Hello again...again!

Wow...the plan to blog more in 2014 failed miserably. Whoops!

Here's to trying again in 2015!

On my mind today is that my first born turns 4 on Friday. The not-so-tiny baby that made me a Mommy has gone from baby to big girl.

August 2011

October 2014

This girl!

10 favorite things about this little lady:

• Everything that happened in the past, happened "last-er night". "Do you remember Mommy when we went to NC laster night and stayed at Grammy and G's?"
• I used to think Matt was the most extroverted person I would ever meet. Nope, Madden's got her Daddy beat!
• Her gorgeous blue eyes. I was so SO excited when my first born kept her blue eyes and that she and I get to share that trait.
• She forgives me when I make mistakes.
• Her love of princesses...I get to experience Disney princesses again through Madden's love of them!
• She has no inside voice...she comes by that honestly!
• While she might be me in looks, she is her Daddy in personality. It's so crazy and fun (and frustrating) to see a little mini-me that doesn't do things at all like me.
• She's always on the go. Always questioning. Always pushing buttons. Always curious.
• She loves being outside.
• She loves rainbows.

I've been so blessed to be this little lady's Mommy. I'm living the saying "the days are long, but the years are short." 

~EVRS

Well Hello Again...

I haven't blogged in a long time...sorry...life continues to be busy and I continue to want to blog and then don't get around to it! But, here I am...back for another try!

There's a lot going on in the Sally household. With 2 very busy wee ones we are constantly being challenged as parents, marriage has been hard and we are frequently being reminded we are not perfect and work has been challenging as we've both gone through a lot of work transitions over the last 2 years. Our goal is to focus on the positive in 2014 and praise God for the many blessings He has provided!

2014 could also be a rather intense year for us and I am blogging to invite you to pray for us. For close to 10 years I've been dealing with TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) pain - the joint that clicks for those that don't have "perfect" bites. What I’ve learned over the past year is that God literally broke the mold when He created my jaw. (Smiling through the pain is my best positive coping mechanism!) It boils down to my upper jaw is extremely narrow and doesn’t come out far enough and my lower jaw is really big and comes out too far. All this causes me consistent pain currently and it’s likely that I could have some intense pain/issues in the future.

So…what does that mean..well I’ve been recommended to have orthodontics, jaw surgery and orthognathic surgery. That means I’ll have braces, have my upper jaw split and widened (first surgery), continue with braces, have my upper and lower jaws cut and sliced and diced and repositioned (second surgery) so they fit together and continue with braces until everything sets/heals/etc.

Our first prayer request is for the decision to move forward with the surgery and for our insurance company to cover the surgery. Insurance often deems this a cosmetic surgery and therefore does not cover it, we are hoping they recognize that is not my situation and cover it without a battle. I am 90% sure that I would like to pursue this surgery, but I am scared and also feel bad that I will be putting my family through a financial hardship (our portion of the surgery and braces, etc). There is no guarantee that my pain will get better, but it is the only thing I can do to prevent the pain from continuing to worsen.

2014 will be an interesting year that’s for sure! Thanks for your prayers…I will try to be better about updating my blog as a way to update y’all on all things jaw surgery related. Now for the best part…

Kate and Madden - Dec 2013

Much love,

EVRS

New Song to Sing

 

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,

and He turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the pit of despair,

out of the mud and the mire.

He set me feet on solid ground

and steadied me as I walked along.

He has given me a new song to sing,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see what He has done and be amazed.

They will put their trust in the Lord.

 

                                                                         Psalm 40:1-3

 

It has been a season of hardship in the Sally household. Mustang gave me a card with this beautiful verse written in it yesterday and I about cried (not saying much there...I know I'm a crier). I wish I could say I was good at being patient, but I feel as though I was not...not at all.

 

But God lifted me out of despair, He heard my cry...and it is only right to sing a new song...shout to the world that God has lifted me out and set my feet on solid ground. Woo-Hoo!!!

 

Thank you to all that have walked these last few months with us, that have prayed us through this season...your love and support is so much more than I feel I deserve...it makes me know how great the kingdom of God is!

 

And now for your viewing pleasure...Monkey Madds and Kate Kangaroo...

 

:) EVR

2 weeks left

I have 2 weeks left of my maternity leave and I'm beginning to feel a little sad. I've had good days and bad days at home with both girls, heck I've had good moments and bad moments in each day that I've been home with the girls, but I feel like I might be getting into a rhythm being home and now I will be returning to work and it makes me a little sad.

