Feels Like Home to Me

Feel the Love

2012-02-14T06:01:00.026-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day blogger friends!

We got a jump start on celebrating since the holiday falls in the middle of the week.

Libby and I worked on her class Valentine cards this weekend. They featured Dora. They said romantic things like "Let's run" and "My Friend". That better be all my almost-four-year-old is wanting to do with her school mates, run and be friends! ;)

She thoughtfully selecting a card for each friend in her class. It was cute to watch her ponder over the cards and make a final decision.

She also took this opportunity to scrape in the loot from her grand parents.

Look at all the good stuff! Balls, crayons, puzzles, she even got some clothes for spring!

Drew and I had our Valentine's Dinner Saturday night. Look at that cute couple! This is prior to us stuffing our face. Good meal!

XOXO! Love, Beth

Fifth Month

2012-02-06T07:00:00.010-05:00

I must admit, I haven't blogged about this pregnancy as much as I would like. I certainly think about it all the time, as I am the one carrying the baby. So I plan to post pregnancy updates as a way to keep my out of towners up-to-date and to document my second pregnancy.

I'm 22 weeks along. We found out two weeks ago that we're having a girl. So here's the rest of the story.

Baby is the size of: a squash - about 11 inches long and almost a pound.

Symptoms: Feeling pretty good. Have occasional heart burn and a LARGE bottle of Tums on my night stand.

Maternity clothes: Maternity clothes mixed in with leggings and empire waisted tops.

Sleep: Still getting decent sleep. I am confined to my side, no more stomach sleeping.

Fun moment(s) this past week: Day dreaming about raising two girls.

Movement: She moves a lot at night. I feel flutters once I get still in the bed.

Food cravings/aversions: No particular cravings, just hungry!

Gender & Name: Girl and no name yet.

Weight gained: 11 lbs.

What I am looking forward to: Decorating the nursery and converting Libby's room into a "big girl" space.

Libby couldn't stand it, so she got in the shot with me. Proudly displaying her five. Thanks, Big Sister.

I'll be back with more stats as I continue along this most interesting journey of pregnancy.

February

2012-02-01T07:00:00.015-05:00

Welcome to February! January was a long, busy month. Anyone agree?

We've had an odd mixture of weather recently: lots of rain, cold some days, warm some days and more rain. Hmm. So what's a mom to do when she doesn't know what to do? She buys bathing suits, of course!

I was in Target last week (still January) when I spotted racks and racks of bikinis in the ladies' section. I rolled my eyes because when all the young, thin chics are pulling out their swimwear in May, I'll be 8 months pregnant. No worries, I just veered my cart to the kids' section. I bought Libby two new suits for the summer. I don't have to worry how much my tummy expands, she'll look great!

I picked up this sporty bikini.

And this bright one-piece.

Bring on the warm weather!

I walked in mid-conversation last week as Drew and Libby were discussing when we could go to the beach. I think all the cold and rainy weather is getting to them.

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Libby's friend Allie came over to play Friday night. Remember the dress up box Mimi gave Libby last Christmas? They pulled it out and this is how they chose to express themselves.

Saturday morning Libby selected this ensemble for yard work.

Sporty? Yes. Warm? Yes. Bat in case a baseball game breaks out in the back yard? Yes.

Here's to hoping February is kind to us all!

The Rest of the Week

2012-01-27T07:00:00.002-05:00

We are still letting the news of another girl settle in...and every day I get a little more excited! More girly clothes, bows and sisterly love, good stuff! By the way, the night of the reveal, my sister-in-law asked Libby, "So what do you want to name your baby sister?" Without hesitation, she answered, "Baby Mary." So she now refers to the baby as "Baby Mary". I guess I will, too.

Did I mention that Libby really, really wanted a brother? She did. She talked about her baby brother for at least three weeks leading up to the reveal. She had me totally convinced it was a boy. Why wouldn't it be? That's what my three-year-old had decided. Hence my shock Monday night. But, after the initial surprise, she seems to be taking the news of a sister well. And once she figures out how much she'll be able to boss a little sister around, she won't even remember wanting a brother!

Except maybe I should hide this picture?

We'd been to a baby shower for a friend Saturday. One of the hostesses insisted on sending these balloons home with Libby. :) I thought it might be a sign. I was WRONG.

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Before all the gender excitement, we celebrated Drew's dad's birthday.

Cake and ice cream? These two girls were excited!

Before dinner, there was a break in the rain. So we let them loose in this puddle.

That's what rain boots are for, right?

Hope you're week's been good. Looking forward to a nice weekend!

Gender Reveal

2012-01-24T09:58:00.084-05:00

Monday was THE day. The day we could finally stop speculating on what baby #2 was and know for sure. A few weeks before the determining ultrasound, I decided I wanted to do something a little different, a little more fun and a lot more suspenseful. So that's just what we did.

Thanks to sites like Pinterest and Facebook, I'd seen where Gender Reveal Cakes had become popular. If you're not familiar, it goes like this: An ultrasound technician writes the sex of your baby down on a piece of paper and seals it in an envelope. The mom and dad then take the sealed envelope—if they can stand the suspense—to their favorite bakery. Once in the clear, a baker opens the envelope to find out if the couple's baby is a boy or a girl and bakes a cake accordingly. A cake with blue batter or blue filling is for couples having a boy, and one with pink indicates a girl.

Sound exciting, huh? Well it was!

But, instead of me or Drew delivering the news to the bakery, I had someone from the doctors office call my mom and tell her. So neither Drew nor I knew. Only my mom. Can you imagine knowing when no one else knew? Thankfully she only had to sit on this BIG secret for about 8 hours. Much longer and I think she might have imploded.

Fast forward to 6:45 pm. We invited family and close friends over to cut the cake with us. We'd all find out at the same time.

Here we go...

Mimi and Libby make the cut.

And what do we see?

It's a GIRL!

Total shock! I was very, very surprised! Libby had me convinced it was a boy. But I am so excited we'll have another sweet girl and so happy for Libby to have a sister!

I loved having sweet friends there to celebrate with us.

Then we all had cake.

We unsealed the envelope that contained the ultrasound pictures. You know, just to make sure.

Coop got Libby a Big sister ornament for next year's Christmas tree. She loved it!

It was a very special night. I'm so glad all the planning worked out. I can say I was honestly surprised. I highly recommend a gender reveal cake. It was such a fun way share our news!

Now I just have to get used to the idea of raising TWO daughters. Wow! Did I mention I'm still in shock?

Tennesse Trip

2012-01-19T15:00:00.002-05:00

This weekend I got to enjoy a girls' trip to Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Our friend, Holly, moved back home to Tennessee last year. She's traveled back to Alabama several times, so it was our turn to visit her.

She and her daughter, Kayley, have recently reloacted to Oak Ridge which is just outside of Knoxville, TN and about a 45 minute trip to Gatlinburg.

After some planning, Coop, Beth and I decided the MLK holiday weekend would be a good time to make the trip. We left Friday afternoon. After braving Atlanta traffic and a few stops along the way, we arrived late Friday evening. We stayed up into the wee hours catching up with Holly that night.

Saturday morning after breakfast we decided to make the short trip the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. Here we are all ready to take off. Holly's friend, Nikki (far left), braved the trip with us, too.

After fighting some fierce traffic, we made it!

We walked around downtown Gatlinburg and visited lots of shops. Holly spotted these GREAT hats. What SEC fan wouldn't want to wear this furry cap to the next game?

I took this picture of Holly because she wore these stiletto-like boots all day. She never complained. She's a trooper! Me, nope, I'd be down for the count after two stores.

We ate dinner at the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant in Pigeon Forge. There was so much food and the apple fritters with apple butter...lawd, it was a good meal, indeed!

Holly toured us around downtown Knoxville on the drive back. We saw Neyland Stadium and the Tennessee River.

Sunday afternoon we packed up and headed home. We had an easy trip back to Alabama. It was such a fun weekend. We laughed a lot and enjoyed spending time with such a sweet friend.

Girls' Weekend in Oak Ridge was a success! Thanks again, Holly, for being such a great host!

Fashion Notes

2012-01-17T10:27:00.034-05:00

Pregnancy is a beautiful thing...until your clothes no longer fit and you feel fat. All part of the overall investment, yes. Last week was one of those weeks where big changes took pace. And by changes, I mean my belly has popped out and all my pants no longer fit.

I was missing my "normal" clothes and not loving the stretchy panel that adorns every pair of maternity pants. Then it hit me, I need to focus on other fashion accessories and not sweat the small...err big stuff!

Here are a few ways I've chosen to accessorize.

First off, I painted my nails a lovely, dark color.

Get in the Expresso Lane by OPI.

