How Smalls spent her summer vacation

We had a wonderful, fun-filled summer that went by entirely too fast! As I was handed Progress Reports last night, I realized the Fall isn't slowing down either. 

These days I exist in a state of constant interruption and can barely complete a thought, much less a complex sentence or post in chronological order. I'm trying to learn how to take decent pictures, actually download them, and post them for you all while keeping Smalls from dancing in her high chair or splashing in the toilet. (both of which happened in the past 30 minutes)

Here are some highlights from Smalls this summer...most are iPhone pics because, lets just face it, it is the easiest.

She had her first boat ride at her friend Catherine's first birthday party. That face says it all! 

On Independence Day she was introduced to the wonders of Whip Cream. 

She learned how to color with Unca B... 

...and was spoiled by Aunt Nichole!

She even penciled in time for shoulder rides with Papa.

(Gertie, my first child, was in hiding the whole time we were there and was glad to see us leave.)

We did a little sewing with Little Grandmother...but I'll tell you about that later.

Wresteled with her friend Knox

Got to have a little visit with her best friend Catherine!

Had a lunch date with the Dunn boys 

Took a few tractor rides in the drive way before bed

Had lunch with Mommy's friends and their cute kiddos!

Shoe Shopping!!!! Daddy beware. 100% girl here!

Learned how to slide in the nursery

Built a pillow bed and otherwise destroyed Mommy's bathroom.

Lots of naps in the bouncy chair

Oh, and after a four day Paci-boot camp, we said adios to these bad boys!

We went to a Biscuits game and got to see Aunt Liz 

Swam a lot!

played with Louie

Played at the park...when it wasn't raining or muddy

Took Senior Portraits with Diva

And just so you know my little angel is a typical toddler...

...she had more than her fair share of emotional breakdowns. 

What chu talkin' bout Willis?!

Love Letter

Dear Whoever Decided to put Pepper Jelly on Cream Cheese,

I've been a skeptic for all these years, and now I can say "Thank you!!" From the bottom of my hips, because I just finished off a block practically on my own! 

Love Always,

This Girl

P. S. And if you happen to be friends with the person who decided peppers and mangos sounded like a good combination, send him my regards!

Keeping It Real

I love to check out Pinterest as much as the next person. I love all the crafty things that look so easy and I'm certain that I, too, can create a wardrobe for my daughter and wreaths for my front door for every season. 

I also get suckered into the various forms of social media that show all these women that do make seasonal wreaths, homemade valentine's cards for their kids, and delicious looking meals for their family...every night! All this while keeping an immaculate home for their perfectly behaved children. Oh, and on top of that, they have time to photograph AND write about all these wonderful things. I think gah, I should be able to do that...What's wrong with me?   

Then I tell myself, this is not real life. I mean, it is someones real life, but not their whole story. They are only showing me what they want me to see. The best. Well of course these women are only posting the good!! Who would want to share the bad and the ugly, right? They fear revealing their whole messy lives as much as I fear the doorbell of an unexpected guest when I have dishes in the sink, toys covering every inch of the house, and dust so thick that you can write your name in it. 

So, today, instead of dwelling on how long it has been since my last post and how I can't do a 'good' post because all my good pictures are still on my camera, and I don't have time to download all my pictures, and... 

I and my handy dandy smart phone took a quick stroll around my house. 

This is my sun room.  

It is hard to recognize as a sun room since my husband commandeered it as his work-from-home-glass-studio not long after we moved in. I've had to gate off the area to keep Smalls from playing with glass scraps and soldering irons. Sure the mess bothers me, but the truth is that I'd rather have him working from home than never seeing him because he's at the Studio until wee hours of the morning. 

(Never mind the fact that this room has to be completely cleared out in about two weeks so that I can host my annual Chi Omega Bid Day pool party for about 150 girls.) 

This is my dining room.

That's right. Look closely and you'll see a table underneath the piles of photos. I recently found that box of memories from my senior year of high school. I'm determined to get it out of that box and organized before our little class reunion in August. 

This is my little munchkin strategically placing pots and pans randomly around the kitchen. 

Oh, and look! Before I could even get that typed she decided to drag out a diaper box of toys to add to her display. 

