Summertime

I feel like summertime is such an active time that I find it hard to sit down and write a post. We have a nice thunderstorm rolling in right now so I decided to update on what has been going on with us.

Mitch has been working long days (not paid... did I mention that is part of his externship!? But the experience is well worth it) and Scarlett and I have been enjoying many things including (but not limited too!) the sunshine, great outdoors and my sweet Mama.

Yesterday Mitch was off work before working 3, 13 hour days in a row. So, here are some pictures from our day...

We went to this really fun, new park called The Park Lands as suggested by my dear friend Annie. It was great because they have a toddler playground that has padded, level ground.

Here is our little ham!

She is a little thinker, even when it is play time.

And here is our little resident dutch girl... Hallo!!!!

Aren't these little red clogs darling? They were a gift to my sister, Ryan, from my mom's parents (Naenae and Pawpaw) when they went to the Netherlands when she was a little girl.

From a daddy's girl on behalf of another

Scarlett and I would like to wish Mitch a very Happy 2nd Father's Day! Mitch you are an amazing father and you know you have a little Daddy's girl already.

Here are Mitch and Scarlett before we headed to church this morning

(Scarlett was feeling a little sleepy)

Mitch got his braces off! yeah!

This video is just a small glimpse into one of the many sweet moments in our house. Scarlett gets a kick out of her daddy and the feeling is mutual!

Mitch, you are leaving a precious legacy in Scarlett and will do the same with our other children (Lord willing!). May you know how loved you are today and always.

I cannot write this post without thinking about my very special daddy. Frankly, I think he is the living end. Daddy, I love you so much.

Nothing better than an afternoon nap with Peepaw.

A family day and the unexpected.

We have made our "summer move" and Mitch started his externship on Tuesday. He feels good about it thus far which I am thankful for. Before we started getting into a routine and before Mitch starts working long days back-to-back we wanted to have a little "summer kick off" with just our little family of 3. So, we took Scarlett to the zoo for the 1st time! She loved it. Mitch and I were both so surprised at how interested she was in the animals and how much she noticed. And Mitch and I had a ball, well that is until a little something unexpected happened...but more on that later.

We got up early and headed to a great breakfast spot.... breakfast is totally Mitch's favorite meal. Here are my 2 cuties getting ready to load up in the car...

We enjoyed a delicious and large breakfast. I think Mitch's comment in reference to the spot we ate at was something like, "now, they can sling some hash!" (I think he picked that line up from his Uncle Keith!) Scarlett was settled in the back with her full tummy. The sun was shining but it was a much milder day than what we have been experiencing.

It was about a 25 minute ride to the zoo... we looked back and...

Little missy had dozed off. Nothing like a warm car and a full belly.

We got there just minutes after the zoo opened and it was already packed. I guess 80 degree weather brings everybody out! Here we are... Scarlett's first experience at the ZOO!!!!

The foliage was so pretty!! Do you spy my sweet little passenger?

Here is our first new friend... a tortoise!

Here is probably my personal favorite. The orangutans. This guy was Mr. Personality. Right up against the glass, making eye contact. He was just hammin' it up!

I seriously felt like Scarlett and the orangutan had a "moment" together. Mitch denies it, but I thought that Mr. Personality took quite a liking to her.

Then there was this guy we could NOT stop laughing at... just sitting in a bucket. Hilarious.

Daddy and his girl.

The fruit bats were very lively. I have to be honest, some of these creatures kind of made my skin crawl but they are all so amazing....

Penguins!!!!! They were getting breakfast so they were WILD!

The crocodiles... yikes.

Okay, Mitch wanted to show Scarlett this gigantic snake (I think it was a boa constrictor of some sort). So I documented it with a photo. My sweet little 'flower' beside this nasty snake.

I thought this was so beautiful and I could not see his/her "snakey" face so I took a picture.

And this one is for you, AUNT KT!!!! Sorry! I coud not resist. Just keep scrolling!!!!!!!!! :)

The African bullfrog.

Scarlett was very infatuated with this big ole' guy.

The very classy pink flamingos.

And our little pink lady was OFF!!!!
Grizzly bear.
I think his big paw is so neat in this picture.
The elephants... and this is where our family day took a little unexpected twist as I mentioned earlier...
Ok, so we had eaten a big breakfast, it was pretty sunny and was getting very warm to say the least. The zoo is very hilly and we had walked a lot already. Well, I told Mitch I was not feeling good so he suggested I sit down on a bench for just a bit while they saw a few things. It was the weirdest thing, it was like something came over me so fast -- I was SO nauseous. And NO, I am not pregnant :) Well, I sat and just fanned myself for a few minutes and then Mitch and Scar came back. At that point I was still denying the inevitable. I told Mitch I wanted to try to make it to the car. (ha!!!) We took about 20 steps and then it came... I ran over to the huge hydrangea bushes beside the elephant exhibit, grabbed onto a little tree and hurled my guts up for about 30 seconds. Oh my. Mitch was so sweet to tell me that he and Scarlett walked a little ways away as to not draw attention because people were looking. Apparently I was gagging pretty loud. Goodness. He said one woman stopped with her kids in the stoller and just watched for a little while. That was sweet she was concerned. I finished vomitting and he came over and brought me our water bottle and some wipes. I had that feeling of wishing I could brush my teeth but that was obviously not an option. I instantly felt better so we went on to see the Giraffes, Rhinos and ride the carousel. Ha! Just a little unexpected and very yucky intermission in our day.

