#summerbucketlist

Summer is officially behind us so I thought I would do a recap of this super fun season. I created a summer bucket list back in May and it was helpful in making sure our days were full of fun and sun! We didn't get to everything but I was happy with the memories we did make. Here is what our summer looked like-

1. Summer beach trip

We took a trip to the Gulf Coast the first week of June just like we did last year. The school year ran late this year due to our brutal winter so we were nervous it would interfere with our trip but it didn't. We always have the best weeks when we are at the beach with our Georgia peach. The beach is our happy place.

2. Attend an outdoor concert

It wasn't outdoor but it was at the Grand Ole Opry which was even better. We saw Terri Clark, Sam Hunt, Craig Morgan, Trace Adkins and CARRIE! What a blast.

 

3. Teach Georgia Grace how to catch fireflies

Check- this was fun too. Before it got super hot in August we stayed outside until dusk a lot of nights.

 

4. Go on a date night to the drive-in

This one didn't happen and I was excited for it :( I called two different times for their showings and neither time did the movies sound appealing so we never went. We will try again next year!

 

However, we did go to an outdoor showing of Frozen! It was so much fun and an activity we could all enjoy. We will definitely do this again next year.

 

5. Spend a few weekends at the lake

We halfway did this one. We went to the lake once for Father's Day Weekend and had a great time. The rest of our summer weekends got away from us so only one trip this year. We will try for more next year!

 

6. Make and eat popsicles

Yes and yes! We ate homemade, store bought-we weren't picky.

 

7. Take Georgia to the splash park

Did this but didn't have the best time. I think next year when she's older she will enjoy it.

 

8. Go to a farmer's market

Marcus and his family took Georgia Grace to Jackson's Orchard at the beginning of the summer for a fun day trip. They have a petting zoo and slides so it was fun for everyone!

 

9. Attend our county fair

Our county fair falls during the 4th of July holiday every year so we went a few nights for some square-dancing, socializing and funnel cakes!

 

10. Learn how to can from my Mamaw

Postponing this one for next year. The days got away from us and by the time Mamaw was ready to can I had just started my new job.

 

11. Take a day trip to a place we have never traveled

We spent the last weekend of the summer in Memphis which is a city neither of us have traveled to. It was a short trip but jam packed with fun. Staying at The Peabody, exploring Beale Street and going to Graceland were some of the highlights!

 

12. Try a new recipe

I will be honest and say I didn't try a lot of new recipes this year. It was a Summer of transition as we sold our house and moved in with my Dad. I did try a spicy crockpot queso dip the other day and it was delicious! I will have my own kitchen soon so I will make up for lost time then :)

 

13. Have a TV sitcom/movie marathon night

We had a busy Summer so I don't think we ever spent a full night watching TV ( we will make up for that this Fall I'm sure) but our favorite show to watch this Summer was Modern Family. I know it has been on for several seasons now but we just got into it and laugh ourselves silly.

 

 

14. Read four books

I was only able to read one book this Summer. Between the move and my new job my spare time couldn't be spent reading and that's ok. I know there will be a season for that.

 

I did read Surprised By Motherhood by Lisa Jo Baker and loved it. I'm glad I found time for this one.

 

15. Make homemade ice-cream

We did this a lot! This is one of our favorite summer traditions.

 

16. Walk to the sno-cone stand one night after supper

Before we moved we made it a point to do this because we will no longer have the luxury of walking to the sno shack stand.

 

17. Go to the pool- a lot!

We knocked this one out of the park :) Mom's pool was our Saturday hangout most weekends. Georgia Grace became more and more comfortable with the water each time we swam. We will miss swimming!

18. Watch fireworks

We watched fireworks on three different occasions. GGH didn't mind them one bit.

 

19. Go on a family picnic

One of my Thursdays I was home we took a little family picnic. Our Summer was mild so it was enjoyable to be outside in the middle of the day in July!

