Dibs!

One thing I love about the mommy-blogging world is the sense of community! All of the mommy blogs I have come across are willing to help out the newbies (like yours truly)!! Katy over at Dibs always has some sort of awesome giveaway and contest going on! She is notorious for giving shout outs to other blogs having giveaways! Follow her on FB and you will always be up to speed!!

BouncerTown

On Saturday afternoon, we headed over to the Avon-Washington Township Park for the annual Heritage Festival. Last year the main entertainment event was "Dancing with the (local) Stars." It was an awesome event. This year they had Minute to Win It, which was less than entertaining! I think Sophia liked the Karate instruction hour a little better! She was cracking up when the kids would do their kicks/punches and split the wood! She kept saying, "Again, Again, Again."

However, I think she had the most fun in the Bounce House!! Check out the short video!! By the end, she had it figured out!! I thought she was way too little for the house, but she held her ground! Next year she will have a blast in the one with the slide!!

Happy Tuesday!!!

Allyson

IT'S A WHOLE NEW WORLD OUT THERE!

WOW! The events of this past week have sparked a whole new passion inside of me! I know I am not the most eloquent journalist, but I LOVE blogging about our life, journey's, and adventures! I have friends that are blessed tremendously in the "writing arena!" (Examples: A and B) I would love to take a few "writing" lessons from the

m some day!! Nevertheless, I enjoy sharing memories from our house to yours! I also love to tell of God's faithfulness in providing for our family! He has blessed us beyond measure and I am very thankful to be in the position we are in right now!!

A verse that comes to mind is this .... Eph 3:20 -- "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us!"

Would you like an update on everything?

I prefer list form ... maybe it is the crazy TYPE-A personality that resides deep within me ...

1) I have been working like a DOG to reach my goal of 100 "followers" through Google Friend connect! If you are reading this blog and haven't become a "formal follower", I would really appreciate it if you move your eyes a few inches to the right and see my "Google Friend Connect" button. Just click and type your email address in! You won't receive emails or spam, it is merely a tracking system to hopefully impress companies so they will have confidence in me promoting their product to a large audience!!

2) I am making new connections each day within the blogging world! It is amazing how close you can feel to a person with a few email exchanges! (Especially when it is so early in the AM, right TCC?) I continue to be blessed by tons of mommy bloggers sharing advice and wisdom as I embark on this exciting, yet scary adventure!!

3) Nate has been super supportive of my latest "obsession!" He is teaching me about web design and tracking from his experience with his wedding photography website! Obsession is defined by Webster: a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling; broadly : compelling motivation. I wouldn't call it unreasonable, but it sure is persistent! :)

4) What else creeps up when something is so exciting in your life? I can think of one word ... FEAR OF FAILURE! Ok, well that is three words, but who is counting! I am going full speed ahead with this mommy blogging and in the back of my mind is this thought: "Allyson, you are telling everyone about your new adventure. What if it doesn't come to pass? What if you are unsuccessful of building confidence in companies and they don't want to trust you to do a review of their product?" I know that great things usual

ly don't happen without fear!! Who doesn't want to be a success at everything they do?

5) Sophia is hilarious as ever! She is obsessed with watching this video (posted on an earlier blog entry) of herself. My next goal is to take a video of her watching herself ... this might even been funnier. Each time she watches it, she laughs harder!! She always runs up to the computer shouting, "Phia, Phia, me watch Phia." Hilarious!! If you haven't seen this video, I highly recommend it!! It is enough to brighten your darkest of days!!

6) Finally, I have been working with Lindsey on my official Blog Makeover! Many of you have noticed the new name and subtitle on the header! Look for awesome new changes to come!!!

Here is a preview of another blog entry that is coming .... Fall Photo shoot #1 with Sophia!

They don't call it a "teaser" picture for nothing .... do they?

Happy Cool Sept Day to you all!!

Allyson

Will you join me?

Hey faithful readers!!!

First of all, let me thank everyone for taking the time to read the blog and join us on our family journey!! A journey it has been, but an incredible one!!!

I am asking for your help .... will you partner with me in a more formal way than just reading the blog?

I have an incredible opportunity to begin work with another professional blogger who is an expert in PR to increase my traffic so I can start doing reviews and giveaways!! Make sure to check out her blog at http://www.thecraftycharlestonian.com. For all you moms out there, she has some KILLER giveaways! Currently she is giving away a Baby Trend High Chair! :) (Not to mention she is SUPER SWEET and I am so thrilled to be working with her!!)

However, to do this I need to have more Google Friend Connect Followers! I know many of you already read the blog on a frequent basis, but to build confidence in the companies searching for reviews, I need to have more "formal followers!"

