Trip to ATL # 2

Since we are headed back down to Atlanta again tomorrow, I figured it is time to post about the 2nd half our our trip last weekend. We went to one of our best buds, Forrest's wedding. Forrest knew both Brandon and I before we met and he played a pretty big role in introducing us to each other. Our first 3 months of dating usually included Forrest (he liked to call himself the 3rd wheel :) )... and we are so excited that Forrest has met his match. They are now in DR enjoying a nice relaxing honeymoon!

Forrest married Margarita, whose family is from Mexico. So their wedding and reception was full of traditions that were so fun!! They even had a Mariachi band!

If you can't tell by this pic... Forrest was SOOOOO excited!!!



Congrats to Rita and Forrest!! You make a great couple.

Weekend to ATL part 1.

As soon as Brandon's exams were over on Friday (!!!!!), we jumped in the car to head down to Atlanta. We made a brief stop in Augusta to pick up Stephanie and have a little chick fil a. We had a jam packed weekend with a baby shower, shopping, visiting, church, Teds, and a wedding. We headed back home Sunday evening after all the events!

Here are a few pics from the baby shower. Ashley (my sister) and Pollye (Brandon's sister) hosted it. I can't begin to express how big of a blessing it was!!! Not only did I receive many, many gifts... literally I almost have everything I need to be ready for our baby boy!! But, I also got to see some of my favorite friends from North Georgia. I miss these girls so much!! It was also great to see the fam...


(Pam, Madeline, Pollye, me, Ashley and my mom)

Madeline loved having her two favorite people together at one time. Seriously she couldn't quit laughing and hugging and kissing them. She didn't know what to do with herself!

(Gini, Stephanie, me, Julie and Jennifer)

This is an AMAZING punch that my sister made!!! I need to get the recipe for it and post it on here. Isn't it just beautiful?

Thanks again to everyone who came and to Ashley and Pollye for hosting.... I was so blessed. I know it was a busy weekend being right before Christmas-- thank you for taking the time to come. I LOVED seeing everyone!! Ashley and Pollye, thank you for all of the energy and time it took for you to plan, organize, and prepare for the shower!!! It meant the world to me... I can't wait to do the same thing for both of you!!!! ;)

This is just a little extra... but Madeline has been such a joy to be around these past few months. She is really "getting" a lot of things that we have been telling her about for a while now. I walked in her room one day after she had been playing, and found this rabbit reading her Bible. She loves it.

Thanksgiving and Christmas

Since we weren't going to be able to travel during thanksgiving this year because of Brandon's exams, his whole family came up to visit. We had so much fun... We have traveled every holiday since we got married, and it was soooo nice to be able to relax and be at our own house... plus have family with us!! Brandon decided to smoke the turkey on his Green Egg. It was such a process but well worth it. He had to get up at 7 to start the grill and we ate at 4 in the afternoon. Definitely an all day commitment but he says that he wants to start smoking more (meat, that is). Maybe during football games. The turkey was the juiciest turkey ever!!


final product:
Jack-Pa and Giggie (Brandon's parents)
Pollye and Madeline


We actually put our Christmas tree up a week before Thanksgiving. We put lights on it, but waited until the day after Thanksgiving for the ornaments. I think we may have started a new tradition... it was so nice to already have the tree up and be able to enjoy putting up the other decorations after Thanksgiving.
I feel so prepared for Christmas this year-- almost all the presents under the tree, decorations up, house (pretty) clean... maybe it is that I am 32 weeks pregnant, or maybe I am so looking forward to Brandon being finished with exams (on friday!!!) that I want to be able to just be together as a family with no errands or chores. We are headed to Atlanta for the weekend for a shower and a wedding, then back up to Columbia to spend a week together. We have some fun things planned, along with a lot of down time. Brandon had been going SO hard the past 3 weeks-- he needs a good vacation.

weekend in spartanburg

Lucy had a tea party for her birthday. It was sooo sweet!! The girls all got dressed up, made hats, enjoyed a meal on real plates, sang songs and played games. Frances-- great idea!! Madeline felt so special and really enjoyed being "Belle" for the morning.



the hit of the party-- chocolate milk and sprinkles!

the real fun for madeline came when most of the girls left and madeline got to have her old best friends all to herself for a few minutes. Seriously, she LOVES these girls so much!!

