Enjoy

Hope you enjoy these videos as much as I did. Sometimes you just need a little laughter...
For MJ fans:

For Wes Anderson Fans:

A fan of both, I am. (Whoever played Tilda needs a little more practice)
Also, this hamster:

PS. Does anyone else have a bazillion bugs outside their house right now?! It's kind of freaking me out.

DIY

As I mentioned in my summer summary blog, I threw a couple of parties with friends. The second party was a baby shower for my high school, after-college-roomy, and wonderful friend, Lindsey. She is due any day now (Lindsey-I promise it has to come out one day) and it's a surprise! I'll post more on that shower later, but I wanted to share a couple of projects I made for FREE with things I had in my craft box.

Storybook Garland:

Mom and dad moved into their new house and once again tried to give me boxes of my things. This time they succeded. I found lots of teddy bears, middle school cheerleading items, and some of my old books. One was especially charming, but had markings on it. I needed some garland for the basement to spice it up and it would be perfect to use for Lindsey's storybook/woodland creatures shower. I just removed the pages, cut into flags, and sewed together. Viola!

"Book shelves":

My mother-in-law has the coolest terrarium ever and she let me borrow her terrarium book to get ideas for Lindsey's shower (woods, etc.). I saw the cutest idea to use an old book into a shelf and place a tiny terrarium on top. I got these old books from McKays in the free bin, drilled holes in the four corners, and used ribbon and twine to finish it off.  I had a couple of sweet goblets, grabbed moss from my back yard, picked out the stella hairs, and stuck in little animals.

Farewell Davies

Before the Davies left in June, some of the NFG girls threw a southern soiree in their honor. We wanted it to be somewhat fancy with place settings, menu cards, and a dress code, of course. Katherine hosted it at her house and she even moved furniture for all of us to sit. We all collected our various folding tables, chairs, china, silver, mason jars, and fresh cut flowers. We strung lights and put up white lanterns. The girls wore southern sun dresses, men-bow ties. It was a magical night. Great food, meaningful friends, fancy plates, conversation under the stars, and impromptu dancing. I think we accomplished making the Davies feel loved and celebrated. They are truly missed.

"How Blessed are we to have friends who make saying goodbye so hard"

*Below are a few pictures I took and a link to Anna's pictures from the party. 

BBQ, Mint Juleps, and Beer. Can't get
more southern than that.

Serious friends for Jack to don a bow tie

Lovely Ladies

Click here to view these pictures larger

Summa summa summertime. I just sit back and unwind

Well, not always unwinding.
Can I tell you something? Sometimes I'm lazy. Not not hard working lazy, but I'm not in the details, lazy (unless it's a party or some kind of authority is over me, like school). Two reasons I'm telling you this:
One-Jack got a new email through Lipscomb which is linked to gmail so I can't go straight to blogger as normal without going through 5 steps to login. I see it happen and just shut her down. Lazy. It took me 30 seconds to get this set up.
Two-Reader is no longer. Therefore, I have not been keeping up with my friend's blogs. This has somehow pushed me out of the blogging hemisphere. Lazy. I just signed up on feedly. So far, I like it.
I hope you still love me.
SO on to my blog entry. It's been since May! I'll just post a summary of my summer. Like school!
My Summer was perfect because it was NORMAL! Normal. We've had a *somewhat* normal life. It's been amazing. Highlights:
*My parents lived in our basement for 2 months. They sold their house early and hadn't found one yet. It was really enjoyable and helpful (hello, leave the house and give them the monitor!). I'll cherish that time they were here.
*Our friends, the Davies, lived in our basement for 2 weeks about 1 week after our parents left. The Davies have lived here for 5 years for Judd's residency and were returning to Nebraska. They've been a part of our neighborhood group at church. We really miss them. Dalton really enjoyed having them here but I think Caroline and Meredith were so-so thrilled. He is still talking about how they slept downstairs. Also, Traci is hilarious and you'll enjoy reading her blog.
*Of course, I've helped throw several parties and I'll post details about those.
*My brother, niece, and nephew came to visit for about 2 weeks and I hadn't seen him for 2 years. My brother is super sweet and in my opinion, the best brother a sister could have.
*We went to my in-law's cabin in McMinnville a ton. It's heavenly.
*Pool, splash park, park and repeat.
*my blood levels have been normal all summer and I am down to every other month. I have only 2 more to go! I had my one year anniversary of being cancer free on September 18th. I can't believe it's been that long, but then again I can.
*I got my port out in August! WOO HOO. Can I get a holla?!
*Jack finished his 3 month program to get his CPA. I'm very proud of him and he worked hard. He also got a new job at a CPA firm in Maryland Farms. He takes his first test of four for the CPA this month.
Here are a lot of pictures since I have 4 months to catch you up on-

We sold the jeep. It was sad for both Jack and Dalton

Yay for weddings to bring in out of town guests! Mary's sister, Jordan, got married. Mary
sang, it was gorgeous.

Um, this picture kills me. I love how they are smiling at dalton. This is my nephew and his friends.
Of course, Dalton adores him.

Sprinklers!

Jack's birthday

We hit up Chattanooga for the day for Jack's birthday.

Dalton and Lee Lee (jack's mom)

Oh, rainforest cafe. 

My crazy family minus the husbands/wife.

More cousin fun time with Rowan, Tavin, and Cooper.

My beautiful nieces. Rowan and Grace

Bff Amelia

Dalton started mothers day out! It's magical.

Lots of fishing

Our church group's babies (in order of age) on the beautiful quilts my friend, Anna, made for everyone.
Of course, we had to make her one for her sweet baby and Kate did an amazing job, too!
From left to right: Hayes, Jane, Lilian, Caroline, Dalton, Emmett, George, Meredith, Evie, Ellen, and Ouisey