Meet Julia.

What can I say? I love making videos! She's so silly.

-caylielane.

Meet Carson.

Precious little brother.

-caylielane.

I woke up at 8:12 this morning.

...And I'm proud to say that that's the earliest I've woken up since I graduated high school! Although, that will change on Friday- Dad and I are headed to Washington DC for a father/daughter trip, and our flight leaves at 6 am! So... I'll be up and around no later than 4:30 en la mañana! Good stuff, man. Good stuff.

This morning, I finally got my precious little friend of a car back from the shop. It was a glorious reunion, complete with rolled down windows, sunglasses, and a little bit of Natasha Bedingfield. Absolutely fabulous. Anyhoo, my car and I ran a plethora of errands today, all before 11:30! Including:

• Walgreens
• The Bank
• Dropped off Carson at preschool (can't believe my bro is about to be a preschool grad!)
• Bought my lifeguard swimsuit
• Walmart

...And, I had sushi for lunch with my dad and Christian! It was a happy thing. Goodness gracious, I love sushi in all (ok, most) of its forms. So. Much.

The rest of my day consists of picking up Carson from preschool, bringing him back home, and then immediately heading back out for a lifeguard meeting. Today, I will find out my hours for the summer! Honestly, I'm going to just take as many as they will give me. Bring on the sunscreen!

After that, I'm heading home for a hang out night with my dad and brothers. Swimming, grilling, and making gluten-free cake with my newly gluten-free five year old brother. It should be a joyous night!

And then...sleep. Ah... I like sleep.

-caylielane.

Me and that Julia!

What can I say? We are goof balls. Straight up goof balls. We may or may not have sprinted around Dillards today (er... speed walked.)  in search for something for me to splurge on... what can I say? I had a gift card! The result? Nike shorts. I love any and all running shorts, but Nikes are my fave. Toodloo!

-caylielane.

PS- I've been experimenting with iMovie on my Mac today! Enjoy! Never mind the fact that "Call Me Maybe" is the background song for both videos... complications.

Just an update.

Two days ago, my sickly self slept all day because the stomach bug had its hold on me. Then, that night, I had trouble falling asleep, as you may remember, due to the fact that my last blog post took place around 4:00 am. Well, I didn't get to sleep until 6 am that morning! It was a strange sensation falling asleep as sunlight was beginning to seep through my bedroom window.

Needless to say, I slept late yesterday morning! When I finally did wake up, I was informed that poor Christian had caught my bug. He literally slept all day yesterday. So, while my family headed out to church (which I was sad to miss- apparently it was extra great yesterday!), I stayed home and dozed, watched Project Runway, and layed out/ swam in our back yard. It was a nice, lazy morning. For lunch, I ordered a gluten-free Domino's pizza! Their new crust is absolutely delish!!

By this point in the day, I was feeling pretty restless. I mean, I had just spend five days flopping on the beach, and a day and a half being lazy and sickly. So, when the rest of the fam got home, I got dressed and headed out to Academy Sports (I had to pick up a new swimsuit for lap swimming) and then to the gym! Ahhh, it felt incredibly wonderful to work out again! I can't even explain. I really do go considerably crazy when I go long periods of time without working out. At the gym, I did lower body, power walked, and swam laps. It was lovely. 

Today is going to be the same as yesterday in that I will be lazy for the first half of the day, and then active for the second half! I didn't wake up this morning until about 10:30, which was fabulous. Then, I made my way downstairs and ate a bowl of Cinnamon Chex (gluten-free glory!) for breakfast. Now, I'm blogging up a storm. Around 2:45, Julia is going to pick me up, drop me off at physical therapy for my elbow, and then pick me up again in time for us to make it to Hip Hop Latin Spice- my favorite class at the gym!! 

Julia is doing all of the dropping off and picking up because my car is in the shop. It should be ready later today...fingers crossed! Once I got my own car, it has become hard to imagine how I ever got by without one!! Haha. I do so much running around on a regular basis. Thank the Lord for sweet friends like Julia who help me out when I'm in a bind!! 

Speaking of friends. I miss my Eli! We have both been traveling like crazy people. First, I was at the beach and she was in California. Now, she's at the beach. Then, with one day in between when she gets home and when I head out (we WILL hang out.), I'm heading to DC with my daddio! Then, when I get back, Eli and her mom and sister are headed to the Grand Cayman!! So, basically, mine and Eli's summer together doesn't start until she arrives back home on June 7th. At least we are getting all of the big trips done early and all bunched together! After that, we can both look forward to the trip to Destin that we are taking with my family in July! I'm so excited, I tell you!!

Wow. This post got a little lengthy. Goodness gracious, if you are still reading this, I have an enormous amount of respect for you!

I'm off to...piddle until lunchtime, I suppose.

-caylielane.

I shouldn't be awake.

It's currently 3:50 am, and guess who is still wide awake? This girl.

For the past five days, I've been on my senior trip to Gulf Shores, which was absolutely fantastic. I don't know if I've ever properly explained my love for the beach. Growing up, we used to go to the beach (either Gulf Shores or Destin) every summer, for dad's work. It was always something I looked forward to, daydreamed about, and counted the days to.

