Mid-Life Crisis, Craziness, or the Summer Heat........

All I want to do is stay at the pool. The water is so nice and relaxing, I told Jeff I could just live at the pool if I had a refrigerator there. Oh, but wait......I pulled the wallpaper off the bathroom wall yesterday. What was I thinking, now I have started a project and not even sure as to what I want to do in there. Now I have to do something....see what I am saying. I use to plan a project out from beginning to end well not so much anymore. One day I want to wallpaper and the next paint or throw my hands up and just play at the pool. If you remember not so long ago I posted about the Orange Lily and wanting to paint the bathroom Orange......CRAZY!!!! Maybe pool blue?? So see guys something really is going on with me and I just can't figure out what it is......Maybe it is called LIFE! Surely some of you are right here on this path with me???

Enjoy your summer,
R-

another opportunity.......

Cammie got a wonderful opportunity to photograph a riding lesson with a friend of ours. She tagged along Saturday and took lots of photo's of Miss S at riding lessons. Cammie relaly enjoyed getting to photograph the horses and Miss S. She actually also got a few good shots of Miss S.'s daddy too. It was really hot on Saturday and I think the creative juices just wasn't flowing as smoothly, hopefully she can go some other time and take more photo's.

Enjoy

B-O-B

Let me introduce you to the newest family member--BOB. Bob is a tadpole, the biggest one I have ever seen. He is a bullfrog tadpole, that Caitlan got at her science class. Bob has outgrown two tanks already and is on his third aquarium. I hope this one will last a little while. We have been watching Bob and waiting for legs to appear. He is starting to get back legs, who knew it took sooooo long. We have had Bob for months now and he is just getting legs!!! I am not big on critters other than our doggies, so this is an adventure for us to have a critter in the house. Caitlan loves Bob! She feeds him, talks to him, takes care of him, and is just sure he will last forever. However, mom is not to thrilled! We will see what happens....... Just thought I would share BOB with you all!

Enjoy,
R

Ray a drop of Golden Sun........

Playing with a few photos this morning and wanted to share these. The sunshine is really scarce here lately, we have by far had our share of rain lately. However, every time I look at this day lily it reminds me of the sunshine. The orange is such an intense orange and I just love it. I am thinking of taking this flower right now to Lowes' and have them color match it for a bathroom paint, I know now you guys really do think I am crazy. I just love it! I think this orange with all the white in the bathroom it would balance out. So what do you think? I have been thinking of a pumpkin color, I just think this would make the bathroom pop! I will let you all know if I decided to go with this color. Of course this project wouldn't begin until the pool season ends.

I hope you wonderful daddy's had a great Fathers day. I hope my husband enjoyed his day. Caitlan asked me this morning when child's day was??? So I guess I need to do a day just for the girls, they just don't realize that everyday is their day!! 8) They don't remember the movie nights, the daddy daughter days, the evening out for ice cream, the park days, days spent at the zoo and more are considered their days out. Silly little girls!!! I hope you all are enjoying the summer to the fullest with your little ones.
Enjoy,
R

Something new for me to try.......

Angie's Spot presents the Christmas in July Swap

Do you want to know what this is all about?? Well--What could be more fun than getting a gift? Getting a gift in the mail! A blogger has started a monthly swap. This is where a group of woman sign up and you get paired with another woman to exchange a box of goodies! I have a friend who has been doing this and is having so much fun, I thought it would be something I would love to do. Doesn't it sound like fun! So this theme of the month is Christmas in July! OH the fun I am going to have getting a box together for someone I have never met. This is so exciting. I can't wait! There is time to join in if you want! Come join me in the fun! Just click the link above or I have a button over on the side bar if you want to join in the fun!

Hope you are enjoying your summer. We are staying at the pool and dodging storms. The weather has been unreal around here! UGH......... I am off to email my info. to the blogger so I am all signed up and ready to go!

Enjoy
R

Worth the wait......

yes they are! I wait every summer for my lillies to bloom. This year is no different. I couldn't wait to see the amazing colors and the large blooms. They are even more amazing this year than in the past few years. I think all the rain we have been having has increased the number of them this year. I have NOT had to water once! WOO HOO. I just had to share a few of the amazing pictures of these gorgeous flowers with YOU!!!

Enjoy,
R-

Summer Fun

To be 7 again.........playing at the pool, fountains, and enjoying friends. I recently took Caitlan and her friend Shelby to the fountains for an afternoon of fun. They had a great time playing in the fountains, splashing in the water, chasing after each other, and enjoying the sun. Cammie tagged along as our official photographer to capture all the fun. All I can say is, "I wish I was 7 again....."

