AS GOOD AS IT GETS

Mardi Gras Continued

2012-02-19T18:04:00.000-08:00

On Sunday we set out to D'Iberville in Mississippi!! We first stopped by to see my grandmother and then we headed over to a family friend's for a nice family day and parade!

This was my first time to this event and I really enjoyed it and felt very relaxed!!

Here's my crew...JC, Savanna, and mom!

Mamzy

Daddy and Savanna

All bundled up!

Mom took and picture of me and JC...he was standing on a curb...it was nice to have a tall husband for a second!

Savanna's purchases of the day consisted of a party hat and cotton candy!!

Here's is my stud muffin....I was actually trying to capture the sky in the background....playing with my camera settings!!! I'll take some pictures of him any day though!

I think it's funny that Savanna woke up today and asked if it was float day!!!! I was happy to say no...but tomorrow we will live it up one more time for the season. Having the rest of this week off of school makes Fat Tuesday much more exciting!!

Here is a picture I left off of my last post...me and JC at his ball!

Mardi Gras 2012

2012-02-18T18:49:00.000-08:00

Mardi Gras festivities are still going strong and have been just as busy this year as any other year. Especially now that we have Savanna full time we had to make a few special arrangements.

Here is our sweet little family!!

However, one huge advantage of having Savanna this year meant that for the first time she was able to see JC on his float. I know that JC has always wanted her to see him on his float but it has just been too complicated in the past to bother arranging. But...this year, Mamzy agreed to bring Savanna down to the parade and then stay the night at our house with her.

Savanna had a fabulous time.

Some details..my ball was first, on Valentine's Day actually! Our theme was Jungle Love...hence to costumes!! Mom and I rode together and had a great night!

Me and my handsome hubby!

Next was JC's ball. First we waited to see him and catch all kinds of goodies. Then we (me, mom, Savanna and some other dates) waited for the parade to pass. After it was over, Mamzy and Savanna went home and I went into the ball.

One tradition my husband started when we were first dating was to throw me a stuffed a penguin from the float.....this year he added a baby one for Savanna!!

Of course...she wants my Penguin!!! (He's hidden for now until I add him to my collection at school)!

Bicycle, Bicycle, Go So Fast...

2012-02-06T19:10:00.000-08:00

Bicycle, Bicycle, Do Not Crash!

We had a really hard time with the bicycle at first! In fact she had nothing to do with it! But suddenly....she has really gotten the hang of it!

And of course....any girl would do better in a costume, especially a magic one like Tinker Bell!

A Little Dress Up!!

2012-02-06T18:52:00.000-08:00

My how these pictures do not reveal the week we have had!! A few facts that our princess is facing.....

1)This is for real,
2)We get up and go EVERY day,
3)Yes...we have rules and chores,

4)I will always honk when I pass the front of the house and see you in the window,
5)I can tell when you haven't brushed your teeth,
6)Sprout is a reward not a requirement,

7)When I say I'm going to be a little late to pick you up...you do not have to respond, "I'll be in the office because everybody leaves" (not that late),
8)I understand you cannot run as fast in your white keds as you can in your tennis shoes...but sometimes they are cuter
9)No, your brush does not have knots, it's your hair baby!

...and finally, no matter how hard you try you can't push us away....

10)Love is UNCONDITIONAL!

God, What are YOU Thinking?

2012-01-31T19:25:00.000-08:00

Here is a post I wrote about two weeks ago: **I decided to post it today after I read the link you can follow at the bottom!

My new title for it is: A New Perspective

HELP?!?!?!

I have no idea what I am doing....as a new parent. Not to a newborn, I imagine that to be easier, but to a 4 year old. A real, live, opinioned character who has her own thoughts, wishes, and plans! I am afraid I am failing. How do you take a child, who has for the most part been raised by someone else, and make her fit into our lives??? It's different than every other weekend, it's everyday, all day, real life parenting!

I have been around kids my whole life. I've worked in daycares for years...but for some reason this is harder!!

Are my expectations too high?? Do I challenge her more than I should??? Do I instigate problems more than avoiding them?? Do I teach her valuable lessons or am I wasting my time? Does she have enough responsibilities....or too many?? Do I push her too far or do I back down to easy??

I have no FREAKING clue!?!?!

Now read this....

I Don't Want to Raise a Good Child

Prima Ballerina....or something like that!!

2012-01-31T16:41:00.000-08:00

This week was visitor's week at ballet and Savanna was very excited!! She may have been slightly under the weather since she had her booster shots yesterday...which she has constantly reminded us, were no fun!!

Anyways...here are a few shots. You never can tell how these little ones will do! One minute she's on and the next minute I think she has forgotten what first position even is!!

Here is Savanna and her cousin Isabella

GRACE

We were still proud...as any parents would be! And in case I forgot to mention...these girls are all just about one year ahead of Savanna in age!

Our Last Disney Day!!

2012-01-22T17:08:00.000-08:00

Our fourth morning started off with a character breakfast at Chef Mickey's!! We chose to do this breakfast to get to see some other characters...besides the princesses!!

This was a great time...the food was great and things just moved along easily!!

First we had to wait in a short line....I started to get frustrated because we had a reservation...but we didn't wait long!

Then we had a family picture! The other reservations included a picture, but not this one...we bought it anyways!

Then came the characters....
Donald

Mickey

Minnie

Pluto

Goofy

After breakfast we headed back to the Magic Kindgom...to find the ONE AND ONLY LOST PRINCESS!!!

Daddy got his Mickey Ears (ice cream)!

AND THEN.....We found her....(about 2 hour wait)...RAPUNZEL!!! It was awesome and Savanna was amazed!!!

Seeing Rapunzel was the only thing we did this day at the Magic Kingdom.

We had not originally planned to go to the Animal Kingdom but after hearing so many wonderful things about The Festival of the Lion King...we decided to go!! A PERFECT decision...it was awesome!

Savanna met Pocahontas..

We had relaxing lunch..

Watched the Lion King..

We also rode one more ride there....Dinosaur (Savanna's second least favorite ride)!!

We really enjoyed our trip...but it was a lot of work!! Four park days was really the max for us...it starts to get old waking everyday!! When we took it slow and just went to the parks for a few things...we had a much better day!

AND..don't think we didn't order the professional CD of photos....I'll post those when I get them!

Don't think for one minute....

2012-01-21T16:09:00.000-08:00

We left Disney without seeing the NEWEST PRINCESS.....Last Day post coming soon!

Disney Day 3

2012-01-21T15:56:00.000-08:00

Day 3- Hollywood Studios...I have to say that I think this was one of the more relaxing days we had!! No special reservations....just go to the park and do what we want!!

I have the fewest pictures from this day...I guess because there were no princess encounters!!

However...can you guess from these faces which ride we all did?!?!?

That's it...Tower of Terror! I have been to Hollywood before but I was too scared to try this. So what in the world would make me do it with my family..no clue!! We all went and YES..we were terrified!

We saw the live performance of Beauty and the Beast....she loved it (me too)!

Daddy did Star Tours....4 times!

We did it twice and then moved on the girly things...The Little Mermaid and Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground!!

I LOVED this day!! It was easy!

Disney Day 2

2012-01-21T15:06:00.001-08:00

On our second day at Disney we attended a Princess Breakfast in Norway!!! Well...you know, just around the lake at Epcot!!

We started early at Akershus Banquet Hall!! I have to say that I think this was even better than Cinderella's Castle!! Every family came in and sat down....cold breakfast was a buffett and then warm breakfast was brought right to your table!!

P.S. The dining adventures we did(3), I had reserved 6 months prior. I'm not sure what would be the absolute deadline to wait...but they were fantastic!! We also did the Disney Dining Plan...so all of our meals were included (well...prepaid)!!

So first Savanna got to meet Belle and have her picture made and then the other princesses followed! They each stop at your table and it is AWESOME!! This breakfast was my favorite because they did a Princess Procession. All of the children met a princess near them and then they paraded around the room. Savanna LOVED it!! They did two in fact!

