patio bevvies and snacks

These quarantine days have me craving things I can't get due to restaurants being closed.

One of my favorite drinks outside on the porch is a frozen rose drink.

I decided to make it myself.

I froze rose wine in a 11x13 clear dish for 6 hours.  I put it in the blender and it was slushy, so I added frozen strawberries and blended them up.  I added a tiny bit of sugar and a small pour of peach Schnapps. 

I made up some appetizers an headed to the back porch to sip and snack quarantine style.

Gary grilled some sausage and I made potato salad and we continued the snacking all night long.

I'll be excited when I can go out to eat again, but I also have fun creating fun food and drinks here at home.

Sunday is a great day to be outside!  We love driving around exploring. We decided to walk around the closest park.  There were tons of people at the park. Some even had their BBQ pits and picnics. I'm thinking a summer kickball party is in order at the park! 

Happy Sunday Funday!

Braaaappppp!

Hayden Cole rode a motorcycle for the first time ever today!

He did amazing and I'm so happy for him.  I wasn't sure if he'd ride or be overwhelmed.  He loves it and is now asking Santa for a dirt bike. Oh my momma nerves will be shot for sure.

His friend was so patient to watch him learn.  Gary is a great teacher and he was so supportive.  I was unbelievable calm.  I don't know how that happened.  Luckily I didn't see when he had a minor crash.  I may have called the whole thing off. haha!

Gary put on some gear and rode a bit too. I had major flashbacks to years ago when he rode every single weekend.  I see more days at the track for these boys in our future. 

Layla and Lexi had fun hanging out. They ran around, explored the little pond and made Musical.ly videos. Lexi actually rode some too, but Layla was nervous and decided she didn't want to ride at all.  I'm thinking she may change her mind someday.

They ended up building a homemade see-saw.  Oh how I love these silly little ladies.

It was a fun day with wonderful weather for December.  The cold front is coming in though...it will be freezing cold by morning!

Sunday Drive

These two got to go for a car ride this afternoon and they loved it!  They were so cute with the wind in their hairy little faces.  Gosh we just love these little fur babies.  I don't know what I'd do without our doggies!

hanging out with my boy

Layla went shopping with a friend and then they had a sleepover, so Hayden and I had a Hayden day.

We did all his favorite things.  He wanted to see a movie, so we saw Inside Out.  Then we went for a bike ride, while I jogged.  Dad got home from work and they watched a little soccer and played boats.  He wants a boat for real, so he loves to play with his toy boat and tube.

I think Hayden missed Layla while she was gone.  They are big buds this summer!

let's camp!

We're camping for my birthday weekend! YAY!!

We arrived at the campsite this afternoon and had to get everything set up.  I love to feel at home right when I get there.  This is our first camping trip in a few years, so it took us a few extra minutes to get everything set up.  

Layla is making sure the hammock works ok! ;)

Hayden is making sure he'll fit on the jet ski daddy brought from work.  We love being able to try out new motorsports toys !

Gary said we look like Sanford and Son, but we have everything we need to camp, even though it's a little cluttered!

After we got everything just right we had dinner and then ventured out for a walk to explore the campgrounds alittle more.  What a great sunset view!!

I love all those characters behind me!  I'm excited for a fun weekend!

silent Sunday -- Driveway party!

momma, baby and my lily

This isn't a great picture because I was sitting on the top deck and I had to zoom in with my phone, but what a fun capture none the less.

We saw a mommy deer and her baby walking in the alley way behind our house.  There is a small creek bed that flows down to the lake and the deer love to graze on who knows what along the way.  Lily spotted the baby standing alone and she was just as tall as it.  It was so sweet and the mom wandered off and Lily decided to stand still and have a stare off with the fawn.

The momma must have smelled the quiet Lily and she came back stomping.  She was not a happy momma, but Lily never moved.  She was just watching the baby and really I think she wanted to play.  Lily is just so sweet.  She wants a new friend! 

Finally the momma got to her baby and turned it around and off they went down the creek bed.  Most people in the neighborhood complain about the deer.  Heck, the are almost tame and they eat everything you plant, but I'm personally enjoying them.  The haven't jumped our fence yet, and they are just so fun to watch.  It's not rare to see them standing in the middle of the road, or up near a front door step eating whatever they can.  I joke that it's wild kingdom in our area!  

