We were Dancin' and Singin' and Movin' to the Groovin'

This past Saturday some friends and Jon and I got together for . . . "Oh, what a night." We are all still laughing like crazy, texting one another about it, and planning for another outing real soon . . . THAT is how much fun we had together.

It was actually a free event. However, if you wanted a table you had to "buy" one. Suzanne got this shin-dig together. We all chipped in for the table and all brought a smorgasbord of food. In fact, we had so much food, our table runneth over!!

Here are some fun moments that the camera captured. . .

First of all the picture above. . . I dragged Jon onto the dance floor with me. Remember the 6 weeks worth of dance lessons we took? They had some good "Swing" music playing. My friend, Pam and her husband, are taking those very same lessons that we took, right now. She challenged me to a dance off . . . game on, baby!! I ran to our table, grabbed Jon's hand, and begged him to go with . . . I even tried to coerce him by telling him it was a competition. . . . No dice!! Dude was off the dance floor as soon as I dragged him on the dance floor. This picture had to have been taken very quickly . . . 'cause Jon wasn't out there long.

Me, Terri, and Lisa

Awww . . . sweet Tim and Lisa

Me and my hunny who wouldn't cut a rug with me . . .

Me and Lisa. I think I've mentioned before that Lisa was my very first friend when I moved here. She and I have such a special friendship. We can talk everyday (in fact, her hubby, Tim, used to refer to use as "phone friends") or, we can go weeks or months without talking, and our friendship just picks right back up where we left off. I just love this about our friendship. Since we've moved into our new house we all see one another much more . . . and I'm so glad. We initially became friends through church. Then, after they left the church and we left . . . our friendship stayed strong and has continued to do so!!

Jon and Tim . . . . I have to say, in my opinion, these are 2 of the nicest guys ever!!! Tim is the type of person who will not say a negative word about anyone. He has such a servant's heart too . . . always willing to help friends out when needed!!! Thank you Tim for taking down the fence off my cabinets and for being here when we discovered our termites - YIKES!

Here are Ms. Suzy Q and Andrea cuttin' a rug big time on the dance floor. Andrea is my friend that I wrote about here.

View of the band and dance floor from our table . . .

Suzanne and Barron . . . aren't they sweet looking? They are such a fun couple to hang out with!!! Our families mesh very well together.

Crazy Carey and Andrea!!! Oh me, oh my. . . what fun this couple is!!! I am just going to leave it at that!! Carey had everyone in stitches laughing. We live in the same neighborhood now, so they hopped in our backseat and rode home with us. Jon and I both ran to the car to clean it out (it was bad, I'm tellin' ya) before we'd let them in -hee!hee!

A great group of friends. You know what I love about these ladies? We all lead very different lives. One is a full-time, stay-at-home mom, one is at work-at-home mom, two work for their families' businesses, and one is busy working in a corporate environment. Three are Baptists, one is Pentecostal, and one is Catholic. But our common denominator is that we all love our children, we all love our families, and we all love Jesus. . . and we all are crazy soccer moms!!! We also all know how to have a good time!!!

Side note here: One of my biggest pet peeves in life is when a mom gets on her high horse because she stays at home and doesn't work, or because she works and doesn't stay at home; when she sends her kids to private school rather than public school. Even worse than that, is when a mom thinks she is a better mother because she homeschools rather than sends her kids to school. I know SO many people like this . . . and it literally makes my skin crawl!!! We ALL love our children. We ALL want what is best for them!!! We ALL make the best decisions we know how to make. I HATE the prejudice that moms have with other moms because they choose different roads for their families. Imagine if we, as women and as mothers, started encouraging and learning from other moms who are different from us, rather than shooting arrows at them, what the world would be like. I think sometimes people think they can only be friends with people who make the same decisions as they do . . . big, huge mistake. These sorts of people do not know what amazing friendships they're missing out on!!! Prejudice, in all forms, drives me nuts!!! I think this is such an issue to me because I know a good bit of people like this who are very judgemental about other mothers. It makes my heart sad. Okay . . . 'nuff said about that.

Me and my sweet, funny, and amazing, friend, Suzanne. Thanks, Suz, for always being such an awesome social coordinator for all of our outings. I am so very thankful for you, for our friendship, and for the memories we're making. You make life so fun . . . not to mention, you are wearing great accessories!! You make this Mama in High Heels very proud!