Belle....one favorite this trip!

Sleeping Beauty!

Princess Procession

Snow White!!

Cinderella!

Ariel...a favorite this trip!!

Later that day we stayed at Epcot for 3 more rides. Test Track, Soarin', and Spaceship Earth!! We left around 2:00pm for a little nap!!!

Everyone has to have Mickey Ears (Me and Savanna...daddy was on Mission Space

)...and be silly!!

After we got up, we went back to the Magic Kingdom around 6:00pm for a few more rides!! We did not bring a backpack or a camera (wow...it was so nice not to carry anything). We ended up getting to walk on just about everything we wanted...Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunter Mansion, Buzz Lightyear!! This night was by far the most relaxing!!

More views from our room!!

A Dream is a Wish.....

2012-01-17T17:05:00.000-08:00

Don't ask my husband that....I'm kidding really, but Disney World is no place to relax or rest!! In fact...it's probably one of the most stressful places ever!!

All in all we had a FANTASTIC time and did more than we expected to do!! I'll break this trip into days so that I'm not making one gigantic blog!!

Day 1

We elected to stay at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge because it is one of the newer resorts and it offered the room type we wanted...a king with a day bed!! (we won't mention that upon our arrival at 2:00AM they did not have the room we had prepaid for..however, my husband worked it out)!! Anyways...we did get to enjoy a daily view from our beds of giraffe and zebra eating!!

Our first day was scheduled for the Magic Kingdom and it turned out to be a nice day. We slept in late and arrived at the park around 2:00PM. We had a dinner reservation for Cinderella's Royal Table that evening so we wanted some time to do a few things first!!

Stop 1...Mickey Mouse Ears...and a personal visit with Mickey and the Princesses. I have been to Disney about 10 times but I had never made this stop!! It was very special. In fact, as we were waiting behind a door to meet Mickey...there was a knock on the door! Savanna opened the door and it was MICKEY!! He held her hand and walked up back to his dressing room...what a great moment!

Stop 2...Main Street USA..to have the most perfect family photo taken!

Stop 3...A few rides

Stop 4...Princess Dinner...OH MY!!! I will always schedule these princess encounters any other time I go back to Disney. I made reservations 6 months in advance and it was worth every penny!!

Stop 5...Electrical Parade and Fireworks!

The Bicycle!

2012-01-10T12:18:00.000-08:00

Oh My Goodness!!!

Savanna has a brand new bicycle! Well, Santa actually left if off of his sleigh...(along with another two surprises in the next week), so he left it at the toy store for Daddy and Savanna.

So after they get this bike home, the same one Savanna's cousin has, and put it together, Savanna jumps on like there is nothing to it!! I remember thinking...this is not going to be good!! Well.....after feeling a little bit of wobble from the training wheels, Savanna broke into tears, refused to petal, would not even hold onto the handle bars, ughhhh!!! A pure dramaified melt down that continued through bath time!!!

I tried to talk to Savanna about practice and how sometimes things take time to learn. I'm hoping she can build her confidence again and jump right on!!

For now, however, the brand new Barbie Bicycle resides in our LIVING ROOM!!! I'm trying to let her get used to getting on and off and just feeling the wobble!! She's a girl...so toughing it out...isn't really an option!!!

"Green Light All the Way"

2012-01-10T05:38:00.000-08:00

That's the case....in our little family. Our newest full-time member has been on green light everyday at school!! The teachers tell me that she is so happy and is acting like a "little girl!" I love to hear things like that to know that the routines, schedules, rules, and expectations that we have set are working very well!!! The tears around here....well, they are subsiding...life is becoming, normal?!?!?!

Psalms 127:3-5 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!

What a Difference a Year Makes!

2012-01-08T17:56:00.000-08:00

Just a short look back, but it's still fun to see changes!!!

Christmas 2010

Little Christmas Christmas

Click here to browse our Christmas photo card designs.

View the entire collection of cards.

Christmas 2011

Banner Of Joy Christmas

Turn family photos into personalized Christmas cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Camera Take 1

2012-01-03T18:41:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my first photos! No editing, just the plain ole picture!

No doubt...my subject was over it! I'm not sure if I ever mentioned that my husband will sing "The Grinch" song to me if he thinks I'm being grumpy....well, for Christmas he bought me a shirt that says "Who you calling The Grinch?" I'd say Savanna looks pretty Grinchy to me!!! We can share the shirt on occasion!

Music to my Ears!!!

2012-01-03T18:30:00.000-08:00

The students I work with are tough!! High school students seem to hover over the edge of dropping out or staying in school. Of course I care for all of my students and I want them to be successful, but occasionally, there are some students that I find it very hard to care about! I do what I can but when their thuggish attitude gets in my way every day....I'm OVER it!!!

BUT...today I didn't feel any of that! I met a lady yesterday who supervises one of my working students. We were having a discussion about that student and everything this lady told me just put things into a clear perspective. She told me that everyone has a story...we all have some awful, miserable, everyone should feel sorry for me story! But what she said is SO WHAT! You might have a sad story, but look at the life you have this very minute...the people you are surrounded by are here to help you. We were referencing my one student, but that story seemed to apply to me and everyone else!

So...I was so happy today when another one of my students (who has missed weeks upon weeks of school) showed up today and said, "Dr. Smith, I need to talk to you about my grades because I need to see if I can survive....if I have a chance to finish school." Sigh......how to you compete with those words. He continued..."I am back on my medicine and things were bad at home for a while but now they are better and I just need to see if I can survive." Sigh....I was so taken back...I just thanked God for that moment!

So the moral....we all have a story, but what we do in the present really is the future we choose for ourselves!!

I'm Baaaaaaack!!!!

2012-01-01T13:44:00.000-08:00

It's my New Year's Resolution....to BLOG again!!!

If no one else missed reading my blog...I sure did! There have been several times when I go back through my blog and just read and read!!! I LOVE recording my life. So, I'm going to try to start back!!

Plus.....my husband got me the most wonderful camera so that I can practice my photography skills! I will at least turn this into a photo blog if nothing else! I have to have a few more weeks to get the software loaded but hopefully that will be sooner than later!! My first photography class is January 5!

So for now...
I've been married for 8 months...WOW!!
I'm a full-time parent to my 4 year old step daughter...WOW!!
I have big plans for 2012...WOW!!!
I love my job teaching high school students...WOW!!!
My Christmas Vacation is OVER...BOO!!!

HELLO...out there!!!

2011-08-08T11:38:00.001-07:00

OK Blog Readers...I never expected that I would not blog AT ALL!!!! But as it turns out, when I'm not sitting at one of the least interesting, non-stimulating, boring jobs in the world...I actually have a life!!! So for now...I don't feel like taking the time to sit at my computer and write!!! AND...with my new job as a high school teacher I probably won't have time either!!!

So until we meet again.....my life is grand and moving along as expected!!! I might pop in every now and then!

Stephanie

There's a story here.....

2011-07-11T13:21:00.001-07:00

You see.....my sister-n-law attempted to create a bussell for my wedding dress!! However, the outer layer of chiffon was slightly longer that the underneath layer. She had attempted to tack the material but it just didn't hold. So most of the night my dress was not up, it trailed behind much of the night...only a disturbance during my dancing attempts!!!

Well, this particular picture has quite the story that even carried over into our honeymoon!! As my new husband is turning me during this shot notice my train on the ground behind me!! After an entire night of avoiding my dress and not even turning me during our first dance for fear of messing up the dress...he decided to turn me!!

And as I come around....imagine his rubber sole shoe, stepping on my chiffon layer, on top of a tile floor....AND BAM!!! Just like that the groom was down!!! In fact the singer even said "Look, the bride has swept the groom off his feet!!" It was funny but I was so afraid he was going to be hurt....but amazingly he wasn't (at that moment)!!

After a few days and we were getting ready for our honeymoon, I noticed this Texas-sized, purple-black bruise on his hip and tush!! It looked painful but I never heard any complaints!!! So onto the honeymoon....during our first session of the "Couples Massage" (Absolutely Amazing)....JC's masseuse noticed this hard to miss love mark and said, "Is that a tatoo?"

