Category Archives: Our Photo Gallery

A Weekend to Remember

You know how sometimes you just have one of those weekends where you rush-rush-rush and feel like you’ve got a million things to do and you aren’t doing any of them well?  Yeah…me, too.  But this weekend?  Totally not like that.

On Friday, I went on a field trip with Lydia.
IMG 3252 A Weekend to Remember
They had this whole town made up of little playhouses.
They had everything – a bank, a chapel, a stable, a jail, a courthouse, a school, a dress shop, and several others.
IMG 3253 1024x1024 A Weekend to Remember

There was this super-cool trampoline type thing called a jump pillow.
IMG 3254 1024x1024 A Weekend to Remember

There was a corn maze and teepee and little log cabin and a slide through a hill and a zip line and tons of awesome.
The time flew by.

Oh…and I found a Beyoncé hidden in a corner there.
(Don’t click that link if you aren’t a fan of the curse words.)
(I am convinced they took her down because of that post.)
IMG 3301 A Weekend to Remember

Then on Friday night, Carter had his very first camp-out at church.
He was so proud of earning his air rifle badge and healthy eating badge.
(Of course his healthy eating badge was for eating hot dogs, so I think he maaaay have missed the point on that one.)
IMG 3266 A Weekend to Remember
(I love that when he got back home, he climbed into my lap for cuddles.)

Lydia and I put the littles to bed and watched The Princess Diaries together.
And then she and I had a sleepover in my room.
(And by sleep-over I mean she slept on top of me.)
It was really a lot of fun to turn out the lights and giggle with her.

Saturday was full of fun.
Even when Asa colored his hand, arm and face with a blue marker.
IMG 3268 A Weekend to Remember
We went to hear my brother’s band play at a local family event
And Marshall sat in with the band for a song or two.
IMG 3272 A Weekend to Remember
My dad and my Papa sang a little back-up, too.

Then we went out to “the lot” – a lovely piece of land that my grandparents own but haven’t developed.
The weather was perfect for a picnic, and we had fun celebrating my dad’s birthday.
(He got one of these…because they’re awesome!)

The kids splashed in the creek (and Asa busted it a few times, hence the bloody chin).
IMG 3282 A Weekend to Remember
The ‘boys’ (aka my dad, my husband, and our family friend) climbed a tree.
IMG 3274 A Weekend to Remember
We laughed and told stories and just enjoyed being outside.

Saturday night was for football and working on Halloween costumes.
(They’re going to be Jake, Izzy and Cubby.)
IMG 3287 A Weekend to Remember

Sunday was for church and family.
And looking at this cuteness.
IMG 3295 A Weekend to Remember

After church was over, I remembered that I was supposed to work in the nursery.
(Oops!  Sorry Lynn and Ginny!)
We had picnic leftovers and a nice, lazy afternoon.
(Or as lazy as is possible with 4 small children in the house).
We had an old-fashioned hymn sing that night.
Followed by dinner with long-time friends.

Our weekend was full and this morning I am tired.
But more importantly my heart is full.

Blah-Busting Beach Fun

Last week I was all blah.
But Friday I did a photo shoot for some friends…
And then we headed to the beach.

We are fortunate to have a friend with a little villa there.
He is kind enough to let us borrow it if they aren’t using it.
And so we packed up and planned on catching some rays and splashing in the water.
But when we got there, it was dark and stormy and the waves were crashing in faster and harder than I’d ever seen here.

waves2 1 1024x682 Blah Busting Beach Fun

But despite the crazy weather and major advisories about rip currents and high surf and wind gusts, we had a great time!

wind and sand 1 1024x682 Blah Busting Beach Fun

The big three played on the playground with Daddy
while the little and I rocked the time away on the big casino porch.
She slept, I read.

sat ssi Blah Busting Beach Fun

We went to the beach and failed kite flying,
but found great big ‘puddles’ on the beach that were perfect for playing.
(The huge waves plus the rain flooded the beach and left tiny ponds.)

the trio 1 1024x682 Blah Busting Beach Fun

The wind was so strong that the birds couldn’t fly or even walk straight.

birds Blah Busting Beach Fun

We got to see my favorite brother-in-law and his girlfriend.
The big three went to the Sea Turtle Center with Daddy.
And we all played mini-golf.

minigolf Blah Busting Beach Fun

It’s no secret that I’m not really a beach person, but this kind of beach trip was perfect!
Minimal sand.   No swim suits.   No sweating!
Lots of waves crashing.  Happy kids.  Happy husband.

I kinda didn’t want it to end.

This picture makes me all kinds of happy.

I die of the cute 1 1024x682 This picture makes me all kinds of happy.

She’s 8 months old.
Finally crawling on all fours.
Pulling up on things.
Laughing a lot at her brothers and sister.
Snuggling with Mommy.
Gnawing on her fists.
Willing those teeth to make their debut.
And still kicking those feet non-stop.

(But today she’s sick and I’m not here because I’m cuddling with her.)

Picture Perfect Picnic

Last weekend, we had a wedding shower for one of my best friends.
The weather was perfect for a picnic party.
My neighborhood has a pavillion that we decked out in red and white.
I loved the way it turned out!

We used mason jars to decorate the tables.

Picnic Party for CM 6 1024x682 Picture Perfect Picnic

Picnic Party for CM 7 1024x370 Picture Perfect Picnic

And to serve the veggies. (An idea I found on Pinterest.)

Picnic Party for CM 3 1024x682 Picture Perfect Picnic

And we used old peach crates to hold the sandwiches.
(I made the little signs with my Silhouette machine.)

