Sweethearts on the Hill

I have recently been marveling at my dear little one (Charlie) who has this unique, carefree, whimsical look that truly enables him to pull off any fashion trend. He can work it in the preppy polos, rock it out in a Pink Floyd t-shirt, sport it up in a muscle man basketball shirt, and even steal hearts in a baseball hat pushing out his little 70's afro. The kid's got style! So this time around, "Another New Set of Eyes" is referring to the amazing sunglasses Charlie has recently acquired. They are actually a lost-then-rediscovered-hand-me-down from his big brother (which makes it even better!) So here is Charlie with his own beautiful little set of eyes… As his mommy, I must say I think they are quite perfect just as they are, but we're going for a little more accessorizing today! Alright, still workin' on gettin' 'em where they need to be… Ahhh, Perfect! Just the look we were going for today. Oh but wait! There's more… You defini...

So, I'm a lucky girl who happens to have a cousin with the most amazing horse farm in the state of Tennessee. She and her husband specialize in breeding and training competitive sport horses. Their facilities are breathtaking. The farm covers several hundred acres of rolling hills and amazing views of the East Tennessee mountains and countryside. The beauty is impossible to describe… it's just something you have to see.  We received a special invite this past weekend to go up there while the Budweiser Clydesdales were in town having a sleep-over (no joke!) Not only is this a bucket list experience for Mr. Agrestic, but also an excellent photo opportunity for myself.  Though I was quite impressed by the Clydesdales - you'll see that I couldn't help but turn my attention to the baby foals recently born at the farm… something about those little ones… always stealing the show! I struggled a little with the pictures - the Clydesdales were in the stalls most of the time...

This is the precious present. Regardless of what yesterday was like.. Regardless of what tomorrow may bring… When your inner eyes open, you can find immense beauty hidden within the inconsequential details of daily life.

It's that time of year again! The fountains are on in Market Square, adding that extra pinch of perfection to our beloved downtown Knoxville visits. While we were there on Sunday, we dug up some Easter eggs that were buried in the tote. They added a rainbow of color and happiness to our whole adventure (as did the fabulous lemon Coolato Gelato that followed!)

As I look Beyond the ripples of my reflections To examine my inner self; The ripples begin to fade... As the reflection lays beside me Grasping my hand, The inner warmth shields me And the vision of my reflection appears I see you. My Friend. At this link is the story of our 30 amazing years of friendship. It's 9 minutes long, and just barely touches the surface of the experiences we've shared. Every memory of my entire childhood includes Brandy. She has had a profound impact on my life and the person I am. She will forever be my compass. My True North. My First Lady. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbL4F8OAHRA

The greatest gift you will ever receive is the gift of loving and believing in yourself. Guard this gift with your life. It is the only thing that will every truly be yours. Believe it or not, I didn't even tell Sam to do this. I was taking pictures of his sweet face and he decided to pull his little hands up to make a heart.

I have to admit baseball is one of the many reasons I love having boys. As much as my heart would adore all the mother-daughter experiences I've always dreamed about, I can't deny that I would choose hanging out at a baseball field over a dance studio a hundred times over. Here are some pictures of Sam and Charlie playing baseball this year. (Okay so here are a LOT of pictures of Sam and Charlie playing baseball this year… I can't HELP myslef!) They both play for the Reds, but on different teams. Sam is in the 4 year old league. Charlie is in the 3 year old league. Charlie had just learned that his bat can draw pictures in the dirt, so he was putting it to good use on his way up to hit. Big hit from Charlie Hatcher! Running to second! A little top heavy here :) Giant helmets just may be my most favorite thing about the 3 year old league Here's Sam getting ready for a big hit! We've been shocked at how intense he is this year. Total transfo...