Girls Just Want To Have Dunn!

Have I mentioned that I love Rae Dunn? Below are a few of the pieces that I have collected or been gifted over the last 1.5 years. The true Rae Dunn collectors RISE EARLY and stand at Marhsall's, HomeGoods, and TJ Maxx to rush in a swoop all of the latest and greatest pieces.  I do not feel the need to do that.  I just buy them as I find them and I am ok if I don't have every piece.  In fact, I prefer to only have pieces that I really love.  My girlfriend Emily purchased the below shirt for me after learning of my love for Rae Dunn. She started out making fun of me that I have words all over my home, but after I bought her puppies a dog bowl set... she then became attached too! The shirt is just perfect.  She said, "I was torn between this shirt and one that said, "SHIRT"." I almost died in laughter.  

Sweet Satisfaction

Ahhhh... today was one of the most satisfying days of my life. I just had to say this out loud. Haha. Thank you for listening.

#Stalker

#Liar

#WhyDoesItFeelLikeSomebodysWatchingME

#BecauseSHEIs

#Busted

Oh The Many Faces Of Liley-Bo!

She.Is.Out.Of.This.World!!!! I can't take it.  She's a whole LOT of sweet and salty combined to equal more sass than any momma can handle, but I LOVE IT and I LOVE HER.  These photos were taken at dinner, on a Saturday night, this Summer, after she robbed my make-up bag.  I didn't notice because I was too busy staring at her gorgeous daddy! Sometimes having a little girls is a tad more than I bargained for.  I am definitely GLAD I have ONE.  I believe that is all I could handle.  Boys are WAAAAAY easier, but girls are a lot more FUN!

Rise & Shine!

Last Summer, I felt I needed to start instilling some Summertime routines and expectations. The Summers before were filled with all day pajama days (or at least it felt that way if we were in our pjs until 10 a.m.).  Those types of days are okay ONCE.IN.A.WHILE, but for me and my personality, they need to be SPECIAL OCCASIONS.  I don't want to produce children that don't see the need to serve their home or be productive.  I want to raise children who will be an asset to our society. I want to raise a daughter who knows how to run a household and sons who can take care of themselves before marriage and who are not ashamed to help their wives, from time to time, (when they are not at work).  

So... I came up with a slogan, "Check your floors, drawers, doors, and lights!"  Basically, before my children were allowed to leave their rooms, in the morning, it must be 7:30 a.m. or later and they must make sure that their floors are clear and their drawers, doors, and lights are shut. They also were responsible for making their beds.  It was a good stepping stone!!! This Summer, additions have been made.  I do want to get it laminated, so that they can use a dry erase marker to "check off" what they have done otherwise I have to print this daily.  That's a lot of wasted ink and paper. 

My best friend, Ashely, asked me to share my children's chore lists, but I chose to share their morning "to do" lists FIRST! Stay tuned... hopefully tomorrow night, I will be ready to share the list of chores that my children have been assigned/responsible for throughout this Summer.

Call this rigid! Say what you want!! I call it routine, structure, raising future adults, and future Christ followers.  I think it benefits my children's future and the flow of our home throughout the Summer!!!

Tip Of The Day!

A few weeks ago, I shared some personal "Tips Of The Day" on my Instagram account.  Before I delete them off of my computer, I thought I would share them on the blog too!

Oh SI-man!

We are still adoring our sweet SI-man aka Simon.  He is just a complete spitfire.  Fierce! He will destroy anything from a fly to Robber.  Watch out buddy...he will eat you alive!!! They don't call these dogs "ankle biters" for nothing.  

 He is so very playful. LOVES a good squeaky toy.

Enjoys snuggling a ton, so much that he almost needs to be suffocated to be content.  

He enjoys daily "pup cups" from Starbucks and peanut butter a TON!

Loves his BIG SISTER, Sadie, and sometimes gets sad when she is at Doggie Daycare and he isn't.  

HIS first birthday is coming up soon, April 25th to be exact! It's hard to believe he isn't ONE yet.

Best 9

Accoring to Best Nine, bollingwith5's best 9 instagram posts are BELOW!