Would you be able to head over to the blog and make a few simple clicks ...

www.longfamilychronicles.blogspot.com

On the right bar you will see Google Friend Connect. Just put in your email address and you will "follow" me. It will NOT send you emails or spam. It is merely a tracking system through email address'. I would greatly appreciate it. I am trying to reach 100 followers by the middle of next week!!! With your help, it can be possible!!

Just think ... you might be the winner of one of my awesome giveaways! Free stuff = awesome!!

Thanks everyone! I would really appreciate it!

Allyson

PS. If any of you bloggers out there are interested in doing what I will be doing, check this link out! She is looking for more eager bloggers to join her!!

All Smiles!

We had a wonderful weekend as a family!!! So many memories we shared together along with our good friends!!! Here are two shots I got of Sophia while she was hamming it up!! Don't you just wanna squeeze her cheeks? HA!!

At the Avon Town Park Concert

Sunday after church, eating some yummy melts Mommy made!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week!!!

Smiles to all!
Allyson

PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

Hey faithful blog readers!!!

I recently won a BLOG MAKEOVER through BlogMania! Lindsey at http://designsbylinds.blogspot.com will be doing my new design!! Since I am not super creative when it comes to things like this, I NEED YOUR HELP!!!

I need some suggestions of new titles. The Long Family Chronicles is getting a little old! We need a new title!! Please comment in the comment field with your suggestions!!! Any and all are appreciated!! The only thing Nate could think of is "The LONG Journey." Cute little play on words, but not sure I am 100% for that one!!

I also need ideas for a subtitle to go with the main title. I was hoping for a verse of scripture that would go with the title. Or any other little catchy phrase!! Once again, please leave me a comment with your suggestion!

Thanks everyone!!
Allyson

Our Little "Twinkle" Star

Sophia was in rare form tonight! She was continuously cracking herself up! I hope you enjoy this little video as much as we do!!! Isn't she just a doll??

Allyson

Cotton Babies BIG giveaway!

As most of you know, I am a cloth diapering mama!! I LOVE my Bum Genius 3.0 diapers. I have over 20 of them and could use some more for my stash!! These wonderful soft diapers comfort my little Sophia's bum and keep her baby dry!! Over the past 20 months of Sophia's life, 5 of my closest friends have changed from disposable diapers to cloth diapers, specifically BG one side diapers!! It is an amazing system and design and they just recently improved their already "almost" perfect diaper!!

Here is a glimpse at Sophia's amazing diaper:

Currently, over on their blog they are giving away 15 sets of 6 new BG 4.0 diapers!! I would be forever grateful to be a recipient of that award!

If you have never heard of this type of cloth diaper, make sure to click on my hyperlink for their website and check them out!!! Fantastic diapers, fantastic company = HAPPY MAMA!!

Allyson

Laboring in the cold weather

We packed our bags, car, and food and headed 5 1/2 hours northeast to Lake Orion, MI to visit Nate's sister Naomi and her family! To top things off, it was our nephew Tyler's 16th birthday! We had a wonderful time visiting with family that we hadn't seen since Christmas!!

Here are just a few pictures from our journey!!

Sophia found Lexi's keyboard and didn't want to give it up!!

She and Lexi jammed quite a few times!

Sophia's first encounter with a small, furry friend ... a hamster! She thought it was hilarious to reach in his cage and pet him! Good thing he didn't bite her!

Naomi's flowers looked beautiful despite the horrible Midwest drought!

Sophia's infatuation with Tyler still continued all these many months later! If you recall, she loved him the minute she saw him last Christmas!

We had a chance to sneak away for some MI putt-putt! Clearly I did not look at the forecast b/c I didn't pack ANY appropriate clothes. Good thing I could borrow from Lexi and Naomi!! Poor Sophia had a sun dress packed for Sunday church! None of us had a jacket!

After helping Tyler unwrap his birthday presents! He LOVED the Spartans hat Nate and I found for him at the Final Four this past April! I told him I REALLY wanted to buy him a Butler hat (since we pounced on those Sparty's), but I also wanted him to get good use out of it!

Go DAWGS!!

Yummy, homemade cake!!

Not so sure what to think about this clown hair! Ouch, that is itchy!!

Eating GF pizza before heading out of town!!

Do you, my faithful readers, have any special Labor day traditions?? Please do share!!

Allyson

Biker Babes!

Aren't we two cute biker babes??? Sophia just loves to go "bikey!" Each time we pull into the garage she points at the bike helmets and bikes and screams, "bikey, bikey!" So cute! I am so glad that Sophia LOVES being outside doing activities that encourage physical fitness!!

Allyson

Still Papa's Girl!

If you are ever curious where Sophia has run to ... you can usually find her right next to her Papa!

Biking Old Fashion Days in North Salem, IN

Right next to each other on the couch! :)

Blowing Bubbles ...

Or in a trance watching Elmo!!

Sophia sure has found her way to Papa's heart!!! She might just have him tied around her pinky finger!

Allyson