First Camp Out of the Year!

Lesson number one that I learned is that camping is WAY more fun when you go with other people.  Not that I don't love spending time with just my family, it's just that if you go with others there are more people to cook, clean, entertain your kids, and, of course,  more options of conversation.  When it just you and your hubby engaging in conversation your gonna talk about either kids, work, home, family, bills, etc, etc.  But when another family goes with you, it opens a whole new world of conversation.  For example, our friends the Boyce's lived in Russia right after they got married, and they sure had some interesting stories form those days!!  Wade and I would have NEVER talked about standing in long lines just for loves of bread and spending the night on the Euro-train.  Well, because WE haven't done that! ;)  

Anyway, we only went camping for one night but it was loads of fun.  We went hiking the next day and it was absolutely beautiful.  This is the perfect time of year to go camping.  The weather was JUST right!!  I am not naturally a camper, but Wade LOVES it!!  I must admit it growing on me. Every time I go I enjoy it more.  Who knows, maybe one day Wade and I may actually have something in common! ;)  Just teasing Honey!

The Group, minus me, someone had to take the picture I guess... sigh! ;)

Wade securing our "vacation home"

The kids LOVED the anti gravity chairs!  The adults finally got to sit in them when the kids went to bed!!

Nora and her little Boy friend she calls her "Danny Boy"

The Men relaxing!

Nora and I off on a dark trip to the Potty

Audrey and I "chillin"!

Nora and her friend and one day "sister in-law" Sarah;)   Again, withe the anti-gravity chairs!

Wade exploring with the girls

 

Our little family on the Trail

This was a COOL cave on the trail.  My camera went dead as a door nail after this picture. :(  We went and explored it...very cool.  Our masculine and chivalrous hubbies went in first to scope it out then the kids went in and acted all scared at first, but wanted to go back for more.   Finally the guys went back in for some DEEP exploring. of course the mom's sated behind with the kiddos.  Boys will be boys! ;)  

Audrey with some daddy time. I think she has an obsession with ears! ;)

Way Random...and a little embarrassing!

To preface the story there are two things you need to know...one, I lived in Washington St for the last year and a half of High School and two, I work a couple mornings a week at the front desk of an athletic club. So on with the rest of the story...

This afternoon a kid (probably 16 or so) came to the gym to workout. He didn't have his key chain thingy so I had to check him in. When he told me his last name I was immediately sent back to my Senior year and the remembrance of my HUGE crush!!! If you knew me then you probably remember this guy. One thing about me, from back in the day, is that I was queen of crushes. I crushed and I crushed Hard, but often! ;) "I'm not a playa' I just crush a lot" I would have to have been my theme from HS through college!! Anyway, back to the story. This particular crush in Washington State had a somewhat different last name. So who wouldn't have thought about him when the young kid checked into the gym this afternoon???

So being the chatty Cathy that I am I said to this kid, after he told me his last name,"That's funny, I had the BIGGEST crush on a guy in high school who had the same last name." He became very interested in that statement and asked me questions about him. I ASSURED him he didn't know him b/c not only was this 12 years ago it was also, THOUSANDS of miles away in Washington State. So I humored the kid and then he asks me his name. It took me a minute to think of his name, b/c most of my crushes have nicknames and they will have that nickname for the rest of their lives. But, when I said his name, the kid says, "Oh, that's my uncle!!!! At this point I am thinking,"WHATEVER! your real cute kid". But I must admit, there was a family resemblance and the kid knew details... So, of course I play it off and laughed and make jokes about it. I told him he should tell his uncle about this, that would be SOOOOO hilarious. PAUSE: why do I do things like that? Why can't I just stop talking???!!!! UNPAUSE. Anyway, I know this kid will tell his uncle and I will probably be hilarious to him considering I was kind of weird when I moved to that school. I totally hit a "PHASE" when I lived in WA!!!

So after it was all said and done, I was a little embarrassed and then I realized that I didn't really care. Now I just think it's too funny! I mean really, this kind of situation would ONLY happen to ME!!! I told the story to Wade and he could just see how the story would turn into, "you have the obsessed old crush at the gym I workout at!" HaHa!!! I have the BEST hubby! ;) I guess if your husband can't make fun of you than who can?!?!?!

Easter Weekend EGGstravaganza!

Easter Weekend was a lot of fun for our little family.  Saturday was a BEAUTIFUL day.  It was a little chilly but the sun was out and the breeze was perfect.  That morning there was an Easter Egg hunt at "The Church on Pinnacle Hills".  Seriously, this was the Fastest Egg hunt EVER!!  They had separate fields for big kids and little ones, but it didn't matter!!  This egg hunt was over in about 45 sec.  Nora was able to get about 3 eggs and Audrey ONE!!!  Poor gal, honestly, I don't think it really mattered!

