The sweet life on Sunlight Road

We each live our own lives.. though we may share them with others, they are but our own.

2011-04-20T01:10:00.001-05:00

I have always said you can tell a lot about a person by their hands. When you look at a person's hands you can normally tell how their day is spent. You can tell if they clean house all day, you can tell if they change motor oil for a living, with the sign of a callus you can see them swinging a hammer daily, you can tell if they have a habit of biting their nails, you can tell if they have extra time in their lives to maintain themselves, you can see how cushioned or how hard their life is.
When you look at a person's hands you can see the gentleness as they hold their children, you may be able to tell that they are folded together daily for prayer, or you may sometime see uneasiness. Whatever it is.. it's a story, you may see a scar from long ago that will remain forever. Every person has a story, has thoughts, has a history, has feelings, has happiness and struggles.
Where is this blog entry stemming from? For the past month I have had to step back and look at my hands, so to say.. I've looked over my life, and read the story of my life one page at a time. I have had so many blessing in my life and yet so many struggles. I have been handed things (though too stubborn to accept) and have been made to fight for other things in my life.
When looking at my hands I see memories of the road I've traveled through my life, I see people I've cared for with my hands. I can see scars of my sweet childhood and think back to my brothers and the connection that only we shared. My hands have held my head as I cried from a broken heart, and directly after they wiped the tears from my eyes. My hand raises as I meet a passing car as I travel down the road. My hands have cradled my children in the wee hours of the night, and stroked every single hair on their head as they've slept in my arms. My hands have gripped the handle bars of my childhood bike as I made my way down the long dirt road of freedom to my friend's house... and they are also the hands that steered my way home. My hands hold a wedding band that is a circle, an endless circle built by God, trust, love and passion. As I looked to the band that incircles my finger I realize that though I can physically take the band off, I have an indention in my finger. This indention was not present the first year in our marriage. This indention may not have been there the third year of our marriage, but after eight years it is ingrained deep. As these hands wipe a tear, I also wonder if it took eight year to earn this indention how has it gone unnoticed for all this time? As I look to my hands I see all the days spent working the ground for our garden only to burn my hands with canning jars as I put up the crop. My hands have clasped in prayer countless times. My hands show that I have two children and am not consumed with the latest color of polish. During certain months of the year you can take one glance and know that I'm not like others my age.. you will see my hands stained purple with scratches around the edges, telling you that I spent the day picking blackberries and making Jelly. My hands have been raised for a Star Trek High Five at least 100 times (inside joke for Casey). You may see ink covering the palm of my hand, with countless reminders of what to do. My hands have been the tool I've used to explore this world & reach out to others along the way.
I'm not really sure why I've blogged about this tonight.. could be that it's 2am and I can't sleep or could be because I feel we should all take a look at our lives. Look to see where we come from and where we are going... to see if the path you plan to take in life is a path that leads to happiness and love for yourself and others around you? To look and understand that each person you come to has a story to them... and to be proud of your story.

As I lay down to sleep tonight I know that these hands will always be open to those who I love and will welcome the wear and tear that comes through the years, as I am living and using the tools I have to get to where I need to be in life. Make sure you are doing the same.

It's the little things that make me tick...

2011-04-12T21:34:00.001-05:00

like tonight, as we were returning from the home of a sweet friend, who is more like family... Lyla says "Momma, look at those cute little stars twinkling at me!" as she hopped out of the truck. That simple little sentence made my tired self smile from ear to ear. I love that my little girl really believes the stars are up there twinkling just for her. We stopped and stared at the stars for a few minutes and wouldn't trade those quiet seconds for anything on earth. As we were walking to the house, I looked at her and she looked so content and happy. I couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking about.. and wishing I could have the same thoughts, if only for a minute.

I will also add a little note of how blessed I am to be surrounded by wonderful people in my life. I have friends who will listen to me for hours if I need and return my words with nothing but a hug if that is what I need. I have friends who will spend 4 hours changing my brake pads and listening to my children scream with laughter during the whole process & then ask for nothing but a thank you in return. I have friends who are beside me no matter what decisions I make in life. I have friends who love me for me. I have friends who drive by my house the morning after a storm just to make sure I'm okay! Who are these amazing people you ask??? I call them FAMILY. Casey, Jennifer, Cindy, Phillip and many others ~ I love you guys... all your greatness is forever locked in my heart. :)

2011-03-29T22:34:00.000-05:00

Our Lyla at 3 years old is her own person! One Saturday night I thought I'd get crafty and make Lyla's dress or Sunday... After 2.5 hours of sewing and getting it just right, I was satisfied. Sunday morning rolls around and Lyla just wasn't having it! She did wear the dress to Church but against her will and covered in a long pea coat... what a little stinker she is! Rob told me after making the dress to hang it in her closet & just act like it was no big deal when I brought her clothes out for church, otherwise she wouldn't wear it. Well I didn't listen, I started telling her about Mommy working hard on her dress and how I added a little lace apron on it for her. Then came the look!!! I knew then that she was just going to say 'no' simply so she'd be the one making the decision. Why this story!??! Just wanted to mark my word that one day Lyla will cling to the tiny little hand made dresses, as if they were plated in gold. So, this is to you Lyla: Momma will keep making you dresses and forcing you to wear them and when the day comes that you are grown and have a daughter of your own.. I want you to give me a hug & say thanks! :0) I love you girly.

My heart is happy.

2011-03-27T20:56:00.005-05:00

Tonight as I crawled in bed I thought about the rain that was coming in the morning and then thought about the bunnies and how they needed their bunny box inside their cage to shield the wind and rain. So, I stumbled back out of bed & threw on some mud boots to set up the cozy little box for them.

On my walk in the dark to the bunny yard I thought about the sweet brown bunny that we had lost the day before. Coco had some how snuck through the fence and was gone! My heart was broken as were my children's. Coco was a mini Charcoal (momma Bunny), she was the exact colors of her and was wild with adventure. Coco was Lyla little bunny and I was beyond sad that she was gone.

As I set the box up inside their cage I tried to angle my flashlight so I could see Midnight (tate's baby bunny) and make sure he wouldn't get smooshed by the box. As I shown the light on him I noticed a noise outside of the cage.. with the move of the flashlight I saw Coco! I tried so hard to catch her, but she kept hoping from my grip... I lost her in the dark & she wasn't to be found inside the fenced area. As I prayed for God to bring her back and I shown my flashlight all over the ground outside the fence I saw Banana Peel (Daddy Bunny), who lives in the hen yard fencing.. he had a little extra fur underneath and I realized it was Coco! Banana Peel continued to love on Coco and snuggle with her as I watched on with tears in my eyes. What you must understand, is that the male father will most times eat the baby bunnies or act aggressively with them... so much that you must remove them directly after birth from the same inclosure as the babies. As Banana Peel loved on Coco I realized that the whole time that Coco was gone, Banana Peel had been caring for her. We spent hours out by the hen yard today and not once did I see Coco. I'm not sure where Banana Peel had her hid, but he did a great job keeping our lil one safe. I was so proud to see Coco hop back through the fence to be with Momma Bunny.. she set right to nursing and is happily at home with baby Midnight and Charcoal. My night is complete & I can now journey off to bed with a happy heart. I can't wait to tell my children when they wake that Coco found her way back to Charcoal and is safe and sound.

With two dogs who watch the bunny yard like hawks, this is a miracle in itself... so blessed to have witnessed such a sweet thing on The Engle Farm.

Here are a couple of videos of our sweet little Coco.

This video is before we moved the bunnies outside. This is where my children spent most of their evenings :)

Our 3 acre patch of heaven holds more love than a city filled full of millions of people.

2011-03-14T19:48:00.001-05:00

What we know as home is the best place we could be. I feel so blessed to have such a fine place to raise my children. Everything we've started here at our home was started with love. What is being instilled in my children is better than any text book could teach.. we are teaching them to love. We are teaching them that with love comes hard, selfless devotion to ourselves, each other, our land and animals. It is days like today that we reap the rewards of our small farm.

After eye balling our baby bunnies for the past week, I decided we'd hold them for the first time. They are crawling around well & are covered in sweet, soft fur. The moment the kids held the bunnies my heart melted. Lyla looked up at me in amazement... she looked at me and smiled such a content and happy smile as she held the lil creature that she will later feed, water and love.

As Tate held the black baby bunny he looked up at me and asked why it was quivering a little bit, he was so concerned. With this question and his expression I realized that the small things I'm doing to take a step back into the older days is working. With Video games there isn't concern, love, communication, etc. But with our farm animals my children learn these things. They also learn that with love comes a hurt, for if we didn't love these little creatures it wouldn't hurt so badly when we loose them. After loosing our first set of bunnies, my children (and myself) were hurt. We did everything we knew to do to keep them alive. What we all learned from that was to let Momma bunny do what God set her here to do. And look now, we have two healthy little bunnies!

I could go on and on about the things we learn and enjoy here on our lil' patch of land.. but I could never put it all into words. So, when you hear of something strange I've done... like adopting a baby lamb, putting a diaper on it & sleeping on my couch with it ~ try to step outside of the box and look at the big picture. After all, how many children get to bottle feed a sweet 3 day old baby lamb, or hold a two week old bunny in their tiny hands? Mine do... and that's what matters to me.

And might as well throw this in there while I'm at it ~ Yes, I walk barefoot in my garden, and yes my feet are normally stained the color of clay during the summer months.. but gosh it feels so nice to feel the Georgia Clay between my toes ;) So don't hate.. pull your shoes off and live a little!

Have a nice night to all of you who follow my blog, make sure to live without worries.. live as if it didn't matter what people thought.. and then (only then) will you truly be living :)

OKAY ~ Forget the blog challenge.. I failed!

2011-03-14T13:19:00.001-05:00

I can't possibly blog every single day of my life with a photo included.. so I'm going to update as I can & try to record our life and live it too :)

And to start all that off, while cleaning out our JUNK Cabinet that holds school work, taxes, etc. I found an old envelope that had scribbling on it ~ in that scribbling was words I jotted down that Lyla said to me about 8 months ago. So that I never ever forget her innocence, here they are :)

LYLA: Momma, did you know that Lady Bugs Cry?
ME: Nope, I didn't know that.
LYLA: Yes, if they are outside they sometimes cry.
LONG PAUSE...
LYLA: Well maybe they don't have a mouth to cry with!??!?!
ME: Well then how do they eat?
LYLA: I guess with their eyes!

This is a convo we had about the horse that had died named Bella.

LYLA: Mom, how did Bella go to Heaven?
ME: Well she was sick, very sick and just couldn't make it through.
LYLA: Did God give her pink wings??

Just love that lil girl, so curious and sweet.

Can you pick out the child who's mother is a photographer?!??!

2011-03-06T23:38:00.001-05:00

In above photo, please look at the boy in Orange ~ front center.. behind his head you will see my son hiding!

In above photo, please look at the boy in Orange again.. next to him you will see my son hiding AGAIN.. so this just tells us all, why I don't even attempt to photograph Tate any longer ;) These images were sent to me from Tate's teacher.. there was one more & he was completely hiding though I can't find the picture at this time. I'll make sure to add it soon ;) Lil Turkey better stop hiding that cute lil face.. did make me laugh though ;)

55/365 Canning Brownies/cakes ~ easy peasy, cotton-sneezy!

2011-02-28T20:47:00.001-05:00

Yes, I said canning sweets! So, guess what that means.. brownies at your fingertips all year long! The canned sweetness lasts for up to 3 years! We weren't able to let them sit for longer than a week, but they were just as good a week later, as the day we baked them :)

So, here's the steps:

For the sake of easiness, I'll use directions for a boxed brownie mix.. you can use homemade recipes for pound cake, choc. cake, brownies, carrot cake, etc.

Preheat your oven to 350 ~ Mix your Brownies as directed on box (or recipe). Spray WIDE MOUTH Mason Jars with non-stick spray or oil & lightly flour. (must use midemouth jars so you can remove brownie or cake once baked) Pour mixture 3/4 way full in mason jar. Put filled mason jars on baking dish.. wipe all rims of jar. Bake as directed (make sure to check smaller jars often, as they will bake faster). Once the brownies are almost done, warm your Mason jar lids on stove top.. do not boil lids. Remove jars from oven and wipe rim of jar. Place lid on jar, then place ring on jar (finger tight..don't over tighten). Flip mason jar upside down so heat falls to lid. Leave untouched until jar is completely cooled. This will seal your lids and presto ~ you have canned your first treats!

**NOTES**

We use small Jelly Jars as they make great two person snacks.

With Brownies you can cut the roll into slices and pack in child's lunch ~ fresh brownies all week :)

If cake or brownies rise above mason jar, try to push it down a bit before applying lid.. or you can cut the tops off with knife.

With Pound Cake, make your icing and drizzle on tops before sealing.. with spoon, move edges so that the icing can flow to bottom also :)

With Brownies, under cook just a bit for a moist gooey brownie :)

ENJOY!

54/365 Mary, our little lamb.

2011-02-28T20:16:00.000-05:00

Please meet Mary. She's the lasted addition to the Engle House. We plan to bottle feed her and keep her inside for 3 weeks until she is old enough to stay outside... what fun this will be! So, I've been told bottle feeding a newborn lamb is like raising a newborn baby! I hope I'm cut out for the work again, I guess this time I'll have a lil helper named Lyla so it won't be too bad. :)

53/365 Tuesday *The baby lamb was born today!!

2011-02-28T20:12:00.000-05:00

We got the great news of a lamb needing a home due to mother rejecting it.. sad that Momma didn't take care of the baby, but great news for us! We've been praying that one would come along to welcome in to our home & it has! We'll go see her soon :)

52/365 Monday

2011-02-28T20:09:00.000-05:00

worked on the new design for our Nichol Engle Photography shirts.. I'm in love with them! Can't wait to get them ordered :)

51/365 My favorite day of the week.. SUNDAY!

