December

December.  It has come and gone in a blur.  I've had several witty, comical, loving posts to write this month, but let's just be honest.  I haven't had the time.

I actually have laughed quite a bit at that thought...I don't have the time.  Why shouldn't I?  I don't have an 8-5 job, I own my own business and work from home.  I blogged 3 times as much as I do now when I "worked" and ran my business on the side.  But I've come to the conclusion that when you're putting all your efforts into making a business thrive, some of what you love gets lost.  But that's another post...

Back to December.  I think I must have had an out of body experience in August when I volunteered to be the room mom for Caroline's 4th grade class.  With being PTA president, a mom, wife and business owner, why would I ever volunteer to take this role too?  Well, I only have one baby and it's her last year of elementary school, that's why.  And I like a little crazy in my life...apparently.

We baked, we made crafts, we shopped, wrapped presents, went to Christmas parties, painted nails and had lots of family time.  I'll induce picture overload shortly to show you just a little of what our December looked like.  It was a crazy, fun, exhausting juggling act.  And we loved every.stinking.minute. (well, most of the time)

We started the holiday fun with a Christmas play and the kid really threw me for a loop.  The music teacher asked all the girls if they had a costume they could wear to be a sugar plum fairy.  Of course all the girls that took ballet raised their hands...and so did Caroline (who is not in ballet).  After many hours trying to scrape together a costume, which meant hours of sewing and handbeading/bedazzling, I find out that she told the teacher that even though she wasn't in ballet, that her momma could make anything and would be glad to make a costume.  Although I wanted to cry over my lost sleep, I was incredibly touched that my girl had so much pride and faith in me.  And let me just say, her costume was by no means the prettiest, but to her, it was, and that was all I needed to make every minute worth it.

This next picture has a very special meaning to me.  This was taken at roughly 10am CST Friday, December 14th, 2012.  While I was at our precious tiny school of 260 students watching all of them and our staff in one room enjoy a Christmas musical put on by our 4th grade, the precious children and staff at Sandy Hook Elementary were praying for their lives.  At the time, none of us knew what has happened.  I left the school about an hour later.  I got in my car, posted a pic to FB and drove off.  When I stopped for gas not 10 minutes later I pulled up FB.  And then I saw the news.  I sat in my car and bawled.  I still have no words for what I felt.  It took every last ounce of strength in me to not go back and get my one and only baby.  I just wanted to hold her, even though I was lucky enough just 10 minutes before to do just that.  I got to hug her, tell her how proud of her I was and tell her I loved her.  Those parents didn't get that.  I can't begin to tell you the thoughts that raced through my head.  Fear being at the forefront of my mind.  It hit me that our whole school was together in a single room...what if?  And then I just stopped and prayed.  I couldn't go there, not when so many were hurting.  I had to pray for Sandy Hook, I had to pray for our country.  So when I look at this picture, the myriad of emotions it evokes will always be with me.  Always.

_______________________________

We has Christmas parties at school, decorated gingerbread houses, took a limo to see Christmas lights...in short, we ran on full speed at all times.  And we're exhausted!

 Caroline had some art displayed at Barnes and Noble

 Some very cold mornings!

 

 Pajama party at school!

  Shimmer the Elf

 Hubby's new helmet

Caroline got a few early Christmas gifts from her Great Aunt in Dallas.  We love us some Aunt Lisa!!!  And she loves to spoil Caroline, so needless to say, when she opened the box and saw the new American Girl Doll "Caroline", she was ab.so.lute.ly beside herself!

Then we had Christmas with the hubby's family and our precious 3 year old niece got to see sparklers for the 1st time!   Christmas Eve was spent at church with some of our very good friends, and we had to get pictures of all the kiddos!  Caroline was thrilled to have her 2 best friends with her that night!  We made the most of our time with Caroline since she was going to her dad's on Christmas morning, so we had a jam packed early morning at my parents house.

And probably my most favorite part of December was taking our very 1st Family Pictures!  I've never had family pictures made with Caroline.  This was one of the best days ever for me :)  I'll share more of those pics later :)

And now it's off to have another sleepless night....I'll be cleaning since we are hosting our friends and their kiddos tomorrow night for New Year's Eve!  Happy New Year to you and yours, may all your dreams come true and may 2013 be a blessed year!

Changing

As I get older, I look around me and see how much changes around me on a daily basis.  For the most part I deal with change fairly well.  Some days I don't.  I'm realizing more and more that you really do have to take hold of your life and make changes to be happy, to get to a place you want to be.  I am happy.  And most days I'm at a place I want to be in life.  Most days.