My mother asked me if I was "going goth". I promised her dark nails were in right now. I liked it so much I also painted my toe nails this color.

I've also tried something new to me - low lights. Long story short, my hair was a little too platinum blonde for my liking. I will always be blonde, I love it, but it was scaring me. So my hairdresser added some dark sections. I like it and it is a nice change for winter.

(I realized this the best shot of my hair from Christmas. I must try to hand my camera to other people more often. I have 234 of Libby and 2 of me. Noted.)

Once spring hits, I'll lighten it back up. But it's been fun to step out of my norm.

And my favorite accessory to play with has been pulling out my scarf collection. It's been cold and I love deciding which scarf to wear each day.

I usually wear my scarves like this:

Here are the steps:

Easy enough - it stays put and fits well under a jacket.

But my friend, Brook, taught me another really cute scarf-tying technique. Want to learn it?

You start the same way, folded in half and draped around your neck. Next you take ONE of the ends and put it through the loop.

Next you twist the knot you've created. Then you feed the other end through the loop.

Lastly, tighten and adjust. The finished product:

It's a great way to spice up an outfit, or in my case, distract yourself from a (boring at times) maternity shirt.

And please feel free to share with me any other cute ideas that can liven up my wardrobe for the next 4 1/2 months.

Happy accessorizing, friends!

Breakfast Casserole

2012-01-13T07:07:00.011-05:00

Christmas morning I served breakfast casserole. I love having breakfast casseroles at showers and brunches, but have probably only made it for myself one other time. I found this recipe several weeks before Christmas and held on to it. It stood out because it was one you make in the crock pot - just my speed!

I prepped everything Christmas Eve and added it all to the crock pot before going to bed.

First I mixed 10 eggs with 1 cup sour cream, 1 cup milk, along with salt, pepper and dry mustard.

Then I browned 12 oz of sausage.

I chopped up an onion and bell pepper. Then I layered all the ingredients - half the sausage, onions, peppers and a layer of frozen hash browns.

Then I added a layer of shredded cheese - lots of it! Then repeated the layers.

The final step was to pour my egg concoction over the contents of the crock pot. I poured some, let it settle, then poured more. The crock pot was full.

I turned on low and cooked for 8 hours. When I woke up the kitchen smelled so good. I'll admit, I was a little worried about how the casserole would turn out in the crock pot. But when I lifted the lid early Christmas morning, it was perfect!

I cut the recipe down a bit (I used 10 eggs instead of 12, 12 oz of sausage and about 15 ounces less of hash brown than the recipe called for) and it made a huge amount. It served six adults and we ate left overs for two mornings. I also froze a large Tupperware container to pull out later.

Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole:

12 eggs or 2 cartons egg beaters

1 (32 oz) bag frozen O’Brien hash browns (rinse to get rid of any freezer burn taste)

1 lb cooked & cut up bacon, ham or sausage (or a mix of them)

1/2 C diced onion (I added a bell pepper as well)
3/4 lb shredded cheddar cheese

1 C milk

1 C sour cream

1/2 tsp dry mustard

salt & pepper & other seasonings to taste

Directions

1. Spray 6 quart crock pot with nonstick spray.

2. Put ½ of the hash browns, meat, and onion mixture. Sprinkle on half the cheese. Repeat

3. Mix together eggs, milk, sour cream and seasonings. Pour this mixture over the top of ingredients in crock pot.

4. Cook on low for eight hours.

If you ever need an easy breakfast item that feeds a lot of people this is it! Of course you can add or leave out ingredients you don't like. If I can successfully cook this, then you can, too!

New Year, Big News!

2012-01-10T09:34:00.008-05:00

We had so much to keep us busy and happy during Christmas and the New Year. Time off of work, spending time with family and friends, cool gifts. But we had one more secret that kept us smiling over the holidays...

We have a baby on the way!

I am 18 weeks along and due in early June. Sound the nursery rhymes and grab the diapers and wipes - we're about to jump on the baby train again!

We find out in less than two weeks the sex of the baby. Until then, I keep going back and forth on what it will be. I have no gut feelings, no signs, no idea what this baby is. From what I can remember, I feel very similar to my first pregnancy. We'll just have to wait and see.

Libby is excited about expanding our family. She likes to hear how she'll be my helper and a big sister. I wonder if she'll keep up this enthusiasm when the (fragile, crying, needy) baby arrives. I have no doubt she'll love this baby, but will she dare share the spot light that shines on her so brightly?

We are excited to share our news and add a new personality to the blog!

Roll Tide!

2012-01-08T15:45:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T10:06:00.027-05:00

Happy 2012, everyone! I hope the year is off to a good start. So far, mine is going well. I'm back at work after having 13 days off. It was a great vacation and I am a little surprised that I wasn't too sad about starting back to work. I mean, sure, I could take another day or two, but we had a wonderful break and now it's time to jump head first into 2012! We spent lots of time around the house, stayed in our pjs for way too many hours each day and enjoyed having no schedule. But after almost two weeks, I am craving a little structure. And here we are.

We broke from our usual tradition of ringing in the New Year at the Annual Tater House Party. We decided instead of getting a babysitter, we'd spend New Year's Eve with Libby. Our friends, the Flournoys, hosted a family-friendly party which included a bonfire, games, football games on the big screen and fireworks.

To be honest, Libby really, really didn't like the sound of fireworks. So she walked around for most of the night like this. But she never lost her cool or cried, so we were proud of her.

Ringing in the new year. Please notice Libby didn't bother to move her hands for our family picture.

Did you make any resolutions this year? I haven't committed to anything yet. Maybe I should get around to that?

Here's to a great 2012! I pray that God continues to bless our family with good health and good relationships. Pretty simple, but huge!

Christmas 2011 (Part Two)

2011-12-31T10:00:00.001-05:00

When we arrived home Christmas Eve we had to get Libby to bed so Santa could begin to assemble gifts. The one that needed the most attention was this Dora kitchen. Even though several of the 23 screws were missing, Drew was able to work his magic.

And it was all worth it when Libby spotted it Christmas morning!

She whipped up food, took call-in orders and had a ball.

Before she opened the rest of her presents, we paused for Christmas breakfast with all of her grandparents.

I tried a new crock pot breakfast casserole. It had eggs, hash browns, sausage, peppers and onions...so good! I will post the recipe in a later post.

After we all ate, Libby got to open presents from us and a few special packages. Like this one from her Uncle Drew in Colorado.

At this point my living room looked like a bomb exploded! We hugged the grandparents good bye, took showers and got ready for our next stop - Christmas lunch with my husband's side of the family.

There was a house full of aunts, uncles and cousins.

This was our attempt to get a picture of all the great grandchildren. Yes, it was as chaotic as it looks!

After lunch we got to open more presents. And Libby's favorite gift this round was a just-her-size guitar. She has hardly put it down since opening it.

We wrapped up a fun afternoon with the Parkmans and had one more stop, Drew's parent's house. Libby opened EVEN MORE PRESENTS. (Oh my goodness!) She got the most precious Bitty Baby and stroller along with clothes and toys.

Then the glorious hour finally arrived...nap time!

We had one last family celebration. Thankfully, we had a little break and got together Monday, the day after Christmas. We had another big meal and spent time with some of Drew's cousins that we don't see as much as we'd like.

We all enjoyed catching up with the Lett family. And believe it or not, she got to open more presents. Thankfully that was the last of the loot. It's a good thing because we have no more room inside the walls of our house. I predict a some sorting through toys boxes while Libby naps in the near future. ;)

It was a wonderful few days! We couldn't have asked for more. Libby was spoiled with wonderful gifts, as were we. And each holiday we get to spend with our entire family is a blessing.

Christmas 2011 was a good one! I hope by posting these pictures and memories I won't soon forget how lucky we really are.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-30T13:45:00.001-05:00

We started our Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve with my parents. We attended a candle light service at church, then came home to eat dinner.

After dinner, I found Libby inspecting the presents. I think she was ready to open presents, you agree?

Once she got the go-ahead, she ripped into all of her presents. She got good things like pajamas, toys and tea sets.

When she had finished opening all her boxes, Mimi asked her if it would be neat to have something to play with her tea sets and color on? She gave her a thoughtful look and said, "Yes." Then Mimi had her go look around the house to see what she could find. After searching, she found her very own table and chairs set up in her play room. So cute!

Libby didn't need any instructions. She immediately began serving tea and cupcakes to everyone. Then we all had to place our food orders and take turns sitting at the table.

Everyone had to participate!

She LOVES her new table and I know it will be hours of fun.

I scored a pretty nice prize, too. A new Keurig! Mmm, coffee for mommy!

