Goin' to the Chapel

Our trip to Georgia was full of connecting with family and friends from near and far. More exciting, though, was being able to start really celebrating Parker and Sara. We got to go to their engagement party that a friend of theirs hosted. It was a great, laid back, BBQ type of party. We celebrated their engagement to each other and their upcoming wedding.

The next weekend we got to celebrate Parker and Sara by having their first wedding shower. I found some great cupcake toppers on clearance at Target that were too good to pass up. They were anchors, and since Parker is in the Navy it was a perfect fit. Then I went to Michaels to get things to make the banner and some other decorations and I found some awesome red ribbon with anchors on it. It was fate, it had to be. I used the ribbon on the chip baskets and the cupcake tower and then Pat used the left over ribbon to make bows for some corsages that she made for Sara and her mom. 

Party details: Food table, "Parker and Sara" banner on the mantel where the gifts were opened, red roses and a picture of the couple as the center piece, "please come in" banner on the front door, and the cupcakes and the cupcake tower.

We didn't do any games, just chit chat, eating, and gifts. It was a perfect shower if I do say so myself!

The company that we had at the shower couldn't have been better. Sara had her bridal party and we invited the cousins and our side of the family too.

Independence

The only thing I wanted for sure for the 4th of July was fireworks. I didn't care how or where, I just wanted to have something for the kids to get excited about. {Of course, any type of fourth food is fabulous, so there were no complaints coming from me about any of that!} Dad and I found some fireworks at Sams Club when we were grocery shopping when I first got in town and I was excited that it meant we wouldn't have to sit in traffic or crowds to see any of the fireworks displays around town.

The food was amazing. Pop made ribs and corn on the cob. With Mimi around we weren't going to get away without having watermelon. Grandma made sure to bring the desserts and we were set!

Most of the fireworks we had were just the kind that stay close to the ground and shower, but the kids absolutely loved that, so that was all we needed!

Grandpa had some old Roman Candles and some loud "boom" fireworks that he brought over, so we did get to look to the sky for a few of our fireworks. He and my Dad even timed a few of the loud ones to go off at the same time, so that was a real treat.

My time was spent lighting the sparklers. We got them at Sams, so we ended up with 480 of them. We hardly put a dent in the stash that we have. I think we'll get to play with sparklers every time we come to visit Mimi and Pop until my kids are grown and going to college. Eden absolutely loved these, but Hunter only liked them from afar. 

 We had a great time with lots of family for the 4th! Both sets of grandparents were here with my kids and all of my dad's siblings were here with their spouses. We couldn't have asked for a better evening to celebrate the US of A - except if we could have spent it with Daddy!!

Haircut

Hunter got his first haircut. I can't believe he had to have it so soon {compared to Eden}! She was over 2, and he really should have had his closer to his birthday, but I waited. His mullet was getting out of control! I wish had had a good before picture from the day of, but I don't.

Once we got to the salon, Eden got her hair cut first.

After Eden's turn, Hunter jumped right up. We had given him a sucker to help him sit still. I only wish that sucker had helped! Before everything was said and done, he was over it. Linda had to bend over backwards to get his hair even.

 Daddy was able to join us on FaceTime. You can see Grandpa holding the phone in the left side of the picture. In the picture below that you can see Lane on the phone. Yes, that's a nasty mustache! Linda said she'd cut it off for him if he wanted her to.

 When it was all done he no longer looked like a baby. He looked like a little boy and it kind of broke my heart a little bit! It's amazing how a haircut can age a little boy.

Motherhood Is...{27}

I am blessed by an awesome family!

Being a military family only adds to the hardships of having extended family being far away. Between Lane and I we have family in Oregon, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi, North Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, and other states I'm sure! 

While we were in Georgia these past 2 weeks we've seen more family than I've ever seen since my wedding. We saw Lane's Aunt Jeanine, Parker and Sara, my sister and 4 of her children, Aunt Nana and Uncle Papa, my Uncle Richard and Aunt Audrey, my Aunt Nancy and  Uncle Lenny, my Aunt Bettye and Uncle Tom, my cousin Pat and his wife, my cousin Samantha and her kids and lots of friends too! 

The phrase "it takes a village to raise children" came true while we were in Georgia. Different people driving home some of the things that I tell Eden on a daily basis {when I ask you to do something, you need to do it type of things.} It's always a good thing when someone else tells her the same things that I've been trying and trying and trying to get her to understand. Hunter and Eden were so excited to have people play with them, spoil them, and love on them while we've been here. I am blessed that this trip was a whirlwind of people coming and going throughout the entire 2 weeks so that we could see so many people...and now I need a nap! ha ha

Peachtree

When I was growing up my dad would participate in the Peachtree Road Race. I remember the excitement about him getting a bib number, watching the race, and the best part was that he always brought hot donuts home for us after the race. When I was old enough to participate, we joined in the fun. I know I've run at least 4 or 5 of the races over the years and I was excited to get a bib number this year.

