Rounding Out June

I cannot believe that 2014 is 1/2 over.  Where has the time gone??  We had a fabulous weekend to wrap up June.  We knocked several things off our summer list of fun.  Friday night we had a movie night and watched Swiss Family Robinson.  Ben had read the book earlier in the summer.  It was one of both Matt and I's favorite movies so we were excited to share it with the kids.  

 Saturday I went and did some shopping for the renovation and the kids and Matt went to Hatcher's birthday party.  Saturday night we met our friends the Johnsons and the Carlisles at a Stars game.  We had a great time hanging out with friends watching a little baseball.  Matt and I had to laugh because there was almost no one there when the game started and it was very quiet.  Matt clapped for a good play and he was the only one.  It was very strange.  I guess we now know why the Stars will not be back in Huntsville next year.

 Sunday after church, we got a bunch of much needed things done around the house and then had a fun game night.  Up first was a game of Risk and then Mall Madness and then Disney Scene It.  Lots of fun was had by all.

Three checks on the Summer List of Fun and a great time!

Happy Campers

It has been a crazy few weeks with all the camps the kids have been going to.  Between family camp, sports camp, day camp and art camp we have had lots of campers in the family!  It has been awesome.  This week Ben has been a day camp at the church where Kate goes to school.  He absolutely loved it.  They had games, crafts, bowling, inflatables and lots of other fun.  He came home everyday with great stories.  So glad he was able to go along with several of his buddies from school and the neighborhood.  

 Kate has been looking forward to art camp all summer.  I had heard about an awesome art teacher who does camps during the summer.  The children paint a different canvas each day.  So at the end of the week you have 5 beautiful works of art.  Lately, Kate has really gotten into art so I knew it was perfect for her.  Kaylee went with her and it was amazing!  I am so proud of how well she did and the beautiful art she did.  Monday was a kitty and bee.  She named the cat Bologna.

 Tuesday was these awesome birds she named Kaylee, Paige, Kate and Cheese.

 Wednesday was this awesome African inspired painting.  Matt had asked Kate for a painting to hang in his office.  This one is perfect for him because of his trip to Africa.

 Thursday they used tissue paper and glue to make these beautiful flowers.

 And finally today were these fun cowboy boots.

So thankful for all of the special experiences the kids have had this summer.  But I sure am looking forward to a more low key week next week!  No more camps!

Wii Night

It has been a really long time since we have had Wii night at our house.  We used to play it all the time.  If you remember back when we first got the Wii neighborhood children would come play with Matt and I.  Ben still plays it some but we haven't gotten a chance to play as a family in a long time.  Our "Summer List of Fun" made us! We had a blast!!  We played a little Mario and Sonic Olympics.  

 Then there was some crazy dancing going on with Just Dance.

 And finally we rocked out the night with Rock Band!  So much fun!!

Love fun nights together as a family no matter what we do.

Planning for a Redo

I mentioned yesterday that my mom and I had worked up a plan for a revamp of our front 2 rooms.  This was nothing that we had planned but due to the water damage it is happening so I figure we might as well change things up.  

In the study, we are adding the piano and going to move things around a little bit.  The room has always had all our Auburn stuff in it so we decided to play that up a little bit.  We are going to paint the wall behind the piano Naval and do a gallery wall of pictures from Auburn.  Going to do a fun ikat curtain and pillows in navy.  I am so excited about this room.  It is going to be Auburny without overdoing it (hopefully)!  

 I am also really excited about the dining room.  I have never really liked this room so I'm can't wait to redo it.  For the walls we are going to do a deep bronze color.  It is going to be so deep and rich.  I am going to take the seat covers off the chairs and recover them.  I don't know what exactly I am going to do yet but I am thinking a geometric in one of the colors from the rug.  I found some beautiful panels that are in a cream for the window.  I also want to get new chunky lamps for the buffet.  Hopefully this will update the room and give it a new youthful look!

Can't wait to show you the results in a few weeks!  Will see how close it is to the boards.

A Weekend Full of Whims

I was thinking back through our weekend and realized everything we did was last minute and unplanned.  Not the usual way we operate but it worked!  Friday night we were all tired after a very long week of camps and fun.  We decided to go get some Mexican food and see the outdoor movie in Providence.  We decided all of this at about 5:10 and were out the door by 5:15.  They were showing The Lego Movie and had Emmit there to meet.  

 We arrived really early and got great seats but had to wait a long time for the movie to start.  That meant getting bit by lots of bugs!

 The kids really enjoyed the movie (I thought it was strange).  Overall it was a great night and fun to spend some time together after such a busy week.

