Disney preview

We've been back from Disney for nearly a week and are alive and well!  All the laundry is done and things are put away.  Thank goodness our fall break is two weeks long because we've needed this extra week to recoup!  We've been having fun just lounging around.  And, then, last night I started going through pictures.  Oh my word.

I have over 400 pictures on my iPhone.  Eric has pictures on his.  We have over 500 pictures on our camera.  My sister-in-law sent me a link with over 400 pictures.  People...I'm a wee bit overwhelmed!  So, I've begun working on a Disney post, but it may take me a few days!  

Luckily, a lot of the pictures looked like this...

...or like this...

Haha!  That makes the selection process somewhat easier!

But, there were quite a few good ones, too!

Pictures we've been waiting a long time for -- and were well worth the wait!

We went, we saw, we rode, we experienced.  And, I can't wait to share it all with you!  

Flashback Friday - My blankie

I'm gonna say "Don't judge" even though I know you will go ahead and judge.  But, it's okay...I have some pretty thick skin when it comes to my blankie.  Years and years of verbal abuse about my blankie has given me the ability to compartmentalize and SHUT OUT THE ABUSE.  

I am not ashamed.

I love my blankie.

And, yes, I use the word LOVE as present tense.

I found these pictures last night and it just captures the love affair that I have always had with my blankie.  That's me, on the right, smelling my blankie at the beach with my grandparents.  {L.O.V.E. this picture!} 

Again, me...rocking out my onesie footed pj's and holding onto my blankie.

ME...loving on my blankie while snoozing with my Granddaddy.  LOVE.  

YOU GUYS...this is my blankie today:

LOVED.  That's all I can say!  It is so loved!  Notice how I've tried to put it back together wherever it starts unraveling.  There are knots all over the place!  I can hear all the gasps and I can see you shaking your heads.  Don't worry, I don't sleep with it any longer.  ;)  But, I do hang onto it as a keepsake.  Eric showed it to Maggie recently and the look on her face was priceless!  She rubbed her little hand on it and said, "Oh Mommy, how precious!"  I love that she understands.

So, go ahead with your evil comments.  I can take it.  They won't break me.  ;)  

Taking a break from The Twitter...

Thanks to my fellow blogger and friend, Beth, we did a paper chain countdown to Disney that she found on Pinterest.  

As of today, it only has TWO links left on it!  Levi will cut one link off after school today and then the last one before we leave in the morning!  I'M SO EXCITED!!  

I made a decision that kind of coincides with our vacation.  I'm giving up Twitter for a while.  I KNOW!  I've been thinking about it and decided that it is the best decision FOR ME (please don't take what I'm going to say to heart...it is a personal decision and in no way reflects anyone else on Twitter!).  I have found that I tend to be on my phone...a lot.  I think a cue for me is that Levi says, "Mommy, when you get off your phone, will you _________."  Ouch.  I don't want my kids to think that they play second fiddle to social media.  With that said, I also don't want them to think the world revolves around them!  Ha!  But, I do need to find a happy medium.  Once I go through detox, I may join back up and give you guys a holler!  In the mean time, please let me know if Andy Lassner does anything hilarious... (I will miss him!)

Stay tuned to Instagram and the blog for more updates!  They will be riveting, I'm sure.  ;)    

Zumba Glow and counting down...

Saturday night, I did something I've never done before.  I exercised for two hours.  TWO hours???!!  Yes.  There was a Zumba Glow down at the riverfront from 8-10.  Natalie asked if I wanted to go -- it was the finale to the free classes they offer all summer long -- and at first, my mind said, "HECK NO!"  But, the more I thought about it, it sounded fun!  It was going to be dark and there would be black lights, so you could dress as funky as you wanted.  I got pretty crazy.  A white t-shirt and a glow necklace.  Ha!  It was gorgeous out and the river made for a pretty view!

Natalie's oldest daughter, Hillary, helped with a routine up on stage.  I think that's pretty awesome because she is only 8 and can dance WAY better than most of the adults there!

It was super fun!  I was surprised with how easy it was to do two hours of exercise...I think I only sat down for one song during the end.  Woo hoo!!

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This week, Maggie has been my little errand buddy.  She is a great shopper and I love it!

It feels like we have been going non-stop, but I can finally say that WE ARE READY FOR VACATION!!  Bags are packed, snacks are ready to go, van got a new tire........ WHAT??

