sea, sand & salt

We had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend doing all of our favorite things and being with some of our most favorite people. Friday we had a nice dinner at the White Dog with my co-workers, good food, good convo and just a fun way to kick off the weekend. Saturday evening Robert suprised me with clams, I have been wanting them for sometime now so that was a great treat. Daddy joined us for dinner as Mama has been in the Bahama's this weekend. Today was so much fun, we went out on the boat with The Penick's and some others and all around it was just a grand day. Our beach girls were just precious, playing and splashing in the water. We ate, talked, ate some more, listened to music and on the way in both girls were snoozing comfortably on their mommy's shoulders.

As we were coming in and Abigail was sound asleep on my chest I marveled at the beauty this county has to offer. I couldn't help but think about the places I've lived which is the blue ridge mountain region and the capital of our state and just how much I love Mathews County. I've visited California twice, Paris, France, Cape Cod, MA, I've driven through every state south of VA to the everglades of Florida, Beaver Creek, CO but nothing compares to this place. I love the smell of the bay, the sweet sun on my skin and the familiarity of being on the water. Growing up my summer's were spent skiing, wake boarding and cruising and that is what I want for Abby. To grow up knowing the water and loving it as much as I do.

Happy Summer friends!

Sorry this post is late!! I'm having computer problems at home. Hope to be back soon. :)

A weekend away....

So we packed up the car and headed to Richmond last weekend with some great friends. We met Carol (Aunt KK) in Gloucester and Abigail spent the day with her and then spent the night at Mom & I.T.'s. We then headed to Richmond to shop, had a "lite" ; ) lunch, and shopped some more. We went to a store called Home Goods and I I had never been there before, LOVE IT!!! It's alot like T.J. Maxx & Marshall's but seemed more organized. We stayed at Rob's parents house and it was so nice of them to let us spend the weekend there. It was very homey, cozy and they had everything ready for us. There was a vase of pretty little flowers in our bedroom, lots of delicious snacks, and we even had a car pick us up and drive us to dinner. We ended our weekend with brunch at the Jefferson Hotel, simply gorgeous and delicious food. Happy 10 years Karen and Rob.

We had a wonderful visit with my dear friend Lindsay yesterday afternoon, it's always great to see her and catch up. I loved to hear Abigail call her "Linds"...so cute.

Today is what I am calling "re-group" day. I had an excellent work out this morning and worked over time to burn the 20,000 calories I took in this past weekend. Lots of laundry to catch up on, cleaning and grocery shopping before heading back to STATE FARM tomorrow!

Before departure

This was Abigail this morning before leaving, she was so excited to be going to Lynchburg to see Layla and I know she will just LOVE being with her Mimi, Mom & KK! I cannot wait to hear all about their trip.

We are having terrible storms tonight, I just went to look out the front door to see if there was hail and Clipper is laying in front of the storm door. I think the thundering and lightening scared him. It's time like this I want to let him in. Poor Clippy!!

Packing...

Abigail is going on a road trip tomorrow with mama, mom and KK. They are going to Lynchburg to watch Layla's violin concert. My heart is alittle heavy with the thoughts of her leaving for the day and night. As I was packing her bag earlier she was packing one of her own which she later told me was her bag for college. HMMM!! Don't even ask where that one came from.

Today is my brother Ron's birthday, happy 37th.

I have off tomorrow with much to do and then it's back to work on Thursday!! I'll leave you with a few pictures that I'm daydreaming of.

Simply breathtaking, a girl can dream right! ; )

Ofcourse this would have me in it with some sort of fruity drink w/ an umbrella and a good book!

Scarlet Begonia's

Abigail's playhouse (Grandaddy made her the flower box)

Begonia's

My Geranium's, love this hearty flower

Front porch

I love Begonia's, there is something beautiful about the wax leaves and the petite flower petals. Last year we planted quite a few around our sign and in our landscape and plan to do the same this year. I planted one today in my green little pot on the porch...so that evenings this summer I can sit with a good book or with my husband and enjoy this pretty little flower! (and a can of OFF and a citronella candle) :)

Abigail and I planted some Petunia's in her flower box on her play house before nap time today. She was such a great helper and was quite proud of her pretty flowers.

Yah for spring! Yah for summer!! Yah for tax returns!! ; ) It was good day!

I want to share a few things that happened today that I don't want to forget. Abigail got to feed the fish at Tatterson's, she didn't seem too thrilled, I was more excited than she was. We visited Daddy on the job alittle before lunch time, as always I was amazed at the porch they have added on to the Leigh's. It looks like it has been there all along. Perfection! Abigail was Dorothy and I was Auntie Em for a good portion of the day.

Abigail: Auntie Em

Me: Yes Dorothy

Abigail: Can we go to Busch Gardens?

Me: Yes Dorothy, I promise we will go soon.

Abigail: When Auntie Em

Me: In a couple of weeks.

