The weekend that made me love GRAND holidays....

What day is it?
Honestly - I have been confused all weekend what day it is.  Sunday, I was totally convinced it was Saturday - so Monday, I was of course thinking it was Sunday. Now? I totally have no clue that day it is. I feel like time has gone & done a topsy turvy thing on me.

Did you all enjoy your Memorial weekend?

I cant even begin to wrap up my 3 days.  It was full of busy, fun, family, a full house & lots of love.

I had a photo session on Saturday right before our Nashville gang came up & that was just a great way to start off the weekend.  This young lady, I've known her since a tiny tot in church.  She was in my youth class & I even got to baptize her long long ago... & now, she's working in surgeries as a nurse, getting ready to marry herself a fireman... a real adult. I told her that I don't care how 'adult' she is, she'll always be one of my kids.  All of my youth kids are like that.

I can't wait to get her pictures edited & to share. She's just a stunning girl - inside & out.

But I warned her that the editing would be a little bit because my weekend was going to be full of 3 little boys that get all my attention.

Yep... we had a great weekend with the boys.  I hate that Ricky didn't get to enjoy it all.  He's got a hernia that is BADDDDD.  Like, its going to need surgery bad.  Like, its sticking out & if he coughs or even laughs, its like he's got an alien sticking out.

The hard thing, he had to remind little boys that love to jump on him & tackle him & hug & love on him, that they had to be careful with him.  I know that bothered Ricky a little bit.  He tried as much as he could to do what he could with them though.

So I'm just going to sum up parts of the weekend because it was wonderfully crazy.

... Luke wore a camo shirt & jeans with holes just for his Pappy. It's not like they don't look enough alike anyways.
... Ticks.  Ticks seemed to be part of our weekend. Someone was constantly picking ticks off of them.
... Will (Grand #3)  basically couldnt keep his hands off of Harvey. LOVED him.  & he wouldn't call him by his name. He just called him "Pappy's Doggie"... & Bruno was "Nanny's Doggie"... & Zoe?  She runs when the kiddos are here so he probably forgot all about her :)

... Harvey was so good with Will.  It was so cute to see.
... I love how much the boys love their Pappy.
... Ricky had to go to the Immediate Care Center on Saturday so I got to hang with the gang to go visit the local orchard & little kid zone.  It really was a great day of hanging out. I know Ricky would have loved to have been there with them.

... Julie & Steve introduced me to Sangria & brie cheese. OH WOW.  Delicious

... my parents had a cook out for us all.  The boys love going over to their house with all the land to run on & all the cowboy fun stuff & they even got to get up close & personal with the horse this time. I think there are cowboys in the making now.

... move nights are a fun way to close out a day.
... Julie brought some fresh pasta from Nashville. One of them was a mushroom sort of pasta?  I'm not on the hunt to see if they mail that stuff & if not, if we can find some around town. It was AMAZING!
... The weekend was sponsored by chocolate for the grands (& Bean Street cafe for the grown ups)  I told Ricky that as a kid, you know going to a grandparents house is all about fun & sweet treats. We can't disappoint, right?

Chocolate on his face no less then 15 minutes after he woke up
... but to be fair, Julie said he has chocolate on his face about 90% of his life

... There really is nothing cuter then going over colors & animal sounds & fun songs like The Wheels on the Bus with a little 2 year old.
... My heart really can't handle how big the boys are all getting.  Seriously - where is time going?

Refueling after a coffee stop

There's so much I could comment & write about the weekend... it really is non stop with the fun things the kids say & the memories that they give us when we get to see them.

I'll just wrap it up by saying they are a blessing.  To get to know them as they grow up.  To get to see the magic of life in their eyes.  To get to love them & to hug them & to have them love us in return.

Life just doesn't get any better than that.

Friday favorites

Favorite Tank

Favorite Beauty & the Beast

How adorable would these be for a Bride to wear at her wedding?


Favorite Words




Favorite Tattoo




Favorite Graduation Idea



Isn't this a cool idea for a graduate heading to college.
Live off those vending machines for awhile if you have to :)


Favorite Book Item

Favorite Clever Idea


Perfect for kids who always want a drink of water
or to keep as a reminder to drink more water myself!

Favorite Funnies

.... when Ricky & I argue about something & I find out I'm right

... how my house basically looks every week by Friday

... when I'm feeling the pressure to get pictured edited quickly

... when I get aggravated at life & take it out on Ricky

.... me at work every day

... me at 4:00 for a long holiday weekend!!!!!