 

20. Go to a baseball game

Didn't get to this one. We aren't big baseball people so it wasn't high on our priority list but I do want to expose her to America's pasttime. Next year! I doubt she (or myself) would have sit through a whole game anyway.

 

21. Take Georgia to our church VBS

She went one day with my Mamaw and I hope next year she can go a few days. She will be in a regular class before we know it!

 

22. Chase Georgia with a water hose in the yard

This was how we beat the August heat! She had a ball.

 

23. Stay in our pj's all day

This didn't happen much either but I do recall one rainy Saturday I don't think we ever went anywhere or put on "real clothes"

 

24. Eat fruit right from the vine and make a pie with the rest

Georgia Grace did this a lot with her Pa picking grapes from their vine. She was sad when they were gone. No baking but I don't think grapes would be good baked :)

 

25. Break ground on our new house!

This hasn't happened but I'll give an update soon :)

We had a great summer checking things off our summer bucket list!

Update

Our days are super full right now with my new job and the new school year so instead of blogging I have been  heading straight to bed instead :) Stopping in for a minute to document some of my pictures from the weekend and this week. I absolutely love my new job but with all new things there is a learning curve so I am exhausted at the end of the day. Each day is getting easier and I'm getting a little more efficient. At least that's what I'm telling myself.

 

Friday I made my last official trip home from my previous job and I got behind an Amish buggy (that is a common occurence) so I thought I would take a picture. This has been the "traffic" I have had to deal with for three years. I know I won't miss the commute but I will miss seeing the beautiful countryside.

 

Friday night we went to our friend Thomas's 5th birthday party. It was a shark theme and Georgia Grace wasn't sure about sticking her head in the shark's mouth ha! It rained on and off so we didn't swim but still had a lot of fun!

 

Saturday was pictureless highlighted with sleeping in and being lazy. It was just what we needed.

 

Sunday after church we came home and were playing outside when I heard her crying. She had her first wasp swing ;( She was pretty upset for two minutes or so but then she was fine and never talked about it again. Poor baby girl.

 

Sunday night we went to a fish fry at Chris and Gina's. This child has turned into a little singer. She knows almost all of "Jesus Loves Me" and the Frozen songs of course. She makes up her own songs too. I hope she is always comfortable expressing herself!

 

Monday was a big day for me. It was my first real day of dropping Georgia Grace off at Grandmomma's. Daddy usually has the honors but since I am working just a few blocks away I can do it! And I even get to go eat lunch with her too :) I've got it made as a working mom.

 

My blogging may continue to be sporadic until everything settles down a little bit. Even though I'm busy, I'm thankful for the new opportunity I have and the more time I will have with my family.

School Days

It has been one quick summer and now it's back to the school routine. I don't think I've ever been more excited for a school year to start. This is going to be one of the best years for our family!

Even though the school year has started and we are making the slow transition to fall we're still holding on to summer. I just love this sweet picture my mother-in-law snapped. She may be a peach but she likes watermelon too! :)

Wednesday was a big day as it was opening day for Butler County Schools. My first official day is actually Monday but I was able to attend this kickoff to the school year. Even though I know a lot of my colleagues having gone through the system not too many years ago it was nice to meet new people and catch up with old acquaintances.

Everyone in the district attends opening day so Marcus and Mom were there too. I never dreamed I would be working in the same organization as them! It feels good to be "home".

Since I am in a supervisory role I had to say a few words about my programs. Speaking in front of 400 people is not something I do everyday but I did it without falling or hurling so it was a proud moment ha! Thanks Paige McKinney for the picture!

After lunch when I returned to my office I found this sweet gift on my desk. An inspirational book, planner and chocolate. I felt so appreciated! God has placed me exactly where I am suppose to be.

Wednesday was also a big day at AKK because it was the annual day-before-school pajama party! All 25 preschool and school kids celebrated one last day together. Of course Georgia Grace couldn't miss this event. She even received a new pair of pj's to match her Aunt Shanna :)

And then Thursday was the first day of school and the first day of Marcus's fifth year of teaching. He is now tenured! He is teaching 4th grade this year and will have exactly all the same 3rd graders he had last year. One mom said her son wants to have Mr. Harrison every year until he graduates :) He has a lot of little fans and I think it's a testament to the teacher and role model he is to his students.