We both started laughing and then told the story as we laughed again!!!

I love these memories and I never knew Shelley had captured the calm moment just before the crash!!

Once upon a time.....

2011-06-28T10:50:00.000-07:00

There once was a little boy born on Christmas Eve in 1974.....

And a few years later there was a little girl born on Valentine's Eve in 1979.....

It is hard to imagine that even at such a tiny age, God already had a plan for them....

He knew that the two of them would share a life together...

And so as they went through their lives....

God prepared them for each other....

So that one day, they would make each other very, very, happy!

It's All in the CAKE!!!

2011-06-24T09:56:00.000-07:00

I will never forget the most wonderful surprise that my husband prepared for me....at my wedding reception!!!!! (I haven't talked about what he gave me for my wedding gift!! I'll save that for another post)!!

So the surprise.....we had talked about what we wanted to do for our honeymoon all the way from Europe to the Caribbean to Dubai...just a wide range of things!! One thing we knew was that we wanted to be rested before we did anything and that we wanted some time on the front end and the back end of our honeymoon!

One day when we were talking, he suggested letting the destination be a surprise!!! Well, right away I LOVED that idea!! The not knowing and being surprised sounded AWESOME! In fact...all the way to our wedding it was one of the things I was most excited about!! Well then, I kept asking him about the groom's cake and what he wanted and finally he told me he had taken care of it!! What??? YES!! He had ordered the groom's cake and I did not know what it would be! At first the thought of it revealing the honeymoon never occurred to me...but then it kind of did!!!

Now....the cake was delivered to the reception site which is where us girls were getting ready! JC had to give specific instructions to all of the vendors that NO ONE was to see the cake. It was covered up in a box!!

After we did our wedding cake stuff...it was time for me to open the cake!!! Our photographer caught me grabbing JC and kissing him, so I'll post that picture when I get it!! But here is what I have for now.

(Practicing my picture size)

Just wait...the best part...the cake flavor was Little Debbie "Fudge Round"....it was SOOOO good!!!

Notice the girl penguins pink luggage and blonde hair!!

What an amazing man I have!!!!! How much thought and ideas he put into the cake! Well not only the cake but the HONEYMOON!!! 7 nights in a millionaire suite with butler service on the beautiful island of St. Lucia. Really.....what more could I want (TO GO BACK)!!!!

Did You Know....

2011-06-23T11:33:00.000-07:00

This post is especially for my friend Lisa!!!

When planning our wedding I really wanted to do some things that were, well, different!! A little homemade, a little southern, and a LOT "Stephanie." I came up with this idea to create "Did You Know" facts about me and JC! I wanted most of them to be the funny things that have happened in our relationship so far and I wanted some of them to just be tid-bits of information that help you know us a little better!!

On each table at our reception, you might have noticed these.....the little frame with a pink bow!!! (I have nothing to do with them if anyone wants one)!

Well, when I was talking to my friend Lisa...she mentioned that she had not gotten around to every table (there were 20) and wanted to see each of the "Did You Knows!!" So here they are!!

1. Did you know…

Stephanie met JC just one week after she had defended her dissertation. He was also working on a big project!

Perfect Timing

2. Did you know…

JC and Stephanie’s first form of communication was FACEBOOK! Yep…she was facebooked! Stephanie is a daily visitor to facebook, JC not so much!

The Wonder of the Web

3. Did you know…

That even though JC always picks up the bar tab when they go out, Stephanie did buy JC his first drink on their first date!

I’ve Got This

4. Did you know…

The second time JC came to Stephanie’s apartment he ran out of gas. He had to borrow her car to go get some.

No Time to Stop

5. Did you know…

Just after moving into their new home, Stephanie bumped a cooler in front of her car in the garage and it went right through the sheet rock!

He Called Her Crash

6. Did you know…

Stephanie and JC love to cook breakfast on weekends with Savanna. Eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes, and chocolate milk!

There Goes the Diet

7. Did you know…

JC insists on dancing with Stephanie every time the song “Wonderful Tonight” comes on…he says it is the McGill-Toolen High School mating call!

Everyone Loves Catholic Girls

8. Did you know…

Stephanie LOVES spicy food…all things spicy and JC does NOT! In fact she can’t over season some of her dishes or he does not enjoy.

I’m on Fire

9. Did you know…

Stephanie and JC made a pact during football season not to have any rivalry between the two of them during games. She’s Auburn and He’s Alabama!

House Divided

My Husband added..when he was printing them…(The house is not divided. She can put Aubie in the backyard. Just don’t let the neighbors see.)

10. Did you know…

JC carried Stephanie’s engagement ring around in the console of his car for several months! He usually didn’t lock the doors.

Are You Kidding

11. Did you know…

JC and Stephanie thought they had successfully cooked their first turkey, but when removing it from the oven bag to place on the platter..it broke.

Bury the Carcass

12. Did you know…

At one of Stephanie’s family functions, JC discovered just how big her extended family is when he went to make his plate and said “What happened to your Mom’s macaroni and cheese?”

Wiped Out

13. Did you know…

Stephanie and JC are both the oldest children in their families and they have two younger siblings each. He has two sisters and she has two brothers.

The Brady Bunch

14. Did you know…

JC graduated from Murphy High School and Stephanie graduated from McGill-Toolen High School; two big football rivalries in Mobile.

Blood Makes the Grass Grow (he says)

15. Did you know…

JC has caught 2 wedding garters and Stephanie has caught one wedding bouquet since they have been together. He has insisted on putting them on her…right on the spot!! Must have worked.

He Paid Them Off…Seriously

16. Did you know…

Just before JC’s Mardi Gras parade last year, JC spotted a man on the street holding a large stuffed penguin. JC had the man give it to Stephanie. He did…in return for some other Mardi Gras trinkets!

Dr. Penguin

17. Did you know…

During their first family trip to Gatlinburg, JC got lots of practice maneuvering his new Tahoe since Stephanie rented a cabin that was nearly hanging off of a mountain.

It’s a Cliffhanger

18. Did you know…

Stephanie found a huge, dead, baby possum in the pool filter when JC was out of town and refused to remove it. When he got home, JC did the dirty work and discovered a little, tiny, mole.

Better Safe than Sorry

19. Did you know…

Just recently, Stephanie was dared by JC to sing karaoke at one of their favorite hangouts!! She did!! Much to his surprise, laughter, and entertainment!

No American Idol!

20. Did you know…(I needed one more fact and JC came up with it)

I called her “Penguin” first. She thought it would be funny to call me “Penguin” too. Now it’s stuck. Everything has to do with penguins.

Birds of a Feather

Just fun facts forever!!!!!

A Father's Day Weekend!

2011-06-20T07:37:00.000-07:00

We spent the weekend at Dauphin Island!! JC's Mardi Gras group hosted a Fishing Rodeo and he had to work most of the time!! Savanna and I spent time with friends at the pool!

I'm having a picture dilemma...my family is tired of taking pictures!! The ones I get I have to beg for, so I guess I just take what I get! (and I wasn't a fan of the extra large pictures so I changed back).

Our Friend Annie!

Just before the weekend I got to spend some time with Shelley and Lila Grace at our favorite Mexican restaurant in Auburn!!

It's Almost Time....

2011-06-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

Not much longer now!!! I think I can..I think I can...I think I can....

Another Wedding!

2011-06-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

Yep...can you believe it!!! We are about over weddings for now!! My cousin Adam got married on Saturday and it was a really nice event!! Me, JC, my mom, grandmother, and my uncle all went together! Here are a few pictures!

Me and my husband!

My mom and grandmother!

My Uncle Francis and Aunt Vicky!

My Aunt Tricia...(her husband Pat was inside)!

The Bride and the Groom!

The Bride and the Groom with our grandmother!

The Groom and his mom, my Aunt Beth!

The Cake!

A Rescue!

