Life ain't always beautiful but its a beautiful ride

I feel like being completely random today so my words will probably make no sense.

Do you ever have days you just want to wallow in self-pity? I do. More often than I would like to admit. I think one of my biggest faults is being a very analytical person. I analyze everything and everyone. I definitely have struggles in life as to whether I'm doing the rights things or being the person that I should be. Its hard. I have always been the type of person that no matter what you are going through in life, you learn to deal with it and just put on a happy face. I have always had a wall built up that it makes it hard to show emotion, raw emotion. I'm 90% of the time a happy person but sometimes I need to just express emotions that I normally don't express. I need to cry because I never cry to just let it out. Sometimes I wonder what I did to deserve unhappiness. I mean, is God punishing me? Granted, I have soooo much to be thankful for, my health, my amazing daughter, my friends, my family. I just look at other peoples' lives and wonder, why can't I have that? I know, you shouldn't be envious or jealous of people or things but I'm only human, right? And you never know what they are going through either. My biggest struggle is I constantly wonder what life would be like outside of "small town USA". There is just so much I want out of life than what this town has to offer. Living in a small town definitely has its perks but it also has limitations. I don't like having limits. I want to be able to do and became anything I want to. I want my children to grow up in a cultured world and not have to endure all the small minded opinions that you do here. But what keeps me here? My family. I am such a family-oriented person that I don't know what I would do if I couldn't see my parents whenever I wanted and it'd kill me to know that my children couldn't their Nana and Pop Pop at the drop of a hat. I don't see how people can do it!

But with all that being said, life ain't always beautiful but its a beautiful ride.

"Life aint always beautiful
Sometimes it's just plain hard
Life can knock you down, it can break your heart
Life aint always beautiful

You think you're on your way
And it's just a dead end road at the end of the day
But the struggles make you stronger
And the changes make you wise
And happiness has its own way of takin it's sweet time"

Wow Wow Wednesday!

I have SERIOUSLY got to get on the ball with my blogging! Life is so hectic right now but I honestly can't complain. I love staying busy. Last weekend was our annual Kines' family reunion at Lake Seminole, Georgia. It was our 5th reunion and as always, we had a great time. It was rather sad because of Uncle Dan passing away a few weeks prior and he absolutely LOVED our family reunions. It is always good catching up with relatives you don't see regularly. I chased Preslei around the lake because all she wanted to do was play with the duck (who were in fact Canadian geese). She wasn't too happy that she couldn't play with them but being the over-protective Mom I am, all I could imagine was an alligator coming to eat her up or either her fall in the lake! I'm such a pessimist!

I'm SUPER excited about my upcoming weekends! Tomorrow, my entire family, well my parents, my brother's family and my family are heading up to the North Georgia mountains to Blue Ridge, GA for a nice weekend getaway! We booked the most beautiful cabin and have plans to take the kidlets to a pumpkin farm, an apple orchard and for some adult fun, we are going to a winery! Its going to be perfect and I can't wait to post pics when we get back! The following weekend is HALLOWEEN! Unfortunately, we were unable to host the Halloween festival at our house this year because one of the local schools puts on a HUGE fall festival every year and they decided to have theirs on Halloween too. :( Oh well, there's always next year! But I am looking forward to taking Preslei to the fall festival at the school! The weekend after Halloween is my Mommy getaway weekend! I am in DIRE need of a "me" weekend. I have to admit, I feel like a bad mom because I want to have a "me" weekend but Preslei is hitting the peak of her clingy stage and its wearing on me. :( Plus, lately she isn't wanting to have anything to do with Keith so I think it will be a great bonding weekend for them. So, where am I going........I'm going to Atlanta to spend some MUCH needed quality time with my best friend Brian. Since having Preslei, I haven't made enough time for my friends and since Preslei is older now, I am going to hit up the ATL with him! I am such a small town girl that is dying to experience the city life so I can't wait!

So, what's a post without a picture? This is Preslei ADORING Braelyn last week when we stopped by for a quick visit. I absolutely cannot wait to have another baby! Seriously, I would have 10 if I could afford it! And when I see Preslei practice her Mommy skills on her cousin Caden and Miss Braelyn, she is going to be the best big sister! Makes my heart completely melt!

Welcome to the world Miss Braelyn

My best friend, Ashley, is officially an Aunt. Her little sister, Caroline, and her husband, Jerry, just welcomed their daughter, Braelyn McKinley Scott, into the world at 12:22pm, weighing 6lbs 15oz!!! And Caroline had NO DRUGS!!!! I couldn't more happier for her! Caroline has ALWAYS been like my little sis and to see her become a Mom is amazing! Thank you Jesus that Jerry was home for his mid-tour leave from serving our country in Afghanistan! Unless his leave is extended, he will have to go back to Afghanistan on Friday and will return home in March.

Caroline, I love you so much and am very very happy for you!

Braelyn, you sweet, sweet baby girl! I can't wait to hold you and spoil you and now Preslei will have another baby to adore! I already love you and haven't met you yet!

August video....Preslei signs! :^)

I can't believe I haven't posted this on here. After seeing my blogger pal, Jenny's, little girl use sign language then I just knew I wanted to get Preslei into some classes. This summer I enrolled her into an amazing Sing and Sign Language class in Tallahassee. We went every Saturday and she had an AMAZING time. Preslei knows about 13 different signs and I am so proud of her. She hasn't been using them as much because her vocabularly has drastically improved since the summer and she can actually tell you want she wants now. (Where did my little baby go?!)

Here is a video from August.

Remember this name.....BRIAN MASON

I wanted to share, with anyone who is reading, about a guy that I am proud to call one of my best friends. Brian and I have become great friends the past few years. We were friends in middle school and high school but have become very close over the last few years. He is an amazing and talented person whom I admire very much for his determination in chasing his dreams. Regardless on where each of our lives takes us, I know that I can always tell him anything and vice versa. Since having Preslei, I haven't called like I should but he completely understands. That's how a true friend is. I was pulling up his dancing videos on YouTube and I just starting getting teary-eyed because it made me realize how much I miss him. So, I wanted to share a couple of videos of his amazing work. I am just so proud to call him one of my best friends. I love you SO much Brian and you mean the WORLD to me! :)

DANCING........


SINGING.....