2011-02-21T21:48:00.001-05:00

Sunday, you are my favorite day of the week. It's the one day we are able to actually slow down and enjoy our lives we've made together. Sunday is the day we spend our mornings thanking the Lord for all we've been given and our afternoons living the life He's blessed us with.

Lyla and I attended church without the boys this morning, as they were making the long drive home from hunting. Directly after returning home, Lyla had to have play time with the animals. She was set out to catch Banana Peel (the grey bunny). The plan didn't work out so well as you can see below ;)

Casey came home with us from church to catch up on school work, while Nolan worked in the woodshed. Lyla and I spent the next couple of hours out in the hen yard playing with the animals and mending the wire. Then it was time for our boys to get home.. I yelled for Casey to grab the camera and I ran for Rob's surprise! And boy was he excited! Rob has been playing around on Nolan's Banjo for the last few weeks and has been dreaming of owning one. Well being the good wife that I am, I found one for sale while he was gone :)

Tate was so excited to show me his nasty stinky rabbit foot.. he said "Hey Mom, close your eyes & hold out your hand!" I knew what was coming but did it anyway ;)

And in this next photo he is showing me the blood on the blade ;) it was the first time he was able to use his skinning knife!

Lyla did well, she didn't have any hard feelings towards the boys killing a bunny... they planned to cook it for dinner ~yuck!

And seeing as rabbit was for dinner, Casey and I decided we'd hit the dirt roads and find out what was living in that crazy nest we found! We were equipped with a chair to stand on and a flash light this time ;)

We still weren't able to tell what it was?!?!

All in all this was a great Sunday at the Engle's house.. family time, The Good Lord, dirt road riding, sweet tea.. I think today was perfect!

50/365 weekend full of fun!

2011-02-21T21:36:00.000-05:00

Tate and Rob are really have fun on their hunting trip! They we able to get a rabbit this morning and Tate was beyond excited to pull out his new skinning knife that he has yet to use. :)

Rob said he has ate a full pack of little debbie brownies and every other piece of junk food you could think of! He's loving the weekend of Manly supervision :)

While the boys are gone.. Casey, Lyla and I set to work and covered ourselves in dirt from head to toe and the spots that weren't dirty with dirt were covered in concrete dust! But we got 4 posts set in concrete for the new bunny/injured chicken run. :) We also set the last post for the clothesline, so within days I'll have my laundry flapping in the wind again! We were outside from morning until dark.. once I did walk into the house I was barely able to get in the bath, as I was soooo beyond sleepy! I was in the bed and out like a light by 8:30, love days like today.. I get so much done & sleep like a rock!

49/365 PLOWED!

2011-02-21T21:20:00.000-05:00

Oh what a sight.. I was outside working in the yard and talking to Nolan and Casey when our neighbor John rode over to tell me that Mr. L was on his way to plow our garden... I did a happy dance & ran straight upstairs to grab my camera & to tell Rob and the kids to come down! I was like a kid at Christmas! Thanks Mr. L for plowing her up... the sweet smell of freshly turned dirt is one of my favorites! I don't know how I'll ever get all the grass out of this garden spot (as we tripled it's size) but I'm gonna have fun getting dirty and trying! Bring on the SPRING!

Once the plowing was done Rob and Tate set out for their hunting trip to South Ga. Tate was beyond excited! Casey and I set straight to work on unfinished projects we wanted to complete while the boys were gone. FUN FUN!

48/2011 Another year around the sun.

2011-02-21T21:04:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday, Momma! 2.17.11

Today we spent the day cleaning out the hen house & ramblin' around the yard working on the clothes line set up, etc.

Once we finished the yard work, we picked Tater up from school and went to Jennifer's house to swap out some chickens :) We took a rooster to her & ended up snagging a rooster and two hens for Momma's birthday ;) Yes, you might be a redneck if you give chickens as a gift.. but then again, you don't know my momma! She LOVED them! Casey and I ran the chickens to her house and planned to drop them there for her to find after she returned from work. We tied balloons to the gate & placed flowers there too. Well we got caught.. she drove up as we were getting everything set up, and she was thrilled :) Wish I could've gotten a picture of her beautiful chickens but we were moving fast in order to get them to her house before night fall aka roosting time ;) So, Happy Birthday to my Mom.. next year we'll buy you a pig! lol

47/365 Freshness!

2011-02-16T21:34:00.000-05:00

Oh my, what a little angel... Abigail Henson came to meet me today & have her first set of photos taken. Just look at this face :)

She's so perfect I almost caught the Baby Fever.. but then I glanced over at my sweet daughter and realized that I have everything I could ever want. I have two healthy children and have been blessed beyond measure! Thanks Kellie, for bringing your sweet lil one over for me to hold and love and return ;) I had fun with you guys!

46/365 SPRING is coming.... dirt road riding is gearing up!

2011-02-16T21:23:00.000-05:00

Once Rob returned from work it was time to pick up Trigger from the Vet's office.. Casey and I got the flicker in our eyes and knew we would have to take the long road around ;) We started 7 miles from town at my house and it took us over 1 hour to reach town.. we had to take a lil peek at our dusty dirt road! As we were driving I spotted an old house we had yet to explore.. we ditched the truck directly and went to searching for any and everything cool :)

And then came the shed.... Above image is me, trying to figure out what kinda creature lived in this shed & hoping it wasn't about to jump out at me! Here is the animal's nest....

When we noticed a hole in the nest.. we had to see in it! After countless cheerleading stunts.. we both had a wee lil peek ~ just enough to tease us. We started looking around for something to stand on, when Casey noticed the toilet. She said "hey we could stand on that toilet!" I laughed and ask her if she knew how heavy toilets are??!?! She replied "Well heck, it's only half a toilet!" Hee hee.. I love the way she thinks :)

We didn't end up moving the half toilet to stand on.. we resorted back to cheerleading talent (Please note, Casey was not ever, ever, ever a cheerleader!) lol but we figured out a way to get her up there..

I can't wait for another summer of dirt road riding, exploring, drinking Super Sweet Tea & living this life up! Stay warm, weather.. I'm loving you!

2.16.11

45/365 Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-16T00:19:00.002-05:00

I wish everyday was Valentine's Day.. maybe I need to add this to my "change" list. I have a large list started which keeps getting longer! So consider it done, I'm gonna act as if it is Valentine's day everyday! After all, that is what we were made to do.. love and be loved. I plan to take an extra effort to show those who I love that I love them without end! I'll add sweet little notes around the house for my honey to find.. I'll make heart shaped pancakes for my children & squeeze their cheeks till they are filled with every ounce of my lovin'.

So, though I enjoyed 'Valentine's Day' this year, as I do every year.. I'm not one who is crazy about setting a date to show our love for one another, I think we should let it shine all year through.

For Valentine's Day 2011 Lyla and I journeyed to Tate's Classroom for a sweet little party. We enjoyed watching Tate hand out his Valentine cards and receive cards/candy from his friends. I will tell the truth, my favorite part of the party was the chocolate fountain.. I could've covered a million and one strawberries in chocolate and eaten every one of them ~ YUMMMMY!

Tate is such a little sweetie.. he truly loved each and every card he received today! As we were riding home, he was asked to share a girly card with his sister.. he started to hand one over and thought about it with a reply of "but Mom, I know there are some girly ones, but someone thought they'd give it to me as a gift and I want to keep it". Though he didn't share with his sister, he did show that he knows the meaning behind a gift... it's not about what the gift is, it's the thought behind it that counts :)

And lets not forget my hubby.. he walked through the doors with a beautiful arrangement of flowers for his lil ole' wife. And I greeted him with a loving hug and super sweet card :) I love you babe ~ Happy Valentine's day!

Thanks for today, my sweet little family :)

02.14.11

1 John 4:16

¹⁶ And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

44/365 Oh sweet Sunday..

2011-02-15T23:57:00.002-05:00

I first have to say.. I AM LOVIN' THIS BEAUTIFUL WEATHER!

We started my favorite day of the week out by heading to church. We truly enjoyed the service today, such a touching message. After Service we enjoyed chatting with some new friends, then home for lunch. With such pretty skies we knew we had to be outdoors.. just what, oh what to do?!?! With the craving for my clothesline during the weather, I voted to fix my clothesline :) So to digging we went! Tater bug played with his friend, Susie as we worked ;) Simple day at The Engle house, but a great one at that!

Lyla girl, you don't look 3 years old in this image.. you are giving me a fast forward button with this one. Please stop, sweet girl.. I want you to stay my baby girl for a bit longer!

Trigger is loving the sunshine too :)

02.13.11

42&43/365 WHOOOP WHOOOP ~ Kid free weekend with my honey pie :)

2011-02-15T23:47:00.001-05:00

Oh what fun Rob and I had.. pickin' and grinnin'. We are both trying to learn a lil bluegrass so after our relaxing dinner at Annie's in Jasper we came home to sit together and do some BlueGrass 101. Rob is doing great on the banjo & I am doing horrible on the fiddle ;) I do have to say that I picked the banjo up for a few minutes and LOVED it & was able to actually make something sound half way decent with it's strings :) The fiddle is my task at hand though & I am going to strive toward mastering it!

If you've been following my blog you will know that I said "I'd rather spend a day in the woods with my hubby than sitting at a fine restaurant.. so when I was asked how I wanted to spend our Saturday together.. I grabbed my gloves & in return he grabbed his chain saw :) We spent most of the day in the woods with the sun peeking through the trees to shine on us as we collected fire wood. We'd stop from time to time to sit on a stump and talk.. just simple moments, but moments I love! Around lunch I ran out to pick up some new chickens, yes we now have 4 new chickens!

oh, and remember the boots I wanted ;) well I may have talked Rob into a quick trip to tractor supply to claim them ~ tee hee hee.

02.11.11 - 02.12.11

41/365 The farm life doesn't stop because you are sick!

2011-02-13T21:25:00.000-05:00

So, as I mentioned in a few posts back... we have new hens! Well here are a few pics of them, sweet as can be huh???

Well the next image isn't so sweet.. along with these beautiful hens came 'Pepper'. Upon picking her up, the owner said she'd be de-feathered by a group of Roosters.. not the case at all! She actually has MITES! So, after reading up on the mites I learned that my whole flock could get a bad case of mites! Oh no, not my hen house.. so with stomach bug and all, I decided to powder down all my chickens! I called up my right hand wo-man, Casey (who too had a bad stomach bug) and we set off to Tractor Supply. We bought all the doctoring aids we needed to nurse her back to health and prevent my flock from mites.. After catching each chicken and dusting them it was dark before we were finished.. but the job is done! Oh my, when I took on this job of raising livestock I didn't know I'd be out in the hen house all day while having a stomach virus, dusting chickens! I have to say, it's well worth it all & I'd do it all over again.. but today was a super long day!

Thanks 'Pepper' for getting Casey and I out of the house & working.. it may have sweated this cold right out of us!

40/365 Dentist/Stomach Bug

2011-02-13T21:14:00.000-05:00

Needless to say.. today didn't get a picture! I was at the dentist at 8am (with both kids) and didn't even think to bring my camera.. I mean it's not like I was overloaded with stress of the dentist and two children or anything ;)

Dentist went well.. we had both children's teeth cleaned & they both did wonderful! Being Lyla's first time, she had a few tear drops hit her cheeks but they were soon gone with the promise of Target Toy directly after we left... so once we left, you guessed it.. we headed to Target! The kids had a quick trip through the toys, as the stomach bug hit both myself and Lyla all at once! The remaining portion of the day was spent laying on the couch, covered by countless blankets due to our fevers and countless trips to the bathroom.. not a cool virus at all! Want to get detailed?!?!? I must say I can't normally clean up my children's throw up very well, but have you ever tried to clean it up while you, yourself is sick as a dog?!?! It really doesn't work out so great...resulting in double the mess!

2.9.11

39/365 Wedding FUN!

2011-02-13T21:08:00.000-05:00

I know this is a image a day project I'm on... but I can't post pics from today's journey, as I've swore secrecy to Casey! Today Casey, Evon (Casey's Momma) and I worked on wedding stuff! WOOO HOO ~ Nolan and Casey are getting hitched this May! I'm beyond excited & truly enjoyed my girly evening with them.. we made cute kissing balls and can't wait to see it all come together :)

38/365 Baby chicks @ Uncle Nolan's work.

2011-02-10T19:14:00.003-05:00

37/365 I need new boots!

2011-02-10T19:12:00.000-05:00

I've been saying this for months.. and since I just bought a sweet new pair of cowboy boots I've not been aloud to purchase boots to wear to cut wood.. just been using my old cowboy boots or rainboots. Well for those of you who haven't walked in the woods in cowboy boots it's almost impossible! Where is all this rooting from?? Well today after Church we decided we'd stack firewood. While stacking I twisted my ankle sooo bad that I was unable to walk! Once Rob saw the pain I was in, he is now convinced that I need new work boots ;) These are the ones I'm thinking of..

Secondly, today is the day we decided to go ORGANIC! We'll be buying a meat cow in June, will be raising our own meat chickens, and will double/triple the size of our garden. One day I hope to have fruit trees, blackberry bushes, blueberry bushes, etc. My goal is to only rely on the grocery store for small things & the things we do buy will be all organic. If you wonder why this has came about, just watch the movie FOOD INC. This was what has pushed me into this change, though this change was coming anyway I was shocked at what I was feeding myself and my family! Please watch this movie and make a change, even if it's a small one.

