Wow! 19 months and counting......

Has it really been 19 months? There's really no way. Very much inspired to get this party started......again! I miss all of you! Stay tuned.....

Back with the Boom, Boom Pow!

Here we go! Promised to be a great update! I won't disappoint....I don't think!

Isn't that how the fireworks go? Boom, boom pow?!!!

So here is a little of our 4th of July blast!

So, sit down and grab your glass of wine or cup of coffee, if you're not the night owl I am! I'll fogive you this time....it has been WAAAAY too long!

We were blessed with sweet friends who came in from out of town.....from Atlanta! Meet John. Many of you know him by now, some of you know him but don't realize you know him.....he brought his three littles to play with B and to explore Birmingham! They had never been here and we knew they would LOVE it! They are 6, 4, and 2 and B loved them! Their 2 day visit turned into a 5 day visit and we had nothing but FUN!

We did all kinds of fun things, like eat breakfast at Cracker Barrel, at Mary Catherine's request (the oldest).....where we were asked 10,000 times, "are they alllll your kids?". If I had a $1 for every time someone asked us that this weekend, I could write a book!! Sheesh! Actually they are alll our kids....he has three and I have one. Even though we're NOT together, it seemed easier to answer that way than to stop to explain! So, there. The kids raided the candy section at CB and learned how to play a game of checkers on the front porch with the Champ! Fun times!

They got here Thurs night and we hung out then fixed the kiddos a pallet and everyone went to bed! We were tired and needed rest for the fun stuff over the weekend!

We spent Friday and Saturday morning being very very lazy...in fact, most of us were in our pjs in the street! The kids played at 7:00 am, yes I know.....eaaaaarrrrly, while we supervised! Coffee in tow! Mary Catherine is John's oldest and she is 6! She is a precious precious child and I had so much fun with her! B loves her!

And, then we headed to the pool. Every day! We spent LOTS of time at the pool! LOTS of time, I tell ya! And, some of you know John......aka "Big John" as Bowen knows him! But, this is Big John and Caroline, his middle sweetness, who is 4! She is a very sweet child who loves her Daddy! They even look a little bit alike, right?!

And she loves his shoulders for that matter......!!! The child is fearless! I think we counted that she jumped 1,456 times this weekend! I jumped too though, so I shouldn't put all the blame on her for his sore shoulders! It was fun and we laughed alot at each other!!

Oh, my sweet B who soaked up every minute of the first real day our friends were here! She bonded with Caroline from minute one and they were inseparable the entire trip! Bowen calls her "Carrowine"! Sweet friends.....those two littles! We swam and we swam each and every day they were here! Love our pool!

And she danced and modeled and moved her stuff every day we swam! Love this sweet B!

And these three were priceless! Christopher, John's youngest, is 2 and I must admit that we share a birthday.....that special kid! I knew I liked him! ;) He is attached to Daddy and does so well to adjust! I even stole kisses from him every day. I think he liked it! Sweet hearted child! He's the third!

And he's a toe head....can you tell?! They all have very blond hair but Christopher was blessed with a head of whiteness! John amazes me with all 3 and is super dad to the nth degree! Admire so much about his parenting and dedication to those three!

And, lets not forget about these two! B is getting so comfy in the water and loves her floaties! We had been at the pool for 5 hours this day and I think we were at hour 4.5 here! lol!

We headed home from the pool and decided to visit Pablos, a sweet spot in the "ham"! Pablos features a wonderful environment on their outside deck under the tree of life! Their is live music and the kids can run wild. Unleash all 4! Have fun!!! That's exactly what we did! Again, stopped over and over......"are they alllll your kids?". I mean, FTL...as Mary Catherine left my house saying! I know her mom will love that! I mean seriously though. Do you stop someone with 4 kids and really ask them if they're yours? I think the kids are cute.....4 of them=alot......John and I have our stuff together=no way are they all yours! Who knows....but, it was funny to hear everyone "talk" about us!

Sweet J and his sweet girls! See what I mean?!

And, I couldn't resist posting this one! Love this sweet man! He is my best friend and we have shared so much! I am thankful for him and his sweet 3! Did I mention that we've known each other for over 20 years?! Yep, it's true! Hard to believe, but true! In fact, we dated when we were like oh, 13.....was I really 13? I was! More on that later! Time I don't have tonight! ;) But, we share so much in common, so much we can both relate to and many of the same dreams in life. I think we'll always share a closeness and a friendship even we don't understand sometimes! Rock on, Mary Catherine, using my camera! You're becoming a real pro, girl!

MC danced the night away with B! They laughed and giggled and owned the stage!

All 3 were absolute angels! They had the best time! They took turns and played together on the dance floor and thought it was the best time ever!

They even cut up a little!

Doesn't get much cuter, does it?!

Until I got out there,and then it was serious business! Look at the faces of these girls! Loved every minute of this night!

I danced with them and we shagged.....yes, MC almost knew it by the end of the night! Watch out world....she's good....I've heard her Daddy thinks she got it from him......apparently he's a pro shagger himself! I'll have to research that one and get back to ya!!