Happy daddy and daughter. Matching dimples and everything. She's so proud of him just like I am.

Next week will be the first full week for all of us so this weekend we are just going to relax and do fun things. We don't have any plans except maybe a little lake time and that's exactly what we need. I'm thankful for the newness this time of year brings and the opportunities we have been blessed with.

Last Weekend, Frankfort & A Dream Come True

We have completed over half of our #summerbucketlist and have plans for most of the rest of the tasks. Marcus and I have both really enjoyed having these established goals to keep track of fun things we can do with Georgia Grace. To say she has had a fun summer would be a major understatement.

Last Friday night we celebrated Marcus's birthday early with his family at one of our favorite BBQ restaurants Moonlite. And it just so happened in the humungous restaurant we were seated right by GGH's "boyfriend". We heard about her "boyfriend Ace" all the way home. They are just the sweetest!

Last weekend you could have found us poolside. This is our first summer with Mom's new pool and I think we've done our part to illustrate it was money well spent :)

 Sunday night was Mexican night. We normally have quiet Sunday nights at home preparing for the week ahead but we felt like doing something a little different and enjoying the relaxed schedule that comes with summer.
 

Me: "Georgia, do you want to go to Garcia's?"
GGH: "Yes, chips!" Ha!
We have a deep love for our Mexican food around here. 

She was such a big girl to sit in the booth all by herself and feed herself (mostly). And the Baby Bjorn Bib was one of my best purchases as a parent. Wipe it off and go! So much easier than laundering stained cloth bibs.
 

Thursday I had to be in Frankfort for a conference and since I would be staying overnight my two favorites tagged along! I trained, they toured the town. I know who got the better end of that deal.

But they saved the best for last so I could be a part of it. Because it's not a trip to Frankfort without visiting the State Capitol building! This was Georgia Grace's first trip and she loved climbing the steps and running around the perimeter. We didn't get to go in as they weren't giving tours that day so we will have to make another trip so she can see the inside. It's so beautiful!

 

The best photo bomber I've ever seen. She made the picture so much cuter :)

We walked the gardens of the Governor's Mansion also-when in Rome. It's modeled after Queen Maria Antoinette's villa in Versailles, France. Nope, didn't know that prior to the trip, read a historical society sign :)

So why was I in Frankfort this week???

Because I have some big news to share...

 

I have accepted the position as the Director of Special Programs for Butler County Schools! I have always had a passion for nutrition, especially school nutrition. I have aspired to become a nutrition director and those aspirations are now reality. I will be the director for other programs in the school district as well that are equally important and I'm excited about that opportunity to be involved in other aspects of children getting the very best education.

 

Thank you to those who prayed and supported me. God has truly went before me to open doors and make provisions according to His plan. And thank you to my Grayson County family for three wonderful years at TLRMC! I will miss the people and hospital so much but I know this is the path I am suppose to be taking. And they have all supported me and wished me well despite hating to see me go-love those people so much. 

 

I'm ecstatic to begin my new career at BCBOE! Go Bears! 

Georgia is 1 3/4!

A new house, a new photographer (Daddy did the honors this month and did a fine job-he's such a good Daddy) and pictures to illustrate our girl's blooming personality featured this month. It's been three months of change as we sold our house, moved in with my Dad and started the process of building our new home. Georgia Grace has been a trooper through all the adversities and unfamiliar situations. God has outdone Himself with her.

Georgia-you are a year and 3/4! 

