Rocking Horse Revamp

We scored this sweet little rocking horse at a garage sale one balmy Friday morning and decided she had good bones, but desperately needed a revamp. 

The best part?  She was only $5!

(before)

First order of business...cutting off the nappy "mane" and "tail."  Harrison helped me sand her down and clean her up and we put a few coats of fresh black paint.  After letting it dry (which Harrison though would never happen), we lightly sanded it to give it a distressed look. 

The end result...

(after)

She's a beauty!

Keep an eye out in future blog posts about our new rocking horse.  I can't really say there's a happy story about it, i.e. "this wooden rocking horse was made by Great Uncle So-and-So and it's ___ years old..."  However, she was $5 and no one knows the difference!

Wordless Wednesday

Crazy Busy?? It must be Summertime!

I'm feeling a tad short of breath this week!  It has been crazy busy, which is all too common for Summertime.  Lots of fun and exciting things happening though....New carpet being installed, closet cleaning (the kind that requires a followup garage sale - also happening this week), vacation Bible school nightly, pick up and drop off sweet neice and nephew to and from said vacation Bible school, birthday party, monthly hair appointment, Mama Couture orders/projects...Oh, and this other little thing I have - WORK!

I'm totally not complaining.  I actually think I thrive off of this sort of fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants craziness.  However, as can be told by the lack of housework and cooking happening this week, my homemaker duties do not thrive off of such craziness. 

That being said, fun new blogs coming up soon.  (Well, maybe not fun to anyone else, but fun for me!)  My sweet littlest critter is officially sitting up like a BiG BoY, so cutie pics of that as well as other happenings in our neck of the woods are on their way!

Brig's First Haircut

My little dark-haired fella was ready for his first haircut....already.  Seems that all babies have a little trouble keeping hair in the back of their heads and that was typical for Brig.  The hair on the sides of his little head was another story.  It was long and wispy and hanging over his ears; definitely not the clean-cut look that Mama likes.  Harrison was due for a haircut too, so on Sunday afternoon, I decided it was time to cut Brig's too.  He was such a champ!  Sat in his Bumbo seat and let me trim up the sides and a little off the back.  There was actually more hair to cut than I had realized.  He has the cutest cowlick in the front, so we left the hair on top as it was for the most perfect little comb-over.  It's funny such a huge difference a small haircut can make!

I guess Harrison was about this same age when he got his first haircut and, of course, I saved a lock of his hair.  I couldn't help but pull it out and compare it's shade to the shade of Brig's first trimmed locks.  Woah!  We all knew Brig was darker complected than Harrison, but there is a big difference in the shade of their "first curls!"  Brig's is MUCH darker than Harrison's.  Neither of my boys look like me AT ALL, but I gleam with pride that Brig has dark hair like me!  Secretly Justin has dark hair too, but his started off blonde (like Harrison's), so I'm ignoring that fact right now. 

Though it's hard to tell from the pictures, that little haircut has made such a difference in Brig's "look."  He looks so much older just from that - Besides the fact that he's learning and growing every day.  Such a big guy!

BEFORE

AFTER

Secret Spy

The other afternoon when Harrison woke up from his nap, he slipped out the back door to play outside.  I actually didn't mind because he was right outside the window where I was working and I could keep an eye on him.  He thought he was totally inconspicuous though!  When I realized he was only in his underwear (that is his sleepwear of choice), I had to grab my camera.  I snapped these pictures right through the window.  He's just happy as a clam playing in the sandbox in his UNDERWEAR!  If there's a reason to live in the woods, this is it!

Anniversary

On Monday, July 12, Justin and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary.  We took a little "kid-free" trip for the weekend to celebrate.  This was our first time leaving Brig overnight, but he did great.  Both boys did great actually.  We are so very grateful for grandparents that would drop anything (well, most anything) to be with our precious boys.  I know so many don't have the luxury of grandparents nearby. 

Though we missed our boys like crazy, we had the most fun just the two of us.  We talked (with no interruptions) and laughed and felt like kids again.  Who knew a little weekend sans children could make such an impact on our relationship.  We were beyond ready to get home to our babies that Monday, but made a promise to do little getaways like that more often.  I think the last time we got away was when Harrison was 5 months old - We were most definitely due for one!

I can't help but reminisce over the past 7 years and think of how we've changed, both seperately and together.  Justin is my best friend and I'm proud of the man he is and the family we're building.

In honor of us, I had to post a few wedding pictures.  It's funny to look back at these seeing as how it's only been 7 years ago.  We look like kids, but I remember thinking we were grown.  My, oh my! 

(The color's a bit off because I couldn't get the scanner to work and just snapped pictures right out of my album...:) )

July 4th Weekend

We wrapped a crazy-busy June and jumped into a crazy-busy July!  Hey, that's the fun of summer right??!?

I had done some planning ahead since July 4th fell on Sunday and had been busy in front of my sewing maching doing matching shirts for my little guys to wear to the day's festivities.   The Saturday prior, we spent time with friends at a cookout complete with awesome fireworks.  That Sunday morning -- July 4th -- Harrison woke up screaming and couldn't open his eye.  I pryed it open and cleaned out gook and sand...gross.  He was still crying about his eye hurting and couldn't open it.  I ended up calling the pediatrician (so gratefull they take urgent appointment on Saturday and Sunday) and they wanted to see him to make sure there was no abrasion.  Needless to say, they boys spent the morning not at church in coordinating outfits, but at the doctor's office in coordinating outfits!  Afterwards, we grabbed a quick lunch with Justin's dad while we were in Jacksonville and headed on about the events for the day. 

We made the drive to Palatka and had supper with family.  It was so nice to visit with them.  I was excited to see my cousin Elizabeth's new baby boy, Caden, and my other cousin Whitney's baby boy, Lane.  Brigdon, Lane and Caden are only months apart, so it was fun to compare them and watch them interact with each other.  So sweet they are!

Caden with grandpa Billy Wayne, Harrison and Brigdon with "B," Lane with grandpa David

We ended up staying at Mom & Allan's in St Augustine and then spent Monday with my Aunt Wendy and her family at the beach.  So good to see my cousins Jenna and Gavin, who it seems have grown up overnight.  I can remember Aunt Wendy's baby bumps and it wasn't that long ago!  Jenna was the "little Mama" and my babysitter for the day.  Gavin kept Harrison busy in the pool.  No doubt my guys slept very good on the drive home!

Brigdon and cousin Jenna

Harrison, cousin Gavin, and Brigdon

Brigdon and Jenna in the pool