36/365 Sleepy, work day... turned chicken gettin' day :)

2011-02-09T00:01:00.002-05:00

Sleep.. I needed it today! After staying up till the weee hours of the night finishing the Valentine Pictures I was beat! I slept a good portion of the morning away.. I woke with the kiddos, then napped on the couch for a few. Then they woke me wanting me to journey up to Lyla's room to play house.. guess what role I played?!??! The Baby, ya know that way I could lay in the bed like a lil baby while Lyla covered me in stuffed animals and Tate covered me up with 30 blankets ;) Well I conked out for another 20 minutes as they played Momma and Daddy to me and woke knowing I had to go in search of location for Photo Days to come. So, we grabbed some mud boots and warm clothes and set out.. picked up our pizza and ended up out Hwy 282 by a dear friend of mine's house. After yacking with her for a few minutes we continued on our journey. And what did we see?!??! A little handmade sign reading "chickens for sale" if any of you know me, you'll know that I had to stop! We talked to the sweet lil' lady named Marie and looked at her chickens, (which I just had to have). We left without chickens and promised a return later in the week... then my sweet friend, Cindy offered her carrying crate! Bingo, we can get our chickens! So, after getting the crate we pull back up to the lady's yard to claim some cute hens. (Please note, I think she was a bit thrown by me.. thought I was a crazy lady to go get a crate and return directly lol) So, we loaded 5 full grown hens into our truck and went home happy! It's the random days like these that are my favorites!

Overlook the poop image quality, took with my phone.. but this is one of the new girls :)

35/365 Squeaky Clean!

2011-02-08T23:39:00.002-05:00

After the snow fall late last night I got into a huge cleaning mood.. just this wet cold weather & nothing better to do, I broke down. Laundry Room is so clean we could eat off the floor, kitchen is clean for the next hour until we cook again, dinning room CLEAN, living room.. swept & mopped, Master Bedroom and bath ~ we'll not talk about that! lol

Here's our beautiful winter weather from late last night :)

And I'm gonna go ahead and add a lil big of my opinion on the whole "I'm over this snowy weather" thing! I see & hear this all the time.. all I have to say about that is GET OVER IT! Just be thankful that you woke to see the snow fall. Be glad that you live in a place that gets light snow from time to time.. There are people who have never seen snow fall from the sky and there are people who have to dig their cars out from the snow! Just take a minute to appreciate the snow and it's beauty and that we are blessed enough to see God's work. And one more little thing.. we all know that this season will pass, we will soon be in the beauty of Spring months and then Summer.. (you know those months were we all miss the cold weather!) So instead of always wishing for something other than what we have, take a minute and live in the moment. With all that said, I'm gonna go crawl in my warm comfy bed on this cold night & enjoy my toasty fire :) I hope all of you wake up happy & enjoy your day tomorrow and as the cold wind hits your face, just be thankful that you can feel it! Night night.

2.4.11

34/365 Normal, if there were such a thing ;)

2011-02-08T23:27:00.002-05:00

Today was just your average, normal, run of the mill kinda day.. nothing over exciting happening at The Engle house ~ oil change on truck....which means 1 hour of Walmart shopping.. which means Tate owns a new cowboy hat & Lyla owns a sweet lil baby penguin :) She has carried it everywhere ~ and even shared her silly bands with it :) She is going to make the best lil Momma one day!

Tater bug has been begging for a black cowboy hat for the past 6 months.. so I broke down, he proved me wrong and has yet to lay it down :) 2.3.11

33/365 Fiddlin' around

2011-02-08T23:20:00.001-05:00

Yes, it is true I have a mad love for the fiddle and no, I don't know how to play it.. but I got my second one today! After saving my $$$ I was able to pick up the fiddle I had dreamed of! So now it is on... I gotta learn how to play! Still waiting to find the perfect teacher with patience that will help me start.

2.2.11

32/265 While brother is at school

2011-02-05T23:48:00.000-05:00

This is the time of day that is all yours! While Tate is at school you love soaking up Mommy's attention. While Mommy does laundry you sit at your art table making sweet creations with those little fingers.

I love you Sunshine! Thanks for our fun days together :)

31/365 First birth at Engle Farm

2011-02-05T23:43:00.000-05:00

Today we found a pile of hair in the corner of the Hen House. I didn't first thought that something might have happened to our bunny, as it was bunny hair. I left to take Tate to school without looking further. As I was gone I remember reading that Rabbits will pull the hair from their stomach area to make a nest upon delivery of their young. As Casey and I returned to the Hen house to feed and water the animals we looked at the hair ball and found 5 tiny lil babies inside.

As Casey and I stood in amazement, we debated if we should bring them inside or leave them for the mother to care for where they sat. I wish we'd have let them stay as they were, but as we stood there MoZelle (the pygmy goat) ran through and came within inches of the nest.. we directly brought them inside. We also brought Momma Bunny inside and made a soft lil place for the sweet babies to rest. I went directly online and read up on handling and care for the babies. Little Lyla loved every second of the nest fixing.. she was able to see each little bunny as we moved them over.

31/365 She's good as new :)

2011-02-05T23:32:00.000-05:00

During the last Snow/Ice storm we were hit in the front end by a driver who lost control on the ice. While he was uninsured it made for an expensive trip to town for me.. ended up going to town for a $10 pizza and spent $260.00 on my deductible and the pizza ;) Though we had to pay money for an accident that wasn't our fault, we were all safe and sound & that more than I could ask for.

Thanks to Spivey's body shop, my sweet ole gal was fixed right up! We picked her up today & I've never been happier.. just feels to good to be back in my truck. I love feeling safe while driving my children around, I love to feel like I have no limits.. no limits on what I can haul home ;) I love driving a truck, and will never be able to go back to car!

30/365 Oh the sweet sound of a chainsaw..

2011-01-30T22:12:00.000-05:00

It is one of my favorite things to hear! Why do I love the sound so much? The sounds of the chainsaw humming means we are together as a family, we are outside enjoying the beautiful wooded land, we are planning to heat our home by our hard day's work.

After Church we came home and changed clothing, fed the livestock, and packed a sandwich... and we were off! The kids enjoyed their ride through the logging road in the back of the truck.. I sat back there with em' and was able to hear "Gosh, Lyla this day is fun!" If you ask me, that's the sweetest words, especially when we are doing something so simple... our day together didn't cost a penny, didn't involve a television set, and we were together ALL day. While splitting wood I look over and see my kids with a HUGE tree limb (atleast 5ft long) and they had a log turned over making a seesaw. This is what happens when you turn your children loose in nature.. they use their imaginations and find things to play.

There are times while we are out in the woods working that my husband stops what he is doing for a split second and smiles up at me as I lug the wood to the truck. We have this unspoken moment that lets me know that he too loves these moments just as much I do. If someone were to ask me if I'd rather go out to dinner with my husband or cut firewood with him, I'd throw my boots on & head to the woods! We are a team while we are out there, and never forget to HIGH FIVE at the end of our job, well done. :)

I am thankful for today, it was a beautiful day at 63 degrees in late January spent with family. I wouldn't trade today for nothing else in this world.

And here is the image for the 365 day challenge... what does this image have to do with anything?!?! Well, it shows that I brought my camera with me.. but forgot to get the battery off the charger ;) It was meant to be, as there is no possible way to capture today with a camera or any other device, today was just one of those days you'd have to have been here.. it was one of the sweetest days!

01.30.11

29/365 Feels a lot like Spring in late January!

2011-01-29T22:58:00.000-05:00

Oh my, today was nice! We've sure enjoyed this snowy weather but today was much needed. We spent the entire day OUTSIDE, and enjoyed our 63degree weather. We started our day in the hen yard. I rocked our sweet lil pygmy goat to sleep, added salt licks for our bunnies, and cleaned the coop a bit. Afterwards Rob got an itching for the the grill to be fired up! We set off to town to pick up some steaks. We made a quick stop by the park for the kids to catch some scooter time.

Once we finished with our park adventure we picked up steaks at Ingles and returned home. As Rob grilled the steaks Tate and I practiced his skills on the 4-wheeler. I had to bribe him with his rabbit knife, telling him that if he'd just try to drive it with Mommy he could have a new knife I'd picked up for him. That is all it took, he over came his fear of the size of 4-wheeler and just kept it in 1st gear and did great! I rode with him for a long while while he did it all, then he decided to try for himself... by dinner time he knew how to reverse under the garage area and hook the wood trailer. He hauled the trailer full of wood to the porch, unloaded it & returned it to the garage. Such a big boy he is growing to be. So proud of my big boy!

Tate.. you look like such a small lil' lad here. Please stay this little for a while... gosh what am I saying, you are growing big & I'm thankful and proud of you ~ keep sprouting into the man you will become!

While I was talking to the neighbor, Tate decides to turn the 4-wheeler around on his own.. he did sooo good :)

And this last image is the result of Momma saying "let's go inside to eat dinner". Poor lil turkey just loves to play outside! Gotta add, I love her dirty, ripped up knees ;)

28/365

2011-01-29T22:20:00.000-05:00

27/365 Like heaven on earth...

2011-01-29T22:15:00.002-05:00

This sweet lil creek is what I look down upon each time I step outside my backdoor. Years back, when my parents were just dating my Dad used to work in these cow pastures.. even the pasture my home rests in. I love this land, love the history this end of the county holds for me. My mom has told me numerous stories of this area & they always put a smile on my face. Here's one...

'Back when I was just dating your Daddy the bridge that crosses this creek was out and wouldn't allow anyone to cross.. well your Daddy decided to get smart and throw a 2x4 board across this creek.. He took me out riding on his motorcycle and thought it'd be real funny to cross that small piece of wood with me on the back! '

What I would give to see them riding across this creek.. I can see Momma in her cut off shorts & my Daddy in his Bobcat Purple jersey. :)

This beautiful creek greets me each morning on my return from taking Tate to school. With each morning greeting the sun dances on the water.. Just inviting me to photograph it. I have been meaning to capture this sight for months now, glad I had my camera handy today at 8:34am! Why 8:34 exactly?? you ask.... well I've tried before to run up the hill and grab my camera, but what most of you don't realize is lighting doesn't last~ within 5 minutes of this image being taken the sun is no longer dancing on the water. Blessed to travel this road daily so early in the morning. :)

26/365 Meet our little MoeZelle

2011-01-26T23:14:00.001-05:00

MoeZelle wasn't a purchase we thought we'd make today, though I just couldn't leave her once I saw her. Isn't she perfect for us!?!?!

So here is the story behind today's adventure...

We have a sick lil boy in our house, though Tate is shaking his cold somewhat he has just been down right rotten feeling this week. So we tried to cheer him up with a bunny the other day, that worked but he needed out of the house today, so we went to rest up at Nana's. I thought it'd be a great idea to bring one of my extra Rooster to Nana and get her lil farm going.. so we loaded him up & drove over the hill and through the woods.. As Tate was resting with Nana at his begging call, I decided I'd go find a Hen to go with Nana's Rooster... which lead me to MoeZelle. I pulled up at a cute lil farm in Chatsworth to pick up the hen and was curious as to what was making that crying sound?!?! Well it was a group of cute lil Pygmy Goats.. and I was in love :) So, I bargained a deal and had the owner throw the chicken in for free if I took a Goat with me. **This is the part where I should note that I'm a split decision maker & rarely call my hubby to consult before bringing home a living animal** With hen & Goat loaded up I waved good-bye to the farmer & promised to be back for a pot belly pig soon ;)

When I returned to my mom's house the kids knew nothing of MoeZelle.. they were so excited when they did see her! We've wanted a lil goat for months now & I'm so happy to welcome lil MoeZelle into our home.

Where did the name MoeZelle come from??? MoeZelle was a lady who lived down the dirt road from us, from my childhood. I was between the age of 1-9 when I knew MoeZelle. The thing that stuck out the most about MoeZelle was that she gardened in her bra! She was a hoot & probably someone I would've loved to know as an adult. She just didn't care, she was herself no matter what others thought. She knew she was going to be pulling weeds from her garden in the hot summer sun & wanted to do it in her bra, so she did! And just for a visual, she was not a little lady.. lol Power to MoeZelle, you made an impact on my life :) RIP.

25/365 Sick day for my lil fella

2011-01-25T21:35:00.001-05:00

What do you do when you are sick, and it's yucky & rainy outside??? You sit inside playing with fluffy little bunnies! Tate has been home from school for two days now & is finding rest on the couch with his side kick Narnia (the bunny) Oh to be a kid again... (or a bunny;)

24/365 Let this lil farm grow!

2011-01-25T21:26:00.000-05:00

If you guys know me well at all, you'll know that when I get a wild hair I can't stray from the crazy idea I had. Well today's idea was to bring in a couple new bunnies. When we lost our Lion Head bunny, Zeek I swore I'd own another one.. he was just so sweet & so cute with his fluffy head :) So, instead of getting just one, why not two??!??! So, we brought them home today.. Lyla named her MALE bunny Lucy, and Tate named his lil fella Narnia and his middle name is dawn, last name treader... I know, I know my kids are almost as crazy as I am ;)

23/265 Taking the long road to get to where I'm going ;)

2011-01-24T18:35:00.003-05:00

So today is Sunday (day 23) and we had all plans of trying a new church out this week...but then came Rob's out of town trip to Illinois and I still had to take all the decor down from our shoot. So, without having his help with the kiddos on Monday.. I had to do it today. I told the kiddos to get dressed and we were going to a candy shop where they could eat whatever they wanted... oh how they loved that! I was able to bribe Lyla enough to get a few shots of her before we took it all down ;)

After finishing up there, Casey and I went to return the heaters we had borrowed for the shoot. Which belonged at the Pink Pig in Cherry Log. Well if you know us, that is an all day task ;) We went the long way to Blue Ridge.. heading out Big Creek and stopped a few times along the way! We just can't pass up a falling down house, we have to explore! Which leads us back to the photo of the day... Sweet Tea in hand ~ we take the long road to get to where we are going :)

Happy Sunday to all! We'll see you in church next week.

21 & 22/365 SLUMBER PARTY!