Instead of wallowing in that fact I'm going to focus on my favorite memories from the time I've gotten to be with both girls.

Kate's first big toothless smile! No I was not able to get the very first smile captured on camera but I did recently snap this one!

Kate's cooing. I don't remember Madden making as many baby cooing noises as Kate does. It's so fun to "talk" to her.

My big girl Madden. We've watched way too much television in the time that I've been home with her alone but the only thing that I can do to keep her out of harms way while I'm breastfeeding is put on Mickey Mouse (or some other equally entertaining cartoon). There's this line in the Mickey Mouse show we watch that goes "Everyone who has ears say CHEERS!" To which Madden girl yells out "Cheers!" in her cute little voice. Our newest phrase to Madden is "listen with your ears" when she isn't obeying.

Getting to pick Madden up for the first time post c-section. As a mom it's hard to be told you can't lift your little peapod!

 

Madden and Kate,

You can't possibly understand how much love and joy you have brought into the lives of those around you. Your Daddy and I are so thankful to call you our daughters. We look forward to seeing you grow and know that it will be a fun and challenging ride!

Love,

Mommy

 



Sometimes it's hard to believe that this is my life, I have so much to be thankful for! Much love,
EVR

In which I return to blogging...

Wowzers...that was a LONG break.

Blogging consistently has been a challenge, obviously...but I am returning to give it a second (maybe third) shot.

Four weeks ago today we left the hospital with our beautiful Katherine Joy.

We've had amazing help from Matt's folks, two weeks with Matt home full-time, our first few trips out of the house with both girls, a fun visit from Matt's lil' sis Elizabeth and we are looking forward to more family and friend visits, a few more adventures and five more weeks of maternity leave for me!

The transition to two has been...overwhelming, wonderful, emotional, scary, superb, sweet and heart-achingly beautiful.

My prayer for my two beautiful girls is that they grow to love the Lord and love others. I pray for my relationship with them, their relationship with Matt, Matt's and my relationship and for their relationship with each other. I pray for us to continually show love to one another. I am blessed by them already and by the man they call daddy.

Much love,
:) EVRS

Easter Thoughts...

As I sit here on Easter...enjoy "Mommy" time (aka nap time)...no wine for obvious reasons...I reflect on all that Christ has done for us...for me. I recently listened to a speaker who told a story about a young man's (teenage years I think) reaction to hearing that "even if it was just him, Christ would have come to save him." He loves us that much. The teens reaction was simple "and imagine...if you were the only one you would have been the one to crucify Him." WHOW.

STOP.

THINK.

Let it sink in.

I laughed at the speaker at the moment because of his energy. He's a lot like me when I talk...hands everywhere...emotions at the edge of our sleeves. And then I stopped and thought and then I wiped a tear away. Jesus loves me SO much that He would have come to save me even if I was the only one and I myself nailed him to that cross. It still gives me shivers. It's good to be blown away by the teens around us (even though I don't know this teen), it reminds us that wisdom is not an age thing but a God thing (thank you Beth Moore!).

This Easter I want to thank you Lord for your sacrifice...for your forgiveness...for your beautiful creations...for the many blessings in my life. THANK YOU!

Easter 2012

He is risen indeed!
~The Woman With 4 First Names

When Thank You Seems Too Small

 30 things I am thankful for from my 30th birthday (and week)

 

1. Hubby's chocolate cheesecake

2. "Happy Birthday" voicemails...in which you are told Happy Birthday 30 times

3. Surprise dessert celebrations

4. Free babysitters...Ann and Mike you rock!

5. Brownie care package from Dad

6. Sweet cards

7. Funny cards

8. Note from hubby

9. Friends gathering to celebrate

10. Chocolate truffles from the Henderson's

11. People fretting over whether they've ruined the surprise dessert celebration...but they didn't (Andy!)

12. Buttercup "saying" love you

13. Late evening phone calls that make you feel loved...love you Joyce!

14. Multiple phone calls/voicemails from Dad before I'm even out the door to work

15. Hubby's chocolate cheesecake - it is SO good

16. Sweet friends offering their house to host dessert celebration...thank you Greg and Sarah!!

17. Work peeps that wish you happy birthday

18. Work peeps that remind you that 30 is young

19. Friends that tell you that "you are SO old"'

20. Friends that "welcome you to the club"

21. Neighbors that give up their Friday night to watch your daughter and stay to chat after...can not say thank you enough Ann!!

