How Could I Forget?

Oops, almost forgot about Addie's doctor's visit this last week. Here she is, waiting to be poked and prodded:
Here she is, after aforementioned poking and prodding:

I have to say I am very thankful for our pediatrician and those who work in her office. We really like everyone and feel very well taken care of when we are there. Addie had four shots that day and did very well. Our long and lean girl is 26 inches long (97%) and 14.6 pounds. She is a little grasshopper!

Last week we also spent a day out with the girls, having lunch and "shopping" around downtown Panama City with our friends Lee Ann and Ivory. Seems we tuckered the girls out, as this was the scene when we got back to Wewa:

Two sweet, sweaty little heads, snoozing away. It was a good day.

Later that week Sabian, Addie, and I also hit the road and drove to Ft. Walton Beach to pick up the church bus, which had been repaired and needed to make it back to Wewa. Along the way we stopped in Destin and Addie rode for the first time sans car seat in her stroller:

Big girl! It is small moments like these that make me proud and sad at the same time. If I get sad about THIS, what is it going to be like when she goes out on her first date? Goes to college? Goes to kindergarten? Stays with a sitter? Geez.

Critters and Catching Up

This picture was taken a couple of weeks ago the night we dressed Addie up like a cow for free food (see earlier post) but it is too cute not to post. Chillin' at Target with her new book.

It has been busy days around the Chaney household and it looks like the next couple of weeks will continue to be so. In the meantime, we are meeting new critters at our house.

I suppose this lizard is taking the place of Roxy, the dog I used to write about (MUCH earlier posts) who is now who knows where. While the lizard(s) are not able to bring us useful items such as sprinklers and gun cases, it is kind of fun to see them lurking around the porch.

Guess that's about it for now.

Today I'm thankful for my helpful husband and my sweet Addie.

Just me, a tree, and a baby

Addie and I took a road trip this week and took along Sabian's Bonsai tree. The things we do; I mean, who takes a tree on a trip with them?! Really, it boiled down to us (even me!) not wanting it to be "misplaced" while sitting out on the front porch while we were gone or risking dehydration. Bonsai trees are not cheap! It did strike me, on the way out of town, that it was a little funny to be traveling with a tree.

While Sabian was at youth camp this week Addie and I hit the road and drove four hours to Opelika, AL to spend a couple of days with my Aunt Shell. Oh-puh-lie-ka is in the same area as Auburn, AL and very close to Auburn University. We enjoyed a very relaxing, laid back time with Aunt Shell and her dog Prince. We ran some errands, had lunch with her Sunday School class (at a place that serves 14 kinds of chicken salad!), and did a lot of catching up. It was also the first time Aunt Shell and Addie met, and they enjoyed one another very much. Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures while I was there, but we plan on going back sooner rather than later so we'll snap some then. It was great to get out of town and to spend time with family (Aunt Shell is my mom's oldest sister), but I do believe my little Addie was totally tuckered out. She slept the entire way home (I shaved off about 30 minutes from our trip) and is snug as bug as I type this.

My mom is originally from Mobile, AL so we have been traveling to and throughout the south for as long as I can remember. It seems when you hit a certain point in a trip in and around the south, you find your way off a major highway and inevitably winding your way through small towns on two lane roads that prompt one to wonder why anyone would live in such a small place while spurring anxious feelings of where you might get gas when there's no station or sign of one for miles. Some of these places are even smaller than Wewa! One thing is for sure, though - there is at least one church no matter how tiny the town.

Some of these towns seem like just spots on the map, while others exude a sense of charm and preserved old fashioned-ness. Driving through Eufala (You-fall-ah), AL there is a stretch of beautiful tree-lined streets flanked by amazing old, Southern homes that have been restored or are in the process of restoration. On the other end of the spectrum, along the way I also spotted a billboard advertising a BBQ restaurant claiming they have "the best butts in AL", a hair salon called the Snip-n-Barn, and a Subway advertising a live concert.

Oh, and I did take one picture while I was gone. This is how I got gas on the way to my aunt's:

I had no choice but to get gas at this station, as my gas light was on, I had no idea when I would see another station, and I still had close to an hour to drive, or so I thought. It wasn't that long, but coupled with a baby who was beginning to show the signs of coming apart at the seams, I need to stop, get gas, and get to my destination.