2011-01-23T21:33:00.013-05:00

Today was the day I've waiting for... over the last 3 years I've talked of doing a Candy photo shoot for kids and adults. Today was the day we were setting up the Candy photo day in a super old house in downtown Ellijay. Once arriving at the house we realized the heat didn't work.. so we were off to find a source of heat! We ended up relying on a good friend, and she came through once again! We had heat.. but now to light the heaters... remind you, it was Casey and I alone trying to complete this task! So, we went to Walmart and finished buying the last minute candy and props we needed, then we had to photograph a basketball team, then we went back to the house to set up the heaters. After realizing we needed a wrench to tighten the threads we were back on the road to the BP, returned back with the wrench only to find it was too small. We were both certain of two things.. we were going to get the heat fixed and were NOT going back into Walmart! So, living in the sweetest small town around we were able to find a cop parked with a wrench in his car.. fixed our problem! (and this sweet cop will have his niceness returned with a yummy pound cake!) So, at 1:30 am we had our heat going and set up our beds in the house that is older than you and I put together.

Set up time! @ 2am.

Set complete by 3:15am.

Day 22, work day.. Final Product ~ well worth the time invested!

20/365 Amberly & Peggy Lynn

2011-01-23T21:24:00.000-05:00

Today we brought home our new additions from Blue Ridge.. we are naming these sweet new chairs after their previous owners :) So, we have Amberly & Peggy Lynn. I just know they will make a great addition to our basement of chairs (I may bring Amberly up to my makeup desk, she's just too good of a Queen Bee chair for me to pass up). Our sweet Honey Chair will debut at our Valentine's shoot :)

19/365 Ready or not, here I come!

2011-01-19T22:09:00.001-05:00

Hide and seek, it's a routine in our home with our Lyla.. especially at bed time :)

18/365 It's okay to cry..

2011-01-18T18:14:00.002-05:00

As I always do when I'm alone before picking Tate up from school, I journeyed to see my dear friend, Kerri. I always try to make it a happy trip, a trip to show her that I love her and to remember the life she lived and still lives from within each of us. I always leave her with a smile and after my first few visits spent crying for her, I vowed not to cry about the loss of such a wonderful person.. but to be happy for her, as she is living on high in the place we are working toward going. Today, I visited her with the same mind set, but with tomorrow being 3 years she has been gone, I wasn't as strong. Kerri's angel headstone seemed to say it's okay to cry. Although I know it's sad lil post today, I feel it is in order ~ To let us all know that it's okay to cry. I will however start tomorrow as a day of celebration, as it is the 3 year mark that our sweet Kerri has had her wings!

Click image to view larger

The final image was taken of our happy little town covered in rain. This is the place we call home. The place where everyone knows you by name. The place I was born and raised and will raise my children.

17/365 WORK DAY!

2011-01-18T08:21:00.004-05:00

Not much to be said about today.. but here's the picture ;)

Ha, just kidding.. Did we really think that I could post a picture and not blab about it until I've ended up telling 4 stories in one?!?! lol

So you are asking.. what kinda picture is this from a Photographer?? Well this is an image snapped through my windshield while confirming our building rental for the weekend's shoot. ;) That's right.. we'll be set up in town this Saturday for our Valentine Shoot & can't wait for the outcome. So, today was a work day ~ we went to double check that everything was set in place and ready to go for this weekend & then it was home to write up directions and detailed email for our weekend's clients.

Back to the start of our day.. we began this day super sleepy.. thanks to little Lyla and our pot belly stove! Just as I was about to settle into bed (12:30am late work night) my ears hear the little sound of pitter patters across the floor... it was Lyla she had come down stairs to tell me she was HOT. After turning on her fan and kissing her head I went to bed. Just as I was about to see the backs of my eye lids, she was up again... this time it was because she was hungry & thirsty ~ while making her drink, she decided to hide from me.. (reminder this was about 1am) with a big loud BOOOO, she was no longer in hiding, but Daddy was AWAKE! And when I told her to whisper not to wake Daddy she replied "when I went to hide I closed his door so he wouldn't hear me". lol smart lil cookie she is! Back to bed she went, and back to bed I went. A few minutes later she was crying, when returning to her room (1:30 am) she said her "kneebows" (her word for knees, guess she gets it from elbows??) were hurting because the fan made them cold... back to bed, Lyla!! 15 minutes later she was up again, this time she was sick! So, I pulled out all my tricks and stole the tv set from Tate's room and put a movie on in her room... movie held her for maybe 20 minutes (just long enough for me to doze off). The next attempt she succeeded, she was in bed with me.. she was snuggled into her happy spot~ rubbing my face and earlobe (strange I know but it's her safety blanket, so to say) and as we both were about to doze off, she says loudly.. "Momma someone is in your bathroom with a light!" My heart sunk as I'm always scared of silly stuff like that.. but it was just your normal ghost, Tate testing out his new flashlight from Tractor Supply! Oh, my... what a night! Lyla ended up sleeping with us, Tate went back to bed and we were all snoozing by 3 am. Note***Rob had to leave for work at 4:30 am. ;) Once we overcame the grumpiness that goes along with no sleep, we ate breakfast and did a little home-schooling. We colored, did a few activity sheets and read a book with quiz to follow. The kids enjoyed the schooling and then we were out to serve the livestock. While the kids ran in the yard with the dogs, I cleaned the Hen house & Bunny hutch. You should've seen my little chickens, just so happy to have some fresh new wood chips to scratch around in. They were so sweet and thankful (Yes, it's confirmed I'm the strange "BIRD LADY" of the neighborhood;).

After our outdoor chores were complete, I tackled the living room.. flipping the couches upside down and cleaning every nook and cranny! And for those who came to our house during the snow, you all know that was a big chore ;) Looks lovely now and there's no one to see it lol.

After cleaning I had to hit the road for a lil' 'me' time.. called my best girls Jen & Casey and made plans to see both of them, if only for a few minutes each. Jennifer and I sat in my truck talking girl talk and enjoying every second of it.. Casey and I rode to our location and took picture above. Yep, that'd be my day.. simple yet so crazy, just the way I ordered it :)

Thanks to everyone who made my January 17, 2011 a great day! Night Night**Praying for tonight not be a repeat of last night ;)

Day 16/365 Candy and a sweet date:)

2011-01-16T20:07:00.001-05:00

We started today off with Church service at Flat Branch, then a late lunch at Ruby Tuesdays.. yum yum!

After returning home I thought it'd be great to have a lil date with my Tater bug before he returns to school, so we headed out to get the Candy for the Valentine's shoot. Pure torture for my lil lad... we ended up with bags and bags of candy~ now all I lack is the hundred balls of gum ;) So, here it is.. straight from my phone lol the image for 1.16.11, :) Thank God for today.. it was a good one :)

Going to follow up with a few more images for today's post.. after all, what date with your son is complete without a stop at Tractor Supply?!!?! A trip to Tractor Supply excites me just as much as it does Tate. I'll say it again ~ TRACTOR SUPPLY IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORES.. sad, I know but it's the little things that make my heart tick...like a new Homestead Magazine or viewing the for sale board they have.. gotta find that pig we are looking for ;)

The start of my 365 photo challenge, missing some images as I started this a bit late ;)

2011-01-14T23:45:00.004-05:00

Day 1 of 365. Went today to pick up our new pooch.. she's a Chocolate Lab, we named Trigger. She was a bit timid when we went to get her, bringing the name given by Tate. He is currently learning about his hunting guns and said "Mom, we'll call her 'trigger' as we have to be careful with her, as we do with the trigger on my gun". Isn't she a beauty.

Day 2 of 365. Church at Flat Branch. Oh what a great day this was. Our sweet family filled a whole pew at the sweet lil Flat Branch church on 1.2.11 Casey and I decided to get our family back into church and what better way to start the year than to just go and make it happen. After Church we went to Aunt Debi's and enjoyed her wonderful Meat Loaf. After our lunch we walked the property together.. trailing on trails I ran on as a child. We swung from a tire swing that we played on as children. Aunt Debi's house is the only place I can visit that is exactly the same as when I was a child. I just love it & feel so at home there. This day was truly a blessing!

Day 6 of 365. After picking up Tate from School we met Daddy at the park for a fun time with Tate's RC Car. We brought Trigger along for the fun, she did so great on the leash in public for the first time. Though it was super cold, we had a great family day :)

Day 7 of 365. GOT MY FIDDLE :) Oh gosh, this was a great little day for me! Casey and I journeyed into Atlanta to pick up a super cute lil' fiddle that I plan to play by the end of the year. OH boy, I can't wait!

Day 8 of 365. Today I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.. complete grouch! After my hubby returned (fishing trip with my brother), I decided I needed to get outside and sweat a little to get out of the funk I was in. So I talked the hubby into taking me to collect firewood.

Oh boy did that do the trick! I was in a perfect mood after only a few minutes in the woods.

Nothing like it, perfect stress relief!

Day 9 of 365 The Snow Storm of 2011 is upon us :) We spent the day my favorite way.. by cutting firewood. I absolutely LOVE gathering firewood.. not sure why, but it is a great way to spend a day with family & productive at the same time. Nolan and Casey journey with us over to The Withrow Family's home to clean up their fallen trees. The Withrow Family is a perfect image of what people should be made of.. they spent their entire day helping us collect wood. Cutting wood is not an easy job and not a job anyone would do just to help another person, but this family did help and never complained. Lending their day to a friend is not what makes them so special, it's the fact that they'd do it for anyone... they are just down home straight up, good people ~ through and through! Huge THANKS to you guys.. your hard work didn't go unnoticed & I'll have a nice dinner brought to you soon ;)

Day 10 of 365. By the time we went to bed last night the snow was falling. When we woke the snow was so lush and thick. First thing, I had to get Trigger out in the beautiful white blanket of snow and have her first little photo session. Her color stood out so vividly in the snow!

Afterwards we dressed the kiddos and headed out for our first big play in the snow. Tate and had a great time with is friends & cousins sliding down our huge ice hill.

Day 11 of 365. SNOOOOW MUCH FUN! This is the way the world should turn! We spent the day living life to it's fullest. My son was outside for 6.5 hours of non-stop play!

We had a few friends over, and before we knew it we were surrounded by neighbors. After the group started to grow we decided to have a open fire out by the road for us all to gather around.. well that quickly turned into a hotdog roasting! We had neighbors bringing hot Apple Cider, Homemade Chili, Cookies, Drinks, More hotdogs, etc. We had dinner outside over open fire with multiple families. The memories we made on the corner of our property is rare and treasured by us all. I haven't had a day as good as 1.11.11 in a LONG time, thanks to all who came and made our day in the snow a day to remember!

Here are few of the people at our get together..

Well this is how I spent 1.12.11 nice and toasty outside for 5+hours watching my children, my cousins and neighbors sled the mighty hill in front of our house!

Day 14/365... GIRLS DAY OUT!!!

2011-01-14T22:56:00.000-05:00

So what if we have turned into old ladies and a trip to Dalton excites us until our bellies are filled with fluffy pink butterflies dancing around?!?!? All I have to say is this was a picture of happiness... Casey walking up the iced over hill just to make it to our girl's evening out! Yes, this image is blurry & yes she is going to kill me for posting it.. but who cares! It shows so much in this one image.. it shows that we were snowed in for days away from each other.. that we both drink Coke as if it were the last thing on earth & that we were both over joyed to see each other & get out of our houses! Casey and I enjoyed our lil ride over the mountain.. she's about the only person I can ride with and not once reach for the radio :) The two of us are like two peas in a pod! All I have to say about our ride, is that our wheels were turning and we have some mega cool photo days in the works :) Thanks for reading my blog & checking out what 1.14.11 held for me :)

Day 13 of 365 Snowed in and paint on hand :)

2011-01-14T00:08:00.001-05:00

With the weather still frigid I found myself baking cookies today and wondering what I could possibly get into...well my gallon of white paint was staring at me, just begging to be used! So, I tackled a huge chore I have been wanting done, but didn't want to do....MY STAIRCASE. When we purchased this house and laid the new hardwood floors down, I stated that I didn't care if any of the wood matched that I'd redo all the other wood, but I wanted old time narrow planked dark wood floors. So, here we are a year later and my staircase is finally getting it's update :) After staining my kitchen cabinets I knew the staircase would also need the antiqued glaze and I also wanted a quote going up the stairs.. so this is what I've done ALLLLLL day long on 1.13.11

These photos were taken with my phone.. coloring is way off, but we all get the idea ;)

Antique glaze on hand rail :0) Nothing makes me happier!

Quote will say "So come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land." Peter Pan.

This stairway isn't just a set of steps to me.... seems crazy I know, but this staircase is the path my children take each and every morning as they come to wake me from my bed. This staircase is also the same hike they take each night to have their bedtime story read. When my children are in trouble, this staircase is their time out from the world. When Santa visits them each year this is the stairs they run down with sleepy still in their eyes to view their big Tree. This staircase will also be the one my children walk down on their way to Prom, or the one they run up when they have no other place to go. So, this is why this project is so important to me.. I want to make these steps just as much part of our home as my family room is. Thanks to all of you sweet girls who helped me with the perfect quote! I'll post a picture of the finished project just as soon as I get it complete :)

In the attempt to update my blog more often I'm gonna take part in the 365 photo challenge :)

2011-01-13T21:09:00.000-05:00

So I'm 13 days behind.. gonna do some catching up tonight and start on track tomorrow ;) Let's hope I took a picture from each day since the 1st of January :) If not, I may have to journal and skip a few days ;)

Thanks Tabitha for the great idea, this will be a wonderful way to document my year and all we do here on The Engle Farm :) Happy reading to you all.

Thanks for following my blog, I hope you all have a blessed 2011.

"What do you want for Christmas, Momma?"

2010-12-15T22:55:00.003-05:00

Tate asked the other night. My answer was what it always is "to have every wish for you and Lyla to come true this Christmas." And his smart lil reply was "Well I guess I'll just wish for Santa to bring what you really want for Christmas & then you'll get it for sure, if your wish is for mine to come true." Smart lil cookie he is ;) This little convo with my fella brought me to think about my wishes over the years. The past few years I have always requested certain things that I too wanted for Christmas, though this year my wishes have truly changed. There isn't one thing that I truly need. I have all I need right here at home... we have our health, each other and lots of sweet lovin'. As I addressed my Christmas cards with my hubby and kids by my side, I realized that my prayers have already been answered. For the past few years I've been longing for my family... time to just be a family, time to sit and cuddle, have dinner together or play outside without worry of what needs to be done for work. As I sat with my family, (though we were fussing and cooped up from the snow) I realized that this is what I've longed for & what I've gotten this year as my gift.