2011-06-13T06:50:00.000-07:00

I had to save this little turtle from our pool the other day!!! I was outside checking on the water level and I saw something that looked like a pile of leaves in the pool!! I quickly realized what it was and ran to get my scoop net!! At the same time, I wish I had gotten my camera but I forgot! I was able to snap a picture as he made his great escape! A few hours later he was headed towards the pool again...I had to force myself (I have found unpleasant things before) to check the pool filter to make sure he didn't have a friend who got stuck!! He didn't..I guess he just was looking for water!

A Test for Bigger Pictures on My Blog

2011-06-10T14:42:00.000-07:00

So I wanted to see if I liked bigger pictures on my blog...and I didn't! SO I've gone back to the original size!

Looking Back at.....

2011-06-06T06:43:00.000-07:00

WEDDING DRESSES!!!

Now...just because I am showing these pictures doesn't mean that any of us can say..."Oh that one would have looked better!!" In fact, shortly after I purchased my dress, I had to even quit watching "Say Yes to the Dress" because I kept wishing I had looked some more!! The fact is that the show is over, gone, and never happening again!! I LOVED how my dress looked and felt and mostly my pictures were awesome!!!

But...for laughs and memories, I have these pictures and I LOVE that!! I can look back years from now and show my kids the few options I had for......WEDDING DRESSES!!!!

Here we go!!

I only tried on 3 dresses and I obviously chose (those who were at the wedding and who really even cared what my dress looked like, beyond being white and strapless) the 3rd one!!

NUMBER 1...for a moment my mom and I were sure that this was the one...She loved it....and I was happy it zipped!!! But suddenly I realized I couldn't breathe and my "chest" was being quite smooshed into my chin. Not to mention the gallons of sweat that had just taken over the underneath of my dress!! Thank goodness we tried on a few more!!

Number 2...I was really a fan of this dress!!! I Loved it!! It had a sash and I loved that too!! But I was not sure about the halter style with my large "chest" and so while I kept contemplating it, suddenly, my mom said out loud.."makes me think of a cupcake!" We moved on to another option!!

Number 3...As soon as I put this dress on I loved it!!! I even made the lady take off all of the extra slips and poofs from underneath! I could breathe again, not quite as hot, and I felt a sense of "sophisticated elegance!" I just knew it was right!! And as I said before, no offense to my friends, most of what I remember about any wedding dress is that it is white, usually strapless, and well, that's about it!!! So it's okay if you don't remember mine....the biggest thing was that it was chiffon...and I never imagined choosing that but it was so light and flowing!!

I was very lucky that my mom came with me!! I just wanted me and her to go and be relaxed!! She actually bought my dress and veils!! Oh the veils..they cost as much as my dress...but I wanted lace and lace I got!! A side note about mom's dress!!! She is just holding a random dress in this picture, but she had actually bought a very expensive suit/dress from Belk. I happened to be in Ross in Auburn one day (during a conference) and found a hot pink dress and shell that cost $30! She returned her very expensive suit and looked ABSOLUTELY wonderful at my wedding! Hopefully I'll have wedding pictures soon!!!

Mitchell and Heather's Wedding

2011-05-31T14:51:00.000-07:00

Mitchell and Heather had a beautiful wedding! Savanna was the flower girl and loved every minute!!

Mitchell and Heather's Wedding Rehearsal

2011-05-31T14:42:00.001-07:00

The Handsome Groom!

Anna Cooper

Caroline

The Ladies in the wedding
Savanna
Anna Cooper
Caroline
Heather and her sister Hannah
Mitchell and Heather (I made them do those cheesy kisses)
Hudson
Hiram pulling his tooth
Me and my hubby
Heather and her little bride and flower girl!

PhotoShoot

2011-05-26T06:41:00.000-07:00

As it turns out....the Sandals Resorts have photographers walking around taking pictures!! You can even schedule a private shoot on the beach for FREE!!!

BUT...the darn pictures to purchase were $16.00 each! So I did get a few....and that's all! ENJOY!

My Baby Brother.....

2011-05-23T07:32:00.000-07:00

Graduated....

Was Commissioned into the Army....

And is....(wearing the same color as our mom)

And is....

Getting MARRIED...to a wonderful girl named HEATHER!!!

Let's Just Say...

2011-05-20T12:58:00.000-07:00

Several years ago you were involved in something you really, really, loved...

You left that wonderful thing for something that you thought was better.....

It resulted in a really great event that led to another thing ....

That thing was really great in the beginning...

And you even met a really perfect person...

And while you and that perfect person were just perfect...

Something else wasn't....

So you thought and thought and worried and wondered why not.....

Did something go wrong? Was I wrong...

And after a year or so of feeling that way....

And receiving love and support from your perfect person....

You decided that you would like to go back to that thing from several years ago....

Let's Just say....

NOW...

You realize that all the things you used during that original thing....

You don't have them anymore....

You thought you would never, ever go back to that original thing....

Because you thought that thing that was good for a little while...

Would always be good....

So, now you have no things...

You have mind and body and spirit things...

But no tangible things....

And at first you think, what will I do and how will I get the things I need...

But then you realize...

The tangible things can be bought again....

And because you know how much you love and belong doing that original thing....

You'll do even better choosing the tangible things...

Let's just say!!!

HONEYMOON

2011-05-16T06:46:00.001-07:00

I will do a wedding post once I get the proofs from my photographer, but here are our honeymoon pictures!!

Arriving in St. Lucia for our HONEYMOON!!!

Our Millionaire Suite and Transportation...JC called it the Lamborghini!!!

Our first swim...and champagne!!
The Bed!!

Our first night out to dinner and then drinks!

We met a couple from London and had a great time with them.

Lunch and swim up bar!

Another dinner night...the camera fogged up just as our "butler" went to take the picture!

A surprise in our room one day!

Getting ready for our sunset cruise...interrupted by some rain!
JC found the bar!

With Roger our Butler!
More swimming at the bar!!

Another dinner night!

More of our room!

The Beach!

Getting ready to head out on our snorkel trip!

The Piton Mountains!

Our candlelight dinner!!

Another surprise in our room!!

The breakfast pavilion...for the days we chose not to have room service!

Our room again!

Our last dinner at a different resort!

Rehearsal Dinner

2011-05-16T06:42:00.000-07:00

Bridesmaid Luncheon

2011-05-16T06:39:00.000-07:00

In an effort to catch up, I'm just doing photos!!

An "all over the place" post!

2011-04-27T06:16:00.000-07:00

I don't really have time to talk about too much and I haven't been taking lots of pictures, but in an effort to not get too far behind on my blog....here you go!

My bird's nest.....remember I found this in my fern.....well then I found 4 light blue eggs. So sweet! Well the latest update is that when I went to water it again, there was one egg left and a few little feathers! I am assuming the runt didn't hatch!

We went to Nashville for Shannon and Court's wedding....I didn't take pictures..CRAZY I know! I did snap one when we were at Roberts downtown!

JC is flipping houses!! This is his first one so we will see how it unfolds! This is the finished product!

EASTER...this year we started by going to church with my mom and brothers. Then, we headed over to JC's sister Missy's in-laws! Sounds distant but they are a great family and opened their home. We were going to host Easter, but the in-laws decided that I may not need that pressure. THANK YOU!!!

And don't you know that my finace.....came up with Egg-lympics!!! It was SOOOO fun and he did a great job organizing the 6 events! I don't have pictures of everything, but we had six teams and here is a look at egg darts and egg archery!! How much more fun does throwing raw eggs get!!!!

And yes there were prizes....

First Place
Second Place
Third Place
Last Place

A busy day!!

2011-04-11T11:57:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday we had a busy day!! We were already invited to a birthday party for Missy's twins and then we were hosting a party at our house for some family! AND THEN....Savanna's mom asked us to go to an Egg Hunt at Savanna's school early Saturday morning! I was really hesitant for several reasons....but trying to be a comprising step-mother...I agreed to go to the Egg Hunt, but a little later in the morning! Savanna still needs a good, long nap in the afternoon so I didn't want to get going (wake up early on a Saturday) too early...she would tire out too quickly. Anyways, JC, me, and Savanna went to Egg Hunt, but we never heard from her mom! Oh well....I enjoyed it better that way! (note--I am remaining calm in this post...and I'm not really surprised she couldn't make it)!

