A Relaxing Summer

     Summer 2015 is quickly coming to an end. I have to say, I've had the most relaxing summer! I've mostly spent a lot of it at my parents' house. It was truly refreshing to my soul!!! I love getting to have some quality time with my parents and the occasional visit with my brother, sister-in-law, and new niece! I also got to meet up with a couple of my friends and meet some new babies. It's been raining babies this summer lol! 
     On Father's Day weekend, I really wanted to surprise my dad with something special and different. My parents rarely go out to eat. So, I decided to take them to Outback Steakhouse! I told him we were going to a painting class hahahaha! He was not excited. But as soon as we pulled into the parking lot and saw where we really were going he had the biggest smile on his face! We had a fabulous dinner and he even ordered the Chocolate Thunder From Down Under which is a conundrum to me because he claims he doesn't like chocolate! LOL. I'm so glad I was able to do this for them. 
     On the Fourth of July, we spent the day with my brother, sister-in-law, and niece. Then we went to the annual fireworks show that never disappoints! It was a fun day. 
     Other things I did over the summer included working on my butterfly quilt top and school projects. This break has flown by and I can't believe I'll soon be starting my 7th year as a school speech pathologist! I feel refreshed, renewed, and rejuvenated. Summer has worked its magic once again. 

Sleepy Effie

With my friend Merrill

Effie sleeps again

Coke family minus Daddy and slight misspelling of Candace

Me and Mama

Happy Father's Day!

Outback!

Steak!

Chocolate Dessert, yummy!

Summer baby number 2!

Selfie

Happy Fourth of July!

Fireworks

The apple was my fave!

Lunch with Merrill

Summer baby number 3!

My Alma Mater. So beautiful!

KK fashion show :)

Lovely Mama and Effie Pooh :)

Love my sweet Effie!!!

Daddy loves her too!

She sleeps with her head on a pillow lol!

There is always a silver lining to every cloud

Longwood and Windsor Ruins

     My parents and I went to Natchez one day. We had a picnic lunch on the Mississippi River and then went to visit Longwood. My dad said he always wanted to tour it. He told us that it was never finished. My mom and I were like, "Why in the world would you want to see an unfinished antebellum home?!" But, it really was so interesting!! It was built right at the time the Civil War started. There are 5 stories, but only the bottom floor is finished. The workers had to go back to the North when the war started. If they had finished it, it would have been really grand!  It is octagonal in shape and has a rotunda. I am so proud of myself too because I asked the tour guide several questions! 4 years ago, I would have never done that!!! :)
     On the way back, we took a detour to see the Windsor Ruins, a landmark of a grand home in the middle of nowhere. Kinda tricky to find, but we eventually made it. The only thing that is still there are HUGE columns. Unfortunately, it burned down from a lit cigar. I've always wanted to see it and I'm glad I got to go. It was raining and extremely muddy, but I managed to get some pictures. Overall, we had a fun day!

On the way

Old Man River, keep on rolling....

So pretty

Looking up in the rotunda

No zip codes

The workers' tools

Looking down through skylight

Love this!

Will you look at that? Chevron was around in the 1860s!

Craftivities

     So, I love crafting and unleashing my creative side. I've had some extra time this summer to work on a couple of projects. Some of these are inspired by pinterest :). 

This was an old dynamite box that I painted pink and transformed into a cabinet! :)

Very imperfect yet cute baby blanket for my friend's soon to be born baby boy!

Pineapple door hanger my dad cut out for me and I painted! 

#Themouse

     It all started around a month and a half ago. I decided to work on a little sewing project in my little sewing corner in the living room. I went to sit down in the chair and noticed some little brown things. "What could this be?" I wondered. I discovered more on the side table. It dawned on me......there must be a mouse in my house! Cue Jaws music. EEEEEEK!!!!!!! I don't do spiders, roaches, snakes, or mice. I was literally jumping up and down and squealing like a little girl. I was absolutely terrified! But I had to put my brave girl pants on and take care of business. I immediately made a trip to Walmart to get some glue boards to catch Mr. Mouse. I cleaned really well and set my traps. The next day......nothing. I thought I heard something under the stove which was confirmed when my dog, Effie, went to check it out. So I had a feeling he was under there. So I added s glue board there. Every day I checked the boards and nothing! I stopped seeing any visual evidence that Mr. Mouse was still visiting so I thought he packed his bags and left the premises. WRONG! Eventually I started seeing where he was throwing a little party at night. So I went for the big guns. I got some traps and baited them with peanut butter and placed them strategically where I knew he had been hanging out. I very anxiously check them each morning scared of what I might find. And.....nothing! The little booger nibbled on the peanut butter and set the trap off but somehow escaped being captured! A friend from work suggested I put peanut butter on the glue boards. So, I tried that. I seriously saw teeth marks in the peanut butter the next day but no mouse. It was then I had to call in the experts. Enter Mighty Dad (& Mom) to save the day! See, my dad was in pest control for about 20 years and he was the best in the business (I may be slightly biased). He strategically placed more traps in better places after investigating things. He even slept in the living room because I was not sleeping in there with a mouse partying in there every night!!! Still, we never caught a mouse. However, my dad and mom plugged several holes in the wall behind my stove with steel wool to seal Mr. Mouse out of my house. As far as I know, our plan worked! Fingers crossed!!!

Properly set trap

Trap that had been set off by Mr. Mouse who must be related to Speedy Gonzalez

Teeth marks in the bait....which I was informed by the experts that I used entirely too much bait. Live and Learn!

A Niece Is Born!

     So, the other day, my sweet little niece, Josephine, came into the world! She is beautiful and we all love her so! :)  

Aunt Candace!

Getting our daily dose of Josephine :)