Road Trippin'

The holiday season is upon us.  In addition to all the food and family, it usually means travel for most of us.  We are quite familiar with life on the road.  We have it down to a science.  Sure, there are curve balls like poopy diapers, traffic jams, and NEED COFFEE NOW, but overall, we LOVE the open road and the adventure it gives us.

We have our trusty mini-van, Charles.  (Yes, we name things in this family.) But, let's say you need a bigger vehicle for a road trip.  Did you know you could rent someone's car?  Turo is just that!  You can forego the big rental companies and rent privately!  You can meet up with the owner or arrange a drop-off.  Think Uber, but for rental cars.  Like Air B&B.  You can even list your car for extra cash!  INCREDIBLE.     

When we're home for too long, we get antsy.  There's nothing quite like getting in the car, picking somewhere to go, and cranking up your favorite tunes.  Life is an adventure and this country has some beautiful treasures.

When I was pregnant with Oliver, we drove out to California, up Highway 1, and to Oregon where we camped for a week.  I would love to do that with the kids and hit up San Francisco, since we didn't last time.  Who knows?  Maybe we fly and then rent through Turo when we're there!

Now to the fun part...MUSIC!!!  Good music makes road trips way more fun, right?  So I'm going to give you an idea of what our road music looks like.  And, no.  We don't listen to ourselves!


In no particular order...

Florence + The Machine // Dog Days are Over

Katie Herzig // Hey Na Na

The Lone Bellow // Then Came the Morning

Twin Forks // Can't Be Broken

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors // American Beauty

Gavin DeGraw // Not Over You

Patty Griffin // Stay on the Ride

Regina Spektor // Samson

The Lone Bellow // Cold As It Is

Marc Broussard // Home

Dave Barnes // Little Lies

Feist // 1-2-3-4

Jason Mraz // I'm Yours

Jack Johnson // Banana Pancakes

Twin Forks // Back To You

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors // Here We Go

Patty Griffin // No Bad News

Dave Barnes // What We Want, What We Get

Regina Spektor // On The Radio

John Mayer // Something Like Olivia

Jonas Brothers // Love Bug

Miranda Lambert // Makin' Plans

NEEDTOBREATHE // Oh, Carolina

Regina Spektor // Folding Chair

Sara Bareilles // I Choose You

Twin Forks // Reasoned and Roughened

Ben Rector // Brand New

Andrew Peterson // Dancing in the Minefields

Andrew Peterson // The Rain Keeps Falling

Bob Dylan // Forever Young

Brooke Fraser // Something in the Water

The Civil Wars // Barton Hollow

Ben Rector // Song for the Suburbs

John Mayer // Walt Grace's Submarine Test

Ben Rector // The Men That Drive Me Places

Jack Johnson // Sitting, Waiting, Wishing


You guys...I could literally go on and on and on.  I love me some good playlists.  I didn't even touch 80s or 90s music.  Or the songs the kids like.  Or Christmas!!!  

So, what trip are you going to plan?  Where will the open road take you?  Why not start planning? 

Our August: some crafts, some shows, and a rash that won't quit

August seems like it was a looooong time ago and I guess it was.  Anyway, here's what ours looked like...

I love crafts and love to do them with Oliver.  I had some empty frames and saw this idea and so we tried it!

Not perfect but perfect for his room.

One of Nana's embroidery hoops with some burlap and paint = random bathroom art.  Again, not perfect but it makes me (and others) smile.

The empty frames mentioned above were because we took out some CDS and put them all in one big frame that now hangs in our room/writing area.  I love how all the colors go together. And enjoy seeing years of hard work.

Now for some shows.  We went to Hampton, GA to play at Berea Christian Church's Homecoming service.  We always stay with the pastor and his wife in their guest house.  It's a great little getaway for us.  And Oliver started kind of swimming! 

Sister Girl rocking the swim diaper.

I don't have any pictures of us playing, but I'm sure you can imagine: it's me sitting and Trent standing and we're singing.  Hahaha!  The service was fun and the lunch after was yummy.  Gotta love a good ole church potluck.  Of course, Amelia had a blowout, but it happens. 

Another weekend in August, we made our way to Kennett, MO to play at FUMC.  We stopped in Jackson at the Casey Jones Railroad Museum.  We just let Oliver play a little and pick out a new train.  Such a neat place!

We got to the hotel and made a little tent for the boy.  The next morning, we led worship and did a little concert after the service.  It was outside and the weather was actually perfect! 

This was an early morning. 

Her face!  Hahaha!

"Mommy, can I wear Monkey and go to the store?"  So sweet.

Result of waking too soon...

Much needed haircut for the boy.

Daddy on diaper duty. 

Oliver's staph on his eye healed.  But then I took him in for a rash on his arm.  That was fungal and required an ointment. 

Then there was a rash on his nose.  I took him in and that was impetigo and needed an antibiotic ointment. 

Also, I ended up with staph on my face which required the same ointment. 

Also, some of Oliver's mosquito bites got infected and the ointment worked on those, too. 

All that to say, I swear we are clean people and bathe often.  If I ever see a rash again, it'll be too soon. 

Amelia is 7 months!!

Dear Amelia,

How in the world are you 7 months??  It seems so old to me.  And this month brought lots of changes. 

On the day of your shots, you threw up.  I don't know if it was because of the shots or because of something I ate or you ate.  It was short lived but oh so sad.  We let you sleep with us that night.

You reach for me and it's pretty wonderful.  You snuggle me and sometimes others, but mostly me.  Please always do so, ok? 

 

No one can make you laugh quite like Oliver.  You light up when you see him.  It makes our hearts burst!  We pray you two are close and always look out for one another.

You stopped taking a bottle at the beginning of the month.  I was a little concerned because Mommy and Daddy need date nights.  But, you're back at it and can even hold it!

You're sleeping a little better at night?? Some nights are better than others, but I can see a little improvement.  You are so chill and happy, especially if I'm holding you and you can see me.  You're not watching TV yet, which is good and bad, I guess.  Because sometimes, Mama needs a break.  Oliver was a pro at this age, haha!!

You have EIGHT teeth!  Before they were all in, you looked like a little Jack - O - Lantern, which was perfect since it was October.  These teeth keep coming!  You handle it pretty well, I think?  Or maybe not since you have interrupted sleep.  Who knows?!?

You are crawling!!!  Army crawling gets you there quicker, but you're officially on all fours now and I just can't believe it.  No more leaving you unattended.  Ha! 

You had your first Halloween and our little family of pirates was a big hit at the Trunk or Treat. 

You only got called a boy once.  #eyeroll

And then, on Halloween night, you were a spirited cheerleader! 

I don't think this needs a caption.  So yummy!!!  (You and the Coke.)

You suck on your top lip (adorable), love playing with empty water bottles (just like Brother), you're amazing in church nurseries, getting the hang of eating (squash is a fave), cling to me when I try to put you in the exersaucer, have survived your first bloody lip (fell on a toy), and you're almost sitting up.

You are such a bundle of snuggly, squishy, beautiful joy.  We cannot imagine life without you and can't wait to see what kind of little person you become.  Just don't get in a hurry, though, ok?

May the stars always align for you.  We love you this BIG!!!