It was a great Christmas Eve with our family.

Christmas Catch Up

2011-12-29T09:43:00.000-05:00

The days leading up to Christmas were busy getting last minute things done. But we did take some time to enjoy baking Christmas treats.

We were invited to Coop's house for an afternoon of baking. Libby really enjoyed herself. For every decoration she added to her ginger bread house, at least one piece went into her mouth.

We exchanged presents with Coop and Libby played with her niece and nephew and all their toys. She loves being there!

This is where Libby found Chris, our elf, on Christmas Eve. This was his last stop of the year and she thought it was funny. He flew back to the North Pole that evening. He was fun to have around, even if Libby wasn't the least bit concerned with him reporting her behavior. ;)

Next up...Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

More Christmas Fun

2011-12-23T13:40:00.003-05:00

Last weekend we attended one our favorite parties of the season - the Hedges' Annual Christmas Party. I've blogged about it for several years. The group has grown and we love spending time with our friends. Many of the couples in this group have young kids, so it's rare that we all get to hang out with just the adults. Beth and Gabe serve a delicious meal and we look forward to a lively game of Dirty Santa every year.

We take a guys and girl picture every year. The guys' picture cracks me up every time.

The dirty Santa gifts were entertaining as usual. Coop got a pickle jar with three fish. Wow!

We had a great time and are thankful for good friends, even if they give terrible gifts!

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Tuesday night I saw the movie New Year's Eve. I rarely see a movie in the theater, so it was a treat. It was such a cute movie! I recommend seeing it if you get the chance.

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Christmas is almost here, can you believe it? I wish you a very Merry Christmas! Take time to enjoy this special time with family and friends. Thank you, Jesus, for the season.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

It's Almost Christmas!

2011-12-19T14:46:00.000-05:00

What a week it's been! My calendar has been full of Christmas-related activities. Thankfully it all flowed smoothly and has been fun, not stressful.

First up was Ugly Christmas Sweater Bunco. This year's outfits didn't disappoint! The girls brought their finest, ehmm, tackiest, Christmas wear. We enjoyed dinner and our annual ornament swap.

A few days later Libby got to wear pajamas to school to watch Polar Express. On the way to school that morning of she was telling me she was going to watch a movie and eat treats - she was so excited!

After dropping her off at school, I met a group of my students to work at a local mission-based organization. The scholarship students worked a shift with Valley Rescue Mission at their Christmas toy shop. We did all types of jobs from stocking the shelves to assisting men and women (some in financial need, some in rehab programs) shop for their children.

I organize some type of service project each semester for the students so they can see that there's more to life than college classes, boyfriends/girlfriends and texting. But I must admit, working with this organization really got to me this time. The guidelines for shopping were strict but the employees showed each client love and support. I really needed to see that and I left with a heart full of gratitude for what I have and for organizations like Valley Rescue that reach out to people in need.

It was a great day and I work with a great group of students!

Saturday morning I got to visit with my friend, Mandy, who lives in Orange Beach, AL. She was in town visiting family and made time to get together with me and our friend, Heather. All the kids played while we caught up.

These are the best pictures I could get. I'm sure this won't impress Mandy since she is a photographer by trade! Oh well, they're cute and we tried.

Mandy's babies, Lydia and Eli.

Bence, Brandt and Libby. Bence decided a shirt was not necessary for the group photo.

It was great to catch up with my long-time friends and trade parenting stories. It's hard to believe we aren't teenagers anymore, but raising kids of our own.

It was a fun week and I'm looking forward to squeezing in a few more Christmas activities before the holiday wraps up. Be back soon with more Christmas pictures.

The Merry Christmas Card

2011-12-15T07:30:00.027-05:00

December calls for a long list of things that have to be done. Well, they really don't have to, but if you live on this planet, you certainly feel pressure to get it all done.

One item on my Things to do in December list that I enjoy (but dread) is choosing the perfect Christmas card. Each November I start to think, "What will I do this year?" Then, with no warning December sneaks up on me. Hit the panic button!

This year I received my first Christmas card on December 1st. (Darn you, you over-achieving parent!) Just the motivation I needed to get started.

Since you read this blog you know that I take pictures all the time. But I didn't have a favorite from the year so I decided to take some of Libby specifically for this year's card.

And if you have kids or have ever attempted to take pictures of them then you know what I'm about to post. The out takes: the good, the funny, the plain silly.

This year's winner:

Merry Christmas from this cherub-faced little girl (who is really anything but demure and quiet.) Hey, I get to pick the picture and pretend she is the perfect child and we are perfect parents!

Good luck with your Christmas cards!

The Cow Performs

2011-12-12T11:45:00.003-05:00

Friday morning was the big day - Libby's first Christmas program. Our family, along with at least two hundred other parents, filled the pews in the sanctuary at Libby's school.

The music started and in marched angels, sheep, shepherds, camels and cows.

We wondered how Libby would react to huge crowd. She is talkative and wild at home, but she tends to be shy when we are out in public.

She took her spot on stage. I was so proud!

But this is the face she made when she saw ALL the people. My mom and I were pinching each other. Drew and I exchanged looks that said, "Oh no!"

I have to give her credit, she pulled herself together. She stood still for a while, then managed to mouth the words to the first two songs.

Then she spotted us. We were on the second row. Oh crap!

The best comparison I can give is to think back when you were young and got sick or scared and finally laid eyes on your mom. You instantly burst into tears. That's exactly what Libby did. Her bottom lip poked out and she couldn't hold her emotions in any longer. It was so pitiful. I had a moment of mom-ness - do I rush to get her? Do I let her be? Drew and both waved at her, smiled and tried giving her the thumbs up. It was too late. She was too far gone. So I motioned to one of the teachers kneeling by the stage. She flew off the stage and curled up in the teacher's lap.

So she's not ready to launch a career in acting just yet. That's okay with us. The program concluded and she lived through it.

Funny, as soon as the stage cleared, she was carefree again.

She was happy to see her grandparents!

But apparently not happy to see me and Drew!

There was a cookies and milk fellowship following the program. This was Libby's favorite part. The child that was crying just moments before was laughing and excited.

Libby and her best school friend, Presley. Cute girls!

And to add even more confusion to things, my normally shy child asked to sit on Santa's lap. I was surprised, but agreed and took her to stand in line.

It was a precious morning, tears and all! I am one proud cow's mom!

December

2011-12-07T16:00:00.008-05:00

December is in full swing around our house. The decorating has been done, shopping is on-going and Chris the Christmas Elf is back!

He's been all over the house during his first week back. Libby loves searching for him every morning. I wish I could say that he has encouraged better behavior, but not really. This weekend at dinner she wasn't doing as instructed and I said, "I can't believe you're not behaving, Chris is right there. Remember, he reports to Santa every night." To which she said, "No he doesn't! He's not going tonight." I'm pretty sure I rolled my eyes.

Libby's school program is this Friday. She is very excited. She will be representing our family proudly as a cow at the nativity scene. I just know she and her class mates will be cute!

I hope your December is off to great start. Remember to soak in each day because it flies past in a blur.

Merry Christmas!

Fantasy in Lights

2011-12-05T12:00:00.009-05:00

Last week Mimi and Papa took us to enjoy Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens. If you're not familiar with this, it's a massive display of Christmas lights (8 million to be exact) and decorations put on each year - one of the biggest in the southeast.

This was Libby's first trip through the lights display. Well, I did ride through when I was pregnant with her, but I don't think that really counts.

We chose to ride a trolley. Mimi thought it would give Libby the real experience of the beautiful lights. She was right, Libby was hooked! It just so happened that it was freezing the night we went. So we had to bundled up to enjoy the open-air ride.

She really enjoyed it! She was so in to the lights that she never really noticed how cold it was.

Thanks, Mimi and Papa for a night of Christmas fun! If you live or will be visiting anywhere within traveling distance of Pine Mountain, GA, make plans to attend!

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And I can't sign off this post without giving a big cheer for my Alma mater, The University of Alabama. They are headed to the BCS Championship game in New Orleans in January! I want to go! My husband looked for tickets last night just to quiet me down. Then he announced, "You can't afford to go - tickets are $1200 each!" He has a point. Santa, if you read this blog, one ticket is all I need! Roll Tide!

Iron Bowl 2011

2011-12-02T12:20:00.001-05:00

Last Saturday we traveled to Auburn, AL to enjoy the Iron Bowl. We arrived around lunch time to tailgate with some of Drew's family on his mom's side. They had a great spot, room for Libby to run free and lots of food.

We weren't too far from the start of the Tiger Walk, so Drew, Libby and I walked the few blocks to see the action. This was Libby's first experience at the Tiger Walk and Drew was excited to see her reaction. As soon as we arrived to the spot, we found some friends of ours.

