JSU Game!

This weekend I went to the Friendliest Campus in the South - Jacksonville State University!  A sweet friend from church, Tori, is a freshman and is marching flute in the Marching Southerners.  I might add she was slightly encouraged by me, Blake and Angela Strickland and Tracey and Vicki Starnes (all former Southerners).  Tori's parents couldn't attend this weekends game, so her extended family decided to fill in for them.  Not sure you really had to twist any of our arms to go, HA!  Once a Southerner - ALWAYS a Southerner.

I rode up with Blake, Angela, Sawyer and Sam Strickland.  I am so blessed that I have met this sweet family.  Their boys are precious and I am proud to be Aunt LaVonda!  We had lunch at "House of Chen".  The Stricklands were shocked that I had never eaten there in my four years at JSU. 

We got to the campus and found our little Southerner.  She was excited to see us and we were just as thrilled to see her.  We met up with Tracey, Vicki and Will Starnes and headed to the stadium.  I found Shannon, Jacob and Kaitlyn and we all sat together.  Then, a blast from the past Doyle Scott walked up.  It was great to see him, Tracy and their kids Andrew and Madison.  Cary, Leah and Bethany showed up shortly.  They unfortunately witnessed a wreck on their way to JSU.

JSU won the game 39-27 against Georgia State!!  The Southerners did an awesome 1/2 time show but an I even better post game show.  After dinner at Roma's, the Birmingham crew, Tori and John, we headed home.  It was a wonderful day with old and new friends.  I AM TRULY BLESSED!

Tori

Me and Angela

Me and Shannon

Me and Doyle -- marched saxes together for 3 years

Angela, Tori and me

Flower Class

Tonight Christie and I went to Sips and Snips.  It is a class where they teach you how to make a flower arrangement.  Mom had purchased a groupon for me and Christie to go.  It was so much fun and it was great to spend time with her before she goes back home.   Christie is the free - sprited friend and I am the Type A friend.  See if you can tell :)  Enjoy some of the pictures!

Thank you mom for thinking of me and Christie for this event.  It was a great night spent with one of my sisters.  Thank you for always looking out for me, my friends and our family.  I LOVE YOU!

Christie - Stage 1

me - stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Christie's final arrangement

My final arrangement

Sisters

Gardendale Cares Enough to Wear Pink

Tonight I went to the Gardendale Cares Enough to Wear Pink with Christie, Carolyn and Presley.  We had so much fun!  Christie and Presley are moving back home Saturday.  I am happy that she is ready to go home, but also sad that I won't see them as often.  We will just have to make an extra effort to see each other as much as possible. Enjoy the pictures from tonight!!

A 3rd Birthday for a Princess

On Sunday, August 28th, 2011 we celebrated Cameron's 3rd birthday!  She had a princess party and all the little girls dressed in princess outfits.  It was sooooo cute!  I made candy lollipops - candy wafers melted into princess, castle, carriage and balloon molds.  I think they were a hit!   I gave her two Jim Shore figurines  -  Minnie and Tinkerbell.  Mom and Dad gave her all the princess Barbies and two bags full of princess gear. 

Casey and Lindsay gave her a new puppy.  Name has yet to be decided....

Below are some pictures from the fun afternoon.

Presley walks!!!

While I was visiting JSU - Presley took her 1st steps!!!  So, Christie came down tonight so I could see my little neice walking.  She did soooo good.  Enjoy the video below.

a GREAT weekend!

Started the weekend off with dinner at Casa Fiesta with Christie, Presley and Carolyn.  Yummy!  After Christie put Presley to bed, she and I watched Project Runway.  I am so thankful that she is in Fultondale, but I know she will go home eventually.  So, I am eating up all the time I can, right now :)

Saturday was a day with the girls!  Me, mom, nana, Linda, Lindsay and Cameron met in Hoover.  First it was lunch at Zoe's and then we were off for a little window shopping.  I picked up Cameron's birthday presents and two Christmas ornaments - Christmas gifts for Cameron and Jacob.  Casey met us and picked up Cameron and we were off to the movies.  We went to see "The Help".  It is a great movie!!!

Sunday began with church and a last minute trip to JSU.  Tori, from church, started camp Friday.  The vets came back on Sunday.  At 3 pm - they all played "Salvation" and "Stars Fell on Alabama" for the first time as the 2011 Marching Southerners.  Her parents, Gwinna and Kerry, and I surprised her with our visit and for a minute we weren't sure she was happy about it. We had eaten Top of the River on our way up.  She was hungry so we went to Roma's.  It was great to see her in her element and enjoying every minute of it.  I am so proud of her and can't wait to see the show for the first time on 9/17.  BLOW SOUTHERNERS!!!

Update...

After returning home from Colorado - it was time to get back to reality.  Boo!! 
The first week back at work was a complete blur.  But, I just took one day at a time and got back in the swing of things. It was great to be home to welcome my friend Angie's 5th child - a BOY! He joins his four sisters.  His name is Kieran Nicholas. He is soooo cute!

As a way to relax, I read a wonderful book "Water for Elephants".  Awesome book!  I had hoped to finish it in time to see it at the movies, but I missed it by a few days.  Oh well, some friends and I are going to have a viewing party at my house when it comes out on DVD. 

On Friday, July 22nd, I hosted a "Blessings Unlimited" party for my friend Candace.  Blessings Unlimited is a Christian home decor company.   I had several friends and family join us for the night.  It was mom, Linda, Lindsay, Cameron, Rhiannon, Angela, Christie, Becky and Rebecca.   Dad was hanging with his best buddy, Roscoe, in my office during the party.  I made brownies and Christie made chocolate cookies from a cake mix - YUM!  On Saturday, July 23rd, I got to see Deidre and Jet Tolbert.  They are such good friends and Jet is growing up too soon!  Before long, Landon will be here!

My first Sunday back at church was July 24th.  I was the only alto saxophone!  I think my partners in crime were paying me back for my 2 Sundays off.   The next Wednesday, we were all back together, YAY!

On Friday, July 29th Roscoe had to go to the vet.  He had a large bump on his mouth and I was terrified!  Luckily, it turned out to be an abcessed tooth.  We stayed with mom and dad on Friday.  Saturday, July 30th I went to Theresa's 50th surprise party.  Theresa and I have worked together for 10 years at IMS.  It was a great party.  Roscoe had a follow-up appointment on Monday, so he stayed with his grandparents all weekend.  I missed him terribly!  After a week of antibotics, the bump has gone down, YAY!

On Sunday, August 7th - I met Janelle (sax player at church) and her daughter, Alex at the movies to see "The Smurfs".  It was a cute, cute movie!!!  After returning home, I finished another wonderful book, "The Help".  It was an eye opening story about growing up in the '50s.  It comes out in the theaters on 8/10.  I am suppose to go see it with friends and the family very soon.

I have enjoyed many evening walks with Christie and Presley!  I pray that she and Craig can work their marriage out, but I am going to miss having her 5 minutes away, BOO :(.  I am enjoying all the time I can, while she and Presley are here.

~~until next time. 

Be Blessed!