I have been blessed this year to have help with my business, to have someone I can trust and lean on when I need. There is no greater gift to me, than the gift of my family. So this year I will be thankful and notice the blessing around me, for it is these small moment in life that pass us by so quickly.

Sometimes Christmas is just overwhelming, it seems,
As we rush around buying up stuff.
We spend without end, and we rack up those bills,
But it feels like it's never enough.

So this Christmas, let's all take a different approach:
Let's try to be more in accord
With God's Christmas gift, the best one of all--
Our sweet Jesus, our Savior, our Lord.

We'll be gentle and patient, and loving and kind,
And we'll keep our priorities straight;
The gifts of the Spirit, the gifts of the heart
Are the ones that we'll all celebrate.

And our stress will decrease, and we'll feel more at peace,
As we decorate, package, and trim;
Our new Christmas will be a pure joy and delight,
As we try to be much more like Him.

By Joanna Fuchs

You make me feel safe just by being here...

2010-11-03T10:44:00.001-05:00

it doesn't take anything more than just your presence, my sweet Rob.

I have grown dependent on having my spouse, and just recently became aware of it. I always knew that I loved the comfort of having him here, but didn't know how much I NEEDED it! Well, it dawned on me as I went to crawl in my empty bed last night. And beside the ruffle of my pillow I noticed my new pocket knife tucked so sweetly by a big pile of books. Pulling out my phone I snapped a picture of the moment that spoke so loudly to me.

This image tells me that without my husband it takes forever to fall asleep, as I must read myself to sleep. It tells me that without him here, I sleep with the lamp on beside my bed. It tells me that my safety blanket is gone when he is away, as I feel the need to sleep with my pocket knife & phone beside my head. This image tells me that without my husband, my house is not a Home... I no longer have a comfy bed to crawl into, I no longer feel safe, I do not feel like me.

So, as I count down the days until his return & I cuss at the thought of hunting trips, just remember that the things we have among us daily are the things we miss the most when they are gone. Hurry Home, my Rob.. I sure do miss & l♥ve ya :)

Oh my, what a day....

2010-10-24T23:46:00.003-05:00

it is hard to believe that one little day I can do so much! (especially running on as little as 3.5 hours of sleep)

It's almost 5pm now & I've been up and at em' since 6am (with a bedtime last night of 2:30am..due to work). We started our day off by taking Tater bug to school. And on our way back Lyla says to me "Mom that cloud is a boot." I agreed and believe it or not, it was in a perfect shape of a boot, then she continues her sentence with "Nah, it really is a Snail carrying a boot." Hee, hee.. she is such a mess & even at 7:45am.

Once Ly and I returned home I started in on some much needed laundry, when all of the sudden I remember the Homing Pigeon we were keeping safe.. he had to be set loose at 7:30 ~ oops! So, we freed the pigeon, who story I will tell at the end of this post. Well we only thought we freed him.. he kept coming back! Finally I went inside & forgot about it all, thinking he'd leave. Then my sweet Gal, Casey came by to pick up some clothing, etc. I told her of my game plan to tackle the laundry room today & then get a nap with Lyla. (yeah right.. that was a joke) Instead we were drawn outside by our neighbor, John who was bringing me a really pretty vine to wonder up the bunny fencing. So, that meant I needed to plant it.. so forgetting the laundry, I started digging. That chore brought on the chore of letting the chickens roam.. and now days that is not an easy task. I have to guard them from sooo many predators, so I can't leave them for a minute! While watching them, I thought well let's multitask & get the bunny fence complete.. Getting my wire cutters & wire I got busy! Lyla brought all three bunnies into the run & they played their little hearts out. After maybe 10 minutes of playing the bunnies created another job for me.. they were able to slip through the fencing.. so, I set to fix it! Meanwhile, the chickens are in the garden pecking around.. and what do I see ~ the darn Homing Pigeon.. he's back & perched on the porch! So, I pretend he isn't there & continue with my work. A few minute later I hear the chickens going crazy and I start running to see what the cackle is about ~ only to find a huge hawk circling the sky waiting for the perfect moment. So without thinking I grab the water hose (which is always my weapon against animals) and go to spraying & screaming toward the sky! Well I'm gonna blame it on lack of sleep, but what goes up must come down.. and I'm now soaking wet! I do have to say that I would pay to be my neighbor.. I'd prop a nice comfy chair at the edge of the property line & just wait.. knowing there'd soon be a show ;)
So, by the time I get the hawk away, the chickens back to the coop, the bunnies back to their hutch, myself changed, Lyla cleaned from the dirt mound she seemed to roll in, and the homing pigeon safely back to his cage it is time to hit the road to get Tate again! So, what did I get done during this oh so productive day... not a thing! I just love how I can spend all day going in circles trying to get one thing done & end up doing a million things and nothing at all ;)

Homing Pigeon: She's our gal, named Sal. ;) The story of Sal is kinda crazy. As Rob was cooking on the grill he noticed a sweet little pigeon walking into the screened porch.... noticing her tagged foot he caught her so she could be returned home. The owners told us to give her food & water for several days & release her at 7:30 am and she would make the 500 mile flight back home. Sal had other plans, she chose us.. we released her & she just wouldn't leave. The known fact about pigeons is that it can take several years to re-home them.. and sometimes you never can! So, with that known we opened our home to Sal, she likes it here so why make her leave. We enjoy watching her fly around the yard during the day & at night she fly back to her lil home. Pictured is our gal, Sal.

Welcome to first grade Mr. Tate!

2010-08-19T21:15:00.003-05:00

My boy is a 1st Grader. Wow, seems a bit crazy.. but it is here. Tate is no longer a kindergardener, no longer a preschooler, or a head starter ;) He is officially a BIG boy! There was not a kiss for Mommy as he left me on the first day, there was not a tear shed (from his eyes), not so much as a hesitation. What does this tell me?? It is a sign that my son is growing up. I could sit and mope about it, and think of how much I want him to smell like a sweet lil baby again, or how I wish he'd lay in my arms as I rock him to sleep.. but I won't do it! I said years ago, when I made up my mind to have my tubes tied... I said I would live in the here & now. I would also love the stage of life that we are in, and always be proud of my past times with my children. So, I'm putting my big girl panties on & sucking it up! ;)

So, now that Tate is getting to be a true blue boy, he had to go and break his arm.. just to prove that he could I guess?!?! And leave it up to my stunt master to do it the day before school starts!

So, that is how we spent our very last day of summer break ~ at the Doctor.

All I can say is that I'm paying for my raising! We'll hope he doesn't fill my shoes ~ I broke one arm in Kindergarden, both wrist in 3rd grade & cut my pinky off in 6th grade. (and those are just the stunts that required mom taking me to the hospital;)

Here is my cute lil Tate with his super sweet 1st Grade Teacher, Ms. Karrie Sanford. How is it that we just keep getting blessed with such wonderful teachers? I thank God for wonderful women & men who truly enjoy their jobs & understand how much these lil people mean to us mommas! I couldn't be happier with how things are starting off this year. SO BLESSED.

Below is Tater bug walking out from his very first day, head still held high.. just the way I left him that morning. Had I not been yacking with the other teachers I could've got him giving high fives to Mr. Brian... but I missed it ;)

So here's to the school year of 2010-2011... let it be a fun year for my boy, and let him remember as he goes through this year that he may outgrow my lap, but never my heart.

what's been happening with The Engle Family?

2010-08-12T23:58:00.009-05:00

We've been spending most of our time here at home. We've swam every swimming hole we know of... so here we are at the last week before school is in session and spending these moments at the best place I know, HOME.Lyla & Tate have really enjoyed the chickens this summer.. first thing Lyla says as she crawls in my bed at 7am "It's a bight sunshiny day, get up Mom" Then the next sentence is always "you better get up and get me a drink, and the chickens a drink too!" So, I scramble out of bed and make the princess her drink & then fill a large pitcher with ice & water for the chickens.. Lyla starts everyday the same way ~ with her feet running & without stop! After the chicken care, we are off to feed and water the bunnies.. then off to feed ourselves ;) and all of this happens before I'm even able to brush my teeth!!! Our oldest hen Mary Jane is our Easter Egg layer.. she lays the prettiest blue eggs. We are currently letting her sit on her eggs in hope for hatchlings for Nana. Wish us luck, as I'm new to it all and have yet to hatch lil chickies ~ hope it all goes well & we get several hens.. I'd cry if we end up with all Roosters! ;)

Our Summer of 2010: All summer long we have hopped from creek bed to creek bed. We've explored all the old places I swam at as kid. My goal this summer was to take my kiddos back a few steps & spend our days doing what I did as a kid. We have mixed countless gallons of Kool-aid and hit the creek full blast! My kids have learned so much about being outside, and loving the simple things life has to offer.

This summer my children have wrapped their small fingers around hundreds of lighting bugs, placed em' in my special screened mason jar & watched them lighting the glass with their magical glow. My children have ran bare foot through the yard in just their underwear. They've road in the truck with the windows down, hair blowing, radio going. They've learned how to can crops that we grew with our own two hands. They've watched their Dad pack his bags, as he worked out of town to provide for our family. They've eaten at least 20 boxes of popsicles. They have been to the endless ocean. They've said goodbye to two of their Great Grandparents. They've collected 38 eggs from the hen box. They've taken their bunnies to Walmart, the dollar store, the creek, the pond, the Apple House restaurant, the petting zoo, the thrift store, Target, and the park. They've watched the night sky while laying in the grass beside Mommy and Lucky. They've rode roller coasters. They've worn winter clothes during summer, on days they were aloud to dress themselves. They've made a million wishes on dandelion peddles. They've played red light green light on a daily basis. They've laid under the clothes line in the grass with their bunny. They've skipped baths. They've cried and laughed all at the same time. They've collected money from the tooth fairy. They've rode horses until they can't walk. They've rode bikes up and down the gravel drive a million times. They've been hen pecked. They've picked hundreds of grape tomatoes. They've smiled so much their faces hurt. They've gotten butterflies in excitement for the upcoming events. They've waded through brush all for the blackberry pickin'. They've aided in making 4 pound cakes to hand out as gifts. They've watched almost every episode of Scooby Doo. They've played in the sprinkler. They've been covered in dirt while carrying weeds to the compost bin.. so much that you could only see the whites of their eyes. They've shucked corn. They've fished. They've went to hunting auctions with Daddy. They've visited 2 flea markets. They've went school shopping. They've kissed Nana & hugged her neck. They've made new neighborhood friends for life.They've roasted hotdogs. They've watched fireworks light the sky. They've felt the rain drops on their faces. They've Skipped, Jumped, & Danced.

They've accomplished countless amounts of fun! I can list them all as the memories stick out like frozen moments. Moments I've made sure to hit the pause button on, so that I could recall them as many times as I wanted. I remember all the little things this summer held. Like the smell of kid sweat.. it's the smell of outdoors sticking to their bodies after playing with the puppy & rolling in the grass. I remember all the tugs on my apron from Lyla as I canned our vegies. I remember sitting with Tate for hours and stringing beans and peeling peaches ~ such sweet talks came from doing so! This summer was one of the best yet! It was a hot one, but a good one!

The summer of 2010 will forever hold
a sweet spot in my heart. I hope the kids enjoyed our first summer on Sunlight as much as I did. And a big THANKS to Daddy for allowing us to be at home enjoying life. You've worked so hard this summer & spent so many nights away from home just so that all these memories were possible. Your children will forever know the sacrifices you have made, as I will continually remind them of the reason you are away.

If you step back and look, you may notice that time doesn't stop..

2010-08-02T23:43:00.005-05:00

That's what happened to me. As I was having a creative block while editing, I decided to hop around online.. well I ended up here. I instantly had tears streaming from my face. If you think I'm crazy, just take a peek at the post below this... my lil Lyla has grown so much in the past 2 years! And where has the time went?? While I have timeless photographs to look through, I do not have the detailed blog of our sweet lil days between then & now. So, with that said... I'm gonna bring the old blog back to life.

I will journal for myself & my family of our everyday life and journeys! It may at times seem boring to you readers but to me this is what makes me tick, what makes me, me. So, read along if you wish ~ but I have to explain in the beginning, this blog is simply a selfish blog so that I can remember the memories we've made here at home.. our sweet home on Sunlight Road.

Baby...Baby...Baby

2008-11-06T01:38:00.004-05:00

Lyla's favorite things in the whole wide world are her baby dolls. She rocks them, kisses them, puts them to bed, etc. If you see Lyla then you see a baby! Normally as I hold Lyla I am also holding atleast one other baby. We have to feed the babies, bathe the babies, rock the babies, etc. So in the end it is like I'm raising a set of twins ;)

This is Lyla's little Cabbage Patch Baby that she cried for at a recycle store....It has turned out to be one of her favorite Little Babies~ I had searched high & low for Bailey a disigner doll with the stamp of 2008 on the back of her neck. I finally found her on vacation, she was going to be the baby that I put up for Lyla as her first baby doll ~ Well she hates that baby, she would rather play with her $1 baby. That's the best things about kiddos, they could care less about what you pay, or what the baby wears, as long as it is able hold hugs from her, accept her kisses, and sleep with her at night. So in the end, this old wore out baby will be the baby I put away for her to keep forever.
If you look way down below~ you will notice her Baby laying on the ground below....she had just tossed it from the deck~ I promise she doesn't get her Mothering Skills from me ;)

I'm loving this picture, (although Lyla is a big motion of blur) It shows her daily life....Babies & playing Mommy. She loves to help me clean & be the little momma hen, as I call her.