 Saturday morning Matt was mowing the yard and and ran out to him yelling we have to go get a piano.  We had been talking about getting a piano sometime soon because Ben wants to take lessons.  With the unplanned renovation of the study (water damage) I decided to start looking for a piano.  I found one on Craigslist for $50!!!!  Insane price.  It was just what I wanted.  We drove out to Madison and got it Saturday afternoon.  I am so excited.  I love a good deal and also can't wait for Ben to start learning music.  This also spurred a conversation with my decorator (aka: my mom) about redoing the study and dining room.  We brainstormed some really great ideas I am super excited about!

 Saturday night included an impromptu swim over at Kelly and Andrew's pool.  The kids loved having Matt swim with them.  It was a nice relaxing night by the pool.

Sunday Matt had to go speak at a meeting in Pensacola so he drove down early in the morning and drove home late at night.  The kids and I had a lazy day.  After church, LeeAnn and the girls came over since Brad was also in Pensacola.  The kids ran around crazy and LeeAnn and I talked.  It was great.  Ben and I watched the USA World Cup game.  A last second tie was disappointing but we did get to feel a little bit of what the Alabama fans felt this year in the Iron Bowl.

Now it is back to the craziness.  Both kids are in camps again this week so I have resumed my role as chauffeur.  

Busy Week

It has been really busy in the Eckley house this week.  Summer is in full swing which means lots of activities and fun things.  I feel like a chauffeur running kids all around!.   Ben has been in FCA Sports Camp all week.  He has loved it!!!  FCA is huge in North Alabama and they do an amazing job.  We have heard great things about the camp for years and Ben has been looking forward to going once he finished 1st grade.  I took him out for breakfast before camp on Monday.  

 He has learned so many great things from sports to the gospel.  He was in the soccer instruction group.  He has loved it.  A bunch of his buddies have also been at camp and in his "huddle."

 Wednesday night was family night and we got to go see a little bit of what their week has been like.  It was so much fun!!  I can see why he has enjoyed it so much.

 The evenings have been full of VBS.  For the past 4 years the kids have gone out to Paint Rock to VBS at the McClure's grandparent's church.  Sunday afternoon we went to the kick off party where Kate got her face painted as a kitty.

 They have had a great week at VBS.  They have been studying the Wilderness Escape of Moses and the Israelites.

 So much fun!!  They have gotten to see some animals and other neat things including a tent/tabernacle.

 While Ben has been at camp during the days Kate and I have been doing some fun activities.  One day we picked up Paige from school and went to the free summer movie.  They were so cute together waiting for the movie to start.

 She and I have spent lots of time at the pool (it has been really hot this week).  She has had some swimming lessons and is doing much better swimming!

 We had to get a frozen yogurt treat one afternoon to celebrate our girl's day.  She is so much fun!

It has been a busy but fun week.  We are all tired and looking forward to a lazy weekend.

Throwback Thursday - Honeymoon

I was thinking about how 11 years ago this week we were relaxing on the beautiful beaches of St. Thomas!!  How nice!!  We had a wonderful honeymoon.  It was so relaxing.  Thought I would do a little trip down memory lane to relive the great trip.  Mind you this was before digital cameras so all we had was a little disposable.  We have a grand total of about 15 pictures from our trip.  

We stayed at Pavilions and Pools Hotel.  We had our own cabana with pool.  It was perfect.  We had a kitchen and several nights we cooked dinner at our place and relaxed by our own private pool.  

 St. Thomas is a beautiful island.  We had a beautiful view of Meghan's Bay from our cabana.

 We did a lot of just sitting on the beach!

 Every newlywed couple has to take a picture of their rings in the sand!

 We also went snorkeling one day over on St. John.  We loved St. John.  It is just a ferry boat ride away and gorgeous!

 And one day we went sea kyaking.  That was some hard work!

 We did some shopping and exploring in the main town on the island.

 We loved walking around in the evenings after dinner.  The sunsets were beautiful.

 We had some amazing food.  The Caribbean flavors were wonderful!

It was such a fun trip!!  We were young and in love.  Maybe one day we will make it back there...

Celebrating Dad

Sunday was all about Matt (aka Dad)!  We wanted to make Father's day really special for our super special dad!!  We made breakfast in bed and presents first thing.  Ben wanted to get Matt brown socks and boxers (because that is what he always asks for).  We settled on a pair of boxers and a Captain America shirt.  Kate got him a tie (traditional Father's Day gift).  They were so excited to give him the gifts (and cards) he picked out. 

 We enjoyed some time at church together.

 After church, we went to Big Spring Park for a picnic lunch.  It was a beautiful day and the park was perfect.  Other than a duck fight right next to our picnic table it was perfect!

 We fed the ducks a little lunch as well.  Kate was so funny.  She kept telling the ducks - "Happy Father's Day Mr. Duck."

 We then ventured downtown.  They had set up 20 holes of mini golf that were sponsored by different businesses in town.  It was a lot of fun to wonder around and play some golf.  The kids loved it of course.

It was the perfect day!  We are so thankful for Matt and what a wonderful dad he is.  I don't know what we would do without him!