My Girl, BT

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Not Bad for Our Small Town

Every year the week before 7-4 is a 4th of July celebration on Lake Beaverfork. Last year was our first year to try and go.

And it got rained out.

This year I already had plans, but David took the kids. They enjoyed some bluegrass music and the Conway Symphony Orchestra. Me and a girlfriend showed up for the last few songs and the fireworks show.

It was warm but the kids had a blast!


Had to finally get a picture of me and my girls! Excuse the gas station behind us and the fact that I didn't have my tripod to put this on.


My little Yankee Doodle Dandy!


Belle loved her flag.


They were much hotter than I as they had been there for hours! But way to score some brownie points, Hubs!


Uhhh...still got some testing to do on the exposure time, obviously.

What AM I Doing Here?

For real...what AM I doing here?

Friends--Updated

Friends come and go.

Some friends are forever and some friends are for a season.

Some friends bring life...others take it.

But there is this one friend who it has become time to part ways with. She's been around for awhile. She has seen both of my kids born and grow up. She has been faithful.

Or so I thought.

You see...over the years, she has been lying to me.

And my forever friends know one thing.

I HATE being lied to more than anything else.

Sometimes, though, I let it go on and on and on until one day I'm done. I will not be lied to anymore. It's draining, ya know?

That is the point I have come to with this friend. I'm thankful for all she has done for me thru the years. I'm thankful that she was there for me every time I needed her.

But the lies...they are just too much to take anymore.

So, goodbye, old friend.



H-E-L-L-O Gorgeous!



See, my old camera has been losing it's focus and flash for quite some time now. So have been researching and borrowing all sorts of cameras to find just the right fit for me. I've read reviews, taken photos, etc and finally decided on the camera FOR ME!

However, I'm cheap when it comes to myself.

I get most of my clothes, shoes, purses etc either for free from the clothes closet or as gifts of love or from the Goodwill.

I truly can't tell you the last time I used real money to buy real clothes in a real department store.

So, I've been sitting on this camera until I got the gumption to ask for it for my birthday.

Now, here's another area where I'm usually very cautious (aka frugal). I usually ask for nothing when someone wants to know what I want for my birthday. And I usually wind up with some gift card to somewhere. So asking for something this big was really a stretch for me.

But boy, am I glad I did!

So, my in-laws, parents, Hubs and best friends all threw money in the pot for the sake of my new best friend.

AND since I'm such a bargain shopper, I got ALL OF THIS for a fraction of the cost of just the camera at most places. The only 2 things that were shipped separately and should be here soon is the remote control and the UV digital lenses. Woo hoo!

(They arrived yesterday!)

Here are some photos with my new friend, Nikki, that Hubs and I took (since he captured my camera and played with it all day before me!) You can click on them to make them bigger and see the different beauties that I learned in just one day! Without even applying all of the photographic skills I have been jotting down while I awaited this baby.

Enjoy!


Hubs playing with the focus on weeds. That's my man!


A pretty flower.


I headed outside and got this jump shot of Baby Boy with the sports feature.


Focusing on the water


Man, she is even georgous thru Nikki!

Hubs is Very Blessed

This Father's Day was extra special for me in many ways.

A certain family caused me to realize how precious my husband is to me and my kids.

I got to spend most of Father's Day with my Hubs AND my Daddy AND my Poppi!

Blessed.

But the most special part came Saturday night when my Baby Girl pulled me aside.

"I want you to wake me up early in the morning. I want to make Daddy breakfast."

She stilled my heart with that one.

I mean, she created the menu and everything on her own and asked to get to do it all on her own.

She loves her man, too.

So we set out early Sunday morning while Hubs was still sleeping and then eventually in the shower.


Starting the sausage for his sausage, egg and cheese sandwich.


Making Daddy his favorite drink...coffee!


She wanted him to have a side of Toaster Strudel.


She did as much as she could TRULY all by herself. One very proud girl. (Doesn't she look so grown up?)


One very blessed and thankful Daddy!

Happy Father's Day, Hubs! We all love you very much.

4 Generations

This week my grandparents from Florida have been here. We finally got some good photos of us and I'm so tickled that my Grandma Judy even came.

