Yep, it's Summer! Water time.

It got warm enough last weekend for some waterplay in the front yard. So we packed up and headed to Target to purchase some toys for the summer. We found the cutest elephant sprinkler and some water toys. We also got a little pool but decided not to fill it up on Saturday.

The girls had a ball and it proved for a hour of fun with the girls playing and John and I sitting on the porch - Oh happy day!

Anne Bailey still isn't too sure about the sprinkler, but Ellabee loved it.

Interpretive dance anyone?

Seriously, no pictures please mom - I'm working out my fear here.

Anne Bailey and her bucket - like a little old woman and her pocketbook.

Happy Birthday Daddy

Lordy Lordy, John is .... thirty three. The elder in our household requested a lowkey birthday so we chose to head out to dinner just the two of us and had a small birthday celebration at the house with the girls. Ellabee worked hard on the birthday banner for the front door and we made chocolate chip cookies (John's favorite) while AB was asleep that day. YUM!

Ellabee was so very proud of her banner and about flipped out when John pulled up from being at work. She couldn't wait for him to see it and began running back and forth like a mad woman not really knowing what to do first. It was quite funny.

The birthday boy with one of his prizes - a new iPod Shuffle for running

The Stone girls

Ellabee's banner - with a little help from Mommy.

We went up to Margaret and Frank's to share our cookies.

Ellabee and Anne Bailey picked out some shirts for Daddy to wear.

The End of Dance for the Year

Before I post, I must say that I'm watching Today Show where New Kids on the Block are about to make their comback. I will admit a bit of fluttering in my stomach but also some pity at the women, my age probably with children of their own singing "Step By Step". Am I the only on who finds that pathetic?

OK - enough judgement. After a great year, Ellabee finished her dance year with not only a recital, but a year end party. The kids had a ball celebrating together and we're already looking forward to taking again in the Fall (we are taking the summer off). Here are some pics from the year end party AND a few more from the recital - I spent a little time cleaning them up so we can truly see what's going on.

Miss Charla was Ellabee's teacher this year and is the Creative Director at Children's Dance Foundation. We are definately going to try and take from her again this year.

The typical little sister, Anne Bailey couldn't handle not getting her picture taken too.

The cuties in the class.

Perhaps my most favorite picture from the year!

The grand finale: the "Rainbow" song.

Profound Thoughts in the Hallmark Shop

OK, so I came across this plaque in the Hallmark shop today while at the mall with my dear friend Catherine. It was one of those things that caught my eye, I quickly read it and then stopped in my tracks and knew I had to have it. I didn't even know how much it was (I was glad to find out it was only $15) but it was just one of those things.

I told John just the other day that I felt like we needed a family mission statement. Both of us spend SO much time doing strategic planning for the various non-profits in which we're involved but when it comes to our family and if we're on target for our family's strategic plan - well, we just operate on a day to day basis. We're facing some decisions in the near future and I want to make sure that as we make these decisions, just as we would when chairing a non-profit, are inline with our family strategic plan. I know, I know it's kindof sad that I want to do a SWOT analysis and formulate a mission statement for our family - BUT this is also the family that operates off of synced blackberries!

SO, anyway, I think this saying on the plaque is part of our vision (not our mission) statement. This is the statement that says what we want to be. This is what we want to be. We don't always get there, but it's my vision for the home we can and aspire to be.

The Stone Vision Statement:
In this home..
We do second chances.
We do grace.
We do real.
We do mistakes.
We do I'm sorrys.
We do loud really well.
We do hugs.
We do family.
We do love.

I will admit to not being a HUGE fan of the design

- can ANYONE explain the coffee mug floating above the house -

but what a wonderful statement.

As for a mission statement. Maybe I can find that somewhere at a gas station or something. Afterall - I did find Anne Bailey's most favorite book - "Jesus and the Twelve Dudes Who Did" in a gas station in Conecuh County, Alabama.

It's pretty darn hysterical for a title, but I will admit that the story is great and teaches about each of the disciples. I just love calling them dudes. HA HA HA!

Trying to Dig Deeper

This is my attempt to dig deeper into myself and evolve this blog from just about how cute my girls are (which I stil think they are) and into something more of a place for me to voice my thoughts... and how cute my girls are. So, my first attempt is a typical blog list...

