Our Aweful Beautiful Life

Now that we've officially passed into Fall, I can say with certainty that this summer KICKED OUR BUTTS. We had a jam-packed summer planned -- typical Baseball season for Colton, first time playing Softball for Emmalyn, withholding Keaton from t-ball to make our lives just a little easier for one more year, Colton's 1st year of 4-H and a trip to Dauphin Island. It was going to be a GREAT summer. I even worked with my boss to accommodate Friday's off so i could be home with the kids more. We were going to try out having a "nanny" at the house all summer so the kids could do VBS and Camp T and sports camps and swimming and just allow our kids to actually BE KIDS this summer. It was going to be amazing. Ain't it funny how life changes You wake up, ain't nothing the same and life changes You can't stop it, just hop on the train and You never know what's gonna happen You make your plans and you hear god laughing Life changes, and I wouldn't ch...

Let me tell you -- I could move to this little nothing town in a HEART BEAT. Jenna introduced us to this little piece of paradise nearly 10 years ago, and I am SO THANKFUL we've been able to visit 3 times now. We will go back. Our kids love it. We love it. It's PEACE on the BEACH. No crowds. Great neighbors. Sweet residents. Fresh seafood (let's be honest, this is not an appeal for me...I'm not a fish girl, but Jason loves it!). It's a quick drive down 65. (12 hours isn't exactly quick, especially with three kids; and a husband with a tiny bladder) but in the scheme of things -- it's easy. We went this year with just Seth & Jen, and what a great time we had. They are our people. Our second family. We love their slew of boys and they are so good to our kiddos. The kids play well, the adults visit well and in general, we just had a wonderful time. There was momma time on the beach, and Dad's had a relaxing afte rnoon too. We toured a M...

Where do I even begin. I mean, let's face it...I'm a FAIR GEEK. I've loved the 4-H fair from my very first year in 4-H. It's a family tradition. We've already discussed the whole eat crow/showing pigs/showing cows/showing pigs/showing.............chickens? Who knows what next year holds, to be honest. But this year. This year is a GEM of a memory that we will not soon forget. In typical fair fashion....it rained alot. Was hotter than you know where. Some tempers lost (thankfully, they were found again). Some kids who avoided THEIR chores by winning their parents over with "but I was helping my friend clean their pens out". We each had at least one of our favorite must have fair foods. We walked the building in the peak of the day to catch some A/C. We saw every exhibit offered on the grounds at least 4 times, and our favorite ones 5 times. In new fair fashion....we camped. We had tack and animals and a place at the grounds to call "home base"...