Now that Dad doesn't do photography as much anymore, we don't necessarily go every summer, which just heightens my already outrageous love and LONGING for all things beach! Needless to say, I had been looking forward to the senior trip for a very long time- and it was a success, I must say! Shopping, fun restaurants, late night movies, and days spent laying out and swimming in the ocean. That's what I like to call a Caylie vacation.

Anyhoo. I returned home around 9pm last night from the trip. It was great to be back! I know it was only a five day trip, but I've gotta say, I missed the fam. Everything was perfect and splendid until I noticed that there was something I'd accidentally brought home with me from the trip- the stomach bug! Let's just say that last night was not a fun one. I've spent the entire day feeling sickly and lying around- literally. I can't remember the last time that I was horizontal for that much of a day! Watching movies, sleeping, reading, repeat.

...And now I'm paying the price for all of that sleeping during the day today. I absolutely cannot get to sleep! Fabulous. At least it's summer now! I can take a nap tomorrow if I need to. (...if? I will need to.) Goodness, I love summer, and all of the loveliness that comes with it! Snow cones, free time, swimming, traveling, late nights, sundresses, and lots of sleep (whether it be during the day or at night).

Here are some pictures from the beach trip!

This is Emily, Jessica and I right after we pulled up to our beach house. After being stuck in a van all day, we were more than ready to be on the beach! We all hopped out of the van and ran down to the beach as soon as we arrived.

Our fabulous, adorable blue beach house! Fourteen bedrooms, right on the beach, and a private pool- it was perfection!

On our third night there, we all got dressed up before heading out to dinner at Lulu's (one of my personal favorites from years past!). This is Emily, Carly, and I before we left the beach house. The three of us shared a room, and we were fabulous roomies! Carly, might I add, took most of these lovely photos that I'm posting! 

We had a spontaneous time of worship out on the beach one night! It was fabulous.

Emily and I at Lulu's! Goodness I love this girl. Both of us are gluten-free, so we were equally thrilled when the waitress brought us their special allergen menu! They had a manager come out and talk to us about what we could eat, bring out our food separately...the whole shabang!

Hallelujah, salvation and glory!!

You can never be too old for kites...or Pooh Bear...or Barbie! Especially at the beach! I must say, the kite extravaganza made for quite a charming evening!

We all went on a dolphin cruise on our last full day in Gulf Shores. It was absolutely amazing!!

The girls!

It was a beautiful, refreshing, wonderfully slow paced week. Much needed. I couldn't have asked for a better way to kick off my summer!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lunsxGY8ePM&feature=share

Above is the link to a video that Carly put together about the trip!

...Okay, it's now 4:26. I should really attempt to sleep...

-caylielane.

I love my Mama!

It's Mother's Day today, and I am going to take this chance to tell the world that I love my sweet mom so, unbelievably much! I am so thankful for the things she says, the way she is, and the kindness that she surrounds our family with on a daily basis! She is such a giver, and that does not go unappreciated. Yesterday was a hard day for her- seeing her little girl graduate from high school. Seeing the way that she was fighting back tears the entire time was really touching. But, no matter what the future decides to throw at me, I will always be her little girl!

I love my mom. So, incredibly much! I have been blessed beyond belief, and I mean that in the least cliche way possible.

-caylielane

Big Day!!

Today was a big, big, big day in the life of Caylie! Why?

...Because I graduated from high school today, that's why! It's hard to believe that it really happened. It doesn't seem possible that high school is behind me. My mind is truly boggled. It's thrilling, and a tiny bit sad, all at the same time. I have made some incredible memories over the last four years. (Well, the last eighteen years!) But, I'm ready to see what the future holds. I'm thankful beyond belief for the past, but I'm outrageously excited about what's ahead!

The ceremony went really well today. It was all kind of a blur, thinking back on it. I, along with my friend Moriah, even gave a little speech about our class statistics before the diplomas were presented! That was fun. I remember going to graduation two years ago, and knowing that I wanted to be one of the seniors that got up and spoke at graduation- and I did!  It was by no means a big, emotional thing, but I did speak! That's enough for me!

This whole "graduation season" has been filled with blessings from other people. Never before in my life have I received so much mail- much less, with gifts! I really do feel surrounded and supported by so many people that truly care, and want the best for me! That has been such an encouragement.

Tonight, my parents gave me a huge graduation gift... a MacBook Pro!! I can't even BEGIN to express my excitement! I'm typing on it right this moment, and I'm loving every second of it! Love, love, love! It's strange to think about how many college papers and research will be done on this computer.

Some photos from today-

Eli and I before the ceremony. I am so thankful for our friendship. I don't even know how to put it into words!

Me and my wonderful family before the ceremony. They're the best. I'm so grateful for the way that they have continued to love and support me through the years.

Me with all four of my incredible grandparents before the ceremony! It meant so much to me that all of them were there to see me graduate! 

Officially done with high school- diploma and all!

Sigh. This day has been on my calendar for a very, very long time. Now that it's over, I'm kind of at a loss. I've never really known myself as anything other than a high school student! But I'm open to change. In fact, I'm rather enthusiastic about it!

-caylielane.