Inspired by a stunning lifestyle shoot, I thought, "Hey, what's the real deal behind those picture-perfect moments?" And so, this project was born - a tribute to the beauty in life's simple moments, the magic, the not-so-fun, in our everyday routines.
Forget the glamour - we're diving into the real deal here. From towering laundry piles to a sea of toys in the living room, I'm capturing the essence of our daily chaos and love, celebrating the imperfect perfection of family life.
This one's for all the superheroes - moms, dads, and caretakers who take on the daily grind with grace and love, and let's be honest, grace isn't exactly easy to give on trying days. It's a toast to the ordinary, the messy, and the love that fills our homes. Let's find the extraordinary in the every day with "49 & 4" - a sneak peek into a world that's wonderfully normal ( I think) & sometimes (most of the times) not so magical.
The Real. ♡
SIDE NOTE:
*Here's the inside scoop on our family if you were unaware. Brace yourselves - we're a team of TWO plus SIX young men and TWO beautiful daughters-in-law.
Yes, we've hit our limit.
No, we're not on a mission for a baby girl.
Yes, we've got the birds and bees talk down.
No, we're not part of any specific religious group.
I am a non-denominational, imperfect person who loves & needs Jesus.
Our family blog could be called:
49 & 29 (Hey Austin!)
49 & 27 (Hey Colton!)
49 & 25 (Hey Connor!)
49 & 21 (Hey Dustan!)
49 & 17 (Hey Wyatt!)
49 & Dale
Let's be honest - stalking them with a camera all day isn’t their style. I would if I could! I doubt '4' (Hey Daniel!) approves either - luckily, I'm still his boss.
I adore them all like crazy, and you will catch a glimpse of these wonderful people when I get a chance! You might even get a glance at our two huskies, Whiskey & Bristol!
Stay tuned for the everyday, mundane, imperfect
'49 & 4' blog. ♡
God is interested in every detail of our lives (Psalm 139:1–4) and knows what we need even before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8).
Episode two
On a frosty February 28th, 2024, my grand plan to take a breather from posting got snowed under by a surprise winter wonderland! With March peeking around the corner, I couldn't resist one last snow dance before spring takes over.
Daniel, the glove enthusiast, wasted no time suiting up in his oversized winter gear (a battle I gladly let him win!) and leaped into the snowy fun. We kicked off the day with snowball fights and whipped up some yummy pudding pops.
The gang of older boys joined us to tackle the storage clean-up, adding some muscle power and extra smiles to our snowy adventure photoshoot.
As luck would have it, more snowflakes danced from the sky in the following days, creating picture-perfect moments. Oh, and we welcomed a new ‘member’ to the family - a shiny new smoker! Who knew smokers could be the new family fad? 😂 And hey, did I mention the whispers about starting a food truck soon? Keep those taste buds ready, pals! 🍔🚚
In my latest update, I was floating on cloud nine after narrowly escaping a snowed-in mess...haha! Do you see that fun canopy? It was bought exclusively for the elite 'grill daddy' squad...LOL! The secret spot for the new one remains a mystery. For now, it's chilling on my front porch...Hmm...
My little cutie; if only I could find a way to borrow those luscious lashes of his!
As a child, every snowball is a masterpiece waiting to be created.
Each snowball carefully crafted feels like a small piece of magic in the palm of your hand.
A fleeting moment of pure delight that captures the essence of childhood magic.
In my latest post, I spilled the beans about Daniel's knack for snagging my treasured discoveries destined for my Post Falls store, only to mysteriously vanish on the way. Here’s one gem I adore - a vintage pedal car. These are my absolute faves! If you have any tucked away, I'd love to chat - besides the little ones sitting in them they're the stars of my photoshoots! And hey, if you haven't peeked into my cozy corner yet, swing by My Favorite Things Shop in Post Falls #94 for a dose of vintage charm!
All finished (for now!) frolicking in that chilly mess! Let's whip up some pudding pop magic!
By now, I'm totally craving some fiery, over-the-top chili! It's a household hit - we've whipped it up twice this chilly week alone! Who knows, maybe it'll make an appearance on our food truck menu once that dream hits the road!
Step up to be tall, Step down to be small - Every parent can relate to a couple of these around the house.
Give those pearly whites a Paw Patrol-worthy scrub!
Keeping it real, folks! I'm all geared up for another trio of those funky Converse kicks – the ones currently in my bathroom are practically begging for retirement... ha!
For all our fellow BBQ enthusiasts, we are absolutely obsessed with lip-smacking BBQ! During a trip back to my Texan roots, we stumbled upon the ultimate BBQ joint in Mabank, TX. Introducing B4- BBQ & BOBA - a meat lover's paradise! Get ya some!
