FEELS LIKE HOME TO ME: August 2011

Party Party

Can anyone tell me why weekends seems to sneak away so quickly? Hmm, a mystery, indeed.

This weekend there was plenty to keep us busy. We had two parties in two days. It was like looking back to a younger, less-tired version of ourselves!

Friday night we celebrated our friend, Cameron's, 30th birthday. He wife and family worked out all the details and he was actually very surprised. Drew and I have known Cam a long time, so it was fun to celebrate this milestone with him and lots of our friends.

Libby spent the evening with Papa - Mimi was spending the week in Colorado with my brother. I have to admit, I was worried that she might be strong-willed (wasn't that a nice way to put it?) for him. But she got a glowing report. They had a dinner-date at Chick-fil-a and they had a ball. I was proud of them both! Thank you, Papa!

Saturday morning I found Libby playing like this. I asked her, "Why are you wearing those heels?" She responded "So I can reach my chalk board." Oh, right, why didn't I know that?

Then the posing commenced.

I finally talked her into taking them off because they posed such a hazard when she walked. Besides, they were a bit dressy for cotton shorts and a t-shirt.

Saturday night we headed out again. This time to an engagement party for our friends, Heath and Amanda. They plan to wed in June, so we got together to kick off the wedding festivities.

We had SO MUCH FUN with all of our friends!

Oh, and there was lots of dancing! The Tag Williams Band played and the dance floor was hopping.

Drew and I love Amanda and Heath. They're so much fun and we enjoy their friendship. Best wishes to you both! And thanks for throwing such a great party. :)

10:00 AM
3 Comments

Moments of Joy

Sunday mornings are usually hectic around our house. It's kind of ironic that the one day we should be calm and reverent, we're yelling, "For the last time...get up!" (to Drew, not Libby, because she's most likely been up since 7 am) "Get your shoes, hurry up, stop chasing the cat, let's go!" It's certainly the worldly stress causing us to act that way.

Last Sunday we were actually ready to go on time. A miracle, indeed. I thought Libby looked very cute, so I grabbed my camera and we walked outside. I didn't instruct her to "do" anything. Just pointed her towards the yard and started shooting.

She's been carrying her little, white Bible around with her all week. I've found her pretending to read to her classmates, Ella and Jase numerous times. When I walk in she usually asks me to leave. (Can't I hear the Word, too? Lord knows I need it.)

So the Bible is in all of the shots.

Kathryn, do you remember giving this dress to Libby last year for her birthday? We love it!

So I am thankful that I have a happy, healthy, ~~dramatic~~ child. I am thankful I stopped to savor this precious moment with Libby. I'm happy I didn't muck up Sunday morning...this week.

10:00 AM
3 Comments

Bible and Heels

We enjoyed another busy weekend with family and friends. After hitting a birthday party Saturday, we had a group of friends + kids over to swim and grill.

After dinner it went down like this:

The babies hung out together

The big kids had a blast

The men played corn hole in the back yard.

Libby read the Bible...?

And Bence wore a pair of high heels. A completely normal night at our house. The moms loved his style, his dad really didn't. Funny!

I'm still adjusting now that we're back to a five-day work week. The first week was easy enough, now, in the second week, I'm dragging. We have a fun weekend coming up with some outings that require a baby sitter - yay for mom and dad!

Each night Drew announces how many days until college football kicks off. We're ready! Libby still hasn't decided on a team. She switches from "Roll Tide" to "War Eagle" as if she's debated which flavor of yogurt to eat. I certainly have my work cut out for me.

Hope your week is going well!

10:01 AM
2 Comments

Mowers and Weekend Fun

Last Saturday I was downstairs doing something motherly - folding laundry, cleaning, checking Facebook - who knows? I went upstairs to check on Libby and this is how I found her:

Quietly staring out the window in her bedroom. She wasn't in time out, she did this on her own.

So the conversation began: "Hey, Lib, what 'cha doing?" She happily explained that she was watching Mr. Ricky mow the lawn. (Which, by the way wasn't Mr. Ricky, it was Mr. Bill. But since we have one neighbor named Mr. Ricky, they are all Mr. Ricky.)

I said, "You are?" She said, "Yea, he's on his John Deere."

Mr. Bill was indeed riding a John Deere mower. Wow, she was captivated by a riding lawn mower of all things? Amazing! It was humorous and precious at the same time. I really love this stage, I honestly never know what she is going to do or say.