I do, however, hate the fact that change takes time.  I'm an impulsive girl, and I like instant gratification.  Getting a business up and running is not instant, but will eventually be gratifying.  I just want it now or yesterday would be even better.  I've been giving my business time to grow, me time to learn, and we're getting there. 

I quit my full time job over a year ago.  It's been eye opening and I've learned quite a bit about me.  I don't like to go to work, at least not in the traditional sense.  And yes, I know there are plenty of people who feel this way.  But what truly makes me happy is being at home, or even having my own place of business.  I like the freedom to be where I need or want to be.  I like creating what I feel like creating, whether its doing a photo shoot and editing or painting or crafting things.

It makes me happy to be able to go to my daughters school and have lunch with her because well, the days of it being cool to have mom around are slowly creeping away.  It makes me happy to be home when the hubs gets home early and we get a little time to ourselves.  I love being able to run errands and take care of family stuff during the day so that I can actually be with my family in the evenings.

I love being part of the amazing people who are bringing back the art of handmade things.  I'm still a very very small business and I just want to live my dream.  I tried to go back to work last month.  And in doing so, I realized that I wasn't happy. 

And of course the minute I took a job, my business suddenly got very busy.  So it's back to focusing on my dreams and my family. 

Another change, another chance to see what comes my way. 

Eleven

Every year I think it will change.  Every year it doesn't.

Some people can't begin to understand the depth of the anguish that comes for me every November 13th.  That's okay.  Maybe some of you have never felt the loss of your mom, for that be grateful.

I've come to learn that people's relationships are very different, which I guess I always knew, but I never really looked too deeply.  People are sad, crushed, lost when their mom dies, but I'm completely and irrevocably changed by the loss of my mom.

I was 23 when we lost her.  So young.  So many things I hadn't done or experienced yet.  I wasn't sure what to do without her.  The same day she died, I went to the grocery store to get a few things and found myself in the middle of the store trying to call her because I didn't know what isle had what I was looking for.  I realized at that moment I didn't know how to do anything without her.  She was just always there.

To be completely honest, the next 6 months were a blur.  I spent all my time with friends, acquired a taste for wine and eventually found myself expecting a baby.  I truly didn't think I could ever walk that road without my mom.   And then the first shoe drops.  My due date is November 13th.  My precious new gift is due the day I lost my mom exactly 1 year later.  No words.

Now the interesting part of this is that I was born on the 3rd anniversary of the day my mom's mother died.  Talk about coming full circle.  I found comfort in this knowledge and terrified at the same time. 

After my 2nd appointment, they changed my due date to December 2.  So I went through my pregnancy trucking right along until the other shoe dropped on October 23rd.  I went into pre-term labor and I was barely 34 weeks.  They hoped they could hold me off for a few weeks.  Yet, I had this feeling that this was how she'd get here on November 13th.  They kept her cooking until November 24th :)

The moment they put her in my arms I had 2 thoughts.  Both were life changing.  The first may sound silly to some.  I looked at her and she had my nose.  Silly, I know...but I'm adopted and looked nothing like my family, haha!  I never cared about anything regarding being adopted except always wanting to look like somebody.  So, the moment I looked at her and she was my exact replica, my heart was filled.  My second thought was the profound one.  I can do this.  Without her. 

Even though I never wanted to raise a family without my mom, I knew at that moment I could, because she had taught me everything I needed to know.

So every year I look at my precious daughter and ache for my mom.  It's a day filled with tears, from start to finish.  I try to be normal, but it doesn't work.

I just miss her.  End of story.  She was amazing, a pain in the butt, overbearing, always there, supportive, she was a mom.  And I love her to the ends of the earth. 


***Please know that I know she's in heaven. She's healed.  And I will see her again.  She also gave me that gift.  Teaching me to love the Lord :)

Bragging Parents

It occurred to me today that parents are hard on more than just their kids.  Parents are hard on other parents.

I won't go into the differences we all have in parenting styles,  I just want to touch on the issue of bragging.

When do you consider what another parent says about their kids to be bragging?  Why is this on my mind?  Well, I've gotten some amazing news over the last few weeks and I am so unbelievably proud of Caroline!!!

  And as sad as it is, I feel like I can't share it.  As a friend, I don't want to make my friends who have kids the same age feel like its a competition.  And this may seem really silly to some of you, but be honest here...we all know those parents who constantly talk up there kids to the point that its annoying.  And I'm not saying they shouldn't be proud or that they shouldn't talk about it.  But, I don't want to be that parent, who is annoying and over the top with all their kids accomplishments.

