Beach Trip

We were blessed to join our friend Bob and his family at the beach this past weekend. It was a weekend filled with lots of food, fun, & fellowship. The children had so much fun being right on the beach. We built the most incredible sandcastle that withstood the tide. We had such a lovely time and won't soon forget it.

Got Flocked

We woke up to pink flamigos in our front yard this morning. It was a funny sight. Luke didn't know what to do with them.

It is a fundraiser for the local children in our area. You pay to have the flock removed and then pay to have a friend flocked. It is a very cute & smart way to raise money.

My Handy Man

I do believe that I have the cutest stinkin’ handy man around. He will take a screwdriver to just about anything in your home. He looks so intent when he is trying to fix something. Be warned though, he comes at a high price. He can use an entire shaker of powdered sugar on French toast if you turn your back on him.

School Days

Remember when we were young and we had to cover our school books with paper grocery bags? We didn’t know anything other than this. We thought it was cool to decorate our books with our own personalities. Now that I have one in school who has to cover her books, I was saddened to see that they have minimized this once “individual” statement of book covers to a “cookie cutter” slipcovers.
Well, one night Abigail had to have a book covered or see would get in trouble at school. I told her that we can make one. I wasn’t going out to buy a book cover. She was not happy about that, she wanted a book cover “like everyone else”. Are you hearing the drama? Sorry you missed it!
I goggled “paper bag book covers”, and came up with this site. As we made her book cover, I shared with her how I used to decorate my books and she got excited. She had so much fun doing her own designs. I was tickled to see her creativity come alive on her science book.


My heart melted when I read the corner of her book cover ~
“made by the best Mama in the world”.
I will take it!

My New Pearl

I wasn’t really looking for a new horse, regardless of what my past posts stated about Baby Girl. She and I had come to terms with things and were fine. BUT my buddy Benny had found a pair of horses he felt we needed to look at that might be “too good to pass up”. So off to Glenville we go looking & riding horses the next morning. We took the trailer to make us look like we were serious (a bargaining technique). After an hour or so of riding and I had ridden both horses, I knew the one for me ~ Pearl. She is a “quarter” horse that stands a little over 15 hands high and 8 years old. She has such a sweet disposition, which I am not used to. Sorry Baby Girl if those last words stung. I wanted a horse that would be good with my family, use to the mountains, use to working cattle, and preferably younger than my first horse. That was a tall order to fill, to which Pearl met. So Benny & I left there with a full trailer and empty wallets. I took Pearl & he ended up getting Lacy (the other horse). He claims that it is my fault he is “horse poor” but it really isn’t. No one made him buy another horse, but he is happy with his purchase.
If you ask me…..I got the “Pearl” of the pair! :)
Here are some pictures of my new mare & my lil’ cowpokes:

Lived In

"Lived in" is what I call my home. It never looks like the pages of Pottery Barn, to which I have come to terms with. I daily remind myself that the laundry, meals, music, & noise are the evidence of a healthy family living in this home. I am thankful for it all, some days more than others. I did want to show you why I don't bother with some things right now in this season of life. There is a certain time of day in the morning, before children rise from their slumber, which you are able to see how "lived in" this home is. The sun comes through our front door to reveal how loved this door is.
See picture below:

I had seen enough. I cleaned this window until it shined! I was so excited with this feat that I had to capture it with pictures. Not to mention I didn't know when I would clean that window again. I loved walking by that window all morning and smiled.

THEN my wonderful son woke up. As he walked out of his room and looked around to greet the morning he turned his attention to my freshly cleaned door. "NO!" my mind screamed, as I headed for him ~ too late! He had looked at the door, then went up and licked his hands to rub all over my clean door. Now it looked like what it should ~ to Luke. (See picture #1)
There you have it! This is why my house is "lived in" and why I don't bother with some things!

It just isn't worth it!