Memorial Day weekend

It had been h-o-t HOT this weekend.
But yesterday was probably one of the top Memorial Days ever.
We were without my boat friend's boat all weekend, so my expectations weren't too high for this "unofficial kickoff of summer."
 But it was so great. We went to Midnight Hole. Ever heard of it?

Well basically, you go on a nice little mile and a half hike then reach this. You climb up on those huge rocks and jump off into the freezing water. It was SO fun. I wish I had taken pictures. Who am I?! A slacker I guess. But really, it was great.
Since we were with boys of course we had to go exploring and climb further up the river. And of course there has to be the token girl to faceplant on some rocks. So glad I could fill that role for everyone. You're welcome friends. That's why you bring me along. But you know what? It's not really summer if I don't have swollen, bruised, and bloodied knees. I'm just doing whatever it takes to welcome in the summer!

We also had a Memorial Day miracle and got to sit on the patio at Dead End for dinner. Yum. It was the perfect end to the day.

I can't wait to go again. 

Learn to enjoy every minute of your life.

Yesterday's purchase...

I made the best purchase I have ever made in my 21 years of life (or at least the past week) yesterday.

And if you have even kinda been around me within the past 24 hours you already know what it is, if not,

insert drum roll here...

I got some roller blades!!!!!!

 Oh yes! Why walk when you can roll?! And now, I can roll baybay.

And you know what maybe the best part is? They were only FOUR DOLLHAIRS at Goodwill. Gosh, gotta love that place. 

 

So, I'm ready to hit the wide open road, blaze some trials, do some shredding.

If you have anything with wheels- a long board, a bike, a skateboarders, some of your own roller blades and/or skates, basically anything but a car ('cause that just wouldn't be fair), strap on your helmet, knee, elbow, and wrist pads- you know I'll need 'em all- and come join us!

Fist pumps for being on wheels and having a Greenway in the backyard. Hollaaaa!

Just another summertime adventure

Question: What's the best way to get soaked and cold and scraped and bruised and muddy and filthy and have the absolute best time of your life?! 
Answer: Spelunking!

 

I would usually say "caving", but "spelunking" just sounds so much more hardcore. And clearly, that's what we are.  

Who doesn't love climbing down rocks, swimming through dark water, belly crawling through tight spaces, and slipping down a straight mud slide?

My friends learned quickly not to let me hold the expensive any flashlight as I fell and dropped the same one underwater... twice. But it kept working! That's what I call resilient!

Good gosh, I just love summer.

Also, pray for all my dear friends who are on their way with their high school friends to Frontier Ranch right now. They are going to have the best week of their lives!

Happy freakin' weekend! 

(I'm actually quite impressed with myself that I know what day of the week it is)

And the winner is...

... Scotty McCreery!
Most of y'all probably don't even know what I'm talking about.
American Idol- to fill you in.
Yes, I still watch it.
Yes, if I miss it, I'll catch up on TiVo. 
Yes, more than just the "bad rounds" where all you do is laugh at people.
Yes, I like love it.

And my for the first time ever (since Carrie Underwood) my fav won! Wahoo Scottie!

(Thanks Google image)

I feel like I know him. Really. He loves Jesus. And gave Him credit. He's so humble and sweet and thoughtful and calm. I'm hoping he'll fall in love forever with the runner-up named Lauren Alaina, ya know, since he's way too young for me. But they are both precious.
And incredibly talented. He sounds kinda like Josh Turner. His voice is real deep. And country.
Sorry JB, he's my new 17 year old crush. (I hope that's okay to admit on the blog...)

What I'm loving right now...

...in this exact moment, I'm loving:

... wearing blue nail polish. I figure a year from now when I'm in the big girl world, I won't be able to paint my finger nails colors like this. So I'm livin' it up while I can.
... this big huge red umbrella I am sitting under on our backporch. Can I please spend every day of the summer under this thing?
... coffee. Mmmm...
... today. The past two hours have been full of really sweet time, and it's just getting started.
... hair in a messy bun. It's going to be one of those days.
... the smell of the fresh cut grass from the neighb's. Yum.
... my Moleskine journal. Love everything about it.
... Radical. Almost.finished.
... the Bachelorette starting. And when I say "loving it", I really mean loving to hate it. But can't stop.
... not really having a plan for the day. I just wanna sit on the porch and drink coffee and talk.

