Happy Birthday Grammie!

Thank you for the great trip to Mexico Beach.
Our Third Annual!

More updates to follow.....

See You Later Alligator!

We (at least part of the family) are off to the beach.
This is our 3rd annual trip, and I need the beach NOW!!!!

My mom, sister, nephew, daughter and I will be back later in the week and I will catch up the blog then. Until then, enjoy this photo from last year's beach trip.

We'll have to see how much they've grown!

Wise Beyond His Years...

and the conversation went a little like this...

campbell: happy birthday anderson.

anderson: campbell, don't worry, i won't be any different -
just because i'm not 5 anymore...
just a little bigger.

Happy Father's Day!

We enjoyed a wonderful couple of days at the lake in Wedowee with Coleman's parents and sister/family. Getting in the lake was most appreciated on such a hot day!

I can't even tell you how many photos we took of these three monkeys. Can you believe that this is the ONLY photo that is (1) in focus and (2) has all three looking in the general direction of the camera!

These two took out a moment from the festivities for a quick hug.

Debut!

Grits and Grace has officially arrived!
We are so proud of this cookbook.
There was a party to present the cookbook at Hills & Dales. It was really nice. Thank you to Maria and her committee for all their hard work!

It took many 'strong discussions' and many compromises to get out this great book. In the end, it all worked out. Three years of work and three years later...
Voila!
If you get a chance to get one - scoop it up.
The art is also beautiful. It was contributed by Signe Grushovenko. Additional art is available from this site.

Little Miss Independent

She has decided that she has VERY specific opinions about what she will and will not wear. I have decided to only fight the 'good fight' when we are going out and about.

As you can see, she has stayed within the pink/purple family. She is just having a time with pattern mixing!

Also, she has taken to wearing caps all the time. Yes, it is 100 degrees where we live. Go figure!

I think she is cute enough to carry it off! There are many more years and occasions to worry about the fashion police!

Tiramisu Ice Cream Cake...

Wednesday Night Dinner had an Italian theme this week. With Fiona's ice cream cake inspiration I combined both themes.

Here's where the irritation begins. You would think that chocolate sauce could have as few ingredients as Breyer's ice cream... however, there were tons in each and EVERY brand. Can you guess which was the first ingredient?
Chocolate?...NO

High Fructose Corn Syrup!

It is completely ridiculous that everything we eat has to contain HFCS!!!
If organic chocolate syrup had been available...
If I had the time to make it...

Beat the Heat!

OK, just one more photo from yesterday.
We are continuing our search for creative ways to
'Beat the Heat'.

It actually isn't too hard, if you are fine
with always being wet!

Share and Share Alike!

Let's just say the Cee wasn't too excited to share
her pool with Meg and Vi today.

Even with the new 'swamp-like' appearance...
how could you deny such a treat to these
sweet pups?!

(for all those family members 'freaking out' right now,
we did dump out the water on the lawn after this!)

Hydrangea Festival

Because we have been so bored,
with NOTHING to do all week (HA!),
we decided to meet up with Daddy at the
Hydrangea Festival - on the way home.

Campbell was most excited to see water
in the fountain again. With drought
situations for the last year, the fountain
hasn't had water since last September.
It just so happens that we were there for
that day. Click here to see!

It is nice to see water starting to come
back into our area again.
Hopefully, the fountain can stay full all summer!

Papa's Pony

On the way out of town, we met Papa at the stables.
He wanted to show our Sweet Girl the newest arrival.
While it isn't actually a pony - it is a miniature donkey.
It is only 3 weeks old, and it is too cute.
She enjoyed feeding and visiting all the animals.
She even tried to lay claim to which 'pony'
might be hers one day!

Later That Day...

As if we hadn't done enough today...
we went over to Trent and Jill's for a visit.
(It was a tough trek to the next house over!)

Leslie and Thad stopped by for a quick photo before her
TEN YEAR (I can't believe it) REUNION!
Don't they look great.
Did I mention that they are expecting a
Christmas baby!
We are so excited to add another cousin to the mix!


Speaking of cousins - Campbell and Brenlee
had some serious catching up to do.
After all, it has been 6 whole weeks
since they met on Brenlee's birthday!
Fast friends, I'm sure!

Americana

Putnam County Dairy Festival

This morning started nice and early with the
'Fun Run'.
Of course, there was very little running on my part.
I was pushing the stroller alongside
Jill and Brenlee.
As you could guess - that 'competitive one'
(aka Leslie) was far ahead of us!

Did I mention it was a DAIRY festival?
(insert free milk plug here)


Leslie was taking a well-needed break after handing
out about 2500 'Trent Brown' fans
along with Dad, Jill and a little help from
Boo and Me.
With temps (and maybe the humidity)
in the 90s...
it was like shooting fish in a barrel!


Here are Trent, Jill and Brenlee,
hot on the campaign trail
in our great-grandfather's restored
Studebaker.

Having the truck of a friend parked on
the parade path was the BEST
thing to have when there are
hundreds of people around.

A nice slice of Americana for the day.

Giggles with Bebe

On Friday night, we all (Papa/Bebe, Leslie/Thad, Trent/Jill/Brenlee, us)
went out for Japanese food. Of course, it was delicious.

With the temps up around 95, humidity pretty much the same
and Bebe's crazy work this week...
I think everyone benefited from some
SILLINESS!
Miss Priss decided to get the ball rolling.

I love the playfulness of this photo.

Relax...Refresh...Rejuvenate...

So, I have been out of the loop for about a week.
I made the last minute decision to go visit
some of my family for a few days.

Upon my 'be here by 3pm' arrival request,
I was pleasantly surprised by Brenda and Dad with an
Organic renewal facial and relaxation massage at the Ritz!
This was part ??? in the continuing saga of my
40th Birthday!
It was fabulous! Thank you guys!
In addition, Leslie watched my sweet girl while
I partook in the festivities. WONDERFUL!