Enjoy,
R-

Doe a Deer........

One of my favorite things to do here lately is take a ride up to Norris. I love to see the deer and even throw them some bread or apples to eat. They are so much fun to watch. Here are a few pictures Cammie took last week. I love watching animals in their own habitats, I find it very relaxing. On this particular evening we saw several groups of deer in various locations on Norris Hwy.. One group in particular had a Doe that was pregnant. Aren't they beautiful??

They are so peaceful.
Enjoy,
R-

This rainy, stormy, cloudy year....

Miss Caitlan--I love her so much, but this rainy stormy weather is taking a toll on me. Let me explain, as some of you know that Caitlan has sensory issues, anxiety issues, and some motor planning issues. All continuing from her apraxia (later story). Last summer I thought the deep pressure from the pool helped her so much, this year I am not so sure. I am wondering if the pool is making it worse?? She has been crying alot more, mostly on days that are cloudy, rainy, stormy. She can predict a rain shower or storm even before the clouds move in, it is unreal. I really think the weather people could use Caitlan!! I have been told they can sense the barometric pressure changes in the atmosphere. Enough about that. So with this year being a rainy, stormy, cloudy year it has really taken a toll on her. And as ALL of us moms know that when it takes a toll on your child it takes a toll on you too!! So there has been some really rough days lately with her. I am not sure what the next step is with Caitlan, I just know that I can't continue to have all these bad days, it makes me so sad for her. She is so scared and terrified, I was hoping she would out grow this but it just seems that it is only getting worse here lately. UGH! She is so bright, smart, funny and really happy most of the time, that to see these days causing her so much stress and anxiety it is hard to deal with. It breaks a mothers heart.

So I guess we will keep plugging on with life and the little things it throws at us and be HAPPY! I tell the girls to have a happy heart all the time, I guess I need to go on and get my happy heart on and be HAPPY! So I am asking all of you moms to be HAPPY with me! Isn't she just the cutest, her big dark eyes. That sweet little smile, oh how I love her!

I LOVE YOU MISS CAITLAN!
Enjoy,
R-

Heron at Norris....

One evening last week we decided to ride up to Norris and take a few pictures. We had been lacking in the family time department lately, it seems like we were all going in different directions. So with a drive up to Norris we shared some good family time with each other. It was a beautiful cool evening, we got to see lots of deer, Heron, men fishing, and doggies. However, the most gorgeous thing was the fog lifting off the water, it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. It made for some great pictures. Here are just a few that Cammie took on this wonderful evening.

I just love these photographs. I think they are so peaceful. I love watching the Herons!
Enjoy,
R

This is my life.........

Life seems to be crazy these days. We are staying busy and it seems that I have been more tired than usual. But this is my life and I love it. Just look at the craziness that goes on............. there's Jeff....he is always crazy.

Then there is Blue and Cammie. First Blue, he is one crazy dog. He loves going to work with his daddy and isn't happy unless he is with his daddy. He eats anything and everything. Blue is just Blue. Then for Cammie.....well what can I say a teen who has her own agenda. She would go, go, and go until she dropped. She loves shopping, buying things, music, photography, boys, movies, grandparents, hanging with friends, do you see where I am going. She loves anything except staying at home.

Then there is my Duckie--I love her with all my heart. She is momma's baby. She just wants to be with me! She loves to lay around and chew on rawhide bones and be happy.

Last but not least there is my Caitlan, who only wants to go to the pool! She LOVES to be at home, and would never leave the house! Always wanting to play board games, read books, do school work, and watch cartoons.

So as you can see the family is kinda like a crazy zoo. I love them all and they are all so different. The pool is where I want to stay on pretty days and we pretty much have. Even Cammie has come down some to enjoy it. It has been a great summer, just mommy needs a break to rest. So we are headed to Chattanooga this evening for a family road trip (short) maybe it will help me to feel better and not as tired!

enjoy,
R

Friends.............

Friends....what can I say. Everyone has a friend! Sometimes friends are life long and sometimes they come and go. However, you look at it everyone has a friend in their lifetime that has molded them or been of meaning to them. I was thinking the other day of all the firneds I have had in my life time. Some I have lost contact with over the years from moving, some I have only recently found thru facebook, and others I have been friends with for years. Cammie has this little friend that she has known for years, but they only hang out in the summer time. She is a super sweet little girl and they had lots of fun last night.

I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to all my wonderful friends!!
R-