Ben and Ella

I know I have been absent most of this week, and I am so sorry! To make up for it, I'd like to share about a thousand {okay 12} of my favorite pictures from this week. They were all taken on the same day - when my friend Jessica and I took our kiddos out to the park and did a shoot of them in their 4th of July outfits. It was a TON of fun! The kiddos are so sweet together!





there were TONS of geese!!!


how precious are they?!

YITTAAAHHH!






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Well this next week is going to be busy! I don't know how often I'll be able to post, but I'll do my best. Benjamin and I are going to be out of town. Because of this, I am going to postpone the next Far Above Rubies study until the 28th!

I hope you all have a great weekend and week!

hot tea.

This week has been so relaxing, but I suppose this vacation is coming to a close and tomorrow we will be headed back home. I am sad to see it come to this close, but I am so eager to see my husband! I miss him so much! Tomorrow we {my mom, Benjamin, and myself} are going antiquing {SO excited}, and then we are meeting Hubby for dinner halfway home. I'm rather tired of being a single parent so I'll be glad for that to end!

But like I said, this week has been relaxing. I drank hot tea.



And it was fabulous.

I took over 600 a lot of pictures this week. Yeah, you can say I'm enjoying my new camera pretty well.

When I get home, I'm going to continue to relax as much as possible, but I've got work to do and I'm going to dive right in. I've come to certain conclusions and made certain decisions and I'm ready to make things happen. I know I'm being pretty vague, but that sort of explanation {if it can be called an explanation} is what will have to do for now!

Yeah, this week of relaxation is coming to an end, but I'm ready to be home with my hubby and baby.



Maybe I'll drink some hot tea at home.

Maybe.

laying up for myself

This evening, there are a few things on my mind. I've had a pretty relaxing day, a productive day, a blessed day. I've spent time with my mom and my son and my dad. And "my" dog. And my camera. And my Lord. And it's been a good day.

But, I miss my husband. Do you get that from my recent posts? I really do miss him. Tonight is Lost night, and usually we watch it together with our friends, but tonight... tonight is the first night in a long while that we haven't watched a new episode together. This may seem silly to some of you, but we enjoy spending this time together. Or, at least I do. {ha ha}

And I think about Hubby all day long because I spend all day with Benjamin, who is exactly like Hubby in so many ways. His curiosity, his wildness, his spontaneity, his blue eyes.



Sigh.

Yeah, I miss him. Kinda a lot.

Anyway, I'll stop boo-hooing and show you a few of my favorite things:



Oh, if I had all the money in the world. I'd have all the bright and colorful things my heart desired! And then some.

You may not know it, but I am rich. I may not be so rich to buy all the little extras, but I'm pretty rich.

"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:" Matthew 6:20

That pretty much sums up my thoughts this evening.

home is where the heart is

Benjamin,





and I are on a mini vacation, visiting with my parents, for the week. We got here Friday night, and will be staying until next Friday.



So far, it's been nice.



I kind of feel like a single parent at times, but it is really good to spend time with my mom and dad, and for Benjamin to spend time with his Nana and Papaw. We're also visiting with my grandmother, who is still in need of prayers.





It has been a lot of fun, though. I'm sleeping in the room that was mine when I lived at home. The lime green walls are gone. Some mushroom color has replaced it. It's filled with antiques and photographs of ancestors. Plus some "nifty golifty" {as my mom says} old cameras. It feels homey.



And it's good to be back "home".



but



we really miss daddy.



"Home is where the heart is" and mine is here and there.



Daddy, we just wanted to let you know...



We love and miss you!

I can't believe that ...

A little over a month ago...



My baby was walking holding our hands...



Along the Battery in Charleston, South Carolina...



But now...



He's a pro.

Holidays and Fish

This is so late in coming but I really do hope you all have had a fantastic holiday season! We are still at my parents' house enjoying time here ... my brother's wedding is coming up in two days so we are all busy getting ready for that!

Christmas pictures are still on the camera so right now I am not able to share those with you, but we had a really wonderful time and Benjamin enjoyed his first Christmas. He enjoyed it so much that he took his first voluntary steps on Christmas day and earlier today he took at least fifteen consecutive steps. We have all been busy!

I have been meaning to share with you some pictures from our Vacation in Charleston, where we visited the Aquarium! So here they are! Enjoy!



Benjamin met a new friend and enjoyed hugging him:





He really liked this Rocking Snail..








Next up, the children's museum, and then Christmas - but excuse me if you don't hear from me until Wednesday!

Let's Talk About...

What I did today: planned birthday stuff, sewed buttons onto a shirt, bought the cutest cardigan at Kohl's, looked and failed to find an adequate Christmas outfit for Benjamin, so settled on a cute sweater.

But let's not talk about that.

Let's talk about vacation. It was so nice to get away for a while, but it was so tiring as well. Benjamin didn't sleep very well of course because of unfamiliar sleeping arrangements:



Although his nap pad and his Eeyore doll were there, he was not used to sleeping in the same room as us. After a couple days we got the hint and moved him into his own room and it was better then!

Anyway, I enjoyed spending time with family. It was good to let others take up Benjamin's attention.






Benjamin decided to practice a few new tricks while there as well, which was fun to watch!



And met a new friend:



Anyway, I just wanted to share a little bit about my vacation. That's not all so stay tuned for more soon!