10 things I liked when I was a teenager but kinda hate now...
1. pop music
2. sports cars
3. being cool
4. sunbathing
5. noise
6. reliance on what people think
7. McDonald's
8. sweating
9. being dirty
10. real coke

10 things I didn't like when I was a teenager but like now...
1. my parents
2. silence
3. different people
4. reading non fiction
5. reading the paper
6. coffee
7. shopping
8. children
9. baking
10. beer

10 things I liked as a teenager and still like...
1. the smell of gasoline
2. being at camp
3. driving fast
4. dogs
5. being on the water
6. traveling
7. television
8. hanging out with friends
9. sleepy Saturday mornings
10. eating out

10 things I did not like as a teenager and still do not like…
1. sand... really, I've never liked the beach - I know, shocking. But I love the water and a pier and walking across a pier to get on boat to go on the water. Sand is the hangup - it's pervasive and gets places and is dirty.
2. judgmental, negative, fake people
3. body piercing
4. cigarettes
5. asparagus & tomatoes
6. Auburn
7. low rider, obnoxious cars
8. loud music
9. balloons
10. isolation

Crazy AND Fun Weekend

Ellabee's dance recital and Lauren's graduation - not to mention Muse of Fire (Elizabeth's extravaganza) - was this weekend. John and I had a time figuring out our schedule, but here it is Monday and aside from being tired and having two grumpy little girls hanging out at my feet, we made it.

I was hoping to be able to post some video of Ellabee's dance recital, but I can't figure out how to make that happen. If anyone has a Sony Handycam AND Window's VISTA, please give me ring and walk me through the process of transferring video from a minidisc (DVD-RW, VR). If you have no clue what that all means, join the club... so, no video right now.

Here are some pics from the weekend. Many thanks to our many friends (namely the Pickerings) for helping with the kiddos so that we could make it all happen. And my apologies to Elizabeth that I didn't get to make Muse this time around - John and John P got there AND said they were the hottest Metrosexuals in the crowd.

Ellabee and Anne Bailey with Lauren (the graduate) and Donish (the graduate's boyfriend)

Checking out the riding lawn mowers at Home Depot - we went with a smaller model... a Scott's hand push manual lawn mower.

A little dark, but far too cute to not include in the pics. Can you see the joy?

The prima ballerina standing on Truman Capote's star at the Alabama Theater.

The sun was really bright. I was trying so hard to keep my eyes open.

New Beginnings AND a crazy week!

Disclaimer: I did decide to go to Restoration for many reasons, one of which being a slow down in our family's life. Aside from what you read below, please know that I already feel a heavy burden lifted from my shoulders and a freedom that I haven't felt in 2 years to be a WHOLE mom when I'm not at work.

In the past week, I've raised $50,000 for one organization at a fundraiser, left that organization, started a new organization, helped raise $6500 for a different organization and cooked dinner for 30 for our precious Lauren's graduation dinner. OMG - I'm really tired. I must say that aside from the cooking part, none of this has been done on my own. I was so honored to work with some of Birmingham's most committed volunteers and talented staff while at McWane. Without the volunteer's dedicated support and an amazing team, well, we would have never been as successful with the event.

Likewise, the same can be said for the $6500 event. While less than the big one, well, I'm so excited about what we raised for our little school. As for the dinner for 30 - well, all I can really say is that it's a work of love that isn't as hard as it sounds :)

Then the other major change - Restoration. it's nice to feel like you're going back home. After starting my career in Birmingham with a ministry, it's so great to be back there again. Already, there are so many stories to share of God's providence, grace and justice. Wow.

I'm working on getting some pics from the past weekend, but I didn't take many with my camera. Here are some from the Super Power Party. I'm going to snap some pics tonight at the graduation party and we'll see how that goes. Off to cook!

My friend Laura Rowe, responsible for the incredible food!

Elaine helped us fight fires throughout the night.

Had to throw this one in there. Here's the newest diva in our neighborhood!

Here's my first attempt at this pictures. I must admit that not only was I laughing so hard that I couldn't take the picture - I also about wet my pants!

Thanks Clay! You're my superhero for three hours in the suit. You were the hit of the party and the kids loved it.