Libby and Anna Grace with their daddies.

Libby played along and watched the players pass by. But she asked more than once, "Where's Aubie?" If you'll remember from a previous post, Aubie is her number one concern on Auburn game days, everything else falls in order behind that. I'm sorry to report that Aubie must have been on other end of the Tiger Walk because we didn't see him. However, she was a good sport and took in all the Auburn fanfare.

When it wrapped up, we hoofed it back to the tailgate spot and it was time to eat. And eat we did.

Rib: 0 Libby: 1

Drew and I went into the game and left Libby with Drew's parents. We worried that she wouldn't understand why she couldn't go in the game. Boy were we wrong. One of the relatives had an RV - which Libby called the "Auburn bus" - nothing, not even box seats in the stadium would have compared in her opinion. She loved going in and out of the RV, crawling on the couch and the bed. And her favorite spot of all? The tiny bathroom. She went FOUR times before kick-off. (I'm not kidding, folks!)

This is the only shot of the three of us. Look at Libby's face...child is nuts.

If you watched the game, then you already know that Alabama kept the lead for the entire game. There were moments that scared me when Auburn would break for a touch down, but when it was over, Bama proved they were the better team this year.

And the game wouldn't be complete without a trip to visit Coop.

We landed some face time on the jumbo tron. Can you believe it? They allowed an Alabama fan on their big screen? Thanks, HD Camera guys!

It was a great game (for me) and Drew, the Auburn fan, was a great sport, as usual.

Now we'll just have to wait and see what if Alabama will play in the BCS Championship game. Only time will tell.

Roll Tide! Trent for Heisman!

Thanksgiving Fun

2011-11-28T10:30:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving week has come and gone and we survived! It was fun, relaxing, exhausting and delicious all rolled into one. We spent time with family, I finally saw the movie The Help (a must see if you haven't yet), put up our Christmas tree, decorated the entire house, snuck in a few hours of Christmas shopping and went to the Iron Bowl.

We started the week celebrating with my parents Monday night since they were headed out of town on Wednesday. We had a great meal and enjoyed our time together.

Wednesday night we stayed at the farm with Drew's family so he could wake up early and hunt. Libby thought it was so neat to get to sleep in the room her daddy grew up in. She had lots of questions about "when Daddy was a boy".

Thursday morning we enjoyed breakfast, watched the Macy's Thanksgiving parade and looked forward to a big, family lunch. Libby was ready for an exciting day!

As usual, lunch at Mot's (Drew's grandmother) did not disappoint. There was a house FULL of family and so much good food. The younger cousins played and played. Cousin Elizabeth (center) even made this Thanksgiving vest for Libby. She loved it!

After lunch wrapped up, a big group of the family took a walk on the farm down to David and Nona's house to check out the the play set. The kids climbed and slid and swung for almost an hour. It was fun to spend the afternoon together.

It was a really good holiday. I wouldn't change a thing...well, maybe I should have squeezed more naps in, maybe next time.

I'll be back soon with updates on our trip to the Iron Bowl. Spoiler Alert: I left the game a happy fan!

Thankful Thursdays

2011-11-24T06:00:00.017-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving on this last Thankful Thursday of the month! I hope the week leading up to this holiday has been good for you. Mine has been full of eating. I saw the scale in my bathroom this morning and refused to make eye contact. I figure it can't be good, so for today, I will choose denial. Tomorrow, I will pledge to burn calories and not scoop gooey, delicious casseroles onto my plate! But that's tomorrow - today it's fair game!

I debated what exactly to be thankful for this week. I've covered family, friends and my home so far. But there's just so many more things to be thankful for. Mine and my family's health, our jobs, our relationships with Christ, my really fluffy, warm bed - well, you get the idea. I AM BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE.

So this Thursdays I am thankful for this blog and what it means to me. I enjoy documenting our lives. Every time I share pictures and stories, I am expressing my love and excitement for all the things in my life that are special and important.

I've also met so many people through the blog world that I don't know other than from reading their blog and them reading mine. Very cool!

I also am able to keep up with so many people that I probably wouldn't otherwise. It happens every few weeks, someone out of the blue tells me they read the blog. I am usually surprised, but always excited when they tell me they are a reader. So thank you to all who check in periodically to keep up with the Parkmans.

Happy Thanksgiving to you, friends!

It's here!

2011-11-21T12:40:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving week is here and I'm looking forward to spending the week celebrating one of my favorite holidays.

Libby's school started last week with a Thanksgiving lunch and invited parents to come dine with them. Libby thought eating with Mommy and Daddy was cool. Who wouldn't?

We kick off the week of eating tonight as we celebrate Thanksgiving dinner with my parents. Tuesday is a pot-luck luncheon at work and Thursday brings even more delicious food with Drew's family.

Happy Thanksgiving week! I hope you enjoy time with your families and lots of good food.

"O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting." 1 Chronicles 16:34

Thankful Thursdays

2011-11-17T07:30:00.021-05:00

This Thursday I am thankful for my home. The physical structure AND what it holds - my family, a place to play and relax and the comfort of familiar surroundings. We moved to our house this time last year. If you have any good sense about you, don't move during the holidays! We did and I vowed to never move again, well not until I'm downsizing to a condo on the beach much later in life! ;)

I love the character our house has. I love that it's older, but spacious with lots of room to grow. I love that it has a huge back yard.

I have even grown to love our pool. (We were worried at the beginning of summer that we were in over our head. But we enjoyed it so much.)

I love that I have a reason to buy new furniture. Here's our latest addition in the dining room.

Thank you Lord that we are able to own a home and have a place to retreat each night.

Don't we all have SO MUCH to be thankful for? Yes we sure do!

Long Weekend

2011-11-14T19:06:00.003-05:00

Thanks to the Veteran's Day holiday it was a three-day weekend for us. Drew left at the crack-of-dawn Friday morning for his annual "man trip" to duck hunt and fish in Hackberry, Louisiana. That left me and Libby to fend for ourselves for the long weekend.

Libby and I stayed in pajamas Friday morning (not that she slept late...no, no!) We enjoyed a home-cooked breakfast and Libby insisted her friend, Bear, join us at the table.

We did get out and do some shopping Friday. She was a champion shopper and we hit three different stores without any yelling or threats being issued. She was excellent! You fellow parents know exactly what I'm talking about. ;) She and I even enjoyed a quick dinner at our local Mexican restaurant. That girl can put away some rice and tacos!

Saturday morning we were up early again. Coop joined us and we ventured out to support our friend, Heather, who was running her first marathon. She and her friend, Erica, participated in the 2011 Soldier Marathon that started in Ft. Benning, GA, looped through Columbus and back to Ft. Benning.

Coop and I made posters. I mean it's the least we could do for someone crazy enough to attempt to run 26.2 miles!

Heather and Erica finished the race (alive) and I am very proud of them! Can you imagine running for four hours? Oh my, I cannot!

Saturday during Libby's nap, my mom and I ventured out to conquer my quest to find a dining room table once and for all. I've looked at an empty dining room for exactly one year. I'm happy to announce that I found a table and chairs from a local interior store and they will be delivered this week! I can't wait to start decorating for the holidays. Pictures to come.

And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention how beautiful our yard has been these last few weeks. I took this picture while we were out playing the back yard Sunday. Fall doesn't last long here, but it sure is pretty while it lasts.

Have a great week!

Thankful Thursdays

2011-11-10T06:19:00.004-05:00

This second Thursday in November I am thankful for my friends. I have some very close and special ones that I've found along the way. I often reflect on how I got so lucky to be in the right place at the right time for our paths to cross. Of course, it was all in God's plan, but it's fun to think about how we met and how each unique relationship has developed over the years.

Friends and good manners will carry you where money won't go.

Margaret Walker

I met some a long time ago. A really long time ago!

I met these two my freshman year of college in Tutwiler Hall. Seems like a lifetime ago. We were all roommates at the blue house our sophomore year. What a fun year!

These girls are my Phi Mu sisters and forever friends!

And these crazy ones I picked up years ago at church. They still make me laugh 'til I cry to this day.

And there are so many more - friends that are out-of-town, friends from work, friends from the past and friends that I love spending time with, even if our time together is brief.

A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same.

Elbert Hubbard

Thank you to everyone that shares their friendship with me. Without it, I don't know where I'd be today.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-04T07:15:00.001-04:00

Halloween 2011 is behind us and we survived three days of activities, whew! Libby made a mighty cute kitty cat, don't you think?

ME-OW!

The costume was her request and she played the part well.

The weekend started by having a parade at school where all the kids wore their costumes and collected candy.

