Dirt: Trying something new

 Happy Sunday. 

Peace be with you.

 

via

 

Delaney and I are off to try a new church this morning. 

More to come

Instafriday: Finally!

Linking up with Jeanette...

Finally downloaded all the photos off my cameras! 

Here are two of my favorites from The Avett Brothers when we took these cute girls with us.

We were that close...and he was that cute.

Two weeks ago, we went to this. 

We all had so much fun, but when we saw this, the Mecca for my Ellie, the Mac the Cheese Truck, we were very excited.

She was smitten.
We have all been singing all the songs from Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros after their fabulous show. Here is one of my favorite photos of Alex Ebert, lead singer.

Summer has been fun and we are taking advantage of all the local fun to be had. 

Sunday, our girls competed in a pie eating contest at The Chattanooga Market. Delaney was a return participant, determined to win.

 She did! 

We stopped mid week to celebrate Steve's birthday.

American Gothic has nothing on Silly Swanns.

 Chattanooga is a summer swim city and we take full advantage. Ellie has fun with her buddies and Delaney does it to stay in shape for fall and winter swimming.

Lots of swim practice and meets the first month of summer for all of us. 

The heat and time is worth it though.

We are undefeated! 

A little more local flavor. 

Happy First Official Week of Summer!

Whatever: Happy Birthday

Today is the birthday of my husband. 

We have celebrated birthdays together since 1995, when he turned the ripe old age of 26.

I bought him a pizza stone, a pizza paddle and a cookbook about, you guessed it, pizza.

This based on the fact that when I visited him at school in St. Louis, we ate pizza or Italian almost every single day. I figured I had a fair shot at a home run. 

Over the years, I have figured out  lots of things about Steve. 

Mostly that his family did not make huge deals out of most things. 

My family, by contrast, throws a party if you get up to go to the bathroom.

"Surprise! We are still here! "

Somewhere in the middle is how we celebrate his birthday.

I try to come up with something fun. 

He tries to make it hard as hell to buy him anything.

We have cake.

 

This year is very low key. Swim meet, then drinks with friends.

I made dinner last night and a cake, his mom and my parents came over. 

There were gifts.

Next week, however, we will combine the tournament in his honor "Swannie Cup" with my favorite holiday. I can sneak in my need to celebrate with his need to not. 

Win/Win.

Happy Birthday to truly my favorite person.

You make me laugh, make me think, and impress me with your feats of strength.

I am so glad you were born.