GIVEAWAY!!!

I have officially been blogging for a year on Friday! I have seen many people celebrate this "blog birthday" by having a giveaway. This came at perfect timing for me because I've just started really working with my embroidery machine and creating a lot of fun things! I would love to create something just for you!

I will be giving away an appliqued shirt made by me! This "little man" shirt is precious, don't you think? If you have a little boy or know a little boy, this would look fantastic! If you have a little girl in mind, I will make you a shirt with an appliqued initial with her embroidered name.

Just leave a comment on this post and let me know that you are interested! I will choose a winner and post on this blog on Saturday morning at 10:00 using a random number generator. If you win, I will post it on my blog and contact you about what you want (size, color, etc).

Of course if you don't win, you can always visit my new shop - PolkaDots and Doodles. I just opened my shop doors (a virtual shop at Etsy). You can visit my shop here.

I have dreamed for quite a few years to open a children's boutique and now I'm on my way. I got a monogramming machine for my birthday (in May) and I have been figuring out how to use it. I'm finally at a point where I can create things for other people. Just about everything in our house has a monogram or a name on it. I'm going to specialize in childrens gift items and custom monogramming.

You know Christmas is coming SOON! I would love to help you check off a few items on your list...

Coming up...

My "blog birthday" is coming up on Friday and I want to celebrate!

I will be giving a fun little something away to one of the FEW readers that I have! I'm not going to tell you what it is, but it's fun! I have to take pictures tonight and then I will put the official giveaway post on here. Your comments on this post don't count. Although I would love to hear your excitement!

Stay tuned...I will post the giveaway tonight. I will pick a winner Saturday morning!

YAY!! I love surprises, don't you!?

3 years old

Today is a special day. Our first baby, Sugar, is 3 years old today!

Sam got her as a Christmas present for me when she was just about 6 weeks old. She was this little furball in her kennel under the tree. Those first few nights were so sad because she would whine all night long. She missed her mommy and brothers and sisters. I had to sleep with her to comfort her.

She grew up fast though! She's a big dog now! She definitely has been put on the back-burner now that Michael has entered our lives. We're sorry, Sugar! We still love you! We're thankful for your energy and your zest for life! Maybe we'll get you a big BONE today for your birthday!

This picture was just taken this morning after I asked her if she wanted a bone! I love when she tilts her head like that! Happy Birthday, Sugar Bear!

We are boat owners....

Funny story....

When Sam and I first got married, we were in college. When we first got a good sum of money, we bought a boat. We do not live ON a lake, but very near the lake. We thought we would take advantage of our natural resources. Now, we lived in the basement of his parents house...yet, we still bought a boat. It makes me laugh to look back at that time in our lives. We had some good times on that boat! We would go out on the lake every single day and stay out until the sun was all the way down.

Sad story....

That boat eventually died. I think it was from 1988, so it was bound to happen. That dead boat sat in the front yard of my in-laws house for about a year. Then, we moved that dead boat to the back yard of some friends of ours. We tried to sell it, but it was taking forever! Nobody wanted to buy a dead boat. However, it eventually happened! We sold that dead boat!

Happy Story....

Sam loves to wakeboard. He gets filled with joy from being on the water! Well, he gets his joy from the Lord first, but then it's from being on the water! After we sold our old boat, Sam was just waiting for a good deal to come along so we could get another one. His dream boat was a Moomba. They're made specifically for wakeboarding and water-skiing. These boats are a little pricey, so we were willing to settle for an older boat that's not as powerful. But one day, Sam's searching paid off! He found a Moomba for an unbelievable price! He drove all the way to Alabama to get it! He was in love.....

We received our boat a few weeks ago and Sam has already been on the lake about 15 times! He is seriously crazy! The lake water is NOT warm anymore, people! He's out there (sometimes in a wetsuit, but sometimes not) just having the time of his life!! Michael has even enjoyed some rides in the new boat (with a lifejacket and blanket...not in the water).

I'm looking forward to long, hot, summer days with our family and friends out in the boat. Our friends, the Thomes also got a pontoon boat recently. Now, we're trying to convince the Tolberts to join in on the fun! Summer is a long way away, but I'm ready already!

These amazing pictures were taken by our good friend, Jamey. Check out his site here.

Happy Halloween!!

We had such a fun Halloween this year! My dad had his 60th birthday party on Halloween night. We were able take Michael and his cousin Kennedy trick-or-treating around the neighborhood to a few houses. Kennedy was Tinkerbell and Michael was Peter Pan! It was Michael's first time trick-or-treating. He did great! He loved that people kept putting things in his bucket!

I always love an excuse to dress up in a costume! I was Tinkerbell (like Kennedy) and Sam was Shaun White (he's a snowboarder...you should Google him...his costume was awesome!)

It just so happened that G-Daddy dressed as a pirate.... it went along perfectly with our ensemble! He made a great Captain Hook! Happy Birthday, G-Daddy!

Michael and Kennedy discovered the candy basket for the trick-or-treaters. They thought they had struck gold! It was jack-pot!! They kept taking all the candy and putting it into their candy buckets!

Now the goal is for me to stay out of the candy this week...so far, not so good!

What does a cow say?

Michael's latest favorite activity is telling you what different animals say. It was hard to capture it on video, but here it is! You'll notice he gets distracted easily. We were using the webcam, so he was watching himself on the computer! Oh, the technology these kids will grow up with!

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Farm

On Wednesday, Michael and I took our annual trip to Burt's Pumpkin Farm with Grandma. My brother David and his daughter Kennedy joined us too.

Last year, Michael slept in his stroller just about the whole time. This year was so much fun with him! He was able to beat on the huge pumpkins, run up and down the aisles, and pick out one on his own!

We went on the hayride and got to see the pumpkin patch where the pumpkins are grown! We also got to see talking pumpkins! :)

Michael and I both picked out pumpkins to take home. This was Michael's choice...

This week's agenda:

-carve pumpkins

-roast pumpkin seeds

-make some pumpkin muffins

-enjoy our fall snacks!