The weekend we lived like party people....& it just made me feel older...

Christmas continues...

 

& will continue.

 

We were supposed to have Christmas on Friday with our friends & then the grand-dudes come up Saturday morning.  But we got a text on Friday afternoon that Julie was at the doctor with Luke.  He came down with the flu.

 

OH MY GOSH.  This flu thing just needs to end right now before I freaking loose my mind!

How I react every time I see a new Tweet or Facebook post about the flu
... it just needs to stop!!!!....

 

Poor little guy got his Tamiflu & Julie said he was feeling a little better by Saturday afternoon, but we've planned to do our Christmas in 2 weeks when hopefully everyone is flu-free.

 

So while I'm seeing pictures of everyone taking down Christmas decorations, this ensures mine will be up until the middle of January... if not longer... good stuff.

 

But Friday, we did head over to our friends, Ryan & Chasity's after work.

 

If you don't remember, they had a baby earlier in the year.  Emerson... who we call our "grandbuddy"

 

Here was the sweet face that I had to run over & kiss as soon as we walked into the door.

 

I can't believe how big she is getting.  She's almost to the 7th month mark.

 

Amazing.

 

Her sweet personality is just shining through now.  So full of smiles.

 

She's listening to Pappy here

 

I always try to do sign language to her & she just stares at me & laughs.

Funny stuff to her.  I'm pure baby entertainment.

 

I remember teaching a bit of it to my nieces when they were babies & it really is amazing how quick they pick it up when they are little.  A great way to communicate.

 

I'm giving her the sign for eat... she was like "Um, I already ate, thank you very much"

 

Ryan & Chasity are so sweet, knowing I am a vegetarian & made me some spinach manicotti.

OH MY WORD.... it was honestly better then any restaurant I've ever been to.  Packed full of spinach.

 

After dinner, we just hung around chatting & playing with Emerson as she was getting ready to drift off to sleep.

 

When she was getting tired, she got down on the ground & just kept making her way over to Ricky to try & cuddle with him.  Heart, officially melted.
 

She knocked out soon & the 4 of us opened up our gifts.

 

It was so funny because we were just talking about things & every gift someone would open next, it would almost apply to exactly what we were talking about.  It became kinda funny....

 

Like, I had told Chasity about a camera strap I saw on Instagram earlier in the day...

& then I open up a package... & find a camera strap!

 

 

Ryan & Chasity are always so thoughtful in their gifts to us.

 

They even had an ornament made for us that had a Winnie the pooh quote on it about love & loss with Sydney's name engraved on it.  It totally made me choke up.  & it had on the package for both Ricky & Rebecca... but Ricky had taken it & said, "It's mine"... & he wouldn't even pull it out for me to take a picture because he said he knew I would take it.

 

He misses his Sydney girl so much...

 

Look at how beautiful this Beauty & the Beast picture is that they got me!

It's on burlap... a staple for Southern girls.  Burlap & monograms... I'll take them every time.

 

 I want to redo my whole living room centered on this now.

 

 

I just am excited to have a little girl around now so I can buy Princess & Belle things....

 

Got Emerson her first Belle doll... yes!

 

& see that bib?  That was probably the gift I was most excited about giving all Christmas.

It's a bib that when you put on, your head is on top of Belle's body.  I want one in my size.

I also can knit pretty flower hats....

You can't tell me her smile just didn't make your day brighter... seriously...

 

Before we knew it, it was like midnight & we broke open a cheesecake & made some coffee & ended up talking some more.

 

We brought games & thought it was going to be too late to play any.  Since we were sitting at the table anyways, I ran out side & got my 1968 version that I had as a kid of my Password game.  It really is vintage.  We ended up playing it & had the best time.

 

The Password is.... Mild...
(Anyone else remember this game?)

   

Thank goodness for the coffee so we could play.

There is a back story of playing games with Ryan since he was a teenager & it's always so fun.  Dude is COMPETITIVE.... but so are we... which makes it so fun.

 

Chasity & I won the first round so we had to play another round... which the guys won.

... only by cheating...

Sorry - it's the truth

But we ended up leaving tied.... another night of games will have to happen to prove who the REAL winners are

(Chasity, we know its us)

Isn't their cat so beautiful?

