HippSpace

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Daddy's Jeep Weekend

It was time once again for the guys to head out to the woods with their toys. Larry and a group of friends had their annual Jeep weekend at Grey Rock off-road park. It's a beautiful peice of land in the hills north of Birmingham. Georgia and I enjoyed going out there on Saturday to see Daddy and run around. She definitely has some "country" in her as she LOVED running around after Jason's dogs, scooping rocks and picking fallen leaves for her bucket, and generally getting dirty! It was a windy, cold, wet day, but we enjoyed the fresh air.

The Hipps & the Banana Boat

(that's Lincoln under my coat, not a beach ball!)

The guys had a good time too, though I think they froze in their tents at night. Thankfully Larry didn't hurt the "Banana Boat" in any way, and now he has hundreds of hours of video to sort through. I know all the "jeep wives" are excited to know that a new Wheeling movie is coming soon! :) Of course, all these pictures are of Georgia while we were out there, and no pictures of the actual jeeping... maybe we'll post some video soon (aka. some day!)!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Thoughts of Fall

Fall is here, with it's brisk winds, gray skies and bright but cool sunshine. Outside the window the trees compete to find the perfect shade of orange for their last color of the year. The smell of a homefire burning touches my nose. It's the time of year that urges us to snuggle up together on the couch, making Christmas lists and tearing out recipes while watching the leaves get blown across the yard. Time to put on a pot of stew to simmer and light a cinnamon candle on the table. To slip on fuzzy socks and my favorite corduroy, at-home-only shirt.

Now, will somebody please read this to my daughter! This year, thoughts of snuggling up are constantly interfered on by a one-and-a-half year old with energy like I've never seen before. Georgia doesn't know, or really care, that the brisk winds outside are the perfect excuse to make a cup of tea and pull out a book to read. She sees the leaves racing across the yard as a beacon to come out and play a game of chase. Even the squirrels, out gathering the last of their winter loot, entice her to scamper and find her own little treasures.

We also have a large basset hound, Bernie, who is generally sprawled on the floor next to the couch, so as soon as you put your feet down you step on him. But he loves this time of year when he can sit out on our porch and sniff the many scents of fall in the wind. He likes to find a sunny spot out there and just lounge and sniff to his heart's content.

But now every time he scratches at the door to be let out, Georgia is there with him.

"Side, Side!!" she says in her sweet baby voice, with that hint of expectant joy that children get when they think they'll get something just because they asked.

"Pheas", she adds, since saying 'Please' guarantees delivery, right?

I try to explain to her the brisk winds, the gray skies, my hot cup of tea, but she refuses to be understanding.

"Side!" she says again, a bit more urgently, as though I don't understand that if she doesn't go out now that big yellow leaf will forever be blown away and out of her reach.

I try a new tactic with a bit of urgency in my own tone, explaining that mommy is truly weary at 8 months pregnant with a little brother, and that I may not even be able to reach my feet to put my shoes on to go out and certainly not pull a jacket around my expanded belly.

"Shoos!" She abandons the door to run across the room. Oops. She know we put shoes on before going out and I had to go and mention them. She tosses her pink sneakers on the couch next to me and runs back to the door, reaching tall to turn and turn the baby-proof knob on the handle.

"Side!!' she says once more, with that beautiful smile that gets me every time.

And I know my plans have changed from enjoying this beautiful fall day from the couch to getting outside and experiencing it through my little girl's laughter as she races across the yard, bringing me leaves of every color. And I smile and enjoy the moment, because I know there's always her afternoon nap time to get my cup of tea!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

I've been TAGGED...

I was "tagged" by Diana to blog on 7 things about myself... I guess any 7 things, or 7 things you may not know about me... let's see how this goes!

1) I grew up on a sheep farm in Newberry, FL- outside of Gainesville, home of the Florida Gators. Yes, I know how to sheer sheep, butcher sheep, and the taste of sheep poo. (apparently I thought it was raisins when I was little- thanks for watching out for me, mom & dad!) I grew up barefoot and sunburned!

2) I always chew my food equally on both sides of my mouth- ex: this morning I was eating fruit loops. 2 loops for the right teeth, 2 loops for the left. If I have an odd number I bite it in half. I do this almost without thinking now, but I know it's a little strange!

3) I've participated in sports since joining my cousin's baseball team in elementary school. (I did great cartwheels in left field!) I ran track & cross country exclusively from my sophomore year of high school thru my sophomore year at Auburn. I loved the 800meters in track and never really liked cross country! Now I don't run a single step, though I sometimes think I'd love to be back in it- I'm lazy without a team and my knees are completely shot!

4) Larry & I both had a Chevy Celebrity as our first car, as did my best friend Janet. The Celeb was a great first car- the door handle didn't work from the inside, the radio was iffy, it would constantly stall out, and the whole car vibrated violently if it was going over 70 mph, but it could squeeze in 5+ friends on its bench seats and drive thru anything! Also, Larry & I both had Jeep Cherokees as our 2nd cars! We knew it was meant to be when we found this out! ;)

5) My family always believed in vacations and so I've done a lot of traveling. Larry & I have tried to do as much as possible BK (before kiddos) and hope to share our adventures with them one day...In the States I've been as far as Hawaii, Seattle, CO & New Mexico, and as north as MI, NYC & DC. Outside the US I've been to Puerto Rico, Ireland, England, France, Spain, Italy, Morocco, China, the British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, & St Thomas...

6) I had braces twice. I got them for the first time in 5th grade, and got them off in 7th grade. But by my junior year of high school my mom noticed my teeth shifting slightly- even though I was diligent about my retainers! Wanting to get her full money's worth, she demanded the braces go back on, so I had braces my whole senior year of high school, getting them off just before graduation. And this was before they had the clear kind! But now I have pretty teeth!

7) I love to read and, if I have the books and time, available, can read a book a day, no matter how long. But that is usually with fiction books- give me an autobiography or "advice" book and I may never finish it!

This was harder than I thought. And it was only 7 random things... I don't know how Diana listed hers in such short sentences. I guess I'm just long-winded!

Who's next?? I tag - - - Sandy & Shireen - - -

Friday, October 31, 2008

Little Ones Costume Party

We went to a fun Halloween party this morning hosted by the deVilleneuves. It was so fun to see the cute costumes everyone had on their little ones, and watch them run around and play in them. There was a lion, duck, 2 puppys, ladybug, spider, cowgirl, bumblebee, my little pumpkin, and I'm sure I'm leaving some out..... And since Georgia cooperated and is napping (even though she fell asleep during the car ride home- whoo-hoo!!) I can go ahead and get these pictures posted! (See more pictures in our Picasa album)
Georgia's ready for some Halloween fun with her friends- & George!