Just Cruisin'

A few things I'm loving about "The Scamp"

#1. Riding with the windows down and the warm summer breeze

#2. This one little adorable round rear view mirror (isn't it cute?)

and #3. Our little passenger!!

I love this photo! Look at his little hand out the window and how the wind is ruffling his hair. This just screams care-free summer fun!

I Heart Faces- "Pet's Only" Challenge

This weeks I Heart Faces challenge is for pets only (or any animal actually) and this is my favorite photo of Zoey so I decided to enter it.

People may recognize this photo. I've posted it before, back in Febuary while we were having the month long snow attack. I just think Zoey looks so pretty dusted with freshly fallen snow. She'd been sitting out there for hours.....I however took this photo from the comfort of my toasty warm house :)

Dinner & Play Ball!

Yesterday we left Dane with "Nany" and headed to Cincinnati with Tim & Brenda to see the Reds play the Indians. It was SO HOT but we had a really good time. It was a evening game but we got downtown early so we could eat dinner.

We decided last minute to try this place called Jeanro which is a French Bistro/Bar. I don't remember seeing this place when we were in Cincinnati this Winter (maybe it's new?)

The interior was super cute, very bistro like. (p.s. I messed up my camera settings and can't figure out how to get it back to normal so all the pictures seem grainy to me)


I had the best meal.
Fried Green Tomatoes with Green Curry and a chilled Sweet Pea Soup.
Mmmmm, I can't even describe how good it was!



Game time! Baseball is so nostalgic for me and I don't even like it that much. Everything about the game last night flooded my minds with memories of my Grandpa Longshore and my dad. Everything down to the Cracker Jacks I just had to have. My dad used to bring boxes of Cracker Jacks home for us all the time :) Somethings have changed though, the prizes inside suck now and they've replaced the cute little boxes with bags :(

We had really great seats.





*Thanks T & B for taking us along we had a great time!

"Ridin' the Range"

Several people have requested a video of Dane riding his new fourwheel, as if they need proof he can actually do it. Well, Here's his 1st lesson.

We've been riding every night since he got it and he's got it down. We've dialed it down so it doesn't go to fast and Brad had to jack up the floor boards with a 2X4 so he can rest his feet (it's just alittle to big for him) but I think it will be perfect by the Fall.

* On another note. Rainbarrel is empty. Just drained it watering the garden and flower pots. Never thought I'd be wishing for rain after all the rain we got a few weeks ago but I need alitte. Just one little rainstorm to fill it back up.

Garden is looking great. Minus the broccoli which is getting ate up by bugs :( I'm going to have more tomatoes/squash than I will know what to do with........guess I'll be spreading the love among friends and family.

Grins-N-Giggles

We've been without the use of home phone or internet for the last 2 days. Just got it back tonight, thank god. I've been out of the loop, drives me crazy.

Something exciting happened. Brad found Dane the 50cc fourwheeler he was promised. We unveiled it Tuesday night. Here's a couple video's of Dane's reaction..... I think he likes it!

We've had a few driving lessons. He does really well on it. It came with a helmet too, it's so cute. Can't believe my little baby is cruising around the yard on a REAL fourwheeler.

Father's Day

Our Father's Day get together at my mom & dad's place of course involved a sprinker for the kiddies, it was so hot out! A repeat from earlier in the month and a big hit.....grandpa runs the grandchildren through!

Claire & Dane. I love this in-action running shot.

A group shot of the cousins (minus baby Zeke).

From left, Kelvin, Dane, Mari, Elise, Claire & Cat.

For Father's Day a pic of Dad with all 5 of his spawn :)

Big Boy

A few things Dane has done within the last few months to turn from baby to big boy...

#1. Waking up with dry pull-ups

#2. Stopped sucking his thumb

#3. Got a big boy bed (and actually sleeps in it!)

Pretending to sleep (very convincing isn't it?!)

This child continues to shock and amaze me! Taken upstairs for bedtime last night, he sleeps for the 1st time in his new big boy bed without getting up or escaping his room at all! That's just not normal. Just put him down for naptime today and he's sleeping. Didn't try to get up and leave the room at all :)

Told to stop sucking his thumb for a fourwheeler and he does it! This boy is something else and I love him!

Rumble Rumble

Dane has been a thumbsucker since 3 months old. I'll never forget when he started, he was sucking so hard it woke Brad and I up in the middle of the night. Seemed like a blessing at first, he was self-soothing himself and I was able to sleep more. Shortly after that he started sleeping through the night. However, you can't lose the thumb and it seemed like a habit we'd never be able to break.

Around the time Dane turned 2 we started to paint his thumb with that nasty tasting stuff. Well, Brad did it, I knew it needed to be done, but I just couldn't do that to him. Anyways, it didn't work. He'd just sneak off later and go wash his hands and we'd find him sucking it later.