Yes, Eric was rotating the tires last night and found a big gash in one of our tires.  {Thankfully, his first comment was that he thought he put the gash there the last time he was driving to the gun range!  Shew!  I dodged that one.}  We took the van to Honda this morning and found out our bill was a whopping $500!  We are lucky and have those special tires that keep going for 50 miles after they blow, pop, or whatever tires do.  Because of our special tires, we got a special bill for our new special tire.  Oy.  It's taken care of now, and we are RET TO GO!  Cannot wait!      

happy happy birthday to my mother-in-law!

Over the weekend, we got together to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday.  Lemme tell you something -- when we get together, we are loud and crazy!

We were hosting the par-tay at our house, so we decided to keep it simple and grill out.  Mags helped me pick out the paper products...  I wanted to get some really cute green & white polka dot plates with coordinating napkins, cups and straws.  However, we ended up with these (I was less than thrilled. Ha!):

I did draw the line at the princess Barbie cake, though.  We opted for a cookie cake with pink and purple icing.  I must say it was delish!

Levi counted down the seconds until his cousins arrived, and once they did, the kids played together NON STOP!  Somehow, Mags conned Peyton into playing with her the entire night.  He played dolls and house and I think he liked playing with his little girlie cousin. ;)

A few years ago, this party probably wouldn't have happened quite like this.  Eric's family hasn't always been quite so "meshed" together.  Over the past few years, there has been a renewal and things have begun to change.  I'm so thankful!  These days, when we get together, there is truly a unity to our family.  

Happy birthday to my wonderful mother-in-law!  I'm so grateful that she is so involved in our lives.  

A happy heart

My God is amazing.  

Something that I will never understand is how God knows exactly what I need before I even know that I have the need.  Kapeesh?

For example:  When Jami asked me early in the week if I wanted to walk at the park Friday morning, I didn't know that it would be a divine appointment.  

God knew I would need a heart to heart.  I did not.  

You guys, I've been struggling this week.  Struggling as a mom and as a friend.  I've had some stumbling blocks come up and haven't really known how to handle it.  

Some days, I just long to be carefree.    

I just want to live in my own little bubble and ignore the big, bad world.

But, I know that God has called me to be where I am right at this very moment.  I am a mom, and while I screw up, it gives me the opportunity to teach my kids about grace.  A grace we don't deserve, but God gives us freely.  

And, I'm so thankful.  Thankful for God's grace.  Thankful for HIS mercies.  Thankful that even though I feel inept, HE equips me with what I need.

T H A N K F U L that God knew I would need this time today to talk, share, decompress, vent, question, listen and receive.  Sometimes, it is just nice to hear some confirmation to what God is telling you in your heart.  Love this girl and our sweet time together this morning. :-)  Thankful that my divine appointment this morning left me with a happy heart.    

Flashback Friday - kickin' it back to my first blog post!

I sat down to blog tonight and had every intention of doing a post about Fall.  As I got started, one thing led to another and I started going through some old blog posts.  So, I thought it would be fun to look back at some pictures from my very first blog post.  We'll call this the Flashback Friday - the "I'm gonna need some medication because my big boy was a baby" edition.

I started blogging in July of 2008.  My sister-in-law, Jenny was blogging {BRING BACK THE BLOG, JENNY!!!} and made me do it encouraged me to start one.  We were on vacation together, so the pictures and free time were abundant.  It was love at first post and even though I have neglected it pretty often lately, I love my blog.  A lot.  

Check out these two studs: Levi, 26 months old & Griffin, 3 1/2 years

      

LEVI WAS 2.  TWO.  A BABY!  He was younger than Maggie is now.  That, my blogger friends, blows my mind!!  

Oh how I miss that little face.  I really do!  I miss him curling up in my lap and wanting to cuddle with me.  

I miss him hanging onto our necks for dear life while we were in the pool.

THAT LITTLE FACE...

That little face is now 7 years old.  That little face now walks in after school, goes to the fridge to fix himself a drink and plops down to play Minecraft on his iPod.  That little face now throws his helmet on and bikes up to 10 miles with his dad.  That little face now spends the night with his friends, jumps off the high dive at the swimming pool, hits a baseball over the head of the pitcher, reads books to his sister before bed, and rides the bus to school.  

YOU GUYS...   

Don't blink.  It goes way too fast.