Flip Flops
We have always had big breakfasts. I say that meaning, toast and eggs, or hot cereal, but never just a pop tart or something on the run. We have tried to make time to sit down and eat a meal. It is a good thing, because I LOVE breakfast. I could eat it all day long, and really wish I would, although it is not very practicle in our culture, and like so many other things, I conform...working on that! This morning we had fresh banana nut muffins, greek yogurt with sliced bananas and strawberries topped with almonds and honey, OJ and hot tea, scrumptious!
Picture taken by me while working on the computer. Shelby likes to be near me at all times...
"More carrots please!" Annalee said this today at lunch and I believe my heart lept. It has been a long battle to get my girls to eat veggies again. I am not sure at what point they went from eating them everyday to making themselves throw-up when forced to eat them. Yes, Annalee can vomit on demand, and has done so just to prove a point. So, I have tried the serve-and-keep serving until they like them again. Many wasted veggies later, Wa-La! They like carrots. I am leaping with joy.
Snapshots of our home... I was noticing a quote I have on our fridge, "How we spend our day is, of course, how we spend our lives." I thought this was interesting as I looked around the house. Just in my kitchen alone I was realizing how "telling" these snapshots of our lives would be. 
I had a sweet glass of carrot/apple juice this morning. The tin boxes on the top of the stove are full of loose tea my dear friends have gifted to me over the years. I like to share them as friends stop in for a visit here and there.
I recently pulled out our juicer that is normally kept underneath the counter and put the toaster away. You know, less processed carbs and more fresh fruits and veggies. As you can see, the parts are drying from actually being used this morning... My mother-in-law purchased this for us and I have really enjoyed having a quality juicer around the past several years.
Daily words of encouragement to all those who can read...
A fridge says so much about people. We have recent photos of family and friends to remind us each day for whom to give thanks. There are a couple of drawings from the girls on the lower half. The magazine page is a picture of a mother helping her son to bake, and it has the quote I referenced above. We are currently fighting for a dream to be free from "jobs." We are building a business that will allow both Shane and I to be home full-time, all day, everyday, to raise our children together. This picture represents that time together as a family. The books on the top are my favorite cookbooks. I am a comfort food queen and "Kitchen Keepsakes" is full of classic recipes. I also like the Ball canning book. Oh, I love to see a shelf of beautiful foods "put away" in colorful jars for the colder months. Very satisfying to do it yourself!
Are the girls allowed to sit on the bed like this? No. 
Are the girls allowed to use me camera without asking? No.
Do I love this face? Am I laughing hysterically at the evidence? Yes.
What DO princesses do all day?
Play soccer...
Baseball/golf ( or whatever you want to call it)...
Whatever they do, it is always fun and in princess style!
My little sister just got married! She did an amazing job in the planning and details. She is an artsy one and did a great job at making the day just perfect. The event took place at Sweet Briar College, and all girls school that recently won "most beautiful campus in the country." Complete with carriage rides and dessert reception, the day was above all memorable. What a combination of classic simplicity....and to top it all off, she looked more beautiful than I have ever seen her, ever. We had a particularly fun day with each member of our family playing a part. I was the only bridesmaid, the girls were one of six children in the wedding.
They skipped down the aisle yelling, "The bride is coming, the bride is coming!" Adorable.
The kiss was quite entertaining...
Shane performed the ceremony, and as always did a marvelous job, even though he spent the entire day herding six girls in flower girl dresses, doing his best to keep them clean and accounted for.
The happy groom...Tommy.
Shelby fell asleep during the ceremony and Annalee, of course danced the night away, except for the one dance Daddy danced with Mommy and she cried in the corner. What sweet memories...
