What is it about water?

Chris and I sat in the shade watching Lily and her friend Caroline play in the sprinkler the other day and he asked me the question, "What is it about water?"

I don't know what it is about water actually.  Baths and showers and doing dishes all involve water and are all tasks that aren't particularly enjoyed.  But for some reason, spraying freezing cold water from a hose across the back yard in summer turns ordinary water into magic!

Squeels, laughter, and pure delight fill the back yard!

Chris and I sip sweet tea in the shade and smile because our girl is happy, care free, and soaking wet!

Our girly girl.  Miss Priss.

 I don't know what it is about water... but it sure makes summer even more fun than it already is!

Silly Lily...

The back yard has become our favorite space this year!  We have certainly put it to good use!  Most recently it's been the site of some serious softball practice and play...

And the rite of passage that is....

A girl's very first very serious silly string show down! 

 I don't know who won...

 ...but it's safe to say the yard lost!

It was A LOT of fun!

Gone Fishin'

One recent afternoon a cloud appeared in the distance and quickly blew in some cooler air!  After record breaking heat and consistent upper 90s for 3 weeks with no rain, it was a welcome break!  After dinner, Chris walked outside to the patio and quickly returned to the house and declared that Lily and I needed to put our shoes on!  It was TOO nice out not to enjoy it, so we loaded up in the car and headed to the greenway!

 We brought our fishing pole and headed right to the water...

 Lily and I enjoyed the weather and she waded some while Chris fished.  She wanted to see every catch up close and personal!  With several of the fish she wanted to hold them and put them back in the water

 Chris caught quite a few fish and I gave some rock skipping lessons to Lily.

 And of course, half way through she decided she had to potty and we were no where near a bathroom!!  So, I also gave a lesson on going potty in the woods which she declared was "disgusting" and I heartily agreed!

It was a perfect evening enjoying God's beautiful world and the wonderful blessing of my family!  Hopefully we will get to do it again very soon!!!

Make a wish...

We take birthday's serious around this family! We celebrate a birthday week, not just a birthday! Chris started the tradition of having up a big birthday banner! Whoever is having a birthday week gets to pick where we eat if we choose to go out for dinner that week. And of course, they pick their dessert of choice and birthday dinner on their very special day!

This year Lily chose to have a play date instead of a "party."  She wanted to have a friend over all day to play inside and out and to join us for a dinner of steak and corn on the cob grilled to perfection!  It was a perfectly beautiful and hot summer day!  The girls played all day long uninterrupted! 

For her "cake" Lily chose mini vanilla cup cakes with chocolate ice cream and the girls decorated them!  Then after dinner we dug in and ate as many as each of us wanted!

It was a very happy birthday for a very special girl!

Learning to drive...

Do you remember when you thought it would be SO COOL to drive?  I remember at a very young age pretending to drive.  I thought "real" keys were so cool.  I used to watch how people handled the wheel and always thought I would "look good" driving.  I thought it would be cool to drive with both hands resting at the bottom of the wheel instead of the top.  I don't know at what age driving becomes something we have to do instead of something we want to do.  When does driving lose its luster and become just another mundane task that we take for granted?

Chris was mowing the grass one recent evening and Lily and I were doing what every good wife and daughter should do.... watching from the shade.  :-)  We were blowing bubbles and watering flowers and occasionally walking "a cold one" out to our hero on the mower.  He was almost finished when Lily announced, "I want to drive!"  I said, well then let's get you out there!  We waited for Chris to finish mowing of course - no blades going with precious cargo on board!  I lifted Lily aboard and her face was pure joy and all "big girl" as she took the wheel and began her wild and wacky loops around the back yard!  We have so much fun - even when we are just mowing the grass! :-)  I know in my heart the day will come all to soon when it's time for her to climb behind the wheel of a car.  She is growing up so fast, and though she's only 7, she's SEVEN!  I know 16 will be here before we know it and before we are ready.  Just a sweet reminder to savor every moment and every day!

Busy Summer Days...

We have had quite the summer so far, and we are only two weeks in!  We have had play dates, swimming, cook outs, softball, and lots of time playing the gym!  I have managed to leave my camera at home for almost ALL of those events, but there are a few pictures I snagged!  :-)

 Lily's very first softball practice was this past week!  :-)  She did great, even the the extreme heat!  She is really excited about playing softball this year, which is a first for all of us!

 Her favorite part is batting and she's pretty darn good at it, too!

She did great at her first practice!

We have also had open gym 5 mornings a week!  This is a summer program run by Rutherford County Recreation Department!  Chris has been running his gym for years!  It's a great FREE program where kids can come play games and basketball and jump rope, etc from 8-12 Monday - Friday... did I mention it's FREE! 

 Lily loves it!

This year, our school also qualified for and got to be a part of the Summer Feeding Program.  So every kid that comes under the age of 18 gets breakfast and lunch for free as well!!!  :-)  What a great program!

 Lily is growing like a weed and becoming more coordinated!  She is working on learning how to dribble a basketball!

She has also figured out how to jump rope too!  She is up to 11 jumps in a row!

We are having a VERY active and FUN summer! 

Meet my new friend...

Oh. My. Goodness!

If you have not tried these and you like peanut butter cups, you MUST pick some up TODAY!  I grabbed some as a treat at the movie's yesterday and was more than delighted!!!  YUMMY-yummy-YUMMY!

A Birthday Girl...

Lily turns 7 this week!

We had a little semi-surprise family party at the park Saturday to kick off her birthday week!

It was a HOT day.... seriously hot!

But we didn't let the heat slow us down at all!

The kids enjoyed playing with a beach ball, blowing bubbles, and drawing with sidewalk chalk.

The grown ups enjoyed sitting in the shade in front of the fans, lol!

Everyone enjoyed the birthday girl, the gifts, and the cookie cake and ice cream!

Dawson was the only little boy that could join us, but he didn't mind one bit!  He's such a little man and he stole some of the show!  :-)

Lily got all she wanted and more!

A Tea Set...

The Disney Princess Set (Barbie size princesses... all of them)

And....

...recognize the box?  American Girl, of course!  She got Felicity's best friend Elizabeth!

Mimi brought home made chocolate ice cream to go with the cookie cake - YUMMY!

Lily and her Pap!

My Mother-In-Law, Lily's Mimi and my mom, Lily's Grandmommy and Lily!  There's a whole lotta love sitting on that bench!

It was a happy happy birthday celebration, and just the beginning of a happy birthday WEEK!

8 weeks pregnant...

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along:  8 weeks

Size of Baby: Kideny bean

Total Weight Gain: 3 lbs (yikes!)

Maternity Clothes: Nope

Gender: Chris thinks it's a boy

Movement: In constant movement, but I can't feel it yet!

Sleep: Difficult and uncomfortable already, which I find strange.

Symptoms: Hehe... I am either burning hot or freezing cold, NOTHING sounds appetizing, everything smells... things I didn't even know had a smell do have smells - the smell of the grocery store is particularly disturbing, lol.  Oh, and I am in a perpetual state of queezy.  :-)

What I Miss: the best sleep of my life that I was getting 2 or 3 weeks ago!

Cravings: Steak, Strawberries, Watermelon, and home made vanilla ice cream

Best Moment This Week: Well, it was last week when we saw the heart beat!!  :-)

What I'm Looking Forward To: Looking pregnant... right now I just feel bloated and like I look chunky. lol