Savanna got to see lots of her teachers from school, jump in the bouncy, make crafts, and ride a pony!! I know it was fun for her....but we really had a lot of other things to do already (that's where the frustration sets in)!!

After the Egg Hunt (not sure why I keep capitalizing that), we went over the Missy's for a short time for a birthday party!! Since we were experiencing record highs (sure felt like it), Missy had a pool for the kids to play in.....and Savanna LOVED it! We didn't get to stay long, but I'm glad we got to go! Those are the moments when you realize how fast time is passing...celebrating first birthdays when there seems no possible way an entire year has passed! Oh and I must say how much more fun it is to go the kids' parties, when you have a kid!! Glad I got to fit in...having a step-daughter and all!!

Finally, the last thing for the day was a party at our house for JC's sister Andrea and her new husband, Lonnie! We were also celebrating JC's sister Missy, her husband, and kids who arrived from Dubai last week for the wedding! All of the kids got to play and everyone had a relaxing time!

AND NOW I'M EXHAUSTED!!!! It's funny that I look forward to the work week to get some sleep....but I guess until the wedding this is how it will be!!

And what to my wandering eyes did appear???

2011-04-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

A bird's nest in one of my new ferns!

This past Friday night I went to water one of my ferns. After taking it down from hanging so high, I dumped in a pitcher of water, without even noticing that I had completely submerged a bird's nest!! The good news is that I saw nothing in it after I realized what had happened!

I'm not sure what the future holds for this little bird's nest....I would like to keep my ferns living for a good while!

Couples Shower

2011-04-04T10:33:00.000-07:00

This weekend some of my friends (10 all together) hosted a couples shower for JC and I!! It was so fun.....and always entertaining!! The theme was Mexican and Margaritas....I LOVED that!!! They decorated our backyard and the entire party was outside!! So much fun!!!

Pictures can tell the story! My fiance was there....but I didn't get any pictures of us together...there might be one at the end!!

And YESSSS...there was live music and there was a pinata...one of my favorite parts!

Moods....

2011-03-30T11:59:00.001-07:00

If I haven't said it aloud on this blog, I am a moody girl!!! In fact, my new theme song, hummed beautifully by my loving fiance, is "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch!" He does it and smiles at the same time. It's a good subtle reminder to me to settle down without him having to hurt my feelings!! ( I won't mention one thing about my wedding stress)!

BUT...it turns out, I'm not the only "Grinch" in our house some days!
Check out this princess!

AND DRUM ROLL.......Please......

So...I rest my case! We all have Grinch-Like days!

33 Days.....

2011-03-28T07:32:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed how fast one HOUR can pass...especially when you are getting ready to go somewhere?...33 days to go.

Have you ever noticed how fast one DAY can pass...especially when you have just a few things you need to get done?...33 days to go.

Have you ever noticed how fast one WEEK can pass...when you're getting ready for some event on the weekend?....33 days to go.

Have you ever noticed how fast one MONTH can pass....especially when you are trying to meet deadlines!...33 days to go.

Have you ever noticed how fast one YEAR can pass...when you're planning some big event...LIKE A WEDDING!!!!...33 days to go.

I CANNOT believe it is almost here. My how time does fly! But while time is moving so fast, I can also say that...I am SOOOOO ready for it to be here!! I'm not sure I'll even know what life is like when I'm not planning a wedding! Relaxing I hope!!!

And so if you can't tell.....I only have 33 DAYS TO GO!!!

A Bachelorette Weekend!!

2011-03-21T09:19:00.000-07:00

My 35 week pregnant friend, Shelley, organized the whole thing and even came along for the fun!!! What a trooper.

We started with a lingerie shower at my house and then jumped on a bus and headed to the Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi!!

A fun time was had by all.....enjoy the show!!

We made a surprise visit to see my grandmother!!

Wedding Shower!!! #3

2011-03-14T10:10:00.000-07:00

This weekend I had another wedding shower!! It was wonderful and I got so many great things!

My mom's work friends hosted it for me and everything was perfect!

The Hostesses
Bobbie, Me, Julie, and Monica

The Food
(minus the hot stuff yet)

The Cake...always a Penguin!!!

High School Friends!
Holley, Me, Stacey, and Jenny

Entertainment (Savanna)

Savanna and Madeline (Julie's daughter)

MAM-Z and Savanna

Monopoly....

2011-03-14T10:02:00.000-07:00

The game!!

I am not, nor have I ever been a fan of monopoly...but one day, one day soon....I will join in and surprise them all!! You see, I've been learning from the best...my entrepreneurial fiance has some pretty cool strategies, that once him and I start playing...I will happily steal!!! And I'm sure he will still manage to take over the entire board and send me into bankruptcy, forcing me to forfeit...but it will still be fun!!!

This past weekend we had family taco night....and it ended with no other excitement than monopoly! JC, his sister, and her husband played....I watched (taking it all in ;))!

Butterflies...

2011-03-10T07:06:00.000-08:00

In the middle of the day at the most random times, I get butterflies! Butterflies in my stomach!

Sometimes I have this feeling of just wanting to squeal in the highest pitched voice, like I can't believe this is happening!! Butterflies in my stomach!

I start finalizing wedding stuff and I still can't believe it!! Butterflies in my stomach!

I've been buying some inexpensive sun dresses for my honeymoon-unknown and when people say, "That is so cute!" I say, "I'm getting it for my honeymoon!!" Butterflies in my stomach!

We are mailing our wedding invitations TOMORROW!! Butterflies in my stomach!

My bachelorette party is next weekend!! Butterflies in my stomach!

The thought of the trumpet sounding and the church doors opening...JC seeing me! Butterflies in my stomach!

Looking into his eyes and saying "I Do!" Forever he is mine! Butterflies in my stomach!

I am so high on life at this very moment and so excited about what is to come!!!

I'M GETTING MARRIED NEXT MONTH!!!

A Mardi Gras Update!!

2011-03-09T13:02:00.000-08:00

Mostly pictures...

I'm in a group, he's in a group...we're tired!! We had blast...hustle and bustle and never a moment's rest!! In fact, my four days of vacation were very full!! But I did manage to sleep in late, take afternoon naps, get my hair done (bouffant style), and not go to work!! I'll take it!

We did get a chance to take Savanna to a parade also.

As I look at the calendar...my wedding day is a mere 52 days away!! Holy cow...I'm getting married next month!! I think I need to start with my checklist...mark things off!

Shelley's Baby Shower

2011-02-28T12:45:00.001-08:00

I am not sure I've mentioned on here....of course I have....But Shelley, my Matron of Honor is due to have her first baby 8 days before my wedding!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed..we'll see what happens!

I bought Lila Grace an outfit just in case!

This weekend, me, Julie and our friend Meghan hosted a shower for Shelley in Birmingham. Everyone was coming from different places so it made since to do it centrally...at Shelley's house!!

Julie, Shelley, and ME

Did I say that Julie is having her 2nd baby girl on March 8? Doesn't she look great!

I joked that I was a "Baby shower on wheels!" I brought so much stuff! Everything turned out perfectly! AND I even made my very first diaper cake...I was impressed!

Shelley got a lot of nice things!!!! Now we just need the baby!

Shelley and her Mom

The Food!

My Work Shower

2011-02-28T12:36:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago Susan and Kelly, girls I work with, threw me a Mardi Gras shower! I was a little hesitant since I'm not super close to most of the ladies at work....BUT I was completely impressed at how many people came and all the great gifts I got! Since it's so close to Mardi Gras, Kelly and Susan thought gumbo and jambalaya was a perfect idea!! And the finishing touch was a King Cake!! I also came home that night and wrote my thank-you notes and put them in everyone's mailbox the next morning! I got a few compliments on the speediness...but gosh it feels good to stay on top of those things!

A MESS!!

