Happy Halloween...

... from Eli the Giraffe!

  

This kid LOVES the water

While in Knoxville with the team, we had a chance to spend some time with Josh's parents who drove down from Pennsylvania.  After dinner one night, we took a walk along the riverfront and found some fountains.  Eli was in heaven. If we had let him, he would have walked right in and gotten soaked.  We decided on a less wet (but only slightly) option!

I kind of wish it would rain

I kind of wish it would rain.  

Because this red raincoat makes me supremely happy.

But it isn't just a cute raincoat.

It is a raincoat that used to belong to Eli's big brother Noah.
Who never got to wear it.

It is a raincoat that was given to me by a dear friend from college and made by her mother. 

This friend happened to have a little boy within a week or two of Noah's birthday.  I'm pretty sure they would have been friends if they ever had a chance to meet.   

So, you see, a rainy day has a way of making me smile.

Love it.

Saw this on Sesame Street this morning... Eli loved it and so did I!

I wanna be just like Daddy

 

 

Coming soon... a video of Eli hitting a ball out of
Josh's hands when told to 'spike it'!  

Eli Adventures... Kentucky & Tennessee

Last weekend, Eli and I tagged along with the team on their road trip to play Kentucky and Tennessee.  Here are some of the pics from our adventure!

Hanging out with Bri in the airport

Fall foliage and a little Kentucky basketball history

Coach Cal sighting (it was Big Blue Madness the same night as our match)

Quality time with Uncle Matt
(who was in Lexington with the South Carolina football team...
we won't talk about how THAT game turned out!)

On the bus

Checking out the bus wheels

Relaxing with Grammy and Pappy

Before the match against Tennessee

What not to give your teething child to hold while shopping at Target

Exhibit A

Exhibit A - zoomed in

Ironically, I didn't even notice the condition of the box until I was unloading our groceries at home.  So, of course, I pulled out my camera and took a picture as I giggled.

Heart of a Coach's Wife

My friend Christan has started a wonderful blog called Heart of a Coach's Wife.

Christan's husband coaches high school football and she has found a ministry not only supporting him as he pursues his passion but also in encouraging other coach's wives along the way.

I was flattered when she asked me to be a guest writer on her blog.

The link above will take you to the main page of her blog.
You will be encouraged by what you read there even if you are not involved in the crazy world of coaching.

This link will take you to my guest post:  Uncertainty

The truth about having a boy?

Sometimes it is hard for me to believe this sweet boy will be a teenager someday and make mischief.

Well... it's hard to believe that this sweet boy will be a teenager someday.

The mischief making has already started:

Constructive Feedback Friday

I recently discovered the awesome I Heart Faces photography site. Very fun.

And as a VERY amateur photographer, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to participate in {Constructive Feedback Friday}.

So here is my shot...

(Click HERE to get to the original.)

EXIF data: f/4.0 - 1/30 sec - ISO 400 - 11.4 mm

I love the angle of this shot but it is much darker than I would like.

I'm also think there might be a creative way to crop it that I am just not seeing.

And I always look for a way to highlight my little guy's eyes... and I feel like they just disappear in this pic.

I usually use Lightroom to edit. Occasionally, I venture into Photoshop.

Thanks for the help!

Oh my.

Would you just look at this face?

Head thrown back.

Tears streaming.

Absolutely pitiful.

But, no, sweet Eli. You may not play with my iPhone.

My fallen friend

Oh, 1.4/50 mm lens.

You let me take pictures without the evil flash.

You give me beautiful bokeh.

But you are broken. You've lost your focus.

And our budget doesn't include a line item for a wounded lens.

So I am using your lesser cousin, the 3.5-5.6/18-55 mm lens that is functional but not fun.

And missing you.

October favorites

Fall has finally come to Alabama. Finally.

The summer of 2010 may have been the hottest summer of my life to date.

So I am thrilled that cooler temperatures have arrived, that the leaves are starting to change, and I can pull out my scarves and cardigans from the back corner of my closet.

The new season also brought a few new hankerings and miscellaneous things that have been tripping my trigger.

1. Apple and cheese grilled sandwiches

This picture is from the Real Simple issue that sparked the idea ... mine looks a little different. I take two pieces of sourdough and sandwich thinly sliced apple, sharp cheddar, and a little spicy brown mustard between them. Then I spread a little spreadable butter + olive oil on the outside and grill it up in a skillet. One word... DELISH!

2. Iced Coffee

I know, I know. Iced coffee seems like a drink I would enjoy BEFORE the temperatures cooled off. But I recently discovered the ease and simplicity of making this delicious drink thanks to Joy's Hope... and now I am smitten (and a little hyped up on caffeine!).
I will say that I think the Starbucks Via packets have a bit better flavor and dissolve more easily than the Nescafe version... but the Nescafe packets are SO MUCH CHEAPER so I will try to embrace Taster's Choice whole-heartedly. (Words my mama never thought she would hear me say.)

3. Jesus Calling

This is an awesome daily devotional. It has been sitting on my shelf for a while until I was reminded of it recently by a friend at Capstone Church.
Really good stuff. Really good. Go buy a copy.

Watch me grow... ten months