Scrumptious Southern Summers

In case you don't know, summer has officially begun for me!! I'm so glad to have this time to spend with family and friends (and to catch up on a little sleep). Two things have happened so far this summer that I am very excited about:

1. The farmer's market is open every Friday from 3-6 pm here in downtown Laurel. We got some awesome homemade bread (thanks Dawn) and some yummy Muscadine jelly to make toast with on Saturday morning. We also had blueberry lemonade, which was delicious, and got a few fresh cucumbers. I will definitely be going back every Friday from now until summer if over.



2. We went on a camping trip with a bunch of our friends from our bible study group. I mean like real, in a tent, no A/C, bug-biting, pee in the woods, camping. Well we did get to walk up a hill to use the restroom but you get my point. We had the BEST time, and some of the BEST food ever. My favorite part of the trip was hanging out around the campfire eating kabobs, grilled corn, chicken, stuffed bell peppers, squash, and of course - SMORES!! I can't wait to go camping again!! And of course we were too hot and having way too much fun to take pics on this trip so you'll just have to imagine us "roughing it". And apparently imagining me roughing it is funny to some people and I don't know why - you know who you are!

Oh Con"chair"

I've had the itch to be a little creative lately, and I've been wanting some more color in my living room, so I decided to find a fun, old chair to redo. I found this little gem at Southern Antique Mall in downtown Laurel. I wish I would have taken before pics, but I always forget. Anyways, it was just an oak color with the center cushion being a funky, yellow velvety kind of material. I painted it turquoise (my favorite color) and recovered the cushion with a fun green print that was actually a washcloth. Now, I have a little piece of joy in the corner of my living room. Every time I look over at it it puts a smile on my face. :)

My Daughter the Inventor

McKenzie had to create a brand-new invention this week for the annual Nora Davis 5th grade Invention Convention. Students create unique inventions and then showcase them at the convention. It's a really neat idea that involves a lot of imagination, creativity, and critical thinking.

McKenzie decided to invent an organizer for your laptop. It straps around the top of the laptop (while still giving screen visibility) and has pockets on the backside to keep pencils, paperclips, etc close at hand. She said she designed it with teachers in mind, because she knows how hard I work :). She designed and sewed the whole thing herself (minus a few little pieces she needed help with). I am really proud of her. She can sew just as good as I can. Maybe she'll keep inventing and make us millions - ha!

Invest...to do or not to do

So, we've been looking into buying a house lately, not that we are anywhere close to buying one, we've just been looking into it. We know we want to make the investment in a home, but it's such a big decision and we want to make sure we do it right. I don't ever want to have to move again once we buy a house. Of course along with house buying talk comes talk of saving, investing, etc.

Anyways, all of this talk got me to thinking while doing my daily bible reading this week. I can worry myself to death about which home, which neighborhood, which schools, etc will be the right investment for our family, but while I'm doing all of this worrying I could be investing in the now, in things that truly matter: family, friends, Jesus, and on and on and on the list can go. So, this week I have decided to "invest" in some things that need my attention now, things that affect my life - for eternity. I have decided to invest my time, money, and energy in Jesus, in Bo, in McKenzie and Kennedy, in family, in friends, in my church, in cleaning my house, in cooking supper EVERY night, and in doing something for a total stranger.

How will I make this investment? By reading my bible. By praying. By turning off the TV. By saying "Yes" to things. By saying "No" to things. By loving others more than myself.

So, this post was really more for me than anyone else. I know it's so cliche' to say "invest in others" and things like that, but that is the thought that has truly been resounding through my heart this week. So, if your looking for advice on how to invest money - ask a banker. My advice, invest in life!

:)

I haven't posted in a VERY long time so here's just a tidbit of something to get me back in the "blog" of things.

-I'm on spring break right now - YAY!!!

-I love my life.

-I got a new background for my blog - what do you think?

-I promise to have something interesting to post tomorrow

Rockin' around the Christmas Tree

Even though we live in a MUCH smaller place this year, I was determined to have my Christmas tree and Praise the Lord - it fit!! It looks absolutely beautiful. I wish I could leave my Christmas tree up all year.

We didn't have a mantel to hang our stockings on so the TV stand became our mantel - it does sort of look like one.

This is my sweet little furryville manger scene.

What is that????

As Kennedy woke up and was walking towards her breakfast this morning, I noticed something in her hair. I thought it was a hair clip I have never seen before, but no, it was GUM!!!!!!!! I immediately freaked out thinking "Not her beautiful curls!!". It was right up front next to her right temple. I had to cut it out (as evidenced in the picture). Hopefully, no one else will notice - but I sure do!!

And The Winner is.....

Tonight the girls were in a beauty pageant. This was McKenzie's 6th pageant, while it was Kennedy's first experience with being on stage alone, in front of an audience, staring at very bright lights. We all predicted what would happen, but no one really knew.