Amicalola Falls and Stringer Mountain

We had a fun Sunday exploring Georgia with our buddies!

We met a fun couple who love the outdoors as much as we do.  They have  kids basically the same ages as our kids, and they have a Jeep!  

They knew we would love exploring Amicalola Falls and they also knew we'd love driving the Jeep up to Stringer Mountain.  Once we got to the top in the Jeeps we did some hiking and had a picnic lunch.

Love these kiddos.  They all had so much fun!

The sun was shining bright so we took the T-tops off the Jeeps and let the sun shine in.  It was a gorgeous day with abundant sun and a slight breeze.  At the top of the mountain though it was chilly.  The wind was really whipping.

The kiddos loved the tops off because they were sticking their heads out and talking to us one Jeep back!

Of course we had to stop for a second so I could get a picture of this lovely stream!

WooHooo!  Jeepin'!

All the kiddos were so nice to strike a pose for me every once in awhile.  They know I love taking pics while out exploring nature!

These boys are one year apart, but the are both equally full of energy!  The both love running and playing with any ball they can get their hands on.  They are both named Hayden too!  

The girls are soccer teammates, that is how we all met!  

We are so thankful for fun friends we have met here in Georgia and they are so nice to help us get to know our area.  I'm sure we will be doing tons more Jeepin' and exploring soon.  They love to camp just as much as we do.

I think it is going to be a fun summer for our family!  

I may be a Texas girl, but Georgia's beauty is really taking a place in my heart!  It's breathtaking to see all the tall trees, giant lakes and huge mountains. 

 I'm in love with my new state!  ;)

snappy ... our turtle for a day

Lily was pawing in the back corner of our yard yesterday before I picked the kids up from school.  She wouldn't come inside, so I wanted out to see her playing with a turtle.  Just Monday evening Layla mentione she'd love to have a turtle of her own, so I knew I had to catch this creature!

I scooped it up with a tupperware and  when the kids got home from school we created a habitat for what they called 'Snappy.'

Snappy is gigantic and we had hopes of keeping him/her, but dang what a boring life for a wild turtle.  We decided to let it go the next day.  It sure was a fun day having a turtle though.  The kids googled how to make a habitat.  They found out what turtles eat, and that they have to have an inch or so of water to potty in.  Anyway, how fun huh?!?  We're loving our wild kingdom backyard.  First birds and now a turtle.  I'm sure the turtle was making it's way down the creek bed to the lake.

Good bye Snappy, maybe we'll see you again soon!

soccer soccer and more soccer

Oh me, oh my.  It was a wild day of soccer.  Hayden scored 3 goals and played awesome, but they played the hardest team they have played this season.  It was great to see them play a really hard team, because they worked harder and fought to try to come back.

It was a chilly 34 degrees at 8:30 when we showed up for Hayden's game.  Brrrrr.  We thought wow, is this Ohio or Georgia?!? 

Layla is on the right in this picture with her pony tail flying!  She played her heart out also, but their team lost as well.  They also played a really talented team.  

Layla played defense almost the entire game.  She played so hard and kept that ball away from a really tall and really good offensive player on the other team.  It was a fun and exciting day of soccer!

I have to be honest with you.  My favorite thing about my house here in Ohio is the yard.  I'm just not loving the older homes here.  I was so in love with my 6 year old 'new build' in Texas.  I'm dealing with the old and making it our home.  

Gary and I have made the outside an outdoor living area.  We enjoy being outside all the time!

The puppies love being outside too.  Daisy has her own chair and she makes herself quite comfy every day.  She loves being outside in the fall air.  Look at the tree in the background!  The leaves are starting to change colors.

Lily is a stinker and loves to gather and destroy sticks.  When she isn't barking at and chasing squirrels she is running and chewing up whatever sticks she finds on the ground.  We have giant walnut trees and they are losing nuts, leaves and branches.  Lily is a great helper when it comes to picking up sticks!

I have to toot my own horn here....  

I'm loving my ferns and will be so sad to see them die when winter arrives.  I have four nice sized ferns that I've babied all summer long.  They are thriving and I couldn't be more excited.  I've never been able to grow a fern, but I have now!!  Woo Hooo! 

I don't think I can keep them alive in the house all winter, not to mention they are ginormous and would take up tons of room in the house.

I see signs of winter every day and I am not ready for the cold to hit.  We are loving each and every moment we can be outside playing!