A Beach Memory

We had a great time at the beach this year. It was actually better than I thought it would be with no pool and a 8 1/2 month old. One of the things we all like to do is look for shells. We even went to a quiet place early one morning called Crooked Island because it is known for their good shells. We didn't find much (I don't think we made it early enough) but it was fun anyway. I love early mornings on the beach and cooler breezy evenings!

We found lots of shells, but what do you do with them all when you get home? Here is what we came up with. My hubby even found a few pieces of driftwood for me and I added them to the hurricane. I grouped it with a picture (an older one), a shabby candlestick and a lantern.




These pics are from a store we went to called Avenue E. It was so cool...lots of eye candy. I thought I would share with you.

I love this idea. They took some old glass bottles with handles and hung a light bulb inside. I love this look; so simple! I would like to use this somewhere in my house.

All the Way from New York City!

We got a visit from Grandma Patty last weekend and the kids were so excited to see her! She flew down from New York to see us. We had a great time while she was here. She does not look like a Grandma does she? I hope I look this good at her age.

This is right after she arrived from the airport. Makenna went with daddy to pick her up.

This is the first time she has held little Brayden. He surprised her with how squirmy he is!

We had a fun day at the pool. Brayden brought his own pool to swim in. The big pool is just too big for such a little guy!

What a sweet baby face! I can't stop kissing those cheeks!

Grandma Patty took the kids shopping at Target and this is one of Makenna's finds- a Fancy Nancy glitter puzzle. She loves puzzles and has already worked this one over and over again. I like them too and sometimes catch myself working on it after the kids have gone on to something else. Bryce got a Wolverine guy that talks and Brayden got some links to put together.

We had a great visit and she even babysat for us so we could go to a neighborhood party. We can't wait to make the trek to NYC to see her sometime soon! Thanks for coming to see us!

Feelin' blessed to be 33!

Yesterday was my birthday and I had a great day! I came home from a morning run and the kids had made this sign for me and hung streamers down from the door where I came in.

My son, Bryce (we call him "Bud Boo") made me this card. He wants to take me on another date. This card is priceless! It's a keeper for sure.

This is the card Makenna made for me. Bryce helped her with the writing and she did the artwork. I love to hear her say "I love you Mommy"

I requested a cookie cake with homemade chocolate ice cream. My mom made it for me and my neices decorated it. It was yummy!

My kids made the day so much fun! Here is "my girl" Makenna.

My sister, Melanie came and watched the kids for a few hours so I could do a little shopping ALONE. Thanks Mel! That was a great gift; The gift of peace and quiet! I came home with this treasure. I have had my eye on this table at one of my favorite places for a year now and finally brought it home after the owner gave me a great deal. I love it!



This is the bike I am getting from the hubby! It is the "granny" bike I have been wanting. I can't wait to take it to the beach and "tool" around on it. Hopefully I still remember how to ride! This way, I can keep up with the kids. I am getting a pink one. We just have to find it in stock at Wal-Mart. It is the Huffy "Cransbrook Classic". It will bring back memories from my childhood when I had the Huffy "Dessert Rose" It was purple with a banana seat and a flower basket on the front. Does anyone else remember their old bike with fondness? I spent many hours on that bike. I need to get a basket for this one too.

Thanks for letting me share some birthday memories! I am blessed to be alive and be covered by the grace of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Simple Summer Mantle

I was needing a fresh, clean look for summer and I love how it turned out!

I have had these vinyl letters and finally found a place for them. They were pretty easy to do.

A gold 50 cent garage sale frame and a summer favorite of mine...ferns.

I love the touch of blue from the shutter. It just says summer.

Some summer reading.

AA little lamplight.

This apron is a gift I got from a friend this week. I just love it hanging in my kitchen! Thanks Lynne!
HAPPY SUMMER!

Could it be any more perfect?

I know there is no such thing as a perfect life; we all have our struggles and problems, but this house says "all is well" inside. I can see it from my house and I love walking by it and imagining what it is like inside. Her cottage garden is so beautiful! Her ivy covered steps are to die for! I think she is a decorator and her outside decor and plants match the style of the house perfectly. I have not met her yet, but I hope to soon and get a chance to "peek" inside. Since I don't get to live in it, at least I get to see it everyday. It is just so picture perfect! Am I obsessed or is it just about perfect? What do you think?

A mother's day memory- The gift of FEET!

For Mother's Day, my husband and kids got me a flagstone walkway that I have been wanting out back. I have visions of what I want my backyard to look like and that is a "step" in the right direction. The kids each did their footprints on three of the stones and added them to the path. I love how they turned out and it is a memory that will last for a lifetime. I have such great kids and my husband is a trooper for painting the kids' feet for me and then cleaning them up (I used acrylic paint). Thanks Honey!

Bryce turns 7!

My little boy turned the big 7 on May 1st! We celebrated with a party at the park. He wanted a sports party and he got lots of Star Wars stuff. He LOVES Star Wars. This is a picture of him and Makenna. She gave him an action figure and she was so proud to give it to him.

He is blowing out his big seven candle. I missed the first time, so this one was staged. Oh well...

Here is his cake. Bryce and his dad love UNC Tarheels and his favorite game is when they played Duke. He described this cake in detail to me and I made it as he described it. We had lots left over. It was yummy!

He also learned to ride his bike with no training wheels. He thought it would be so hard, but he did it the first time out. He was so proud and has been riding every day since.

He rode in the grass first to ease the pain of the fall (just in case). No real serious falls yet. We are crossing our fingers! Happy Birthday Bryce! You are such a special blessing in my life!

Some "Yo Yo" Fun

I did not know what yo yos were until my friend Elise introduced them to me. I think they are so cute, and once I saw this idea, I had to try one. I bought this frame from a garage sale for $5 (I probably overpaid, but the guy said it was "hand made" and hard to find a round frame). I hated to pay that, but loved the frame. It was gold and I painted it blue and sprayed some glitter on it to sparkle it up a bit for my daughter's room. I ordered some yo yos from an etsy shop called "yo yo cottage" and this is the creation I came up with. She loves it in her room. By the way, I will post some more pics of her room once I can get something else done in there!