Sunday, August 25, 2013

Summer

Technically, summer is not over.  But in reality, when school starts back, summer is O-V-E-R.  The more time I have off, the more I realize I wish to be independently wealthy.  What would you do if you didn't work?  I know you're dying to know...  My plan is as follows: live part of the year here in the foothills of the mountains, and the other half on a beach.  I'd give a portion of my money to help the poor.  Really, I would.  I'd probably homeschool my child (AHHHHHHH!  Words I thought I'd never speak, but right now I've lost all faith in public education) and we'd be really tan and happy.  That is what I want to do.  I continue to purchase lottery tickets, but to no avail.  Oh well.  I suppose I will continue to toil and mother and support and cook and clean and...do I need to go on?

Summer was really a lot of fun, thus the above paragraph.  I do desire to be home and have fun a lot of the time, and that desire gets stronger when I realize that NEXT FALL my baby, my wild child, my little person extraordinaire, will be in kindergarten.  EEEEEK!  We lived it up this summer, and next summer, we'll do so even more.  Here is our summer in review:

I finally got Lucy's 4 year pictures taken (only 6 months late-mother of the year right here).  Brittany Arnold (Southern Roots Photography), you rock!  Lu looks so grown up!  Our house is plastered with your pictures now.  IF we ever were to have a second child (PLEASE GOD NO!), I fear we'd be taking it to therapy.  I'm running out of wall space.  That kid wouldn't have a picture anywhere.

My mom retired this summer.  She SOOOOOOOOO deserved it.  That woman worked harder than any other human I know.  She went back to school when I was a kid, working full time at the same time, and still managed to be an amazing mom and role model to me.  Towards the end of her career as a working woman, she was working 60-70 hours per week (and weekends).  She hadn't had a vacation in years-she would come with us and keep her laptop on and work the whole time.  She was F R I E D.
  

Retirement has been busy.  She's helped my dad move my grandma to Knoxville, spruced up and cleaned up my grandma's house, tried to sell said house, and is now in the process of completing 825 projects at her own house.  She and dad are finding their "retirement groove" and I'm so happy for them.  It has been awesome to have both of them around all summer to play with!

Lucy took swimming lessons this summer.  What a huge waste of money!  This kid who is so outgoing and personable and crazy does NOT like the water.  She'll get in, but get her face wet?  NO WAY.  And get the ears wet too?  UM, NO THANK YOU.  We bought goggles.  We bought ear plugs.  We tried bribery.  We tried, "YOU WILL NEVER GO TO POOL PARTIES WITH YOUR FRIENDS!" Nothing worked.  Maybe next year. 


We went to the beach.  It is something like our 28th year going to Destin, FL.  It kind of makes me sad how many people have discovered our secret from so many years ago.  But we keep going back.  It's our sandy home.  Every year Lucy has more fun than the year before.  She always cries when we leave.  I feel ya little girl.  I get it.  (See why we need to be independently wealthy?!?  WHY make this little girl so sad every summer when we have to leave after such a short time?!?)  We got to see a shark this year too.  We've NEVER seen one in all our years going.  Thank the LORD Lucy was sleeping when "Fred" decided to swim up to shore and stay for a few hours.  She'll never know! 




We also discovered that Lucy has awfully sweet blood.  Just ask the mosquitoes.  We let her stay up late one night to catch fireflies in a jar.  It was great fun.  She was totally intrigued by their "glowing butts."  However in that FIVE minutes she was outside, she got eaten alive by the bugs.  She says it was worth it.  

We finished our summer with Bryan's parents visiting.  We took Lu to the "Circle G Ranch."  Let's just say it wasn't my favorite place to go, but you do certain things for your children.  IF you aren't from around here, let me explain this place.  It is a family run ranch with over 800 animals.  There is a 3 mile loop you drive around with your windows down.  During this time, many of the 800 animals come RUNNING at your car and STICK THEIR HEAD IN wanting food.  You take some hard, animal type food and toss it to said animals.  Or if you are me, you scream and roll your window up before the animals get to you.  Lucy loved it.  There were also camels.  The pediatrician once told me to keep Lucy away from camels.  They apparently have crazy amounts of bacteria in their mouths.  However, I somehow was talked into letting her RIDE on a camel at the ranch.  It all just happened so fast!  But I realized that as she was riding around ON the camel, it couldn't actually get to her with its mouth.  Phew!


