Holla!!! What I'm Diggin' Wednesday....is back!

I was a total slacker on vacation....didn't post once and I definitely didn't host What I'm Diggin' Wednesday.  I know, some of you over achievers write post days in advance and post even while on vacation.... well, I have never claimed to be an over achiever.  I figured that today I would get What I'm Diggin' Wednesday back to hoppin'.  I have eliminated the Q&A portion of the hop because....well.....I just got tired of coming up with the questions and it really wasn't making a big difference in who joined in on the fun.  So, this hop is even more simple!
These blog hop rules are simple:
1. You wanna' share what you've been diggin' this week?  Go ahead! Whether that's a new recipe you found that your whole family (finally) loves, what book you're reading right now, the movie that you saw this week or a product you can't live without.....let us know! 
2. Leave your link and if you feel in the sharing spirit.....snag a hop button and let the world know about this little corner of Blog Land.
3. If you're new here....leave me a comment and I will be happy to return the love.



This week.....although it has just started....went from blah to *HappyDance* fast.  This is the reason:

That beautiful little girl is my brand spankin' new niece, Bailey.  Isn't she the cutest?  7 lbs. 2 oz of pure innocence.  My step brother and his girlfriend had this sweet baby this morning and you can bet that she will soon be spoiled rotten by us all.  My feeling of blah went out the window when I saw this little girl.  There is no doubt in my mind that God knows exactly what he is doing with newborns.  Perfection swaddled in a blanket.



I'm such the proud aunt *swoon*



Could you not just kiss these feet?!




The proud papa with his little girl

Was that enough bragging?   I am probably far from done but I'll move on to what else I'm diggin' this week.


What I'm reading:


Some people never read about the things that make them angry, I do.  I research and read the heck out of it, so that someday, I just might be able to change what I find wrong with the world.




Just started this today because I read the Message Bible and love it, so far this seems perfect for me for daily devotion time




Found this at Hastings....USED, my favorite kind of book.

What I'm listening to this week:

60's, 70's and 80's Hits on Pandora.  The best.  Especially the Motown hits.  I can not get enough of them.


Random weekly obsession:

My crockpot


And now it's time for you to link up!!!!

Sorry I couldn't resist....one more.


Now it's time to link up and don't forget to spread the word so the hop will grow.


 

Monday?

It's Monday and it totally feels like one. 
I
Can
Not
Get
Motivated

This weekend was wonderful except for my A/C deciding that the fan motor just wasn't kickin' it anymore.  So, thanks to B's friend that just happens to do A/C work on the side...we have been rigged up all weekend with it mostly working.  This afternoon when they get off work, it will truly be fixed and all will be right with the world. (yeah, right)  Had a great time this weekend though on a date night....you know that's when you find a babysitter and head out with your spouse.....preferably to have a adult beverage with some fun friends.  We are lucky enough to have a great place that just opened up the road.  I didn't go to bed until around 2 am and my body didn't know how to react to that.  Luckily the kids were staying the night off and we were able to sleep in.
Today I have accomplished a few things...I put in a load of laundry, put dinner in the crock pot and ran to the insurance guy's office to sign forms he did wrong the first time.  I also made some fantabulous S'mores Cookies....

R made her own lunch and it was a towering work of art......

So, here's to Monday and hoping everyone can make it through the day.  I am contemplating how I could sneak in a nap while G watches the rest of Arthur. 

Bathtime Interview

Lately I've noticed little things that 4 1/2 year old G says that kind of get under my skin and then I realize that the things he's saying reflects what he sees in his little 4 year old world.  The other day, he told me that there were no "mommy jobs" only "daddy jobs"....well, my feminist hair on the back of my neck was standing at attention when I realized that he was innocently talking about what he sees everyday. 
He wakes up and Mommy is here at home, where I take care of him all day then his daddy comes home from "work".  He doesn't consider my Stay at Home Mom title "work".  So, I needed to explain to him about women and how they can do pretty much anything men can do but that Mommy and Daddy decided that I would stay home and take care of things at home and the kiddos all during the day and Daddy would go to work-work and come home and help out too.  After our casual conversation I decided to interview him once again just to check in.....and that's always entertaining.  And remember, he's 4 1/2.

