“Don't grow up too quickly, lest you forget how much you love the beach.” -- Michelle Held

This was really only Callie's first trip to the beach, but Kailyn & Holden don't remember when they went because they were so little. We were excited when we moved knowing we would be less than two hours from a beach! Holden has been asking for two things since he has been two years old- 1. To play football 2. To go to the beach. Growing up in Southern CA I never dreamed I would have to tell my kids that we have to take a vacation to see the beach, but living in NW Arkansas and Tulsa Oklahoma that is how you make it to the beach. Now that we live in The Woodlands Texas it's just a drive over- how cool is that?!?!?! We missed going to the beach when we took our trip to Disney World in February because Kailyn got a case of sun poisoning the day before we were supposed to go...so today May 29, 2011 was the day we were going to make it to the beach! It was much to my surprise a wonderful day. The kids LOVED it and had a BLAST. They would have stayed in the water all day if they could have. We jumped waves, through seaweed at each other, built sandcastles, buried Holden, dug for crabs, found seashells and even did a little body surfing. It was a perfect day! We were there about 4 1/2 hours the kids wanted to stay longer, but we decided best to go and good thing we did because both Chip & I are burnt bad and my raccoon eyes are crazy. I must say Chip got it the worst (I told him to put on sunscreen, but would he listen to me? No). The kids kept saying they want to move to the beach...so I would say our first trip was a success:)!! Today is the pool- much more my style...no sand that stuff gets everywhere and stays forever:) Oh, well I must admit I had just as much fun as the kids!

A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams

Well it's been over a month now that we have been in our new house. We hadn't put anything on these brand new walls until my mom came for a visit to help decorate and make it our home. It was an exhausting week of shopping and decorating, but it paid off our house is now our home and we have a good start on the transformation. My dad even drove down on his Harley for the weekend to help Chip hang up all of the great stuff we found! I am very excited about of the few pieces I found this week and got a steal on some of them which makes it all better!! The red R above the tv is actually a vintage outside letter and my tree I got for 75% off an love it!! We added the flowers which make it better. The empty frame with the sign collage will be painted in the middle and then family will be in the center of that. I love that I am into the flea market/shabby chic style because it's always so much fun when my mom and my grandma and I get together we are always on a treasure hunt for one another. I love the character of old stuff and having unique things that other people were done with- their trash turns into my treasure. We all have the memories of going together for the day having lunch in a cute little downtown and talking about all of the treasures we have found. That's what I like about this style- The memories of making our house our home!!!