Okay. . . see the hand. I know I've mentioned several times that when my mouth moves, so do my hands. In this picture I can tell it is getting its motor running so my mouth can start moving too. I think Jon and I are sitting here listening intently to whatever that Crazy Carey is talking about.

This is the point in the night when Carey is telling us what an athlete he is. He is a runner, but has had a really bad injury for the last year now. He was talking about the Muddy Buddy. Jon informed him that he can't be an athlete because he never knew of an athlete that came from Ga Tech (Carey played football from Ga Tech). Remember we are HUGE Ga Bulldog fans and Ga Tech is one of our biggest rivals.

I love dancin!!! But . . . . unless you go to weddings . . . there just really is not a place you can go and tastefully dance. Dance clubs are not just an option!!! Things that go on in places like that is not a place I care to be. This band that was playing played great 80s music. It was so fun to be able to get out on the dance floor and cut a rug in an environment that wasn't drenched in sin and darkness!

I must've had my camera already put up, because my friends Stephanie and Emily were out there cutting rugs with us too. I can't believe we didn't get a picture together. We had such a BLAST!!! New friends met old friends . . . oh, how I love that!! It was such a fun, fun night!!

**Any of fellow old school Baptists out there . . . now don't go to judging us for being on the dance floor. Everything was very tasteful and fun . . . nothing raunchy or sleezy. I was dancing in the same way I dance here at home when we crank the music up with the kiddos.

He's Growing Up

Last week, my sweet, almost 12-year-old boy got contacts. We were all so very excited. Alec is very responsible and trustworthy, so I knew getting contacts would be something he could handle . . . something I wouldn't have to hound him about. These are some of the things he had to say about getting contacts . . .

"Mom, its like you have this old TV and it is all fuzzy. . . then you put your contacts in . . .and it is like you're watching HDTV."

"In my contacts, I feel like Peter Parker . . . when he takes his glasses off to become Spiderman."

I'm so proud of how he is followed everything the doctor has told him!!

Isn't he a cutie pie? I just love seeing those baby blues again!!

Mama in High Heels Goes Camping

No, that title is not a typo. Yes, you did read it correctly. Now, if you've read my blog long enough or perhaps have even seen pictures of me . . . I have one question for you . . . Do I look like the type of girl who will get in a tent and go camping? Your answer is probably, "No." But. . . looks are deceiving.

I grew up going to the lake camping, and I loved it!!! There is something about camping I like. I LOVE being outdoors. I love that there are no electronic distractions. I love spending time with those I love.

So, when Ash was invited to what I am now calling,"The Best Birthday Party Ever," I was quite excited about this one. It was called Camp Runamuck. My friend, Suzanne, was chief of this camp and she did a FANTASTIC job!! Boo Boo is one lucky girl to have a mom that will throw a party like this one.

The girls were divided up into 3 teams . . .blue, pink, green. They played games. They decorated picture frames. They decorated pillow cases. I actually dropped Ashley off, took Alec to guitar, took Alec back home, then came back. I was one of the lucky ones and I got to camp out with the girls. Truth-be-known . .. it made Ash feel better (she doesn't like to spend the night off away from home) to have me there. Suzanne was so sweet to let me crash the campout!

We went on a scavenger hunt that night around their neighborhood. I was in charge of the pink team. Yay pink!!! We had our flashlights, and the items we found were actually items for the goody bags. How cool is that?

We got back to camp and made smores. My sweet girl made one for me. . . and I didn't even ask her to. . .

The girls all decided what tent they were sleeping in and who was sleeping in the tent.

I was actually going to sleep in a lounge chair with my sleeping bag. As I got all cozy I started thinking about snakes . . . What if one crawled on me in the middle of the night? No sir re!! I hopped myself into a tent real fast.

Here are me and my chatty campers. They were the last ones to stop talking.

Here is the chief of this party. The party was so amazing I told Suzanne she needed to charge admission.

Here is my other friend Angi. She stayed the night too. She had her mask over her eyes to sleep. Suzanne and I were cracking up!!!

That morning we had coffee and biscuits and the girls all danced to music.

I haven't been tent camping in ages. This was so much fun. I can't wait until next year for Boo Boo's b-day to see what kind of party will await us!!

Our Biggest Laugh of the Year

Okay, so when you finish reading this post, please don't think we are horrible people.

