Sweet SuMmEr TiMe!!!

This summer, my nephews are staying here (between my parents and my house).  It's been so much fun having them here and being able to do fun things with them!

Devin has been signed up for a theater camp, and on July 20th they'll be performing Legally Blond the play.  I can't wait to get pictures and video of that performance! Devin said that it's going to be fun, and that he's in a few parts. 

Michael, the typical teenager, is bored.  Even though he has the opportunity to go to the beach every day, he's still bored.  So, TJ and I have been coming up with some things to do with him.  I've taken him to Pier Park a few times to go shopping, we've been to the mall, TJ had him help out with some lawn care stuff, and we took both boys floating down the Chipola River (where I bruised my tailbone, but that's another story all together) and to the Mobile Swamp Bogin (big trucks, dirt,4-wheelers, and friends - FUN for ALL!).  It's been fun, and I hate to see their time coming to an end, but I'm sure my sister will be happy to have them back home.

Tonight, I took Michael to the Paint Your Art Out (PYAO) at the Visual Arts Center.  We painted a seahorse.  It was so much fun, and it was really nice to just be able to hang out with him.  And he'll get to take it home to remember his trip forever!!! :-)

Painting is serious business!!!

Michael and I in our painting shirts creating our masterpieces!

Completed works of art!

I love them!!!!!!!

I'll be sure to take some more pictures (I know my sister will be happy about that) and post some more after Devin's play!!! I love these kiddos and am so glad that they have been able to come hang out with us this summer!

Just call me Mrs. Picasso!

Every year all my girlfriends do something fun for all of our birthdays.  One year everyone got to pick a "NICE" restaurant to eat at for their Birthday.  I picked Captain Anderson's for mine.
Last year we put every one's name in a hat and we picked one.  Whoever's name you drew is who's Birthday you hosted.  I had Jennifer - and she wanted a good ol' backyard BBQ with hamburgers and hot dogs.
This year, we're all picking something fun to do! I picked going to Paint Your Art Out (PYAO) at the Visual Art's Center.  You go, and an artist walks you through painting your picture.  It's not a "paint by numbers" either! You start with a blank canvas and go to town!

It was awesome!!! All my girlfriends (that were able to come) brought snacks and wine and PRESENTS!! :-)  I had such a good time! I'm blessed to have so many wonderful and amazing women in my (and Kali's) life! Couldn't ask for better friends!! Love my girls!!!!!!! And...I think we're going to go do it again next month since we all had such a great time! YAY!!!!

Here is my masterpiece! 

This one was made by Lauren

This one is Dallas'

She's an overachiever who painted seagulls too! LOL!

This one is Christie's

I loved her waves!

This is Theresa's

JD (her husband) says that her dock was hit by a ship...

I said it was hit by Moscato wine! LOL!!!! :)

This is Lacy's

Her dock was my favorite!

Theresa getting some pointers from the artist.

All of us with our artwork!

Love them!!!

I really did have such a great time! I can't wait to do it again! Happy Birthday to me!!!!!


On a side note: for my actual birthday, my mom took me to lunch and Jennifer took me to get a much needed pedicure!  Kali spent the night with TJ's parents and he took me to dinner at Angelo's. Delicious!! And it was really nice to just go out the two of us!  When we got done, we called to let them know we were on our way to get Kali, but she was already asleep.  So we decided to go see "What to Expect When You're Expecting".  It was super cute! I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more! If you've had kids or are pregnant - I definitely recommend it!

All-in-All, I had a wonderful birthday. Turning 28 was pretty awesome.