I am glad that, despite my ability to be creative, posts of my FAMILY made it to the top 9.  

Also, I wanted to make my own top 9, but I do post a ton on instrgram (about 5-6 posts a day) AND going back through my posts, over a year's time, would have taken quite a bit of time.  Haha.  I'll just trust everyone else's votes.

Don't Forget To Follow US On INSTAGRAM!

Having our family blog PUBLIC has MANY great benefits. The ONLY downfall to a public blog is that our lives are NOT private to those we'd love to keep out.  Our family blog does have an Instagram media tab, on it's homepage but, I thought I would let our readers know that while that tab will direct you to our most current instagram account, you will STILL have to request to follow us. We have a few snooping people who don't genuinely follow our blog because they love being involved in our lives, but rather, they follow us simply to SNOOP! The cool thing is... I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. Thanks to blogger and it's cool "spying" features, I have full access to the traffic and visitors to our blog.  #hatersgonnahate 

So...to leave a little bit to the imagination and regain a little control back, I have chosen to keep our IG account PRIVATE! Please check us out at bollingwith5 and request to follow us.  I'd be happy to accept you as a "friend", IF you are willing to reveal who you are :) Everything that I post to IG does NOT get posted to our blog.  It's the rare occasion that I share what's on our IG account, on our blog, because I don't want our readers to be bored.  Our IG account is filled with all kinds of daily, creative, FUN, sweet, and comedic moments, of our lives, in a flash! We love and cherish are readers/followers!!!! 

PS.  You don't like us, but you be checking our page religiously! IF you don't like us and you still watch everything we do.... YOU'RE a fan! Ha! #sotrue

Beach Treasures 2015

Last year, I started a new and fun way to capture photos at the beach.  I like to call it "beach treasures".  You can see my first go round here and here. This year's beach finds, so far, haven't been nearly as funny, but I have still enjoyed capturing them.  

#airforcejets #bighair #birds #wetdogs #apachepier #flipflops #cutekids 

#armyhelicopters #hairybacks #guyinthemiddleoftheoceanonacanoe 

#truth #metaldetector #rowofbeachcondos

We still have two days left of vacation, so I hope that I will find a few more beach treasures before departing!

To Keep Or Not To Keep?!?!

That is the question! While at the dog park on Saturday, we spotted this little guy and a few others in the "small dog" section. Lilah went over to say hello and basically the foster mom told us that the pups were actually up for adoption.  "OH No! Really?!?!" Ugh.  We had been slowly looking for a lap dog for Lilah, but weren't sure if adding another pup to our lives would complicate things.

His "name" is Bolt.  I quote it because if we were to keep him, I am pretty sure we would change it.  He, along with his other siblings, were oh so irresponsibly put into a garbage dumpster, left to die.  The vet thinks he's a Chiweenie: a crazy blend of a chihuahua and "weenie" dog aka datson.  

I borrowed him for 24 hours and that 24 hours turned into 48 hours.  We have to make our decision today.  I'm still waiting on the relationship between Sadie and Bolt to develop. Bolt certainly holds his own and Sadie seems to enjoy the company, but they are not quite at the stage of love. There is loads of biting, chasing, and barking at one another. Bolt uses Sadie's nails as free raw hide bones and pulls Sadie's neck skin out, with his teeth.

It's certainly going to be hard to say no.  Saying yes will just require a little bit of potty training patience, constant puppy playdates to grow Sadie and Bolt's love, and more vet bills.  Fortunately, this little guy doesn't eat much.

I joke at call Sadie, Arnold  Schwarzenegger and Bolt, we call, Danny DeVito.  To keep or not to keep?!?! That is the question.

Fun With Clouds!

The other day, the clouds were out and they were HUGE. I think, cumulosnimbus clouds to be exact. See, while studying with Ty this year, I learned a thing or two, as well. I had some fun with the camera and the clouds, while waiting outside for the kids' bus to arrive!

"Reach For The Clouds Sky!"

 Sprite Explosion.

 "I scream, You Scream, We All Scream For Ice Cream."

The painted sky!