Over the years the race has become so popular that there is a lottery to enter to get a bib number. Of course there are ways to get a guaranteed number, but for non VIP people like me the lottery is the only way to go. I entered the lottery because I knew that Lane would be gone for the 4th, and I thought there was no harm in just seeing what happened. I got lucky! I was one of the 60,000 people chosen to get a bib number. This was my first traveling race as a runner. I feel like I can officially join in the "runners" club!

The friend I was supposed to run with ended up dealing with some pretty nasty morning sickness {how exciting is that?!} and so she bowed out for pregnancy related issues. Can you believe that? I mean, the nerve - just kidding! My niece found out that my running buddy had to back out, so she said that she would run with me. I was pumped to have a running partner for the race.

When we went down to the race we made sure to take lots of pictures as we went along.

Course and elevation map. I sent this to Lauren so she would know what she had agreed to! She had only run 6 miles once in her life before the race, and that was 2 weeks prior. I'm proud of her for her accomplishment!

At the beginning. We were still just hoping that it didn't rain on us, but excited that the sun wasn't beating down on us!

This man was in front of us at the start. He was wearing one of his prized Peachtree shirts with a sign on the back that said that he was running his 32nd Peachtree in a row!

As our wave approached the start line, the flag was overhead.

These were the people behind me when I crossed the finish line....

...and these were the people in front of me! My finish time was 1:06:05 and Lauren's was 1:06:15 - only a 50 second difference between us, but 1,000 people difference according to the official race numbers! I couldn't believe it!

Because of all the rain in Georgia recently, there was quite a bit of mud. Where we were standing used to be grass.

Hot and ready!

Our numbers with our reward! 

The shirt changes every year and is voted on by people in Atlanta. The shirt is your prize, your medal, your pride and joy for finishing the race. This is the winning shirt for finishers this year!

Can you tell where the uphills were?

Motherhood Is...{26}

This blessing was hard to decide on. I went through 200 pictures of our trip so far to Georgia, and everything seemed to be a blessing for one reason or another. I'm not complaining! I was just thinking this morning that I needed a vacation from my vacation. I'm tired, I've been going non stop, and it isn't about to slow down. This is one of the reasons I chose to use my motherhood posts this year to all be blessings in my life. I knew I'd get into a slump {from deployment, or just life in general} and need a reminder that there are many blessings in my life.

This week I am blessed by these 2 people.

My whole life I've been the older-sister-role model that I was supposed to be {for the most part} for Parker. Things in our lives hit rough patches and we grew apart, but we always loved each other. He was always the one coming to me for advice though. It was the way our relationship was. And by "always coming to me" I don't mean for everything he did or does, but if he needed something he knew he could call or text me for whatever reason.

When he met this girl in high school he was different. College took them their separate ways, but life brought them back together. In 90-something days they're going to be married! I couldn't be happier for them. So why are they MY blessing. Well, they're living their lives apart because of the Navy. They've been physically apart for over a year now and they're still going strong. I'm sure they have their differences - who doesn't?!

A few weeks ago my box from my parents included a note from both of them in addition to the note from each of my parents. Parker's note hit me like a brick. It was very eye opening. He talked about how being away from your loved one{s} isn't easy, but it gets easier as time passes. I guess I had been so wrapped up in GIVING advice to him and Sara, that I forgot they have a lot to offer me too. I'm excited to be apart of their big day and I'm excited to share in military life with them.

Merry Christmas

If you know me, you know that I wish Christmas was year round! I love it. I live for it. Everyone just seems so happy around Christmas time. The lights that are up make everything seem so magical. I love everything about it! That's why I wanted to make a Christmas box for Lane.

Don't get me wrong! I'm SO glad that I {hopefully} won't have to make a Christmas box, so I made a Christmas in July box.

Eden enjoyed getting to help with the stickers.

I made sure to put the Christmas stuff on the flaps that will open on the box first.

Our friends came over for dinner and we painted pictures for the Daddies. It's nice to have friends to deal with separation along side. Anna said she and the girls hadn't been out of the house that day and I knew my dinner would provide left overs, so we had plenty to share, so they came over and ate with us. It got them out of the house, it entertained my kids, we didn't have to refrigerate so many left overs, and our Daddies got some cool art out of the whole thing. The blue/green pictures on the table are fireworks pictures, and the kids also made flag pictures.

Hunter painted too, and ended up with paint everywhere - the chair, the table, his face, his belly...everywhere!

The finished works of art. Eden's are on top, Hunter's on the bottom.