We ended up leaving for the night & got out in the car & saw it was 1:30...

in the morning...

 

what?

 

I think the last time Ricky & I stayed out that late was....

...hmmm...

...maybe?...

 

I don't even remember! 

That's how long it was!

 

I was really thankful for the coffee then because it was about a 30 minute drive home & Ricky was snoring the first 10 minutes of the drive.

I ended up just dancing & singing to the radio & got us home at 2:00 am

 

I felt like such a rock star coming in at 2:00am

 

 

I didn't feel like a rock star for long.  I just felt old.

I made it in the house, loved on the dogs, cleaned up for bed... & it was like 15 minutes later & I didn't even think I remembered closing my eyes... I was just out.

 

I thought I would sleep in on Saturday after that, but instead was up at 7am

... & let me tell you. My body was all messed up all weekend because of my sleep being out of whack.

 

It was so worth it though spending time with our friends...

 

I ended up staying in the house all day on Saturday, cleaning some, finishing wrapping the grand-dudes gifts & watching movies... & I ended up going to bed on Saturday night around 9pm

 

.... there's the real me....

My body was like, keep me up that late again & I'll show you whose boss.

 

Sunday, we ended up going out & doing a little bit of shopping.

 

For the record, I now have 3 gifts for next year.

... & yes, I know I'll still be out on Christmas Eve 2015 panicking getting gifts.

 

So another Christmas down.... with one more to come...

 

I kinda don't mind Christmas is taking so long.

I mean, people are ready for it November 1... why can't I drag it out to January 31st?

 

How was your weekend?

 

Any Christmas celebrations still going on?

 

Did you find any after Christmas sales?

  

Christmas... the half time show....

Hope everyone had the Merriest of Christmas's!!!

We so did... & we're only half way through, which leads the way to the Halftime show.  We have Christmas tonight with our dear friends & then Julie & the grand-dudes are heading up for the weekend... lots of celebration still to come.

Tis the season!

Part 1 was Ricky's family Christmas that I talked about on Monday.  I'm so mad I didn't take my good camera with me over there & I just have cell phone picks.  After taking my camera to my brother's house, I'm determined not to rely on cell phone pictures as much anymore. I love the 'real' pictures & pictures need to be quality.  They are memories that last forever.

Christmas Eve, started off just depressing... why?  Because Ricky & I both had to work.  That is just so wrong in so many ways....

Look - I just got done talking about cell phone pictures & its the first one I use.
... hey, they totally are convenient & have their place for a blogger...

I was lucky enough to get off at noon, but Ricky still had to work so I headed out to Target to pick up a few last minute things.  I totally laughed in the store because it was so full of men wandering around looking totally lost.  These men are Ricky's people... the last minute shoppers. 

Ricky got off work, made it home just in time to clean up & we were right back out the door to meet his youngest daughter.  We haven't seen her in about 3 years & I just want to cry at how grown up she is.  She's 26 years old now & I told her, I don't care how old she gets, she'll always be the baby... even if she's almost 30!! My mind still can't wrap around that. 

We got to meet her boyfriend that traveled down with her & we both really liked him.  He was just really polite & easy going & just nice to talk with.  He even just won a photography contest with one of his pictures.  A TOTAL thumbs up for this photographer. 

A total DOWN for this photographer - I didn't take one freaking picture of Lindsay!  I am just a failure.  I think I was just too excited to see her face in person that I didn't think anything of it.  Plus, we got free pie at the restaurant, so I was too busy stuffing my face. 

We left there & headed to my families for our Wood Christmas.... 

 

 

This just felt so weird actually...

We normally have Christmas with my parents on Chrsitmas day.  Have always done that my whole life, but there was scheduling conflicts with my sister in laws family so we went with what would be the less hectic.  It wasn't a big deal, except for Ricky & I making my family wait until 9:00 to start opening presents.  I never have seen so many people yawn in my life...

Even the dogs were like, can you all hurry up & leave?  Santa is on his way

My mom & dad have always been so good at remembering Ricky's birthday on Christmas Eve so they had a cake for him ready to go...

