So, 40 can wait. It'll still be there in a minute. Or a decade.
Summertime has begun! We finished up 2nd grade and PreK-3 with a bang and are ready for flip flops, the lake, and some fun!-
Poor Timber got introduced to the lake in pure survival style. Sink or swim. Fortunately, he swam. Love this little mutt!
I CAN NOT believe I now have a 3rd grader?!? How in the world? The customary first and last day of school pictures. I wish I had thought to have stood him where you can see how much he's grown this year. The doc said he is the height of an 11 year old. My boy. My baby boy, is already up to his Sisty's top lip and will be looking down at me before I know it. Sniff.
Love these two!
And this little lady has changed so much. Gone are the baby cheeks and chunky arms. She looks like a little girl now and thanks to her obsession with lipgloss and playing "booty shop" she often looks like 4 going on 14. I blame her Nana for that one.
Our last little performance at Hixson Pres. Preschool. We decided to move her to our church for her PreK 4 year. I love the teacher, Mrs. Jamie, and I've always wanted to support our PDO. Many, many memories at HPC and wonderful people that we will miss so much!
So, this image will be permanently burned into my brain forever. Think... dropping your baby off at daycare for the first time. We decided Timber needed some training. Or what we've now learned, his people needed some training.
Bless him.
We were doing all the wrong things with our sweet puppy and probably confused him to death. But it became apparent that something needed to give in order to have harmony with 4 humans and a dog in one house.
Who could blame him for jumping up on everyone and licking the countertops, running out the door everytime it was opened or scratching Keatyn to pieces when she ran through the living room in a fluffy princess dress? We needed help. So we turned to the experts at Blowing Springs Kennel in Flintstone, GA. The night before we left for Destin, Jimmy and I decided to board him there and leave him for the training session. For a MONTH. (We didn't fully realize that at the time) Dropping that sweet, unknowing puppy off and driving away about broke my heart. We have been back 3 times, with each of the kids, to get trained ourselves and tomorrow we get to bring him home for the weekend! Then he stays 2 more weeks, with weekend breaks and hopefully, HOPEFULLY we can continue all of the amazing things they have taught him there. In our crazy house. With our 2 crazy kids. I'm terrified.
So after I dropped Timber off (and cried all the way to Trace's school) we headed to Destin for the week. Happy last day of school! Happy vacation for/with Nana and Papaw! Happy 40th birthday to me! It was a party in the making!
We got a little side-railed when my dad got hurt lifting boxes at work and had to wait until Trace got out of school on Friday so I could drive one of the cars. Nana doesn't merge. So her driving down I-65 for 7 .5 hours was out. That requires some merging. Poor Papaw had a steroid shot and was on muscle relaxers but was determined to get there. If he could actually walk down to the beach, that is. It was yet to be determined, but we were ready to try!
Many stops, a few potty breaks on the side of the road, a tank climb that resulted in a bee sting to the head later. We made it!
This was what I saw driving across the bay bridge. Another reminder of God's amazing creations!!
The first day, we hit the pool. The ocean had red flags and a huge under tow all week so it was pretty much out for a few days. Plus, Papaw wasn't sure he was ready to tackle walking in the sand yet.
I sent this picture to my brother. The man knows how to relax!
We went to the Harbor Walk for the first time and loved it. We ate at AJ's (one of our favorites) and then checked out all the activities and shops.
This. Was. Cool. Trace was soaking wet from sweat when he finally climbed out of that thing but he had a blast. We need one of these in Chattanooga. GOLD MINE!
On Memorial Day, we rode the golf cart down to the beach to find this... No thank you.
And buddy I appreciate your patriotism, but please. No thank you.
Jimmy and I tried out a new place called 790 on the Gulf. It was beautiful, but because of the high winds you couldn't eat outside. Note, my devil hair. Ha!
Fireworks for Memorial Day...
Even with a hurt back, he still happily held his girl. He has affectionately nicknamed her his "blue-eyed, blonde headed bombshell." Are we raising a diva or what?
We finally made it to the ocean but the waves were so bad I was terrified and wouldn't let Trace near the water without Jimmy. That boy loves to body surf and play, but it about wore him out.
We went to the Wharf several times and ate at Graffitti's one night. So sweet...
The sea and sky were angry. We watched it build for hours and
hoped it was moving away from us. You should have seen us running off the beach carrying everything but the kitchen sink.
The night before mom and dad left, we celebrated my 40th. It was my birthday eve, my last night in my 30s. The big 40 loomed. Sigh. My sweet hubby got black balloons and party hats and we ate at The Back Porch.
I was so happy to get to ring in this new decade with the people that gave me life 40 years ago. I couldn't love them any more than I do and am so very grateful for them.
On my birthday, I wanted to do something fun. Something memorable with my little family. So we drove to Panama City and went to Shipwreck Island Waterpark. We had a great day! And as I put on facebook... I didn't break a hip, so I'll consider that a win.
My sweet Sassy. You know you are in a battle with your head strong 4 year old when you find yourself saying, "It's my birthday, will you please let me comb your hair?!?" She obliged and look how cute she is.
Bacon wrapped, stuffed shrimp over cheddar cheese grits. Yum!
It was truly a perfect birthday. I broke down in tears that night telling Jimmy how completely grateful I feel to have had these first 40 years. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better life. I realize life can change on a dime and how precious every minute is. One minute, everything is perfect and in a second your whole world can change. I feel blessed beyond words and want to spend the next 40 (if God sees fit to give me that many) passing those blessings and goodness on. 40 hasn't bothered me one bit. I've decided to embrace it and finally give myself permission to be "an adult." Crazy, huh? (As if a husband, 2 kids, a dog and mortgage didn't make me feel grown up) Not constantly needing reassurance or approval from others, not worrying about what everyone else thinks of me. I've decided to stand up for myself and grow a backbone. Not dwell on things like I did before and become thicker skinned. All of these sound really great, but 40 years of habits are hard to break. We are into 40 a week and a day and so far,
pretty good. ha!
The morning we left, we attached this note to the bouquet of balloons and watched them float out over the bay. Who knows if they will land in some foreign place or maybe didn't make it out of eyesight, but the kids loved it.
We came home a little early, because we were really missing this guy.
I was amazed at all they have done in the short week we were gone. This is Chief, one of the trainers dogs walking Timber on a leash. So cool!
My sweet friends from church did a girls night out for me when we got home. Lesley's in laws live on the lake and offered their basement so we could have a get together. I love these ladies and we had such a good time!
Lesley gave me a t-shirt that said... Made in 1975. All Original Parts. ha! ha! I love it (but would sure love to upgrade some of those original parts. ;)
Here's to 40! Bring it on!