I just want to be proud of my kid and share how proud I am.  She's pretty amazing :)

 I think what makes this hard for me is that we all know kids are very different.  They all have strengths and weaknesses.  They all excel in different areas.  I never want to be a parent who boasts and makes another parent feel badly about what their child is doing.

Caroline is very bright and bubbly and not shy.  Which is all wonderful.  But, she has downfalls just like other kids.  Some people don't consider ADHD a downfall, they think it's a crutch for bad behavior, an excuse.  Well, I hate to break the mold, but she is amazing.  She's not "bad", she just can't sit still.  But all that is beside the point...

People look at her and think what a spunky bright little girl, and because of that, I feel like I can't beam with pride and tell everyone how bright she is, what she achieved.  I have very dear friends who have kids that struggle academically and/or socially.  I can.not stand the thought of making them feel bad when I talk about Caroline. 

So I don't post on FB about it like my friends, I don't call a friend to share my news.  I just sit here with my hubby and we smile and talk about how proud we are.







How do you beam with pride for your kids?  How do you boast when they've broken the record?  When they've done an amazing job?

Breaking Down

One of the things I've always loved about blogging is that I have a place to talk openly.  To have a place where I can be me, speak what is on my heart, and talk about my struggles.  

I know better than anyone how much my blog is lacking lately.  Why?  

Well...because I'm breaking.  I'm hurting, I'm raw and empty and I just can't get on here and be happy Alicia.  

For the last 2 years I've been in a downward spiral.  And a year ago, I thought I'd hit bottom.  I thought at that point I'd pick myself up by the bootstraps and carry on.  And just when I think I've got a handle on things, someone comes along and breaks me back down.

Most people who "know" me would call BS.  Because for all intents and purposes, I'm able to function on a daily basis and hide all my pain.  It's not until I'm away from everything that it consumes me.

I'd go into more detail, but sadly there are those who will use it against me.  Message me and I'll be glad to share.

I've talked many times about my mom.  About my love for her, losing her, how it affects me.  At this moment, I know if she were here, I'd be okay.  That may sound bad, like I'm not okay when I have the biggest blessing of all right here.  Caroline.  Let me clarify.  If I had both of them, my life would be as close to perfect as it can get.

She would know just what to say.  She would know how to deal with all the turmoil.  She would guide me through and hold my hand the whole time.

...

People are quick to judge.  Even though God tells us we shouldn't.  But we do.

I'm guilty, are you?

People only see one side of things.  It's rare that they actually have a window into the whole.  They get bits and pieces and think they have it all.  But they don't.

My worries are many.  It's not just one thing.  

Many of you know that I was married to Caroline's dad and we divorced years ago.  I've talked candidly about things, about supporting him when he chose to move down here closer to Caroline.  You also know that I'm happily re-married to the love of my life (as corny as that saying is).  And those who are closest to us know the ins and outs of how it all works.

But sooo many people don't know the whole.  They see parts, hear parts, but they don't live it.  We do.

And I'm just drained with all the people looking in passing their judgement. 

It's.not.your.place.

I make decisions based on what I feel is best for my daughter.  And for all of those who want to make comments and pass judgement on what I decide, get the whole story.  Just because you know one of us and not both, just because you hear one set of things and not both, doesn't mean you know everything all of us have been through.  And there are those who know both and still pass judgement and still make things harder for all involved.

I'm sick of people butting in.  I'm sick of people who have never been through a divorce, let alone one involving a young child trying to "side" with either party.  I can say without a shadow of a doubt that those who know me and what I have to say, have no problem giving me another perspective.  And, big shock, I welcome it.

We don't look to our friends/family to simply support us.  We look to them to help guide us.  I make mistakes.  I always will and I hope that those who truly love me, will take the time to know the whole of what's going on and give me good solid advice.  I don't just want a "yes" man.  But I also have those in my life who play both sides.  For the sheer fun of it.  Or maybe because their jealous.  Who knows.  But what I do know, is that those are the people who cause the biggest problems for Caroline.  And believe me, they don't see it and they refuse to see it.  They are just petty and seek to hurt others.  Me. But, what they can't see is that it's hurting Caroline more.

Maybe one day they will see the damage they have caused.  But more than likely not.  These are the people who are self seeking.  They have no clue how they are affecting Caroline.  And whats worse is that they think they're right. In all things.