Here is Lyla playing peek-a-boo with her baby...she says "Where's Baby?" And then jumps up with a big "Beeeee" (which means boo, in Lyla talk)

Spaghetti Night @ the Engles!

2008-11-06T01:18:00.005-05:00

It is a weekly tradition to slurp Spaghetti Noodles during dinner @ the Engles...if you are afraid of getting alittle messy during dinner then make sure it's not on the menu when you visit! Rob still holds the title to THE FASTEST SLURPER IN THE SOUTH!

These boots are made for walking......

2008-11-06T01:06:00.003-05:00

Little Lyla loves SHOES! Everyday, Allday she has to have on her shoes....it's a wonder she doesn't sleep in them. We found Lyla the cutest pair of squeaky shoes, they squeak with her every step! Needless to say, everywhere we go she gets noticed ♥

I'm so proud of my Lyleeeee~ she's only 1 & already she has a shoe fetish!

"One day your gonna miss this"

2008-10-17T01:00:00.002-05:00

It's not always PEACHIE in the Engle Household. And today was one of those days.....

7 am I woke to a five year old begging me to play his Playstation (which is only played as a reward) so when he was told "no" what did I get CRYING! Which is nothing out of the norm, but then Lyla started in, before I could even make breakfast. She stayed at my feet crying during the prep of Breakfast, then in my lap crying during breakfast, then trailing not a foot behind me while I cleaned, did some laundry & she was still there when I threw my hands in the air and gave up! I knew the only thing that could stop the screaming & crying was to leave....so with out a shower & with crying kids I threw some clothes on to go to the park.

Once at the park we were happy. We'd adventured to Ball Ground to a new little peaceful park (where I didn't know anyone, due to my dirty hair & no makeup) It was just what we needed, a breathe of fresh air. Once we played for a bit & drove by the train yard, Tate was content to go home. On the way home he started asking over and over and over to go to his Grandma's house. So this turned into a fit of crying....then Lyla started in, cause she was tired & here we were again.....the same place we started! I knew it wouldn't be long & Rob would be home to help me with my crazy kiddos. Once he arrived home I knew things weren't looking any better. It seemed as if he & Tate couldn't be in the same room together~ as I sat on the kitchen floor (holding Lyla) I watched Tate go to the corner time after time. Rob was is the same mood the kids had been in?!?! So I decided after dinner, I would go grocery shopping & take Tate to Deena's. That way I could be out of the house, Tate would be away from the corner & Rob could hopefully take a nap with Lyla.

After dropping Tate off with Deena, I went in Walmart~ with my head pounding! Two hours later & way over my budget $243.07 for one week of groceries~~~ could this day get any worse?!?! As I drove to drop off a Birthday gift to a friend of mine I broke down in tears. A song that I've heard numerous times came on the radio it was titled "your gonna miss this" As I listened to the words I realized how true it was & just how much it fit my day today. Because with all the fussing, crying, headache, & money spent this was part of my life. My kids will grow one day and not need Mommy & I will miss them crying for me to hold them. I will miss Tate begging me for his childish games or begging to spend the day with his Grandma, or the cookies, or to skip a nap, or popcicles, or to go stay a few minutes longer at the park. I will miss it all. I'm not sure if I'll miss Rob sending him to the corner for no reason at all, but you get the idea. Anyway, this big long story boils down to one simple thing. Although life does not always seem wonderful or perfect.....it is life & it's your life, live each day and enjoy each and every part of your day~ good or bad. Because you can't go back & things change so fast. And one day you too are gonna miss this time in your life.

Photography, Photography, & more Photography!

2008-10-04T08:38:00.007-05:00

Incase you've been wondering what I've been up to lately~ It seems like overnight everyone has wanted photos taken. I have been so booked up these last few months. Though, I'm not complaining~ we need the work......but at the same time I miss my easy going life style of Momma. The way I have been weighing it out is by knowing that I'm with my children about 90% of the day, and the other 10% is quality time with Daddy. So in the end, it works out great. So here are a few pictures of me for a change.......doing what I do best, well second to being a Mom ;)

Sticker Sneeze!

2008-09-30T23:38:00.002-05:00

We got bored one night & this is what happens when you combine boredom, a five year old & a book of stickers!

A Date with Tate

2008-09-30T23:25:00.003-05:00

It was much needed! I haven't been out with just my boy in what seems like forever. It's crazy to think of how well he has adjusted to not having all my time these days ~ and it's days like this one that I really realize what a change he has went through over the last year, with Lyla becoming his Sister & Mommy working more & starting school. Tate is a stronge, loving little boy & has dealt with everything so well. I can see at times that he strives for all of my attention ~ So I'm writing mainly to say how proud I am of my little Turkey. He makes my heart tick~ Let this be a reminder to everyone, myself included. When our little children are changing, having a tough time here and there...take time aside for them~ after all they are just children & our love & laughter is the best gift we can give to them.

Why Lyla likes having a Dog~

2008-09-30T22:43:00.004-05:00

It's simple.....when you get a Dog you get a huge bowl of water that stays on the floor to play in....you also get challenged when reaching for your babydoll, You constantly are able to race with Mommy (to see who gets to the pile of poop first) You get a face wet by a big slobbery tongue. The list could go on & on ~ One thing is for sure, Lyla loves little Carter. She, Tate, Carter & Rock (which is sadly our cat's name) are always together. They are quite a little crew....always keeping me on my toes.

Here are a few pics from this last month, just a glimpse at how we spend out days....usually on the back porch with the animals. (and sometimes inside....but only when Dad isn't looking) ;)

I do believe she was about to do something bad here....look at her checking her surrondings first~ little stinker!

Even with all the spills of Dog food & the constant changes of clothes due to the water bowl.....I still can't help but smile~ just look at her....she's a dollbaby!

My little sweet pea

2008-09-19T23:46:00.004-05:00

So Lyla is growing like a weed~ she can talk using three words at a time & knows exactly what she is saying! She is a little fire cracker...which who wouldn't be with Tater as a brother. She is constantly hitting, growling, and cursing him in baby talk......but then within no time she'll be over there giving him pecks on the lips or hugging him tight around his neck. She has a sweet love for him, she is his little mother hen ~ She whispers to him while rubbing his hair & patting his back. Watching them together makes my heart smile!

Lyla loves animals~ the Cat, which she forever called 'dog' and the Dog, which she calls dog ;) She also has a great love for Rob's stuffed Deer & turkey. Anytime we pass through the great room she starts hollering "Dee Dee" aka deer or gob gob for the turkey. Rob swears she is going to be a little hunter~ I told him that is fine so long as I can put a camo bow in her hair & buy her some pediped camo shoes. He informed me that the only bow she'll be having in the woods will be the one in her hand.

Lyla is currently walking around everywhere~ I don't have pics edited yet, but plan on posting some soon. I have been waiting and waiting for her to walk...and to be honest with ya, it was simple so that her outfits would look better ;) You try to be a little girl crawling in a dress....it just don't work! So now I can finally put her in a dress with out her knees getting caught in it. I'm super excited! Sad, I know but it don't take much! Heck, I get excited when the mail is delievered.

Well this is the best I can do for an update~ time is limited & instead of blogging about my life, I'm trying to live it with the few short minutes I have. The photography is still streaming at a rapid pace & I'm just trying to keep up..so hang in there until winter & I'll be the blogger queen once more!

Kye Burnett

2008-08-22T21:24:00.003-05:00

For all your family members who are livin' back in the dark ages & don't have a Myspace account ;) Here are some sweet little pics of our darling, Kye. With life as busy as it has been these last few months I haven't really got to see the little booger, but I still feel as if there is a little bond I share with him. I've held him only a handfull of times, yet seeing him enter the world & take his first breath of air has changed me forever.

When I had both of my children, I was in a rollercoaster~ I didn't know from one minute to the next what to expect. I was stressed, hurting & wanting to hold my baby....but with Kye, I was able to sit back & learn from it all, just soaking every second of it up...the good & the bad. It was a very stressful/emotional evening & one I will never forget. Heather was such a trooper & really earned the title of Mom.... As I watched her strain & push, tears whelled in my eyes~ she was doing the job that God put us here to do as Mothers...she was bring new life into this world. Once he was here, I was covered in goose bumps~ at that moment a little miracle was here & they called him Kye. Thanks Nathan & Heather for letting me be apart of it all. It has forever changed me :)

Can you ever really heal?

2008-08-10T00:28:00.002-05:00

Time doesn't seem to be helping with the loss of Kerri~ it seems like I think of her daily. It is really strange but it is small memories I have of her that pop up ~ and it is normally when I'm flat ironing my hair?!?!?! Don't ask me why, but that is my time for remembering my friend~ maybe it has to do with the amount of time we used to spend in front of the mirror!!! ;) Well, in memory of Kerri~ here is a video of a song that fits the situation perfectly. I love and miss you, Kerri!

** Make sure to turn off the player on the right side of the page~ that way you don't have 2 songs going at once* (mainly this part is for you, Mom...I know how you are with computers)

"Mom, can I pleaseeeeee go????"

2008-08-06T21:00:00.003-05:00

This is the plee I hear everytime I leave for a photoshoot or a wedding! Tate wants to be a "FROG-A-PHER" too. He says he knows how to make people smile & he can make them stay still for me too ;)

So with all the jealousy issues he has been having lately with Lyla & me being gone from home, I decided to have a photoshoot with Tate~ I told him he could come to work with me, and he could have his own camera to take pictures of whatever he wanted! He was so happy.....I strapped my old Canon to him & let him fire away! He captured the lady at Mcdonalds, a snake, my big butt bend over (which will not be posted) a couple road signs, his feet, the sun, hay bales, a train...and much more! I plan on posting his first works of art as soon as I get a minute to edit them :) I did however, have to share these~ There is nothing better than seeing my sweet boy holding a Canon and loving it!

2008-07-31T11:47:00.002-05:00

TESTING 1, 2.................TESTING 1, 2, 3. Just wanted to make sure this thing still worked. Gosh, it's been forever since I've blogged. I've just been so so so busy with photography~ that everytime I get on the computer I'm editing pics or returning emails. I do promise to return back to the blogger/Myspace addict one day. Until then, thanks for viewing my blog & I'll try to update atlest once a month ;)

We are FAM-A-Leeeeee

2008-05-01T21:51:00.005-05:00

Last weekend we had a family gathering over at Granny's house, oh what fun it was! It's just great hearing the guitar from my two talented brother's....laughing about old stories & just being together! Granny Linda & Gramps are down for a couple more weeks & I'm really wishing my photography wasn't keeping me so busy~ I really enjoy seeing them. In November it'll be our turn to journey up to their neck of the woods~ after that I know Rob will be ready to move to Canada~ BRRRRRRRR. So here are a few lil' pics from our day! I just love the ones of Braydi & Lyla having their little dramatic moments together....at first Lyla was upset, then Braydi showed her some love, then she is just trying to figure it all out??!!?!? *Note: her shirt reads "Drama Queen"

Lyla started to crawl alittle over there for the first time~ here are a few of her first little scoots~ kinda blurry but she wouldn't hold still;) Today, she is going full blast~ crazy what a week in "baby days" make!

And so it starts.............

2008-05-01T01:32:00.002-05:00

all the bickering that goes with siblings! LOL I love this shot.....it really captured what it's like with two kids & one sucker!

Two things I love dearly.........my chidren & photography

2008-05-01T01:04:00.004-05:00

I decided awhile back that I would stop taking pics of my Tater in front of the backdrop with prop etc. because he hated it & wouldn't sit still~ it normally turned out with me frustrated & then later when looking back at the pics I didn't like them, because it wasn't a great memory & after all that is what photography is all about. So I had an open mind that I would do a FUN photoshoot with the kids. I went into the photoshoot with the idea of not caring so much about the set up & really trying to have fun with whatever the kiddos did. After telling Tate that my camera made me sneeze when I put my face to it, he couldn't stop laughing! We had a great time & the pictures are more of what I love, because although they are somewhat posed I love the memory behind them~ it was a fun time with a great mixture of two things I love dearly........my children & photography! (Mix Rob in there somewhere & I'd be on cloud nine! Speaking of, we are going to do our family pics soon:) So here are a few pics from the time we spent together laughing & getting sugar highs:)

oh how I love these sweet babies......

2008-05-01T00:46:00.005-05:00

Just a few Random pics from this past weekend.

I will not give up............

2008-05-01T00:22:00.003-05:00

We are still on the hunt for an old house with a story within it's walls.......I loved this one we found in Ball Ground, but it just was not pratical. The upstairs was WAY too small for us. I loved the tall ceilings & wide baseboards! The floor was another favorite of mine~ the old pealing paint could be lightly sanded & finished so that the white would stay but you could also see the wood~ ewwww, it'd be pretty with alittle love from the Engle Family~ yet I'll keep searching! I know the perfect house is out there, just waiting for us. (it it rest on Yukon Rd, now just getting the lady to sell is the trick) As for this Ball Ground house, it was fun just walking through it....realizing how many dinners were spent in the dinning area, how many children had played in that yard....just amazes me how it is still standing strong & how well built old home were. As we were in the master bedroom I pointed out the light switch to Rob, it was made by GE & was the coolest thing ever....it had two tiny push buttons & had been covered in rust. As I pushed it, I thought of back in the day when the house was new. I love old houses like this one & wished the walls could talk. I googled the address like crazy just to know the past families of the house, but came up with nothing. I wish we could purchase an old home of atleast 75+ with awesome land for the kiddos to grow up on....where they could run free in the woods making forts, and then come home for a PB&J sandwich (well except Lyla would have to have just the J, seeing as she can't do the peanut butter LOL) Anyway, I'm still on the hunt & refuse to give up~ Rob thinks I'm silly since we have a new, beautiful home~ but I really want something different than living in a subdivision for my children. (no offense Tabitha, we'd miss you & the boys being next door) So here's my request~ if you know of the perfect place.....send me an email~ I need all the help I can get. And it doesn't even have to be for sale~ I've knocked on many doors & found that some people are likely to sell.....even if Rob thinks it tacky :) I'm not above being tacky to get what I want♥ I'll post some pics later of the cool blue house I'm in LOVE with on Yukon Rd. later.

