Pandamania!

This afternoon, Pete dropped the girls off at VBS and went to a pistol competition in Augusta and while he was there, he also went by David's Bridal to pick up the girls' flower girl dresses for Erin's wedding. (Thanks honey!) I thought it was a suitable errand. You know, one that would counter all that testosterone that builds up at the firing range.  

Anyhow, a friend of mine in my bunco group was really bragging on the pizza at one of the local eateries, Home Fresh Bistro in Louisville. So, tonight Mom and Dad wanted to check it out and I got to tag along since the rest of my brood was off doing their own thing. My daddy is very judgmental about pizza! He is more of a steak/pork chop/fried chicken kinda guy and pizza must be spectacular for him to like it! Y'all, if you haven't had the Bistro's pizza, you must! Waynesboro peeps, it's worth the drive to Louisville! Hands down best pizza around. The meal was reasonably priced, the service was good and the strawberry cake for dessert, which I am almost certain was made with fresh strawberries, was absolutely to die for. Five stars to The Home Fresh Bistro! Add them on facebook to see their daily specials. 

After eating, Mom and I made a few laps at the city park. Probably enough to work off the calories from just SMELLING the strawberry cake at The Bistro. Then, off we went to see the kids in the Pandamania Finale. The kids really were spectacular and I so enjoyed seeing the kids sing. Y'all know I don't dig contemporary music at all really, and it did my heart good to see a little "How Great Thou Art" mixed in amongst the other songs! What a wonderful week the girls had! They were certainly blessed by the experience and I am so thankful for all the hands that helped make it possible. 

Thanks to my friend Laurie for taking these VBS pics!!

Wild Week!

Not many words today, just pictures! We've had a very busy week with Vacation Bible School! The kids have had a ball. Both of them have always loved VBS!  Ali Grace was able to go to a drawing class today at the Fire House Gallery in Louisville. She really had a good time and it was great for her to be able to get off the farm for awhile! 

Addie has been her normal self, changing clothes 3 times a day. She's growing by leaps and bounds and everyday her personality reveals a little more of itself. We need a little comic relief around here so I'm thankful for it. Both girls are very excited about 2 weeks at the beach in July. We're counting the days!

Try to ignore the hideous headband. It came in a box of junk my mother sent for the kids to play with!! Ugh!! Grandmas!!

A Blessed Birthday

This morning Addie, popped her head straight up when she woke and said "Happy Birthday Mama.. you are the best Mama in the world."  Now how could you ask for anything else?   I had a great birthday breakfast at Mama and Daddy's across the road and then after church we took off to the Hodge Podge Lodge for an afternoon of swimming with friends. 

When we came back, the girls were exhausted and Addie was a little "sassy".  Daddy offered to take me out to eat for my birthday, but when you cook as well as my parents do, why go out to eat? It was hot and we were tired from swimming so I just requested a home cooked meal!  While my daddy fried shrimp in the outdoor kitchen, Addie pouted inside. 

The shrimp were wonderful!! Mama made great tartar sauce too. When Addie finally moped outside, after Ali and Pete had already gone back home, Nanny asked Addie what SHE wanted for supper. She announced STEAK! I giggled but hadn't even turned around and Poppy was slicing her a steak and Nanny was cooking it for her. Talk about ROTTEN to the CORE!

All in all, it was a perfect birthday. I know I'm a homebody. I don't care. I love it out here. Pete and I watched House Hunters last night and a couple was looking for a house in Detroit. They settled on a condo that was gorgeous. Pete said he liked it. I said I liked the inside too. I would wither away and die there, but it was pretty. My friend Alisa loves the hustle and bustle of the city. She really thrives on city life. When I go to Augusta, I can't get away fast enough. Funny how God plants us where he knows we'll grow.  I'm glad I've been planted here among friends and family. It was a great birthday. 

A Horrible Horse

 This is Ali's horse, Treasure. I can't stand her. I wish she'd jump the fence and go flying down the dirt road and rejoin some pack of wild dogs. That's what she acted like tonight. A straight fool!  Unfortunately, Ali Grace loves her to the moon and back and won't give up on the idea that she might just be rideable again some day. She went down crazy street after foaling and never came back.  Ali Grace went over to ride after getting out of the shower (that's why her hair is soaking wet!) Treasure looked just as sweet as she could be until Ali tried to make her go. Then she started acting nutty. Then Mama got on her and she went REALLY crazy. That ticked Poppy off who ran Treasure around the arena like crazy. IT WAS  well... CRAZY!   :)  If you're a Cooper or you know one fairly well, you will know that my daddy has only spit his false teeth out ONCE prior to tonight.. when my brother was running the lawn mower about 35 miles an hour trying to get the grass cut so he could go out on a date, and tonight when Treasure acted a fool. Yep. Daddy yelled a few choice words and the teeth flew out. Oh well, back to Uncle Ernie's School for Hard to Handle Horses. Round Two. 

Farm Fun

What better place for a picnic than atop a fresh roll of straw? Behind because of the rain, and barely one day ahead of the planter, the men had to head to the field today. We decided it would be nice to meet them in the field for an impromptu picnic lunch at the Applewhite Plantation where they were working. Pete said it brought back memories of when his grandmother used to bring them lunch in the field when he worked orange groves with his grandfather in Florida years and years ago. It was super hot but the kids had a really good time. Addie was SO tired from playing hard all morning in the hot tub with Cohen and Ali Grace, but she managed to stay awake and not roll off the straw bale. She crashed when we got home and took a good nap before supper. 

We had a full weekend of company and while I'm worn completely out, it was worth it. The kids absolutely had a BLAST! I have a workshop all next week at school. If I survive that, then I'm going to hibernate all next weekend. 

Sleepy Saturday

I have no idea why, but last night I dreamed I was reading a book with words that when put together made no sense whatsoever. When I woke up I was exhausted from trying to make some sense out of what I was reading! I had a house FULL of people last night and everyone slept well except me!  Luckily it didn't take anything more than a morning nap and a Pineland Bakery cream cheese danish to snap me out of it. Pete went into town this morning and came back with bear claws, cinnamon swirls, donuts, danish, and all sorts of goodies. He's a man after my own heart.

The Giles clan left this morning shortly before lunch and luckily we talked them into taking a puppy! They didn't take us up on the buy one get one free special, but that's okay. We're glad the puppy has found a good home!  Ali Grace slept for 2 solid hours after they left! She was exhausted! Addie and Cohen played in the hot tub several times throughout the day. They've alternated between hot tub, train table, and trampoline. It's so good to see kids enjoying each other's company. We're hoping they've worn themselves out and that the frozen concoction machine will be gearing up any minute!

Sweet Summer So Far!

It's definitely summer now. Know how I know? The frozen concoction machine came out of hibernation today! Although it's made its sweet share of frozen margaritas, the bulk of its duties involve slushies for the kids. That machine works overtime during the summer.

I snapped this picture yesterday. Someone tell me how I'm going to handle THIS hot mess when she's a teenager. For the record, I do not purchase camouflage. This was a tragic purchase my husband made and of course she loves it.

Addie has already influenced her friend Sam. Notice his footwear. 

Addie has been in love with Dr. Spratling's train table for two years. Since she first started going to the dentist, she has wanted a train table. I kept putting her off thinking it was just a phase and that it would pass. She STILL asks for a train table! Finally I found one on sale and ordered it. She paced the floor waiting on the UPS truck today. She loves it! Who woulda thunk it?