Lazy Sunday...

...well, lazy Sunday afternoon. I had such a great weekend! Things are so fast-paced at work right now that all I want to do on the weekends is stay home and play with my daughter. Real life prevents me from doing that all weekend, but we're doing a great job at reserving at least part of the weekend for just the three of us.
We started our weekend on Friday evening at Ironstone Vineyard watching Allen Jackson. What an amazing show- and such a beautiful venue! It was my first time to Ironstone and I was blown away at how perfect it was for a small concert. It's the same idea as Shoreline Amphitheater, but much smaller (which, I think, makes it much better.) It had been something like 97 in Murphys so we were prepared to sit and be hot, but it was perfect! As soon as the sun went down, it was a pleasant mountain evening.
Alan Jackson was a great performer, too- because he didn't perform- he sang. It wasn't a big dance-around-the-stage-to-entertain kind of show. It was a stand and sing like-you-really-enjoy-your-job kind of show. He sounded as good as, if not better than he does on the radio.

You can't see much in the video, but you can hear how great he sounds. We had lawn seats and we didn't get to see a lot of the stage because so many people were up dancing, but it was still a lot of fun. Going to any concert is fun for me :) 

Saturday we slept in until EIGHT!! I haven't done that in two years!!! That was almost the best part of the weekend ;P
We spent the rest of Saturday and Sunday morning doing all of our typical weekend things just so we could spend Sunday afternoon lounging in our new pool.

Technically, the pool's not new- it's 60+ years like the rest of the house...but it feels like new after all the hard work my dad put into it. It's the first time the pool has had clean water in it for at least 5 years. When we moved in, it looked like a lagoon (and smelled like one, too.) Now, the water is crystal clear and so refreshing!
We're still trying to get Adaline comfortable with being in big pools. She loves the little wading pool that we have, but she gets really clingy anytime we swim in a big pool. After some time she relaxes, but it takes awhile.

Go, Dog, Go!

When I was growing up, my Grandma Laura had a tattered copy of Go, Dog, Go! that my sister, cousin, and I would ask her to read to us as often as possible. I don't know why I loved the book so much, but to this day, my sister and I reference the book in normal conversation more often than I'd like to admit.

Anyway, now that we own our own copy of the book, I love it all over again- and this time I know why!

It's such an educational book. Nouns, verbs, adjectives, prepositions, conversation turn-taking, counting, colors, sizes, and more, I'm sure. I want to go get the book and flip through it now so I can write all of it down, but it's in the same room as a sleeping child and that's just where it's going to stay ;P

I think Grandma Laura would be happy that another generation is enjoying Go, Dog, Go!
I know I am.

Yippee!

We will have a functioning pool by the time I get home from work today! Whoo-hoo!

Summer Fun

First off- LOOK AT ALL THOSE TEETH!

(Don't pay attention to any other part of the pic- this doesn't look a thing like her, but it shows her teeth!)

While looking through my pictures, I realized I never posted on these beauties. I took them two weeks ago and intended on posting them, but time got away from me. Well, actually, school started and I'm swamped...and will be until at least October.
During the school year, we both work full time so the weekends are incredibly special to us. Our social lives get put on hold (yeah, I know, we DO have social lives....really, we do!), we don't see family as much as we'd like to, we don't get to do fun things (brewing, knitting, taking pictures...) and we're exhausted from the busy demands of the week. In other words, we're just like every other working family :) If you have little kids now, or ever had little kids, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Always too much to do and not enough time to do it. So when theses small moments creep up on me, I try my hardest to capture them to share with all of you, since we're not always available to share them with you in person.

Anyway, back to the end of July...it wasn't particularly hot (which is unusual), but we dragged out the mini pool and spent an afternoon playing in the water. Adaline LOVES it! She climbs in and out in and out in and out, then sits down and plays. Then calls the dogs over to play. Then calls the cat over to play.

 Here, Adaline is showing me how her elephant (aka- "Alphnt") can spray water.

I savor every moment I get to spend with this precious little girl.

Here's to a few more warm-weather weekends!

While Mommy's Away....

...Daddy and Big Girl Play :)

I've been back at work for 3 weeks now, and Travis is just now going back to work. Lucky duck had NINE WEEKS OFF this summer. *SIGH* 

Any-who...Travis and Adaline have commandeered my laundry basket and made it a spaceship (complete with sound effects from both parties.)

 Now, every time Adaline sees the laundry basket she climbs inside, holds on to the side and calls out...

"DADEEEEE!!!!"

He come running and flies her around the house a couple of times. 

She squeals and laughs and asks for (and gets) more. 

After a looooong day of work, this was just what I needed to witness.

Nothing rejuvenates me like my family laughing.

This gave me goosebumps...

The Most Aggressive Defense of Teachers You'll Hear This Year

I saw this video on Facebook and wanted to make sure my non-Facebook friends and family (can you believe there are still people who fit into that category?!) were able to see it.

I LOVE this man's conviction. I hope every teacher I know shows this to their class on the first day of school...well, at least the older kids.

Little Weekend Warrior

After two weeks of desk work, I asked Travis if we could hike around Pinecrest Lake so I could stretch my legs. We arrived at 10:30 in the morning and snagged the last parking spot (it was so busy!) Adaline was so excited to see all the people and dogs hanging out on the beach.

After our hike we pulled off our shoes and soaked our feet in the freezing water. Adaline has just recently decided she likes water and she splashed around so much she fell down and soaked herself. She didn't cry, just sucked in a breath- I think because the water was soooo cold! This late in the summer the water is usually chilly, but this was just plain COLD!
We met up with my family for an early dinner on the deck of the cabin. Of course we played for some time before dinner...
My dad picked up a tent at a yard sale for the kids to play in on the deck, only to find out it was missing the poles! Would my dad let that stand in his way of a good time? Of course not! This was the result...

Hours of fun...

 What could possibly get a little boy to laugh like this?

 A grandpa ticking him like this!

Dinner was delicious AND entertaining :)

Nothing says summer like watermelon~

After dinner we went to the Twain Harte Concert in the Pines and listened to a great Blues Bayou Band. 

(Yes, I finally broke down and cut bangs on Adaline; as much as disliked my own bangs growing up, I couldn't stand not seeing her eyes anymore. Mom, I understand now.)

Love this young girl playing in the band- she was good, too!

 Our concert buddies

 Can you see the family resemblance?

 Trace was rocking out on the blanket, and was the first one ready to dance.

 Adaline's first time on the dance floor; she was a hit. She had so many people come over to give her high-fives.

I really enjoy going to the concert in the pines. I love being surrounded by people who just want to visit and enjoy good music. Everyone is friendly and happy and you can have a really nice conversation with any stranger sitting next to you. By the end of the event, I always walk away feeling like I've gained a few more friends. These days, we don't get to stay for the whole thing because it starts AT Adaline's bedtime, but we try to stay as long as possible. This time we were able to make it all the way to 8pm! There are only a few more concerts left and I hope we can make it to at least one more.