Morgan Family Vacation!

So, now that us Morgan girls are official adults with families we thought it was high time to start a new Morgan family tradition (amongst many).  Every June we take a family vacation with all the kids and parents and grandparents and cousins and toys and germs and fun.  It's a lot of work but so worth it for all the memories we make together.  Last year was our official first year and we decided to do a 'Staycation' to plan our next official vacation...because that's the way us Morgan girls roll.  We are organized, efficient and were made for planning and coordinating things. :)  

This year (June 2014) we went to Lake Palestine in Flint, Texas and stayed at a RCI resort called The Villages (A Silverleaf Resort).  We had a blast of fun!  Unfortunately my older and wiser (but with less gray hair...not sure how that worked out - I'm the youngest with the most gray...hmmm) sister, Ashley, and her family (Justin, Avery and Ella) couldn't make it because...well, they were in the middle of adopting our newest addition, Ella Rae - that is another post entirely! We were so sad that they couldn't be there but we still had so much fun.  There were bugs, bikinis, Texas sheet cake, cousin bubble baths, dance parties, Texas sheet cake heated up with ice cream on top, card games, Sangria, playing toy shop, a sad moment when we realized all the Texas sheet cake had been devoured by my Dad (who struggles with Diabetes, go figure!), being chased by geese, heat and just tons of family time.

The resort was decked out with an indoor water park with arcade, movies - tons of stuff.  Declan and Mairen had the most fun splashing around in the shallow water and jumping into Mommy and Daddy's arms.  We went fishing off the boat pier, went paddle boating and also went to a wildlife reserve for wildcats of all species.  Here are all the pics!

Cousin Caden and Declan - more than likely hunting dinos.

Sweet Mairen having fun at the water park.

Keely and Kallyn

Grammy and Declan

I LOVE my moms face in this picture - having so much fun!

Declan and me sliding down the slides

Declan is a PRO

Daniel kayaking - glad this was a lake and not the ocean otherwise his watercraft would have been mistaken as a seal and he'd have been eaten by a shark - now, that would have made for an interesting family vacation story...

Doing our best at paddling the boat

Too cool for school

This was moments before being charged by an angry momma goose protecting her nest...

Fishing buddies

My little stinker

Morgan girls (minus Ashley)

Daddy and girls

Seriously.  That hair.

Please.  Stop.  Growing.

Ahhhh, sweetness

GRAMMMMYYYY!

How sweet is this picture?  Mairen LOVES her Grandad SO much.

Lexie - everyone.  Everyone - Lexie.  

It only took 3 1/2 years for him to wear a hat.  #OCD.

Silly Dad

Beauty and Power

Hot.  Tired.  Homebound.

Quietly planning her escape...

Mairen Rose Turns 1!

I know, I know.  It's August and Mairen Rose turned One in April.  Terrible I know.  But, better late than never and I need to document this stuff, so here goes.

We don't do crazy, over-the-top, hyper expensive, invite everyone-under-the-sun, grand FIRST birthdays.  Why?  Because they won't remember it and let's face it.  You are going to spend each year after their first birthday trying to 'out do' the last one, so my theory is: If I can start off at year 2, I have an extra year in the bank!  We did a small family gathering and had a Rose themed party!  It was great fun to plan because I just LOVE planning parties - always have.  Even (get this) BEFORE Pinterest!  Ya know, when you had an awesome idea and could actually say it was YOUR idea...because as far as you know it was?  There is some sense of accomplishment in that and quite frankly Pinterest has taken that away from all us creative juicing craftinistas.  I dare you to make up a craft or do something that you don't do a search on Pinterest for, first.  I dare you! :-)  Pinterest is greatness, it's just that sometimes it would be nice to be able to take the credit for a fabulous idea, that's all.

The decor was so much fun to make.  I made a fabric garland with vintage rose fabric and lace and a Happy Birthday banner made from scalloped large hole punched floral paper.  I attached the banner letters to the garland using small clothes pins with tiny paper roses of all colors hot glued to the top.  I had also taken monthly pics and hung those using the clothes pins on a piece of iron art above the fireplace.  I used mason jars wrapped with burlap and lace for floral pink rose centerpieces and made chalkboard signs for the food.  My favorite was making her cake and the topper for the cake.  I bought a $1 white picket fence from Hobby Lobby and made a tiny bunting to hang across it!  Agh - I love making things that are tiny that are supposed to be big!  Then I framed the words "Happy Birthday Mairen" in a tiny coral/pink frame and stuck that on top of the cake too.  Just what I was envisioning.  I also used a fabulous cream rose fabric that I used for a tablecloth to tie in the Rose theme.