Happy Friday Y'all!!!!!

Cheap polish, a baby Superman & I'm officially 'old' .... {Thankful Thursday 73}

This week I am Thankful For:

(The number go with my One Thousand Gifts Journal... in other words, ignore them)

439 / Meter filled up.  I still meet The Hubs every Wednesday for lunch so its an adventure downtown where meter parking is a usual thing. I was so happy to get out of my car & pull out my change purse when I saw the meter was full for the amount of time I needed for lunch!  Fun surprise!  (I actually put in some more change when I left for the next person too)

I need to make one of these for a parking meter :)

441 / Making it through with the dizzies.  This vertigo has been challenging lately. It's hard enough some days to get through doing ordinary stuff, like moving my head up & down from a computer to looking at a paper on my desk.  So working out has been even more challenging when you do up & down motions like burpees or laying on your back for chest flies.  But I'm making it through.

442 / Cheap finger nail polish.  I can't help it, every time I have to run into Walgreens, I have to buy some of the Sinful Color nail polish. I mean, for $1.99 how do you not try out something new & fun? I've bought a few that the color is horrible, but I dont feel like I'm loosing anything for that price. Heck, my Starbucks drinks are more than double that.  I've also found some GREAT colors that I love. & honestly, with a good top coat, this cheap polish lasts as long as some of my more expensive ones.

443 / 100 Calorie Pistachio snacks.  I love a good 100 calorie snack & especially when nuts are involved.  I think it makes it seem like there's more there than there really is because of all the time to crack shells.  But I love having these handy for a snack if I need one.

444 / Made it to gas station! I was nervous driving home Friday when I got stuck in traffic & about 10 miles earlier, my gas light had come on. I'm pretty good at watching my gas but this one just snuck up on me & of course, I get stuck in traffic that doesn't move... while its storming!  I was panicked that I was going to just break down right in the middle of all these cars.  But I made it. Whew! I'll not let my tank get under 1/4 tank again.  My heart can't handle it.

447 / Photo Session reschedule.  I had 2 photo sessions planned for Saturday & it would have stressed me to the max.  & then it rained all Saturday morning. Luckily, my first session told me she could reschedule for Sunday. It made my day so much easier & the weather worked out even better for her on Sunday.  I love flexible people.

449 / The Count of Monte Crisco.  I watched it twice Saturday.  I forgot how much I love this movie.  It's so good - watch it if you never have seen it.  I need to read the book & see how that goes since books are usually better than the movie.  Ricky asked me who was in it - I told him, Jesus & Superman. It's true.  That's the dude that played Jesus in The Passion & that young kiddo in the back?  That's Henry Cavill, the latest Superman, when he's basically a baby.

450 / 50th Anniversary / It was such a wonderful event that I got to capture.  The cutest thing - I asked both the Bride & Groom individually what their favorite memory of their wedding was.  Do you know they BOTH told me it was a memory about their honeymoon.  One was about the traveling to it & the other was laughing because he said they were both so sunburned, they couldn't even touch each other. How funny is that!  ... but I loved that their favorite memory of their wedding day wasn't actually anything to do with the wedding - it was about the 2 of them starting life together.  That's what the focus should be on. People get so wrapped up in the actual wedding.  Take note brides - who cares if it rains or your hair is a mess or the flowers aren't like you wanted.  Its about being a husband & wife.

451 / Kids with a heart for God.  Sunday was the last day for the 8th graders to be in the middle school ministry program, so they led the service.  A few of them got up & gave a thought & some scripture.  It was so inspiring.  Truly.  I love seeing the next generation with a heart for God & not afraid to proclaim it loudly!

453 / Phone call from Grand #1.  Isaac is apparently already at the age where he digs phones & making phones calls & chatting.  The funniest part of him was trying to explain to me that he was calling from their home phone.  & then went on to explain that it was still wireless but it was connected to his home.  Kids today live in a world where it is totally normal & expected to have phones with you wherever you go.  I really am grandmother status.

455 / Massive Edit session. Sunday night, I was on FIY-AH!   I got 85 pictures edited in just 2 hours time.  I love when editing goes fast.