22. Happy Birthday texts

23. Fried mushrooms...oh Quivey's Grove how I enjoy your fried mushrooms

24. Phone calls from family

25. Sharing stories over dessert

26. Laughing with friends you haven't seen in too long...Pastor Dr. Terri

27.  My organized and thoughtful hubby

28. Kind and thoughtful birthday emails...your words meant so much Julie and Mandy

29. Facebook happy birthday wall posts - first birthday on FB!

30. Hubby's chocolate cheesecake - you really have no idea JUST how good it is...unless you've had it and then you do know

 

 

Much love folks!

The Woman With 4 First Names

Birthdays and Such

My daughter is a year old.  One whole entire year she's been on this earth (outside of the womb).  Wow.

I turn 30 this year...in 2 days.

I'm also preggars.

 

The year I turn 30 is the same year my daughter turned 1 (and my hubby turns 29 - I know I'm a cradle robber). 

 

My life has changed a lot over the past 5 years. 

• 2007 - really engage in life with a great group of friends, start spending more time with one particular boy, play at lot of golf, the last Harry Potter book comes out and fabulous pals make fun of you after a night of staying up late and reading aloud to one another, those same fabulous pals tell you that you should really like boy, start realizing you do like boy, BAM he asks you out

Mustang's birthday dinner in 2007 - I was behind the camera!

• 2008 - first kiss with boy, boy proposes, meet boy's family for the first time (after we are engaged - talk about pressure), boy undergoes MAJOR back surgery, plan wedding

Blackhawk Dance 2008

• 2009 - meet a best friend (does fasting make you hungry???), buy a house, remodel parts of house, GET MARRIED, go on a honeymoon, live with boy

Me and my wedding dress...love at first sight!

• 2010 - get the best valentine's day gift ever, realize boy and my family will grow soon, spend more than half the year pregnant and preparing for a new addition, decide to lead a life group through our church and meet a new group of friends, boy's grandma dies and at her funeral I learn about a beautiful God-loving woman

Preggars in Fall 2010

• 2011 - Buttercup ARRIVES, postpartum anxiety follows, support from friends follows, support from Mustang ever present, experience joys of motherhood, watch baby grow into not a baby, learn how to be parents and significant others (still learning)

God-Mama D and Buttercup at Dedication

• 2012 - Buttercup turns 1, I turn 30, Mustang transitions to a stay-at-home dad, we will meet our second child, focus on trusting God and leaning on my hope in the Lord

Mommy and Daddy just told me the news - SUPER exciting!

I feel so blessed to be walking the path I am.  Yesterday as part of a new challenge I'm taking part of I had to think about my #1 priority.  My #1 priority is to be known as a God fearing and loving woman, a respectful wife, a steadfast mother and a dedicated friend.  God deserves my attention, service and faithfulness.  I desire to one day hear the words "Well done, good and faithful servant."  My husband deserves my love and respect.  I am called to love and respect him through acts of service, his love language, and while I know this will be difficult for me because I am not trained well in that area he deserves my effort to get better.  My daughter and womb-baby deserve a loving, steadfast mother who models her faith, shows her love and support of their father and loves them unconditionally according to God's plan and prepares them to live a God-honoring life.  My friends deserve a true friend because that's what they've been to me.  The biggest obstacle I will have this year as I live out my #1 priority is my battle with anxiety and fear.  But, God is BIGGER than my anxiety and fear...and He will (probably is doing so currently) carry me through the tough parts.

Much love,
~The Woman With 4 First Names

Thank You

We were brought to our knees this week in thankfulness due to God's grace. He, who knows me better than I do, walked with us through a situation that by all accounts sucked.

He provided blessings, when we expected only hardships.

He provided soft hearts, when we expected stone.

He provided.

This is a simple Thank You to He who deserves the most thanks.
The Woman With 4 First Names

"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

                                                                            - Joshua 24:15

Change

Be strong and courageous

is the new Sally motto.

Change is coming

some expected

yeah new baby!

Change is coming

some unexpected…and a little scary

Change is coming

and we would appreciate your prayers.

Much love,
The Woman With 4 First Names

A Year Full Of Buttercup

Our daughter turned 1 this month.  She's now been on this earth, outside of the womb, one whole entire year (plus some days).  Wow.