• I'm guessing you to be around 22 pounds and about 32-33 inches tall. You wear 18 month clothing and big girl panties during the day and a size 4 diaper at night. You are wearing a size 5/6 shoe.
• Since I already mentioned the big girl panties, the biggest accomplishment in the past three months is potty training! You went all day yesterday in panties without an accident!! You still wear a diaper to bed but I don't think it will be long before we make the switch to panties. You have woke up dry several times. You couldn't make me more proud if you tried sweet baby girl!
• You have a mouth full of teeth. I have truly lost count. One of your top lateral incisors ("second tooth") was really slow to come in and we were worried you didn't have it but it has finally appeared! Your teeth are cute and small and look like your Daddy's did at the same age.

• You are speaking in full sentences. You try to say every word you here. And I can already hear that thick southern drawl in your voice. Wonder who you get that from? :)
• The number 5 does still not exist to you. When we tell you to put a 5 between the 4 and 6 you say "No". Your teenage years are going to be fun :)
• You nap most days (that will soon be everyday when you start preschool) and sleep through the night. Some nights we still rock you and some nights you go on your own. Your schedule has been more relaxed this summer by staying and waking up later but that will soon change with the start of the new school year.
• You are very friendly and wave at everybody. You love men! And you remain such the Daddy's girl.
• You like to keep busy and rarely sit still. I don't think you have ever sit down and watched 30 straight minutes of TV. 
• You will officially be an AKK preschooler this fall. You love it and I think it's made you more confident and outgoing! I'm so thankful for the structure, manners, curriculum and friendships that it offers. You are in the best hands no doubt when Mommy and Daddy are at work.

• You have also inherited another personality trait from your mother of being bossy. It's your life and we're just living in it :) You love bossing Owen and repeating the commands I give him. You are first born through and through.
• We finally said goodbye to the bottle! You sometimes have a sippy of milk before bed (trying to bump that up so we can do the nightime panty thing) but no bottle at all! It was an easy transition actually despite my fears. You fussed a few mornings for one but quickly accepted your beverages in a sippy or cup or through a straw and moved on with life. You make my job easy GGH!
• You eat three meals a day but you are such a grazer. You want to be snacking on something all day long. This must be the reason for your high metabolism! Your favorite foods are corn, cheese, peaches, rice and strawberries. You love Mexican food! 

Twenty one months went fast. Super fast. Faster than I even expected despite the warnings from fellow mommy friends. Even though time does move swiftly we wouldn't want to spend our time any other way. You are the best of both of us Georgia Grace and I'm super proud everyday to call you mine. 

Happy 1 3/4 years to my little dolly! I love you forever!

-Mommy 

And happiest of birthdays (#26) to our favorite guy in the whole world! We are celebrating tonight with dinner and they have both tagged along with me to a work conference at our state capitol so it's a nice little getaway for us. We love you MPH!

List Bliss

Happy Friday y'all! My life is not functioning in long, narrative thoughts but rather short lists right now so I'm not going to fight it. We've been doing a lot of "hurry up and wait" here lately and as exhausting as it can be I know there is a reason for it. I have been reminded several times this week to just simply trust His plan. His plan is good. His plan is sovereign. There's a lot of peace and freedom in those words for me.

One

Last week (July 14th) was my two year blogiversary. Some days it feels like I just started and some days I feel like I have been a blogger forever. Even though my plate has more on it than it did two summers ago when I was halfway through my first pregnancy and wasn't wrangling a toddler I still try to make time to chronicle our lives. These days are fleeting and I want to remember them as vividly as I can while still living in the moment each and every day. Blogging has a beautiful way of allowing you to do both. Thank you to my readers (over 83,000 page views say what?!? Y'all rock.) for motivating me without even knowing you do. It's been a fun journey that I hope continues for a long time.

Two
 Potty training. So much to say about that. Since I last posted exclaiming we were 90% there I jinxed us and she decided she wasn't interested in the potty. But then Wednesday night I had the idea to store a bin of toys right by her potty so that she can play while she sits and that seemed to do the trick. She wore panties all afternoon and night without any accidents! Maybe just maybe we will have it whipped by the end of summer.