I will never.ever. apologize for doing what my daughter tells me she wants.  If you don't like that, then please, please just remove yourself from our lives.

...

I cannot emotionally or physically endure much more of this.  

I have already lost my mom.  I have a sister who lives 3000 miles away and has her own family and life to deal with.  And I have a dad who is about to be 72 and I can't face losing him.  Which is a reality I'm having to face, one that I've been ridiculed for "not acknowledging".  

I sometimes wonder if people ever stop to think what its like to lose your mother at 23?   Never seeing me married, never seeing me carry my only child, never holding that sweet precious baby girl.  And then just 11 quick years later be faced with a dad who's health is steadily declining?

It's not an easy thing to face.  Watching your daddy slowly slip away.  I can't imagine its ever easy.  But after all I've been through, watching my one and only hero slip away is almost unbearable.  And I'm tired of people passing judgement on that too.  

I will smile for that man everyday.  I will act as if nothing has changed.  Why?  Because I can't bear to lose him too.  I will act like he is the same daddy I have always known.  I will spend as much time as I am given with him.  I will cherish each day I get to go to lunch with him and each day I get to hug his sweet neck.  That man has been my hero, my inspiration, my father, my best friend and the only man I've ever cared what their opinion of me was.  And no one can take that from me.

People are absolutely amazing to me.  None of us ever know what someone is facing.   We never know how our words will affect someone or someone's life.  I would have easier days if people just minded their own business.

And maybe, just maybe I wouldn't be breaking down.

And it Begins

We made it through the start of school!  Whew!  It always stresses me out.  That fear of not getting us back into our "normal" routine.  And this time we had the added bonus of starting soccer practice again the night before school started, talk about wear a mom out.  But all in all its been a great transition.

You can totally tell C was worn out that first morning.  

I've also been super busy with my business.  Now that's it's cooled off some in Texas, people are ready to get pictures done.  I did an awesome Senior shoot 2 weeks ago and she totally rocked it! 

The gorgeous Jordyn

 This weekend I did a Bridal Session for the sweetest girl!  I can't wait to do the wedding in a few short months!

Beautiful Raley

 I also need to give a little update on C's room re-do.  Everything is just about done!  I just have all the trim work left, which is gonna take a little time.  There is a lot of cutting and measuring going into it since we are essentially striping one wall with 1 1/5 inch trim board.  Eventually...but, we did get the splatter paint floors done. And they.are.awesome!  I couldn't be happier with how they turned out!

This is after the 1st two colors...

 

The finished result...

 

I have a whole list of blog posts to do, that I'm determined to get to.  So stay tuned!

Letting Go...Finally

The beauty of owning my own domain name / blog is that I can post anything I want.  Granted any blog can truly do that, but I actually own mine.  And I'll be honest, it's no big deal.  But, I feel like when people post on FB or twitter or whatever form of social media that they choose, that they somehow are making people see the crap they post.  Whereas on my blog, you totally choose to visit here.  You're not forced to see what I post when you log in.  Although you could just delete someone on FB or twitter, but then what fun would it be if you couldn't gossip and create havoc in someone's life?  I digress...

I'm not usually a negative person, I leave that to the hubby.  I'm, 9 times out of 10, pretty upbeat and positive.  But I'm tired of logging in to FB or twitter and seeing people be so dang negative.  Try counting your blessings for a change.

In the spring of 2011 I was nominated and voted in as PTA President.  I was very happy to follow in my momma's footsteps.  Little did I know it would bring out all the "haters".  WOW.

I guess I kinda thought that since I was in my 30's and all, that people were beyond the high school cliquish ways.  Wrong.  Before I knew it, I was in the middle of a "friend" war.  Good grief.  Just what I wanted to waste my time on.  Never did I dream that people my age were still acting like this.  Yet, they are.  So this started, and I quickly washed my hands of it.  I'm not getting into the game.  So I went about my year, treated no one any differently despite things that had been said about me & my family.  They think they're invincible and that these "friends" aren't running back to me to tell me what they say...not that I want to waste my time on hearing it.  I guess the funniest part of the whole thing to me is that I put a piece of false info out to 1 person.  Promise, only one. And within 2 hours I heard it from 3 people.  I never confronted the person.  It truly wasn't worth my energy.

The year went on just fine after that.  Piece of cake actually.  I held my cards close and never let those fake people anywhere near my real life.  Although they sure thought they were.

