What I'm Loving...

I am lov'in this man.  

Yesterday we celebrated nine years of marriage.  NINE!

Life has not been perfect.  We have had our fair share of problems.  We have had some wonderful highs and some low lows.  But because of Flint, I am who I am today.  I am where I am today.  And I wouldn't trade that for anything.  Life is much sweeter doing it with Flint and I love having him by my side.  I love him more today than I did nine crazy years ago!

We are living our own little version of an imperfect fairy tale together.

Oh happy day!

A little glimpse into the our first nine years of marriage.

Our little family before Cilla joined us.

Without Flint, my life would not have looked like this.....

.....I probably wouldn't know nearly as much about sports as I do today.....

.....I wouldn't have this little blessing in my life.....

.....I wouldn't have this smile to brighten my days.....

.....We wouldn't have these big brown eyes looking to us for wisdom.....

.....I wouldn't have laughed nearly as much as I have.....

.....I wouldn't have seen some of the things I have seen.....

.....I wouldn't have been where I have been.....

.....And I wouldn't be where I am today.  

I am so thankful for Flint.  He works so hard to support his family.  He loves his family and friends so deeply and he is so loyal.  He is such a good dad to Cilla and such a great husband to me.

I love you, Flint Harris!

In honor of our anniversary, I thought I would share a few of my favorite pictures from our wedding that I recently came across on a CD.  It is fun, even after all these years, to look back and remember how fun that special day was! 

Humor

Nothing says 104 degree highs and 76 degree lows like wearing some doggie slippers to bed!  However, with a two year old, you do lots of things you swore you never would to promote peace in your house.

 A couple of nights ago I went in after Cilla had fallen asleep to turn off her bathroom light (because that is how we roll these days) and to take off about four of the blankets that she insisted on covering up with.  When I walked in to see this.....

 my heart melted.  

Every doggie owner's dream.  You see, Flint had I have two puppy dogs that were in our lives about ten years before we had Cilla.  So, to see a bond between them is so sweet.  Our animal lov'in stinker has loved the dogs about all of her life.  But it is so sweet to see the dogs be affectionate toward her and protective of her.

And finally for the humbling part.  Do any of you remember Monica's Closet?  I may date myself a little by saying this.  But 'Friends' is one of my all-time favorite shows.  Monica, the neat freak, had one closet that was piled to top then some more crammed in and she forbid anyone to open her closet.  Well, I had one, too.  BUT NOT ANY MORE!

Check it out.  

This is Cilla's playroom closet.  I am finishing up some labels for the bins and then I will be completely finished.  I feel so much better having that project behind me!  I so wish I had a before picture to share even it is completely humiliating!!!

TOMS Giveaway

I have been DYING to share one of the projects I have been working on!

I am now the proud owner of a pair of painted Razorback TOMS!  I first got the idea after a girlfriend from Baylor sported a pair.  LOVE!

Now for the really fun part.

You can win a your very own pair supporting your favorite team!  Hop on over to 

Holy Turf

to find out how you can enter!

Coach Flint

As if we need anything else on our plate...Flint has been helping coach our friend's son's football team the last few weeks.  Aside from the heat, I think he is having fun with it!  Of course, that is right up his alley!

This is what you miss having a girl!!!  Little guys in football pads are so cute!

Cilla and I picked a free night to go out and take a looksie at all the fun. 

 Cilla had fun playing with Titus and Kate.  She loves Titus.  She talks about him all the time.  It could be because he has lots of fun toys at his house or possibly because he is so full of energy and funny.  Either way, Cilla loves to be around him.  

And what is not to love?!?  Can you say male model?!?  He loves to have his picture taken and pretty sure the camera likes him right back!

The football was fun but as usual, with a two year old, I didn't watch much of it!

Better Together

Cilla loves loves loves to be around people and other kids, so I try hard to make sure every couple of days she gets to play with some of her friends.  I think she gets so bored with me...and I can't say that I blame her!!!

We played with our sweet friends Stella, Emerson and Sydney one day this week.  The girls love one another and play really well together.

How cute are they?!

 Tea for two!

 Stella's sassy pose!  

This little gal is tutu cute and we love her!

 Friday is playgroup day.  

Despite the chaos, we love our playgroup and the friendships within.  There is something about having other ladies right where you are in life.  We encourage each other.  Laugh at each other's stories...a lot.  Support one another.   Blah blah, I know.  But I love each and every mommy in the group and Cilla loves her little friends too!

Today we met to play at the Scott's house (thanks sweet Sara for opening up your home!) and then went to Chick-Fil-A for lunch.  I am pretty sure when Cilla outgrows loving Chick-Fil-A, I will go on sabbatical from eating there!!!  But for this stage of life, it is easy and the kids love it!

 We seem to have taken up about a fourth of the restaurant!  They were probably glad to see us go!

