Daddy's Girls

Well, she actually got back last week (she was gone for 10 days while I was recovering) but I didn't have any pics to share.  Today I took both girls to the park.  It was interesting trying to keep up with both of them at first but I quickly realized we just needed to stick with playing in the spray park because I could see them both at once no matter where they were in there.  They pretty much played together anyway.  Lilli is very happy to have someone to play with again and I love that she's entertained and learning to share and play well with another kid. 

I never claimed she wasn't a little spoiled. :) And not really a full pedicure, just a little paint which he did for just a couple dollars since we were the only ones in there but still! I finally got to catch up with Cara today after not seeing her for almost a month so we decided to treat ourselves to pedicures.  Lilli tagged along and was super excited when she saw there was a chair just her size and I agreed to let him paint her toes.  Checking trail cams and riding around the deer camp with Dad yesterday and pedi with Mom and her girlfriend today.  She has a good balance. :) It wasn't her first one though, here she is with her Yaya in December of last year getting ready for Santa.

Matt, Josh, Chad and Shanon spent a guys weekend at the deer camp this weekend so Lilli and I got a girls weekend and some quality time with Hay Hay.  Friday night we met up with her for dinner at Chili's after Lilli and I caught the afternoon showing of Brave.  It was so good to see her especially since it's been almost 2 months since we'd had a chance to really catch up.  Then on Saturday, Lilli and I had a girls day of shopping and Hailey came over for dinner and wine that evening.  We got up this morning and met Matt at the deer camp so we could see how the house was coming along and to go for a six wheeler ride.  It's amazing how much it's come along since the last time I was there.  The outside is done (which of course I got no pics of), the concrete is stained, the pergola is built with a swing underneath and the deer cleaning shed is there now too.  Along with roads to them all.  Hunting season is just a little over a month away (and I know my husband is

At breakfast at Strawn's this morning before he left Thanks so much for all of your help this week Dad! We couldn't have done it without you.  Dad came the day before my surgery and stayed until today to help out with Lilli while I was recovering.  I was in no shape to do much of anything until about Sunday so it was a good thing he was here or Matt would have had to be home.  Lilli and I were sad to see him go but we're already looking forward to our next visit in just a few weeks.  We love ya Pops!

That's right, Matt and I are going to San Pedro, Belize!  We plan to spend 5 nights at this hotel http://ambergriscaye.com/sevenseas/index.html  mostly enjoying the beach, exploring the town, eating, drinking and we're planning to dive. We have been going back and forth for months about whether we were going to go on a vacation this year.  Finally about a month ago we decided against it because we're doing some work to the house (new roof, siding and a few other odd jobs this month) and decided not to spend the money.  Well, last week we changed our minds because the cards (literally) fell in to place.  Every year for part of Matt's present he goes to the casino to play poker.  He loves it and my gift to him is I don't complain about the money he spends, haha.  This year... he won! He won more than enough for our hotel and we had enough airline miles for the flights so that changed our minds and the trip is booked! This will be my first trip to Bel

Matt wanted to ride up to the deer camp this morning but I still wasn't feeling up to that kind of a trip so he decided that just he and Lilli would go.  As soon as she got up he got her dressed and they hopped in the car.  He took her for breakfast at McDonald's and then they were on their way! She was so excited to go for a ride To help Daddy hang his new trail cams And check out her room in the new deer camp Such a fun morning with Daddy!

Happy Birthday to a wonderful Husband/Dad/Brother/Son/Friend.... We all hope you have had a wonderful day.  Of course Lilli wanted to cook him a cake so she and I were baking this morning before 8 am.  We've got a lot of dessert to eat because Yaya also made a cheesecake but I couldn't tell her we weren't going to bake for her Daddy.  Today was the first day I was really feeling up to anything so I was glad I got to do something for him today. What a difference 4 days make for ballet.  I went with her today for the first time since Monday and she said "Mama, you stand on the wall and watch me ballet." She had a blast and is looking forward to starting her once a week class next month. Pops and Lilli also went to the Jubilee Zoo this morning.  I was pretty tired after my cake making and knew I had promised her I would go to her ballet class as well so I decided to stay home and get some rest.  Pops said they had a great time.  There was another baby