No one had the stomach to eat it though.  Us just coming from free pie & then everyone had full bellies of my sister in laws White Chocolate Peanut butter balls.  DEAR SUGAR FAIRIES... these things are AMAZING!  Just the words, Peanut butter & white chocolate alone gives me a cavity.

No worries, the cake went home with Ricky & I & it will be demolished.

 

Ricky always has 2 buddies when he goes to my brother's house.

It wasn't long before we got the show on the road...
PRESENT TIME!!!

I always say its the looks on kids faces that makes the whole season worthwhile

 I just can't believe these two girls are 10 years old now.

Where does the time go?

The idea of them going into middle school & being teenagers soon?  I want to put them into a bubble & just protect them from everything that comes with that.

Doesn't Sophia already look like a teenager here?

 

We had so much fun ... lots of gifts given.  Everyone just spoiling Ricky & I.
My bro & SIL were so smart - they gave me a subscription to Birchbox!! (Why don't I ever think of things like that) & a local coffee shop gift card.  #yum
My parents spoiled me as well with pj's, a beautiful sweater, a comfy robe I will be wearing all winter long & a Taylor Swift CD.

Yes... a Taylor Swift CD.

I actually asked for it.  I know... I know... the apocalypse should be near now.
I never ever liked Taylor Swift in all the years she's been out... but I really do like her new songs.  I'm coming out of the Taylor Swift Closet

 

 

  

 

It was time to get home & get ready for Santa to visit everyone....

Christmas Eve Night 2014

Ricky & I woke up Christmas morning early... even though we both said we were going to sleep in... but Christmas spirit energy still exists no matter how old you are.

I got up & made breakfast & we let our fur babies begin the celebration of getting treats.

Then it was time to break into our gifts for each other.

As tradition, Ricky & I always sit in the middle of the floor in our living room & exchange gifts.  We have the best time together. 

Mr. Harvey Dent always wants to be in the center of everything so he forgot his bone for awhile & literally squeezed his way in the middle of the action.  To him, being with us is better then chewing on a massive bone.




I try to spoil Ricky & he definitely spoils me...

I mean, a new Nikon camera?  This girl can never get enough Nikon - that's for sure. 
But he also got me a Coach wristlet that I've been wanting & he totally surprised me with getting me the knit loom I wanted. As soon as he pulled out the wrapped package, I knew what it was & I just started crying my eyes out.  Yes, I take knitting that seriously.

He also found me a Belle cup that I got teary eyed over.  It's always the little things that get me. 

He said when he saw the cup he had to double take because he said, "What is my wife's picture doing on that cup?"... does he know me well or what? :)
#ihavethebesthusband

just a few of my Christmas goodies

My love in his UK snuggie I got him :)

 

The day was just lazy from there...

It felt so bizarre not having Christmas with my family, but I was thankful that I talked to my parents more then a few times on the phone... & text my brother to check on my nieces

I never even got out of my PJ's all day long.  That's not a bad thing.

 

 

Even got my new knit loom to good use

Ricky & I played with our new 'toys' all day... watched the Disney parade... I got caught up in the Downton marathon that was on & we even watched a few episodes of The Flash...

 

 

 

 

It really was a nice Christmas...

... & its still going...

More people to see & visit with & enjoy the fun of giving...

 

 Hope everyone had a blessed Christmas Day!!!!

I can't wait to visit around & see all your pictures & hear your stories!

 

Harvey may... just MAY ... have his bone eaten by next Christmas

 __________________

(If you made it through this whole post... I applaud you... this was long!!! )

19 years goes by in a blink....

Now that I do wedding photography, the average ages of my brides are in their early 20's.

Sometimes I look at them & think, you are too young to get married.

I can say that now that I'm in my 40's... but I was that 23 year old bride.

I was a 23 yr old bride.... with a small waist....

Today, Ricky & I have been married 19 years. 

Going into 2 decades.

How did that go by so fast?

When you're 23, I don't think you really understand what lays ahead.

I mean its so exciting & I did understand that this meant forever... but its the little things.

Its really knowing how tough marriage is
... how wonderful marriage is

... knowing you have a person on your side in everything
... knowing you have a partner in the hard times
... knowing you have a friend to celebrate in the good
... knowing you have a shoulder to cry on when you need to
... knowing you have a hand to hold through every day

It's so easy to say... but so different to live...