456 / Beauty & the Beast Mania!!!!! / So yes, the trailer of the movie came out Monday (I'M DYYYYYIIINNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG) - but what I loved more than anything is all the people who sent it to me, or messaged me or emailed me or got in contact with me somehow someway to let me know it was out.  People that know my obsession love of the story - y'all get me.  It makes me so happy when people see anything Beauty & the Beast & think of me immediately. #IAmBelle

457 / Our Grand #2 has graduated from kindergarten.  Yahoo!  Onto Elementary school for him!  Someone just said earlier this week that little caps & gowns are the cutest thing - I wholeheartedly agree

460 / Target $5 tee sale.  With none of my clothes fitting me anymore, I am in DESPERATE need for tees.  I went online & ordered a few to get some things I can wear for the summer without looking like I'm wearing a tent.  It's so nice to go online too so you don't have to deal with the hassle of hunting for your size & all the folding & unfolding.  Click & at my door step in 2 days.

So what good things have been happening in your life this week?

What's Up Wednesday

What We're Eating This Week



We tried the veggie Pizza from Papa Murphy's for the first time.
mmm... wasn't too impressed.
It just had too much cheese & we got the original crust & it was so doughy.
Maybe if we tried the thin crust & asked for half the cheese?
But Ricky is the type of person, he doesn't like something once from a place, its off the list for a LONNNGGGGGG time to try again.
Bye Papa Murphy's

What I'm Reminiscing About



Running.  I miss it.
I never thought I'd miss it like I do - but I really do.
I dont have the time to get in my Hammer & Chisel workouts AND a run.
Who has the time for 2 - 45 minute work outs in a day?
I wish I had that kind of life & time.
I guess I miss the training of the half marathon
 - the time dedicated to both running & strength training.
I'll be back to it though.
I know its good to give my knee some time to rest while building up muscles.

What I'm Loving


More Daylight Hours!!!
I honestly swear I am like Supergirl - I NEED SUNSHINE to charge up
... I was reminded of that when we went through a week of rain & dreary & gloomy grey skies overtook the area.  I felt like I couldn't function.
But loving it stays light outside until well past 8 &
I can see my hand in front of my face when I leave for work.

What We've Been Up To



Yep - took this straight out of Groundhog Day because we're doing the same ole same ole
... sleep, work, home, sleep, work, home...

What I'm Dreading
I know I need to get back to the dentist.
I'm still having so many issues that it brings tears to my eyes at least once a day.
For the pain & also  for the idea of what its going to cost & what could lie ahead.
It's all pretty much one anxiety attack wrapped up in my mouth.



I just keep trying to delay as long as possible since my insurance is tapped out & everything will have to be totally out of pocket.  I'm like, we're half way through the year - I've already dealt with this pain from November - so I'm  half way there, right?
... sigh...
I hate dental issues.

What I'm Working On



I'm going to try a new project for June.
Carry my good DSLR camera with me - every day of the month & capture one picture a day.
I know a lot of people do the 365 thing, but I need to start slow - so I'm going to try one month & do a post a week with the pictures I do - maybe on certain day? - a week of pictures - 7 pictures.

I want to get inspired by my camera again.
I'm looking forward to this little personal project.
... now to come up with a name for it...

What I'm Excited About

I can't tell you how many times I've watched this
& get EXCITED - like GIDDY EXCITED - every time!!!!!
The music alone gets me.

What I'm Watching/Reading



This is my first time reading Sophie Kinsella but I keep hearing about her & found a load of her books on my library's sites so I'm jumping in & giving it a try.

What I'm Listening To



I'm always on the hunt for new podcasts & I have stumbled across this one lately.
This is the a podcast that looks at documentaries & goes behind the scenes of the stories - like how its made, or the people who made it or why they made it.
I am such a documentary fan so I'm all about this.

What I'm Wearing


My latest Gwynnie Bee Dresses for the month.
Warm weather makes me just want to live in easy breezy dresses with sandals.

What I'm Doing This Weekend

A long weekend - YAHHOOO!!!!
Poor Ricky has to work on Saturday... & I have an engagement session
but after we get through that, we can enjoy family.
Our Nashville gang is heading up for the weekend.

What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month

The Color Run!!!
I always hate getting messy, but its actually really fun when friends do it with you & I have a buddy that is going to do her first 5k with this race. I am so looking forward to just having a good time with her.  We're not out for anything but that.... & to come away looking colorful.

What Else is New

I totally can't wait for these 2 movies to come out in the next 2 weeks

& I really can't believe we haven't seen Captain America yet.
We've been too busy.  I've got to schedule in a day where we just live at the movie theater.