That is our summer in a nutshell.  I hope yours was full of sand, sun, and happiness too!

 

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Mothers and Fathers

Mother's Day and Father's Day take on more meaning when you become a parent.  You finally "get it."  You finally understand how much your own parents love you and give up for you when you have a child of your own. If you don't have kids, you just can't get it.  Pre-Lucy, Bryan and I both ABSOLUTELY knew our parents loved, adored, and sacrificed for us.  Post-Lucy, you realize that your parents are actually superheroes who deserve numerous awards and accolades for surviving your childhood and not becoming raging alcoholics.  Job well done parents!





Monday, April 1, 2013

TBP

When did you go to your first concert?  For Lucy, it was when she was 3.  Then her second was yesterday, when she was 4.  I've said it before, but it's really impressive.  The thing is, she's quite musical.  She can't be still when she hears music.  In fact, the first time Bryan ever felt her move was when we were singing in church.  She has always loved music apparently.

Her favorite band is "The Band Perry."  They are country rockers from the same small town my dad grew up in-Greeneville, TN.  My grandma still lives there.  The band is made up of 3 siblings-Reid, Neil and Kimberly.  Lucy is obsessed.  She often pretends to be Kimberly, and knows every word to every song they sing.  I think I once posted a movie of her singing one of their songs.

When we heard the band was going to be in their hometown for their new CD release, we had to go.  They were giving a FREE concert on main street!  Granted, the night before we were driving home from Florida, but we HAD to go.




This concert was literally, the biggest thing that ever happened to Greeneville.  There have NEVER been that many people in the town at once.  It was crowded.  Of course, my genius mother made friends with the local sheriff.  We had a GREAT spot.  She's got mad skills.  It shouldn't impress me like it does-after all, she's done it my whole life, but she is so good!


After waiting for 3 hours (yes, 3) for the concert to start, we were treated with an incredible show!  The band really is entertaining.  Lucy spend most of the concert on her daddy's shoulders.  She was singing along and couldn't stop smiling.  Priceless.






                                Thank you Band Perry for a great end to our spring break fun!

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Spring Break 2013

It wasn't Panama City Beach.  

It wasn't really even hot.  

It was a good time though.  


There was much laughter with old friends.  There were new friendships made between precious little souls.  



My heart was happy and sad all at the same time when I visited SCE and saw little snippets from my past.  

There were margaritas in my hand and toes in the sand.  There was shrimp.  Lots of good shrimp.




There were new introductions to sweet precious baby boys.



There were running feet and fishing poles, scooters and tea parties.













My heart smiled when we walked across Samford's campus where so many happy memories were made.  It was also where this family, my sweet little family started.  


Here's to you Spring Break!  

You came and went so fast, but we enjoyed every second.  

 



 

The BIG 0-4

Four.  

She's really four.  

I've already forgotten so many moments.  It's too hard to write everything down.

Lucy, at four you are:  hilarious, not a picky eater, a decent sleeper, in the 75% for height and the 25% for weight, you are so intelligent, loving, feisty, have bruised shins all the time, and have never met a stranger.  You love the t.v. shows "Doc McStuffins" and "Sophia the First," The Band Perry, and singing.  You love books, especially "Llama Llama books and Fancy Nancy too.  You keep your teachers laughing each day, and want to watch the movie, "Ramona and Beezus" at least once a week.  Each day I notice that you grow up a little more.  It makes me sad, but excites me too.  I can't wait to see what you will grow up to be (right now when asked you say either a surgeon, teacher, or waitress!)

For your 4th birthday, we got you tickets to the circus.  You also got too many presents from all the people who love you.  For your birthday dinner, we went to Don Gallo-your favorite Mexican restaurant.  You wanted to wear the sombrero and have the "cookers" sing to you.  It was GREAT!

You are spoiled.  

Appreciate it.  

Enjoy it.  

You are lucky. 

























I wish I could bottle you up.

You are the light of my life. 

Happy 4th big girl!