**********************************************************

Sunday evening we had Drew's family over to swim. Libby got to show off her swimming and diving board-jumping skills. It never gets old (to her, anyway!) Maybe a little old if you're the one treading water in the deep end waiting to catch her!

The cousins played while waiting for dinner.

Yes, Cayden is eating chalk, guess she was hungry. Thankfully she got some real food shortly after. We served chicken kabobs and snapper caught on a recent trip to Apalachicola.

Everyone cleaned their plates. The girls got a cupcake for being good eaters. I strongly suggest not getting in between these two and their cupcakes - serious business!

We had a nice weekend and I am thankful for all the little moments that I get with Libby. If you are in need of entertainment, raise a child. ;)

11:00 AM
1 Comments

Dancing?

Hey there! Life's been busy and I've been away from the blog -- but I'm back. We stuck close to home this weekend. I enjoyed my last Friday off of work for the summer. I didn't do anything special, just hung around the house, hit the grocery store and played with Libby. A pretty good way to wrap up our summer.

Have I told you how funny Libby is these days? Oh my, she's is a hot mess. I was gone for a few hours Saturday. When I got back Drew said, "Have you seen Libby's new dance?" I said I hadn't. He shot some video on his phone because he was both amused and alarmed at her latest dance moves.

He said, "I'm not sure...is this bad?" Then he rolled the video. At first, I laughed, then I said, "Oh dear!"

The next morning I asked her about her new dance. She said, "Yea, I dance like Donald Duck." We both let out laughs of relief. Relief that our child was not practicing 'naughty' dance moves.

For the record, the dance goes like this:

You could see our concern with the booty hiked in the air. But it's all good, she was just shaking and waddling like Donald. Whew!

And these shots are just freebies. This girl loves her daddy!

Hope your week is going well. Get out there and shake your tail feather like Donald and Libby!

8:02 AM
4 Comments

Just Us Girls

Last Thursday the girls (Libby, Mimi and I) headed south to Panama City Beach for a long weekend. We've made the trip for the last three years - a.k.a. Libby's whole life.

And let me tell you, this year was THIS MUCH fun...

We spent lots of time on the beach. Libby loves it and actually displays her best behavior while she's playing in the sand. All the scooping, sorting and building must be calming. Because Lord knows she had some "moments" in the condo. Being three-years-old is so dramatic!

She also requested that I bury her. She came up with the idea herself.

I obliged. And she thought it was really funny!

We did lots of girly stuff - like paint nails, talk and cook dinner. It was sweet!

Sunday night we ventured out to Pier Park for shopping and dinner. We hit our favorite stores (i.e. Super Target) and ate dinner at Five Guys. We don't attempt long waits at seafood restaurants these days. Maybe one day we'll see what a sit-down dinner is like, but not now, no way!

And I have to give Pier Park credit, they know how to lure all children in. If you haven't been there lately, beware! They have a field-size area full of games and rides for parents blow their hard-earned money. So crafty of them.

Mimi and I told Libby she could choose one ride. She chose the Carousel.

It was a great choice!

She did ask over and over to "go back to those toys" after dinner. We did our best to distract her by visiting all the cute shops.

It was a nice weekend. I enjoyed checking out from my daily routine of being busy and replacing it with beach walks, swimming in the ocean and pool, naps and lots of good food. The rest and relaxation was nice.

The beach has a way of doing that, doesn't it?

So long, beach. I hope to see you again, soon!

5:52 PM
5 Comments

Phoning in Summer

I was scrolling through pictures on my phone last week and realized that it did a great job of recapping the last few months of summer fun.

We started off June with swimming lessons with Ms. Jenny. Libby has been fish-like all summer. I am so pleased with her swimming skills.

And we swam a lot!

What? You don't wear boots with your bikini?

On our way to a day-trip to Callaway Garden with friends.

Libby loved playing in her fort/swing set out at the farm. (Notice how high it is? Eeeks! She loves it!)

We both enjoyed time together on Fridays over the summer. Screaming child + couch cushions = quality time.

And trips...

To the beach (with stops at Chick-fil-a in Dothan for ice cream)

Family time

And fun in Apalachicola

Look at this cute tumbler that one of my students made me. Yes, made. (Shameless plug time: if you're local get yours at Stitches and Ink.) It makes drinking water at my desk fun. Well, more fun that drinking it out of a bottle.