5000 miles, part 1

Our month of May was a blur and I can't believe we are already on the back side of

June.   Mike and I were lucky to be able to take a couple of weeks to visit some family and friends.

We packed up what seemed like our entire household and headed out on our adventure.

First stop was our sweet friend (who is really like family)  Ann's house.  She was our gracious host
for a pit stop on our way to Kelly's.  Thank you Ann.
She has the cutest house ever and went out of her way to make us feel at home.
Love her!!!!

The next day we made our way to Kelly's.  We drove in just in time
for the dress rehersal for the big end of the year recital.
She does such a great job and the girls did beautifully.
I didn't take pictures during the performances because
I wanted to simply enjoy it.
I'm looking forward to receiving the DVD.

Here's a few shots from the VPAC facebook page.

And of course there was professional security at the event.

Afterwards to celebrate Kelly treated us, Ashley and her family to the most

yummy food at Kahunas in the small town of Greenville.

Kind of a beachy, tikki theme.

It was a tiny little place with about 100 different items to choose from.

Delicious!

I didn't want to be too "weird" and take photos of everyone's choices 

so I just did mine.   Delicious chicken quesadillas on the cutest

little plates.  Their specialty was nachos 

with more toppings than I could count.

We were able to stay for a few days so we spent the rest of the  time with the kids going to the park,

swimming, playing and eating.  It just doesn't get better than that.

After swimming one day Kelly and Matt had errands to run so we got to 

spend the day having special time with the kiddos.

after ice-cream and hard play at the park we decided to surprise

Mommy and have our baths done when she got home.  When I combed out 

Brody's hair Makenzie quickly stepped in to show me how his hair

needed to be done to keep his curls.  So sweet.

Afterwards, Makenzie and I had a tea party, cleaned the kitchen and painted.

Love how she stands on her tippy toes.

Poppy and Brody played with Zoey, played knights and wrestled.

Naturally.

Isn't it so cute to have a picture of sisters and brothers napping.  

Makenzie thought so too.

 That's why she staged it for the camera and asked me to take the shot.

ha

We were leaving early the next morning so I went over and had breakfast

with them and drove Makenzie to school.

Nothing like purple glazed donuts and pink milk.  Right!

Makenzie co-ordinated her outfit the match the ballerina necklace that Poppy got

her in honor of the recital. It had hot pink stones in the tutu of the ballerina.

And it doesn't get much cuter than this little ninja turtle.

This was the best way we could ever pick to start off our adventure.

Already looking forward to the next visit.

Now on to our next leg of the trip.

Nebraska, here were come.

Thanks for joining me on our little adventure.

Have a blessed day and be grateful in ALL things.

Fabulous Friday Find

For today's addition of Fabulous Friday Find my subject will be candles.

For the most part, my go to candles for gifts and myself are 

Bath and Body Works Slatkin & Company Candles.

They last many hours,  smell great with more choices than you can dream up

and they are very reasonably priced when you buy them on their very frequent sales.

My favorite Slatkin & Company candle is Winter.

Of course it's seasonal but I try to buy a few extra.
It's also the one I buy most for Christmas gifts.

There are many others that run a close second there.  

Two of which are pictured below.

The great thing about their candles are the half price sales that they have quite often and 

if you combine itwith their $10.00 off coupons if you spend $40.00 

(it use to be 30.00 which I liked better)

then you would be able to buy 4 really nice gifts for $8.50 each.  

However, my number 1 favorite candle of all time is  

Anthropologie Capri Blue Volcano Candle 

especially in the Mercury Glass container.

Have you ever been in their store and wondered what smelled so great.

It's this lovely little jewel.

It's what I imagine Heaven will smell like.  It's that good.

The only downside is the cost.  

At $28.00 dollars and no sales I will just have to put it on my Christmas wish list.

Not something I'd go buy myself.

Okay, thanks for joining me on Fabulous Friday Finds.
I'm off to prepare for my Fun Friday with Dylan.
Working on his Summer Fun List.
I'll post on that soon.

Have a blessed day and be grateful for ALL things.

happenings lately

May flew by.

Maybe it seemed that way because we spent most of the month

on a 5000 mile road trip visiting family and friends.

I still editing pictures from that amazing adventure.

In the meantime I'm posting a few happenings lately for

my memory blog.

Kelly's dance studio had their end of the year recital in May.
We were  lucky enough to be there and they did such a fantastic job.
I'm going to do a post on in soon but I wanted to leave a few pictures now.

I'm really proud of my big girl and little girl.

******

Brody and Makenzie began their first season of baseball/t-ball.

Makenzie is playing baseball on a boy/girl team.
Mostly boys which I'm sure would not be her preference but
Makenzie always gives everything her all so I know she will do well.

And we all know Makenzie is gonna work her pose, even on the baseball field.

Brody is playing t-ball.  His best friend, Caleb, is on his team so I know he's a 

happy little guy.

And I'm proud as punch to announce that he has already made his first home run.

Way to go Buddy.

I know they both are having a great time.

Makenzie loves to be busy and will join as many things as she is allowed to.

(I feel sorry for Mom and Dad)

Brody is super excited because this is the first time he's almost been old enough.

He began the season at 3 but he has since turned 4.

Nana likes your baseball stance too Brody.

I can see lots of baseball pictures in the future for you.

Nana will have to plan one of my visits during baseball season next year.

************

And speaking of Birthdays, Brody turned 4.

Brody at his birthday dinner with his family.

He had a ninja turtle party at a movie theater with all his friends.

Post of that coming soon.

Happy Birthday Brody Bear.

*****************

This past week we visited my sister and her family on their yearly week at the beach.

We were lucky enough to have Taylor come with us.

It was such a fun time.

