4th Festivities

I'm sad to say this but we weren't really festive this 4th of July.

Other than my red, white and blue pots with little flags stuck in I didn't have any decorations!

Well the pots are supposed to have red, white, and blue flowers but the red geraniums are all that really bloomed!

Derek took Friday off work, so we all got to spend an extra long weekend together. We worked outside a little bit and then we went swimming! Anna-Kate loves to swim! She has gotten really brave this year. Thomas is a little water baby too. He wanted me to hold him most of the time but he loved it! He enjoyed getting to splash everyone! I wish I had taken some pictures, but I swam too! :)

Saturday I went to see Eclipse (don't judge)! It was really good. I have not cared for the first two movies at all so I was very surprised. When I got home I had to scramble because I told Derek's parents and grandmother that I'd be making dinner for everyone! I made glazed pork ribs, fried corn, mashed potatoes, and fried okra. We also had rolls, fresh sliced tomatoes and watermelon! It was so good!! I am used to my family doing a big 4th party with lots of yummy food, so I always try to re-create some of the same foods for a little taste of home. Luckily I had Derek's help so it didn't take long to cook everything!

Sunday we were in Lepanto, so we just ate leftovers for lunch. Then the kids took a nap and Derek and I decided that sounded like a good idea also! When we got home that evening we met up with Derek's parents and their friends to shoot off fireworks! It was so much fun. Anna-Kate loved the fireworks... especially when she got to light a few. Don't worry I was not happy about this! Derek told me after the fact and I freaked! Thomas was tired but he enjoyed the fireworks too. The noise didn't seem to really bother him!

Isn't this just the saddest little pout ever??!!

Derek had Monday off too! We worked in the yard a bit and then went to his parents house to help them get their new swing set put together. After dinner, we did a few more fireworks for the girls. Everyone was really tired at that point! Derek and I went home and were wiped out!

Derek trimmed all of those limbs off our tree! Crazy!

My grandmother sent her some glow bracelets and she loved them!

Just When I Thought I Had It All Figured Out...

God had a different plan!

Isn't that how it always goes? I'm a big planner, so I feel like I'm constantly learning that lesson. Even today I was planning out my schedule and planning what we needed to do before the baby comes! For me it's something that allows me to set goals for myself and to stay motivated. I'm constantly reminded that a plan doesn't always go how you think. I'm always grateful when I look back and see how my plans didn't work, but how God's always do. It really is one of the most amazing things to me! So, here's to a new plan!!

Derek and I are just trying to take things one day at a time. We have faith that everything will work out! In the mean time, I'm eating up the time I get to spend with Anna-Kate now!! What an amazing little girl I've been blessed with! I'm completely caught up in how perfect she is! It's such a blessing to have her joy in my life. It's what keeps me going! It's hard to believe that Anna-Kate will be 2 next month! She's talking in sentences pretty regularly and really beginning to interact with Derek and I on a competely different level. She loves to sing and dance and definately has my playful nature. She can really be a tease sometimes! We're also seeing a new side to her... the beginning of the terrible two's! I definately believe that this stage hits at a time when they're so cute and funny to help balance the stubborness and tantrums! The tantrums are just beginning for her, so for now I'm trying to keep a good humor about things... for my sanity!

Yesterday, Anna-Kate and I went to the store. On the way home she got a little anxious to play, so I started pointing at businesses and houses along our way home asking if they were our house. Anna-Kate loved it! She laughed at me and said "no mommy!!" I even had her saying "silly mommy". Finally we got to the house and she was so excited! She recognized it and squealed. Later, I had her tell Derek about it. Usually when I have Anna-Kate tell Derek about our day, she's not really in to things and I wind up telling him but last night she just took off babbling to Derek about houses and how Mommy couldn't find our house!! It was the cutest thing! Derek and I were laughing so hard! We couldn't understand everything she said but she was definately trying to tell him!! Derek asked, "Was mommy confused?" and Anna-Kate said yes!

This week Mrs. Cindy Isom was in town, so we had her do some 2-year pictures! I was pretty upset with myself for not getting 18 month pictures made- and for not even being on top of taking my own pictures! I think these pictures make up for it though! I really just wanted to play and take some more artistic shots of Anna-Kate. Photography is a hobby of mine and I love to read photographer's blogs and see what interesting and creative shots they do. I think the artistic shots are definately more my taste. So I talked with Cindy and told her that we wanted to just play and capture Anna-Kate's personality! I could not be more pleased with what Cindy was able to get!! I really think that Cindy is extremely talented! I can't wait to post more pictures from our sessions, but here's the sneak peak she's given me!!

She had to have her blankie with her!

I love this one!!

I love this one, but not just because it's a great picture... this rocking chair was my Grandfather's and my sisters and I used to play in it!!

She's such a doll!!

I promise I will post more when I get a chance!! Cindy's the best!

WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!!!!

With Nicki's internship potentially leading to a job offer down the road we decided that we would start looking for a house here in Searcy. We had our eye on a small rock cottage near downtown so we called the realtor. After seeing the home we fell in love and made an offer, which was accepted the next day.

It was built in 1934 and is in amazing shape for a house that old. There is not much work to be done, although we may do some work on one of the bathrooms and some kitchen re-arranging. The walls and doors are original and very charming. My favorite part is the bonus room that used to be the back porch untill the early 50's when the owners enclosed it. There is a detached garage that was probably built for a Model T cause it seems a bit too narrow for most modern vehicles.

The house is right across from the Westside church of Christ where my family attends and where we attend on Wednesday nights. The home was actually owned by the church and used as a parsonage untill the early 70's. One of the preachers who lived there baptized my grandparents so there is some neat history behind it for me.

The neatest thing for me is going to be the fact that I am making Searcy a more permanent home. I grew up here and although I never yearned to leave, I never thought I would stay. So buying a house that I used to drive by almost everyday is sort of strange. Come back later to check the pics.