Today was Lilli's first day of dance camp.  She has been so excited about her leotard, ballet shoes and tutu and just couldn't wait to go.  She didn't get a nap today because she was so excited.  Maybe it was the no nap or maybe she was a little shy or maybe she just thought I had left her but the first day didn't go as I had hoped.  None of the other Moms were in the back room so Pops and I snuck out after they got started.  Less than 10 minutes later, the teacher walked out with a teary eyed little girl that wanted her Mama.  I went in the back with her and that got her to quit crying but she still didn't participate much.  I refused to sit and hold her but I didn't make her join in either.  I did a few moves with her so she did get in to it a little.  The teacher said it's perfectly normal for a 2 year old on the first day. Waiting for class to start The dance part lasted 30 minutes and then they all had a snack.  After snack was craft tim

We have lived in the house we are in for 5 years now.  This fig tree has always been here but I finally just got motivated to do something with them.  Neither of us really like figs but my Dad is coming Tuesday to be here when I have surgery and he LOVES them.  So I got online and looked up how to make preserves.  We have no idea if they turned out right.  They tasted pretty good but neither of us have eaten very many so we're not really sure if they're right.  I'll be curious to hear Pops' opinion.  We had a little over 6 pounds so I put them in a pot with about 6 cups of sugar and the juice of 2 lemons and let them simmer for about an hour and a half.  When they were done we spooned them in to cans.  We may be the only people to ever use a crawfish pot for the hot water bath to seal them but it worked!   Picked figs, made the preserves and canned them! Our grandmas would be proud. :)

What a great start to the weekend.  Lilli woke up this morning and said "hip hip hooray, it's a no work (for Daddy) day!" I wonder where she comes up with this stuff some times.  We all got up early and headed to the Shreveport Farmers Market.  We ended up walking out with some LOCAL tomatoes, blueberries, peaches, butter beans, bread and butter pickles and wine! Yes it's a little pricier than buying them in store but I love that we're supporting our local farmers and the quality can't be beat! I think we'll be back in a couple of weeks.    Eating blueberries straight from the bag. And tonight Matt and I have date night planned at Jack Binion's Steak house in Horseshoe Casino.  We're celebrating his birthday because I'm having surgery (a laparoscopy for endometriosis) on Wednesday and his birthday is Friday.  I don't think I'm going to be up to celebrating so we're doing it now.  Time to start a birthday week! H

I could tell Lilli had spent the morning with her Yaya today.  (Yaya came and kept both Lilli's for me while I went to my preop appointment today.  Thanks Yaya!) When she woke from up from her nap I told her that Sophie was coming to eat dinner with her tonight.  Her answer? "Oh good, Sophie's my girlfriend." Haha, so something her Yaya would say! Those two girls played and played in her room all night.  I don't think they were in the room with us unless they were eating something.  I love that Lilli has a friend she plays so well with and me and her Daddy really enjoy Sophie's Mom and Dad's company.  It's always so nice to get to catch up and have a glass of wine and a few laughs.

I've been posting lots of pictures lately of the construction of the new house.  There have been plenty of pictures of the views of the property too.  Here's a few of some of the deer that live out there.  These pictures are from Matt's trail camera by one of his feeders.  They keep it full of food all year long and I'm pretty sure the deer don't mind.

Years ago my Mom told me that if someone would have asked her what my life would turn out like when I was younger, her answer would have been completely wrong from the way it really did.  She said her answer would have been that I would go to LSU and live and work in Baton Rouge because I liked "city life" and would never leave where my family lived.  She also thought out of all of her girls I would be the one that would want the big, "traditional" wedding.  She told me this right after Matt and I took her on her first four wheeler ride no where close the city. And as you know I left Baton Rouge at 18 and our wedding vows were in front of 30 people (if you don't count all the other hotel guests) on a beach in Mexico.  She also told me that day that now that she saw how happy this life had made me, she couldn't imagine it any other way.  So, I can guarantee you she laughed today as MY daughter gobbled down some fried frog legs with her Daddy at dinner.  I tol

The new deer camp has changed so much since I was out there 2 weeks ago.  The siding is up, there is crushed concrete around the outside for the parking area, the pergola has been built, there is a road going down the hill and to where the fire pit will be, a deer cleaning shed is there...  Pergola in the process of being built and the view.  There will be a swing underneath for Yaya to swing with the grandkids. Road down the hill and to fire pit Deer cleaning shed Even beautiful in the rain...