Cookies, Sewing, Taylor and Forts

Amy didn't want to help me make Monster cookies, so Will helped instead.

 I think he liked helping... or maybe it was the free reign of the dough?? 

He also liked sticking his hand in the peanut butter jar (it was empty). 

He couldn't figure out how to get more out of it. 

The bunting I made for Amy's room. 

I took this in broad daylight, so the picture is a little bright. 

I also made Amy a covered corkboard for her room. 

Something to keep her from taping/pinning things to the walls. 

And thanks to Uncle Steve for the big bag of buttons from Una. 

Am I the luckiest girl or what??!!??!!!

I took some and made them into thumb tacks for the corkboard. 

The other day Amy and Will were playing in the hall shower (its just a shower, no tub).
They managed to turn on the water and were quite surprised with themselves!
Amy ran out, but Will stood in shock. 

I showed Amy an amazing thing- Taylor Swift music videos.
Ahhh.... it's nice having a daughter

She asked how to spell "Taylor" and then wrote it in Lego's.

Daddy built a fort and we all had fun playing in it!

this would be when Will crawled over my head, just as a photo was being snapped.
There's nothing like documenting this! haha

Will's favorite thing to do is sit or stand in this chair.

The rest of our week has been pretty normal. I had some new friends over on Thursday morning for a playgroup. I immediately loved them and had the greatest time! They happened to mention a book club that was going on that night, and I went to that as well. I had a BLAST there. I didn't even feel "new," it was great! Apparently they do a lot of girls nights out here- something I also love! I already prepped Lee for my late nights and he was just glad that I've made some good friends.

Yes, we are still loving Murfreesboro!

To Clarify

To everyone since you are asking..... Will has not seen Stevie Wonder. He started swinging his head back and forth like that while dancing at Anna/Stratton's and I think it was Stratton who said he looked like Stevie Wonder. The other day he started doing it again (the head thing) and we just started calling it that.

You know when your kids are learning to talk and you have them do crazy things.... "What does a dog say?" "What does a cat say?" And mom's favorite- "What does a French Lady say?" (answer ooohh lalala) This is just the crazy one we started with Will. :) 

My Goal this Week

Sometimes I'm not very good at it.
I saw this quote and loved it..... 

Oh how quickly we can forget...!

I told you I get depressed in July, it's true. 

So finding the Joy is my motto this week. What's yours?

Amy's Room Projects

First up on the 'house decor' list is Amy's room. I'm still in the process of making her new bedspread, so I don't have that to show off yet. But little by little I'm getting projects done.

This weekend I did two-
1) I hung her curtain, draped some fabric bunting I made a few weeks ago and made a cute curtain tie back.

2) I made a ribbon chandelier to cover her ugly light. If this were our house, I'd hang a regular (small) chandelier. I think they look so great in bedrooms! But for now this ribbon one will have to do.

There are still several things to complete, but so far, this is a start!

Will found his little girlfriend at church. This is the third week that he's spotted her from across the room and immediately tries to get to her. It's actually really funny. Her name is Cora. Lee manged to get a picture when they were in the hall playing with one another.

On another happy note- I'm starting to make some friends at church. I even decided to invite some ladies over for a playgroup later this week. They seemed excited. There are a LOT of little kids in this ward, which is so great, as there weren't very many in Petal. It seems that once people learn we are here to stay, they get a little more invested- which I understand. Everyone seems really nice too, so in some time, I'm sure I'll feel really comfortable here.

Fun In Music City

Aunt Lynn and her friend Ann stopped by our house on their way to GA. It was a lot of fun to see them! They came to dinner Thursday night and on Friday they let me tag along with them on a bus tour of Nashville. It was so much fun!! What a great place we've moved too! I kept frantically trying to take pictures and had to keep saying to myself, "Sarah, you live here now, you can come back tomorrow if you want to."

We had so much fun touring the city. And taking a guided bus tour was the WAY to go! Especially when you are new somewhere. The drivers are full of knowledge, you can just look- you don't have to worry about driving... it really was the way to go! (But now I know where to go, so if you come to town I'll give you the cheaper, "Sarah guided" tour)

Overview of the City

Centennial Park... at the end is the State Capital. 

The park was huge, and gorgeous! 

(and there's a large farmers market down there!)

The Parthenon, Tennessee style

Union Station Hotel (used to be a train station)

The Ryman Auditorium. 

Home of the Grand Old Opry 

(they have since built a bigger place in a different location. 

But they still use this place for concerts from time to time)

 Ann loves Johnny Cash... and therefore loved this display

I looked at the stage and this guy was kneeling down with a box! 

She said yes and it was fun for everyone to watch this sweet couple! 

Overview of the stage

These next 2 pictures caused Ann and I to be 2 minutes late back to the bus. 

A few of the other riders weren't very nice to us after this. 

They were cranky. We didn't care. (plus, it was fun having someone to get in trouble with)

They didn't ask me to stay

They didn't ask Ann to stay either. 

I guess our talents lie elsewhere! 

Country Music Hall of Fame

One of several walls of silver/gold/platinum records

Elvis' Gold Piano

The laptop Taylor Swift created 2 of her music videos... 

"I'm Only Me When I'm With You" and "The Best Day"

An outfit of Faith Hill's

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood's outfits from last years CMA awards

Zac Brown is from Carrollton

Carrie Underwood's black dress. 

Taylor Swift's gold dress, guitar (in the middle) and 2009 CMA Award

Guitar on the right is Brad Paisley's

 Dolly Parton!! 

Brownish paper to the side is her original handiwork writing "Jolene"

Reba was elected this year

Love that Dolly! 

Tootie's Famous Orchid Bar

This place was tiny! 

This girl was good. She was singing "Rockytop."

I love that song. Although I'm not a Univ of TN fan, 

I think I'm going to have to adopt their song because it's so fun! 

Bridgestone Arena. I'm hoping to catch a concert or two here in the future...

Our tour also included drive-bys of the Stars Homes. 

So I played paparazzi for a little while....

(it was hard to get "good" pictures as we were just driving by. 

It's definitely much better in person)

Martina McBride's house

The Baptist church where everyone goes

The Governor's Club. 

A gated community where Carrie Underwood 

(and a lot of football players) live

Dolly Parton's house

(right across the street from Governor's Court)

Dolly's guest house. 

It used to be where her wig maker lived. 

Then her sister lived there for awhile. Now it's just a guest house

Trisha Yearwood's house

Just a tiny glimpse of tons and tons of land that 

the owner of Dollar General owns. 

He said as long as he's alive it will go undeveloped. It's gorgeous!

 Little Jimmy Dickens house. 

That's his red pickup truck that he still drives around. 

"J.D" on the gate

 No hiding! His name is on the mailbox

top of Brad Paisley's house

waaaay on top of a hill. 

This picture was really zoomed in, you could barely see it otherwise

Alan Jackson used to live here. 

He sold it to a used car salesman not too long ago. 

It's a gorgeous piece of property!

Dunn's (of Brooks and Dunn) house

Taylor Swift lives on/owns the very top floor of this building. 

She's also the only one who lives downtown, 

everyone else lives out in the 'country'

So all in all, it was a very fun day! We had lunch at Big River and man, it was delicious! We all got something different and all agreed the food was incredible. This was a great way to see Nashville though and we saw lots that I didn't get pictures of (of course). Come visit! There's lots to see! :) 

(Thanks Aunt Lynn and Ann for being so much fun!)