With all of that said, the Opelika/Auburn area is very nice and not "small town" at all, as you might have guessed with being a university area. We really did enjoy our time with Aunt Shell and hope to get back there soon with my mom instead of the tree!

I am thankful for my aunt - she always takes great care of us while we are there and she sent us home with a cooler full of food, including a homemade chocolate pie!

Now, we are ready for Sabian to get back from camp.

If it looks like a cow & acts like a cow...

A...then it must be Addie! Friday was Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-Fil-A so we decided to show our appreciation and we created the cutest cow of the day. Addie was a good sport as we dressed her up and took her to Chick-Fil-A to show her off. Thanks to her we scored some free food (and a free cow!) and the adoration of the employees on duty. It was humorous walking in there and seeing the people, adults included, adorned with cow gear.

It was fun! I highly recommend participation in this yearly event.



I am thankful for stand alone Chick-Fil-A restaurants. The only one I knew of at home was in the mall, so it is great to have them here (albeit 30 minutes away!) outside of the mall.

Don't Forget - Keep Clicking!

Remember this beauty? I'm still trying to win one! The deadline is this Wednesday, July 15. I'm not sure if it matters how many times you click, but let's say it doesn't. Visit the Madsen site via the banner on the right hand side of my blog and help me win one of these awesome bikes. Remember, if I win, you get a ride!

Thanks for clicking!

Rainy Sunset

Last night we had plans to go out for dinner (our meal deserves a separate post...intrigued?!) and to run a couple of errands. Before eating and shopping we decided to take the long way to Panama City and we stopped by the beach for sunset. It really was a beautiful time to be there. It was just sprinkling when we got there and must have been raining harder earlier in the day, so it was cool and the sand had that cool to the touch, fun texture it gets when it has just rained.

Lucky for us it stopped sprinkling before we got out of the car and it was not windy at all when we got near the water. We snapped a few neat photos before heading out to do our errands.







Yesterday I was thankful for the clouds - fun to look at and a reminder of God's awesome creation.

Guilty Pleasure

I can't be sure when Wipeout first hit the air, but when I initially saw the previews for it I thought, "Oh brother, how ridiculous. Who wants to watch that?"

I sheepishly raise my hand and say, " I watch that." Yes, I am now not only a viewer, but a Tivo-er, a promoter, and a wanna be Wipeout-er. We even hold on to the episodes in the event we have kids from church over and we all have a few laughs together.

I was searching online trying to uncover the secrets to applying for the show when I realized that a friend of mine and fellow blogger (thanks Jamie!) is a fellow fan. When I told her of my wish, she graciously sent me the casting information, which I was so excited to receive. A simple email is all they require as your "audition" so for the last week I've been composing, in my head, my irresistible message, the one that is sure to propel me into the world of Wipeout. I'd play up the first time mom of a 4 month old/youth pastor's wife/living in a small town called Wewahitchka angle. How could that combination NOT guarantee me a shot against the Sucker Punch, the Sweeper and, of course, the Big Balls? $50,000, here I come.


Oh, but wait. Yes, here comes the fine print, the catch, the caveat. As I got started today and reread the casting information, it seems you must be a California resident. Seriously? Please. These producers just don't understand that they are missing out on untapped talent located across the country and, more specifically, in Wewa.

I'm going to campaign that they open up the show to residents of other states. Sure, I realize they don't want to pay for transportation for contestants who don't live in California but quite frankly, I'm pretty sure they can afford it. But, I've decided if I can't be a contestant, I'll settle for Jill Wagner's job. What better job is there to stand by and provide commentary for people falling? This alludes to another one of my televised guilty pleasures, but I'll save that, if I ever admit it, for another time.

Today I'm thankful for the lighthearted laughter silly things like this show can bring us. It is funny how it can bring a group of people together. Whether our youth group likes it or is simply indulging us, it still calls for a good time.

Happy Independence Day!

Holidays once seemed sweeter when I was in school or working and had a long weekend or break to look forward to. They haven't lost their importance, but they tend to creep up on me now that I'm staying home and not in a position where I am longing for those days off. I do appreciate when Sabian gets free days, but for me I just remember the anticipation of those days after slaving away, trudging through tests and papers at school, or wrapping up final projects before the holidays at work. I wouldn't trade what I am doing now and I count it a blessing to be able to stay home with Addie, but these days I find myself looking at the calendar more often to remind myself what day it is!

