The Un-Cool Pool

I'll be very honest. When I was little, we always had some type of pool whether it be one of the $5 blue ones from Wal-Mart, the "Crocodile Lagoon", an above ground one, and eventually an inground one. I DESPISED running through sprinklers. When I was going to someone's house and they told me to "bring a swimsuit", I always hated it when I got there and there was no pool... Only a sprinkler.

As I grew older, I even hated the blow up pools. I thought they were tacky.

Well I have officially joined the tacky pools club, because we are now the proud owners of a $30 Target special.



I vowed I would never own one.




Don't you love it when you get to eat your words or in this case, swim in them?

Even though I am the owner of a very uncool pool, Annistyn thinks it is awesome and that is more important than anything else!










We had a lot of fun playing in it- yes, I got in it too and NO, I won't be sharing any pictures of me playing in it. Ha!

If you are wondering why it appears to be late evening in those pictures, it is because it was late evening!!! It was 6:30 or so before we got it ready and Annistyn saw it out the door and had a fit. She ran strait to it and climbed over the side.

She also had a couple of visitors this week that told her something very exciting...




Can you tell she is excited??





I asked her if she wanted to go see Mickey and she said, "Yeah." so... I guess we're going!

We really weren't planning on taking her this young, but I've been about to go crazy wanting her to go. I will remember it whether she does or not and I will take probably 3,000 pictures to remember it by.

I have a fun giveaway on my photography facebook page- click on the link on my left sidebar to be a part of it. I'm giving away 24 free photo cards that can be used for invitations, announcements, July 4th cards, anything you wish. There is a post on my wall that will tell you how to enter. It's really easy and FREE!

I revised my logo so that my green swirls now form the letters "SP" instead of being pointless green swirls. I've been wanting to do that, I just haven't had time! Just like my flash website that I've been making for 6 months... maybe one day!

Well, I am off to bed. We are OFFICIALLY out for the summer. I am SOOOOO excited to be spending every day with MY baby for the next couple of months. :)

Bzzzzy Bee

I've been really really busy- so I'm going to try to play catch up tonight. Saturday, I had a photo session at 9:30 with this sweet little girl...





She is adorable and she did SO good! She even came up with a few of her own poses. I've been working on getting her proof book together.

Annistyn was also in another beauty pageant on Saturday. Miss Memorial Day was at LBW at 2:00. The practice was from 12-1, so we went up there and walked on the stage. She was really excited about it. We went back at 2. Last time she was in the 0-12 month age group. This time, she was in 0-18 months. I was a little "iffy" about putting her in it. 18-month-olds are a lot different than 14-month-olds.

I decided to go for it anyway. I got there and there were 9 in her age group. Last time there was only 3, so I knew she would place no matter what- even though she ended up winning.

This time, almost every one in her age group was walking and there were so many cute little girls!!!! Annistyn did great on stage. She is fearless. She waved and showed everyone her Bible song. She did her "I don't know" hands because I was trying to get her to smile and asked her where Daddy was. She didn't want to leave, I had to pick her up to get her off the stage. She loves to be the center of attention! When they started doing awards, the first was photogenic. She won with her beach picture. I was really excited because she got a trophy and was laughing and playing with it. Then she also won 2nd alternate. Of course, I would have loved for her to win, but the little girls that placed 1st alternate and winner were a little older and they had a lot more waving and kiss-blowing going on up on stage. She got another trophy and her picture will be in the paper again. I was glad she placed out of that many. She LOVED playing with the other babies backstage too.
Here she is afterwards. By then she wasn't near as excited about the trophies...







I dug some old pictures out. I posted this one on facebook, but I wanted to share it on here too. This is from Dauphin Island. I was 12 when I took it. It was taken with my old Kodak (with film). I remember that day like it was yesterday and it was the most gorgeous sunset I have EVER seen. It filled every inch of the sky all around.



I also found several where I made Shelley or my friends dress up for pictures and pose in different places. I've always had a thing for taking pictures.

I've been busy making gifts for retirement, graduation, and other things that are going on this time of year. Buckets seem to really popular- like this cute one I made for a friend...



I also did a large navy with orange tub that would be great for icing down cold beverages.

I've been doing several flowerpots, too....



I have a lot of colors! I am placing an order Thursday for a few more buckets. These are bigger and in bright colors...



I can get hot pink, lime green, carribean blue, green, and red. (Red would cute for Alabama colors!) My other buckets are $10- these are $12 because they are bigger and a little more expensive to buy. If you want one of these colors- please let me know by Thursday night. Pricing includes personalization with your choice of font, color, polka dots, etc...

One more thing I have found- these SUPER cute platters.
They are melamine and 14 inches in diameter (great for serving). They are also personalized.
Each of these are $15 and I have several extra styles too.





My acrylic keyrings are in and my acrylic cups and clipboards. I'll put one on here soon.

Last thing for tonight- how cute is this??!


It doesn't have to have July 4th designs on there, but it could... $10 as well.

I really enjoy making things- especially for other people- if you haven't figured that out by now.

Well, I am 3 days away from the start of my summer break. I also found out today that I can move to the classroom that I wanted to move to. I will finally be in the kindergarten section of our hallway instead of the first grade. I love my neighbors, but I am also excited about the move! :)

Have a great week! I have a giveaway for this weekend!!!!

See Ya Later Alligator...

Tonight we went and had pizza for dinner. When we got back, there was a beautiful sun beginning to set in our front yard. We thought we'd have some family yard time. I decided to take a few pictures of Annistyn in her cute alligator bubble.




Isn't there something magical about the way a setting sun makes your skin glow?




Seriously, could I love this little girl ANY more???!? Just look at that face!



I'm not the only one that loves her though...






I could just pinch these little thighs...





Annistyn found my new bench in the garage, so I pulled it out and let her model for me!




If she were sitting all sweet and perfect in that chair, it would not a true picture of her. That is what I LOVE about taking pictures. I want pictures that capture the full essence of her personality. Like this one..



And this, with her dirty little foot and sneaky smile...



Because we all know she'd rather be climbing in that chair instead of sitting in it.



But isn't she beautiful???



My two favorite people...



Annistyn likes to take care of the yard like her Daddy. She ran off and got this and brought this to him.



She also likes to "pray" now by bowing her head and folding her hands. She reminds you before each meal if someone forgets. So sweet...

And big news- tonight before her bath, she walked over to her potty, climbed on it and sat down, said "tee-tee", and did just that. I clapped and cheered and we showed Daddy. I haven't been pushing it on her. In fact there have been several days lately that she has not even wanted to try and I don't make her. She's only 14 months... But I give her the opportunity to make that decision and today she did by herself. She is one of those children who won't do something unless they think it is their idea. She would be a nightmare to potty train as a 2 or 3 year old. I am sure her strong-willed personality will be in full bloom by then! Ha! We are going to have our hands full with this little firecracker!!! She is too much like her Aunt Shelley.

Well, I'm off to bed...

See ya later, alligator!!! :)