I've got some great news! 2 weeks ago Brad told Dane that if he wanted a Rumbling Seso (aka a 50cc fourwheeler) he would have to stop sucking his thumb........and it worked! He hasn't sucked his thumb since!!!!! However we weren't quite counting on it happening so fast but Brad's got to hold up his end of the bargain. So, We're in the market for a used 50cc fourwheeler. Preferably a 2007 or newer.

Anyone know where we can find one at an affordable price? Please let us know.

Bloggity Blog Addict

I haven't taken any pictures in about a week (say what!?!) I know, so not like me. Seems like things have been pretty busy with working and keeping up with "the daily's" that I haven't had time too. We've got a little project going on here, Brad's building Dane a tree fort/cottage in woods. I've been down there a few times but it's just SO muddy that I don't stay long and the bugs LOVE me alittle too much, I'm ate up right now. When it dries up alittle I'll take the camera down to snap a few pics.

So, In the meantime I thought I'd share a few of my current favorite blogs/sites.

#1. Mod Cloth. They have to cutest vintage inspired dresses, tops, accessories! With a wedding to attend coming up I'm really tempted to get one of the dresses. I visit the site almost daily as new styles are added everyday.

#2. The Bright Side. The website is fun and designed to bring you alittle sunshine with featured indie artists and daily giveaways!

#3. I Heart Faces A great photography website with advice, tips and weekly themes/challenges.

#4. Cinnamon Sticks. I love this etsy artist! I'd love to own a piece (hint, hint, Bradly!) Another great one which is similar is The Vintage Pearl, Love it!

*If you have time to check out a few of my favorites, DO! Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

"I'm Busy"

When I couldn't find Dane this is where he snuck off too. I'm pretty sure someday Brad's fishing pole will come up missing and I'm also pretty sure it'll be at the bottom of this mudhole.

Notice the t-shirt tucked into his Handy Manny underwear :)

When I asked him to come to the back yard and help me shuck some corn (which I thought he would find fun!) he says......."I can't, I'm busy fishing." Oh, Geez. Ok.

Pizza

Once again I had chicken thawed out with no idea what to turn it into. Decided upon BBQ Chicken Pizza with no help from Brad who said with a face...."That doesn't sound good at all." Cut to......the entire pizza was eaten because it was REALLY good!

Jiffy crust mix

Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce

diced chicken

crumbled bacon

Red Onion
Sliced cherry tomatoes (on 1/2)

Cheddar cheese

*Served with a ranch glaze drizzled over each slice (except for Brad who doesn't like Ranch and can you guess who didn't want the 1/2 with cherry tomatoes?)

Seriously, It was REALLY REALLY yummy!

Sweet Blue Grass

I feel Rested. Relaxed. Rejuvenated and Remarkably Happy.

We had the best time! We swam in the pool everyday, several times a day. When Dane napped, I napped. I've never felt so good. I think I really needed this escape.

Here we are, Dane and I sitting pool side just 30 minutes after arriving.

Brad got a call while we were swimming......He's going back to work! That's a big weight off my shoulders.....hello income and cheaper insurance, we've missed having you around.

Kentucky is a special place for us. We've been visiting his family there together for 13 years. We love them dearly and it brings back lovely memories of Brad's grandfather. We miss him alot. Dane hasn't been here since he was 7mths old but he took to them right off.

Dane told me that he wanted to sit by grandma, so he made me get up and move.

I Heart Faces- Barefoot Week

This is a I Heart Faces non-competition challenge to raise awareness for Soles 4 Souls. This is Dane and I laying in the grass last June. He was 18 mths old here.

* Just a note on the fabulous blue nail polish that I loved and Brad hated....... Dane dropped the bottle on the tile floor last summer and it busted :( This is the last time I got to wear it.

The Soles 4 Souls charity delivers shoes free of charge to people in need. They have given away 7 million pairs of new and gently used shoes (donating 1 pair every 9 seconds)

Mother Earth

This post's title is dedicated to a couple of my favorite girlfriends

( You know who you are, love ya long time)

I'd been wanting a rain barrel forever. This is what I requested Brad make me for Mother's Day/Birthday. I've had it for about 3 weeks now and I love it. I've been watering all my potted flowers and the whole garden with it. Just one rain storm is all it takes and it's full! Actually, Kinda wish I had two of them.

Here's the latest pic of the garden. It's doing really well. We've had several handful of strawberries already with alot of green ones still on the plants. The green beans are lookin good at probably 7" tall. Both the summer and butternut squash are up. The onions are great, and the broccoli is finally lookin' good. The only things not doing ok right now is the spinach and really the lettuce is coming up but it's super tiny, can't see how we'll have lettuce any time soon.

Today is my birthday. No plans, just work. We're allegedly leaving on Friday to head to Tennesee. Brad is gonna do some work for his uncle down there (paid) and then we'll head up to Kentucky to visit his Gram and Tam. I'd been begging to go to Kentucky for months now to visit and just hang out. Love it there, great memories.