I love pageants because it's great mother-daughter time, and this time I got to do it with both my girls so it was even more special. I don't care if they win, and I try to instill that same thought into them. I just want them to experience trying something whether you win at it or not. McKenzie did great, as always, and got top 3!!!

Now, what most of you are wondering about, how did Kennedy do?? When she first walked through the door in the parade of beauties she was wiping away tears. So, of course, I got a little nervous. As she walked across the stage, she smiled and looked at the audience - just liked we practiced. I could take a sigh of relief. A few minutes later she came out for her individual walk. She was supposed to walk to a middle X, then over to stage right , do a turn, walk to stage left, do a turn, and walk back to the middle. Then she was supposed to wait for her escort to escort her off the stage. Of course, if you know Kennedy at all, things never go like they are "suppose" to. So, here's what really happened. She walked to the middle and stood there and stood there. She had a very confused/I'm about to cry look on her face. For a moment, she smiled really pretty. You could see the look on her face like she was thinking "Oh, yeah, I'm suppose to be smiling." Then she went right back to the confused look again. Someone off stage motioned her to go towards stage right to do her turn. She went towards the right...and kept walking....right off stage. So, they shooed her back on stage where she walked back to the middle. Her escort walked up to meet her to escort her off stage, and she ran off leaving the poor lad by himself. Needless to say, she had the whole audience cracking up.

It was a really fun night and a great experience I got to have with my girls. McKenzie was proud she got top 3, and Kennedy got a crown for participation so she has no clue she did anything wrong (which is how I like it).

Peasant Dress

Tonight at sewing class I made this little peasant dress for Kennedy. It is purple with little owls all over it. It has a green bow on the front. I think this dress is adorable (the pictures do not do it justice). I can't wait for her to wear it Sunday.

Halloween Costumes

So, this past weekend was Halloween of course. Kennedy went as a bumblebee while McKenzie dressed like a punk rockstar. I made the tutus for both their outfits. Those tutus were really easy and fun to make, not to mention too cute!!! We went trick-or-treating at the mall and along Kimberly Drive in Laurel. We had a great time.

Bow Holder

Haven't posted in a while, so here's a short one. This is a bow holder that I made for Kennedy's bows. It matches their new room.

Downtown on a Saturday Afternoon

This past Saturday we took a leisurely stroll downtown and visited a few educational places. Our first stop was to the Laurel Jones County Library so McKenzie could pick up the next book in the "Series of Unfortunate Events" series by Lemony Snicket. I'm so glad she's found a series she likes. Bo and I read a book with Kennedy then she played with the blocks and built a house. Next we walked through Leontyne Price Park (mainly just neat because it's named after Leontyne Price). After that we went to the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art. We each had a favorite part of the museum. My favorite was the display of paintings that were chosen by the workers of the museum. A small card was displayed by each telling why they chose that particular painting to be displayed. Bo's favorite was the old silver (funny, I know). McKenzie's favorite was probably the gift shop, and Kennedy's favorite was the suit of armor. At first she was a little scared of it, but after we explained what it was she kept wanting to go back to it. After the museum, we shopped a little at The Emporium at the Reserve where McKenzie found a North Face jacket she had been wanting for only $30, so Christmas came a little early for her. Then we went to our favorite downtown Laurel spot - our apartment - had a nap and watched some movies. It was such a leisurely day, and we had a really good time. Below are some pics, including a sign I found behind the Methodist church downtown.

"THE" Small Group

This is our bible study group that meets at our house on Wednesday nights. Instead of having Wednesday night service our church has "small groups" at different houses in different parts of Laurel and Hattiesburg. The idea is to be involved with an intimate group of people to share joys and sorrows and to discuss God's Word. It's a really awesome thing and we love it. Anyways, our group used to be bigger, but some people have moved off and some can't come because of school, so now we have dubbed ourselves "The" small group because we really are the smallest group. Our associate pastor asked all the groups to take pictures for an upcoming event at church, and since one of our group members has taken up photography professionally we had to take a great picture. Since we meet at our house in downtown Laurel we decided to take our picture at Pinehurst Park around the fountain (a little reminiscent of FRIENDS don't ya think? Well, minus being in the fountain). It was really fun, and I think our picture turned out great!

GRRRRR

I really don't know how I'm going to survive getting Kennedy through school. She is so headstrong and stubborn. Doing homework with her is a nightmare. Today, she got in trouble because she doodled ALL over her paper instead of writing her capital G's lowercase g's and 7's. She had to stay in from recess, was scolded (by her teacher, her dad, and me), didn't get to watch TV, got at least ten spankings, and still hasn't finished her work. She will start doing it and then I'll look over and she's doodling on her paper again. Then she wrote her name on her paper completely backwards - I'm talking mirror image! And don't think "Oh, she might be dyslexic"...NO, she is just being Kennedy - stubborn! She will do things just simply to be stubborn. If she's not supposed to do it, then for some reason she feels that she must. McKenzie was nothing like this. McKenzie has always done what she was supposed to, for the most part (I mean she is human). And then, we look over and she has fallen asleep doing her homework. I mean, what are you supposed to do with that.