 And just because they are cute...Hannah, Jillian and Cilla!  Love these girlies!

So thankful for sweet friendships.

The New and Improved Cilla Suite

I know my little lady is rapidly approaching the age for a big girl bed, but we do not have any reason to rush her out of her crib so- I'M NOT!  I am just not ready to move her and frankly, I do not think she can handle it.  She sleeps great in her crib.  She is confined.  And those two reasons alone are enough to let it be right now.   

Since we moved back to Arkansas, there has been nothing on Cilla's wall above her crib.  Recently, my friend, Kelli, showed me an idea that she pinned on Pinterest and I knew I had to do it in Cilla's room.  Which by the way, was the last straw for my signing up on Pinterest!

So....here it is.  I think it turned out super cute and it made for some great conversation as I explained to Flint about embroidery rings!!!

I painted wooden letters, put hangers on the backs of each of them and hung them.  Then I filled different sized embroidery rings with fabrics from Cilla's room and a couple of other coordinating fabrics.  Voila!  A project that was done in under one nap time!  That is way I like them!

Makes Me Feel Old

These are my little flower girls almost nine years ago.

Caroline and Carter

This is our little ring bearer, Henry.

They were so cute!!!

  {These pictures were before the digital age.  Yep, these were printed from film and scanned!!!}

A couple of weeks ago we spent the week with them in Colorado and loved our time with them as "big kids".  Caroline, our oldest flower girl just turned Sweet 16.  I can't believe it!  I think that realization is the first thing to make make me feel kind of old!!!  Not the fact that Flint and I have been married almost nine years.  Not when I realize how long I have been out of high school or even college.  Not having a toddler.  But realizing that our flower girl is sixteen years old!

And here they are today!

{Plus David who was a little over a year when we got married.}

We loved our time with all four of these kiddos.  Despite the age age gap they were all so sweet to Cilla, too.  They loved on her and played with her just like she was one of the "big kids".  And she loved every minute of it!

Mmmm, Mmmm Monday: Almond Mandarin Salad

This is one of the best summer salad recipes I have found!  It is too yummy not to share!

Almond Mandarin Salad 

1/2 cup Vegetable Oil

1/4 cup Sugar

1/4 cup Vinegar (any kind is fine.. I use Balsamic or Salad Vinegar)

2 Tablespoon fresh chopped Parsley (I used dry before and it was fine)

1 teaspoon salt and pepper

1/2 cup of slivered (I have also used sliced) Almonds

2 Tablespoons sugar

Fresh Baby Spinach Leaves

1 can Mandarin Oranges drained or you can use fresh sliced Oranges, peeled of course
(I like these better than the ones from the can)

1 cup of Chopped Celery

3 Tablespoons Green Onion

Combine: oil, sugar, vinegar, parsley and salt and pepper in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake well

Mix almonds and sugar in small pan over low heat. Stir constantly until sugar melts. It may turn brown... that's OK, just don't let it burn. Pour into saucer to cool. Toss spinach, celery and green onion together, and put oranges on top. Right before serving add dressing and toss until evenly distributed and then sprinkle almonds on top. Enjoy! 
Dressing will make spinach wilt and almonds won't be as crunchy if you mix dressing in before hand.

What a Week

Whew....what a week.  

First of all, thanks to everyone for making my birthday and my week so sweet.  It was a fun and special day!  Our dear friends are temporary living with us during a transition time and they so graciously agreed to keep Cilla over night so Flint and I got a quite dinner out, ice cream and a room at a local hotel!  Thanks Josh and Kelli!  Thanks so much for the greatest birthday gift of all!  Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures!  I was enjoying my peaceful, quite time so much, I didn't even think about it!   

Flint was in Birmingham for SEC Media Days all week so it always more of a challenge and exhausting parenting solo.  But, my parents jumped right in and were a huge help!

Here is a little of what Flint was up to this week.....

Check out HolyTurf for more football and media day coverage!

We almost started our weekend with a trip to the ER after Cilla took a dive out of her crib.  Luckily, she was alright.  After the doctor agreed to see her at the Pediatric Clinic, this momma was reassured that things were okay and we could get on with our weekend.

Cilla and I were so ready for daddy to be home.  We had a fun-filled Saturday as a family.  We started our day off at Rick's for donuts.  Now that is a good start to the day!!!  It was a low key day, but nice to all be together.

This girl loved her chocolate covered donut!!!

I have so much more to catch up on.  I have several projects and fun pictures to share and I have loads of laundry to fold and some house work to catch up on.  But, I think I might just go put my feet up and close my eyes!

This is just one of the 354 reasons I am so worn out...

I was making a fruit pizza this morning and when I turned my back to get a banana Cilla dumped a package of Chipotle Cheddar Tortilla Strips right smack dab in the middle!  Yum!  Further proving you literally can't turn your back when you have a two year old!  

But, I would not trade it for the world!