2011-02-22T10:20:00.001-08:00

This three year old is a MESS....not really messy but you know how people from an earlier generation and even some now refer to CUTE, BUSY kids as a MESS??!! Well, we have one!

She is always needing to do things or take care of things or make a "mess" of things.

Here she is in action!!!

Cleaning her jeep! It first started with just the broom. A few minutes later she came from the bathroom with a wash cloth, obviously to keep cleaning! I had to step in and give her a rag..used for that type of MESS!!

And she did some more sweeping!!

Then the clothes!! I think I wrote about getting frustrated with the wardrobe changes all day...well now she just opens up her drawers and picks out any combination she feels like!! Instead of getting mad I just tell myself they are play clothes! And of course we don't leave the house looking like such a MESS!! (She was watching a movie in the guest room...one of her favorite things to do, sparingly of course.)

God how I love our MESS!!

1 Cake, 2 Cakes, 3 Cakes, FUN!!

2011-02-14T09:11:00.000-08:00

Did I mention my birthday was also this weekend...so much to do!!!

Let's start off by remembering these beautiful roses...sent to me last week from my main man!! I told him the "redder" they are the more they mean he LOVES me...he thinks I'm crazy sometimes but I thought it was funny!

Last Thursday night I went to Birmingham for work and stayed with Shelley and Jim. The funny thing is that they came down to my house on Friday...it was a great time! But anyways...we went to eat dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant in B'ham and then they surprised me with a cake!

Then Sunday afternoon I had Mardi Gras rehearsal and the ladies surprised me with a homemade pound cake, thanks to Patsy!!

Sunday night I went to another Mexican restaurant in Mobile....there is a theme to this, I LOVE Mexican food!! This was my family birthday dinner (Mom, Stephen, Andrea, Lonnie, Me, JC, and Savanna)....And I got a cookie cake...my most favorite! Savanna thought the singing was just great!

My Perfect Family
I think we are high-fiving because I blew out the candles!

I had a great, busy weekend! Sunday night JC and I were in bed at 7:30pm and the TV was off before 9:30pm! I feel pretty rested today!

Thanks Everyone for making the day so special!!!

My First Wedding Shower

2011-02-14T08:46:00.000-08:00

Oh how fun this turned out to be! I was kind of nervous about how I would feel being the center of attention and all, but it was not bad at all!! In fact, I had a wonderful time.

The shower was mostly for my family..which is huge! Two of my cousins, who are bridesmaids, hosted the shower! Anna and Taylor! They did a fantastic job..the food was great and the shower just kept moving...no one had time to get bored!!

Taylor, Me, and Anna
The Penguin Cake
(the story is funny because the girls had ordered the blue cake to match my colors and then they found a little penguin in Hudson's toy box and just put it on top...I LOVED the penguin...it was my favorite part)!!!!

The food!

Me and My Grandmother, Anna (Maw-Maw)

JC's mom Gail, Me, and his grandmother, Irma (Granny)

Me and My Mom

Me and Heather (Future sis-in-law)

My friend Shelley came down from Birmingham so that she could be there too! It was great having her because she just recently went through all of her showers so she was great helping me organize things! Her husband Jim and JC got to spend the whole day doing guy things...I think they had fun!!!

The Little Girls!!

I got some many wonderful things and I'm going to try to get my thank-yous done before Thursday because I have another shower then...at work!! This is so fun!!

The Final Look once I got home!!

Turning a Frown Upside Down

2011-02-10T09:47:00.000-08:00

I was just having a not so good, kind of sad, overwhelming day......BUT THEN.....

He sent me some roses....Valentine and Birthday!!!

I Love him so much!!

So now I'm smiling....and taking off 3 hours early to have lunch with him before we each head out of town!

Thankful

2011-02-03T10:56:00.000-08:00

I'm reading again with my bible group and I cannot explain how good that feels. I agreed to join these girls in reading bible studies the night before I met JC. Less than 24 hours after I was invited to join and agreed (hesitantly), I met the LOVE of MY LIFE. I have learned through our last three books, that meeting him the next day was not just coincidence, but that God had planned it that way! And I am so thankful everyday for that encounter! So, I want to keep this connection with these girls. It feels so good and it challenges me to remember to keep God in our (soon-to-be) marriage!

The book we are reading this time is "Lies that Women Believe and the Truth that Sets them Free" by Nancy DeMoss. And so far it is great! It really shows how we can become so hung up in earthly possessions and LIES that we forget the Truth! I find that reading and discussing just makes me feel so less stressed and anxious about life in general and especially in my relationship with JC and my family!

I have mentioned before that I was raised Catholic, I am Catholic, and we are getting married in the Catholic church. And though I love my faith, I am learning to be more open to other religions and their ways of doing things....for example....prayers! In the Catholic church we say a scripted prayer that has been written for us for EVERYTHING. Never do we just come up with something on our own! Well...since I have been in this group I have tried to be more open to praying in my own words, or the words God is asking me to speak. In fact, just last night I went to dinner with my family and one of my brothers insisted that I say the blessing! And guess what....I said it from my heart not from some script! It felt really good and I felt really proud!

So today...and during this LOVE month...I want to be thankful! Thankful for the LOVE I have in my life.

A BIG Improvement

2011-01-31T07:01:00.001-08:00

So basketball this week with Savanna went MUCH, MUCH better! (I won't mention that her uniform was not in her weekend bag....and I had to call the YMCA to beg for another jersey to be left at the front desk for us AND that Savanna and I had to go to Academy at 7:00pm on Friday night to get gym shorts and socks...I won't go there)!! Basketball was just better!

JC was out of town, flying the red-eye from California and Savanna's mom told us she couldn't make it to the game, so it was just me and Savanna. We had made a deal the night before that if she did not cry, I would take her to Toys R Us to pick out a toy. I am usually opposed to rewarding kids for something they should "just do" but sometimes an intervention is needed! And since playing basketball was not Savanna's idea, I had to step in to encourage some participation. Please refer to last week's game for clarification!

The only request I made was "Please do not cry!" Well....to my surprise, Savanna did even better than that. She played, she ran, she smiled...she seemed to have a really good time!

There were a few extra things I did to help her feel confident. For one, we got to the YMCA early! It has been my experience (last basketball game) that Savanna's mom is typically late to everything. That's fine when it's just you....but little people can't take the pressure of rushing. Especially when she is already unsure of what she is about to do. So, Savanna and I got there early...we were the second people in the gym. It was quiet and she had time to "warm-up!" Not physically, but you know what I mean.

I also kept making eye contact with her and giving her a thumbs up! She did great. She even got to come over and see me during half-time and then she walked right back to the coach! It was GREAT!!! All of the parents came up to me after the game to say how good she had done! I was proud and so was she. I really felt like her parent in that moment....I was the one in charge and her and I seemed to have everything under control!!

I could not wait to tell her daddy and she couldn't either. We went to the airport and picked him up...after we went a got a toy!

This coming up weekend we do not have Savanna...she will be with her mom! But I am going to her GAME...and I will be early...waiting for Savanna! I hope and pray that she does good again when everyone is there!

Shannon's Shower

2011-01-24T09:19:00.000-08:00

One of my friends that I went to grade school with and then to high school is getting married 2 weeks before us!! It's so crazy......and she went to Spring Hill College, so she had met JC before.

Shannon and Court

Me and JC

A group of girls and mom's hosted her couples shower....it was pretty entertaining!! In fact, late into the night one of the dad's looked at the wine bucket and said... "Certainly they did not drink all of that wine?" Well....yes sir we did! AND it was great!!

Starting with a shot....from Annie!!

Tiffany and Me

Me, Tiff, and Missy

Me, JC, and Missy
Me and JC again!

Me and Ashley

The group of girls...having fun!!

3 Year Old Basketball....

2011-01-24T09:08:00.000-08:00

PLEASE..............................

WARNING: Do not be fooled by this post game celebration look!

Our little 3 year old can set up the bestest tea party, put ponytails in her Barbie's hair and dress herself up in any costume....but play BASKETBALL! Yea right!

