Kentucky Visit

Last week was a busy, busy, busy one for us! We started out traveling with Chase to Jackson for a coaches golf tournament. We went with all our coaching friends and their families so it was a blast! Plus it was nice to not have to spend two extra nights away form Daddy--its hard on his girls when he has to be gone overnight! :(

Hide and Seek anyone?

In Jackson we had some great meals, did some shopping, and hit up their zoo. It was a small zoo, but still so much fun! Augusta loved looking at all the animals, and she had to pick herself out a tiger to take home!

Mommy and Baby at the zoo

Well, we got back from Jackson Tuesday night, and early Wednesday morning we loaded up to make to trip to Lexington. And it was definitely a trip! It took us a little over 7 hours (I think--felt like way more) but we finally made it to see Alyssa and Brad--and we can't forget Kenzie too! Our first night they cooked us dinner which was super yummy and a great way to unwind after the drive!

She's obsessed with the balls at Target

Alyssa had our trip all laid out so we pretty much just went along with our tour guide! Lol! Thursday we woke up and headed to the Little English Warehouse! (I was super pumped to go!) We got tons of stuff at great prices, and I also told Alyssa she would have to be shopping for me up there when it gets close to the holidays--such great prices for all their smocked clothes! Then we headed downtown to meet Brad for lunch at a little spot they like called Doodles. After our meal, more shopping was on the agenda as we hit target and the mall! Then we were exhausted so it was home for nap time! Dinner was at a little Italian place called Joe Bologna's. We had deep dish pizzas and they were amazing! Def will eat there again when we got back!

Crying because we had to leave Target!

Friday we got up and headed to the Kentucky Horse Park. It took us a little while to find it, but when we did it was beautiful. It was also super hot. And crowded. Little did we know, they were having something called BreyerFest there at the same time--apparently it is a big deal in the horse world. Who knew? But we still enjoyed the park and seeing all the different horse of the world. Plus, seeing horses is kinda something you just have to do if you go to Kentucky. After taking it in, we headed home and rested up for dinner.  Dinner was at a place called Ramsey's. For those from around here, I compare it to an Ajax type of restaurant. We had catfish and veggies and it was another delicious meal.

Pretty girl exploring the horse park

Saturday was by far my favorite day. Woke up and headed to brunch at a little place called Coffee Pub. They had fresh squeezed orange juice that was uh-mazing! When we left there, we headed to the Explorium. It's a children's museum in downtown Lexington. It was so much fun for everyone, especially Augusta. She loved the water table, the cave, and the bubble room the most. They also had rooms where you could learn about the Kentucky River, Horses, Space, Dinosaurs, insects, the body, and do crafts. Needless to say, we spent quite a while there. I so wish we had something like that here! It would be a great place for birthday parties or just to get out of the house when it is far to hot to be outdoors. We grilled out for dinner that night and it was probably my favorite meal of the trip!

Walking on the moon at the Explorium

Then came Sunday when we had to say our goodbyes. It's sad to leave them so far away but hopefully they'll be making a trip this way before too long! And we had a wedding for one of Chase's cousins in Nashville. This was exciting because it allowed us to break up the trip back! We got to Nashville, checked into our hotel, and had a little downtime before it was time to get ready for the wedding.

Playing in Brad's boots before leaving Kentucky

The wedding was at Riverwood Mansion. The ceremony was outdoors and thankfully the weather held off. It was simple and beautiful. The reception was through the mansion and in a tented area outback. We had a great time and are so happy for Ashley and Nick!

Family at the wedding

Then next day we shopped around Nashville for awhile with Chase's family. We had a fun lunch at Rainforest Cafe (Augusta loved all the animals!) and then it was time to head home! We had a great week, but I'm so happy to be back to spend the rest of summer vacay just relaxing at the house! There's no place like home! :)

Lunch at Rainforest Cafe!

Baby friends doing lunch at the Mellow Mushroom in Jackson

Pic describes how we all felt at the end of our visit to the Horse Park

Entertaining herself downtown before dinner at Ramsey's--She loves inclines!

Well it's official...

The next big step for the Goolsbys in this journey we call life is........building a house!!

We are both beyond excited! And as exciting as it is, it's a little scary. But it's a nervous excited energy--like when you know the change is all for the better, but there are just so many unknown factors and things that you have no control over.

And the process is not as easy as you might imagine. There is alot that goes into this house building business. Location, banking related aspects, deciding on a builder, etc. People always say there are tons of decisions that goes with building, and I was thinking they were referring to cosmetic things (Paint colors, flooring, appliances, etc) Oh I was so naive!

Good news though, we have decided on a location! We're going to build our by my parents house! I'm excited to be closer to them. And I know Mom is excited to have Augusta right there, especially when it comes to the cold, early mornings!

We have a plan and a builder! We have the people to do our well and septic system. We just had to wait on the financial aspects. And...