We ate these yummy sandwiches and nasty chips that are NO good for you, ha....but what do you expect on 4th of July weekend?! That's what I thought! And, I did the grocery shopping because we were NOT cooking in my house this weekend! It was all about fun and junk food....not clean-up! Sweets, sweet treats and all kinds of sugary snacks! I did it to myself, I think! It was so much fun though....can you blame me?!

And after lunch, we did alot of this.....and if this isn't fun, I don't know what is! So stinkin' sweet!

And, then the big day was here! And, oh me! We had the best time ever on the 4rd of July!

Pizza, our own fireworks, party in the streets, trading of silly bands and B aka "Brave girl" jumping off our electrical box....more on that tale later!

I could eat them up! They were so sweet the entire visit! Couldn't believe it!

And, sweet Christopher.....he wasn't too such about the loud noises! But, he loves his Daddy and was safe right where he was!

Cotton candy was a staple all weekend and the kiddos shared so well! They are two bags of the fluffy stuff and smiled the entire time!

There is a Father/Daughter bond between these two that makes your heart smile!

And, the bond I have with this BIG kid makes me smile! I loved this weekend for the kids and am thankful for the tremendous friendship we share! We are kinda cute together...what do you think?! Well, he's cute with me anyways...:) After a day at the pool with NO shower and playing outside ALL day, I don't know how cute I look!

Did I fail to mention that MC plays Allstar Softball and is a PRO! You might see her at every Professional event as she grows up! She inherited her Father's talent when it came to baseball! A natural, for sure!

Nothing but the girls! These three kept us ultra busy all weekend and we wouldn't have traded it for the world! LOVE THEM! Look closely to the right in the background, that's the box B jumped off of......see it....more in a minute!!

John and the girls!

And I love this one......John and his two sweethearts! They love their Daddy but not as much as he loves them!

MC was so sweet to B and always helped her out. Unfortunately, B injured her foot Saturday night after trying to be "Brave Girl" and jumping with ALL her friends from our electrical box in the yard. MC felt she needed to carry B so B didn't have to hobble anymore! Love that kid! B has a sprained foot and hip and they might cast her on Wednesday, tomorrow, if she's still limping. They are concerned about some of the "chunky" bones that lead into the ankle. Small and round and hard to tell if they're actually cracked or stress fractured! Ugh!! At least she was in good company when it happened and he face when I returned from getting pizze was priceless.....she hobbled up to the car and said, "mom, I gotta tell you somepin.....(crying) I got a weal weal bad boo boo and I'm bave girl! I need to go to the doctor!". I did take her and we'll find out more tomorrow! Pray for NO cast although B's conviced that's what's gonna happen! Oh me!

On the 4th, we had ice cream parties and watched the kids make messes with their cones....especially this lovable boy!

What's not to love about OREO ice cream and sugar cones?! I mean, seriously!!! :)

After the ice cream social, we headed down to Homewood for the show to begin! Rides, carnival type stuff and beer for the Mom and the Dad! Oh, and I almost forgot, rigged nachos......what are those you might ask, well, imagine Doritos with pepperjack melted cheese and japs on the side....you got it!

60 tickets will buy you a night of peace and jumping and riding in case you were wondering! ha! Those kids ran and played and jumped and rode......and ate and.....well, you get it! Whew!

Oh, and John rode too! Doesn't he look thrilled?! Love this pic!

MC, I mean Bowen's second Mommy, made sure she was comfy and ready...held that hand TIGHT!

And thank God she did.....they were off and HIGH! B loved it though!

I taught MC how to operate my camera on Saturday, so by Sunday she was a natural! Don't you think? She's not in the pic, but her spot is! We were saving it for her! hehe!

And to say our 4th was full of sparks wouldn't be doing it justice! We loved every second of our time spent with our Best Friends and it was a perfect weekend! I hope they will be back soon to do it all over again! Whew, I admire you moms with 4 or more kiddos though.....especially if they're close in age! What an experience and what a blessing they ALL are!

Stay tuned for more fun.....Shake For Jake was AMAZING and I hope so much to post! Oh me, what a weekend that was! Many new friends to tell you about and fun stories too! Melanie was a perfect hostess and I always LOVE getting to see the babies while I'm camped out in her upstairs....all to myself! More SOON, friends! I love yall!

Girls Weekend To Remember

How many of you can say you've actually taken a weekend dedicated to restoration and relaxation with the girls? Well, I can tell you that last weekend I was treated to a girls weekend by BBTN and Ashley Eiler (the owner) in which we did exactly that......well, and a little more! I was so excited when I got this sweet invite in the mail....

"here is to new friends & old"

I know many of you "know" Ashley by now since I've posted ten trillion cute outfits she is responsible for, and if you need a reminder, just glance at the picture on my banner at the top and you'll remember! Or, this one might jog your memory! I was convinced that Ashley should and could wear a size 2T tutu! She wasn't as confident as I was! I think it has left a lasting impression on me, or maybe it's just my face in this picture! ;) More to come below on the photo shoot!

We tried and Ashley was such a sport! At her expense, we all laughed! I would laugh too if my backside was that small! That 2T might cover my right ankle.....if I was lucky!