I think we may have bored Taylor (a little) with several exciting

games of Bingo, though she said it was lots of fun.  

I spent my time on the beach under the tent.  I just can't take too much sun and

luckily for me it was overcast a fair amount of the day.

My sister and her sweetie are on the beach on the left playing bocce ball and Taylor and

Poppy spent lots of time in the water which puts me on "shark watch".

I really don't know what I think I'm gonna do from way up on the beach but 

it makes me feel better anyway.  ha

Later that afternoon a storm rolled in.  Now I've lived in Florida most of my life

and I've seen lots of afternoon storms but I'll admit this one gave me pause for thought.

I was definitely thinking tornado but it turned out to be just a hour long heavy rain storm.  

I didn't have my good camera with me so images are from my phone but
I think you get the idea.

Thanks Kim and Pat for the fun day and thank you Taylor for giving up some of your

summer time to spend with you ole' Nana and Poppy.

**************

Father's Day

I want to wish all the fathers in my family a happy father's day.   

They may not always be perfect but they are perfect for us.

Our entire family

is blessed with the cream of the crop (as fathers go).

My Dads.  Yes, I one of those lucky girls who is blessed with two Dads.

They both mean the world to me.

My sweet heart, who joined on board to do this crazy life with me and

my four babies when he didn't have to.

Three of the greatest brothers I could ever have asked for.

My big brother and partner in crime when we were little.

my cutie pie baby brother

my half brother that I don't get to see often but love it when we do

My wonderful brother-in-laws that my sisters are lucky to have.

My great son-in-laws whom I have to thank for my perfect (to me) grandkids.

I will never be able to thank you enough for that one.  ;-)

and lastly, my sweet baby boy who has spent the last several years the father figure for his girlfriend's

son.  

Please know in this day and age it is so important for Fathers to be in their children's life

and we are so honored to have this group in our family.

We had a very low key celebration this year.

Rootbeer Floats

Hot Dogs

mustache lolly pops

Movie Theater

Popcorn/candy/soda

Being together and calling it a day.

I hope everyone out there celebrating Father's Day had a wonderful time.

I know there are those out there who find this day difficult.

They've lost their father, their children's father, their father wasn't in their lives

for one reason or another.  I prayed that your day would be easy and

in the knowledge that our Heavenly father is always there.

Have you seen the Southern Women Channel?

My new absolute favorite.

They have short youtube shows.

1.  Sh%t Southern Women Say  Episode 1

2.  Sh%t Southern Women Say  Episode 2

3.  Sh%t Southern Women Say  Episode 3

4.  Sh%t Southern Women Say  Episode 4

5.  Sh%t Souther Women Say Update

6.  The Dixie Download Episode 1

I'll link you to their facebook page.  If you're a southern women

(or even if you're not) you are going to absolutely love this.

It is so funny and absolutely true.

My husband even thinks it very funny.

I can't wait to see all the exciting new things happening for these beautiful ladies.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Southern-Women-Channel/487677167931942?fref=ts

Dylan graduates from Pre-School.

Dylan graduated from Pre-School on June 4th.

Being in the spotlight is not usually his favorite thing but he was very brave walking down 

for his diploma.

Not sure why most had their eyes closed during their songs but

let me tell you that did such a great job with their show.

Dylan with Auntie (Carrie)

Dylan with his Mom, Dad and sister on the left and Memaw and Uncle Brian on the right.

Nana, Poppy and our graduate.

We are so proud of you Dylan.  Now on to the next season in your life.

Kindergarten at a new school. 

This is a very big deal because he has been at his school since he was 1.

I know I'm his grandmother (Nana) but isn't his smile the greatest.

Fabulous Friday Finds and Fun Friday

  Through out the last few years I've occasionally posted Fun Fridays with my grandkids.

I'll still do that but I want to start a new (hopefully weekly) Friday post about 

"finds" I've made at really great deals.  I've seen that on other blogs
that have lead me to amazing deals that I never would have known about
so I'd like to possibly do that for others too.

Some I will have actually purchased

myself and some are more of a "what I'd like to purchase" if I had the 

money, time or space.
A dream list.

For my first post I've choosen 

hobnail candle holders from Bath and Body Works.

I have a well known love of bath and body work candles, candle holders, hob nail glass

and party decor so this would be a jack pot for me.

Plus that fact that I love a great deal and Bath and Body Works is having a 

50 % off candles/candle holders and 10 dollar off of your full purchase going on at the same time.

I think this would look great for any back porch/deck/patio party you might have going on.

The large glass holds a 3 wick candle and the 

hanging glass holds the mini candles.

The would go with any celebration by simply switching out the color of the candle.

I love decor that is timeless and can be used for more than one event.

So that's my find for the week.  

I'm not being compensated by Bath and Body Works (I wish)

and it's my own opinion.

Now that leads me to Fun Friday.

I've got my oldest grandson for a sleepover tonight and he just had his Pre-K Graduation so  I think

we will have to come up with a Summer Fun To Do List.

We are proud of you Dylan.

Have a great day.

***********

Continuing to be grateful in all things

964.  everyday afternoon rain that cools off our summer days and keeps everything green

965.  trips to see Makenzie and Brody

966.  getting back in touch with our long lost family friend Judy

967.  sleep overs with Dylan

968.  the opening of a local American Girl store that will ensure lots of future memories with Makenzie

969.  planning a patriotic extended family day

970.  a day at the beach visiting my sister and her family on their vacation and "bingo"

971.  watching Taylor and her Poppy have fun in the ocean

972.  spending the day with Taylor (teenagers have a busy life)

973.  spending time in the Colorado mountains with great friends

974.  graduation ceremonies

975.  graduating seniors that I love and pray great things for

976.  dance recitals