         Picnic Party for CM 4 1024x682 Picture Perfect Picnic       Picnic Party for CM 16 1024x682 Picture Perfect Picnic

And then there were, of course, the whoopie pies I made which were delicious (if I do say so myself).

Picnic Party for CM 1 1024x682 Picture Perfect Picnic

It was a nice evening…

Picnic Party for CM 26 1024x682 Picture Perfect Picnic

…even if it didn’t get dark enough for people to really appreciate the mason jar candle wall.
Which was really, really pretty in the dark of night.

Picnic Party for CM lights 1 1024x682 Picture Perfect Picnic

See how pretty?

Picnic Party for CM lights 4 682x1024 Picture Perfect Picnic

 

 

 

My Little Buddy and Me

It’s amazing how quickly this…
BabyL 1 1024x1024 My Little Buddy and Me

became this…
bigboyL 1 1024x1024 My Little Buddy and Me

He starts ‘school’ today.
Two mornings a week.
And I am so, so excited.
(He is, too.)

But I’ll miss my little buddy.
6018959180 588d70c5a2 o My Little Buddy and Me     6029939656 e348be44a1 o1 My Little Buddy and Me

We ‘shore’ do have a-watt of fun to-geh-fer.

5906537798 bc939a1446 o My Little Buddy and Me     5965386380 b7798144a6 o My Little Buddy and Me

And share the best naps.6033009542 61ae8a9d66 o My Little Buddy and Me

But he’s gonna have a blast.

And we will, too.
lj My Little Buddy and Me

He didn’t even look back when he walked in.
I guess that’s a good thing.
preschoolL 1 682x1024 My Little Buddy and Me

Nekkid is what makes happy.

This weekend we took a trip to the mountains.
We were supposed to go to the beach, but you know…there was a little something going on that kept us away.

I have so many pictures of our weekend away – camera and phone pictures -
But we don’t have reliable phone service up there, so I wasn’t able to upload much.

We picked flowers and made s’mores.
We went to our favorite antique mall.
We (well, the children) played in the creek in their birthday suits.
And Lydia gave us our big laugh of the weekend when she proclaimed:
“Nekkid is what makes happy.”

Here’s what you would have seen on Instagram or Facebook if I’d been able to post:

‘Real’ pictures to come tomorrow (I hope).

Weekly Winners {A Day Late Edition}

I’m a day late and a dollar short, but I wanted to share these anyway.

Find more Weekly Winners over at the lovely Lotus’ blog.

That was HILARIOUS!
Aug 14 2011 15 1024x1024 Weekly Winners {A Day Late Edition}

 


Round and round and round we go.  Where we’ll stop, nobody knows.

Globe Weekly Winners {A Day Late Edition}

Sweet, Sweet Baby6 month pics 19 1024x682 Weekly Winners {A Day Late Edition}

Let them eat cake.
August 18 2011 10 1024x682 Weekly Winners {A Day Late Edition} 


Friday Night Lights

August 19 2011 8 1024x682 Weekly Winners {A Day Late Edition}


Little Cousins

Big girl little girl 1 1024x682 Weekly Winners {A Day Late Edition}

weekly winners Weekly Winners {A Day Late Edition}

Sweet Baby Sneak Peek

I saw that the i{heart}faces challenge this week was eyes.
I have several pictures of eyes that I really love, but the idea is for you to use a current picture.
I didn’t have one, but I was doing Alden’s 6 month pictures (I’m only a little late) and ended up with this one.

6mo 1 1024x682 Sweet Baby Sneak Peek

Oh, sweet girl.  I love her to pieces.

And I hope to have the rest of her pictures done sometime soon!

I Heart Faces noborder 125x100 Sweet Baby Sneak Peek

Same song, second verse…

Carter will be back at the same school as last year.
Lydia will join him there as a full-day Kindergartener.

2011 1024x761 Same song, second verse...

We all greet the year with excitement,
But I would be lying if I didn’t admit it’s also with a twinge of sadness.
Time does indeed march on.

2010 1024x773 Same song, second verse... My, my…look how they’ve changed.

2009 1024x767 Same song, second verse...

“Young boys (and girls) should never be sent to bed… they always wake up a day older.
And then before you know it, they’re gone.”  

-Finding Neverland, parenthesis mine

More Than I Imagined

I thought I was ready for school to start.
I have been frustrated with the kids.
They have been frustrated with me.
We have spent way too much time inside.
(But it’s just so dang hot!)

But as I watched the “Back to School” pictures post on Facebook,
I found myself thinking, “I’m glad that’s not us today.”

I wasn’t expecting to wish for more summer.
The days are long and exhausting.
I am frequently tired and overwhelmed.
(Even more so than usual.)

But we’ve had so much fun,
Made so many great memories.

Snuggled this little cutie.

Baby Doll1 More Than I Imagined

Visited the wildlife rescue center.

turtles1 More Than I Imagined

Celebrated Gaga’s life

gaga More Than I Imagined

Did a lot of swimmin’!

June 4 2011 8 1024x682 More Than I Imagined

Washed the car (and each other).

car wash 1024x525 More Than I Imagined

Celebrated our country.

Fireworks 21 1024x682 More Than I Imagined

Rode the waves.

ridin the waves 1 1024x682 More Than I Imagined

Had lots of bedtime giggles at the beach.

July 9 2011 1 1024x682 More Than I Imagined

Hit the lanes.

July 12 2011 31 1024x682 More Than I Imagined

Played scientist.

July 26 2011 5 1024x682 More Than I Imagined

Gave big googly eyes while painting.

August 5 2011 11 1024x682 More Than I Imagined

And so much more…

So…so long, summer.
You were more than I imagined you would be.

(Also?  I am not excited about having to set an alarm clock for the first time in months.  Ugh.)