Visiting Lake Anna State Park.

After Griffin finished his first day of school and played with his friends on the playground we came home for a good & hearty lunch with Daddy.

We then decided we would go to Lake Anna State Park for some afternoon fun.

We weren't sure if the park would still be open since it was after Labor Day. We decided to go ahead and drive over anyway.


Upon entering the park we came across this beautiful baby dear. Although we have deer on our property frequently, I haven't been able to get a good picture because of the screens on our windows. I was very pleased to get this up close shot of this sweet little guy.

We stopped by the park office and spoke with the park ranger. She said swimming was closed for the season, but we could go down and enjoy the sand and get in the water about ankle deep. Just no swimming. That worked for us because all Griffin wanted to do was splash and play in the sand anyway.


Isn't it pretty? This is the swimming area at the park. We will definitely be going back when it's open for swimming which is Memorial Day through Labor Day.


Griffin LOVED being out there in the sand and water


We built sand castles. Yes, I strategically cropped this picture of me ... LOL.


Here he's pushing up the sand as he said a tractor digger would


Loving this picture of him covered in sand


You can't go to the "beach" and not write your name in the sand


G r i f f i n ... I wrote this one, but he put a good effort into writing his name himself


Daddy and Griffin taking a walk along the shore


My handsome husband!


This is my favorite picture of the day ...

We had such fun ... can't wait to go back when it's warmer.

First Day Of School: Pre K 4

Today was the first day of school ...


Griffin was very excited for school to start back. Almost every day he would ask me if he was going to preschool.

We went shopping a couple of weeks ago and he chose a new outfit to wear on the first day. I was surprised when he chose the navy & red striped shirt with a Go Green alien on it. LOL. He was pretty darn cute.

When we got into the car headed home I asked him how his day went ... and he told me! He's never done that before. Normally I have to ask questions and he will just answer them. Today he told me he ate snack, played with toys and went outside. I'm so glad he shared his day with me.

Soccer Season.

Griffin had his first soccer practice of the season last night.

His coaches are very patient and I think he's going to have such fun!


I took a bunch of pictures, but I think I had my camera on a strange setting and they all turned out grainy. This is the best one of the bunch.


Of course Griffin is ALL boy and wanted to climb what we call the "soccer tree" after practice.

He has his first day of school today ... it's only a half day this week to help ease them back into school. It's definitely going to be a great year!

He's Growing Up.

Yes ... he's growing up.
Waaaaay too fast for me.
Pretty soon he will not need me.



He's swinging himself ... loving that ... but he doesn't need ME to help him do it anymore.

He's eating everything under the sun. He's always hungry. Even after a full meal he'll get up from the table and he's ready for a snack. We remind him if he's still hungry he needs to eat more breakfast/lunch/dinner.

He's in his "why" stage ... it's not an annoying "why" like I've experienced with some kids. It's cute "why" questions and he really wants to know the answers.

My favorite from last night was "Mommy why are giraffes tall"? Heck, I do not know why giraffes are tall. I told him it was because God wanted to make them that way. Then we started talking about them being almost yellow and brown.

He's remembering things ...

For example, he was just now sitting in Mike's lap and a commercial came on with the Lincoln Monument. He said "Daddy, we've been there". Loving that he's remembering special places we've been.

School starts back tomorrow. He's SO ready. He keeps asking me when he goes back to preschool.

I remember last year at this time I was petrified to leave my baby at school. He's grown so much in a year. He's matured.

My baby isn't a baby anymore ... as he tells me all the time ...

I'm a little boy, Mommy.

Homemade Salsa.

Our tomato plants have given us an abundant harvest of tomatos!


What exactly was I going to do with a dozen tomatos?

Hmmmmm .... let me think.


We had some Mexican flavored ingredients in the pantry and freezer ... so I'm thinking homemade salsa!


I cut the tomatos up with some some onions and put them in the oven and roasted them. It smelled SO good while they were cooking.


It was a family affair ... the boys and I worked on this project together and that made it even more fun.


And voila ... home grown tomatos, onions, a few other ingredients we have some wonderfully tasting homemade salsa!

Life Can Change In An Instant.

LIFE ...

Life can change in an instant and I can say my family had the experience of that almost happening yesterday.

I did type ALMOST ... and I'm so greatful it was an ALMOST.

We went to the Louisa County Fly-In yesterday for a little family fun. I will blog more about this later.

When we were headed to a restaurant for lunch, we were on a two lane road that was very busy due to the fly-in. The truck ahead of us stopped to make a left hand turn. We were at a complete stop behind him. All of a sudden Mike says to me "Watch out Baby ... hold on". I didn't know what he was talking about. Something told me to look in the side mirror and then I knew what was happening. A truck was coming up behind us, full speed ahead. He did not see we were stopped behind someone.