Last year when it was time to switch the calendar to February I was anxiously awaiting my body to GO INTO LABOR.  After all my due date was February 2nd and I was ready to have my body back as my own and to meet the baby that was growing inside of me.  My baby had other plans, she was content being all snugly in the womb.  Hence being induced and going through 36 hours of labor that resulted in a c-section.  That was what my daughter had in store for me.  My daughter's name is Madden, we had several possible names picked out and I told Mustang that in order for her to be "Madden" she would have to come out with some spunk.  She did. 

I remember...

• holding her and letting her sleep in my arms because I couldn't bear to put her down
• taking more pictures in her first year of life than we probably will for the next five
• hearing her laugh for the first time
• how excited we were when she slept through the night the first time...and then when it happened again
• looking at little kids shortly after Mustang and I began dating and wondering if we did get married what our kids would look like, be like...and being blown away the first time I was able to see Buttercup
• how Buttercup's smile has always been big and beautiful
• how this year offered us our first glimpses into her personality
• saying multiple times how Buttercup is her Daddy's daughter...a little social butterfly
• Mustang telling people that she's a Momma's girl
• thinking I would only call her Maddie...and realizing that I actually prefer Madden or Madds
• her first steps (at least the ones that I got to see)
• falling in love with and appreciating her more every day

This past year has been wonderful, great, hard, sleep-depriving, anxiety-ridden, fantastic and full of love.  Seeing my husband as a father...I fall in love with him time and time again.  We are so thankful for our Buttercup, she has brought so much joy into our family and we are looking forward to living life with a 1 year old!

Much love!
~The Woman With 4 First Names 

Tarzan and New Year's Resolutions

Tonight was a good night.  I don't say that because most nights aren't...because most nights are good nights...this one just definitely was very good and I wanted to acknowledge that and those that I shared it with!

I created this blog with the original intent of focusing only on the good.  Giving a one-sided view and with maybe a sarcastic side-note here or there into some of the hard things.  But I want to focus on the good.

WHY?

Because I am blessed.  I am so blessed.  And I want to acknowledge that...I want to stay rooted in that...I want to live out my favorite lyrics "you have been changed to bring change".



Our VERY Blessed Family

I also want to be honest.  I have struggles.  And this last year those struggles rooted themselves in me...in my habits and in my home.

Which means this next year is going to be about breaking some bad habits...about rooting myself in God's word...about beating on God's chest a little (or a lot) because He can handle it.

Therefore, I resolve to be a bit more Tarzan-like this next year.  I resolve to love others more.  I resolve to be the me that's been changed so that I can be a part of God's plan.


Buttercup says "Bring it on 2012!"

Much love,
The Woman With 4 First Names 

Hairs Got Cut

I think Buttercup approves! 

Much love,
The (shorter-haired) Woman With 4 First Names

 And, PS - I swear I'm not a ghost...color and my skin just are at odds.  Buttercups rosy cheeks and red-button nose really stand out in this picture!  Just call her Rudolf...but don't actually because name calling isn't very nice.

Gifts From the Heart

Mustang and I put a $25 limit on Christmas spending on each other.  The main reason being because we continue to participate in Advent Conspiracy through our church.  Advent Conspiracy (http://ac.wcrossing.org/default.aspx?page=3684) challenges people to...Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, Love All...confused?  It boils down to re-thinking the way you do Christmas in order to focus on worshipping Jesus, prioritizing spending time and making memories over spending money on gifts and releasing extra dollars to others in the world who are in need.  One of AC's purposes...to solve the water crisis our world is in...from the website: "more people die each year from drinking dirty water than from the world’s hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, and earthquakes combined".  Ultimately, a small single paragraph trying to explain all that is Advent Conspiracy can not do the job nor is it the intention of this post...but our participating in Advent Conspiracy means less dollars available to spend on gifts for each other...and the purpose of this post is to talk about what Mustang and I did with the $25 we had to spend.

Let's start with me...because ladies first, right?  As in...let's start with what I 'purchased' for Mustang.

I fretted and I hummed and I hawed...what, WHAT do I get him???  After hemming and hawing and fretting, I decided on a multi-dimensional approach.  Mustang had four things to open last night when we exchanged gifts.

• While casually shopping frantically searching at Target for something fun and inexpensive I ran across a golf score counter thingy.  It helps you keep track of you strokes and putts...but not mother dogs.

• The second gift was a coupon for a date night for January totally planned by ME...stay tuned in January to learn the details. 

• The third gift...well the third gift speaks for itself:

•  The fourth gift was a framed picture collage from 2011 for Mustang to add to his desk collection at work.