I guess she isn't the only one having a blast (check out her neighbor)!

The thing is she is on a team for 3 and 4 year olds...but most of the 3 year olds are about to be 4 and the 4 year olds are about to be 5. So she is just too little and she has NO interest.

This is where she spent her one quarter of play time....on the Coach's hip! He's willing, otherwise I'm totally opposed to this! AND....I'm not the momma!

I took her last weekend for the first practice and she cried the entire time. Her mom brought her this weekend....and the same thing! We will see what happens. Her daddy got very mad when she refused to line up and shake hands with the other team!

Hope for better times!

P.S. We also got up very early to go see her play....after JC had landed after midnight the night before...ughghghh!

Daddy and Princess Puzzle

2011-01-24T09:03:00.000-08:00

Savanna got a Cinderella puzzle for Christmas and she just loves for us to sit down and do it with her. It was Daddy's turn a few weekends ago...and he did pretty good! Savanna would tell him which princess pieces he was working with! JC and I did have a few little "smack talkings" back and forth about which one of us could do puzzles the best/fastest. He was teaching Savanna his strategies and I was thinking back to when I learned to do puzzles....I don't remember much, but someone, somewhere (probably mom) taught us to look for the edge pieces first!! A strategy we both share!!

Family Love!

Another blog to read!

2011-01-11T06:41:00.000-08:00

Here is the link to another good blog. I hate to say good because it is actually a really sad story...but it brings hope and this family can always use extra prayers!

http://threedoodles.blogspot.com/

Christmas in Pictures!

2011-01-03T07:35:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted any pictures in a while....so here are our holidays!!!

JC's Birthday!

These Christmas babies are a hard thing! JC's birthday is on Christmas Eve so we celebrate the week before! We had Savanna so I wanted to sing while she was with us! She is crazy about birthday parties! I think we helped him celebrate pretty well!

Annual Girls Christmas Party!!!

Mostly girls from high school with a few adopted ones (college friends, extended family, work friends)! I wasn't in a crazy picture taking mood.

The Spread!!

Annie, Liz, Missy, Brantley, Tiffany

Stacey and Anne

Missy and Annie....the "on-call" girls!! See...they both have beepers!

Elizabeth, Brantley, and Anne

Annie and Claire

The GIFTS!!
Perhaps the most intimidating dirty Santa of all time!! It gets really crazy!

Christmas Eve!
I cannot believe I did not take any pictures of my grandmother! My grandmother came to stay with my mom on Christmas Eve! She went with us to church and then to dinner. I think she would have stayed the entire week if she could have!

Christmas Day!

See what Santa left!!!

Oooo.....a jewelry box!!! I know the jewelers LOVE seeing JC come in!
And diamond earrings to match my ring!!
I asked for gold studs...he went a little overboard!

Granny....wearing her tissue box cover from Dubai....as a hat!!

Savanna waking up from her nap on Christmas Day!
Her mom brought her over in the afternoon and she was asleep (a good thing)!

All things....Rapunzel!

The Mess!
The AWESOME dinner!
After the disaster on Thanksgiving....I cooked my ham and turkey in the crock pot this year!! Best thing ever!

Savanna and Aunt Dre in her princess castle...not a tent!
She is holding her hair because she is using her new princess curling iron!

Christmas in Lights!! (12/29/10)

Anna and the boys had planned to come to Mobile before Christmas for some jolly ole fun!! BUT Hudson got the flu and so they didn't make it! Sooo....they came the week after! We still made Christmas goodies and went to see Christmas in Lights at Bellingrath Gardens! We had a great time...and it made the season seem a little longer! Hudson is going to be the ring bearer in the wedding and Hiram will bring up the gifts! Of course Savanna is the flower girl....she said her and Hudson can hold hands!! We'll see what happens!!

Flower Girl in Training...

2010-12-21T07:42:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday night we went to Ron and Brittany's wedding. If you remember, Brittany was my roommate at Engaged Encounter and well,....she is my step-sister-in-laws sister! Whew!!

The wedding was absolutely beautiful. We ended up having Savanna with us so she came to the wedding and was very well behaved...until she got tired and hungry.

BUT then...she saw the flower girl, McKenzie (my niece who is the reason JC and I met). Savanna thought McKenzie was just magnificent. She kept calling herself a flower girl too. We have been talking alot about a flower girl and what her job will be in our wedding! She gets so excited!

I had to take a few other pictures since we had such a pretty background...at Bragg Mitchell.

Say Cheese....

2010-12-20T10:51:00.001-08:00

I have learned that with a 3 year old and a sometimes unwilling fiance...pictures are just a lucky chance around here! I try my hardest....but you never know what you'll get!

For example....

But....every now and then....you get a few good ones!

I needed a SMILE today!

2010-12-16T09:22:00.000-08:00

Go see how funny this is!!

Funny Santa Pictures!

FUDGE!

2010-12-14T07:50:00.001-08:00

So in addition to the peanut brittle...mom and I also make homemade fudge!! This stuff is kind of stressful too! There are just so many steps that you have to get right so that everything sets perfectly.

My Kitchen during the process...

We cook our fudge on the stove and use the recipe on the back of the marshmallow creme container! One of our famous alterations is to make peanut butter fudge using Reese's morsels instead of chocolate!

Ingredients:

10-12 oz Package of morsels (chocolate or peanut butter)
1 can marshmallow creme
5oz of evaporated milk
3 cups of sugar
1 and 1/2 sticks of margarine
1tsp vanilla
(1 cup chopped pecans optional...we use for chocolate)

Step 1: In large pot...the lighter the better so that you can lift it easily, Mix sugar, margarine, and milk on medium heat...stirring constantly, bring to soft ball using a candy thermometer (this is very critical to helping the fudge set)

Step 2: Remove from heat and add entire bag of morsels (10-12oz)...stir continuously.

Step 3: Add vanilla and marshmallow creme....never stop stirring! This is the hardest step and why mom and I cook this together...it can get very tiring. As the mixture cools it will get hard...so you need to move fast.
Stir until all marshmallow has melted. (Add chopped pecans if desired).

*Getting the marshmallow creme out of the container quickly is IMPOSSIBLE. So before hand, mom and I will scrape the container into a greased bowl so that we can just dump it into the mixture in one motion!

Step 4: Pour into greased (with butter) 9 x 13 casserole dish...let cool completely then slice.

Christmas Stuff!

2010-12-10T08:51:00.000-08:00

After lots of toiling around with different ideas of how to display our Christmas Cards without damaging anything in our house....I decided to tape some Christmas ribbon to our glass door so that it will easily clean up!! Then, I am stapling Christmas cards to it! (please notice the penguin Christmas card...thanks Lesley)!

AND....a few Christmas ornaments!

Cinderella..of course! What can I say! How fun will it be years from now to pull out this ornament and tell Savanna how much she LOVED Cinderella! Everything Cinderella...and if we wanted her to do something we just had to say that "Cinderella does it!" I had bought her two Cinderella ornaments and as luck would have it she dropped the glass one. Oh well! We can remember that story too!

Our Penguins...one of my friends from work gave me this as an engagement present....and I LOVE it...what an awesome gift! It has the year on the back!

And a few others I bought for the season!

Don't tell JC but I did put an Auburn ornament on the tree...I don't think he has seen it yet!

Peanut Brittle

2010-12-09T07:21:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness! My mom has been making this treasured recipe for as many years as I can remember. Of course as I got older I began to help and have even taken over making the beloved holiday treat of homemade Peanut Brittle. Now I am not over exaggerating when I say that it is absolutely fantastic. I could eat it all year round!

However....this stuff is tough to make. It requires so many little steps, sticky stuff, and such little product from each batch is produced. Mom and I have decided to get together to make our holiday goodies (making fudge tonight) and it makes the process so much better. One of us cooks and the other one is the preparer and cleaner! After I show you this process you will probably hope for 3 or 4 people to work on this at a time!

Here we go!!

Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light Karo syrup
1 cup peanuts
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp butter/margarine
1 tsp baking soda

That's it...haha!
To make this we use a large glass mixing bowl/measuring bowl. We worked with 3 this time so we could keep the process going.

Step 1: Sugar and Karo syrup-mix together in glass bowl
Microwave on high for 4 minutes

Step 2: Peanuts
Dump peanuts in mixture (leaving it in microwave just reach in and dump peanuts)
Microwave on high for 3 minutes

Step 3: Vanilla and Butter
Dump into the mixture (leaving it in microwave, I use a big spoon so the vanilla and butter are on the same utensil and I just can make one movement)
Microwave on high 1 minute

Step 4: Baking Soda
Grab glass bowl with pot holder and remove from microwave. Drop in baking soda and STIR...like crazy...and fast....and then dump mixture (scraping the bowl clean) onto a buttered cookie sheet. Take cookie sheet and shake from side to side to spread the mixture out so it will be the right thickness. You have to do this quick because it will cool extremely fast.

Cool...then crumble and store in ziploc bags.

Easy Huh!!?!?! THE WORST PART.....one recipe only fills two sandwich size ziplocs!! Mom and I used 10 lbs of sugar, 2 containers of peanuts from Sams, and 8 bottles of Karo.

This stuff is tough to make and you must move fast. There is no time to sit back, take a break. You must know the recipe before you get started. I like to make an assembly line with all of my ingredients. I only really messed up one batch when I accidentally repeated Step 2!

Oh well.

We had a great time and our family will be excited to get this stuff!

One Year Ago Today.....

2010-12-07T12:04:00.000-08:00

...this is what I wrote.

"Preoccupied??

I guess it's time to admit (without revealing too many details) that I'm sort of "preoccupied." Blogging for me is usually an escape from work since I sit at a computer for eight hours at a time. I spent hours reading what other folks had written so I decided to join in. On the weekends I would upload pictures of my "almost famous, not too involved life." But now.....my free time is not just mine...I'm (gladly) sharing it!!! So hopefully as time moves forward, I can share more of those details and entertain you with my "very satisfied, table for 3" life! God does have a plan for me and once I decided (focused my prayer) to let him reveal it to me, he did! I still am amazed."

Oh my gosh......SEE....this is why I blog. How cool is it that I was able to pull up my blog from last December and there this was! Maybe God sent me back searching so that I could remember to be thankful for the gifts He has given me! I have mentioned several times how since I found what I had been looking for...my love....I sometimes forget God. Not on purpose...but because I am so busy enjoying what I have that I forget to glorify Him. So today I read what I wrote a year ago....not knowing what was in store and I find myself amazed again!

Lord, help me to remember You. Everyday, every night, and every in-between. You are the reason my life is blessed. Amen.

Another good blog I found!

2010-12-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

http://www.kidjunkies.blogspot.com/

A Little Christmas Stuff!!

2010-12-06T11:44:00.000-08:00

We got our tree up and decorated....and our house..the inside and the outside!! I just love it! I tried to take some pictures but I don't think they do justice to how calming and relaxing the lit tree makes our living room feel!

I haven't taken any of the outside yet....I'll work on that this week perhaps!

On another note....

We don't have Savanna much this holiday season, in fact, we won't have her again until the week leading up to Christmas. Her mom's family is doing a bunch of traveling and they want to have her with them. BUT...we did get to see her on Saturday! Her mom invited us to go to breakfast with Santa at the Country Club. We had a nice time and I think Savanna liked seeing us! She doesn't seem confused by having us all three around! When she needed to go potty....she asked me to take her....normally it is a good feeling that she wants my help (still kind of is) but not when she is wearing panties, and tights, and big dress....whew...tough work!

Savanna doing crafts!
Savanna and her cousins!

(Not sure why my camera was not working well that day...I guess the lighting! I'm still trying to figure out how to reduce the red eye here and lighten it up)!

I've been a little sad that we don't have Savanna all of the time especially around the holidays when I LOVE the idea of starting traditions with her. She is just starting to understand all of the magic and is so fun at this age. I do have some things planned for the few nights we will have her before Christmas. We will have her Christmas day and the week after so we will have plenty of time....just not the before time! I have made some arrangements for Christmas Day so that we can actually have Christmas dinner so that she will be with us!

The Griswolds....

2010-12-02T07:37:00.000-08:00

...Well not quite, but close!!

This past weekend we went and picked out our Christmas Tree!! We still usually get into quite lengthy discussions about each of our own traditions. Usually what is important to one of us, is not nearly as important to the other! But we try.....we did have Savanna so it was important for me that she help us pick out our Christmas tree! I think we did pretty good!!

Decorating pictures to come!

The First Thanksgiving....

2010-11-30T09:26:00.000-08:00

....we shared together!

Last year JC and I stuck to our normal traditions as he went with his family and I went with mine! (We had only been dating close to two weeks). However, this year we wanted to be together so we chose to cook Thanksgiving dinner at our house. His family would be with us as mine continued with old traditions...minus me!! But the good news is that Christmas will also be at our house with both of our families!

I didn't take any pictures of people.....silly me! But of food of course.

Let me just say that there were a few mishaps....as to be expected! I even think there used to be a Hallmark commercial about the new daughter-in-law preparing the first Thanksgiving meal for her new family....and well....unlike a Hallmark commercial, mine was not perfect!

The Turkey!
He cooked very well in a cooking bag! What a great technique. BUT...have you ever successfully removed the turkey from the bag???? Us either!! As we tried to remove him....he sort of crumbled. So JC took all of the meat off and we got rid of the evidence before his family arrived!

The Ham!!
On the way out of the oven some of the juice got spilled.....and burned....AND.....

The Casseroles!!
....Were flavored with a slight burnt accent due to the ham drippings!! Only I noticed (supposedly). Some casseroles were flavored stronger than others...but ughhh!!

I guess live and learn and try again next year!! I was so close to creating the perfect meal.....oh well....it is a good story!

19 Kids and Counting....

2010-11-22T08:30:00.000-08:00

Not really...but pretty darn close!!

Our group of friends...mostly high school friends are just full of babies and kiddos!! AND they are all absolutely beautiful!! I'm kind of included in the "parent" bunch since I am a soon-to-be step mother!! This past weekend at one of their birthday parties I vowed to take tons of pictures of all of the babies.....so here they are!!

JC and Stephanie (Savanna)

Luke and Stacey (Mary Elizabeth and Jack)

Eric and Jenny (Myers)

Grant and Anne (Marnie and Whit)

Jerry and Jessica (Katie)

T and Brantley (Thomas and Mary Frances)

Brad and Claire (Meg)

Allen and Missy (Henry and Michael)

AND....next time we are putting all the kids together for a group shot!!

Happy 1st Birthday Mary Elizabeth

2010-11-22T07:39:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Mary Elizabeth's (my friend Stacey's little girl) Birthday on Saturday!! She had a fabulous party with lots of friends!! Here is a tribute to this beautiful baby girl!

A Mother's Prayer

"I pray you'll be my eyes
And watch her where she goes
And help her to be wise
Help me to let go

I pray she finds your light
And holds it in her heart
As darkness falls each night
Remind her where you are

Guide her with your grace
Give her faith so she'll be safe."

Happy Birthday Little Lady!

Thanksgiving Program

2010-11-22T07:28:00.000-08:00

Friday morning JC and I went to see Savanna in her school Thanksgiving program. Savanna's mom invited us and I was happy to go. JC and I had gotten there super early so we had a great third row seat! We had saved some extra room for JC's mom and then JC saw Savanna's other grandparents and her mom...he invited them to come sit with us!! We all sat like one big happy family! Ohhh..the joys of this combination family stuff! .....I guess I better just sit back and enjoy!! I remember watching Savanna scan our row and she kind of looked amazed at how many people she had there to see her!

And YES...she was a pilgrim!!

2010-11-16T09:15:00.000-08:00

My cousin posted a new blog that she read.....AND oh my gosh!!! Absolutely heart-warming.

Go to this blog and start by clicking on the menu tab called "Start here if you're new."

AMAZING!