MY GIRL (kind of)

For anyone who has followed this blog for awhile, then you are familiar with Jenna.  If you aren't, then she's my niece, but trust me, if you looked at her you would totally think she was mine.  #minime And today is her 4th birthday.  I can't believe it's already been four years since this little angel made her way into my life.   Today I want to celebrate this little lady with a look back over the last four years.  But first, let me show you why she could be mine... it all started at birth. 

Jenna, you are my sweet little niece who I waited years to hug, dress up, put make up and bows on, and make silly faces.  Thank you so much for being just that and so much more.  Sissy loves you, baby girl.  

 

 

White Vacation : 2014

Every year we go on vacation with Brian's family to the beach.  
This year we spent a wonderful week at Perdido Beach, FL just catching some rays and eating yummy shrimp!  
I usually take a whole lot more pictures than I did this year, but I spent more time "enjoying" the week than trying to capture it all.  It was much needed.  

Isn't it time to go back? :)

Weekending Edition

Well, last week I did good and started my new link-up Sunday Spin.  This week I was a complete fail and didn't even get to schedule today's post, much less one for yesterday.  This weekend was jammed packed and I'm still needing some extra sleep to recover.

 

Let's rewind a bit to Thursday.  I left work early and drove with the family to Memphis to pick up Ben from the airport.  If you are new around here, then Ben is Brian's younger brother.  I won't say "little" anymore because he towers over me so isn't exactly my definition of little.

 

He had spent the last month in Fort Knox, KY doing some Army training so we were all very excited to see him and get to bring him home.  Ben stays at our house while he is in town and not in school.  It's a joy to have him around and I know Brian loves having his "bubba" with him as well.  I know a lot of people sometimes don't get along well with their in-laws but I have been beyond blessed in that department.  I consider them as my own family, not in-laws.

 

And sadly, I'm a bad blogger and don't have any pictures from this night.  I was so tired and completely never thought about getting my phone out.  Ooops.

 

Friday, I worked and then went home.  Ben had taken Lindsey (his fiancé) on a date and so Brian and I decided we too would have a mini-date.  We tried out the new Mexican restaurant in town and I really liked it.  After dinner, we went to our normal location- Lowe's.  And this week I came out with more items than Brian.  [Insert shock face.]

 

My better half

 

Saturday, we loaded up bright and early and made the trip to Cairo, Illinois.  It was the annual 4th July Fish Fry at Brian's grandparents' house.  We waited for the weekend after so Ben would be able to make the trip as well.

 

Blake and I, having fun in the backseat

Bethany and some cute cousins

After some time with Brian's Mamaw and Papaw, we stopped for a visit with his precious Nannie.  And a little fun fact- her real name is Nannie!  Nannie Claire to be exact and that's one reason I want my future little girl to be named Klaire.

 

 

 

And, hands down, my favorite picture of the day....

 

Nannie asked me to comb her hair.  My heart just exploded with pride and I wish she lived closer so I could do it every day.  I just love this woman.

 

On the way home, Brian, Ben, Blake, and myself decided to stop for dinner.  So we stopped at Olive Garden and stuffed ourselves.  But it was OH so good. 

 

 

I'm pretty sure Blake enjoyed his spaghetti from the look on his face.  He was such a doll the whole day.  I love you, Blake!

 

Sunday, we dropped off Roxie Jane before church and picked her back up afterwards.  She had her first haircut and I just want you to know she was adorable!

 

 

What a blessed weekend it was.  I'm so glad Brian and I have wonderful family to spend time with and make the most of this life. 

 

Now, I'm going to work on getting the rest of this week and next week scheduled so I can get packed and enjoy my VACATION next week!

   

 

LOSING A BEST FRIEND

July 4 is a day of red, white, and blue.  It's a day we celebrate our freedom with all the patriotic events such as cook-outs, parties, etc.  But to me, it's so much more.  It's my best friend's birthday.
And she isn't here to celebrate.  
You see, today would have been my grandmother's birthday.  I lost this great lady when I was twelve years old and there hasn't been a day go by that she wasn't crossed my mind.  Mamaw was my best friend, period.

Even though I only got a short time with her, in those years she taught me so much about life. There are times I wish I could just reach out and have one last conversation with her.  I would tell her about Brian.  She would love this man of mine.  She would love his soul as I do.  
I would tell her all my plans. I would ask her advice for being a mother one day, and a wife now.  I would let her teach me how to make her wonderful chocolate gravy and show my the ropes of canning and old-fashioned cooking.
I would spend more time with her learning the things this generation has no idea about.  I would grab a glass of her wonderful kool-aid and hear her sweet soul talk about those in need and what we should do to help.  I would watch her get her house "just right" for a family gathering and then sit and enjoy the fellowship.
I would be a better person to have half of this lady in me.
I miss you, Mamaw.  And I hope you are celebrating up there in Heaven.  I can't wait to see you.

Memorial Day 2014

Memorial Day 2014 was an eventful one around these parts.  Bethany (My sister in law) wanted to build the boys a tire swing to have fun on this summer.  So, the day was made up of cooking out, hanging out, laughs, and spending time watching the guys make this tire swing project come to life.

Now, let me explain what you are seeing in this picture.  Our friend, Jeremy, is hanging in the air (literally) while trying to get the swing up and going.  And if you are wondering how he got to this point, well let me just explain.

Insert Mississippi thinking.

It included a homemade harness and a truck, and up he went.  Simple as that.  Or so we thought. He actually got STUCK in the tree and we ended up having to go get a large ladder to get him down.  It really did scary for a few minutes.  

Well, after a good cookout and all our bellies were full, it was back to working on the tire swing.  It all went up and going and then my sweet husband broke it.  

Yes, I said broke it.

You see, somehow they didn't use the right something or another and the link holding the chain snapped.  Yes, ouch. 
But guess who caught it on camera? :)


After all the events, it turned out okay to see these smiles.

Hope you and your family had a great Memorial Day weekend!

Mother's Day: 2014

Hello, loves!  I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day weekend.  I got to spend some time with my mom Saturday and enjoyed just making new memories with her.  We went for dinner and then went to Wal-mart and sat in the car to people watch.  If you think I'm kidding, you're wrong. 

 

It's true.  My mom and I have THE BEST time just watching people make fools of themselves, and come on- Wal-Mart is THE place to be when you are people watching.  We even took Brian along this time and he had fun!

 

 

My sweet mother is my best friend ins this world.  She has been me at my lowest, and highest, moments and loved me through both.  She is the one I want to go with me places and the one I call to tell "the latest news" to over the phone.  My world would be so different without my mother and I'm thankful daily for God allowing me to have her in my life.

 

 

I also have another mother in my life these days, my Mother-in-Love, Donna.  This lady took me in as one of her own from the very beginning of Brian and I's relationship.  I'm so happy to have her in my life to tell funny stories and help me pick on her son! :)

 

This Mother's Day was a blessed one for me.  I couldn't live without these two! Happy Mother's Day.

 

 

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Happy Birthday to the first man I ever loved, my daddy.
Thank you for raising me with the love I deserved.  Thank you all those million questions you've answered and problems you've fixed.
Thank you for being a great father who was involved in my life.
Thank you for every day of my life.  I wouldn't trade you for anything.
Love. your little girl.