"THAT would not be great!"

Oakley is such a little creature of habit. She thrives on routine and she likes things orderly. She ALWAYS sleeps with the same teddy bear, rabbit and her pink blanket. She has to have all closet doors, dresser drawers and night stand drawers shut tightly before she can go to sleep. She says her blessing before EVERY meal, whether at home or dining out. And without fail, she washes her hands after going potty.

So imagine her surprise, when I suggested she go potty in the middle of the lake. Four adults and eight kids had pulled into a beautiful little cove to swim and play in the water. Oakley told me, rather discreetly, that she had to go pee in the potty. I explained that it was a long way to the bathroom at the marina and told her it was okay to go in the lake.

"THAT would not be great!" she exclaimed in horror.

After a little prompting and reassuring, however, she did manage to go.

Fast forward to the next morning as we were loading the boat with our cooler, floats and towels for our day excursion. She told me that she had to go potty so I took her hand and we headed down the dock toward the bathroom at the marina.

"I don't want to go to that potty," she said with disappointment in her voice.

"I like to pee in the lake!"

Time with Friends

We just got home from a fabulous week at Dale Hollow Lake! We vacationed with some of our closest friends, Joe and Nicole, and their four precious girls. It was a week of boating, swimming, campfires, roasting marshmallows, fishing, cliff jumping, tubing and skiing. The weather was perfect, the company was great and we all had a wonderful time!



The kids all got along so well and I think they really enjoyed each other -- I know mine did!! I've heard from all the boys that we need to spend more time together (and we do). Hagan is already plotting a get-together at a water park next week.

I love this family dearly, cherish their friendship and respect their values. It was so great to finally get to spend some quality time together. Our schedules are so busy that Nicole and I usually manage just a phone call every week or so, and then, it's just the basics. Although we've been friends for ages, and we don't live THAT far away from each other, this is the first time we've been able to spend this much time together in a LONG time, and it was great getting to know each of their girls even better.


We spent the week at a cabin on one of the most beautiful lakes ever! We were out of cell phone range, and didn't have access to the internet, so I spent much of today catching up on emails and some of my favorite blogs . . . in between doing loads of laundry.





Although we had the best time, it was good to get home. Oakley didn't take a nap at all during our vacation because we spent all day on the water and she didn't want to miss a thing.

She caught up on some much needed sleep and took a 3 1/2 hour nap this afternoon while I uploaded over 350 photos (be prepared for more posts:)! She was content to stay in her pajamas all day and while eating lunch this afternoon, she commented, "I'm so happy to be at my home!"

How sweet is that?!?

Happy Father's Day

The Little Chap Who Follows Me

A careful man I want to be;
A little fellow follows me.
I do not dare to go astray
For fear he'll go the self same way.

I cannot once escape his eyes,
Whate'er he sees me do, he tries.
Like me he says he's going to be;
The little chap who follows me.

He thinks that I'm so very fine,
Believes in every word of mine.
The base in me he must not see;
The little chap who follows me.

I must remember as I go
Through summer's sun and winter's snow,
I'm building for the years to be;
The little chap who follows me.

A Royal Ball

The Princesses are hosting

a delightful Royal Ball ...
and this proclamation is being sent,
inviting ONE AND ALL!

Last Saturday Oakley attended a fancy Royal Ball, hosted by the Disney Princesses in honor of her friend Bianca's birthday. All the attendees were invited to dress in their favorite princess (or prince/pirate) attire.

I immediately called upon Oakley's cousin Spencer, to see if she had something princess-worthy that Oakley could borrow. Spencer's formal-wear wardrobe can rival that of any royalty. She graciously gave Oakley a beautiful purple dress that she had worn as a flower girl, and loaned her a very sweet tiara. Thank you Spencer!!


So Oakley dressed in grandeur, deemed herself Princess Xinxiang, and joined Jasmine, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Belle and a band of little pirates for a wonderful birthday party in honor of her school friend.

She was so proud of her dress and twirled around for at least 15 minutes before we ever left the house.

Upon arriving, we found that the party was being held in Bianca's backyard, which was beautifully decorated. There was a huge Princess bouncy castle, a princess pinata, and a castle birthday cake.

It was in the upper 80's that day, so by the end of the party, Princess Xinxiang was melting. When it's hot outside, her head gets SO SWEATY and she was literally dripping toward the end of the party.

When we left, I stripped her down before I put her in her carseat. So she rode home wearing just her polka dot panties, her tiara, and a huge smile.