The first sprite photo above, I tested out a fun, color burst feature that I have on a photo editing program. Below, is the original photo. 

 I had a few other ideas in mind, but the rug rats got off the bus and needed my undivided attention!

Today I Don't Feel Like Doing Anything!

OH MY GOODNESS!!!! I went through some of my old YOU TUBE videos and found this gold mind.  YUP! ADORBS! I barely remember them this little.  TODAY... I DON'T feel like doing anything, but I never have that option.  LOL!

Sleeping Beauty!

Priceless: Play clothes, make-up, and "baby", ALL while taking a nap!!! She sure did get all "dolled" up, just to fall asleep!

Almost 29,000 HITS!

Darren did a "party jam" video of Ty's 7th Birthday Party, two years ago.  Just recently, it must have been added to some website because the views went from 500 to over 28,000 views in the last 4 weeks.  It's CRAAAAZY and exciting!!!!  Enjoy watching it and reminiscing on this amazing party!!!!

It's time to add adsense to this video for SURE!!!!

On A Hike We Go!

After school on Thursday, I told the kids' to drop their book bags and join me on a hike, across the street, directly from our home. It was an odd day for weather.  On the first 15 minutes of our hike, the weather was slightly cool and the sun beaming on us. On the last 15 minutes, the clouds rolled in, rain was in sight, and it started to get reallllly cold.  The photo below shows you how hight up we were.  You can spot our beautiful home, front and center.

 I enjoyed viewing the greenery and "vegetation" along our hike.

 A gorgeous view of God's creation!

Evidence that Fall has arrived.

Once we reached the top of the mountain, Lilah began twirling around and it made me think of my favorite movie, "The Sound Of Music!"

This really was OUR view!

 Deer droppings!

I love breaking away from the mundane and switching things up from time to time.  I'm soooo glad we did.  

I Voted!!!

The kids and I showed up to the voting poles around 2:45 pm yesterday!!!  I enjoy doing these things with them because I know that, as an American, it is a great privilege to vote and I want my children to see me doing it. I'm really NOT a political person, but I do know what political party I am :) and I will never stray from it.  Some may say, "your single vote doesn't count", but I'd like to think it does.  #republicanalltheway

When I look at this photo, I just smile and laugh.  Each of them, though raised under the same roof, with the same morals, values, and belief system, contain 3 TOTALLY different personalities.  

Pool Flirtations, Back Massages, Chicken Noodle Soup, and Closet Time With God

Just a few random photos from my phone that couldn't justify a single post.

Lilah and Mason gazing into each other's eyes at the pool.  LOL!

 Tyson leaves me a note, on my night stand, demanding a back scratch.

 Last week, I made the MOST delicious chicken noodle soup E-V-E-R.

Switched up my study spot and moved it to my walk-in-closet.  Hehe.

These were posts on Instagram, but I enjoyed the photos and wanted to document them on our family blog.  I apologize if you follow me on Instagram and you are seeing these for the second time.  

Accessorizing My "Apple Juice"

Since moving from iPhone 4/iPod 4 to the "5's", our quantity of "apple juice" is very scarce. In our home, we only have 3 iPhone 5/iPod 5 chargers.  Inevitably, we are always saying, "You have MY cord!" and inevitably, the other person says, "NO!!! That's MINE!"

I couldn't take it anymore.  I was being blamed for taking my husband's phone charger, Ty was taking mine, and it was an endless battle UNTIL... I found this ADORABLE washi tape at Office Max. I explained to Tyson what my plan was and he was thrilled.  He too hated the constant manhunt.  I allowed Ty to pick out the tape that suited his taste and tonight I was FINALLY able to decorate our cords.  

Directions: Pick out your favorite patterned washi tape!  The choices are ENDLESS!

 Collect ALL of the cords that your little heart desires to decorate identify.

 "Tape" the accessories the way you desire.  You could just tape the plug, but I chose to tape the cord too!

 Tada!!!! 

Ty's = Sunglasses

Darren's = Blue Stripes

 Kristin's = Green Dots

 NO MORE QUESTIONS on Who's Cord is WHO's!!!!

 And I had to add this funny thought, below, from pinterest