Stories and horses

Sara watching the storyteller



Yesterday our local library held storytime.

 I was so tickled because it was at the library in my hometown....

the library I went to every Saturday with my mom for years and years.

 Back in the day, Mr. Bryant was the librarian.

Now, the woman who used to drive the Bookmobile that came to our school

 (holla if anyone knows what a Bookmobile is!)

 is the librarian there, and my very own teacher/principal works there, as well!

Sara couldn't hardly register that her mommy went there when she was her age,

and that Mrs. Margaret taught me!

Margaret's daughter & I graduated high school together almost 9 years ago.

 (NINE?! Where did the time go?!)

 I am SO thrilled to be able to pass these roots on to my children.

It was one of the best story-times we've ever been to.

(And we've been to a LOT of them!)

He had the most awesome balloon animals I've ever seen.

He held the childrens attention for an HOUR...

we all know that's an accomplishment!

Later on, we went back because a sweet local farmer had brought his horse

(who was HUGE! bigger than a Clydesdale!)

and authentic 1860's buggy to take the children on rides.

Sara petting Jake

Well, let me just tell ya.

Sitting in a narrow one-horse covered wagon really put things in perspective.

Never again will I complain about my Fusion being cramped with 2+ kids & a dog.

I thought about how those people on the Oregon Trail must have felt

(were any of ya'll addicted in middle school to that computer game??)

Packing up all of their belongings to travel for months & months

in that TINY little wagon.

They said a trip from my town to the next town over would take TEN HOURS...

it usually takes me 20 minutes, and sometimes I complain about THAT!

Right beside our library is the dam and the Tallapoosa River.

Maybe one day I will share pictures of the dam & the old cotton mills

that sit down below it.

It's GORGEOUS. It definitely deserves a whole post of it's own.

One mill (crumbling now) was built in the 1800's and served during the Civil War.

Such a great piece of history for our little town!

I hope ya'll have a wonderful Thursday.

I am off to drive Mrs. Ruth to see her husband today

and then the girls & I are meeting sweet Aubrey & her mama for a playdate.

See ya'll tomorrow!

Catch and release, glasses, and oxygen

Hey ya'll! That's a random title I know, but this is a random, catch-up post!

We have been having a lot of fun the past few days. Last weekend we went fishing twice.

The first time, we got there, caught the first fish (a FIVE POUNDER! I was so excited!) and I asked....

"Where's the cooler?"

To which I was told that we didn't have a cooler 'cause it would be fun to do a little catch  release.

Say whaaaaat? I think it's clearly obvious I'm not a fan of this catch and release thing.

I mean, if I catch something....

I WANNA EAT IT!

So then we went back the next night WITH a cooler....

and lo & behold we did not catch a single fish.

The next few pictures are from the second fishing trip...it was so hard to choose just a few because I thought they were all sooo pretty. There was a storm coming in and the clouds were gorgeous!

Sara & her daddy fishing

Baylee & Brett -- newly engaged & expecting their first baby together in December!

Monday Junebug had appointments all day long.

She had PT & OT in the morning, an eye exam just before lunch & then a hearing test right after lunch. She was EXHAUSTED by the time we finished (and so was I!) but praise the Lord -- everything turned out just fine! We are so thankful for all God's blessings on us in this experience with her. She will probably need glasses in a year or so, but we can handle glasses!

Yesterday I worked in the morning & then we relaxed the rest of the day. We were all recovering from the craaazy weekend, I think! Today we've been out & about again....but that's a post for tomorrow because if I posted it today, it would be way too long for one post. But no worries -- it's already scheduled out for tomorrow. ;) Before I go, I have a quick prayer request. The one NICU family we bonded with the most, their little baby Jacob (2 weeks younger than June) has been almost THREE DAYS without an oxygen supplement! His parents are thrilled to death and they are considering taking him off oxygen permanently if he can keeps his sats up while not wearing the mask. Please say a prayer that he will continue to do excellently. It sure is a wonderful thing to see your baby with no lines on his or her face...such a beautiful experience!

What I'm Playing Thursday

Hey ya'll....hope you 're having a wonderful Thursday! Thank God tomorrow is Friday, & then it is THE WEEKEND! I don't know why I get excited....it's not like I work out of the home right now or anything. No big plans for me for the weekend...the girls & I might go fishing Saturday, and Sunday is church. And NAPS! I love that about Sundays.

Anyway, on to the reason for this post. Go on over to We're Just Like You Only Prettier and link up to What I'm Playing Thursday! I've found great songs over there the past few weeks!

#1: "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" by Miranda Lambert

 I can NOT get enough of this song the past few days. 

"Somebody tell that girl to step up to the plate I'm gonna pitch...."

Lordamercy!

#2: "It's A Shore Thing" by Luke Bryan

#3: "GRITS" by Brantley Gilbert

That's all I have this week, ya'll...I'm stuck on those three songs! 

Cameras

My beloved Canon point & shoot has bit the dust (thank you sand at the beach!) and it's going to cost almost as much to fix it as to replace it. UGH. So I'm in the market for a new camera -- I'd like it  to be either a top-of-the-line point & shoot or a DSLR. But the problem is -- I know nothing about them!

Here's where you lovelies come in! Any recommendations, any types of cameras, any advice....I want to hear the good AND the bad!

(I'll be back soon with LOTS of updates....I have to get the pictures off my cell phone first, but I have an AMAZING master bedroom redo to show you!)

May Favorites

I don't think I've ever done a monthly favorites post, but I enjoy reading them so much & thought I just might share with ya'll what I've been loving this past month! I haven't really gotten anything new but I do have some old favorites. Here you go!

1. Clinique High Impact Mascara

Ummmm...this stuff is AMAZEBALLS. I have never really tried any Clinique make-up before (well, I think I had one eyeshadow compact a few years ago) but this stuff is seriously so wonderful! I got a little trial size tube and when I run out, I will definitely be buying the full-sized version. This may sound weird, but I use three different mascaras each time I apply it. I know it sounds crazy and like I probably have mascara over-kill, but it works for me!



2. John Frieda's Root Awakening hair serum

I actually switch out & use this line of shampoo/conditioner/hair serum with another line (that I'm actually going to post about below) and I have to say....I LOVE this stuff. It makes my hair feel just as good as Biosilk did, and it's literally half the price. Can't beat it for $5!

3. Organix Moroccan Argan Oil shampoo & conditioner

This stuff? Amaaaazing! At about $7 a bottle, it's a little pricey for me -- but totally worth it! I have never had my hair feel so......clean, for lack of a better term.

4. Foundation brush by ELF

I think it's actually called the powder brush, but I use this for my foundation and I LOVE it! To me, it's way better than their actual stipple brush. And for $3....yes, please!

5. POOL!

I don't have a picture of this (although I should, for as much time as we spend out there!) but the girls little pool has been a lifesaver this summer. It's SO HOT here (over 100 already on the average day) and it's just so nice to sit in there and play with them. It's about the only time we can stand to be outdoors!