Long WONDERFUL Holiday Weekend

 

THIS was one of those weekends for the record books.

Friday off work.  Hair appointment.  A trip to the mall.  Picked up my boy early from school.

Played outside until the last possible minute to go meet friends for supper. 

S'mores with friends after supper.

Boy falling asleep on the way home.

And this was just Friday.

The rest of the weekend followed suit as such.

It was absolutely refreshing. Soul filling.  Much needed together time.

My tank is full.

Saturday we went to the Flea Market.

Sun kissed shoulders.

A good nap for my boy.

My man took an afternoon stroll on the lake.

Saturday night we had a double date with some friends of ours.

Glorious night out on the town, good food, great friends.

Easton stayed home with his teacher from his former school.

They had a marvalous time, so we heard. 

As did we. 

 

Sunday was church.

After a few missed Sundays, it was good to be back.

A quick trip home to pick up our cooler and boat, change into our swims and out on the lake.

Jon Boat.  Picnic.  Fishing. Sunshine.

Together.

Full, full heart.

A requested nap by my boy, lasting over 3 hours.

It was glorious.

Low key night at home.

Together.

 

Monday.  Memorial Day.

Early riser gets everyone moving early.

We made it to the pool by 10.

Swam and went down the slide till his heart was content to leave without melt down.

Chick Fil A Picnic at the Park.

Another fabulous requested nap by my boy.

I washed both vehicles and cleaned the garage.

Productivity at it's finest.

We ended Sunday with BBQ at Lance's parents, and mani/pedis on the front porch.

I am so thankful for this weekend with my boys.

It was so refreshing to just BE.

With them.  Happy.  No rush.  Fun times.

 

I hope you all had an enjoyable Memorial Day as well.

Thank you to all who have served and for those who are still serving!

Hats off to you!  

Lightning struck

Sunday morning, way before I wanted to wake up, we were jolted awake from thunder, that sounded to be right outside the door.  We laid in bed for a good hour, listening to the thunder, seeing the lightning, the room filling up with the eeriest green/yellow glow.  Such a sight for 5am.

 

It rained buckets for an hour or so and we were able to go back to sleep after it all passed. 

 

However, once we woke up and started working our way through the house to do this or that, we started noticing several things not working.  Lance went outside to find that our largest oak tree had been struck by lightning.  Throughout the course of the day we found the oven/range didn't work, the cable didn't work, the 2nd garage door didn't work and Easton's room {and the 3rd bedroom} had no power.  Lance was able to get Easton's room back on but sparks flew when he flipped the breaker outside.  Always a comforting sight. 

{3 different sides of the tree}

There was bark from this tree, all the way to the front of the driveway {that's a good 75-100 yards away}.  Strips of bark a few feet long and chunks of bark that just exploded off the tree were scattered all over the driveway and the yard.

 

It's such an strange feeling to think that something so powerful can do so much damage in one hit.  They say lightening doesn't strike the same place twice so we are assuming that the lightening hit the tree and sent the electrical current all the way through the lot and house. An electrician came to the house yesterday and said we could possible lose all the trees on our lot, especially those near this oak tree. Hopefully not, only time will tell. 

 

Yes, all this is a pain to have repaired and added expense that we don't really want to pay for, but thank God for His protection.  Thank God there was no fire.  Thank God it didn't knock the tree over, as you can see it already leans toward the garage & bonus room.  

 

These are all minor setbacks but we are so thankful for his protection.     

Easton's going to be...

A BIG BROTHER!

 

 

We are thrilled to welcome a little baby into our family!

Baby #2 is due to arrive December 3, 2013.

I was 11 weeks on Tuesday and had my routine check up that day as well.

We heard a strong heartrate at 150.

Easton's calling the baby a boy- Levi to be exact.

Only time will tell!

I'm looking forward to slowing down this summer and enjoying these last few months as the three of us. 

Life just really goes way too fast, but I want to savor this time.

 

 

 

New School:: Update

This post is a bit delayed.  Such is life. 

 

We moved Easton from the school he'd gone too since I returned to work from maternity leave in April.  When we moved to our new house, we knew we'd eventually move him to a school closer to home.  This was NOT a decision I was looking forward to.

 

Not because the new school would be bad, or less than, but just different.  I've taken Easton every day but maybe 5 days since he started.  I picked him up.  I went and nursed him on my lunch break.  We we both comfortable there.  We both had friends there.  Friends we would miss dearly. 

 

Lance is now the responsible party for the most part.  He takes him and picks him up most days.  He knows his friends.  He sees his teacher.  He hears the first words out of his mouth when he gets in the truck.  He gets the trinkets (mulch, rocks, random sticks) Easton puts in his back pack every day.  He's getting what I used to get.

