7 Quick Takes

1~  Annelise is nine months old today.  The time has flown by, and I'm always in awe when my babies have been outside of me longer than they were inside.  It's a strange passage.  Nine months old is quite delicious indeed.

2~  And in this last week, she has totally fallen in love with her daddy.  It's so adorable, especially when you consider that she really wanted nothing to do with him for many, many months.  Now she flirts with him all the time and lets out this gasp-y squeal when he walks in the room.  Heaven.

3~  We had a marathon trip to Baton Rouge yesterday...two hours there and almost three back.  My children were the epitome of great travelers through the whole thing.  I introduced them to the musical version of The Secret Garden, pausing every few seconds to explain and tell the story.  They LOVED it, and I loved sharing it with them.  It has helped put me in a good frame of mind to start thinking and planning for next school year.

4~  I had a lovely evening out this week at a book study.  The Holy Spirit spoke so clearly, so eloquently, so lovingly...to convict, encourage, to love me.  I am so grateful for lovely ladies to walk with me on this mothering journey.

5~  Friday Night Dinner (FND) was high-class tonight:  steak and brownie cupcakes.

6~  Also at FND, we had our very first (of many, hopefully) praise and worship (or dance) sessions.  It was beautiful and filling and so good to share this with each other and dear friends, and to begin this for our children at these tender ages.  During prayer tonight once we were home, Ava prayed with absolute seriousness, "God, I pray that we got to rock it out tonight at the Hamiltons'".  I love this kid!

7~  Courtney served me coffee with peppermint mocha creamer two times this week.  It tastes like Christmas, and despite the oppressive July heat, it puts me in the mood for all things holiday.

*BONUS TAKE*

My husband fixed my washer this week, thereby saving us over $100!!  I'm so grateful.

7 Quick Takes

1~ We had a fabulous day at the water park with 11 other families.  I'm not sure who had more fun...kiddos or grown ups.  We might have to go back to find out.

2~  After seven hours at the water park, Annelise slept all night.  I'm thinking of going there daily, if only it weren't a 1 1/2 hour drive.

3~ I have a new god child as of yesterday!  Jeffery Ryan was born at 12:57pm, weighing in at 8 pounds, 6 ounces and measuring 21 inches.  He's a doll...looks just like his mama.

4~ Being at the hospital on the maternity ward gave me baby fever...not in a "I want another baby right now" kind of way, but definitely in a "I sure do want to do this again one day" way.  Love that.

5~ I am very much looking forward to cleaning my house tomorrow morning for the 4th week in a row.  This system is working so well for us!

6~ Friday Night Dinner was once again a highlight at the end of the week.  Courtney whipped up some yummy pancakes with awesome toppings.  When I get the picture from her, I'll post it.  Gregg's was a work of art.

7~ I'm exhausted...off to bed.

7 Quick Takes

1~ We had a slower week this week, which was a nice change of pace from the hustle and bustle of VBS.  We managed some trips to the pool, an impromptu play date at the water fountain downtown with the merry band of brothers  and their fun and good-for-my-soul mama.

2~ Annelise is rocking on all fours.  I am SO not ready to have a crawler.  I realize that my children crawl much later than most babies, but the transition to mobility always feels too grown up.

3~ We are hitting the waterpark again on Tuesday with so many of our friends.  I CAN'T WAIT!!

4~  I am terrible about taking pictures.  I swore I'd never be that mama with millions of pictures of baby #1, and very few of subsequent children.  I have become her.  Drat.  The good news is that I am super inspired by one Kelle Hampton and I plan to change that.  I'm hoping this inspiration is strong enough to kick my butt into gear.  Jury's still out on that one.

5~  The Pioneer Woman keeps me in stitches.  Seriously, the woman makes me laugh out loud almost every day.  And she makes me want to cook and bake.  And I think I gain a pound every time I read her blog.  Just sayin.

6~  This gave me much to ponder this week.  I have such lovely, wonderful friends who just get me, and I get them.  And we just love each other so naturally and beautifully, with no pressure and no comparisons.  And I'm just so, so grateful for them.  Those prayers of my mama way back when that I would have good, Catholic friends?  I got the jackpot on that request.

7~  Friday Night Dinner is like therapy at the end of the week.  My kids starting asking me at 7:30 this morning if the Hamiltons were on their way yet.  The best part about tonight was the nasty beer Courtney tricked Gregg into drinking...and poor Gregg, he's so polite, he just said it was interesting.  Then we all laughed, and he said it was awful.  Courtney and I decided it tasted like soap.  So next time the kids are sassy, look out!  We'll use up the nasty beer on them.  Just kidding.  Maybe.

7 Quick Takes

1~ VBS was fabulous and exhausting.  It was a joy to watch Jacob and Mary-Grace eat it all up.  It was an absolute blessing to see dear friends every single day for a week.

2~ We resumed "Friday Night Dinner" with the Hamiltons tonight.  Holy cow, I forgot how wonderful this is!  We had coffee, beignets, strawberries, and great conversation.

3~ Phil is taking the big kids to the library and pool tomorrow morning so I can clean the house in one shot.  This worked SO VERY WELL last weekend that I'm really hoping we can stick to it.  When we're back in the rhythm of school, I hope to send him with my library list each week.  This has the potential to be so good for all of us!

4~ I got awesome deals on ebay on a few Vera Bradley bags last week.  They arrived this week.  I am in love!  These are my first Vera bags, and I might be addicted.

5~ I also got a Beco this week.  It arrived yesterday.  This might be my favorite carrier yet.  I have LOVED my moby wrap, but it's just too hot for the summer here, and Annelise is getting a bit big for it.  I wore her for about an hour at VBS this morning (on the front).  This afternoon, I cleaned my whole kitchen with her on my back.  She cooed the whole time...it was the sweetest thing!

6~ Annelise started saying MAMA last Friday shortly after I posted my quick takes.  She's been perfecting it all week.  She is the first of my children to say mama as her first word.  The rest said Nana and Dada long before mama.  I feel special.

7~ Annelise got her first tooth yesterday.  She has had a busy two weeks.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at Conversion Diary.

7 Quick Takes

~1~

This was our first full week of summer.  We finished up the last of the math work last week.  I'm looking forward to a break during all of July and the majority of August.  This is our first summer break we've taken in three years.  We all need it!  We are vegging out (and getting sore playing our new Wii!)

~2~

From the looks of things, and by counting out our days, we'll begin next school year on the day after Labor Day and finish up the Friday before Memorial Day.  It feels good to be on a "normal" schedule.  I'm all about the flexibility that homeschooling offers, but, at least for this year, this feels right.

~3~

We are looking forward to VBS next week.  Cat Chat is sure to touch our hearts with "Cool Kingdom Party:  Mary Leads Me Closer to Jesus".

~4~

I am working hard to be very intentional about our plans for next year.  I am determined to have a Holy Hour each week.  Lots of playdates (both kid and mommy) are a must for us.  We are craving time with our friends after a very long winter last year with loads of sickness and a newborn.  I want to create lots of good memories for my children with their sweet friends.

~5~

On that note, we have a pjs and donuts playdate (and maybe some pina coladas later in the morning for the mamas) this morning with precious friends.  I can't wait!

~6~

I scored a great deal on two Vera Bradley bags on ebay.  One is a large tote bag, and the other is a diaper bag.  They come together and were less that half price.  

~7~

Annelise turned 8 months yesterday.  In just this week, she started giving me kisses, clapping her hands, and sitting up by herself.  Slow down, baby girl!  Mama's not ready.