Hey, it's Daniel's top-tier bro, Dustan! Among all his siblings, Daniel has a soft spot for Dustan, seeing him through heart-shaped glasses!
Is a caption even necessary for this?
BBQ Cookbooks are the stars of this kitchen!
Taking a casual house tour today, it's clear I'm on a mission to uncover all those sly little secrets tucked away in every corner! Right now, I find myself in Daniel's room, even though there are THREE DZ's in this crazy household!
Brace yourself for the next Daddy|Daniel project : a roaring dinosaur! But wait, there's a fin-tastic surprise waiting in the wings - a shark adventure swimming into episode three!
Birthday masterpiece from Wyatt & Daniel!
My super cool Aunt Karen deserves a standing ovation for this masterpiece! When lockdown hit, we had a genius idea to swap painted treasures, but I totally dropped the ball and left everyone hanging! Karen, your gift is a gem that I'll treasure forever - thanks a million!
The best part of my day so far: While tidying up the guest room, Daniel starts doing somersaults all over the place! Don't miss the video clip at the end... we managed to capture it!
It is isn’t it? Even if I still haven't swapped out my cozy winter sheets for something more springy, but hey, when you still have a few inches of that white stuff out there it doesn’t help!
Time to recruit all the older bro's for a cleanup mission!
A few things I adore: a stunning blue sky day with snow-kissed pine trees!
Aunt Karen’s latest gift - a Bigfoot wind chime...because, let's be real, who wouldn't want one of those bad boys?! At this rate, I bet someone's already lining up to get their very own Aunt Karen! By the way, if you would like to support her NEW theatre in Athens, TX please reach out! An awesome venture for their community!! https://www.facebook.com/stagenotesapa
Who in their right mind enjoys scraping snow off their car just a week before March? What a hassle! But hey, silver lining - at least those pesky bugs haven't made an appearance yet!
My truck is rocking a Mama Bear chain - yup, that's how I roll! I’m definitely all about the deets in this episode!
Having grown-up sons is like having personal caretakers on standby. After all, who says I can't use a little helping hand as I gracefully age?
Dustan's move is a must for Daniel! Apologies, Dustan! Someday you'll chuckle back at this moment.
Who needs two snow shovels when you can conquer snow mountains with a trusty broom instead!
McDonald's - the ultimate parent trap! Trust me, it's a rollercoaster of emotions waiting for that magical moment when your little one finally savors those golden fries. Even if it's just a nibble or two, it's a victory! (If you missed Episode one, quick, back to the beginning!)
McDonald's toys on this adventure? Sonic is stealing the show! Who else recalls the era of mini Beanie Babies at McD's? Share your top McD toy flashbacks!
Daniel is clueless about the struggle of picking a car movie! Back in my day, I would have traded my lunch for some tablets to keep my older rascals entertained. But hey, in the good ol' 80s, we didn't have those luxuries, and you know what? We rocked it anyway!
As the box suggests: Find the Smiles! We've found it! I can't recall if it's chicken nuggets this time or his version of a 'hang-a burger', as he calls it, but he seems to switch between the two! However, when he has nuggets, it's all about the 'MUSTARD'. This is a tribute to my sister Melissa; he truly pronounces it just like us! Haha...
It's that time again - homework hour for this older brother! Spotting him upstairs is like discovering a rare gem; always brings a smile to my face! :D
Today's a beaming day for this little buddy! We all have our share of grumpy days, so let's savor the sweet ones like this! Big thanks to those magical pudding pops for turning that frown upside down!
Colton is in for a spicy chili extravaganza tonight! Yee-haw!
Did you catch wind of my auction addiction? It's like a treasure hunt gone wild! Anything that doesn't find a new home ends up in my stash. I've got a soft spot for Norman. These goodies are staying put with me!
Did you see catch that recipe earlier? It's over-the-top! Sure, the cast iron might need a bit of TLC on the outside, but hey, it's all part of the exclusive grill club vibes, right?
Speaking of, Is it weird to name your smokers? NA!! Meet BODACIOUS!
Let's just put it this way - leftover chili is a myth in our house!
Tonight, I ditched Dale's kitchen crown and cooked up a storm solo! Chef hat on, I strutted my stuff! Uh-oh, are those sneaky calories eyeing me up? I see you, you little troublemakers!
Buckle up for round two as the snow turns those cute smiles up to eleven! That kiddo is totally owning the frosty Idaho scene. Oh, and get this - I captured EVERYTHING on my PHONE! It's not about the gear, it's all about chasing that perfect light, nailing those angles, and sprinkling a bit of Photoshop fairy dust!
