Fall seems to take forever to arrive in Alabama, but it is slowly making itself known around here. When our friends were in town a few weeks ago, we took all of our girls to the local pumpkin patch on Saturday afternoon. It was hot, but that just meant we had the place to ourselves and boy did we enjoy it! First up was the corn maze. I'm pretty sure the "exit" that we used was just a path between rows of corn. These girls were leading us around in circles, so we made a mad dash for freedom when we spotted it. My girls both wanted to take a horse ride and their reactions couldn't be any different. Sophie was grinning ear to ear from the very beginning and waved to me as she rode off into the sunset. Ella, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck! She was very concerned about me ...
friends
Girls of Summer
I love to travel with my husband and there is nothing like introducing your children to your favorite places on earth - but, there is something to be said for weekend trips with your girlfriends where the only person you are responsible for is yourself (and your friend, but only if a man in a bandana tries to pick her up on a Harley). I had the immense pleasure of spending this past weekend in Gulf Shores with four of my favorite friends. There is no possible way to recap the entire weekend and I'm not sure I would want to if I could. We waited two plus hours both nights for dinner, we danced, we misplaced debit cards, we walked miles for an ice cream, got kicked out of the pool by a security guard, got pulled over and yelled at by a real cop, bought clothes, had a couple of near-death ...
Art Party
We went to a pretty amazing art-themed birthday party on Saturday morning and my girls LOVED it. The birthday girl was precious in her paint pallette t-shirt and everyone loved making so many fun crafts to carry home. What a great idea! ...
Homecoming Week
Friday night was our small town homecoming. Since we live across the street from the high-school where we graduated, the week of festivities provides with several nights of family events to attend and the girls love it. We enjoy hanging out with our high-school friends (especially those we don't see as often) and watching our girls soak up the traditions we loved as children. On Tuesday night, we watched the junior varsity team secure their first win of the season. This was the first game we've managed to catch since our SD started helping Cory coach and the girls loved it! Of course we had to give him a yell from the sidelines and they affectionately refer to him on these nights as "Coach Daddy", which I love. What is better than staying up late on a school night to enjoy school spirit ...
Round ‘Em Up
Ella's birthday party was a dream. It was an easy, relaxing party and she had the best time. Just like every year it was her "favorite birthday ever!" a chalkboard greeting Ella's invitation framed in a barnwood frame picnic table centerpiece with bandana & gingham fabrics crock full of corn chips & doritos Sophie's tiny cowboy boots for silverware watering hole labels for the water oil burning lamps for ambience hot dogs in the crockpot (thank you, Pinterest!) rotel cheese dip & tortillas a cupcake for the birthday girl bandana bouquet for the guests ella's first glimpse mom tying on her bandana I should mention that she told me ALL cowgirls showed their bellies! ella greeting her friends emma & lane kynnedi madeline ...
beachgirls
I cannot even begin to tell you how wonderful our weekend at the beach turned out to be. It was the first time since I've been married that I've taken a pleasure-trip without Josh and the first time since the girls were born that I've been to the beach without them. It was surreal, but boy did we have fun! We pulled out in Amanda's mini-van on Thursday night and made it to our condo in Gulf Shores around 11:30. One would think we would head straight to bed, but that was the first of many nights we barely missed the sun rise. There were eight girls in a three bedroom condo and we had a BLAST. there was lots of beach laying, poolside sitting and balcony people watching we saw sun and rain, waited hours for dinner and read lots of books we rented expensive lounge chairs, ate ...
Fiesta with Friends
On Saturday night, I got to help throw a Mexican-themed housewarming shower for my brother-in-law and his bride to be. They just bought a new house and have been renovating for the last several weeks. Somehow I managed NOT to take a picture of the happy couple, but I did get some great snaps of the yummy nacho bar we served. Ashley, Me, Caycie (my future sis-in-law) and Beth our scrum-dilly taco/nacho bar we served pulled chicken and seasoned beef with soft shells and corn chips we had Texas Caviar and fresh salsa homemade guacamole, cilantro mayo, taco sauces and pico de gallo although I failed to photograph them, we also had a s'mores station and a margarita bar set up outside, alongside fun games of corn hole and washers for the boys to play while Caycie opened presents! a few ...
Sprink-a-wah
That's how Sophie says sprinkler and it's darn near my favorite word these days. I might not have the summer off to spend with them, but we are getting plenty of water time in on the weekends. This was a fun Sunday afternoon spent playing outside with their besties, who just happen to live next door. ...