Laurie's Life

I grew up with a girl named Beth. We have been friends since we were four. Beth is married and has a little boy named Baylor. Beth and her husband, Joey, have lived in several different places over the past 12 years or so. They have lived in Little Rock, Shreveport, La, Franklin, Tn, Tulsa, Ok, Tyler,Tx. I have either driven or flown to visit Beth in all of these places, except Texas. I would always have such a wonderful time when I went to visit. We would always have a song and a scent. Beth would always play her favorite song for me and then she would always introduce me to her latest candle love. We would have great conversations and lots of laughter. Last May, Beth, Joey and Baylor moved to my area: Northwest Arkansas!!!!! We had hoped for this for many years and our dream came true. Beth decided a couple of months ago that I just needed to come one weekend and stay with them, just like old times. They only live about ten minutes from me. Sooooo......this Friday night...

We have had some sweet little guests in our home this week. This is Sarah Grace. Emily adores her! Little Harper. My girls were thrilled that she came to play! They hovered over her the whole time. We also had baby Jordan over, but I forgot to get a pic. One day this week we made an outing to T.J. Maxx. In the entry way, Emily saw these lunch boxes and told me she wanted a "suitcase for her lunch." She is soooooo proud of it. This morning she asked me if we could pack her lunch for school. She does not start school for another three weeks. The girl is anxious to use the suitcase for her lunch! The silly silly sister!!!

It is sooooo hot here! We were about to melt the other day as we were out in the 5:00 pm heat of the day. I sat at a red light watching the heat blaze and thinking,"I can't wait till the Fall comes." I remember running errands with the girls in January when we had a temperature of Zero. I remember thinking at the time, " I can't wait till the Spring gets here." Do you do the same thing? Seems I am always wanting the next thing. "I can't wait for the girls to get a little older." I can't wait till Emily goes to Kindergarten." "I can't wait for the weekend." You get the picture. The Lord told me the other day in the HOT HOT car, "Be happy today!" No, I did not hear that in an audible voice, but He spoke that to my spirit. God makes all things perfect. The seasons we have are just at the right time and for the right amount of time...seasons of the weather and seasons of our lives. I thought about this...

Thursday afternoon Steve and I headed to Branson, Mo to take the girls to Silver Dollar City. Emily was more excited about staying in the hotel than any amusement park. We checked into the hotel around 3:30, refreshed a little and then headed to have dinner at The O.G. That is what I call the Olive Garden. We had a GREAT dinner. The girls acted pretty good! Then, we headed to a place called The Track. They have little kid rides that my girls LOVED!!!!!! (The girls were so excited to be in a hotel room. Notice they are as white as the sheets.) They loved riding the rabbits. Emily rode this one twice. They enjoyed the little train ride. We went for ice-cream and then went to bed. Around 12:30 a.m. we were awakened by the sound of Sarah Kate choking in the Pack-n-Play. I just began praying because I was afraid she was choking on a small toy she had insisted on sleeping with. What we became quickly aware of as Steve turned the light on was she was throwing up and choking on it....

I am 95% finished with Sarah Kate's room. When she gets older, we will move her into a twin bed with a hot pink comforter and the green giraffe print pillows. I am waiting till she nears 3 before I take her out of that crib. I know, I know, these curtains should go ALL the way down or either chopped off. I am going to have a talented friend do that in the near future. I have had a lot of fun working on her room!

I was able to stay at my parents several days last week. Steve was not able to go because he had to work. Sarah Kate is sitting in this chair that used to belong to my Dad when he was a little boy. A local vet has deer for children to enjoy. The girls loved feeding them deer corn. Emily would say, "hey sweetie, I'm just a nice girl." The girls may have a disease now. They would let the deer eat from their hand and then I would see the girls standing there with their hands in their mouths. (Mostly SK) The girls would have stayed here all night long if we would have let them. Emily cried when we left. She LOVES animals! Then, we went for chips and salsa and Mexican food. Ohhhhh it was good!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Look who likes salsa as much as her mama. She would lick the salsa off the chip. Here is Emily with two of her best friends at VBS, Sarah Grace and Alex. Yesterday, I took Emily to see Ramona and Beezus. WE LOVED IT! I am so thankful for a good, clean, sweet ...

I have said this before, but I will say it again: I have pretty terrible hair! It is SUPER thin! I have spent many a dollar on Aquage hairspray. I could have put both girls through school for all the money I have spent on hairspray. I have more bad hair days than good. But.......from time to time, people tell me my hair is cute, or who does your hair? I am amazed, but thankful for the compliments!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have had a couple of blog readers ask to see the back of my hair. I have had friends on Facebook give the same request. I have promised to email them the back of my hair, and I have just never done it. I am sorry. Soooooo, tonight, HERE IT IS! It is not looking all that great, but I think it will give you the idea. I think my hair is a lot like cotton candy. Fluffy and sticky I fix it in the morning, spray it and I am done with it for the day. I don't want anyone touching my hair. I don't want wind blowing it. My hair is fizzledust. I don't even k...