Last Sunday we were at Jon's parents' house hanging out for the last day my nephews would be here. They have this amazing tree house with a zipline that goes from the tree house to another tree. Gigi wanted the kids to have another zipline so she had someone come and build this separate from the treehouse. . .

The kids were so excited. Now they have 2 ziplines to get on. After the kiddos tried it out, Jon gave it a go. I so wanted to get on that thing. . . but I still had on my white pants from church. . . and you know, Mama in High Heels, ain't gettin' her white pants dirtied up.

I told Gigi she needed to do it. I started chanting, "Gigi, Gigi, Gigi." The kids joined in with me. Gigi gave in. After she set off from the tree stand she got really close to another tree. I screamed. She started panicking and fell to the ground. Half of her pants came down. Jon and I could NOT stop laughing. Y'all we were laughing so hard, we didn't even ask her if she was okay.

Aren't we horrible?!?

After we were finished with our make-your-belly hurt so hard, can't hear anything coming out laughter, we asked her if she was alright.

She said her foot was a little sore . . . she's so faking it in this picture, but I had to visually document this moment.

The next day she call us to tell us . . . her foot is broken. . . she has a hairline fracture. OH.MY.WORD. we felt awful . . . but we did thank her for a good laugh. Does that make us a little bit better people?

My Week with 5 Kiddibos

The week before last my 2 sweet nephews came up and spent the whole week with us. Man, I sure do love these boys. In fact, last week, then they had gone home . . . I would count the kids and when I only came up with 3 . . . I really missed them. I felt a little empty. Here is what 1 gal does when she has 5 kiddos.

We spent lots of time at the pool. . .

Eating snacks . . .
Doing tricks on the diving board. . . .

Yes, even Mamas/Aunts can have fun and join in on the diving board fun!!

The kids made movies together. Alec grossed up their faces with sharpie marker to look like blood.

We had a "Make your own Pizza" night. . .

We tie-dyed T-shirts . . .

Gigi and I split up time. When they were at her house they played in the tree house, went to the park, and ate junk food.

Man. . . life with 5 kids sure is fun . . . and tiring!!! My kids get so excited because I buy junk food when the nephews/nieces come into town. I bought kool-aid drinks to take to the pool rather than water. After all . . . I want to be a cool aunt. I can't wait to see the boys again!!!

If you were inside my brain . . .

these are the thoughts you'd see . . .

. . . I'm hoping my bloggy funkaroo is over. I've really missed reading blogs and blogging itself. There's just been other things going on and I haven't made any time for blogging. Work has kept me pretty busy and when I get a chance to get off this computer . . . I'm gone. . . . hopefully though I'll be back in full swing tomorrow.

. . . The kids finished VBS this week and it was a huge success. They had so much fun, and I'm glad that I sent them. I'm still lonesome for a church family, and I can't wait until we know definitely know where God is leading us.

. . . Still studying Daniel. This week it is chapter 9. I'm learning so much, but this past week I've not been in the Word very much . . . that's probably why my heart feels a little empty.

. . . Jon and I are still talking about June Jam (post later in the week) . . . about how much fun we had.

. . . The kids spent the weekend with my mom. We went and got them this afternoon. Ash and Jon went and played soccer with some friends. Alec and Hanna watched, "Kit." I took a nap. We had tacos for dinner and played charades on the deck tonight. It was fun.

. . . I'm so excited about the rocking chairs I got for my front porch. I only have 3 right now and 1 doesn't rock right. I've got to take it back and get 1 more.

. . . Hopefully next week I will do a "Big Reveal" on my blog of all of the before/after changes of the house. We have one more room to do . . . the dining room. . . I'm putting extra pressure on Jon to have it finished by the end of the week. Something very exciting is happening next Tuesday (more to come) and I am hoping and praying the downstairs will be close to being finished.

. . . Alec has finished a whole month of guitar lessons. He's loving it and so am I. Our friend, Barry, is teaching him. Barry is a wonderful teacher and Alec has learned so much. I love it because I get to hang out with Stephanie every Monday night. She is so very funny. When I'm with her I feel very young.

. . . I need to make an appointment this week with a primary physician. I don't have one. Is that weird? My only doctor is my GYN who is an hour away. My back has been hurting me and I know my gynecologist can't help me with that problem. So, I'm going to find a local doctor.

. .. I filled up my car for $70 and bought 2 weeks' worth of groceries. I am refusing to spend any money at all until 2 weeks from last Friday. Jon has got us on a pretty strict budget . . . and I'm excited about it. . . how weird is that?

