Check Out My New Buttons!

My blog designer friend, Danielle, made me these cool little buttons!

Check them out and let me know what you think (all you have to do is click 'em and you'll see)! I will add blogs and buttons as I find new favorites, and of course, keep you up to date on Greer's birthmark journey. When you click on the "Bye, Birthmark" button, you'll find all sorts of info and links pertaining to Greer's story and vascular birthmarks in general. There's even a "birthmark buddies" blog link list!

Oh, and speaking of Danielle, check out the awesome holiday template giveaway she's having on her design site (along with a few other fun giveaways). I can't wait to have a holiday look on my very own blog....it'll be even sweeter if I can win one! She is so amazingly talented, and her spirit is as sweet as can be!

Thanks for all you have done for me, Danielle....I can't WAIT to meet you soon!

Can't wait for the stillness!

We're busy, y'all. It seems like ye ole blog has fallen by the wayside....and I must admit that it has been low on my priority list lately. Sad, I know. It stinks that when I have millions of things to post about, I can't seem to find time to post about any of them! Oh well, I'll give it a shot!

The kids are pumped about Halloween, and frankly, so am I. We are heading to Gadsden to spend the evening with my parents and the kids just about can't stand it. It's our first year (in a long time) to not be dressing up as a family. We did a family theme for 3 years in a row....but this year I just decided to let the kids take their pick. I can't wait to unveil the results! Nothing spectacular, but every costume has a story. I promise to give you a full-on post on the subject later in the week....

Lucy has her first "real" fieldtrip tomorrow, and we are so excited about it. We are heading to a real "working" farm where we will pick cotton, feed cows, pet goats, run through a hay maze, and choose a pumpkin. The kindergarten classes have been studying all about farm animals (remember the farm breakfast) and are even awaiting the arrival of a bunch of baby chicks!

In FACT....

....those chicks are going to be hatching sometime tonight or tomorrow, and YOU can watch them LIVE by clicking here! Cool, huh? The kids are beyond excited! I bet your kids would love watching, too! Check it out!

All that and so much more. I'm trying to keep things in perspective and soak it all in. I love my life....all the crazy busy fun, but sometimes I just want to be still.

Still.

I'm not sure I even know what that word means anymore....

....but don't you worry! I'm about to have a rendezvous with stillness. Yep, that's something I'm going to find time for. Real soon.

How do you find time to be. still. ???? I would love to know!

Miley Cyrus 2009....

(btw, beauty hurts)

Thanks Jaime!!!

....it's all about the hair (and fabulous outfits)! Didn't you know???

Does this tell you anything about how the photoshoot went?

.... but I think I may have actually captured a couple of possibilities! Yay!

I'm NOT Oprah's biggest fan....

....but this was really cool!

p.s. make sure you go down and pause my playlist first

It's been a busy week or so, y'all!

And I'm gonna go ahead and warn you...

....this post is going to be sorta long and have lots of pictures.

Just so ya know!

First and foremost, I need to share the sad news. I've just mustered up the strength to post about it, so I'm going to keep it brief as to not open the floodgates again.

Our precious kitty, Lily, is in heaven.

And yes, I wholeheartedly believe that she is in heaven (along with Sapphire and Clancy and Molly and Maisie and Savannah and Max and Bandit and Chloe....and probably some I'm forgetting). Well, maybe not Chloe, she was a a little mean :) JK, Erin!

Lily has been sick for a couple of years, and we decided that she just couldn't go on suffering anymore. The kids were so sad (especially Lucy), but I think they understand. We are attempting to let this situation jump-start some understanding of death and eternity and heaven....this has been quite a journey for all of us. We will bury Lily in Gadsden next week with many of my beloved childhood pets. The kids are taking it all in, and I would be so honored if you would say a prayer for this situation. It's still pretty hard.

Even with the sadness of losing Lily, life is marching on. We're busy with school and sports and church and friends and homework and all sorts of other stuff....

...like our first High School Football game! In cool football weather! Yay!

I can't say that the cool weather has lasted, but we're praying that it comes back real soon. Last Friday night was so much fun for us and the kiddos. We headed over to cheer on our Hoover Bucs (and sadly, they didn't win) against Vestavia Hills. Between their previous domination and my absence from all other games, I'm a little worried that we were the bad luck charm! Good thing I don't believe in luck! Go Bucs, you'll get 'em next time!

See, we weren't only there to watch a football game.....our favorite Buccanette was performing! We love us some Mary Kate!

And as you can see, the end of the game didn't do much for Lucy! That girl can fall asleep anywhere....as we would soon discover!

Our weekend marched on. Sunday was as crazy as ever....church, softball, baseball, small group, Lucy hiding under a bed and falling asleep. Us panicking and almost calling 911 and finding her and feeling complete relief...and after all that, we started the brand new week off with a bang.

Or the knock of the snooze button.

Yep, I let my kids sleep-in on Monday morning!

I know, I know....

.....but it was sooooo worth it!

We all need a mental health day every once in a while, right?

And speaking of that....I got a little mental health moment of my own this week!

Our old Bunco group had a little reunion at my friend Jenny's house....and it was so much fun.

We talked and ate and sipped and laughed and caught up on old times. I love these girls.

Wanna know what else I loved? Jenny's Halloween decorations....

....I found me some of those cool skeletons today, and you can bet they're already hanging from my dining room chandelier. I promise to post some pics real soon!

Knicknats Designs Giveaway Winners!

Hoping I find more time to post tonight, but I wanted to announce the winners of the Giveaway before the day completely runs away!

Congratulations to.....

Tina and Charlotte Ann

Get in touch with me soon and let me know which earrings you like best! I am so happy for you girls....you are going to love your new earrings. And make sure you send your admirers over to Natalie's Etsy store where they can purchase some of their very own!

Happy Monday, y'all....

....mine has been a bit crazy.