As we were getting dressed Sunday for a Trunk-or-Treat festival at Drew's parent's church she informed me that she'd already been a cat and wanted to be a zebra. I paused for a moment and politely told her she was going to be cat. After some persuasion, she went along with it.

When Halloween finally arrived on Monday she again informed me that she no longer wanted to be a cat, but a frog. Oh my goodness. I told her that wouldn't work and she was going to be a cat. Then she asked with such seriousness, "When will I get to dress up in a different costume?" I said, "Next Halloween!" (Don't feel sorry for her, she bounced right back and began meow-ing and running wild through the house.)

Trick-or-Treating was a lot of fun. We invited our family to come to our house since we live in a neighborhood that thrives on Halloween night.

We loaded up the girls and toured the neighborhood.

It was a busy weekend and we have a ton of candy to show for it.

It was a great holiday and I was completely exhausted by Monday night. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving. No costumes (or costume changes), no candy and lots of good food!

Thankful Thursdays

2011-11-03T07:00:00.010-04:00

Several friends on Facebook are listing something they are thankful for every day in November. I like the idea and thought I'd do my own variation for the blog. So every Thursday in November I'll feature Thankful Thursdays. I encourage others to do the same. There are no guidelines, you can be thankful for one thing or five, doesn't matter. Come on, let's give thanks!

This week I'm thankful for my family. I am thankful that most of our immediate family lives near us. I often reflect on how lucky we are to have parents and grandparents (even a great grandmother) that love us so much. I love that they can stop by to see Libby or that she can spend the afternoon playing at their house. These simple moments are priceless.

I hope you'll take time to reflect on the things/people you are most thankful for.

Precious Pumpkin

2011-10-29T08:00:00.010-04:00

Fall is shaping up to be one of Libby's favorite seasons. Cooler weather, college football, pumpkins, Halloween festivites - she loves it all.

Yep, I think it really agrees with her.

What else could explain this cuteness?

Happy Fall, blogger friends!

Spooky Outfits

2011-10-26T14:00:00.002-04:00

This weekend we had some good laughs. We attended a Halloween party that our friends host each year. Everyone brings their A-Game when costume planning, so I couldn't wait to see the results.

Have you met the cheer squad? Drew and I were cheerleaders and we brought the spirit! Go team!

Our friends Gabe and Beth earned my vote for most creative costume. They were Toomer's Corner and the infamous Harvey Updyke. Mr. Updyke was the man responsible for poisoning the iconic tree in Auburn, AL this year.

My friend, Coop, who is normally Miss Conservative took a whole new direction. She was a Hooter's girl. Such a funny costume!

Other entertaining costumes from the night:

And the party wouldn't be complete without my cheer partner and I doing some stunts. Of course the Hooter's Girl was up for the challenge!

Needless to say we laughed a lot and had a great time. I hope our kids have as much fun as we did dressing up! Happy Halloween, friends!

Pumpkin Art

2011-10-24T15:45:00.022-04:00

I've seen so many cute decorated pumpkins around town and on the Internet this fall that I was inspired to join in the fun. I'll be honest, I leaned towards painting pumpkins because it seems easier and less messy than carving them.

While Libby was napping, I set up the supplies.

Once she was awake, I told her what we were going to do. She was excited to get started!

The rules were, well, there were no rules. I told her she could paint her pumpkin however she wanted. And boy did she paint!

Drew and I painted pumpkins, too. It was really fun and easy. Drew and Libby were such good painters. Look at their concentration.

Here are some of the final products. They turned out very cute and unique. They're on display on our front porch and will greet treat-or-treaters next week.

We'll certainly do this little project again next year. Libby was entertained for almost an hour and she was very proud of her work.

Blackberry Moments

2011-10-21T10:00:00.005-04:00

Remember when I did a "phone picture dump" a few months ago? Well, it's time to share more (extremely random) moments from the last few months through the eyes of my phone.

This one is from The Quad in Tuscaloosa, AL. Such a pretty, blue sky that day!

Good news, only half of my face is missing from this shot. This one was taken in Jordan-Hare stadium. My little family is quite cute. Even if Libby seems to be drunken from the gum she's chewing.

Oh, these are my latest snack obsession. It involves almonds, pecans and peanuts with coco powder and peanut butter. Do yourself a favor and buy a bottle.

I took this one during a break from a meeting at Lakepoint Resort State Park in Eufaula, AL. The main meeting area and restaurant overlooked Lake Eufaula. I want to go back when I can stay longer and go camping...in an RV, not on the ground.

Drew took this one of me and Libby riding around the farm. Simple family fun, you can't beat it!

Told you it was random! Until next time...

Zooming through the Week

2011-10-19T10:25:00.000-04:00

We're moving right through another week. We had a quiet, but busy weekend. We stayed in town and checked lots of things off our to-do list. Libby squeezed in lots of time on her scooter. She told me she was on a road rally and asked me to join her. I didn't get to ride anything fun, I was instructed to walk behind her as she scooted. Not really all that fun for me, but I did as I was instructed.

We spent Saturday running errands, grocery shopping and watching college football. Roll Tide! (and War Eagle for the husband)

Sunday afternoon we headed to the farm to play and eat dinner with the Parkmans. Libby's Gator is not new to the blog, but she is excited that her cousin is finally big enough to be her co-pilot.

It didn't take Cayden long to figure out her only job was to hold on tight. They cruised all over the yard, even in the field in front of the house.

Makes me smile thinking about the fun they'll have playing together in the years to come.

And Libby was fascinated with picking up pecans that were all over the yard. We filled a bucket in no time. She had us cracking them open so she could eat them right away. The kind in this picture are called Moneymakers. And they were good!

We have another busy weekend on the horizon. A baby shower, more football and a Halloween party. Drew and I are working on putting the finishing touches on our costumes. The costumes were top-notch at last year's party, so the pressure is on to perform!

Have a great week!

Marathon, points and Trick Pony

2011-10-13T08:05:00.004-04:00

Oh what a weekend! And the title pretty much sums up our trip. I'll explain all that shortly.

My long time friends, Coop, Heather, Beth H. and I hit the road Friday afternoon headed for Panama City Beach. It was the four of us - no kids, no pets, no spouses. Just us girls.

We have known each other for many years. We went to different high schools and different colleges, but we all attended the same church growing up. Even though our dynamics have changed over the years, they still hold a special place in my heart. Old friends always do.

After getting a great night's sleep and taking in breakfast and coffee overlooking the beach, we spent all day on the beach Saturday.

It was really warm and sunny for October.

Warm enough for these two to ~~flail around in the ocean~~ swim!

After a day on soaking up the sun, we showered and headed to Schooner's for dinner and to watch college football.

Our dinner was great, the Auburn game, however, was not. Sorry, friends.

But that didn't dampen our spirits. Throughout dinner Beth and Heather made friends with the people at the table next to them. First they discussed SEC football. Then the friendly chatting led us to find out that Mr. Cowboy was a country singer from Nashville.

After a few hours we had a new friend, Keith Burns. Sound familiar? (No? It didn't to me, either.) But I bet you remember the band Trick Pony. They had a few songs you'd recognize: Pour Me and On a Night Like This. Trick Pony is no longer together - I've give you a moment to grieve- but don't worry, Keith is back with a new duo, Burns and Poe. He and his friend were extremely friendly and for that, I'm now a Burns and Poe fan.

The rest of our trip was rounded out by talk of the marathon that Heather is training for. She'll run 26.2 miles in November, wow! She had her long run Saturday morning, 20 miles. Needless to say, I was impressed! Coop kept up on task by announcing every food's value of Weight Watcher points and I shared "up dog" jokes with anyone that would listen. I think I fell asleep and woke up laughing. These girls are funny!

It was a wonderful trip with great memories to add to the books.

Each of these girls is special to me. I love that our friendship has spanned so many years. And I love that they can say one line and have me spitting my water across the room! That's what friends are for.

Fall Goals

2011-10-10T12:37:00.000-04:00

Welcome to a new week! I had a great weekend and can't wait to give you a full update on our girls' trip. Sneak peek: my abs hurt from laughing and we discussed "up dog" a lot. If you just asked yourself, "What's up dog?" then you just made my day!

But the focus of this post are my Fall Goals. Ally @ Copacetic in Carolina challenged me to post some of my fall goals, so here goes:

via

1. Ramp up fall decoration and flowers around the house. I have put out the first round of fall decor, but after reading this month's issue of Southern Living, I have a new level of excitement.

2. Make Libby's Halloween costume instead of buying one. She has decided she wants to be a cat. And I think it's a fine idea! We already own a black leotard, tights and cat ears. Now I just have to track down a tail (which I will probably purchase) and Google "How to do cat makeup" and I think we'll be good to go.

