My Southern Gal came to Town

Ashley and I have been friends since kindergarten. She moved to Tennessee when we were 14 and we have remained closest friends ever since. I think we have visited each other every year. My mom was sweet enough to buy her a ticket to visit this weekend. We had a great week of shopping, swimming with the kids, running (like soccer moms), and doing my dad's party.

We have so many good memories together of swimming at the Lake at Mimi's house, obsessing over Bobby Kross (our middle school crush), driving to Florida with her crazy friends, the list goes on and on. I am lucky have always had her as a friend. Every girl should be able to have a friend for a lifetime.

Dressed to go out to dinner and a Movie.

Ashley made the girls these blankets. We let the girls pick out their material. Whew, that was an event. Brittney tried to carry the whole role of fleece all over the store. Aren't the blankets cute? The girls love them.

My dad has a cool sister - my Auntie Annie (Lizanne). She wanted to throw him a surprise 50th birthday party. She did a lot of work to make it happen and it was a lot of fun. I am glad that we were able to do it for my dad. He is such a great father and friend to so many people. He deserved his own big day. I am so lucky to have such a sweet and loving dad.

Auntie Annie threw a great party for Dad. She is the Hostess with the Mostest. The cake was so good!!! Gotta love HyVee cake.

Here is the birthday boy. Auntie Annie picked out an awesome party hat.

Isn't our daddy so cute? We just had to give him a birthday kiss.

Braedyn and Brittney loved playing in the sand. You should have seen their bathwater that night. Yuck!

What a great night at the Lake. Happy Birthday Dad!

My Disney Princess

You Are Aurora! (A.K.A. Sleeping Beauty.)

Thoughtful and loving. Authority figures probably have been sheltering you all of your life. Thankfully you're a very tranquil person who is content with what life has given you, but secretly you want to know how the outside world works.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Splish Splash

As the end of summer nears, I thought I should share what we did with our hot, hot, humid days. Yep, we spent all of them in the water. Braedyn has become quite the little fish, swimming all over the pool and diving "like a mermaid." I have spent many afternoons pretending to be Melody, the Mermaid. Goggles, watering cans, and Ariel dolls have kept little Brittney busy in the water. Of course, Daddy makes the pool more fun with all of his throwing and chasing of our little girls. Thanks to Grandma Jill and Grandpa Rick, we can enjoy the heat rather than just survive it.

Here is my little mermaid, so Hollywood in my glasses.

How can we swim without all the proper attire?

Brittney loves to "swim" across the pool.

Braedyn and Kimball have been good swimming buddies.