We finally got the go ahead with all the financials--long process that I won't bore you (or myself) with! I'm just so thankful that my husband is taking the reigns on all of that! Blessed behind measure.

People say if you can survive building a house together, than you can survive anything. I don't know about all that...but I can honestly say alot of the things going into this so far have been out of our hands. We've had to rely on God's timing (I originally wrote this post in February--just didn't post it!) and keep reminding ourselves that of its truly his will, it will come to be. It's been a test of patience, strength, and faith. It's hard once you're independent to put the reigns in someone else's hands, but this has been a good lesson that sometimes we have to do just that. 

It's now the end of July and we have the piece of land in our names. We also have a well. We're on the builder's schedule and he should be starting within the next few weeks. We are currently packing our things and getting ready to move in with my gracious inlaws (Chase's Parents) by our August 1 move out deadline. Not looking forward to moving twice, but what are you going to do? If the process of getting this far has taught us anything, it is that it will be alright! We trust it'll be done when it's meant to be done! :) 

That's all I really have for now! Keep checking back for more updates!

Love and blessings!

Beach Vacay 2013

Baby's first time in the ocean

So, we just got back from our family vacation today. We ventured to Orange Beach with my side of the family and had an awesome time! I have a big family so needless to say there is never a dull moment! And to top it all off it was Augusta's first time to the beach--priceless memories were made over the last week. Ones I know we as parents will cherish forever.

Splashing in the waves with Mommy and Uncle Luke

Our first day we arrived around 4:30. We got settled in the condo and then decided to make our way down to the beach, since we still had plenty of daylight. Augusta's face when she first saw it, and then stepped into the waves was magical! She absolutely loved it! She's a waterbaby for sure and she didn't want to get out of the water--the only way we got her to leave the beach was promising the pool. And then getting her out of there was a struggle! 

Someone is ready to play!

We had two pretty beach days (not too much sun with a breeze) where we got up early and headed to the shore. Augusta enjoyed every minute of it--she loved venturing out in the water, though she wanted to be carried out into it most of the time. She had fun collecting seashells. She carried around her little bucket and picked them up and dropped them right in there. Her favorite were the little white shells. She also had fun playing in the sand, building castles and animals. We also had fun at the indoor pool and hot tub. With the way the hot tub bubbled Augusta was in heaven thinking it was a big bathtub! 

Thinking so hard in her Fourth of July attire

One night in here was also the Fourth of July. We cooked burgers and stayed in--celebrating family style. We also got to experience Augusta's first fireworks. She really enjoyed them. The noise didn't seem to bother her, though it was kinda late for her and she was tired. We watched them on the beach right in front of our condo. But we saw plenty of them and then headed up and watch more from our balcony. 

Dad and Goo entertaining themselves with snapshots while shopping

The next day the rain started, so it was definitely a shopping kind of day. We hit the outlet mall and spent the majority of the day there. Then we headed back, exhausted, but just in time to get ready for dinner. 

My World

The day after that looked like it would be more of the same--nonstop rain. But we still hadn't taken our family beach pics that I had so been wanting! So we got ready and waited for a break in the rain. That seemed like it would never come, so instead of missing our photo-op, we headed down in the drizzle. My little sis was our awesome photographer and even though there was mist to a light rain falling on us, the photos turned out so beautiful! 

But guess what? Later that afternoon the rain cleared and the sun came out! We had a blast collecting shells (one of our favorites) and playing in the surf! It was the perfect end to our last full day at the beach. We had probably our best meal of the trip for dinner that night and then headed to the condo to pack for the journey home.  

Love and Sand Castles

Such a fun getaway with the family! I'm glad we all got to experience it together and make those precious memories. Maybe Augusta will have some memory of it as she gets older, but if not, we always have the pictures and videos! 

Playing with TT

Me and my love at dinner

View from the balcony

Footprints in the sand

Mommy and Baby love

Attempt at a family pic

Daddy-Daughter Memories

Summer 2013

Pool Fun!

So it's been waaaaaay too long since I made a post on this blog! I mean, should I even continue it? Lol, well of course I should! One, because once I start something I like to see it through; and Two, I like keeping up with our daily (or monthly) activities.

Well since Easter, life has been super crazy! Obviously, far too busy for me to write a blog post. But finally we are out of school for the summer, actually been out for about a month. So nice to think about!! 

Baseball game at Ole Miss

Baseball season has given way to summer baseball with about a week break in between. Needless to say, poor Chase is wiped out!! My baby sister graduated high school! Cannot believe it! Friends have gotten married and had babies (different sets of friends)! Augusta has become a daredevil monkey! She seriously needs some gymnastics on her life!! And I have been enjoying all the downtime with my little miss--well as much down time as you can have with an 18-month old! Mostly I'm just enjoying not having a schedule and filling our days with snuggles, smiles, and new discoveries! 