Friday night, I was suprised by a little baby shower!!! It was sooooo sweet and a total surprise. Literally, I haven't bought anything or done anything to get ready for this little boy so getting all these fun clothes and diapers made me so excited to be having a baby in a few months!! It also reminded me to get on it. :) Thank you so much girls!! You are SOOO thoughtful, I appreciate it so much!! I didn't get a picture of everyone, but here is one opening the presents...

Here is a picture of Kristin at her shower on Saturday. She is having a little girl due 2 weeks after us-- Valentine's Day!!

catching up...

We have had a busy few weeks!! I finally found a cord that would download pics from our camera... for the first time since May!! So maybe I'll start blogging again? Here is our Princess Fairy on Halloween. We actually went to 4 different neighborhoods trying to find a good place to trick or treat. No one answered the first 10 doors we went to. I don't know what was going on?? We finally found a great neighborhood but it was wayyy to crowded. there was a line at each house! And everyone set outside their house to give out candy so there was no ringing doorbells or anything. Eventually we found a cute little neighborhood that we could do "real" trick or treating in.

Giggie and Jack Pa visited on Halloween. It was a quick but really fun visit!! We ate great, did some shopping, watched football and got to catch up. They are coming up for Thanksgiving in a few weeks, we can't wait!

Brody had his 2nd birthday party!! It was at the "farm." Wide open fields and a hay ride. Madeline had so much fun.

love these two.

For the past three years, my mom and aunt Vickie have gone to Charleston on my mom's birthday weekend. I am so glad that Columbia is right on their way... so they stopped by Friday for lunch and Sunday for some birthday cake. So good to see them!

Lastly, Stephanie came to visit last night!! It was so fun. We only had time to grab a quick dinner at Wild Wing but it was so refreshing to catch up with an old friend. She only lives an hour away in Augusta. We must make a habit of this!!!

some deals i'm hittin up

You baby isn't a child genius??? You can go here and get info about returning up to 4 of your DVDs that you bought your kids, and they will give you a check for $15.99 each. Apparently, it has been discovered that babies that watch TV don't turn into "einsteins." Also go here for another article.



Ok, here is the most incredible deal. If you go to Earth Fare, you can bring in 5 products from your pantry (that are bad for you-- they can be already used)... peanut butter, jelly, cereal, soda, and salad dressing. And trade these in for products without the hydrogenated oils, sugars, etc. You have to sign up for the health journey here and then bring in the coupon.

Also, go here and and get a free 3 pound bag of apples from Earth Fare. This expires Sunday, Nov. 1st.

weekend update

We had a really fun guest on Friday night... Jennifer came to visit!! Madeline was soooo excited, she could hardly stand it. We mostly just caught up and hung out most of the time, which was so fun. Madeline's hi-light was definitely that she got her nails painted for the first time!! Surprisingly, she kept perfectly still the whole time. She was concentrating so hard! We could tell that she felt so special. Unfortunately, on our way to lunch we realized that she had eaten all the polish off her thumb finger. We quickly called poison control and they said it was no big deal-- that once the polish is dry, it won't hurt a child. (not that you feed your child dry polish or anything.)-- just FYI. :)



We love you Jennifer!! Come visit us again soon!!



Brandon was given to great tickets to the South Carolina football game on Saturday. We were planning on taking Madeline, but some great friends John and Christine offered to watch her. We met them when we were visiting Regent in Virginia Beach last year, and luckily we all ended up in Columbia this year. It has been so fun hanging out with them!! Anyway, Brandon and I had an awesome date night out while Madeline partied it up with Brody. Here are a few pics that I stole from their blog.





When I was trying clothes on at Motherhood Maternity last week, Madeline just had to see what she would look like with a tummy. (For those pre-pregnant folks, they have these pad things that you wrap around your tummy to get a visual of what size you will be when your stomach starts poking out). I think it may be a little too early for this. :)



Most days when Brandon is coming home, we usually walk around the neighborhood so that we can greet him on his way in. Madeline just lovesssss riding in Daddy's car... and today she got to do the ultimate-- get the view straight from the sunroof. she loves it.