Happy Daniel... Very Happy Daniel

Daniel's Best .... so far!   4lb 9oz Largemouth.... caught on a cricket!  

One of Many....

Best Bluegill from the 17th

The 6th was a good day on the water!  

What is that in your right hand Papa?  Looks like bait to me!  : ) 

A Keeper!  

The picture above is from 3 years ago - the first summer that Daniel joined his Uncle and Papa in a true summer of fishing!  

"Double" Catch for Papa and Daniel!  

Large Mouth Bass

Uncle Jeff with a 6lb Bowfin... Papa fishin' in the background....

Hitting the Limit Every Single Day!

... and the Force Will Be With Abby

The latest "find" for Abby's room:

I found the nicest artist (and ( I think) stay at home mom) from Georgia who does digital art and she agreed to do a special order for Abby's room... Abby's love of St@r Wars combined with the perfect colors for her new room.  The 4 striped prints will be framed and hung in a row above a big Indonesian bench against one of the walls.  Abby calls it her comfy reading spot.  The larger solid gray print is much bigger and will be hung separately. These two (below) small guys will be framed and sit on her night stand.  : ) She will be surrounded by the force!  ; )  ... and they are all so cute that even I think they make the perfect decor for Abby's new room!

If anyone needs a little artwork done... let me know and I will give you the contact information for the artist.  And... don't worry about breaking the bank... the price for this "commissioned" art.... pretty darn cheap if you ask me!  And the fact that Abby was able to give her input... if she wanted purple stripes or circles... or all purple or all gray... and she picked out all the sayings with the characters.  She is so excited about this project... priceless!  : )

First "Find" for Abby's New Big Girl Room...

With one more "kiddo" flying the coupe in the fall, the rest left at home will be shuffling bedrooms.

Daniel will move into Holly's old room where he will have his own bathroom.  That leaves Daniel's old room to Abby - and she and Lilli will share the jack-n-jill bathroom. We can not simply "transfer" Abby's twin bed to her new room, because - Holly still needs a place to "live" when she is home!  So... Holly will take over Abby's room when she is home for the weekend, holidays and summer (doubt that she will EVER return home for the summer... too many places to travel for her!) ... and Abby will "move back" in with Lilli - who will keep the matching twin beds that have served our family so well for over 10 years now!!!  : )  (seems like I had them made - in Jakarta - just yesterday... seriously!)

Anyway... back to the "FIND"...

Abby's idea for decor was simply "St@r W@rs".  I am taking that with a "grain of salt" of moving forward with a warm and cozy purple, gray, creme, black (and maybe even a hint of chartreuse) bedroom.  We have found an artist in Georgia, that is working on a few prints with D@rth V@der, Yod@, An@kin, etc ... but in a very cute style that will fit in with what is to become Abby's new abode.

Today, we made the trek out to an antique store south of town.  I have been watching a few local websites by a  few local "moms" that find old furniture and refinish it.  The other day, I saw a depression era bed - full size - that was recently redone.  It was solid wood - as all the beds were back in the day- and it was finished in a bit of a shabby black color.  I fell hard for the picture.  But seriously... it was not the first time that I had fallen for the picture, only to find that the actual furniture made me want to get up .... and run!!!  : )

Today was different... the bed was perfect!  It was just what we have been hoping for.  Abby likes the style  where the footboard wraps around the mattress a bit.  We saw a bed like that a while back in a furniture store and it was by far her favorite.... but too "pristine" for my taste.

So...Here it is:

LOVE IT!!!!!

 Here are a few of our inspiration photos... believe me, I will never achieve anything as grand and beautiful as these "looks"... but they are so beautiful to look at!

... and while I am sharing inspiration pictures... when all else is done in our home, I would love to spruce up the master bedroom a bit... I LOVE these two rooms...

Two of Those Moments....

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away"

We had a few of those moments this past week....

Holly worked very hard for her graduation "decorations"!  

When I grow up, I most want to be .... just like Holly!  My daughter is the most amazing young woman...
I love you  (and like you a whole bunch too!)  my Holly girl... your self confidence and humor and focus and pure joy of life brings happiness to me each and every day!  You are a true blessing!  

Class Size - 580!  Yikes!!!

BAMA Bound!!!  

Ready for the next adventure!  

For a second year, I have one graduating from High School and one graduating from Kindergarden!
Way to go Lilli!   

I like the way they celebrate after Kindergarden graduation!  

... And The Family Grows

Holly Polly

We are so proud of Holly and the hard work that she has put into every second of her education thus far!  Holly was never happy with an A... that only made her work harder to get an A+.  And I think even more telling of her personality is that she rejoices in others' success just as much as she does in her own!  

Way to go Holly Polly.... your dad and I are so very proud of your accomplishments and know that you will do amazing things with your talents!  

Holly earned both a Presidential Scholarship and an Engineering Scholarship to
The University of Alabama... Roll Tide!!

Holly and her best friend, Jamie, showing off 12 years of hard work!  

A girl can change her mind at the last minute... right??? ; )

Happy Mother's Day

I love the picture below - it is my mother a few years back : ) .... so elegant!  I hope you have a grand day today mom!   

 And the picture above.... my mother's mother - Vernie.  A Lady that makes me smile every time I think of her....   she was truly the "Matriarch" of the family... and a wonderful role model for so many that were lucky enough to know her!