 

Yes, my commute is a little more peaceful, and a lot more quiet.  But I miss that little face in the backseat.   I miss our funny conversations.  I miss his music selections.  I miss his funny stories about his friends in the afternoon.  It makes me sad knowing I don't get to participate in that part of his day anymore. 

 

I know this time is good for he and Lance.  They get donuts more mornings than I'd like to admit.  They stop at the gas station in the afternoons for a snack.  They get that time together that they didn't have for 3 years. 

 

But for now, it's what we do.  I leave the house at 6:45 to make it to work by 8 and return home by 5 most days.  Some days he's not even awake before I leave.  It's not ideal, but it's life.  We're adjusting to this new 'normal' and trying to make the best of it.  

 

I do believe it's making me more intentional with my time that I do have at home.  With dinner, packing lunches, bath & bed, it leaves little time for fun.  So we must make the most of it.  Lots of afternoons are spent outside before supper.  Lots of times after bath are spent in the Bonus Room playing.  He helps me a lot in the kitchen.  We bike ride.  It's not easy only getting 3 hours a day with him.  Especially when those are the most tired hours of his day.  It sometimes leaves for exhausting nights but it's a season.  This time won't last forever.

 

So, here's the first day/week at his new school {in phone pictures---sorry for the blurry ones, I was trying to blur the kiddos and the school t's}. 

 

To say I was PROUD of how he marched right in on day 1 is an understatement.  We took him in, put up his lunch box, back pack and nap mat.  The children were already up front in the common area about to start their morning devotion and we were going to encourage him to sit with them and we'd head on out.  He wanted to 'tell you bye at the door' first.  He hugged us and turned right around, never missing a beat, never once acting unsure.  We had nothing but good reports all day at how well he was adjusting and how his new friends loved him.

 

 

And nap time was a welcome relief for him. They are on the go all the time at the new school. Changing rooms, doing different activities in different locations, even walking to the local libraray. I really like that about this school! 

This was our Friday picture!  We made it through the first week!



It's been about 6 weeks now since he started.  He's doing so good.  He's had a few rough days where he didn't want to stay but he jumped right in after drop off.  He really is a trooper.  There's definitely a transition happening though.  And maybe it's just being 3.  But we're struggling with listening, some back talking and a little bit of 'tude.  I don't know if it's new friends or if it's just new everything or just adjustment but it's taking extra patience on all of our parts.  But we'll make it.  He's a good boy and we're so thankful at how wonderful he has done with this!  Kids really are far more flexible than we think they will be. 

 

Give them the confidence and the encouragement they need and they will soar!

 

 

Head on over to Bridget's blog and check out her mother's day: part i.  If you don't read Bridgets blog, you should.  She's one of my FAVORITES! She's real.  She's hilarious!  She's a wealth of knowledge about all things natural.  She's a wonderful mother- to a few kids that became her own after their mother passed away and she married their father, her professor, (love story here- it's amazing, inspiring, tear inducing) and one really cute little fella that she birthed. She's a wonderful writer, style that's amazing.  Just an all around great gal!   Head on over and check her out!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

The Strawberry Patch Spring Barn Sale Recap!

This one was another one for the record books.  Each time we go to the Barn Sale, I don't think it can get much better, but each one gets better and better! 
Feast your eyes upon this beautiful event!

 

 

Oh hey! My Rulers!!! 

 

 

{source for above photos}

Christy Stone, of The Strawberry Patch, puts on the sale in the Spring and Fall on her family farm.  It is held in a huge hay barn with vendors inside and outside.  The Chocolate Covered Strawberry always brings their YUMMY lunches along with a few other food vendors that I didn't get to try.  Everything about the 3 days at the Barn Sale is wonderful! 

Thursday night is by far my favorite night.  Live music, wine and food, a spectacular view of the sunset, a cozyily lit barn once the sun goes down, it's really just about perfect.

Thankfully, my Rulers & all but one pallet sold out on Thursday night! I'll definitely make more next time!

Here's our booth this year.  The Rulers, Pallets, Burp Cloths and Dresses are mine.  Everything else is Plain Penny's. 

Thanks to all of our friends and family who came out to support us!

Thanks also to Christy who puts on this fabulous event!

Thank you to everyone who drove near & far to shop this event & buy handmade!

Hats off to you all!

 

See you in the Fall at Starlite Farm!

 

 

 

Duck Dynasty at Lipscombs Evening of Excellence

Well.  Hey there.  It's been a while.  We've been busy.  So busy.  Getting into our new norm with new school, new commute, new house, new routines.  Change is hard for me, so it's taking me some time to get in the groove.  But, I think I'm on the right track.  Oh.  And Barn Sale.  Every free moment has been in prep for that.  Update on that later too.  Well worth the work.  For sure!   