This is my kitchen/office. 

I have to keep my laptop on the island so that I can actually type a sentence without little fingers trying to help me. I will also go on the record that it took me at least 3 hours to read and respond to an email this morning.  You may also note the child proofed (read: unfortunately empty) wine rack. Sigh.... 

What you can't see: crumbs on the counter, a pile of mail, un-mopped floors and some dishes that I haven't gotten around to just yet. Oh, and all the pots and pans and lids around my feet. 

So, there you have it. This is my life. I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I will not allow satan to use Pinterest, blogs, and Facebook to distract me from the many, MANY blessings in my life. My house is not perfect,  it is lived in! ...and the end of the day I'll give thanks for every pot, pan and toy that I will put away for the hundredth time and be even more thankful for the little hands that will pull them out again tomorrow. 

Now, if you'll excuse me, Smalls is currently standing at my feet, screaming her head off, and I can no longer form a complete thought. Much less proof read anything I've just written, so there you have it. Just keeping it real... 

30.

As I alluded to in my last post, and kinda left out on purpose, I had a birthday. And it was a big one. 

30.

The birthday rules clearly state that when your birthday ends in a zero, you get to celebrate the whole month. So I've been enjoying birthday month.  ...and, as luck would have it, I discovered a new favorite cupcake. Chocolate chip cookie dough. Why, hello 30! You're looking pretty good thus far!

I've been trying to prepare myself for this birthday, and until recently I wasn't sure how I'd feel about no longer being in my twenties. Hmmm...  As it turns out, I'm okay with it. (This is when being married to someone 13 years older is especially helpful.) 

I mean, just think about your twenties for a second. 

There are a lot of changes that happened in those ten years. Mine started out as a junior Marketing major and ended as a domestic engineer with three kids. During my twenties I graduated college, got my MBA, lived in Mexico for a while, got my first job, met and married the love of my life, and became a mom. That was also when I got my first digital camera and began uploading my pictures. Here's a little gem I dug up from senior formal.

If all that happened in my twenties, I can't wait to see what the thirties bring! 

Thirty and Flirty and Thriving!

What a weekend!

The end of May and the first of June are kind of a big deal...This year we had our 5th anniversary, my 30th birthday, a friend's wedding AND a 50th anniversary party. 

On May 31st, husband and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. I absolutely cannot believe that five years have gone by. Cliche as it may be, it really does feel like just yesterday we were celebrating with friends and family at The Grand. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful husband and I'm so thankful for our life together. 

We spent this anniversary in Albany, Georgia at the wedding of one of my dear high school friends. While I failed to get a picture with the happy couple, I did manage to snap just a few shots...

My sweet Husband! 

Chis. We were group partners in 5th grade and friends from then on. 

Gavin. The best friend I've ever had. 

Lacy. My beautiful cousin and long time friend. 

The Fellas. I'm so glad that they have become good friends.  

It was an absolutely beautiful wedding, fun reception, and turned out to be quite the reunion with some of my  hometown favorites! 

After a late night in south Georgia, Husband and I got up early to head home to help host a 50th Anniversary celebration for his parents. Our home church just so happens to be the same church where Meme and Grandpa were married, so we took the opportunity to have family pictures taken after church and before the official anniversary celebration began. 

Beautiful sisters!

Meme and Grandpa with all their children and grand children. 

Husband with his parents.

The shadowbox showcases their wedding photo as well as a bow from Meme's wedding gown, and Husband made the stained glass 50 to display. 

I'm so thankful for my parents for coming down to help take care of Smalls for the weekend and staying for the celebration. If you can't tell, she loves her Papa!

Grandpa's Florida family came up for the big day!

Husband and his beautiful girls!

Years from now, Smalls will see this photo and be upset that we didn't go to the nursery and get her before taking it. :) 

(Or will she? She was with Hank, her favorite person from church!!)

Cousins.

The girls with Meme and Aunt Shelley.

The whole gang!

It was a wonderful time of fellowship and celebration of 50 years of marriage. That is a huge accomplishment and we are so blessed to have such a wonderful example to follow. I look forward to the next 45 years with this guy!