I love my little curly headed Kennedy, but goodness, she's going to turn me gray before I'm 30! She just better be glad she's so darn cute!

Family Pictures

We took our first set of family pictures this weekend....I know, it's about time, right?!?! The photographer was Jeremy Brooke, friend and coworker, who owns Bullfrog Photography, and he does great pics for a great price. We did the pictures in downtown Laurel, which was great for us since we live there. We took most of them around Pinehurst Park and the Arabian Theatre. Jeremy had really great ideas and I think they turned out great!! I put the majority of the pics below, so check 'em out!

Getting Ready to Move

Well, we've just about got the whole house packed up. Boxes and bags are EVERYWHERE!! We will be moving to the apartment in the next few days. I finished painting the girls' dresser and nightstand. I think they turned out really cute. I can't wait to get their room completely finished. I can't wait for us to get this move over with....I'm ready to get settled and move on with this next adventurous chapter of our life.

Rummage Sale!

Well, we move into the apartment in a little over two weeks, and not all of our stuff is going to fit so we are having a rummage sale. It will be Saturday, August 14th from 6AM to 3PM at our current house, 44 Bay Circle.

We have a lot for sale: clothes, toys, dollhouses, trampoline parts, pushmower, weedeater, wheelbarrow, desks, dressers, doghouse, old kid bikes, household items, dishes, shoes, TV, DVD player, DVDs, computer, laptop, and MUCH more.

Directions: Turn on 15th street (the road that runs beside Walmart). Come to a 4-way stop and take a left onto Old Bay Springs Road. Take the next road to the right, Broadway Drive. Broadway turns into Bay Circle. We are around the back of the circle.

First Day of School 2010

Today was the first day of the 2010 school year for McKenzie, Kennedy and I. Today was Kennedy's first day at big school. She started the 4K program at Nora Davis where I teach. She looked sooo little walking those long halls. She is such a big girl. All day people kept coming and telling me funny things that Kennedy said throughout the day....I just simply say, "I'm sorry." If you know Kennedy at all, you know why. Today was McKenzie's first day of 5th grade....AAHHH!! my baby should not be in 5th grade. She will go to junior high next year. I'm so not ready, but let's not talk about that. She is really excited about school this year. Her homeroom teacher is fun and energetic and LOVES science. So that is right up McKenzie's alley. I think she's going to have an awesome year. Today was my first day with my new set of darlings. I swear I have the cutest 20 kids in the school. They have the sweetest faces, and they also have really sweet personalities to go along those sweet faces. I'm really excited to see what this year has in store - for all of us!

Excitement and Exhaustion

Well, first day of school is tomorrow! I really am very excited about getting my new set of kiddos. I'm also very excited to share my classroom with a new student teacher in a few weeks. I think that this year is going to be very fun and rewarding. I am also having to clean out EVERYTHING in our house for our yard sale next week. I am definitely selling more than I'm keeping. That's kinda scary, but we just won't have room for it all. And it's stuff that barely gets used anyways - if it gets used at all. I've gone through almost all of our rooms, and I am exhausted! I still have a little more in my room and the sewing/craft room then I'll be done with cleaning out. But, after the yard sale is over I have to pack up everything for the move. I'm packing a little as I go, but most of it will have to wait until closer to our moving date (August 31). As I clean out all our stuff (especially the girls' stuff) I get a little sad, but they are really excited about living in the apartment and I just have to look at it like a new adventure. And it's definitely going to be less to have to clean :-). Bright side - right?!?

Belts

Well, Saturday I went shopping to buy Kennedy some belts and some bows. These were the last two things on our back to school shopping list, and I thought I would be able to get these - No problem. Boy, was I wrong. Well, I found bows...after paying about $60 for 5 of them. Belts, however, I could not find. Not any really. Children's place had some funky shiny belts that wouldn't match anything she owns, and places had boy dress belts that would have looked hideous on her. I mean I just wanted a simple brown or white belt. I didn't think this was too hard. After going to just about every store in Laurel and Hattiesburg, I saw a belt in a pair of pants. It was one of those ribbon belts, and my mom said "Hey, you can buy the metal rings to make those at the fabric store." Thank you, mother, for always thinking about how to do something yourself. Soooo, I went to the fabric store, bought rings and ribbon, and, VOILA, we have belts. I've made 10 so far. You might think it sounds excessive for a 4 year old to have ten belts, but I love making them. It only takes about two minutes to make one, and then I have a finished product. I love finished products!!