fever.  My parents' house always looks immaculate and my mom is absolutely not a hoarder so how we came up with at least 35 trash bags of garbage and an entire garage full of yard sale junk is beyond me.  But it was fun.  And my happy place.  We found the most hilarious things from our childhood (like hair from a random haircut my mom gave Maddie when she was 8 labeled in a ziplock bag, weird & funny & I guess something sentimental only a mom can appreciate?)  I seriously am so passionate about organization and enjoy it more than anything I have ever done.  I know that's crazy.  I also know I could make some cash money doing it.... hmmm... one day.  This whole cleaning spree was brought on by the not one, but two offers that were made on their house and then backed out on within 72 hours of each other.  Ridiculous.  Their home has been on the market for 2 1/2 years while my mom has had her dream home just floating around in her dreams, not quite tangible, but almost because they even own the land that it will be built on.  The Lord's timing is absolutely baffling to me.  I was cleaning out my mom's nightstand and found this old spiral of mine full of ABC's and easy words that I practiced writing- I couldn't have been older than 5?

A few days were also spent wedding planning with Maddie, the anti-bride.  No opinions, no dream wedding that she has had in the back of her mind since she was 10.  What does this mean for me?  Well, two things: 1) sometimes a pain in the rear because it's weird to make decisions for someone else's wedding 2) i get to fulfill my dream of planning a winter wedding how i want it.  because she doesn't care.  yessssss.  #2 is definitely panning out to be the more prevalent of the two points.  because let me remind you, my mom, Callie, & I are planning our dream winter wedding... with a few of Maddie's specifications

So, I was supposed to come back here two days ago, not yesterday.  Here's that story: I was scheduled for a 7am flight that I groggily showed up for only to hear, "This flight is overbooked, do we have someone that is willing to volunteer for a later flight for a $500 American Airlines voucher?"  Well, I had about .5 seconds to decide what to do because I saw a man walking towards the counter.  Well, I impulsively ran to the counter AND BEAT HIM THERE!  And agreed to take a later flight!  I mean, I'm a housewife, I would still get back before Karl gets off work, why not?  I was sooo excited!  I told Karl the good news and braced myself for sitting in the airport for 5 hours.  Well LUCKILY I have an awesome mom and she came and picked me up!  Welllllll, I showed up for my next flight and decided to be brave and just straight up ask if that one was overbooked too... and whadya know?  It was!!  ANOTHER $500!!!  I fly more than the average housewife so these vouchers are the biggest blessing to Karl & I.  WOO HOO!!  Karl was so excited and agreed that it would be best to just book the first flight for the next day so I did and here I am!  When I got to Columbia yesterday I went to get my bag that had been there for 24 hours and the man said, "are you Hannah Cuppett?"  I confirmed and he said, "I gotta shake yo hand!  We've been tracking your flights and you made a thousand dollas yesterday!  You worked tha system!" hahahaha.  Well, there is apparently totally a whole system out there that I just discovered.  I'm $1000 richer and infinitely wiser.  At one point Karl & weren't sure when the opportunity to accept vouchers would end and when I would get home.  I mean, how can you turn down $500?  To this predicament Karl reminded me that, "mo money, mo problems."  Not a mantra we often deal with, ha

Anyways, that sums up the past 10 days in my life.  annnnnd now I'm throwing together my first Easter away from home/with Karl/that I'm cooking/decorating for.  Oh and this is what I came home to yesterday.

... so thoughtful! He said it took him about 30 minutes to make that paper flower- I LOVE it!

And obviously a post about home wouldn't be complete without a pic of the queen of The Cuppett Home.

Happy Everything,

Hannah

yummy pasta & bragging rights

I do not like italian food, namely pasta, very much at all... like I hate it.  BUTTT  I like one dish at a restaurant Karl & I like to eat at in Texas- Johnny Carinos.  It's called like Bowtie Festival, or something.  AND it has bacon in it.  And creamy cheesy buttery sauce.  And I really really like it.  Anyways, I decided to abandon Emealz this week [remember this post??] and branch out on my own so I was meal hunting and came across this recipe that looked awfully (and by awfully, I mean deliciously) similar to Johnny Carino's version.  Done & done.  Totally on my menu for the week.  Anyways, it was AWESOME and totally getting put in my recipe box to repeat sometime next week in the near future.  I would totally recommend it.  AND my lesson as an amateur cook: next time I will double the sauce recipe because I prefer things extra saucy.  {Take that as you will}  Anyways, the sauce just kind of barely covers the 1 lb. of pasta that it calls for so... make and don't double at your own risk.

Secondly, but more importantly, I just have to publicly proclaim how great I think Karl is.  Today is Saturday and he is approaching hour 12 of working today after 5 12-hour work days this past week.  Not a complaint out of his sweet mouth, nope, not one.  He is just such a hard worker and I am 100% grateful for his work ethic and his attitude.  He will maybe work tomorrow, for maybe 12 hours.  He will most likely put in 12 hour days throughout next week, and he is most likely working through next weekend as well.  No extra pay, no pat on the back. Sometimes I have to remind myself how extra special the work that he is doing actually is- these aren't average 84 hour weeks, these are like super american 84 hour weeks.  So so infinitely and extravagantly proud of him.

Hope you have a particularly patriotic weekend, as I apparently am?
Hannah K.C. Burton