The last 2 months of school rolls around and all hades breaks loose.  Oh, the hilarity of it all.  I was verbally threatened.  I was bullied.  And they really thought I was gonna admit to things, which oddly enough, never happened.  I guess what makes it completely comical to me, is that I never said a word about any of these people.  You see, I was childish enough once to play that game, and I lost.  And I will never, ever do it again.  I hurt my friend, her family, and we've never been friends since.  I know the price.

But I guess what irks me the most is how completely brazen some people are.  Self-consumed.  Arrogant.  Pitiful people.  Who seek to destroy others.  And I'm tired of being the target.  My business was copied, my gear was copied, my locations were copied.  And, I guess that's the most sincere form of flattery, to have what you've worked so hard for over the past 2+ years copied.  But I'm over it.  I'm washing my hands of it here and now.  I've given an olive branch, trying to forgive, but its been broken in my face.

Being so self-centered is not my style.  And I have to admit, whoever watches my FB and "reports" to others what I post, it's a little pathetic.  I made a post yesterday.  Which was quickly spread to people the post had nothing to do with.  Obviously they are so self-consumed they thought it was, and everything I do apparently, revolving around them.  Here is what I posted...obviously their guilt got the better of them...

...I'm tired of hearing people whining about how soon school's gonna start, how many school supplies they have to buy etc...be THANKFUL you have those kids to drive you crazy all summer and that you GET to help provide supplies for all the kids!!! $10 extra bucks for stuff your kid won't need but another family can't afford will NOT kill you! Too many people take for granted that God gave them this blessing! Suck it up people! I know too many parents who are watching their kids fight for their lives. Geesh!...

Now what amazes me most about the whole thing is that this post was not directed at, involving, or pertaining to said selfish person.  It was however, directed at 3 of my friends back home who over the past 3 days have gripped on FB about these very things.  And I have commented on those posts stating how I disagreed.  And why was I so sick of seeing and hearing about it?  Because I happen to know of a few families whose children are fighting, literally, fighting for their lives.  And I'm tired of people taking what their given for granted.  Each child is a blessing.  I was blessed with one, tried many, many times and years for another.  If you can't find something better to do than gripe about those blessings, then please, get away from me.  

So I guess you could say a "response" to my post was posted on this person's page.  Who, I blocked and can't see, who no one I actually talk to would dare discuss because they can't stand her, who I do not ever want to be associated with...so why, please tell me, would I ever want to openly talk about her?  Duh people.  I don't.  But, I feel like I need to purge all my bad feelings and so that's what I'm doing tonight.  I'm letting go.  I'm saying what needs to be said so that I can rid myself of all the negativity.  I will allow her this post.  Here you go.  I'm ridding my life of your toxicity.  Enjoy the glory of me talking about you.  And don't mistake anything I say ever again to be about you.  Frankly, your just not worth the energy.  I have a precious little girl whom I would do anything for, cherish each day I get, a husband whom I love madly and who loves and cherishes me.  I truly hope you can find your happiness in life, but I'm done letting you try to put your negativity off on me.  Take ownership of your actions people.

I'm truly sad for people like this who just can't seem to find better things to do than compare their lives to others and cast judgement.  Be thankful...you never know when He might choose to take it all away.

Thank you to the many people I can truly call my friends.  You are priceless to me and my family!

p.s.  I can see every IP address that visits.  So all of you that thrive on stirring the pot, I can track you all the way down to google maps showing me where you've logged in from down to house and street.  enjoy the blog :)

Room Renovation

Our house was built in 1983.  Not old, like turn of the century, but old like totally out of date.  29 years.  Now, I can't complain really, my sweet father-in-law built this house.  Lots of love and time went into building it. 

My favorite part...it's solid rock.  Hubby's mom would place a row of rock everyday, then when his dad got home, he would mix the mortar and place each rock where she had.  It was built with love, devotion and family.  I love this house for all that it stands for.  I happen to love the style of it, it's just dated.  We've been planning out renovations for it for the last few years. 

I decided that most of it was fine except for the wood paneling all the way through, but that I really wanted to start with the bedrooms.  Caroline's was 1st on the list.  

Of course, it would have been great if I had remembered to take before pics...blonde moment, ahem.  But I found one from Christmas that showed a little of what it looked like.

Horrible yellow walls.  The paneling was painted years ago, and really needed to be re-done.  And I have to admit, the orange carpet brings back childhood memories.  But it had.to.go!  I added the chalkboard heart a couple of years ago for some fun, and really wanted to keep it.  So I decided to paint around it...