Food was minimalistic because it was just family, but that doesn't mean it wasn't completely delicious.  I made some yummy raspberry lemonade and tea, La Madeleine pasta salad, ham and swiss hot sandwiches, some chips, lemon tea cakes, roasted candied pecans and Hummingbird birthday cake.  Everyone had a wonderful time and the birthday girl loved her cake!  Here are pics from our special day with family - we were a little sad that some family couldn't make it, but we had a fun time with grandparents!

Professional 1 Year Pics:  I love you sweet girl!

Pictures taken by: Amanda Dorris Photography

Zumba FREAK

Have you ever stumbled upon something in your life that you thought was complete and utter greatness and thought to yourself, why haven't I been doing this all my life?  I have said this to myself a few times so far in life: 1)When I discovered maternity pants (am I right?), 2)Dove caramel chocolates...need I say more? 3)and my latest discovery...ZUMBA!  So, I must admit that every once in awhile I want to go out on a Friday night and shake my tush at a club.  But that's not really possible with a 3 year old, a 1 year old and a husband who doesn't shake anything except the coffee creamer before pouring into his coffee...so that is a little white lie, he DOES shake it from time to time.  And it's cute.  Really.  But I'm talking about sweaty, drop it like it's hot, Beyonce-like moves!  (You know what I mean...)

I started going to Zumba in September 2013 because they offered it at my awesome church (of all places).  But, it was only $2 per class and since I'm always on a budget, this was a steal!  Tired of my 3-4 mile walks around the neighborhood with my toddlers in tow, I needed something new.  And, since I was in drill team in high school and took dance in college, this was right up my alley.  I went on a Thursday night and that was it.  I was hooked.  I was a Zumba FREAK, y'all!  I remember coming home and just thanking my husband for giving me the time and space to go and just being so HAPPY that I did something new and fun.  It was a life changing moment (ie. maternity pants, dove chocolate...)

So...now I am a certified Zumba instructor as of May 2014.  It was completely daunting going into a room with 40+ other sassy ladies wanting to also make Zumba a part of their lives.  But, it was beyond exciting and I'm so ready to start this new little chapter of my life that is COMPLETELY for ME.  It's not about the money but more about the confidence and health benefits it has given me in my mind and in my body.  I don't look at my Zumba class as a workout - rather a very short hour full of smiles, "WOOTS!", drippy sweat, and becoming the ME that I actually PERCEIVE myself to be.  Not, the frustrated SAHM juggling 2 toddlers, an Ipad, a Starbucks drink, a dirty diaper, 2 sippy cups, a 4 seater basket from Target, a bag of last minute groceries (and other miscellaneous items that were purchased that were not needed...Target...) and...a partridge in a pear tree.  Nope, all that disappears and ya know what?  It allows me to be that SAME loving mom, but with more energy, more patience, more muscles and less pit-stains.  Ok, that was a lie.  I am a sweat-er.  There will ALWAYS be pit stains whilst juggling toddlers in Texas heat.

So...If you haven't gone to a Zumba class yet - DO it.  Find the time.  Because it will give you confidence, gain you friendships and make you a better you.  Lots of love...and ZUMBA ON, ya'll!

Here is a link to my Zumba website in case you want to go to one of my classes!
http://britneymccormick.zumba.com/

This is me getting 'Zumba-fied'.  I'm the one in purple, second row from the front, second on the left.  And in case you are wondering - Kass Martin (the hot thing in the front practically doing the front splits) is off the chain-link-fence - AWESOME! 

Dressed to Impress...

So, I discovered that me dreaming of making my daughter cute dresses was just that, unless I got out my sewing machine and just tried to do something...even if it was the most horrible looking thing ever, at least I tried, right?  So, that's exactly what I did.  And...I succeeded!  Ok, I'm not super shocked.  I have an unbelievably determined attitude and pretty much NEVER give up unless I've been physically impaired.  So, I found this super easy tutorial on Pinterest and gave it a shot.  This is my outcome...I am impressed with myself.  Here's the problem, now I'm addicted and I need to make another one...and another one...a different style, a trim here or there...a pillow dress...some ruffle bloomers, maybe?  The possibilities are endless!!  This has me in a state of sewing euphoria!  Hobby Lobby and Hancocks, watch out.  I'm about to spend some major coin in your store on an abundance of thread, fabric, trimming, ribbon, buttons and snaps.  My next project?  A maxi dress for me!  If I can master it, maybe it will be our next craft night project.  Feeling like I accomplished something is just the best.  Much better than having spent half the day watching TV, perusing Pinterest or Facebook...I did something that I pinned on Pinterest - YAY! (cyber high five, y'all)!

1st dress that I made!  I used random fabric I had around the house in case it majorly went haywire.  Turned out pretty cute!

I'm pretty sure this is going to be her Easter dress this year.  I love the little crochet flower embellishments.  Thank you Micheals $1 aisle!