Happy Feet 159/365

I'm not a big fan of trends.  I don't let my kids get something just because "everyone" else is.  When they do eventually get an item it is generally the knock off brand.  Let's take Crocs for instance, I buy the off brands.  They serve the same purpose and only cost $5.  My girls have crocs now because I found them in a clearance bin for $1, so now I can attest that the off brand and the originals hold up about the same.  So, I am grateful that I only have $3 invested in the three pairs instead of $75.

Noelle has been wanting a knock off pair of Toms.  I loved the Toms concept when they came out, but after he wrote the letter explaining that he was ashamed that he had spoken to Focus on the Family, I was pretty disappointed and knew at that point that even if they had a good concept, he wouldn't be getting a dime of my money. (If you have Toms and love them, I am in no way judging you. I just can't have them gain off me.) We have looked several places and not found the perfect knock offs, until yesterday that is.  After we picked Noelle up from camp we ran a few errands and we found these Bobs for $14.  She is thrilled with them and they will make a great pair of school shoes. I don't think we could have found any that suit her personality any better.....and still a pair of shoes gets donated.  I have  one happy girl!

Happy Birthday Again Hunter 158/365

We got to celebrate Hunter's birthday again.  Since we were at the beach, Tita didn't get to be a part of Hunter's birthday.  So, she came bearing gifts and a DQ ice cream cake.  Hunter is NOT a cake fan.  So he loves the ice cream cake.  We all love the ice cream cake.

This picture reminds me of my dad.  To me, Hunter is starting to look more and more like my dad.  Hunter thinks like my dad too.  It is sweet to see all the little things that Hunter does that are just like dad.  I so wish my dad was here to watch Hunter grow up.  They were the best of friends and I know it would have just gotten better with time.

A Sweet Ride 157/365

Check it out, my Pips got a new ride.  I got an early birthday gift today (my birthday isn't until November, so this is almost 6 months early.)  Honestly, I can't think of a better gift for me.  I love to walk around 4 miles in the mornings, and with small dogs, they just can't do it.  I feel bad when I leave her behind, but thanks to Tita, she will be able to go along from now on.

Doesn't she just look precious in her stroller.  Yes her nails are painted, and yes I know I'm a little over the top.  She also got  a new collar, I was just trying it on her, that is why she has on two.  I love my girl, and I can't wait to head out in the morning. Happy birthday to me!!

Say What? 156/365

Hunter runs in the house, and says, "Momma, the netting saved the chickens."  I replied, "Say What?"  Then he repeated himself as he rushed me out the door.  

This is what we saw.  It looked like one huge nine foot snake that had been chopped in half by the netting.  

 Then, once I had my camera, I realized that this was snake one.......

and this was snake two!

I took pictures and got inside since we were in the middle of a thunder storm.  I called my sweet friend and neighbor, Kim, and told her to come up during her lunch break.  I wanted to surprise her, because she hates them.  However, by the time she arrived in the late afternoon, I had already realized that snake number two was alive.  I told her we needed to try to save it, and I would relocate it.  I wish I had captured her face at that moment.  However, she loves animals too, and has the same compassion I do, so she went to work trying to free our little friend.

She was so proud of herself for holding the snake.

This one wasn't as fortunate.  It was dead and had been for some time.  The flies were buzzing around it, and that is how I realized the other one was alive.  it was trying to catch a bite to eat.

Hunter was sad that I wouldn't agree to keep the snake.  We put her in a pillow case and I relocated her to a nice new home free of houses.  She has a creek and lots of little critters to catch in her new home.  I think she will be quite happy there! Tomorrow, Hunter and I will replace the netting.  All the chickens are safe and sound.

The Mind Dual 155/365

Hunter's birthday present, Mind Flex, has been very entertaining around here.  Noelle is very good at it,  she can concentrate well, so she generally wins.  LeeLee beat Hunter, so she was ready to take Noelle on.  What cracks me up about LeeLee is that she thinks you have to make a face to concentrate....I call this the constipated face.

When Noelle starts to gain on her a little, she loses it.  She puts way to much energy into her expressions which of course bring her concentration down.  As of right now, it looks like Hunter is the worst at it.  We are working on it though. I'm trying to coach him.  Maybe he will be able to beat his sisters soon.

A 90th Birthday Celebration 154/365

Today I took three kiddos for a quick trip to Atlanta.  It was a great day because we were celebrating my great aunt's 90th birthday. Aunt Berta has always been special to me.  Up until just a few years ago, I always got a card from her on my birthday.  When I had Noelle, she even kept up with sending cards for her.  When I was little, I used to spend a week in the summer with my grandmother.  One of the highs of that trip would  be when Aunt Berta and her late husband, Uncle Bones, would pick me up to spend the night at their house.  I loved their house.  It was generally just me, so they would invest all of their attention in me, and there was never a dull moment.  She taught me how to knit and he taught me how to play putt putt.  I still adore this lady!  Her statement of the day was, "I just want to wake up dead one day." I am hoping that she doesn't do that....or you know, not wake up one day because I would love to do this all over again in another 10 years.

Hope was funny when I told her where we were going.  She had never met my Aunts and Uncles, and the rest of the extended family.  To her, family was the people in our house and my mom.  That was it.  I don't think she even really gets that my brother is part of the family, so imagine her surprise and wonder when she realized that there were twenty two new people to meet today, and that they were all family.  She ate it up.  She soaked it all in and tried her best to play with anyone who would give her time.  All the way home she talked about her "new family."

You may notice Noelle is missing.  She is still sick.  She stayed home to rest today with the hope that she will be well for camp on Monday.  Prayers are appreciated.  She is going to be devastated if she doesn't make it to camp.

Adios Cape San Blas 153/365

We are home.  We had to be back by 5:15 so my little squirt could be at the gym.  I am starting to feel like we live there.  While at the gym, the other moms and teachers were discussing the color of my daughter, so I am posting this picture of Hope to prove that I do over sunscreen these girls.  They just get so dark even covered in 100spf.  Hope is actually a deeper color than LeeLee, but they are both dark.

Our ride home was uneventful.  This was pretty much the scene in the backseat.  Noelle snapped this picture for me before she fell out herself.  I am so grateful that we were able to spend a week at the Cape.  I do love it there.  I love nature and seeing all the cool creations of God that come together in that one special little place.  I'm trying to figure out how to sneak back there before summers end.