I'm loving this Tuesday. Hope today is just so great Bloggies!

Weekend Update

After my weekend hiatus I am back! Goodness, this weekend seems like it's been a month long. So full. But so good and fun.
And if you are reading this, I guess you didn't get raptured. Me neither. So since we are all still here, I'll continue my humble little blog...

Friday:
My all-star sister starred in a play. I'm sure she'll win an Oscar for that performance. Gotta love fifth grade plays. Enthralling. But really, if you want to have your self-esteem built up, go to a fifth grade class at A.L. Lotts, I don't remember the last time I've been told, "You're so pretty" so many times in such a short span of time.
Then the champions had their end of year party. After legit creating a pizza sauna in my car with 12 Little Caesars pizzas, I got to hang out with these champs.

Unfortunately this is the biggest "group picture" we got. I guess that's what you get for letting the kids take over the camera.

...because why wouldn't you look at the person next to you instead of smiling at the camera?!

  I'm going to miss these kids so much. Now that my mom is leaving inner-city elementary I don't know what I'm going to do. I really want to find a new way to stay involved in the lives of kids like this. I know there's Big Brother Big Sisters and Boys and Girls Club and many others, I'm just not sure which ones would be the best for me. Any suggestions??

I finally learned how to Fishtail. Who knew it was so easy?!

After party time, I got to spend some good time on the lake. The water was wayyyy to cold for me to even think about getting in. But it was still so nice to ride on the boat. After having classy dinner at Dead End (here's my plug for Dead End- if you haven't been, go. Now. Absolutely delicious. Really. Love) in our bathing suits, we had one of those nights where you just laugh and giggle and talk and love life with best friends.

Saturday:
We had our first shower for miss bride to be. Brunch was tasty. I would eat it every single day if I could. Mark my words. It was just so fun to get to celebrate her. Less than a month until my sweet friends are married! Unbelievable.
We headed back to the lake after the shower. (Catching a theme in my life?) I love summer.

Then we went to another one of my favorite summer things, the drive-in. The South at our best right there. I love the drive-in. I'll go back next weekend too. I still kept my record going for never having made it through the second movie. I fell asleep on the gravel this time. That was a mistake. I have bruises.
Sunday:
Church and friends and a new umbrella and birthdays. We enjoyed our back porch with good friends. That is probably my favorite part of our house. Please come sit with us on our back porch anytime. This is officially and open invite to all my readers :)

And it was this girl's birthday! ------------------------>
What a cutie!
This is what she really looks like.
And I love her. My sweet roommate Sarah Hope. We got to celebrate her last night. And it was so fun! She got a new bike that she oh so thoughtfully parked in the middle of the hallway so we can all look at it everyday. But really, I love living with you Soap. And celebrating your birthday was so fun. I'm thankful for good friends an reasons to hang out and laugh. Love you Soap, happy birthday!


Such a fun weekend. Now happy Monday, Bloggies! I hope this week is just as good for all of you as this weekend was for me.
I'm so thankful we are so blessed.

Thursday

It's getting warmer!! Today we laid out*, got sonic drinks and $1 ice cream cones, wore shorts and t-shirts, and drove with the windows down and sunroof open-  
tis the season!

The Red Saile house is going through major changes. Little miss bride to be is gone and rooms are being traded like crazy.
The lesson of the day:

Make sure the shades of green paint are the same when attempting to cover up holes in the walls...

(Get ready real world, we are going to be a part of you in ONE year. Oh dear that is terrifying for you and me both.)

Some other highlights of this summer day were:

attempting (and semi-succeeding) to learn how to do this,

My hair looks pretty much exactly like this (NOT)

crying silently over this,

                http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Oprahs-Top-20-Moments/12

               Memorable guests on Oprah today. My oh my, bring on the Kleenex!

adding this to the "to do" list,

Can you say de-to the-licious?!

and looking forward to this,

C'mon upper 80s!

Mmmm, sweet summa time!

*so it was cloudy and chilly, that's okay! We were still in our bathing suits by the pool.