Nora getting ready for the race, I mean, Egg Hunt!!!

Just the girls!

Nora and her THREE eggs!

Then, we took it to the house and colored eggs!!  This is the first year we did this as a family.  I probably could have done it with Nora last year, but after the Christmas cookie fiasco of 2007 I wasn't quite ready for another holiday tradition with a 2 year old! ;)  Anyway, she is 3 and was WAY on top of things.  She allowed me to show her in the beginning, then it was "move over mommy and let me do it my way"!!!  She didn't really say that, but that is what her attitude said.  But, don't get me get started on that little girls attitude, and my sweet little baby seems to be well on her way to adopting the same attitude as well.I have to admit, I kind of like their attitudes.  Well, just say they are "mini-ME's".   I'll just have to save that for another post! ;)

Easter Sunday the girls woke up and it was Rainy and FREEZING! YUCK!!!  There goes our perfect Easter weather! The girls, got their baskets and we had another little EASTER EGG hunt in out house.  Then we got all dolled up in out Sunday Easter dresses, well, Wade had a suit! ;) haha!!  And of course I took a picture of that!

Their Easter baskets, Nora gets socks for whatever holiday it is and she LOVES it!!  Audrey will get them too one day, but for now she doesn't seem to like and/or care about socks!

Audrey and her PEEPS!! ;)

JUST US!!  Sorry about cutting Wade's head off!  But the rest of us look Fabulous, Ok, Ok, it was just a really good one of me so I had to go with this picture!! ;)

Taking Care of Business

I have finally ordered some business cards for my budding little business.  Also, I made a flyer that I am going to post around town, wherever they will allow it.  Not sure if it will bring in business, but thought it would be worth a try.  

I wanted to share the flyer and business cards with all my bloggershpere buddies. Hopefully you think it looks good. 

PS... Don't forget to check out my photography blog from time to time.   

A Party at Twilight!!!

So the party didn't start until 8:30 pm.  It was a little too late for twilight, but just in time for vampire goodies and an epic love story!  A bunch of girlfriends and I got together to watch "Twilight" and gush over Bella and her immortal tale of love with Edward the sexiest vampire I ever heard of.  Well, unless you think of Brad Pitt in "Interview with a Vampire", but was he a vampire..I don't know.  All I am saying is the Edward in PERFECT in my head while I read. 

Anyway, it was a fun night.  We had Blood Red Velvet Vampire Venom Cake and cool refreshing blood mimosas!! ;)  I totally stole the idea from my WONDERFUL and funny blogger (and real life) buddy, Heidi, Thanks girl!  It was a fun night.  Some women had the NERVE to make fun and the others had the NERVE to talk during the movie.  OK...so that last one was pretty much all me, but come on, did you really think I could be quiet for and hour and a half.  ;)  All and all it was a great night, I even think I convinced a couple girls in the group to read it1  If they do they WON'T regret it!!!

The "Bloodsuckers" 

Me about to stick my fangs into the blood red venom cake!

The night started out with a toast to Bella and Edward and their eternal love!

The Twilight Cake...I must admit I was very proud of this!

The set up!  For you "Twilight" fans out there, don't you just love the subtle touch of lights!  Alice would be so proud!  I have to thank Jane and my hubby for this accent of decor!

My Alabama Slamma Trip!!!

I am FINALLY updating my blog with my trip to the homeland.  For those of you that didn't know, I went for a week long trip with the kiddos and NO daddy!  My sister drove to Arkansas with her kids and my parents and then we all went to Troy, Al... the place where I spend about 15 years of my life (that's HALF of my life)!  I also stopped in Montgomery to visit a bunch of old friends and we went to the Beach for a day as well.  I can't say I enjoyed every minute of traveling from Northwest Arkansas all the way down to the Florida panhandle with a 3 year old and a barely one year old.  But all the visits and fun memories with friends and family was totally worth it!!!  I didn't get to take pictures of everyone I spent time with, but just know I LOVED seeing you!!

Me and the girls at Ft. Walton Beach

Nora and her cousin Mallory at the beach

Me and my Big Sis, Shelley!!

Audrey at the beach with her cure little sundress and hat, thanks Lib!

Me and my oldest bestest friend, Libby in Montgomery

My old college cronies..IOB gals!!  Haha!!

Candi's kids, Trey and Toby, playing with the Girls

Candi and I in Montgomery and the Zoo!  Thanks for letting us crash at your house for a couple days and eat all your food! ;)