DATE NIGHT!!!

One of my goals for 2014 was to have a monthly date with my hubs.  It could be anything from dinner out to making an entire day and night of it.  Initially we would alternate from month to month which one of us were in charge of the details but I typically plan them now and just tell him when to be ready.

This year we have not been as diligent with making sure that we have a dedicated date each month (life will get in the way if you let it) but we have gotten some in, our most recent being this past weekend.

We started the evening with an early dinner at a quaint little restaurant in downtown Cornelia called Natalie Jane's.  I had the Shrimp and Grits (hands down THE. BEST. GRITS. EVER!) and Z had the Jalapeno Burger with Fries.

 

This is the only pic that I took while at the restaurant.  Note to self:  must do better next time!

After we got our bellies full, we headed to our local downtown for a Historic Haunted Walking Tour.  We arrived a bit early and were able to stroll through the park and admire the Scarecrow Spooktacular, scarecrows that were created by local residents/business owners from recycled materials.

Here were a couple of my favorites:

Waiting for the tour to begin...

...doesn't the moon look ominous!

We began the tour at the old courthouse and ended at the old jail.  I wasn't able to get a lot of pictures due to the lighting (or lack thereof) but I did get a few.

This lady was sentenced to be hung for murder.  The old jail had a hangman's noose and trapdoor which has since been welded shut.  There is a bit of controversy as to how many people were hung at the jail; anywhere from 0 - 2.

The hook/pulley system for the noose.  The trapdoor was directly beneath with a lever on the wall.  It was eerie being in there so I didn't hang around for a more detailed/staged photo.  #sorrynotsorry

After we got out of jail, we headed north to Anderson, SC to visit Denver Downs Corn Maze.  Visiting a corn maze is one of our fall traditions and we always visit at night.  The maze that we had visited in the past closed down (insert sad face) so this was our first time at Denver Downs.  It was a SUCCESS!  They had so much to do.  Next year I will definitely be adding a trip with the kiddos to the calendar.

The maze was SERIOUSLY hard!  We failed.  We did not find all of the checkpoints and we certainly didn't find them in order but we did make it out without having to call in the Corn Maze Cops.

We also rode the hayride, which was commandeered by a couple of confederate soldiers.

It was a great night!  Now time to plan November's.

Seriously friends, if you and yours don't already have a regular Date Night on your schedule let me encourage to find a way to get it there.  Make time for each other without the everyday distractions of work, chores, children; date each other again!  I promise you, you will not regret it.

Heather

Friday Faves

TGIF my friends!

Today I am linking up with Andrea, Erika and Narci to bring you my Friday Faves.

First up, check out each of these ladies and their blogs.  They are definitely some of my favorite reads.  They provide me with mommy motivation, fashion & decor advice, family funnies, arts, crafts, recipes and much much more.  I look forward to reading what they have to say on the daily.

Next up, these little spirit sticks...

I can't brag enough on these little ladies this year.  They were all so talented and attentive, soaking up everything that I had to teach.  They definitely kept me on my toes with finding new material for them each week.  They are all super sweet and were friends both on and off the field.  This group of girls have been a FAVE this fall.

SMILE!

This past spring we redecorated our master bath~new color scheme, new paint, new light fixtures, new faucets...you get the idea.  Anyway, I have been looking for the perfect piece of wall art since then, just waiting for something to speak to me.  Well, I finally found it!  I found this little gem at Dollar General, completely on accident, for a mere $8.  Every time I walk into the bathroom, it just makes me happy so it most certainly is a FAVE.

This girl is a mess!  Monday night she and I went to Zumba and while I was shaking my groove thing, she, apparently, was taking selfies with Mama's phone.  I found these a couple of days later.  A sweet surprise for me and a FAVE for sure.

And last, but certainly not least, the fact that it's FRIDAY is a FAVE.  I am looking forward to a beautiful fall weekend.  The weather is supposed to be perfect and the hubs and I have a date night on the calendar for Saturday~a haunted tour of our town and then some corn maze fun.  Looking forward to it already!

What were some of your favorites this week?