. .. I'm so itching to read a good book. I haven't read any this summer, which is a total bummer!! Next week the kids are starting back to school. We took a good long break when we were moving. Hopefully we'll get alot accomplished before we go on vacation.

. . . We are loving the pool we joined this year. I'm having a blast hanging out with my friends there. The added bonus is the kids are too!!

Hanna's Big Day

Although Hanna's recital was weeks ago I didn't want to miss blogging about it while I've been in my bloggy funkaroo. It is those little sweet details in life that are so precious to me, and it is so important to me to jot them down before I forget.

Hanna, my baaabbbyyy, as I call her, is my super shy child. She is really the shyest child, maybe even person, I know. So much like her Daddy that Hanna is. Last year she played soccer 'cause her big sister did and all. When she would run away from the ball I knew being on the soccer field was not this girl's thing. . . . after all, she is my priss pot.

I told her I was going to enroll her in ballet. She freaked out. I knew she'd love it if I could just convince her to go. I told her we'd do it until Christmas and if she hated it we'd drop out.

She loved it. However, there was one moment that gave Jon and I butterflies in our stomachs . . . recital . . . arggghhh!!! Now when Ashley took ballet this was her THING. She (in her best 4-year-old voice) "wuvveed bein' on da stage." She just didn't like the practices. But Ash is also our outgoing extrovert (I'll give you one guess where she gets this from).

Oh, but Hanna, poor, sweet, little Hanna. . . she is so shy some people may consider her rude. When others talk to her, she doesn't respond . . . she just looks down. She has a hard time looking those in the eye that she doesn't know well. Even to talk to me about things that are bothering her I have to drag them out of her. Again, she is just super shy.

Jon and I both were anxious the day of her recital. Now I am one of those control freak mamas who has to be involved in every.single.detail of my kiddos life. When Ash took ballet I was backstage with her at all times (unless she was performing). However, I knew if I went back there with Hanna she'd cling to me for dear life when it came time to perform on stage. I sent her backstage WITHOUT me!!! I do believe I deserve a medal for this *wink*wink*. Huge step in this control freak mama's life . . . huge I'm tellin' ya!!

I took her backstage to get her dressed . . .
I wonder what was going through her little head at this point. . .

All smiles for the camera. She was really, really hyper this day. I think it was to try to show she was not nervous . . . or maybe to take her mind off how she was feeling. . .

Here is Hanna with BFF, JuJu, and ballet teacher, Ms. Jena. Hanna will not have Ms. Jena as a teacher next year. She is so nervous the teacher next year will be mean (prob. 'cause Ms. Jena is so sugary sweet). Hanna at first told me she didn't want to do it next year . . . but, I got Ms. Jena to give her a good talking to . . . to tell her all the teachers at the studio were sweet. Hanna's in for another year of dance!!! Thank you Ms. Jena.

My sweet girls . . .

Posing for the camera . . . She's a natural, don't 'cha think?

You know Nanna and Papa drove up to see her.

Gigi and Grandaddy, of course, were there also

Here are some pictures just 'cause Hanna's so super cute!! The theme to the recital was Broadway Tunes.

In this picture they had to pretend like they were rolling dice. The song was "Luck be a Lady."

This is my favorite. Hanna so hammed it up! I was so excited. I know her little tummy was probably a bundle of nerves . . . but she did fantastic. I was so teary eyed watching her in the audience. . . so proud of her . . .

At the end when we went to pick her up, Hanna ran to Jon, jumped in his arms and said, "I want you." She knows she is like her Daddy . . . only those 2 can truly understand the ordeal she had just gone through . . . conquering those shy-girl nerves. She knows I will be full of words, enthusiasm, and hugs . . . but she didn't need that . . . . she needed someone who "gets" her . . . that someone being her sweet Daddy. Such a sweet moment!!!

Okay, so this next picture is totally posed. . . but when the actual thing took place it was not. . Jon dropped the girls and I off to get Hanna ready. Our bank is right down the road and he needed some cash, so he and Alec were going to walk. As he was walking away Hanna ran up to him and kissed him smack dab on the lips. My heart melted to butter!!! After the performance I had to recapture the moment with a picture. . .

My parents came back to our house after the performance to drink a cup of coffee. Here is a picture I snagged of Alec and her Bubby. (don't pay attention to those unfinished cabinets in the background:))