Goody goody gumdrops, Hazey just turned two!

The last month has been filled with LOTS of new experiences for both me AND the kids. Gray took swimming lessons for the first time at my friend Shelley's house, along with her son, Carter, and a few of our other friends, and did so great! He is now wearing us out, jumping into the pool and swimming to the ladder every opportunity he gets. He had the teachers in stitches, proclaiming himself a "teenager" when he finally got brave enough to put his head under the water for the first time. Me, Adam, Hayes and P were all there to watch him "graduate" from swim school and couldn't have been prouder of our little fish!

Adam and I celebrated our 9th anniversary by taking a redneck honeymoon to Tunica, Mississippi. We bought an auction package at Harrah's Casino through the Staxtacular event, and decided that we didn't care where we were, as long as we were together. Adam took a half day one Thursday and played golf at the Links at Cottonwoods with a friend while I laid by the pool with a gossip mag and a fruity drink. That night we had a lovely dinner at a quaint little restaurant in downtown Tunica and were surprised with a nice bottle of wine from Lauren and Andrew when we arrived. We wrapped up our trip with massages at the spa and a ridiculously indulgent lunch at Paula Deen's buffet, before gambling a little and heading home to my sweet in-laws who kept the kids for us.

Hayes celebrated her 2nd birthday with lots of sweet friends and family at our house the last week in June with a "sweet shoppe" themed party. We had a candy buffet, cookie lollipops, and ohocolate covered oreo suckers as favors, all in Hayes' honor. It was such a fun party to plan and so fun to see her face as it all came together. We are so lucky to have so many friends and family to help us celebrate such a special occasion.

We headed down to the coast for the 4th of July holiday and spent 6 days there with my family. It was our first trip down in over a year and we were excited to catch up with old friends and see new things. We started the trip with a trip to the beach to play in the sand and enjoy a snowcone (or a snowball as my mom insists that it be called). But before long, the kids were half naked, splashing in the gulf, and I was severely regretting the fact that we had left the towels and a change of clothes at home. We visited the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center and had a great time playing in all of the fun activity centers. What a great children's museum! I had lunch with my oldest friend, Lauren, went shopping at the outlet mall, and actually started reading a book for the first time in a while. We also celebrated Hayes' REAL birthday, had some FABULOUS food, and hung out with my dear friend, Moe, and her kids. We spent the 4th at the Yacht Club with the whole fam, watching fireworks, playing in the sand and water, and running into old friends. P put the kids to bed for us so we could catch our friend, Brooks, play at a local spot and we agreed, it was just like old times as we sat facing the beach, watching the fireworks, with the music playing in the distance. Good times, great trip!

After lots of encouragement from sweet friends, I finally decided to launch an Etsy shop to sell my canvas and burlap door hangers. My friend, Sarah Ella, is a veteran in the Etsy arena, and is coaching me through the process as I navigate a new blog, Facebook page, and Etsy shop, all dedicated to this fun, new venture, Adoorables Door Hangers. Check me out at the following links:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adoorables-Door-Hangers/164464123620942

http://www.etsy.com/shop/eop1015?ref=si_shop

http://adoorablesdoorhangers.blogspot.com/

That's it for now (whew!). Until next time....
The Pattersons