Tori's Graduation

Augusta had her 18-month check up...she didn't get shots, but from all the crying she did you would've thought they were killing the poor baby! Found out she's in the 93% for height--something she definitely didn't get from her momma! Also meeting all milestones! She's started going in the potty consistently every morning! Yay! Not pushing it throughout the day, but I'm glad we're laying the foundation! Also she's finally getting more teeth! She has bubbles on all her molars, and one has even broken the skin. My baby is growing up!! 

And now enjoy some pics from the summer so far! I'll try not to stay away so long next time! 

Aunt Lys came to visit

Cutest baby on the block

Baby's first Sno Biz Experience

Daredevil

Me and my love at Hedge and Chelsey's rehearsal dinner

Us at the wedding

Easter 2013

She loves being under the table!

Easter was so much fun for Augusta Kate this year--mainly because she didn't sleep her way through it! ;) But seriously, it was a great weekend filled with family. And Mommy had a four-day-weekend to cuddle with her girl, so I'm not complaining about that!

All ready to shop!

Friday was shopping and baseball! Augusta was such a trooper because it really was a long day for her. I also got her Easter Bunny pictures back and there were actually some good ones! I was so proud of her for not being scared like she was with Santa!

Saturday Chase's baseball games were rained out! So he got to come to the church egg hunt with us! It was Augusta's first time hunting eggs and she enjoyed it! Though once she had a few in her hands, she was content! (I think she got six eggs total!) The rest of the day was spent being lazy at home as the rain, rain, rain came down, down, down...(Reference to Winnie the Pooh) Then later that evening we went and dyed eggs as a family at Chase's parents. So much fun and Augusta even made her first egg!

Green Egg=Augusta's First Easter Egg--she drew the design! :) 

Sunday was Easter! Augusta awoke to find her Easter basket filled with goodies--even though she was most interested in her book! Then we got gussied up for church! Augusta decided she was not having sitting still though, so we ended up in the unattended nursery.

After church we headed to Chase's parents' house. His great-grandfather was there and we had food and did an egg hunt for all the girls inside the house. (It was just too nasty to hide the eggs outside!) Augusta's favorite part about the Easter Eggs was definitely trying to open them--and once she figured that out we were all done! Had to hide the candy!

Next we headed to one of Chase's Aunt's homes for more food and Easter celebrations with extended family. The girls had another indoor egg hunt. And though Augusta got plenty of eggs, she was delirious and over the hunting at this point! She was much more interested in playing with toys she found along the path to the eggs!

Family pic

She finally napped in the car and we headed to my parents where we finished our Easter celebrations! We planned to do another hunt for them, but cooking and socializing got in the way! Augusta did try her first corn on the cob, though! And she loved it! It was priceless watching her eat it!

Hope everyone else made some great Easter memories! And also took time to be thankful for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is in his death and resurrection that we are forgiven & saved and will get to join our Father in heaven some day!

Playing under Mims' table

Mommy helping Augusta hunt eggs

Loving on her "Creepy Baby" at Gammie's house

With Chase's Great Grandfather, Pappaw

Spring Break

Breadsticks with lunch

It's Spring Break 2013!! Finally! As much as I love my job and my kiddos, I could not wait for this week at home to snuggle with my sweet girl and spend time with my husband! Even though his break will mainly consist of baseball games, we will be there to cheer him on when we can! Other than that our big plans include lazy days at the house with some shopping thrown in!

Peek-a-boo

First weekend of Spring Break was wonderful! Lots of family fun with both sets of grandparents. And just enough baseball and softball to satisfy us! I was also able to sneak in a movie date with the hubby. We went to see "Oz the Great and Powerful." It was fabulous! And Chase even liked it!

Hugs from Daddy

During the week we spent a day traveling around and shopping with Gammie and Pappy! (Guess they just can't go very long without seeing sweet Augusta!) Augusta and I also went to a consignment sale--got some great things! It's my favorite one to go to! :) We also had lunch out with a friend!

Too cool for you ;) 

We filled the rest of our time with baseball and playing outside--we got two really pretty days at the end of the break (80 degrees!) and Augusta was loving the outdoors! Wish we could say we filled our time doing family things, but sadly baseball took over the entire break for Chase.

Playing on her slide

We did her him to ourselves on Friday and again on Sunday. Friday he got a fishing outing and we relaxed and went to the park. Then we had a family dinner on the patio of a restaurant on town. It was so nice to be outdoors! Sunday was a day of rest (as it was meant to be) because we were all exhausted from the busy week!

Interesting ways my child watched TV--ignore the "bed head"

Loved the time off, but it just spoiled me for summer! It went way too fast! But at least, at the time this is being published anyway, there are less than two months left of school!

Mirrors are a girl's best friend

The world is her playground

"I can climb UP the slide!"

Riding the Workman with Daddy