Simply Gathered: August 2011

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Do you all have a favorite place that you go to in your house (a favorite room, space or chair)? Well mine used to be on the couch in our living room because in the evenings Jay and I would watch our DVR shows (usually while I blogged at the same time). But since we haven't watched much tv over the past couple of months, we now congregate in our sunroom, formerly our dining room until we realized it was wasted space. Any time after the kids go to bed, at 8:00 or 8:30, you would find Jay and I in this room talking about our days, reading or on our computers until bedtime. We have recently rearranged the room a bit and I now have my absolute favorite spot in the house. It is where I spent all my free time in the early mornings and late at night. I start my day off in this chair doing my quiet time, read here during nap times and relax at night before bed. It has everything I need right at my fingertips...my basket of books, my computer and plug in, a table for my lamp, coffee, candle, books and pens, highlighters etc., and a great view with lots of natural light. Although I hate the lamp that is on there...it is super old and I will replace it soon. It is all we had to put there for the time being and it will have to do.

Trey's mom made this for me at the end of the year last May and I love it.

Because I spend so much time here and do so many things, the table often looks like this....a mess!

I used to hate this big window when we moved out here years ago and would keep the blinds closed at night but now I have learned to LOVE this window and to embrace it. I love being able to see outside!

So where is your favorite"spot"???

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

The start of another new week...

And again I am playing catch up!

We are thankful for the cooler temps outside although during the week we don't get to spend too much time out there until the afternoons. So we are having to get creative with our times inside!

Hazel having belly time...she is enjoying it so much more!

Brayden hugging on Everett...

I got brave and pulled out the play-doh for a while....

Ice cream anyone?!

All the while Landon wearing his "hat" and being his silly self!

Axton hangin' outside in the afternoon while eating his snack...

Tonight when daddy got home, everyone was wound up and we played a game of chase throughout the house and daddy's leg ended up being the place to hang (literally)!

You tickle dad and this is what happens to ya!

I so love time with my family in the evenings! My family ate lasagna tonight and then Jay turned on a Netflix movie for he and the kids since I was leaving to go eat a late dinner with a friend. They watched "Where the Red Fern Grows" and I was told that Karis shed a few (or many) tears at the end. I love her sweet sensitive heart. :)

I went to Outback with my friend Candace (who I ran the race with last Saturday) to catch up. We have been friends for 21 years now and we both have had 3 children so it is hard for us to get together. Her children are 3, 2 and 10 months so she is one busy momma! It was great to catch up with her and spend adult time which keeps this momma sane! Candace is a dear friend and although we don't get to see each other as often as I would like, I will always consider her one of my closest friends.

A snake skin only means ONE thing...

It means that the snake is still alive and it is BIGGER than it was in this skin! And I am sure it is loose around the outside of my house somewhere. I just hope he doesn't show his face around me...or I might get a bat after him again!

We went outside yesterday afternoon and this lovely thing was in our flowerbed. Yea, excuse all the dead leaves...we live in the country....and flowerbeds are not how on our priority list right now.

This was the first thing I looked for...the tail. I wanted to make sure it wasn't a rattle snake! Just think it was a little grass snake or something but hope I don't see the real thing to confirm!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Forrest Spence 5K

My childhood friend Candace sent me a link back in 2007 of her friends, Brittany and David Spence, who had just given birth to their first son, Forrest Spence. He was born 3 weeks premature and his lungs weren't completely developed. Somehow he contracted Strep B infection even though Brittany tested negative days before and he began fighting for his life. He ended up living 55 days and his parents set up this 5K in his honor to help provide funds for families of children in Lebonheur. Since I have followed their Caringbridge since then, I thought it only fitting that I run this 5K. And I had some family and friends run in it too which is always more fun! There were over 1,000 people running in the race and it raised more than $38,000! You can read their whole story here.

From L to R: My dad, my mom's best friend Karen, Debby, my mom, Jennifer, me, Candace and my brother Allen.

Me and my friend Candace (who told me about this family). We have been friends since I was in 4th grade!!! It was so good to see her and run with her for a while (until she started smokin' me!).

Me with my mom, dad and brother

I didn't get a pic of me coming in but I finished in about 31 1/2 minutes don't know my official time yet. I was hoping to come in under 30 but that's ok. My dad has been doing the Couch to 5K program and hasn't even finished it yet (actually he has only run a 20 minute once!) and finished the race in 36! I was so proud of him!!!! This was he and my mom's first 5K!