camp!

Last weekend, Claire and I ventured south for Girl Scout Camp. It was summer camp at it's finest: we slept in screened cabins with a ceiling fan but no other electricity, we trekked through the mud to our bathrooms, we made traditional Girl Scout crafts like rain sticks and sit-upons, canoed, swam, learned archery, performed in a skit, made up cabin songs and had a great time. It rained during much of our time there, which kept the temperatures down but also kept us wet & covered in mud for most of our stay. Four days was just long enough ("I could not have stayed for a week!" - says Claire) to make new friends and enjoy our camp experience.

 The Cajun Monkeys (their self-coined cabin name)

 Girl Scout Flag Ceremony

 Canoeing with a Daisy (younger girl)

 Mom & Daughter (she still likes having me around!)

 Archery ("I want a bow and arrow for Christmas!")

 Nice Shot!

 Sweet friends, being girls

Until next year!

tool time!

It's project time at the Spanns! Earlier this summer, we received a beautiful gift...

A 7-foot privacy fence!

The house next door was purchased by the hospital, which is one block behind our house. The building behind the house (you can see it juuuuuust peeking over the fence) is an empty doctor's office. As far as we know, the hospital plans to use the house as housing  - it's currently empty - but may turn it into a billing or admin office eventually. Kelly, being the resourceful gent that he is, called the zoning board to see if the hospital would be responsible for installing a privacy fence, since the property was no longer owned privately.

Turns out, they were already on it! A local construction company installed the fence in a week's time and used the very best materials They even pulled up the old chain-link. The fence runs the length of our property up to the side of our house. The one thing they didn't do however, was gate it off. That is our job.

Kelly purchased the supplies (not quite the top-of-the-line fencing that they had installed, but hey, we're cheap frugal!). They are currently sitting in the backyard, waiting to go up. A table and part of the old chain link fence are keeping Daisy in the backyard. We're nothing if not classy!

We also treated ourselves to a new bed. King size, baby! Memory Foam! Ooooooh yeah...

We made a linen-covered, upholstered headboard, and I am so pleased with the outcome. I scored the linen at 40% off at Jo-Ann's with a coupon and used our noggins and decided on a foam mattress pad and batting for the upholstery.

I am proud of us - especially since we did run into a few minor snags. Just the fact that we didn't threaten to harm each other, well that's success right there! 

I have a few more projects up my sleeve and some other finished ones to share... but I'll save those goodies for another time. After all, I want you to come back! :)

Getaway

This year, our summer has been spent at home {with the exception of baseball & softball all-star tourneys to thrilling locations like Alexandria and Florien} up until last week. We were able to escape the hustle & bustle (ha!) of Natchitoches and made our way west to League City, Texas. What's in League City you ask? Friends, that's who!

The Spanns invaded upon Holly & Dan's quiet abode where we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. No schedule, beautiful weather, beach day, great restaurants, shopping, swimming, sand volleyball and even a work out or two. 

I didn't take tons of photos... too busy being lazy. But we truly enjoyed ourselves and can't wait to go back! Thanks friends, it was a great summer getaway!

round 2

We recently finished up Claire's All-Star Tournament... it was the tourney that would never end. It was a looooong series, but the girls played outstanding and clinched 3rd place. They also won the sportsmanship award, for the 3rd year in a row. What good girls we have. Now for the gratuitous action shots:

 {okay, so this isn't really an "action" shot, but it totally cracks me up!}

Proud of this girl... now this week is soccer camp. Whew!

busytown

Remember these guys?

I'm pretty sure Richard Scarry's books were a staple in most church nurseries and preschools! I can't help but remember Inchworm (was that his name?) in the little apple car...

While we may not be cartoon drawings of talking animals, we have been busy! After my family's quick visit to the {other} LA, we went PandaMania at Vacation Bible School where I spent the first 4 hours of my mornings with some very busy, but oh-so adorable 3 & 4 year olds. (Then I proceed to take a nap every afternoon).

Nolan was selected to play in the All-Star Baseball tournament, and after weeks days of practice, they made their debut as a team on Friday night. They played four games during the weekend, winning 3 (and surprising everyone!). We head back to Alexandria tonight for the cchampionship bracket. 2 more games this evening with a possibility of more games tomorrow.

Kelly also had a tourney this weekend, thankfully in the same city where Nolan played. That rarely happens, so I was relieved and excited! While the boys enjoyed non-stop baseball on Saturday, Claire and I headed an hour and a half north to attend a Girl Scout Tip-A-Canoe (say it fast and it sounds like an Indian name... I think that may be the point.) She learned about life jacket and water safety, how to canoe, and how to right yourself or save a friend should you, you know... tip-a-canoe!

We capped off the weekend with our VBS Commencement, where the kids danced and sang, and of course, I cried during 'How Great Thou Art'. Some things never change...

And today feel like my first real day of summer vacation due to the mere fact that I got to sleep in! We do have places to go (baseball & softball practice - Claire's All-Star tourney is this weekend!) and people to see (need to go to school to take care of a few things) but those extra minutes hours of sleep is what makes vacay VACAY!!!

Back to Busytown...

party all the time!

Last Saturday was my 34th birthday. 34... it's really nothing special. Not a milestone or anything, just an even number. I'm feeling great as a 30-something, but I had a special reason to smile this past June 18th. On Friday morning I make the quick trip to the Alexandria airport to fetch my mom, sister, niece and nephew! We have made our home in Louisiana for nearly 4 years (in November - is that crazy or what?!) and this was their first visit to our humble abode.

I was spoiled! ...treated to a champagne breakfast, pedicures, shopping, presents, swimming and steak fajitas!

It was a quick visit, they made their way back to Colorado on Monday morning. We had lots of fun relaxing and enjoying our time together. Come back soon, family!! We love & miss you!

Summer {so far}

According to Mother Nature, it's not officially summer yet. I've heard our friends in other parts of the country complain of cooler temps (and jackets in June!). Not so down south! This week we've reached over 100 degrees everyday {and let's not forget that pesky ol' heat index!}. So, regardless of what the calendar may say, it's definitely Summer for the Spanns.

Since I'm feeling hot, tired and stressed (I know - I should only be experiencing 1 of those 3, being Summer and all, but I'm in project mode and have overstretched myself a tad) I'm giving you our Summer {so far} in photos. Enjoy!