Abigail: Ok, Auntie Em. Where's Uncle Henry? (aka daddy)

Me: He's at work...

The conversation did NOT end there but you get the picture. We obviously are very much into the Wizard of Oz these days. She loves it!! I'm pretty sure we'll have a Dorothy with a blue and white gingham dress and braided pigtails running around here this Halloween! :)

hello from my front yard....

For the first time since last summer I sat outside today during Abigail's nap and read (and talked on the phone to a few friends) ;) and it felt so good. It was such a gorgeous day, the sun was HOT but there was a breeze and it was all around perfect. Before doing that we had a super busy day. I had a killer workout at the Y, came and got ready for story time at the library in record time. Abigail had so much fun at story time, the preschool children were there and she knows some of the girls in the class. She even had a little boy come up to her while they were coloring their pigs and they just chatted away. As the preschoolers lined up to leave Abigail and I decided to head out ourselves. We walked out with them and as we passed the children lined up ready to walk back to school several were saying by to Abby. All we were heard as we were walking to the car was "bye Abigail, bye Abby, bye Abigirl (that was Autumn) :). Abigail simply turned around and waved and said Bye Everyone. We then went to Tatterson's and got some hanging baskets. We usually hang two baskets from the porch but we're going to add a hook and hang three this year, I can't wait for Robert to get the hook up so that I can hang all three. I think it's going to look so much better with two on the front and one on the side. I'll take a pic this weekend to see what you think!

Tonight we grilled out and Abigail's friend Lauren joined us for burgers. It was a fun day and this mama is ready to catch some zzz~

XOXO

zest

There have been moments in my life that I remember distinctly. Times where you feel so connected to something or someone, I love and treasure those moments with every ounce of my being. I've been taking a Zumba class for months now. I feel like I've got most of the moves to all of the songs. My goal for each class has been to continuously strengthen my moves and feel more confident in my dancing. Tonight was one of those nights where everyone seemed so in sync with each other and I felt so connected to this group of women, and I rocked every move I made.... ; )

Mudder's Day!

Abigail with straight hair, Ms. Linda straightened her hair last week when we were there getting haircuts. I think it makes her look older, I like her curls! :)

The three of us!

Daddy, Abigail & Mama

Abigail helping Mama open her Kindle that daddy gave her for Mother's Day!

Carol, Abigail and I.T. (Abigail's great aunt and great-grandfather)

Mom & Abigail (Abigail's great-grandmother, my mother's mother)

I have had an amazing Mother's Day weekend! I feel so blessed that God has entrusted me with Abigail's life and how I was chosen to be her mother is beyond me. She is such an amazing little girl and I am filled to the tip top with love for her. She is my heart and soul.

Yesterday we went to my parent's to celebrate Mother's day with them and some of our family. As always mama cooked a delicious meal and it was just fun being with everyone. Mama also made me one of my very favorite cakes, Italian creme, it is just pure sweetness. I have the most amazing mother in the world, I feel incredibly lucky to have such a loving and supportive mom. I pray that I can be half the mother to Abigail as my mom has ALWAYS been to me.

This morning I woke up to a certain little someone handing me a bouquet of flowers and a very handsome man standing over me with an outstanding breakfast he had cooked. We went to church and then to the Seabreeze for lunch. Mama and I went to the movies this evening to see Soul Surfer, oh my goodness, it was such a great movie. I definitely recommend it, a MUST see.

I would say it was a perfect day!! Happy Mother's Day to all of you amazing mommy's out there.

Home Alone!!

Abigail and I are home alone this week since Robert is taking a class at the Norfolk Navy base for work and staying with Aunt Kathy & Uncle Bill. He's been having a ball, eating high on the hog (shrimp den ben last night and curry chicken tonight) and delicious desserts. Last night they had vanilla ice cream with oreo's and whipped cream and tonight strawberry shortcake with fresh strawberry's Aunt Kathy picked today. I'm thinking I need to up the ante a bit!! :) After work this evening I picked Abigail up from Di's and we met Mimi & Popz for pizza at Chef Todd's. Then we came home and made sundae's with our new Playdoh sundae maker before taking baths and reading books. Fun times! We miss you daddy!! XOXO

Team Superman Tucker!

Saturday morning Robert, Abigail and I left the county at 6:15 to head to Richmond to participate in the 6th annual ASK 5K run/walk. It was a gorgeous day, beautiful blue skies and the air was filled with love all in memory of Tucker Armstrong. I don't know exactly how many teams there were but no matter where you were at Short Pump Town Center all you saw was a sea of red shirts. There is no question of how many lives Tucker touched during his 3 short years on this earth. Team Superman Tucker raised over $20,000 for ASK and being the winnng team a plaque will be hung at MCV's clinic with Tucker's name on it. Us Ramsey's could not have been more proud to be standing next to the Armstrong's.