3. Wear more scarves and fall clothing. I purchased several bold colored wraps/scarves last year on my trip to NYC. I've been learning lots of new ways to tie my scarves. Now that it's finally a little cooler, I'm breaking them out!

4. Plan and cook more meals at home. The cooler weather tends to make me nest. I tried a new crock pot buffalo chicken meal last week (thanks, Kelly) and I've been craving chili and taco soup. I think it's time to start making BIG pots of both. Mmmm.

5. Workout more. I'm not going to lie, the summer heat put a major kink in my walking schedule. However, I have a new walking partner, Jill, and we walk every Tuesday night. I've also made a goal to walk at least once a week on my lunch break and two times elsewhere during the week.

And Since Ally tagged me, I want to pass on the fun. So I'm tagging these blogger friends:

1. Oh Mann!

2. The Grafs

3. Married with Parents...and Pets

4. The Fryers

5. The Southern Blossoms

Can't wait to hear about everyone's Fall Goals!

Footwork

2011-10-06T09:25:00.009-04:00

With the changing of seasons comes...new shoes.

Not only because of the change in weather, but because she's growing so quickly, I feel like I've been in shoe-shopping over drive for Libby this month.

First there were new Crocs, then new tennis shoes. Then I spotted these rain boots.

Had to have them!

And just like anything new that you love, Libby has found some creative ways to wear them.

I think it's safe to say she likes them.

Then she brought more new shoes home. We signed Libby up for dancing lessons this year. They are held at her school one day a week during the day. She gets to go to dance without me having to cart her there and back. Pretty smart, huh?

On Tuesday she wears her "dancing clothes" to school. Ms. Kelli, instructor from Center Stage Dance Studio, teaches the three and four-year-olds tap and ballet.

Last week her tap shoes were delivered. As soon as we walked in the door (literally - see it the door standing open?) she threw down her dance bag and put on her new tap shoes.

Then she showed me some of her moves.

I can't wait to see her first recital! Let's hope she brings this kind action to the stage when it's go time!

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

I'm so looking forward to the weekend. I'm headed to the beach with three of my favorite friends. Just us girls. I ~~think~~ know we will have a great time!

And I hope your weekend requires you to bring out some new shoes, as well!

All Aboard!

2011-10-03T12:00:00.048-04:00

It's official...Fall is here!

We had a great weekend. Drew was fishing on the Forgotten Coast so it was a girls' weekend. I've found that if we keep busy with activities, Libby is much easier to handle. She also naps hard -- and what Mom doesn't like that?

We had a good time at the high school football game Friday night. Libby enjoyed watching the cheerleaders and playing with some of her big girl friends. We made it to half time and headed home. As we were walking to the car she told me she was "very hungry and thirsty". So I threw nutrition to the wind and we drove through McDonald's at 9:45 pm for a Happy Meal. :)

Saturday morning we headed to Opelika with our friends, Beth, Allie and baby Harrison. It was our friend, Bence's, 3rd birthday.

The party was at Municipal Park. The park is tucked away in a historic neighborhood. Lots of trees, a quiet creek and best of all...a train!

The kids loved the train...well most of them did!

There were several playgrounds within the park. Libby and Allie played on all of them. So much fun!

Saturday night I went to dinner with a great group of girls. Our friend, Holly, was visiting from Tennesee. It was nice to catch up with her and share some good laughs. These girls are funny!

Something about the cooler temps gives me a (much needed) burst of energy. I put out fall decorations, opened windows and left my doors open to soak in the fresh air this weekend.

Happy Fall and make it a great week!

'F' if for Friday

2011-09-30T09:01:00.000-04:00

Who doesn't love Friday? This girl does and I'm so glad it's finally here!

This week has been full throttle between work, school and after-hours activities. But we made it through.

We have a fun and busy weekend ahead. Libby and I are going to the hometown football game tonight. (Go Red Devils!) Saturday morning we have a birthday party followed by dinner with friends tomorrow evening. And Alabama is traveling to Gainesville, Florida for a BIG game against Florida! (Roll Tide!) We start our rotation of teaching Children's Church Sunday. All while Drew will be away. Hmmm, maybe I need to call in sick Monday to recover.

Here's to a great weekend!

Game Day - AU Style

2011-09-26T07:00:00.006-04:00

No, this isn't a re-post. Different Saturday, different Game Day.

This weekend we switched gears, pulled out our orange and blue (well, no orange for me, I couldn't go that far) and headed to the Plains to see Auburn take on Florida Atlantic.

This was a very special day for our little family. It was Libby's first college football game...ever.

She was SO excited. But really, her father was the most excited!

We headed to Auburn early afternoon. Libby got the hang of tailgating in no time.

Playing with friends, fellow shipping and eating. Yep, she nailed it!

There was a big group of friends and we had fun. Here's a shot of all the girls at the tailgate spot.

About 45 minutes before kick-off we began our walk to the stadium. Drew was prepping Libby on all the cool stuff she was about to see. But honestly, she was only concerned with one thing - where Aubie the mascot would be.

Once in the stadium, she took it all in. She watched the band, made friends in the rows around us, evening enjoyed clapping along. She told me a few times that "they were too loud", but she never let it bother her.

Around half-time, Libby and I walked around the stadium to find Coop. She was on the front row in the north end zone. She had prime seats!

It wasn't long before Aubie, himself, made his way to us. Coop waved at him and let him know this was Libby's first game. He came over and posed for pictures.

Libby was elated! Who am I kidding? I was even excited to meet Aubie!

But our fun didn't end there. A few minutes later (and after some sweet-talking on mine and Coop's part) we made the HD jumbo tron...twice!

The second time Libby had a tight-shot. She was a star! My phone instantly started buzzing with friends letting me know they saw her. Drew said when he saw her larger-than-life debut he said, "That's my daughter." He was proud.

I could not have asked for a better experience for her first football game. She had a ball. It really is a special thing to pass on to your children. Of course there are more important things, like loving God, loving your family and being kind. But love of college football is certainly a special part of our lives in the SEC.

Auburn won big and we headed home. Libby didn't make it past three stop lights before she was out for the night. I'm sure she was dreaming of her new friend - Aubie the tiger.

Have a great week!

Fall Finds

2011-09-22T09:32:00.000-04:00

Fall is almost here. Of course in the deep south, we know not to get our expectations too high for a long, cool fall. But we certainly look forward to it arriving every year - especially after the long, hot summers! I've been prepping my wardrobe in the chance that temperatures ever drop below 80 degrees.

First I am excited about these new cowboys boots. Drew has boots, Libby has boots, so I had to get a pair, too. Yee haw.

For my birthday (in May) Drew got me this monogrammed necklace. I have worn it a lot this summer. I love it.

So when I saw this necklace featured in an article in Southern Living I had to have it, too.

It's made by Moon and Lola and it comes a variety of bright colors. It would be cute to have a red one to wear to Alabama games or an orange one paired with anything navy for Auburn games. I chose the turquoise one, but I certainly could have gotten carried away.

So, I guess I'll put on my boots, layer my necklaces and wait for the fall weather to arrive...

Have a great weekend!

Game Day - UA Style

2011-09-19T12:30:00.007-04:00

Hello again, blog readers! Our month of busy weekends continued. This weekend's adventure was a trip to Tuscaloosa, AL to watch Alabama play North Texas.

Saturday morning Drew and I dropped Libby off with my parents and headed north to Birmingham. We picked up my friend, Kathryn, and were on our way to Tuscaloosa.

This billboard was the first thing I saw as we exited the interstate towards Tuscaloosa. This town survived a terrible tornado just five months ago. It gave me chills.

Speaking of the tornado, we rode right through the middle of town (15th Street) where some of the worst of the devastation occurred. And these areas have been cleaned up and they still look like this - sobering to say the least.

We also passed neighborhoods, now just empty, desolate land, that were heavily populated when I lived there. It was crazy to see open spaces that used to be houses where our friends lived when we were co-eds. Kathyrn and I agreed we needed to see those places and take in what happened for ourselves.

Once on campus we were able to meet up with friends and enjoy the game day atmosphere.

Our first stop was tailgating on the Quad. We spent time with our friend and former roomie, Michelle.

And we also met up with a group of Phenix City friends.

And I must praise Drew (the Auburn fan) for being a good sport for the day.

Thanks to my friend, Elizabeth, who now lives in Texas, we were able to get some really good seats! Really good, like second row. We were so close to the action!

Touchdown, Alabama!

And Kathryn might have made friends with the Mean Green Fighting Eagle. She was just showing the visiting team a little southern hospitality.