We had a fun weekend!  I'll play catch up later.  For now, lets talk about Duck Dynasty shall we?! We were so graciously gifted TWO Dinner Tickets, TWO reserved seats and a Parking Pass to Lipscomb's Evening of Excellence, with guests speakers, none other than Phil, Kay & Si Robertson! Not to mention Don Meyer, who won the Jimmy V award at the Espy's a few years ago.  If you ever get a chance to hear Don Meyer speak...GO!  He's an amazing speaker!   

Back to Duck Dynasty.  Hold the phone!  I know!  GIFTED!  I about fell out too!  Three events SOLD OUT.  This was a much anticipated event! 

My mom works at Purity Dairies, has for years.  Mr. Ezell was given 20 tickets to Saturday night's shin-dig and she put a little birdie in his ear that if he had any extra, Lance and I would LOVE to go.  And God bless that man, don't you know he came through.  Kindest soul ever.

A little history.  Mom grew up at Purity.  I grew up there with her.  She's worked there since she was 20 or so.  I used to go to work with her on Saturdays and I'd clean out my room the night before and I'd have a 'yard sale' in the office and all the nice folks would buy my junk.  So, most of these folks are like family.  To her for sure, but to me as well. 

So anyways, her asking Mr. Ezel wasn't out of line- she was just letting him know if he'd had extra who might want them.  In her words, they're like GOLD!

After 3 days at the Barn Sale and a babysitter for Easton (thanks Aunt Kathy!), we were off to the show!

To say I was excited would be an understatement.  Lance was keeping his cool pretty well, but I think we were both pretty jazzed for this opportunity.

We had a wonderful dinner, with wonderful dinner guests at our table.  I felt honored to sit by Mr. and Mrs. Ezell along with other members of their family.  We ate dinner and had a brief Q&A with Phil, Mrs. Kay & Si. 

I think my favorite question of that event was to Mrs. Kay.  Someone asked what she thought was the most beneficial thing she'd done for her kids was?  They let Alan answer the question first.  Alan is the OLDEST Robertson brother, who will be on the show next season.  He's a preacher.  And has no beard.  He says he's the rebel of the family.  Alan's answer was that she was the tender one.  She was there to offer compassion and comfort to them at any moment.  Then Mrs. Kay answered.  She said the first thing was to be consistent, and the second was that she loved and respected their father even when he was unlovable.  What an impact that one statement had on me.  It's obvious that she's the heart of the family but that radiates out to all of her family members, starting with her husband. 
Phil wasn't always the Phil Robertson we see on TV.  He had a rough start in their marriage but the Lord changed his heart. 

I read an article in our local newspaper about the Robertsons and thought this last portion was worth quoting: "Christianity doesn’t become the spectacle of the show, it simply becomes an element of authenticity. And that would certainly appeal to anyone who is a Christian."

What an example.  Christianity without spectacle.  I like that.  A lot. 

After dinner, we heard Don Meyer speak.  I'll say it again.  Incredible speaker.  Read his story sometime.  Pretty fabulous.  Then another Q&A with Phil, Mrs. Kay & Si along with a visit from the Tennessee Game Warden, who presented Phil with a plaque and even some Tennessee Titans came on for some duck calling practice.  The night ended with Phil preaching.  And, no.  He didn't offend me.  It was straight out of the Bible.  Truth is Truth.  He had some pretty powerful things to say.  And he's right.  On all of them.    And yes.  I took notes.  On the whole event.  They're in my purse.  And I'm too tired to get up.  But these are the high points.  The stuff that stuck. 

 

An incredible night.  I love the Robertsons even more now than I did.  They are real.  They are genuine.  They love the Lord.  They are good people.  They live in the country.  What's not to love??I'm so thankful that we were given those tickets.  Kudos, high fives and toe touches to Mr. & Mrs. Ezell for the tickets!  Much appreciated!  MUCH!!!

Do you watch Duck Dynasty?  Do you love them as much as we do?  How was your weekend?  Did you do anything fun?

Egg Hunting

This year we decided to take Easton to a HUGE Community Easter Egg Hunt.

They had 2 hunts.  We went to the early one.

It's a free event that a church puts on at a local park.

They had inflatables, pony rides, face painting, train rides, a small petting zoo.

It really was perfect!

Minus the rain we'd had all week, things were a bit soggy.

 

Easton loved the inflatables!

Aren't y'all proud?  I let him play in the germs balls!

This hunt was no joke.  It wasn't much of a hunt, as you can see behind Easton, the eggs were just laid on the football field, but it was FUN!

 

And quick!  I think once the hunt started it last a minute.  60 seconds.  At most.

Easton wasn't too sure about the chick, but he liked the duck.

 

Followed by a fun lunch with cousins and a big ole Saturday nap, the Hunt was a BIG HIT!