Mitch chose the white horse for Scarlett and she was a little unsure at first but loved it when Carousel started and she went up and down.

All in all it was a lovely day together. Mitch suggested that I entitle this post The Louisville Spew. ha! It was certainly an unforgettable 1st trip!

Lately and our summer plans...

I have been meaning to get around to this post but there have been a couple things that come ahead of blogging lately. Namely, Scarlett has been sick. She ran a temp of 103 through the weekend and has just started feeling better today. Bless her little heart. She has been miserable. It was just a virus that had to run its course. I am so thankful that she is better, I know there are a lot of parents who wonder if there children will ever get better from sickness or know that they definitely won't (at least not this side of heaven!). So, this is what has been going on here on the Owen Range lately....

Lots of jammy time.

Just hanging loose.... lovin' on our SingAMaJig.

Scarlett's new favorite thing is to carry around several toys in a little basket. I promise she does not sit down all day! She just walks around and picks up different toys, follows me, looks out the front door, etc. She is exhausted every night!

Not that I would ever wish for Scarlett to not feel well, but if it were going to fall any certain week this one worked out best. I have been packing and packing because we have different plans than usual this summer. We are being sort of uprooted because Mitch has to do an externship between his 3rd and 4th year. So, the dental school has specific assignments available and then you are part of a lottery to see which spot you get. Luckily he got a spot in our hometown a little over an hour away so we are homeword bound! It works out great because he won't be away from Scarlett and I and we are able to live with my parents during his 5 week assignment. Plus, one of my cousins needed a place to stay for the summer while she is working a Christian camp near our house so she is holding down the fort at our place while we are gone. It seems like it is all going to work out well and we are looking forward to a fun summer! Mitch will work 3 days a week but they are 13 hour days so that will be interesting. So, like I said, I have been packing like a maniac! I have realized a couple things... 1) we need a bigger car, 2) I need to learn how to pack lighter and 3) I forget what I am doing all the time while I am running around all day searching for things or zipping up bags so of course I have now forgotten my 3rd point. ha! I tell people all the time I thin that I birthed my brain on April 6, 2010 along with Scarlett (yuck, that is kind of nasty to think about... don't think about it, just laugh! that is, if you have made it this far in my rambling!!!)

Mitch has been trying to take care of projects around the house as his work load has slimmed down a little for the summer. He has been finishing painting the shed.... with his sidekick, Callie.

Along with our little summer migration, we have several fun plans on the docket so I am excited to get started!

Happy Anniversary!!!!

Today Mitch and I celebrate 6 years of marriage. Words cannot describe what a gift these years have been to me. Mitch is an incredible man. Not perfect, but amazing. He is selfless, compassionate, caring and works very hard at whatever he puts his mind to. He is such a sweet father to Scarlett. I know she feels so loved by him, just as I do. It is so fun to remember what a special day June 11, 2005 was! Mitch, here is to 70+ more years together (Lord willing!)!!! I hope you know I love you so!!

I thought I would share this lovely montage of our day with you. We LOVED our photographer and would recommend him to any couple looking for someone fantastic to capture their special day: Eric Graf Photography

(I am having trouble uploading the full version so this is just the intro for now...)

And in other news... MITCH IS A 4th YEAR!!!!! WOOHOOOOO!!!!!! It has been a long time coming but only 1 more year!!!!!! Way to go Mitch!!!! Anybody looking for a very sweet and awesome dentist?

Lovin' my girls' haira!

Both of my girls had some new things going on with their hair today...

Scarlett woke up with some very fabulous, very voluminous hair so we put a few of mommy's accessories in when she woke up and rocked them during breakfast...

Hello blue eyes!

Here is Scarlett enjoying one of her new favorite tasks... carrying her dirty diaper to the trash can. She ALWAYS wants to carry it... my little helper! I guess this is a step toward potty training?!?

Apparently you can enjoy your waffles and fruit more when you have "worked" for them...

And then there is my other girl... my Callie girl. She has practically been wearing a fur coat out in the heat all day. She was overdue for her "summer cut." Bless her little heart she would just lay on the tile and pant forever when she came in at night.

But the curly ears and feathering had to go!!!

Here is our summer ready Callie...

I know it is not a traditional Springer cut, but it is so much more functional. She just loves to run outside all day and that means she needs to be as slick as a little otter... and believe me she is. Her ears are like velvet, so sweet.

On another note, I love to share when I have found something that works well... we have been using a ton of SPF lately. I feel like I am a sunscreen connoisseur. Seriously, one look at our family and you know why! But anyway, I really like the brand Ocean Potion (Mitch and I used it when we were on our honeymoon, which will be 6 years ago this weekend!, so the smell is sentimental to me!) and they have a great kids spray-on that dries instantly. I think I got ours at Target. I read the back and it said you can use it on children over 6 months so I use it on Scarlett too. I still use the baby lotion for her face though. Just thought I would share!