Three

Can we talk about how big this child has been acting here lately? She speaks in full sentences ("I want more corn", "I want to see my Dada", "Get up Eliza, Callyn; Go pee!" Ha!), drinks from a cup, pees in the potty and wears big girl panties. But no matter how big she acts during the day you can bet she wants her nighttime milk and cuddles to soothe her to sleep. We're hanging on to that as long as we can.

Four

Naptime yesterday equaled studying our plans (I feel so official since they are in blueprint form now!). The builder said how impressed he was with the detailed list of materials, finishes, etc. that we provided during the bidding process. He hasn't learned how Type A I am yet obviously ;) Things are moving right along and we are on track to break ground by the end of summer-yeehaw!

Five

Sunday we were greeted at Mamaw's with the sweetest gifts from my baby cousin. She asked Georgia Grace and me to stand by her on her wedding day.

This is the third flower girl gig she has landed! And technically her fourth wedding if you count when I was 38 weeks pregnant with her as the Matron of Honor in my sister-in-law's wedding :) She will be 2 1/2 for the wedding which should be a good age. Time will tell the tale. 

She was so excited she did the "cheese" grin! She loves her Payton so very much. These two are an inseparable pair.

She will be the most beautiful bride. I'm so thankful we get to share the day with her.

Have a great weekend friends!

Harrison Happenings

It's times like now when I have a full plate and no time left in my day to devote to blogging that I'm tempted to throw in the towel. And then I read a comment that I have inspired someone to start a personal blog and I'm motivated all over again (Yay Meredith!). Thanks to all of my readers for tuning in and supporting me. It's getting ready to get really exciting in the next few months as I blog about our building process. I hope I can be a resource to others who plan on building in the future. I know the bloggers I follow that have recently built homes have helped inspire me.

Here's what our week/weekend looked like from an iPhone lens. My camera lens has still not turned up since we moved. Am I really going to have to go through every box of storage?? :(

Georgia Grace in her Pa's '77 Camaro. She loves going to the garage with him and "riding" the car and motorcycle. Sixteen years is going to go by way too quickly.

This week was full of pool parties. We were able to make two out of three and she had the best time once she warmed up to the ginormous pool. Lola P was a great swim partner since Mommy had already put her clothes back on!

Another sweet one of GGH with the birthday girl. The grins say it all! 

Two-thirds of us smiling with our eyes open is a win :)

Aiden's birthday party was two nights later and although it was an unseasonably cool July day they still had a lot of fun. She has always been rather fond of Aiden. I think this picture depicts that ;)

Thursday we had a family day just hanging around the house and enjoying the pleasant non-July weather. We went on a family picnic and I captured a sweet moment of Georgia Grace eating her favorite food-corn. This child wants corn with every meal. And for snack. It's a good thing we have so many fresh corn growers in our area, I keep us well stocked.

Friday night was a big night. We met with our architect to pick up our finalized house plans! Two long months of planning, changing, adding, changing back to the original, and adding some more finally yielded the house of our dreams. It's going to be perfectly us. Can't wait to share the details with you soon.

On our way home we stopped at Cracker Barrel to celebrate with some southern comfort food. As we were leaving we had to try out the rocking chairs I took this picture which definitely tells a story. Notice the silhouette of the young man in the background, thus the cause of the dreamy expression. And also note her big toe peeping out of her baby Jacks ha! [baby Jacks from Gymboree but it appears they have been discontinued :(]

Yesterday we worked the church nursery and came home and rocked babies in our own nursery. She loves her "babies" which yesterday included a UK cheerleader doll, a wiener dog beanie baby, a build-a-bear bear and a tub baby. She's the best little mommy.

And then we spent some of the afternoon outside running and playing. I put her in dog ears just to try something different and they were an instant hit. She loved them too. This may be our 'do for the summer :)

Wifi is coming to my Dad's this week so maybe I will blog more regularly or maybe not. Everything else comes first and then if I have a spare 30 minutes I will crank out a post.

Happy Monday friends!