I think in the end, its knowing you have someone to grow old with...

& here we are 19 years later....

we're not over the hill yet... though some days it feels like it with all the aches & pains...

but we still have a long path to go... God willing...

we'll continue to grow older together... continue to live Happily Ever After...

So really, the more I think about it, I am thankful for young brides... it just gives more of a lifetime to share together...

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband...

Next year - 20 years!! I already told my husband he better start planning a Disney trip right now!
I want my 20th anniversary in the Beast's castle... 

I'm nothing but a demanding wife ;) ... no comment on that one Ricky... no comment! ;)

The weekend that Harvey Dent became a babysitter....

Life has been tough lately... loosing Sydney, Ricky has hurt his knee & can't walk, I've got a awful earache, I lost the pearl in my ring, not to mention a dozen other things that aren't worth going into... all things that feel like life is laughing as it punches us in the gut.

So this weekend, it was nice to get a breath of fresh air & hear the sounds of kid & baby giggles around our house.

Julie & Steve & the boys came up Saturday from Nashville.

We try to make a trip back & forth between the both of about every 3 months but we hadn't been down to Nashville since around February & couldn't get back down there with Sydney having to have special care & her medicine.  & Julie made it up to us in May but being a busy mom with 3 boys, it wasn't easy for her either... so this trip was long over due.

I just couldn't wait to see that baby... always give me a baby when you see me.  Just hand 'em over.  No questions asked.

We were anxious to see how Harvey Dent was going to do because last time he saw them, he was fairly young & he had Sydney to stand behind & watch to see what she would do.  Now that he's the 'big boy' in the house, we didn't know how he would react.  Especially because he is very, VERY, protective of us & his home.

He loved the role of Uncle Harvey to these boys.  He always wanted to herd Isaac & Luke as they ran around the house...

& would give them the glare of "Play with me... you must" ... which they were happy to oblige.

But Harvey was all about that baby.  He could NOT get enough of Will.  He was so concerned about him & what he was doing.  Julie brought a little portable pen (super cool pen if any new moms are looking for one) & she put Will in there to get a break from Harvey, which only confused Harvey & made him worry that he couldn't get to him.

"I will watch him even through this pen"

Will was on the bed getting his diaper changed & Harvey came & laid right above his head.  Steve came in the room & Harvey sat up & snarled at him, daring Steve to touch the baby.  Will has a protector in our home, that's for sure.

"I will watch over you & take care of you & make you my favorite toy"

Last night, when they left, Harvey conked... I mean conked!  That baby sitting stuff is hard work.

But the pitiful thing, he kept running into the back bedroom & sniffing & looking for Will.  Harvey was even pouting this morning when I left for work.  Harvey needs a puppy to keep him occupied... we've already figured that out.

It was so good seeing the Big G-boys!  Isaac turned 7 on Friday & Luke is getting near 5 now... I feel like I just held them as babies.  Where does the time go?  Seriously... how can it just fly like this?

Isaac has lost his front teeth & getting to long-legged.  Such a smart little guy.  He loves his Pappy.  I love that Isaac loves kisses & snuggles.  He'll run from me & say, "I wiped it off" knowing I'm coming to give him more. 

Luke... oh that little trouble maker.  He is just like his Pappy.  When I see him, I know this is what my mother in law dealt with when Ricky was little.  Julie was telling me stories of where he just likes to aggravate.  He'll draw pictures of the family & make Isaac the 'baby' of the family, knowing its going to make Isaac mad.  Julie said he'll just laugh the most devious laugh too when he does things like that.  He's going to be something else when he grows up.  But he also knows that his smile will probably get him out of any trouble he gets into... 

Little Ricky

Since Ricky couldn't do anything with his leg, we basically just stuck at home all weekend.  I hated that at first - that we couldn't take them out & do anything special but Julie said at the end it was great just to relax for a change.  & the boys didn't mind one bit staying around the house.  Super Heroes all day long & a puppy to play with are all little boys need.



We did go out to dinner... & it wiped Ricky out

So once again, we're dealing with a quiet house... & now, a pouting puppy....

here's to another week....

How was your weekend?