It was a great day at the Capstone. And even though my four years at UA seem like a lifetime ago, it is still is one of my favorite places to be. Stepping back on campus, passing the Phi Mu house, strolling the quad - being there brings it all back, like no time has passed.

Roll Tide and God Bless Tuscaloosa!

Girls' Weekend in ATL

2011-09-15T07:00:00.002-04:00

The players: me, Kathryn, Daryn and Angel. All friends from college. All Phi Mu pledge sisters. We've made it a point to stay in touch since graduation and they entertain me so!

Location: Atlanta, Georgia.

First an e-mail was sent between the four of us. After striking at least 12 potential dates with everyone's hectic schedules, the skies parted and God shined down on us -- there was a date that worked for all of us. Hallelujah!

Kathryn and I drove to Atlanta Friday to meet at Angel's house. Daryn couldn't join us the first night because she has the social life of a Kardashian. (But really, she does.) Angel, her husband Peter and their son, Will, hosted us Friday night.

*Side note: Will is precious!

After an evening of catching up and taking it easy, we put ourselves to bed to rest up for the next day. Daryn met us Saturday morning. We loaded up en route to our next destination, the W Hotel in Midtown. After checking in, we hit the streets.

It was game day and we walked to Hudson Grille to watch the Bama vs. Penn State game. There was a crowd of Bama fans. It was loud and it was fun! And we all loved this guy. He was the loudest, most belligerent Alabama fan I've ever seen. We enjoyed watching him lose his bananas after every play.

D and Angel wanted to have their picture made with him. He's in the middle. Nice.

Oh and Angel was excited about the Michigan State victory, as well. Go Sparties!

After the Bama game wrapped up, we walked back to our hotel to rest and get ready for dinner. We dined at Empire State South.

The best part of the weekend was just being with each other. We laughed...a lot. We laughed about old and new things. It was great!

Sunday morning we had brunch at Murphy's in Virgina Highland followed by a little shopping in the same neighborhood.

I bought myself a pair or red Toms.

Breakfast and shopping was a great ending to our weekend of fun. Even though our time flew by, it was a wonderful to make memories with these girls that I love.

Thank you, Daryn and Angel for hosting us in your fabulous city! The memories the four of us have made over the years are precious to me. Thanks for putting up with me all these years. Love in our bond and Roll Tide!

Birthday and a Boat Ride

2011-09-12T11:00:00.002-04:00

We've tucked another weekend under our belts. It was a busy one, but oh so much fun!

By the way, do you think I take too many pictures? You'd think she'd get used to me having a camera around at all hours of the day. Guess not.

But she always gives in and "works it" for the camera.

This was Friday after school. Thanks, Libby, for cheering on the Tide helping them win big over Penn State. Roll Tide!

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This weekend our favorite dad and Papa had a birthday. We enjoyed celebrating with him. He is a blessing to us. And he loves us so much, makes me proud.

Sunday night we took him to dinner to celebrate.

This is my favorite picture from the night. Mimi, Libby and Papa - cuteness all around.

We ate at Ezell's. It's a catfish restaurant. There was a small john boat set up as a prop outside. Libby insisted on getting in. We all had to go for a ride. Made for some entertaining pictures.

Everyone got a turn in the boat. Funny!

Papa opened presents and we enjoyed our dinner. But I think the best gift was Libby's behavior at dinner. She was quiet, ate her food and only asked to visit the restroom twice. She had to dig deep for such a great performance! Happy Birthday, Papa!

I'll be back to soon to tell you about my other adventure this weekend - a girls' trip to Atlanta. Have a great week.

Dirty Bertie

2011-09-06T17:45:00.000-04:00

Hi blog readers! I'm back to reality after a great three-day weekend. We did a lot and a little over the course of the weekend. Tropical Storm Lee made its way to central-Alabama Sunday and dumped rain on us for two days. Normally I might be annoyed with rain dampening (yes, pun intended) a holiday, but it was nice to have an excuse to stick around the house. We played, we cleaned, we laundered, we watched college football and a How I Met Your Mother marathon without the guilt of thinking, "I should be doing something else." It was a nice break.

But, before the rain came, we had some good old country fun. Saturday was opening day of Dove Season. Drew headed to the fields early with his friends and Libby and I joined them later in the day after her nap and a little shopping.

She was ready to show off her new pink boots.

It's so hard to get her to pose...not.

Drew picked us up and took us down to the field where everyone was gathered.

It didn't take long for Libby to join in on the dirt-playing fun.

Libby's teacher used to read a book called Dirty Bertie. Libby often quotes lines from this book, "No Bertie! That's dirty, Bertie!" She was my very own Dirty Bertie.

Extremely dirty Bertie

She couldn't have been more pleased with "petting the birds". Even if you feel the urge, please don't contact PETA.

After everyone got their limit of birds, we came back to the Tater House to eat, watch football and let the kids play.

Before sunset, we rode to a creek on the property and all the kids took a pre-bath before heading home. It was such a fun afternoon. Libby had a great time and Drew and I loved watching her experience so many fun, simple moments!

And I mentioned college football earlier. My team had a good week, Drew's team, well, they squeaked out a win. I can't wait to see how the rest of the season pans out. We made a run to stock up on team wear for Libby. I think after Auburn's performance this weekend, she'll be begging to wear the Alabama shirt to school!

Off to tackle another busy week. Hope you have a good one, too.

Party Party

2011-08-30T10:00:00.032-04:00

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. :)

Moments of Joy

2011-08-26T10:00:00.005-04:00

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.

Bible and Heels

2011-08-24T10:01:00.001-04:00

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!

Mowers and Weekend Fun

2011-08-19T11:00:00.002-04:00

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.

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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. ;)

Dancing?

2011-08-17T08:02:00.008-04:00

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!

Just Us Girls

2011-08-10T17:52:00.000-04:00

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!

Phoning in Summer

2011-08-05T06:13:00.001-04:00

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.

And Drew got his own present. A shark week koozie (thanks, Kerri!) to celebrate one of his favorite series on TV.

And look at this pretty little girl. Right after this picture she was so bad in the car. Good thing she's cute!

What fun we've had! I love my big camera, but I'll certainly use my camera phone more often after this trip down memory lane.

August Already?

2011-08-02T07:00:00.002-04:00

I think we can all agree that the summer months have flown by. How can it be August already? It is and the last weekend of July was busy with activity.

Friday afternoon Libby and I attended her end-of-the-year party at daycare. Her teachers decorated the room and had balloons for all the kids. They even made special snacks.

After the kids polished off the food, it was piñata time!

Meet Fernando the Bull. Cute!

Anticipation...

Candy!

Brooks, Libby and Ella. They've been together since they were babies.

Libby has had WONDERFUL teachers this. We have been blessed!

Libby is continually talking about Ms. Susan and Ms. Mary. She has learned so much this year.

She looks up to them so much. We'll miss them both!

Friday night we went to a splash party hosted by the children's department at our church. Libby slid, splashed and swam for over two hours. She had a ball!

She even went down the "big kids'" slide.

I was scared. She was thrilled!

Saturday afternoon we hit the water again. Our friends Brett, Jeremiah, Margaret and Sawyer joined us to swim.

Look at these two. Funny faces!

Libby and Saywer swam 'til the sun went down.

It was a good and extremely hot weekend. Being in the water was about the only way you could stay outside. And that's just what we did.

Be back later in the week with more summer pictures to share.

The latest

2011-07-28T08:56:00.000-04:00

This might might fall into the category of "random", but I'm going with it anyway. We're almost to August and talk of school starting back is all around. However, like my friend Kerri over at Oh Mann! says, Keep Calm and Summer On!

via lovely little details

It's still hot here and we've got lots of time to enjoy our pool and summer on. In fact, Libby, Mimi and I are breaking for the beach next week! Take that, Back to School talk!

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Next topic, we have a renter for our house! Drew and I are starting down a path that's new to us - being landlords (prayers/encouraging words are welcome.) I honestly don't know what to expect, so until I know differently, I will be optimistic. Our charming house will be home to a young family relocating from Seattle. Can you imagine the culture shock they will be feeling moving to the deep south? I hope they'll settle in and enjoy the ride.

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The next topic is interactive, so get ready to give me some feedback. I've finally turned the corner and decided it's time to take on the task of finding dining room furniture.

Honestly, I've been avoiding it because I don't know where to start. I have no leads on what style I want. Modern? Traditional? Most people keep their dining room set for decades. That's a lot of pressure to find one that I'll enjoy for years.

So I need your input on your favorite stores, websites, antique malls, blogs with great ideas. Lay it on me, I need some inspiration.

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Still with me? I hope so. Enjoy your weekend and don't forget to leave some inspiration in the comment section. (You can click the anonymous button if you don't have a Google account.)