July 4th has come and gone, and we had the fun opportunity to hang out with our friends Greg and Libby and some of Libby's family. They treated us to a shrimp boil at Libby's sister's house in Marianna, which is about an hour from Wewa. We met a few new people and we ate and ate and ate. At first when Libby invited us she asked, almost apologetically, if we were okay with not having the usual 4th of July fare such as hamburgers and hotdogs. I assured her it was fine. It was even more fine when we arrived at her sister's house and saw not only huge shrimp, but crab legs as well. I can't tell you how excited I was when I realized that they were adding crab to the mix. I wish I'd taken a "before" picture of the literal mountain of food that was set before us. Shrimp, crab, sausage, corn on the cob, and potatoes were piled on top of one another in the middle of the table and we dove in.

This photo represents only a fraction of what we ate, and is only part of what was left over. Our generous hosts gave us bags of left overs to bring home with us, much to my joy!

Addie spent some of her time that day poolside.

We were unable to actually swim after taking so much time to chat inside and Addie took a great nap while we were there. By the time we would have made it in the pool, it was time for us to head back to Wewa to meet up with some of the kids to watch fireworks.

Given that clapping in church prompts Addie to widen her eyes as large as saucers and squirm a bit, we were unsure about how she would react to the much louder fireworks. Intially, she had the same reaction - big eyes, kicking legs - but after the first couple of BOOMS, she really watched what was going on. If I can figure out how to post the video, I will. By the time we got home our girl was too tired to stay up for the sparklers we bought her, so we'll save those for another day. I'll speak for her and say she had a good first Independence Day.

Side note: in the days since we saw the fireworks I've been conducting a series of hearing tests on Addie, just to make sure she can still hear us. And yes, sometimes I still sneak into her bedroom to make sure she is still breathing - sue me.

On the 4th and today I am thankful for our friends Greg and Libby. They have embraced us as part of their own family and we enjoy the times we have with them.

Speaking of Greg and Libby, we hung out with them after church Sunday night. They are in the midst of building a new house and are inching closer and closer to completion. We were honored to be their first dinner guests, dining in their yet-to-be-finished home. Addie relaxed in Greg's camping hammock for a bit while we ate:

Ahh, the life of an almost four month old!

I Want One of These....Really, Really Want One...

This is a Madsen Cycle. It is actually the kg271/bucket model in light blue. You can carry anything you want in the bucket, even kiddos. I can see myself pedaling around Wewa in one. Better yet, I could ride around the beach. I could ride on up to the IGA and pick up last minute groceries, using no gas, saving the air in Wewa, and doing my legs some good. I could ride on down to RD's and pick up dinner, again saving gas while simultaneously feeling the humidity making my hair grow.

Just envision how cute Addie would look (when she's able to hold her head up properly, of course) in the back, hanging out as we pedal around town.

You get the picture, now help me win one. Just click on the banner in the right hand column of my blog. Sending traffic to their site will give me the chance to win one on July 15. If I win one, I promise to give you a ride. Tell all your friends and have them stop by, read a post or two, and click on the banner. I will be forever grateful.

Today I am thankful for rain. I enjoyed the cloudy day, making the house feel a little cozy today as I went on about my domestic duties.

Don't forget - CLICK THE BANNER!

Great-ton

While I never really thought I would live in Florida, since it was where we vacationed most of the time, there are some advantages to living down here, particularly in this area. One of these is that I'm guaranteed to see friends and family throughout the year. Wewa may not be their destination of choice (unless they are specifically coming to see us) but somewhere around us they are sure to find a patch of beach to call home for a few days.

My sister and her family spent a week in Grayton, a small, laid back beach community just over an hour from us. It is a neat place to stay and one of the few places I have seen where, with the right permit, you're able to drive on the beach. At one time it may have even been considered a "hippie" community. Either way, you'll find great places to eat and the white sands and blue green waters for which the area is known. If you do ever end up visiting, make sure you stop by The Red Bar on Friday or Saturday night for the best crab cakes you'll ever eat. Okay, commercial is over.

Addie and I spent a couple of days with the family - she really loves being around her cousins. It was a little hot to spend too much time on the beach - although for the short time we were out there one day Addie slept most of the time - but we had a really good time with them.




I am thankful for the time Addie and I had to spend with Les, Dan, and all the kids. It was good to see some of the SoWal group, too!