She may be little but she sure knows how to make a BIG MESS!!!

2008-04-30T00:36:00.002-05:00

This is what I return to when leaving Lyla in the floor playing with Daddy! Her first response was kinda like "uh oh" Then it became funny~ Rob swears she did it all by herself.......maybe she had alittle help from Daddy~ who knows? But it sure was cute for a picture & seemed like she enjoyed every second of it! I guess I won't be ordering from Pottery Barn anytime soon, now that my magazine is in shreads! LOL

Lyla @ 10 months old.

I've been sewing ♥

2008-04-18T23:01:00.004-05:00

Here is the little pillow case dress I made for Lyla~ for no pattern and just guessing at the measurements~ think it turned out cute as a button!

Here is alittle outfit I saw on-line and copied~ it was super easy & took all of 10 minutes to make. I love it on her~ has a vintage/boutique look, which I love! It's hard to tell what it looks like in these pics & because she isn't standing~ but it is just the sweetest little thing!

I am so happy to have my little girly to play around with~ by the time she's in High School I'm sure she'll choose not to be caught dead in something I've made at home...so for now, I'm gonna eat it up!

One day I'll miss it.........

2008-04-18T22:42:00.005-05:00

Yes, we stumble over little toys all day long. Yes, when I crawl into bed I find several micro machines under my pillow. Yes, when I do laundry there are little metal trains at the bottom of the washer from Tate's Pockets. Yes, Rob & I find ourselves swearing under our breath about all the toys toys toys! But one day I'll be crawling into my made up bed that is toyless, and when I do laundry it'll be missing that little treasure at the end of every load!

I was watching the kiddos play yesterday & realize that although my house is not always clean, it is full of life! My kids enjoy playing in the kitchen floor with toys all around them & in the end that is what they will remember~ they will forget so easily if the laundry was done or if the oven was scrubbed.

As for me & my family we are going to live life as we want....after all no one can do as much as their mother-in-law did! LOL

My sweet Tate is trying to figure it all out......

2008-04-18T22:18:00.003-05:00

Every night Tate & I curl up in bed to read his Bible book. We also talk about the stories and I try my best to explain what they mean in a way he can understand. (It is alot harder than you think) We were reading the story of Saul turning to God and becoming known as the Apostle Paul. And then the last story was of the promise for God to come back to bring us home. I've always told Tate that Jesus lives in his heart & He is with him all the time. Well he had been thinking on everything & decided to talk to me about it all once we going to nap the next day. He started out talking about Saul and how he wasn't Jesus' friend then he was his friend & became Paul....I agreed & then he asked if Jesus was coming here? I told him that He would one day. He asked when, and I told him when the time was right. Then he said the sweetest thing I've ever heard....it was even better than hearing him say he loved me for the first time. He said "well, how will he get out of there?" I asked him "where?" and he pointed to his heart! Oh how sweet it was to know that he knew Jesus is with him always. I went to explain how Jesus lives in all of our hearts, when we love & believe in His word. I named off friends and family who has Jesus in their hearts, then he seemed to understand & was not so worried as to how Jesus was going to come out of his heart ♥ Then he asked "well then what will happen when he comes here?" I told him that everyone who did as God tells us to will go to live with Him in a wonderful place where everyone is always happy. He said he didn't want to move there, so I told him that Daddy, Momma, Lyla, Nanny, Nolan, Noah, Nathan & his family, his pawpaw...(the list went on and on) that they would all live there with him....that we'd all be together forever. He seemed satified and said "oh, well okay let's go to sleep now"

As he fell in to his sweet sleep I couldn't help but lay there and smile at him. He is so full of love & tries so hard to understand everything I'm telling him. I am so thankful to have such a loving little boy who will grow to know God & it is all starting at such a young age. I couldn't be more proud of him.

Just wanted to share my sweet little story of my sweet little boy, hope it made you smile :)

Peanuts & Lyla don't mix!!!!!

2008-04-18T01:11:00.005-05:00

Oh my....we had such a scare! My poor little baby is allergic to peanuts! During lunch last week Tate was eating a peanut butter sandwich & I decided to share some with Lyla. After a couple tiny pinches of it, we went upstairs for nap time.....alittle over a hour later we wake up & Lyla's face was alittle red, I just thought it was from sleeping....well within 5 minutes she started to break out in tiny hives on her face, they started moving to her neck & chest. I called Rob & decided to take her to the Dr. once I remembered her having the peanut butter.....well by the time I drove 20 minutes to Canton, she was soooo swollen. Her ears were HUGE! She didn't have the bumpy hives anymore, because her complete face & chest were now red & covered her body. The Doctor kinda flipped when we got there, but was able to give her a shot to counter act everything her body was doing...he told me that it normally took 5 minutes, but he would give her no longer than 10 minutes before she would be transported to the ER. I was so frightened. The shot was amazing....she started clearing up within minutes & was playing again like nothing happened. By the time I arrived home to her worried Daddy & brother, her face almost clear & her body was barely red. These are a few of the pics once we were home. You can tell her ears are still alittle swollen, but nothing like they were & her poor lil chest was still somewhat red. These pictures really don't do the story justice....it was bad! But we have an awesome peditrician & he ordered blood work to find out the severity of the recation she'll have to peanuts & all prescribed an epipen...which is a shot of us to give until she can get to the ER. Wish us luck with everything, as I am educating myself on foods made with peanut oil, etc. Hopefully this will never happen again, as it was defently a scary situation. To all you who are close to our family, please remember this allergy she has & please do not have peanuts around my sweet baby girl!

Shrinking Hippo Update!

2008-04-18T00:39:00.005-05:00

2 weeks old....

1 month...... 8lbs. 7oz

2 Months.......12lb. 4oz

3 months....(with her new pierced ears)

4 months.....she's smiling and oh so so sweet!

5 Months
It is so cool how with each photo I am able to see Lyla change......each photo holds a new milestone! This month Lyla found her feet! They are her new best friend, (next to Tate). She weighs around 18lbs. I will take her next month for her "well baby check up" and we'll see exactly what she weighs. Oh & check out her new hoop ear rings ♥

6 months
Oh my goodness! Lyla is already 6 months old!!!!! That is half of a year, already gone~ just flew by! She is growing and learning so much. She can sit alone now and she has also gained two teeth! With the hustle and bustle of Christmas I was late posting this but the photo is on the 15th of December when she turned 6 months. She broke her first bottom tooth on the 17th (my Bday) and then the second one came in on Christmas morning....those were her gifts to me, the breast~feeding mother! lol Nah, only playing...I am really thrilled they popped out, cause gosh she looks cute with them~ Lyla is such a happy baby, she loves people and is already rooting for their attention. This month she has changed alot. She cries alittle when I leave the room & she will grab for me to hold her~ she is totally lovin' Mom! Her favorite food is bananas & she loves drinking water from a sippy cup. I can't believe how fast she is growing...so here is the pic, can't you just squeeze those legs!

She is 7 Months!
Oh wow! What a change one month can make...she is so curious & notices everything! The changes have defently happened this month~ Lyla is in l♥ve with Mommy. If I walk out of the room...she cries, if I hand her off....she cries, I know it all stems from love so it's okay. She was so much fun for this month's photoshoot~ (even if I did have my camera in landscape & the pics are green!!!) I redid the shoot & the color look great, but they were missing the story...So I'm going with the green one~ because during the session she finally realized there was a little hippo beside her...she would look at me with a serious look then look at the hippo, then back to me & cry. Then she'd do it all over again. She was just not so sure about the little hippo! So here it is.....my green picture! LOL

Yes, believe it or not I'm finally posting~ I have been so busy with just everyday life & photography that I've totally fallen short on my blog....sorry to all my faithful readers :)

So Lyla is now 10 months old & so full of love. She has changed so much in the last few months. She now has 5 teethers & loves to bite me everytime I brush them ;) She has started clapping in her own little way....by balling up one fist & clapping her other hand on top of it! She l♥ves to play peek-a-boo~ it is something she does all the time! She is so funny....she'll find the smallest little thing to hide behind, thinking we can't see her. I grabbed a pic of her hiding behind a granola bar...it was raised on top of her head & she was looking straight at the camera, yet she was hiding! I just love the stage she is at, she is full of high pitched screams & that big belly laughter! She is defently different then Tate was as a baby. She doesn't like to be touched, as in snuggling (unless she is nursing & laying down for nap) other than that, she will push our hands off of her~ Tate was a love bug & attached to his paci & blankie by her age. Not Lyla~ she gave up her paci on her own...everytime we tried to pop it in, she'd spit it out directly! She also rejects a blankie or snuggly bear. I guess it's a good thing, cause it's one less thing to break later..but I just wanted a few great pics of a little toddler with her worn out bear dragging behind her~crazy i know :)
Lyla has a new nickname this month...we slowly started calling her Lyleeeeee. It has stuck & we call her that almost more than her name~ she responds well to it & I think it's just the cutest thing to hear Tate say. Lyla is saying a few words...her first word was Da-Da, (just like Tater) Then she picked up Bye-Bye with a wave. Her wave is cute, cause she just throws her hand up in the air...like she already too cool for school! Then finally she said Ma-Ma. Just melted my heart! Now she is saying Daw for Dog. And I think she's say Bru for Brubby (which is what we call Tate)

It has been amazing to see all the changes that happen so fast. I remember thinking during my last week of pregnancy, how sad it was for Tate that he would never be the only child again. That he would forever have to share my love, my time, and things would never be the same.....well that was defently true! But I have come to realize now that I love both of my children with no end in sight & that Tate would not trade his sister for the world.

So here is her 10 month pic...I still need to post 8 & 9 months, but I have to search through my tower of discs to find them....not something I want to do right this moment! So here she is~ our little Lyleeeeee.

The highest paying photoshoot ♥

2008-02-23T21:54:00.005-05:00

Today I was paid for my work with something far better than money. I spent a couple hours at the local nursing home donating my time and ended up leaving a rich woman. A few of the things I saw will live with me forever. I saw couples who had been married for over 60 years and still in love...... I talked with a man who was 97 and seemed to be living his last years to the fullest. He joked with me telling me "he has this bucket.......and that he was about to kick it" Then he'd laugh a big belly laugh~ he was so full of life & it showed in every word he spoke.

Some people view our elders as "old people" well they are......but that doesn't mean that they weren't once young, that they weren't full of dreams just like you and I. All of the old souls I met today, had a story.....not all of them shared their story with me, but I could read it in the lines of their faces & in the wear in their hands.

I will be posting pictures soon of my favorite photoshoot to date~ the Grandview Nursing home in Jasper, Ga. I hope that some of you reading this will take time to give your self to others~ cause in the end it is the best thing you can do for yourself. I was paid with love, smiles, stories, music & flowers. That to me is far better than money. Another reward for me is knowing that these people will have heartfelt photos for their loved ones to hold dear once they are gone. I feel as if today was a wonderful day for not only the residence of Grandview, but for myself.

Just remember when you give love, you get love! To me there is nothing on earth as great & wonderful as love.

My sweet Kerri Kiker~ you will forever live in my heart

2008-01-23T21:46:00.000-05:00

This past week has been on of the hardest weeks ever! My sweet, beautiful friend Kerri was killed in a car wreck on the 19th of January. She was a wonderful girl, a girl so full of life~ a girl who taught me so much about life. At a time when most of us are making huge choices in life (teenage years) I was led by her. She taught me how to put on my makeup, she taught me how to straight iron my hair, how to drive a car, how to smoke~(I didn't say it was all good :), she took me muddin' she took me to the beach, she helped me get a job @ cowboys, she she taught me how to be a good friend, a friend for life!

A couple of my favorite memories of Kerri......My favorite time with her was on night on our way back from Cowboys. We were tired from work and I was dozzing off in the passenger seat when she scream for me to wake up that she saw two shooting stars~ I naturally made fun of her & said "Whatever?!?!" I snuggled back into place, when she screamed again~ she had seen another one! That was how she was~ just always so happy & excited over the smallest things. Well I sat up and watched and sure enough there were several shooting stars shooting across the sky. We didn't know until we turned the radio on that there was a meteor shower that night...so once we got to Ellijay we pulled up to Talona Mtn. and sat by the cross, watching the shower of shooting stars. She was in amazement~ we hung our heads out of her sunroof & puffed on our NASTY cigarettes~ just young and without care....we normally got home around 3am from work, but on this night we rolled in after day light~ we must have sat there for 4 or more hours just talking and soaking up our time together. It is nights like this that I'll treasure forever.....now my sweet friend is among those stars!

Another of my favorite times with Kerri was our "girly nights" We would make our boyfriends leave the cabin and we would get in our pj's (which if you know Kerri that consisted of OVER SIZED GUY PAJAMA PANTS & A SWEAT SHIRT) then we would turn on the Golden Girls and do our facials. The first night we decided to do it, she taught me how to do the whole facial thing...she directed me not to smile or it would crack once it was dried. Again if you know Kerri, that was impossible....so as she came back from he kitchen I took her picture then she took mine~ once she sat down we looked at each other & started to laugh~ we laughed and laughed! Our faces cracked all to pieces. :) She was such a good friend, with such a happy soul.

I'll post our pics from the night of facials once they are scanned.

I'm so thankful to have known Kerri. I will never forget the wonderful moments we spent together~ as for the friends I have with me still. I love you all.

♥ The Hippo update ♥

2008-01-18T18:19:00.000-05:00

♥ My most recent projects ♥

2008-01-17T11:05:00.000-05:00

I've been doing a few projects around the house & have really enjoyed the time I've spent doing them! It felt good to have "me time". Rob has been giving me alot of time to myself lately to work on projects and boy did I need it! Jen and I finished up the window pane coat rack. It was a great time spent with her & reminded me just why we are best buds!