Heather

Georgia National Fair

georgianationalfair.com

Road Trip!!!  For several years Z and I have tried to work out visiting Perry for the fair but it just never worked out for one reason or another.  This year we were bound and determined to figure it out and I am so happy that we did.  We had THE. BEST. TIME!

We only had one day to devote to the fair and that included the 6 hour round-trip to get there and back, so we rolled out of bed, on a Saturday, at 4 a.m. with the girl's in tow.  Luckily they slept the majority of the way and I helped navigate through the torrential downpour that plagued us for the first 2.5 hours of our journey.

Around 8:30, we arrived.  Let the fun begin...

The actual "fair" activities didn't start until 10:00 but the livestock shows began at 8:00 so we began our day watching the Jr. Heifer Show.  AB is interested in showing cattle so we wanted her to see how it was done.  She is still interested so 4-H, here we come.

We strolled through the prep barn and found our local show team...

Once 10:00 rolled around, we decided to go ahead and let the girls ride the rides while it wasn't quite so crowded.  First up...a roller coaster.

After that, they were hooked...the faster, the better!

I thought they were going to loose their chick-fil-a on this one...it just kept going faster and faster all the while moving in a circle, blasting the loudest music imaginable.  They LOVED it!

  Lexi got off and the first thing she said was "I can't feel my throat".  We died, it was so funny!

Z and I just hanging out while the girls got their ride on...

Next up...Eudora Farms Petting Zoo

Included in the price of admission were entrance to many shows throughout the day.  Here are a few that we enjoyed...

Wild About Monkeys

Robinson's Racing Pigs

SwashChucklers! Comedy Pirate Show

Tricky Dogs

And last, but certainly not least...Mutton Bustin' --- the toughest sport on wool.

I had never heard of this before and certainly had never seen it before but boy was I in for a treat. Children between the ages of 4-7, weighing less than 60lbs, get an opportunity to bareback ride a sheep; trying to hold on for 6 seconds.  I tried to upload a video but for the life of me I can't get it to work so if you ever get an opportunity to see this in person---don't miss it!

We ended our day (around 7:15) with cotton candy, funnel cakes and a rainbow...

...and 3 hours later we were back at Home Sweet Home.

Future trips need to include an overnight stay so that the Fair can be enjoyed for 2 days.  There is so much to see and do and I feel like we saw just enough to leave us wanting for more.  Maybe next year...

Heather

Eight...

Halloween 2011

I can't believe this little princess is 8 today.  I know that everyone always says that time flies but let me tell you...it really does.  It seems like only yesterday that I was on my way to the hospital, so excited to welcome this little stinker into the world.  And she is just as stubborn today as she was 8 years ago.

So in honor of this sweet girl, today's post is all about THE Anna Blake:

Born on October 7, 2007 @ 3:10 in the afternoon

Weighing in at 8 lbs. 5 oz and measuring 21 in. long

(I didn't arrive in the digital world until 2011 so the first 4 years of AB's life was all taken on 35mm film and for the life of me I can not figure out how to get those pics to upload into this blog.  So unfortunately, baby pictures will have to debut at a later date and time~~insert sad face! )

Circa 2012

This girl is a LOVER of animals.  Her most favorite animal is a dog but she isn't biased...if it is furry and walks on 4 legs she is all over it.  She says that she is going to be a Vet Tech when she grows up.  I asked "Why not a Vet?" and her response was "I don't want to do the surgery, I just want to help".  Bless her sweet loving heart!

AB and Tom

AB and Opal

1st Day of Preschool @ HBLC~2011

Easter 2012

Shopping with Mama

The catch of the day with Daddy

She also LOVES all things Cheerleading!  Her theme for this years birthday party was BC Cheerleading and her current fave color is blue.  She is definitely a Leopard through and through.

Other fun tidbits about AB:

• She is as hard headed & strong willed as the day is long.  It can be exhausting.
• At the same time she is extremely tender hearted and wears her heart on her sleeve.  

• She is a Mama's girl.
• Her favorite food, at the moment, is shrimp and nutella (not together though-that would be gross).
• She wants to learn to play the guitar.

Well, that's my girl in a nut shell.  I thank God for her everyday, she is certainly a blessing to all!  

Heather