The things we will do for free Chick-fil-a!

Can I tell you how much we love this restaurant? When I was pregnant with Bella I could have eaten there 3 times a day and been happy. They have the absolute best customer service. A phone call or email complaint gets you free meals every time. Annalee asks every year when they have cow appreciation day if we can dress up and go get a free meal. I always say no, because who wants to spend more on making something to wear than you'd spend on the actual meal? I am trying very hard to say yes to a lot more things this summer, unless there is really a valid reason to say no. It gave Annalee and me something fun to do today and we got some cute pictures. Now we have a cow shirt and bandanas for future cow appreciation days!






The boa didn't work out too well. We chunked those because it was too hot and they were too itchy!

What I learned this week...

It's been awhile since I've participated in Jo-Lynne's What I learned this week's carnival. I haven't blogged much this summer, either. I don't know where the time is going, but it feels like the summer is flying by! There have been a lot of lessons learned this summer so far. I love it. Some of them have been painful, but I'm trying to look at them as growing experiences. We could all stand to grow a little bit, right?

So, I'm just going to list the things I've learned in no random order. I'm not sure I could put them in order if I wanted to do so.

1. It takes two to make a thing go right... it takes two to make it out of sight... As I was watching The Proposal with some friends this weekend and listened to the lead characters sing this song, I was reminded that any kind of relationship takes two. There's only so much you can do to keep a relationship alive if you're the only one doing the work. I struggled for a long time letting go of an old friendship.

2. Sometimes we try to hold onto people the way we try to hold onto things. A good friend said "People can be clutter in one's life the same as junk. Sometimes they just need to go.". I try so hard to see the good in everyone. But there's only so long I can tell myself that maybe they are having a bad day, week, month.

3. Life is too short to surround myself with joy stealers, just for the sake of being a people pleaser.

4. It only took a few months into my 30s to realize I am who I am. Far from perfect, but I am me. I am finally so very happy to be me. I'm done trying to play the people pleaser and trying to keep everyone around me happy. It's quite a relief to have learned that lesson at 30 than 40, 50 or older. I believe in being transparent with close friends and not pretending everything's hunky dory when it's not. We all go through trials, so why pretend that we don't? Living my life in such a way that it pleases God and not caring whether or not it pleases other people sounds much more rewarding than trying to please people.

5. Life giving relationships are such a blessing and come at such unexpected times sometimes.

6. Planning a trip to Disney World can be so much fun and so exciting! I'm not really an advanced planner, but I'm having a blast planning this trip for the kids. I feel like a kid again! Trying to find themed ideas for the family to go in costume to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party has been such a blast!

What have you learned this week?

Summer Fun

Michael and Annalee both had friends over this weekend for a sleepover and a day of play. I love it when the kids ask to have friends over to spend the night. It's so interesting to see the different personalities of their friends. It's a reminder of how different we all are!






I missed a lot of swimming pictures. It was impossible to hold a wet, wiggling toddler and a camera. I'm thankful the kids had this time together and seemed to enjoy each other's company! They spent part of the day out of the heat in Excalibur playing games. Bella rode in a car ride for the first time. It was a hoot watching her ride and sing along with the music. We are trying to slow down and just enjoy being and doing things together this summer. I am really enjoying it. I am enjoying the family time so much in fact that my plan for this next week is to "unplug". I will check email from my phone, but have no intentions of even turning on the laptop. No facebook, twitter or blogs. I haven't had the laptop off for a week since last summer when we went on vacation. I'm sure it's going to feel odd, but I have plenty to do around the house and need to be making memories with the kids and not sitting behind the laptop!

Another year, another recital...

After a crazy busy week, Annalee had her recital last night. It is hard to enjoy the extra long civic center rehearsals while trying to entertain(chasing) a toddler, but the recital made it all worth it. Annalee's turning into such a great little dancer. She works so hard learning the dances and looks like she's having a great time when she's on the stage. Ballet is not her favorite, but it was never my favorite, either. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

Here's a quickly snapped picture on our way out the door. This was her jazz and tap costume. We loved it!

In the dressing room with Helayna before the recital. We have been blessed with some great friends from dancing that we might not have formed relationships with if not for the time in the studio. I found another workout buddy!

Ballet... I loved their ballet costume and loved that they danced to Proud to be an American this year.
Annalee, we are so proud of you for all of the hard work and discipline you have shown this year!

Fun in the sun

We had a busy, but very fun afternoon at the park today with the kids, two of Michael's friends and some of our friends. The weather was nasty this morning, so I was worried we weren't going to be able to enjoy the afternoon at the park, but the weather turned out beautiful! Michael spent the night with some friends last night and had a great time. He wasn't ready for the weekend to end after going to church with them this morning and to eat lunch, so they came home with him. We went to the park for Jimmy and Timmy Snow's 30th birthday bash and let the kids play.




Annalee thought the cake was good enough to lick the plate clean!

Bella and Brody spent some time together this afternoon. I think they enjoyed each other's company!

I had to share a picture of Bella's first ball pit experience at The Jungle Gym, too! She enjoyed it as long as there weren't too many kids around.

It was such a great weekend with friends! I loved having Patrick and Carter over and hope it's the beginning of many weekends together for the boys. They were both some of the sweetest and most polite kids I have had the privilege of being around. It's usually hard when there are 3 boys or girls close to the same age to not have an odd man out, but they all played great together. I loved it! Sherri, thank you for letting the boys stay with us this afternoon. We really enjoyed the time together and hope to do it again very soon!

A day at the park

Friday we met up with a couple of friends for a day at the park! It was hot, but the great company made up for the heat and humidity!

There was a group of kindergarteners on the playground that were interested in playing with the older boys. The boys weren't too impressed. They were very nice to the kids, though!





I think the girls had fun at the pond and walking a nature trail. I gave Annalee a little bit of space and let her go with the girls. My stomach was in knots the entire time, but she had a great time and loved having a little bit of freedom!




We had a squirrel checking things out. I think he could smell the chicken and waffle fries. He wasn't quite brave enough to come get a bite.

Bella kept stealing all of our cups. I gave up trying to keep them away from her! She loves coke, just like her Momma!

We had a fantastic day and hope to do it again very soon, before it gets miserably hot!

Homeschool Field Day

Our homeschool organization did a field day for the elementary age students earlier this month. I remembered how much I disliked field day as a child and was a little concerned my kids wouldn't enjoy it, but they had a blast! Michael made two new friends. I don't think he cared much about the activities after finding boys to talk to that have some of the same interests as him.

Soccer kick

Water break

Lined up for the relay race

Egg Toss

The boys chatting while waiting for their turn to do the egg toss.

How blessed we are to be part of a homeschool organization! These families have been such a lifeline for us this year. Homeschooling has been a challenge, but I strongly believe I am where God wants me at this time in my life. Being able to have the kids at home learning with me is such a privilege.