Six years ago, we teamed up with our friends David and Ashley to take our toddler daughters, Ali and AJ, to the beach. They had been best friends since near birth, and at 1 1/2 years old, had grown to look quite oddly alike. Two years later, we decided to repeat the trip – this […]
Weekending at the Georgia Aquarium {And a Giveaway}
Chris and I have always loved taking one-night date trips to Atlanta, but we’ve never taken the kids to experience the “kid side” of Atlanta. We talk about it…we think about it…but we just don’t get around to it. So when the Georgia Aquarium contacted me and wanted to bring us for a visit so […]
Mother’s Day Wishes and Dreams.
I do hope you all had a fantastic Mother’s Day and were overwhelmed [like physically overwhelmed – literally covered up with cards and stickers] with your children’s unconditional love and kindness [bursting through your door and waking you up first thing in the morning] – just like I was. I’m not exactly sure what she’s […]
The Passage of Time, As Measured By Easter.
There’s something about Easter in The South that compels people to dress at least 2.25 tiers up from their usual Sunday attire, and also in an Easter-Basket variety of pastels. This further tempts said southerners to record such events with photography and post them on Facebook, making news feeds everywhere below the Mason-Dixon look like […]
A Rainy Day With Thomas.
On Monday morning, nine out of ten Facebook Statuses in my feed were bemoaning a flooded basement, a flooded back yard, a flooded street, or a flooded everything. Sunday was slightly moist around here. And of course, that would be the day we had picked out to visit Thomas the Train. It was the last […]
The Mystery of Fred.
Fred came into our lives at lunchtime on the last day of February. We were having one of our many recent picnics in the front yard, enjoying the benefits of living in Alabama (early, lovely Spring), when he ran purposefully up the street, into our yard, caught Ali’s attention, then immediately rolled over to invite […]
Ten Steps to a Southern Snowfall.
The unfathomable has happened. We The People of Alabama have gotten two measurable snowfalls in the same winter. I’ve always said that I want to experience one True Northern Snowstorm, but I also believe that every one of you northerners should absolutely experience one True Southern Snowstorm. Because Southerners react to snow with a fantastic […]
Road Tripping North Alabama.
Up until a few years ago, I can say with certainty that I was a beach girl. I really didn’t have any interest in the mountains, always preferring to drift warmwards rather than coldwards, and in complete adoration with the ocean. I believe, if I remember correctly, that it was the fault of The General […]
Ali: Commissioned Artist.
I’ve noticed a trend with adult/child introductions. Anytime a new big person meets one of my little people, they say hello, then comment on a physical feature. “My goodness you have such beautiful eyes!” “Look at all that hair – I bet that’s a job to brush!” “Oh – you’re so tall for your age!” […]
An Hour With the Horizon.
We made it home, carefully, yesterday afternoon. One of the most glorious moments in Eufaula was the sunset Wednesday night. In fact, our cottage had a perfect sunset and sunrise view – so I’m already planning a return visit. But Wednesday night. The snow on the beach had faded, but was still dazzlingly covering the […]