This Was My Home so I'm Going to Homecoming

During a very tumultuous time as a child I not only found refuge in my summers up here with my Daddy but in their church.

I built many relationships with may people and they would have a going-away party for me every single summer.

They didn't know it at the time, but they were a solace. A salve that healed wounds until the next summer.

So when I can I like to return to that old church with my parents and grandma. Do I still stand on everything they stand on, no. But I love 'em!

This Sunday was "Homecoming", so of course, Grandma hit me up. David couldn't come, but I went after church and was so thankful I did.

Thank you, Lord, for my gentle reminder of all You have brought me thru.

What Did They Just Say?

More musings from the kiddos.

Luke:

"Mom, I need to find my maggots! Help me find my maggots!"

Praise the Lord I realized he was meaning magnets. I was very afraid of what I was about to find.

Belle:

(wrestling with her daddy)
"I better warn you. I know Kung Fu!"

Holy crapola I laughed until I peed! Then she began to demonstrate said skills.

(trying to squeeze between the front of her daddy's truck and his bicycle)
"Ugh! Fat don't do this!"

Someone please help me! I'm in the floor because I say this exact phrase when it involves some sort of physical exertion.

I love these kids and still don't see how I make it thru one day of disciplining them. They are so stinkin' funny!

Family Night Edition #30

Appropriate number since I'm 30 (actually she's 31!) and feel like a science experiment sometimes myself.

So this week's FN was in honor of my 1st Grader who says she wants to be a Scientist when she grows up.

Science Experiment Family Night!


Our various and assundry experiments were awaiting us as we entered the lab.


Even our dinner was wrapped with a warning that it may have been exposed to radiation. We at sandwiches, popcorn (b'c it is a reaction) and drank green slime.


Here is Lab Assistant's Belle and Luke ready to work. Gotta love child labor!


Our first expirament was putting oil on our hands and trying to wash it off with just water. Then we talked about how soap is an emulsifier that wraps around the oil and washes it away. Then, in this picutre, we made molecule structures with Dots candy and toothpicks. Most of them got eaten shortly thereafter.


Here we learned about acids and bases. I had boiled purple cabbage and kept the juice off of it. we then tested baking soda, water, bleach, coke, lemon juice, oxyclean and salt. If the water turned to the pink side, it was an acid. If it turned to the blue almost clear side, it was a base. They loved this one.


In this photo we did Magnet experiments testing what we thought might stick to a magnet and what we thought wouldn't. Then, we made flubber! I don't know why I didn't get a picture of this, but it was cool. You mix water, glue, food color and borax and it literall makes flubber! And it even bounces. Baby Girl made red and Baby Boy made "lellow".


Here we were outside attempting the old film canister rocket, but I couldnt' seem to get the cap on fast enough before the chemical reaction. But all in all, another fun family night! Even though she looked a little disappointed here...


...obviously HE just liked watching the canister explode out of my hand.

I Am Now 30 PLUS

I remember saying when I was 29 that "Thirty HAS to be better than 29."

And for my close inner circle who know everything about 29 know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, My 30th year has been great. A few issues here and there, but a VERY BLESSED year none-the-less.

My 31st birthday started on Wednesday with my work group and I going to lunch. We had some birthday Tamales at Doe's in LR. YUM!

Thursday, my lunch buddies and I went to Red Lobster. Double YUM!

Friday night my Hubs took me to Murray's Dinner Theater (I know, I should have bought season passes as much as we go) for our Anniversary but it happened to fall on my Birthday weekend. HILARIOUS show about a married couple set in the 1840's and started on their wedding day and went thru everything they went thru in 50 years of marriage.

Priceless!

Including the fact that the stage...was centered around the 4 poster bed.

'nuff said.

Saturday, Dave had to work so me and the kids went with Anna's family to Briarwood, a community pool with slides and such. Had a blast and didn't even get burnt! Score.

That night was my night with my Peeps. We went to one of my girl's house and they cooked for me and we did all sorts of girly things until almost midnight and talked about God quite possibly the entire time. We laughed until it hurt too! You know God delights in that! He establishes relationships that are meant to sharpen each other like steel on steel and that includes all gamuts...laughter, crying, holding each other up. We have spent the last year (2 of us the last 7 years) holding each other's arms up as Joshua and Caleb held Moses' up.