1.  What do you want to be when you grow up?

An animal rescuer but I will work at Bucee's (this is a local chain of gas stations with a beaver as a mascot....Google it) to keep my other job secret.

2.  How much will your jobs pay?

Well, when you come in, Mom you can buy a whole lot of drinks for only $1.

3.  Why Bucee's?

um...because I like Icee's

4.  What does Mommy do for work?  (and remember....we had our whole conversation about what moms do and girl power and all of that beforehand)

Fold clothes, clean the toilet and do laundry

(thanks, son.)

5.  What's your favorite thing about Mommy?

Sometimes you buy my ice cream....but sometimes you don't.

6.  What's your favorite thing about your brother and sister?

Nothing.  I just like you and Daddy.  Sometimes, they be mean to me, Mom and if they pick on me......I pick on them. 


7.  What's your favorite smell?

I can smell things very far away......like Icee's and slushies

8.  What's your favorite sound?

I can hear stuff very far away too......like a coyote and hyena fighting.....really, Mom, I can.

Yep, that's me and the nut.  And all I do is laundry and toilets. :/

Happy Anniversary and beach pics!

13 years ago today.....I was a fresh faced, brand new high school grad, barely turned 18 year old and I was absolutely sure I had found the love of my life.  I would like to say that everyone else agreed but let's get real....I had turned 18 less than 2 weeks before my wedding day and my soon to be husband was 21.  Our parents were not too happy...I don't know of many people that were except for his grandmother who I guess was a hopeless romantic like we were.
There have been ups, downs, and all arounds.  We have been amazingly blessed with 3 healthy and gorgeous kiddos and needless to say our families warmed up to the idea of marriage. We have lived every part of our vows.....better or worse, richer or poorer, sickness and in health.....and I am still able to throw my head back and laugh so I guess you can say it's all worth it! 
Happy Anniversary to us! Is anyone else hearing Boyz 2 Men singing in the background?

And now for the rest of the vacation pictures...mostly from the beach.  I want to be back there....like now.

One of my favorite things to do on the beach...we chase crabs! Think flashlight tag with crabs.



Found one!




Daddy found a starfish!  Griff loved seeing it's little "fingers" moving




A dolphin friend stopped by for a little show



Relaxing on Shell Island....if you go to Panama City Beach definitely take the Blue Dolphin Tour!



Rhys having a blast




Tyler's turn



Warning: extreme use of pictures ahead

Just some fun from our vacation! Beach pics to come next....



Oh, Auburn University how we love you





The sweet boy




The Rocky Brook Express....a train I used to ride when I was a kid




The pre teen caboose




Meeting their aunt and uncle for the 1st time!




My Aunt and Uncle :)





Happy 4th!




Boys will be boys




Dance Party in my Papa's office




Hi-YA!




Tyler with my Papa




Peace with Papa



I'm back......did you miss my ramblings??

So.....I am back from what has become our annual family vacation to Alabama and Florida.  Very reminiscent of y own vacations as a child....very.  Same places, same beds, same people. And I love it.  Most of my family is in Alabama so I don't get to see them much.  This trek we make as a family when we can is pretty much it.  This time we decided to make our last leg of vacation a 5 night stay in Panama City Beach, Florida.  Again, this is exactly what we did when I was a kid and I still love it.  These are the beaches I grew up on and I want my kids to have these memories as well. 
Our first stop was at my dad's alma mater, Auburn University.  As in most families.....we have all inherited the love of one college.  In our case it's Auburn. War Eagle!  My oldest son has become slightly obsessed with the college and is totally positive he will be going to college there....which I fully encourage.  After a late start and a stay at the Hampton Inn in Mobile, we made our way to my aunt's house and stopped off at the University.  Such a great experience.  Tyler had a blast and the look on his face as he stood in awe of the stadium was priceless.  We headed to my aunt and uncle's house after that for a few days of family fun and then on to my grandfather's and then Panama City. 
I had such a good time watching my entire family interact.  I am so blessed with amazing family and friends.....pictures to come soon....I will try not to go overboard.  Although, if you are my personal Facebook friend, I apologize in advance.
Sorry for the lack of posts.....family bonding took precedence for sure.  But here is one family pic from the beach.