Feeling the chill? Ready to cozy up indoors? Na..
Adoring those cherry cheeks!
Let's sculpt a snow buddy! Oh, child, it's below freezing... Mom's just chilling, literally!
Looks like we're stuck in neutral for a bit...but hey, that smile does warm my heart anyway!
Carrots are not just for noses ya know!
All this carrot chit-chat has my mind drifting to food, and food always leads me straight to Thanksgiving. Daniel lucked out with a birthday that sometimes lands on Turkey Day - in fact, after a bit of sleuthing, I discovered he'd be blowing out candles on these special Thanksgiving birthdays: #1, #7, #18, #24, #29, #35, #46, #52, #57, #63, #74, and #80 (I stopped there).
If you're curious about birthdays during Thanksgiving week, check out this excellent site: https://scottforbes.net/2010/07/07/how-often-does-my-birthday-fall-on-thanksgiving/
"At least I was rocking my snow boots this round!"
"Who can resist those adorable kiddo boots?"
At last, I've persuaded him to go inside!
Let's chat about the new smoke machine, shall we?
Introducing the new addition The "Feedrick"! When Uncle Rick speaks, that's the final word... just saying! FEED RICK!
Let's kick off our food truck escapade right here - this bad boy is a beast! A big shout out to Rob Anderson at Cascade Smokers in OR for crafting these top-notch rigs! Check out the magic at: www.cascadesmokers.com
Get pumped for a sizzling escapade with Freedom Works BBQ! Coming soon straight to your taste buds!
When the cold creeps in and bonfires are a bust, here's how we turn up the heat... Hey there! It’s Sydney - Daniel’s sister-in-law extraordinaire, who he absolutely adores!
Daniel has a thing for charred marshmallows, which is hilarious because he won't touch a bunch of other stuff... typical kid! 🤣
That's just how we groove!
Another bro up in the house! Huge props to Connor for crushing that insurance exam! Congrats! So, who's up for some insurance coverage?
There's not a whole lot I'm not a fan of, but wait a minute... roasted marshmallows? Nope, not my jam! Ew! But hey, they do look tempting, don't they? Now, as for chocolate, I wish I could say I didn't like it...lol
Anticipating that ONE firework to steal the show... 🎆 Despite explaining to a four-year-old that there's only ONE, who needs logic when excitement is in the air?
At least it didn't let us down!
We shared a fun get-together with all the kiddos, chomped down on Tri-tip from 'Feedrick's first round, toasted marshmallows to a crisp, busted some moves in the shop, and presenting... drum roll... a firework spectacle! Well, it’s more like a singular firework, which left poor Daniel feeling a tad let down.
Oh, and we even squeezed in some blackjack hands - our adorable 4-year-old is now a pro at knowing when to 'hit' or 'stay'... LOL! At least he thinks that anyway!
It’s memories like this that I will carry in my heart.
I had a great idea to wrap up episode two with a snazzy photo slideshow sprinkled with some fun video clips. Enjoy!
I also wanted to add in a little blip I saw on Facebook.
LOVE!
See below:
Sometimes the mess and chaos of childhood, of raising tiny humans, is overwhelming. Let me put it into perspective mate.
If you ever think that the toys, the mess, the dishes, the tiny clothes, any of it is ever too much, if you ever find yourself having a hard time, maybe you you found yourself yelling at your kids, stop and think about this.
Imagine you’re 80 years old. Your kids are grown adults, with kids of their own. You’re alone in your house. You maybe get a phone call or a visit a couple times a month, but that’s it. There is no more mess. No more toys. No more baby dishes in the sink. No more little clothes on the floor. No more fingerprints on the windows. Everything is clean. You are alone.
At the old age of 80, you suddenly realize you miss those things and would give anything to have them back again.
As by magic, a genie appears in front of you. He grants you one single wish. You are granted a chance to relive 20 minutes of your life with your children - but there is a catch. You don’t get to choose where and when - the genie does.
80-year-old you is suddenly whisked back in time to this -exact- moment. To this moment, RIGHT NOW, when you are overwhelmed, the floor is covered in toys and clothes, the sink is full of dishes, and you are at your wits’ end. You only have 20 minutes to relive this one brief moment.
How are you going to live this moment right now? What will 80-year-old you find?
It might have seemed overwhelming back then, in that moment, but right now, these 20 minutes are heaven.
Don’t ever… EVER. Forget that friend. Yeah, it’s tough now. But someday those tiny clothes, those fingerprints on the glass, those little dishes, those squeals and giggles and screams, those tiny “MOMMA/DADA I LUB YOU”s… those are gonna be gone.
And someday… you will do anything to get just 20 minutes of that chaos back.