Summer On, friends!

Doctor's Orders

2011-07-21T06:45:00.002-04:00

Hi all, I hope your week is going well. I have been playing the role of nurse to my husband who had surgery last Friday. If you know me, then you might laugh at me having to be nice, patient and non-sarcastic for a four-day period. Talk about hard work!

Drew had out-patient surgery to repair his Deviated Septum. Or if you are the medical type, Septoplasty. We had to arrive at the hospital by 6:30 am ~~on my day off.~~ We were really lucky -- Drew was called back very quickly, like within 30 minutes of our arrival. Impressive! Once he was prepped for surgery (snazzy surgical cap and all) we got to go back and see him. We waited a while in this area, but once the anesthesiologist and doctor briefed us, it was go time. From the time they wheeled him off until the doctor came out to tell us he was out of surgery took around 50 minutes. A little more waiting and then we were allowed to join Drew in the recovery area.

If you're not familiar with this surgical procedure, let me tell you, it's not glamourous. It was invasive and gross at times. However, we're told that this will change Drew's once-limited breathing and terrible allergies for good.

Once released Friday afternoon, we got Drew home and settled. The couch was his bed for the next few days. I fetched water and pills and food. I fluffed pillows and got extra blankets. I was a modern-day Clara Barton!

And I have to admit there were some perks. We had some food dropped off and check out this home made peach pie. Yum!

Our parents were AWESOME and kept Libby entertained while Drew was recovering. She had so much fun spending time with both sets of grandparents. I made a trip the library to get Libby some books to keep her busy when she was at our house.

She loves to read and the books did keep her occupied for longer than I thought.

Drew is doing great! He was a trooper and is back to work, with limited activity, already. We're both glad the worst is over and I'm really proud of him for facing this surgery. I have faith it will change the way he feels for the better.

Backwaters

2011-07-18T06:23:00.001-04:00

I kept my word and we stayed in town last weekend after being on the road for the last several weekends. It was just what we needed.

Friday we enjoyed our time at the pool. Saturday morning Libby "helped" me take our cat to the vet. She was so excited that someone was going to the doctor besides her! She asked what felt like 75 questions about Riley, the vet, the dogs (there at the same time we were) and on and on. It was funny to me that she was so inquisitive. Maybe she'll be a vet? Or maybe she's just really nosy?

After we got Riley home we changed clothes and packed our bags because we had an invitation to spend the afternoon on Lake Martin. Around here, we call it the Backwaters.

We met Coop and the Rutledges, loaded up the boat and hit the water.

Our first stop was a secluded sandbar.

Well, not that secluded. There were tons of boats along the sandbar. But it was a great spot, none-the-less!

We played, swam, weathered a rain shower and ate our lunch at this spot.

Then the adventure-seeker, Coop, decided it was time to try out a rope swing she'd found a few weeks before.

(Notice she was the only one from our group to try this!) She climbed up the tree and off she went...

She came to the surface in one piece and we all cheered!

After her brave jump we rode around the lake some more, visited a few friends and even swam in a pool with a dog. Yes we did. It was a fun time with friends. Thanks, Coop, for a great afternoon!

Fridays

2011-07-14T12:48:00.000-04:00

Guess who's back...?

That's right, Parkman Pool Fridays reappeared last week. We had a great group of kids and mommies over to swim. It was a good time!

I was happy to get to see an old friend, Erin East Jane, who was in town from Sarasota visiting family. Her two kids (below) jumped right in like they had been here their whole lives.

Can it be Friday every day? Let's do it again soon, friends!

She jumps!

2011-07-11T16:54:00.000-04:00

We've got a jumper!

...off the diving board.

She's fearless, folks!

More proof that Libby is a lot more little girl than baby.

The Forgotten Coast

2011-07-08T07:26:00.024-04:00

We have been traveling a lot this summer. Almost too much, but it's been adventurous, for sure! Between packing, long car trips with an extremely talkative toddler, unpacking and laundry, I'm ready to stay home for a while.

But how 'bout I recap our last trip instead of boring you with all the tedious details?

Our most recent trip was to Appalachicola, FL. They call the area The Forgotten Coast. I wondered why they use this tag line...so I Googled it.

According to Wikipedia, Florida's Forgotten Coast is a registered trademark of The Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce. The Forgotten Coast got its name in the early nineties when a Florida tourism group "forgot" to include information on this area on their map. The area includes the coastal communities of Port St. Joe, Cape San Blas, Apalachicola, St. George Island, Eastpoint, Carrabelle, Lanark Village, Alligator Point, and Panacea.

This prompted a local group to create their own brochure and map and call this area the Forgotten Coast.

But we haven't forgotten it. It's one of Drew's favorite places on God's green Earth!

We arrived Friday afternoon and jumped on the boat for some early evening fishing.

Funny, Libby knew just what to do.

The picture above reminds me of a country song that's popular right now, Just Fishin', by Trace Adkins. To be honest, I'm not a fan of Trace, but the lyrics are touching:

I’m lost in her there holdin’ that pink rod and reel

She’s doin’ almost everything but sittin’ still

Talkin’ ‘bout her ballet shoes and training wheels

And her kittens

And she thinks we’re just fishin’

She ain’t even thinkin’ ‘bout

What’s really goin’ on right now

But I guarantee this memory’s a big’in

And she thinks we’re just fishin’

Yeah, she thinks we’re just fishin’

We ain’t only fishin’

(This ain’t about fishin’)

Excuse me while I dab my tears. Alright, I'm better now.

Saturday after everyone got back from early morning fishing, we took a boat ride and found a sand bar up the river. It's a good spot for swimming and playing in the sand. Libby took a break to eat watermelon. Mmm, good!

Sunday we helped the Parkmans shuck corn for the annual cook out hosted by Bay City. Libby assisted with approximately three ears of corn. Then she was over it and went in search of a squirrel.

By the way, the cookout was great - patriotic cupcakes and all!

Monday morning Drew and his buddy Brett brought in this catch of red snapper. Wow!

It was a fun weekend. I took an extra day off to recoup from our travels. I hope you're holiday was good. Fourth of July feels like the halfway point of summer to me. It sure has flown by! I plan to take it easy and STAY HOME for a few weeks. See you soon, blog readers.

*All pictures were taken on my phone. I almost had a heart attack when I discovered that I had brought my camera, but left my card at home, sitting by the computer. Grrr! After I had a stern talk with myself, I forgave myself and vowed not to do it again.*

Truths of a Photo Shoot

2011-07-05T15:30:00.001-04:00

Remember I mentioned a photo shoot with the girls in my last post? I told my sister-in-law that I wanted to take some pictures of Libby and Cayden, 3-years-old and 15-months, respectively.

One morning before hitting the beach, I rounded up my subjects and started shooting.

Quite precious, if I'm allowed to compliment on my own family!

But don't let this one shot fool you, here's what really happened...

The little one kept going for walks.

Even hand-holding tricks didn't work.

Then the big one started jumping and skipping

Then she took off for a quick jog. Come back!

And then they were both gone.

So I relocated them to this pretty gate with vines. Can't you tell how much Cayden liked this spot?

Then the shoot was over.

Thankfully, I did end up with a few shots that were keepers.

Please make me feel better and share your child-wrangling-while-taking-pictures tips with me. I'm open to any advice you have!

Feels Like Home to Me

Feel the Love

Fifth Month

February

The Rest of the Week

Gender Reveal

Tennesse Trip

Fashion Notes

Breakfast Casserole

New Year, Big News!

Roll Tide!

Happy New Year!

Christmas 2011 (Part Two)

Christmas 2011

Christmas Catch Up

More Christmas Fun

It's Almost Christmas!

The Merry Christmas Card

The Cow Performs

December

Fantasy in Lights

Iron Bowl 2011

Thanksgiving Fun

Thankful Thursdays

It's here!

Thankful Thursdays

Long Weekend

Thankful Thursdays

Halloween 2011

Thankful Thursdays

Precious Pumpkin

Spooky Outfits

Pumpkin Art

Blackberry Moments

Zooming through the Week

Marathon, points and Trick Pony

Fall Goals

Footwork

All Aboard!

'F' if for Friday

Game Day - AU Style

Fall Finds

Game Day - UA Style

Girls' Weekend in ATL

Birthday and a Boat Ride

Dirty Bertie

Party Party

Moments of Joy

Bible and Heels

Mowers and Weekend Fun

Dancing?

Just Us Girls

Phoning in Summer

August Already?

The latest

More Reading

Doctor's Orders

Backwaters

Fridays

She jumps!

The Forgotten Coast

Truths of a Photo Shoot