The other project I've been working on is my mantle & my prints.....I was just so lucky to see a friend's mantle (Nacole) and loved it....so there I went and brought out the black paint! I've painted just about everything in my house now! lol I still have to hang the prints & get some new cool stuff for the mantle...but here is a little peak at what my work in progress looks like~ I love it! They also look better in person as there are not as many reflection as in the picture.

Well that is it for now....but I'm sure there is more to come~ Jen and I are getting together again tonight for creative fun!!!!! I'm so excited!

Ms. Lyla Grace

2008-01-08T23:01:00.000-05:00

A day stored in my memory....

2008-01-08T22:09:00.000-05:00

It's a day I hope to never forget & one I hope to relive every year!

The day after Thanksgiving~ we went out to the Jone's Christmas Tree Farm in Ellijay. I love everything about getting our tree there...I love the beautiful drive through the country road that I used to travel daily on the way to my parents house; I love the memory of going there yearly with my parents to pick the PERFECT tree; I love the smell of the tall green trees; I love the cold crisp breeze that lets me know winter is upon us. I just love it all!

Tate had alot of fun meeting Mr. George (owner of farm) he was alittle afraid of his old saw mill~ but in the end he thought it was all pretty neat! He ran and played in ALL the rows of trees....to him the place must have seemed endless! He helped pick out our tree, but orignally wanted every HUGE 15ft. tree & didn't understand that we had to get one to fit in our house...which was also hard for me to understand! I also wanted all the large ones & was constantly reminded by Rob that they just wouldn't fit!

The photo below is one of my favorites from the ride~ I love the fact that it captured so much in one simple shot....notice the bright blue skies in the mirror, the beautiful pasture filled with cows, and me snapping the picture~

The shrinkin hippo update......

2007-12-30T18:37:00.001-05:00

We are here by the grace of God.

2007-12-24T00:15:00.000-05:00

It is my biggest fear~ something I have thought about time and time again....loosing a child or my husband. It is something I don't think anyone should have to go through, but at the same time it is in God's plan why things happen as they do & for me I was spared the heart ache and pain on December the 16th around 12pm. I have never felt such a helpless feeling, nor do I ever want to again.

We started the day as we do everyday....normal everyday things~it was cold outside so Tate had to play inside & was pulling every string I had, as I was getting dressed & tending to Lyla. I talked to Rob and had him play/wrestle with Tate on our bed~ which happens to be one of their favorite things to do (or was one of them). As they played I continued to put on my makeup & dress myself until I heard a huge thud & Tate crying! (He had fallen off the bed backwards onto the crown of his head, something I found out later.) So I come running out of the bathroom to find Tate crying and Rob consoling him. Which was really nothing new, as he gets hurt often & really throws a big fit over the smallest things~ so I just went to hold him as I normally would. I noticed before pulling him into my chest, that his lips were alittle purple~ something that sometimes happens when he cries really hard..... well this time was different! As I held him against my chest I could feel the life gone out of him...his chest felt so thin & lifeless~ I will never forget the feeling I felt when I realized he wasn't breathing~ I held his body out from me to see his face & it was completely colorless, his lips were completely purple/blue and his skin had lost all color. I yelled at Rob that he wasn't breathing and he also thought it was just him crying really hard and needing his breath, but once Rob saw his face he too started to scream. We both looked at one another in terror, unsure what to do. Although Rob was a cop for years his training totally left him. I started shaking Tate and yelling his name, but he didn't respond~ it was then that Rob realized I should not be shaking him & he responded to the situation as his training taught him. He instructed me to call 911 and he would do CPR. As I set Tate on the bed his body fell lemp, I couldn't help but pause there and look helplessly at Rob as he yelled at me to call 911!! So I ran down stairs looking for the phone....I glanced at every table then at the kitchen counter~ no phone, I seemed to be in a fog~ as if I couldn't do anything to help! I finally found the phone then called I was back upstairs by the time the woman answered and Tate was breathing again! Rob had compressed his chest 4 to 5 times and then he took a breath...he directly started to cry and it was he sweetest sound I have ever heard. Once the paramedics left the house I sat on the couch with my family and I cried, and cried, and cried and cried! During the rush of it all I didn't REALLY understand what had happened~ it was like I said before more of a foggy type thing. Once it all went away & we were sitting together, doing what we normally do ~ that is when it hit me...I almost lost my son, I held my son when there was no air in his body, I could have spent the rest of my life with out seeing his smiling face....it hit me & I realized more than I've ever realized before just how imporant my family is & just how easily they can be taken from me. I felt helpless in the time of need, although we had all the help we needed. As I ran down the hallway to get the phone I was yelling "Keep him alive, Keep him alive" After replaying it all back with Rob, he said he could hear me yelling that...and that he would've felt so quilty if he wouldn't have kept him alive. My answer to him was "I wasn't talking to you........"

Oh, she is PerFeCT!!

2007-12-17T23:17:00.000-05:00

My sweet Birthday~ the big 25!!!!

2007-12-17T22:52:00.000-05:00

So today was alittle crazy for a Birthday, as we spent it in the Doctor's office with Tate...just trying to make sure my little boy is okay. (more about that in a later post) So after we finished with the CT scan we met up with Rob at Out Back
YUMMY~steak! Dinner went really well, the kids were excellent at the table & out server was the best! Once we were home we kicked our shoes off & brought out the gifts! Rob had gotten me a pair of Diamond ear rings, that he and Tate picked out. My sweet lil Tater bought me a girly ring/necklace set. Rob let him pickout whatever he wanted to get me, and he choose that...I LOVED it! I will forever have that $3.00 set of jewelry~ There is nothing sweeter than the fact that he was thinking of me when he saw it! As he was sliding them on my finger he told me how much he loved me & that i need to wear the purple butterfly ring forever just like I wear my other ring forever (wedding band) So for the next little bit, I'm gonna make my sweet boy happy & wear it...I'm sure my finger will turn green~ but anything to make him smile. ♥
Here we are putting on my new ring set......

Worthy of it's own post...

2007-12-17T22:49:00.000-05:00

Here is a cute lil pic of me that my aunt sent to me the other day~ it was the first time I'd seen it & wanted to share it with everyone....just so ya'll can see where Tate gets his looks :)

what he is like right now@4 years old!

2007-12-12T08:50:00.000-05:00

So my little monkey Tate is really coming into his own little world these days~ he says almost anything & questions everything!!

The other day Tate, Lyla and I were laying down for our daily 2.5 hour nap, (yeah I know~I could be doing house work, but it's so nice) when he asked me to sing a song to help him go to sleep, nothing different there....but as I sang the song 'you are my sunshine' I peeked through the slats of my eyeslids to see if he was falling asleep, well he wasn't so I watched him. My sweet little boy watched me sing every word~ as if he were taking in every moment of it....just looking me over so sweetly. I was wondering what he could be thinking so I opened my eyes and asked him. His response was nothing loving & sweet at all......but gosh was it cute! He said "well Mom, I really think after our nap that we should cut your teeth, they are growing really long~the two front ones really need cut!" oh, what a little boy I have....just full of happiness & he don't even realize it! I couldn't help but smile & agree that my teeth are really big (or atleast to him).

When I ask him, he says:

Who is your best friend......Caleb & Uncle Scotty & Daddy
Who is your girlfriend.......You & Lyla
What do you want for Christmas......A sharp knife, blue train, & 4 wheeler.
What makes you sad.....eating supper.
What do you want to get Mommy for her Bday.......a train
Who is Mommy's best friend.....Lyla & Jennifer & Kellie & Nanny & sometimes Daddy ( i added the last one)
What does Mommy do while you are at school....laundry.
Is Mommy pretty.....yeah, but not when Sarah makes your hair real curly, you look pretty now, but not like curly.
Who do you want to be when you grow up.......A Soldier & Daddy & a hunter, so I can get a deer & eat it. Then I'll get a rabbit & you can eat it~(never gonna happen, buddy!)
What is you favorite color....blue & grey
What do you want to do right now.....go to popas' house.

Just yesterday Tate called me to the bathroom to clean him bottom....when I got there I talked to him about learning to wipe on his own, cause he was getting so stinky~ he replied...."nah, probably not til I'm TWENTY!!!" Ha...that's what he thinks :)

I've been eye-balling this place for months!

2007-11-14T21:03:00.000-05:00

The leaves have finally turned! Look at how perfect this place is.....on our way home from the park today we stopped to get permission from the land owners to take some photos here, no one was home so I started snapping. I would love to have some family photos taken here....just a perfect spot! (or for a certain someone in a red dress..hint hint Nacole)

Anyway~ here are the pics....I just love one with my side view mirror. As I was snapping it, Tate asked "Momma why do you have to always take pictures?" My answer "This view could be gone tomorrow, but I will have it forever!" He probably didn't know what the heck I was talking about, but maybe oneday he will understand....I do it to mark today, and yesterday, & the day before that! LOL

FUN FUN FUN!

2007-11-14T20:33:00.000-05:00

What a beautiful day! Once Pre-K let out we made our way over to the duck park with a few of Tate's friend's from school. Nacole brought Caleb & Gaige (aka Tate's Best friends), Lea & Josh brought Jillian...who skipped out on pictures & Linda brought sweet Juila. We had a wonderful time chatting and the kiddos got to do what they do best PLAY! Tate was all tuckered out once we left, as was I. Here are a few pics of our great Fall day~

Grab a tissue! I cry everytime......

2007-11-14T10:06:00.000-05:00

before watching turn the music player off... it is on the right side of this page, scroll down.

A jump back in time to a few of my favorite days......

2007-11-13T20:19:00.000-05:00

Here is a cute one of me and my bro's on Nathan's big wedding day. Crazy to think that Tate was in the oven at this time!

This photo of Tater & Braydi jumping on the bed brings back memories...the reason they are in their diapers is because they had just jumped out of the bath. Wanna know the reason they had a bath~ they had creamed two tubs of skin cream on their bodies & all in their hair! It was too cute to get upset, so I just grabbed the video camera and laughed it off. It was a great day in toddler world. I truly miss the days when Braydi and Tate had sleep overs.

Why do I love these photos? Well they remind me of an awesome vacation.... A vacation where I fell in love with my hubby all over again. It was our first vacation as a family & it was a great one!

These photos are from a sweet Fall day decorating our yard. Tate fell on the pavement and hurt his nose that day....I remember the day to be so relaxing and happy! He loved helping us with the flowers and pumpkins! I wish I could go back to this day and pinch his little cheecks! He is just soooo cute!

Yummy Yummy in my tum tum tummy!

2007-11-13T18:24:00.000-05:00

Lyla had her first bite of food~bananas and she loved them! She was smacking her lil lips just waiting for the next bite! I am so excited about her eating....I made all of Tate's food homemade & loved it. I can't wait to make all the yummy food for her. Tate's favorite was peas, (not that he would touch them with a ten foot pole now), but I can't wait to see what Lyla loves the most. It is just so rewarding breastfeeding her and knowing that she has grown all because of me. It is also rewarding making her food, as she gets alittle older I will be able to add things like wheat germ, Brewers yeast and other wonderful additives so that she is getting great nutrition in her every meal. I also love the fact that I save like 75% of what jarred foods cost. The nutrition and savings are wonderful & I'm so thankful I'm able to give my baby the very best~with that said here is her first lil feeding! Next week will be Avocados!

A tub of love!

2007-11-05T18:27:00.000-05:00

Oh what fun a bath can be.....when you have a sibling to play and splash with! I thought I knew everything about my sweet Tate, but that was before he became a brother. Now I am seeing a totally different little boy~ the bond these two kiddos have is like no other! I am so thankful that they have each other. I am so thankful for the love that is already there. Here are a few shots from their fun in the tub!

I L♥ve my family..and every minute spent with them!

2007-11-02T21:29:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I recieved a call from one of my friends (Tabitha who was 8 months prego at the time) Like always we started our conversation asking what each other was doing...she asked me and I replied "oh just nursing a baby ~ What about you?" She said she was doing alittle scrapbooking. So I said "oh lucky you" then she replied, "No lucky you". It took this phone call for me to realize what blessing I have on a daily basis that I don't always see. For instance, nursing my sweet Lyla....normally I read a magazine while she nurses or watch alittle tv, or surf the net. Not anymore, now I sit and watch her. I take it all in, her little nose, her eyelashes....everything! She is just so sweet & while I always enjoyed our time alone I really didn't realize what a true blessing it is, that I have an everyday moment that some people are not able to share. Like Tabitha~ she is still in waiting for her sweet miracle, so she longs for the moment she holds her baby, when I hold Lyla everyday. Sometimes it is the things right in front of us that we don't see. I know I have went in circles here, but I just want to say one thing from this~ look around and love what you have....especially your family. In the end they are what your day will start and end with, they are the people who truly care about you. So take a few extra minutes and hug alittle longer! Soak up life, after all we only live it once!

He has a new friend.....

2007-11-01T20:44:00.000-05:00

Tate kept telling us how he wanted a dog....so being the suckers that we are, we gave in and called the Animal Rescue for Pickens County. We were alittle scared of how the dog would be with children as he was a stray. Well we couldn't have found a better pet for Tate. He is so sweet & loving! His name is Pugsley and he is around 3 years old. He is calm and relaxed most of the time, but will also play around with Tate when prompted. We have taught him to sit in only a weeks time, so I know he will be a well mannered dog within no time. He already knows how to push open an unlatched door.....I found it out the hard way~ after dropping Tate at school I returned to a kitchen filled with Trash!!!! He had opened the back door & made himself at home! Yuck, not cool! Needless to say I check the door to make sure it is truly closed. So anyway, here are a couple of shots I got after school one day... I couldn't find Tate & when I looked out the back door this is what I saw.