And what did I get for Christmas...well a picture says a thousand words, right?

Do you know? 

Can you guess? 

Stumped?

Inside this very unassuming box was 52 cards...that's right 52 pre-written cards from Mustang to ME.  There was an additional card on top of the box (sorry I did not capture my pictures correctly)...so in total 53 cards...for me...ME.  One for our Christmas gift exchange night and the rest...one card for each week of the next year.  Some weeks I get to pick which day I want to open the card...other weeks I have specific days that I must open the card...January 1st is a specified day week...I'm guessing February 6th and/or 14th might be specified day weeks, as well as July 18th...but I have not checked to see how many are specified days.

I, also, was the lucky recipient of 2 additional beads for my charm bracelet.  Hallmark $7 each...gotta love a steal.



Don't worry folks...Buttercup was there and having a blast eating the wrapping paper that her own gifts were wrapped in.  She didn't quite get the whole unwrapping thing but loved her gifts once they were OUT.

Merry Christmas!

~The Woman With 4 First Names

Fa La La La La...

We decked our halls! 

Okay...2 posts in one day I know after such a long dry spell...crazy!  But as I'm sitting here trying to keep the house quiet to allow Buttercup some good rest (she's been a bit 'off' this last week) I just can't help myself!

So...we decked our halls!!  Christmas decorating is going to be a time of good cheer and grand memories in our house I just know it.  Mustang and I LOVE IT.  It's 'slap-your-momma' fun!  (Sorry insider joke for those that get Mustang's southern humor). 

It starts by pulling out our fake Christmas tree.  It took awhile to convince me to go fake, but ultimately I have no sense of smell so why deal with the additional mess that a real tree makes when I can't smell it? 

The fluffing begins...

It's all about your light strategy people...you have to layer the lights in.

Buttercup was VERY interested in the whole process.

Leave it to Mustang to pull out the Baby Bjorn so Buttercup could be in on the action...

Mustang...your head is shinning...

My most favorite thing about decorating for Christmas is putting out the Nativity Set.  It was my favorite thing to do growing up and it remains at the top of the list now as an adult.  I can't wait for Buttercup to be old enough to help but just being able to point out baby Jesus to her and have a tid-bit of how it might be in years to come made my heart sing (off-key probably but still it SANG!).

And no sooner had it begun and we were done.  The tree was up and decorated and beautiful and the Nativity Set was placed in its home for this Christmas season. 

Merry Christmas!!
~ The Woman With 4 First Names

The External Processor and The Worry-Wart

Which one of those would you like to be?  Which one of those do you think I am?  Which one of those do you think Mustang is?  Are we both both of them?

My husband is an EXTERNAL PROCESSOR.  Capital E, capital X, capital TERNAL PROCESSOR! 

I am a WORRY-WART.  Capital W, capital O, capital RRY-WART!

Whoow!  Feels good to dump that out!

I grew up in a town of 300ish people.  I was so afraid of being kid-napped that I wouldn't even walk from our house to our garage (maybe 50 feet) by myself after dark.  My parents might have gone a little overboard on stranger danger with me.  I also have an over-active imagination...and for some reason have never 'day-dreamed/fantasized' about good and lovely things happening, but instead imagine and live out the worst of the worst in my head.

Mustang has no filter, he says what is on his mind (oh boy does he!).  He needs to wrap his head around situations.  He needs to tell people about what he's dealing with - the good, the bad and the frustrating.  He needs to vent...to me.  He needs loving input...from me.  He needs validation...from me.  He needs ME to listen and to hear him.

Did I mention that I'm a worry-wart (capital W and all that jazz)?  I have yet to learn how to be there for my husband and support him and hear him and love him through the bad and the frustrating without becoming paralyzed by my worry.

So where is the balance?  I have NO IDEA.  And that's okay for me right now.  I'm looking towards 2012 as a time of less worry, more supporting and in general a year of hope and faith.  The church I go to just did a sermon on hope and, as I was reminded last night, it was AMAZING!

I am so little in God's grand plan and I want to make it so that He can use ME, use MUSTANG, use BUTTERCUP in HIS STORY.  There is no reason to worry when you know you are under His Grace.  But those are easy words to write and HARD words to live out.  My prayer for 2012 is that I grow in this area...that I grow BIG in this area.