So I made the whole wall a chalkboard wall!  Not that having a black wall thrills me, but I figured she would love it, and it would be tons of fun for her and her friends!  3 more walls...she wanted lots of color.  I'd been buying quarts of discarded paint when I could find them.  Very cheap way to get paint, and very effective when you need multiple colors. 

We had pink, lavender, baby blue, and the yellow is really lime green in person.  I couldn't figure out how to use 4 different colors, but decided if I followed the panels, I could stripe it.  A little out there for me, but she's 9.  If I had a striped wall when I was 9, I would have thought my mom totally rocked.  Just sayin'.

I only striped the one wall.  The other 2 walls are two-tone.  Blue on top and green on the bottom.  Oh, and a pink stripe in between :)  These are painted horizontally. And I didn't take pics of that either. Oopsies.

We're putting up white molding top and bottom.  Then in between each stripe there will be a 1-inch white trim board.

I still have to tackle the floors.  That horrible orange carpet.  Uggghhhh.  I ripped up the carpet, hoping that the concrete wouldn't be too bad and that maybe I could just paint it.  I didn't want to put in new carpet, because hopefully in a couple of years I can talk the hubby into wood floors through out.  So I figured painting it would work too.  But what color?  She thought it would be "cool" if they were white and then splatter painted with all the colors on her walls.  When we ripped up the carpet, this is just a small taste of what I found.

Hubby and his brother used the floor as their very own canvas while they were building the house!  So stinking cute!  I almost don't want to paint over all of it.

Ohhhh.  It might help if I mentioned that she had NO clue what her room was gonna look like.  I did it while she was at her dad's for the month of June.  So when she came home, it was a big surprise.  Which she loved.  Adored.  Screamed like a banshee when she saw it.  Yay me!!!

We still haven't finished.  We've been too busy playing.  We're finishing the floors and molding next week.  I'll take pics then and show the final result of our craziness.  I have to mention that one of my best friends and her 2 kiddos helped me do ALL the work!  If it hadn't been for them, I couldn't have done it!

Once it's all finished, then I get to start on her new pieces of furniture.  I have a lot of furniture that I'm re-doing to put in her room.  Her bed was my grand fathers, possibly my great-grandfathers.  It's old, haha!  It's getting a new vintage look as well as the antique buffet that's been in my family for generations.  My guess is that it's getting within 10-20 years of being 100!  It's gorgeous and one of my favorite pieces from my childhood home.  It makes me unbelievably happy to put it in her room.  My mom would be so happy.  Then she has my antique vanity.  And I still have to find something to use for her TV/radio.  I'm on the hunt!

Realizing

It dawned on me today, as I was getting PTA stuff ready for the new year, that my girl is not a baby anymore. I mean slapped me in the face dawned on me.

Even though I've talked about it before, I don't know if it all really sank in until today. She's about to be a 4th grader.

She'll be 10 in just a few short months. How can it be so? I promise I was just carrying her off to her first day of school. Not getting ready to take her to the first day of her last year of elementary school.

Her baby looks are all gone. She doesn't quite look like a "little" kid. She has that in between look to her. Like she's on the brink of pre-teen. She cares about her clothes, her hair. She's so into make-up (but NOT allowed to wear it!). I'm SO not ready for this.

She's always been sassy, but I can see the new underlying attitude trying to break through. I'm just not ready.

Why can't they stay little longer? Haha! It would ease this momma's mind for sure!

July via Instagram

Since my girl's been home, all my blogging aspirations have gone outta' the window.  So the easiest thing to do, obviously, is post our month via Instagram pics :)

It seems to be the only way I'm tracking our days lately.  Ya know, cause I refuse to take the time to blog.  At least while I'm soaking up every minute of summer that I can.  We've had crazy days, play days, dress-up days, vaca days...so.much.fun.

I've had lots of work that took up too much time, time away from my precious girl, but with "life" and icky bills, momma's gotta make some money!  So, no extra stuff for me.  Just time with my girl...and the hubby, when he's not at work.

Making Laundry Detergent

 Pink Hair

 Laundry...ughhh :/

 Silly Girl

 Cuddle Time

 Mani

 Squirt

 Photoshoot prep

 ...more prepping

 Room re-do = chalkboard wall

 4th mani/pedi

 Happy Independence Day America!!!

Happy Independence Day America!!!

Sand Castles at the Coast

 Toes in the Sand

 Beach Bonfire

 VBS

 Fun with Friends

 "New" to Me Car!

 Summer Days

 Playing in Make-up

 Rollers

 Road Tripping

 Flip Flop Makin'

 Road Tripping...home

 Tootin' Around

 Sunset

I'll be back soon...