Need to move on...'bout to get my shout on!

I came home that night and found a note on my front door.

It said "I am Purple. I am square. I am on the bottom."

From Belle.

I opted to wait until she woke up on my birthday morning before pursuing her treasure hunt. She bounded in my room Sunday morning and said, "Are you ready for your scavenger hunt?"

She grabbed the first clue and read it to me. I acted as thought I couldn't figure it out, so she lead me to my bedroom pillow on the floor.

This one read "I am dark purple. I am in your room. I am on the other side."

My dust ruffle on my bed held this one "I am silly. I have big purple lips. I have Belle."

Her artwork held the final clue "I have balls and stripes".

Here are the clues for your own viewing pleasure. David said it was all her idea and she only asked how to spell a few words. I heart her!



Her bathroom floor held a bag full of this....

That would be various items collected from her bedroom. I couldn't' have loved it all more.

Then, they gave me cards. Belle picked out a card that sings (the LOVES singing cards) and this one sings "The Chicken Dance". She even drew some chicken feet on the card for me.

My little artiste!

Sissy gave me a card that said, "They say dogs can fear, which leads me to believe a lot of people must have fear coming out of their butts. Don't fear another year."

I love that dog.

But the piece de resistance was my card from Hubs. It just says "Another year older and still going strong."

BUT, it sings a song that my husband HATES! Well, he actually HATES the group that sings it. And the fact that he gave it to me speaks volumes. He wrote that I have to know he loves me if he would buy me this card.

'Hanging Tough' by New Kids on the Block

Trust me...that's love...in a way only Becky will understand.

PS--Speaking of her bedroom, this is on her BR door.

Do we sense a little sibling rivalry?

Our 'FirstBorn'

I do still have a strong love for my 'firstborn child'.

Sissy Girl Overstreet.

Original, I know.

She came to us when we were married for about a year and a half. She has been a wonderful companion since.

She was there and comforted me during the loss of my babies. And looking back, I could see she would begin to cling go me just before I found out.

Good dog.

As the kids came along, she tamed down a lot, but she is still a rock-steady in our family and the kids love her.

She doesn't always love when Baby Boy chokes her.

But I grabbed these pictures the other night and it reminded me just how much she means to us.

The Rest of the Story...er...Photos

I got the photos that Mr. Jim took in and despite the wierd colors messing up the quality, I loved what he got!

Here we go:


The YUMMY cake from Kroger! Congrats, Mrs Jennifer's class!


The school bus cookies that Belle and I made for each of the graduates.


My 1st Grader, the Scientist!


Mrs Jennifer brought to tears. YES!


The kids doing their high kicks to "1st Grade-1st Grade" (to the tune of New York-New York). It was priceless!


My scientist getting her diploma


The graduating class of 2012!


The Barber-Overstreet-Tindall Bunch!


We were just missing Tammy and Katy :-(


With Alison and John.

It was really a very fun night.

Even if I wouldn't have been the event coordinator.

But that helped.

But what made it the best?

Baby Girl's prayer that night before bed: "Thank you, Lord for putting this idea in my Momma's head. She sure does make life fun."

Amen, Baby Girl. So do you.

From Guitar, to Drums, to Piano to Broadway!

At Belle's graduation the kids sang a song about 1st grade to the tune of New York, New York.

After a week of playing it in the car, I guess he picked up on it.



PS--Here's my 1st Grader herself.

The Piano Man

We already know my son loves music. We have discussed that many times.

We also know he LOVES to play the guitar.

And the drums.

Well...this Sunday after potluck David and I were working thru a new song. Our keyboardist was (of course) cleaning up the kitchen, but they would work thru the song together later. But I turn around, and this is what I see:

He was playing to beat the band! AND he was on beat with what we were singing!

So, I ran off stage and took a pic of my two boys:


Don't worry...later he reverted to his old silly self and asked me to come and "take my pitchur in the yoof room":


See...skillz.

Mad. Skillz.

Sunday Morning Sweetness

One Sunday morning.

Hubs had already left for church.

I was blow drying my hair.

I walked out to check on the kids and found this:


I go do my make-up and come out and find even this:


NOW I remember who these children are!