Much Love,
~The Woman With 4 First Names

Santa's Eyebrows

Through a random happenstance of me wanting to get Buttercup a headband with an over-sized flower for Easter we ended up in the store at the mall that was right next to where the Easter Bunny was set-up.  The store owner informed us that the mall has an Easter Bunny (and a Santa at Christmas-time) to provide parents with the opportunity to get a snap-shot of their kid(s) with their own camera.  Meaning there is no 'professional' photographer therefore you don't have to deal with that side of things if you would just prefer to get a snap-shot yourself.  As you can see Easter went great...and don't you love Buttercup's headband?

With things going so well with the Easter Bunny, Mustang and I decided to head on over to get a picture of Buttercup with Santa.  Now I was very interested to see how Buttercup would do.  She is her Daddy's daughter and is not afraid of anyone so I knew that I had to be prepared for a melt-down moment but I didn't really know if it would happen with Buttercup (aka Miss Social Butterfly).  We approached Santa...her arm tightened around mine.  I passed her over to Santa's waiting ams...and...

She did great!  She wasn't loving Santa but no melt-down, we snapped a few shots and then headed over to Gingerbread land for a family photo opportunity.

After looking through the pictures, Mustang wanted to see if we could get one more "really good one of Buttercup and Santa".  So, we went in for round 2...

...and this time the eyebrows were just too much for the poor girl to take.  I know Buttercup they would've scared me too! 

As we were leaving I turned and saw this sign...

...not the greatest picture of either of us, but how could I pass that up?  Because I do in fact love my little Buttercup!

Sorry for the long absence and Merry almost Christmas!
~The Woman With 4 First Names

I Caved...

I don't love Halloween...I don't even really like Halloween.  My imagination is active enough without needing to see people dressed up as zombie's, crazies, ax murderer's, etc.  If Halloween was limited to certain types of costume's maybe I would like it a little more, but even then I don't really care for masks in general.  I also don't like how sexualized some of the costumes are for young kids these days...but that's a whole different soapbox discussion in and of itself.

So, back to THIS Halloween.  About a month ago (because he's much more organized and thinks about things more in advance than I do) Mustang came home with a Halloween costume for Buttercup...and I decided because I don't really like Halloween and because I thought that it was silly to dress her up this year as she would never remember it that we should just return the costume and save the money.

Then Halloween got closer.  And I started feeling very Grinch-like.  So, this past weekend I decided that Buttercup really did need a Halloween costume...I thought it would be a fun reason to go over to our neighbors to say hi and TAKE them a treat as a thank-you for being such great neighbors.

The costume itself was 50% off, but once I got the black turtleneck onesie, black leggings and black socks (we re-used the cute white and black shoes she wore for a wedding a week ago) the total costume rang in at $25.  All the 'extras' can now be added to her wardrobe and we can keep the lady-bug outfit for a future dress up bin, but I'm taking suggestions now for ideas on inexpensive Halloween costumes for next year! 

I still am not crazy about Halloween, but I do have to admit that I sure am glad that I caved.  Much love folks!
~ The Woman With 4 First Names 

Corn Maze Adventure 2011

I love corn maze's.

My very first corn maze adventure was back in 2007.  A friend of mine organized an outing to a corn maze and I was SUPER EXCITED for the experience...I was not disappointed!  Mustang and I were only friends at the time, but we ended up in the same group that went through the maze...as Mustang asked me out just a month-ish later I am now wondering how 'coincidental' it was that we ended up in the same group!


Corn Maze Adventure 2007

There is something about a corn maze adventure.  I think because I lack any sense of direction in general being 'lost' in a corn maze isn't that scary to me...driving anywhere new for me is like being in a corn maze. 

The maze we frequent (almost on a yearly basis now) is an amazing 15-acres full of twists and turns and dead ends (http://www.treinenfarm.com/index.htm)!  You start out with a portion of the total map and then you have to navigate to mailboxes throughout the maze to get the additional map pieces.  As an EXTRA challenge you can also search for hidden hole punches throughout the maze and hole punch your map to show that you found them! 

This year also did not disappoint!  We had so much fun winding our way through the maze - a little over 2 hours worth of fun!  And little Buttercup did so good...she's such a little trooper...a little social butterfly in the making...but is that a surprise to anyone?

Excited to get started!

Mommy needed some snuggles!

Thanks Daddy for the ride!

Greg, Andy & Mustang

Sarah, Buttercup & Me...if only we knew what Buttercup was thinking!

The End!

Much love folks!
~ The Woman With 4 First Names