Yes, Ashley is the one who captured our amazing Christmas card pictures and yes, she's the one responsible for clothing B in the most precious "get-ups" around. She is extremely gifted, talented in many, blessed with an incredibly giving heart and a servant of the Lord! This past weekend, she was selfless and determined for all 10 of us involved to reap the benefits of "daddy day cares" all around the Southeast (due to our absences) and treat us to a time of fellowship many of us will never forget!

Our first group picture....aren't they beautiful?!

(I know it has been a long time, but that's me in the front row, 2nd from the right) ;)

We visited with one another, cherished uninterrupted conversations, compared lives, enjoyed great wine and phenomenal food, prayed together, laughed together, learned together and we were all touched together. Ashley put so much thought into everything from the gift bags to the meals and the itinerary, all the way to our group visit to Church of Brook Hills on Sunday morning. What a blessing Ashley's planning and execution was!

We came from all over the Southeast. We gathered at a precious new restaurant for dinner called Stone's Throw and we enjoyed great wine and then we toured the Favorite Laundry store! Super fun, especially for those who had never visited! The caravan headed back to Ashley's house where we were adorned with goodies in these colorful beach bags.......busy body mom agenda, personalized note cards, bag tags with our names on them, pj pants, custom tshirts made especially for the weekend, spa products and many other goodies! Picture Christmas morning with 10 women "ewwin and awwein!"! So great to be pampered!

And the precious pink tshirts we ALL LOVED! Shelly, I think you could wear this one with your leggings if you really wanted to!! ;) Don't you, girls?!

Saturday morning, we headed to the spa! Three spa treatments each..............and all 10 of us were spazombies! What an experience! I had a facial, massage and pedicure and we were then treated to chicken salad at the spa. I had never ever done that....what a true treat! Me spending 15 minutes to myself is a treat alone so you can imagine that I almost didn't know what to do when asked to spend five hours there with 9 other super women! Bliss!

After our grand trip to the spa, we headed to the brand new studio of a local photographer in Birmingham for a lecture (more like fun session with BIG words I had never heard of) and photography seminar. Susanne King rocks and I loved her and her work! She is gifted with the ability to capture the moment and she's not afraid to tell me when my eyebrows are too high (stupid botox)!! Go to her fb page and "like" her! She's always doing fun things in her new studio and she has some great giveaways for this weekend at her Grand opening.....even a Favorite Laundry gift certificate!

She means business with that camera!!!

We wrapped up the session/lecture and had an amazing photo shoot with all 10 of us girls! Headshots for the hubbies and kiddos and group shots to remember all the incredible memories we made this weekend! She was so sweet to provide us with "bubbly"...,the liquid kind, to put our minds at ease as we opened up for the camera! Don't worry, we got the funny face pics too-all of us...we might be a little bit crazy but I think you'll like us! SO much fun! I will post those soon! Can't wait as 10 moms who don't get out much, some never ;), and who are usually the ones putting a stop to the sillies in the pictures are the stars of the show and let it all go! We had a blast!

I did get to meet "Darbs" aka Darby Stickler from Fly through our window! Infact, I spent the entire weekend with her. Rest assured, and yes, I hate to disappoint, but she is EXACTLY as she appears on her blog! And, I mean the "Darbs" rocks it out! She is so down to earth and so open. So oblivious! So humble! So full of grace. We did get stopped at church Sunday morning by a few "energetic Darby fans" (and I mean that in the nicest way possible).....they blogstalk her! They ran up to her and said, "Hey, um, you're Darby and I read your blog.....oh, my gosh, it's Darby yall...".

Energetic Darby fan #1........

There is something about this picture that makes me think Darby was a little more amused by her "fan club" than she was with the "mamarattzi" that wouldn't put the camera down! It's a cute picture though Darby, and your expression is priceless! See all those people behind her? They were waiting for autographs! They camped out when they heard she was coming and I even think some of them went without food and water for hours ;) I sure am glad I didn't have to go to all that trouble!

So, for my friends who follow her, like DD, you know you can't miss a post! For those who haven't read her yet, she's a hoot and a half and her stories about her three rovers (as she affectionately refers to her kiddos), sewing, renovating, picture taking, baking and her daily adventures in motherhood will allow you to relate and reconnect! Go ahead, click on over to "Darb land", but come back cause there's lots more I have to share about the amazing weekend!

The service at church on Sunday was touching. God is father to the father-less! An amazing sermon about orphans, adoption and foster parenting. This church is beginning a revolution in this city and the arms are reaching many many families just like you and me! Just so happens that the preacher, yes the preacher, of this ginormous church went to Georgia with me and is my age! Can you believe our small world?! They have a huge "faith family" at Church of Brook Hills and it was so nice to be a part of the message with their "faith family" Sunday morning! Our pink shirts were a huge hit too!

It saddens me to wrap it up here as much as it saddened me to leave after such an amazing weekend! These girls are great and Ashley, it could not have been a more inspiring experience! I love yall and can't wait to do it again in 6 months.......juuuuussst kidding, Ashley!