I braced myself, not knowing what was going to happen. Griffin was in the back seat oblivious to what was happening. All of a sudden this truck comes zooming beside me on the right, in the grass ... nearly missing us, the telephone pole and the ditch. Once he got passed us and next to the car that was still trying to make the left hand turn he stopped. I could tell he was scared. We were scared. I was scared. Mike was scared.

If that truck had hit us at the rate of speed he was going and with us at a complete stop ... well, I'm pretty sure the back of the van would have been kissing the front of the van.

I'm just greatful he decided to go to the right of us in the grass. He obviously was not paying attention. I hope that scared the hell out of him. I know it did me.

Sometimes I think we can all get in too much of a hurry. Why the heck does everyone drive so fast? SLOW DOWN! Pay attention for goodness sake.

Someone's life is much more important than going too fast.

My family and others could have been seriously hurt ... or worse ... yesterday.

Life truly can change in an instant.

Thank you God for looking after us.

Scrapbook Studio ~ Cecile's Store!

My very sweet and wonderful friend Cecile has just launched her online store Scrapbook Studio!


She has her first Scrapbook Studio Kit up ... plus Prima, Stickles and other fun stuff!!

Stop by Scrapbook Studio today and tell her Missy sent ya!

It's Friday ...

I didn't blog yesterday because quite honestly I had nothing to blog about.

I woke up with the mother of all migraines and it lasted all day long.

I'm feeling better today ... thank goodness.

I have nothing to blog about again today ... but I wanted to pop in and just say "hi" to everyone that might stop by.

Happy Labor Day Weekend ...

John Deere Boy.

Some of you may recall our neighbor Grayson gifted Griffin with his John Deere Gator he had outgrown.

This was right around Christmas time and quite honestly he wanted NOTHING to do with it. Every time he would see it he would ask me if he could take it back to Grayson. He had ridden on one various times at different friend's homes. I'm not sure if something happened to scare him or what.

Well, on Sunday we were taking a little ride around our neighborhood in Daddy's buggy and he saw kids riding a little buggy like his. He looked over at me and said "Mommy I want to ride my John Deere Buggy".

Wow ... I was just really surprised. I said okay buddy as soon as we get home we'll get it out for you.

He LOVED it ... he's been riding it ever since.

Sometimes peer pressure can be a good thing.


This picture just makes me happy. It's not centered ... but just look at the smile on his face! He's so happy.


Ooops ... he got stuck in one of the olive bushes. Mommy to the rescue.


He and Daddy took a little spin in the road.


Loving this picture of Mike's proud face looking at his boy on his John Deere Buggy!


He was up the hills, down the hills, back and forth ... he road all over the yard.

Sometimes we just have to allow our kids to experience things in their own time. It took 8 months to get there, but he decided when it was time to ride his John Deere Buggy.

Guess we'll be getting it out again today.

Local Community Day!

Saturday we spent a fun filled day at a Community Day sponsored by a local church that benefitted the local fire station (whew! that was a mouth full).


They had a super fun ride ... Griffin must have ridden this a dozen times!


They had face painting ...


He was ticklish ...


I loved this picture of him seeing his puppy face in the mirror for the first time.


They had bouncy houses ...


And they had snowcones!!

It was a terrific day spent with my sweet boy!

Baseball, Softball, Soccer ... Oh My!

Do you have a little sports lover in your family?

How about a custom baseball boy, softball girl or soccer kid embellishment for your scrapbook page? You could even frame them to hang on your favorite player's wall.

You choose choose the phrase, child's name or team name.

You also choose the colors you would like!

These can be found here at www.missymadeit.com or CLICK HERE to go directly to my Ebay Store!

Order yours today ... let me know you saw them listed here on my blog and I will offer FREE SHIPPING through August 31st!












Happy Sunday!

New Missy Made It! Stuff

I've listed some cute new paper piecings in MY EBAY STORE you can see a sampling of them above this post.

I also have another Friday give-a-way on my Facebook Fan Page ...


If you would like a chance to win please join my Missy Made It! Facebook Friend/Fan page by clicking on the link over on the right.

I'm also offering my Facebook Friends/Fans FREE SHIPPING on all orders through August 31st!

Happy Friday!

School Open House.

We went to Griffin's school open house yesterday afternoon.

He enjoyed seeing his teachers and visiting his new classroom.

They have a new piece of playground equipment ... and it couldn't be more perfect.

It's an airplane ... and those of you who know Griffin knows how much he LOVES airplanes!


Griffin and friends taking the airplane for the first "spin".


It also functions as a teeter totter ...


He loves going to school ... he's looking forward to the first day in only two weeks!