April Showers bring May Graduations?

On Friday May 7, 2010, Matt's sister-in-law, Kristy, graduated from WCU as a Family Nurse Practicioner. 

Kristy has worked so hard over the last couple of years.  Not only has she been a full time student, she has successfully juggled being a loving wife, a devoted mother, and working part time at the hospital. 

I am so very proud of Kristy and her accomplishments.  She graduated with honors and was at the top of her class.  She also received highest remarks from not just one but all of her supervising doctors!  Way to go Kristy!  I know that Sylva Peds will be happy to have you on board!!

(I will add here, that at this very moment Michael, Kristy and Alannah are enjoying a much needed vacation in Hawaii!  I hope you have a blast.  Love you guys!) 

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On Saturday May 8, 2010, my sister, Nancy, graduated from WCU with a bachelors in Elementary Education. 

Nancy worked very hard over the last couple of years as well to get to this point.  Newly married, she quit her full time job at the bank to go back to school full time.  She would work parttime as a waitress and at the SM Center for the Performing Arts.  Nancy worked very hard and was able to graduate with honors.  (She is proud of her cords, I think she might have even slept in them.  hehe.)

Through prayer, devotion and dedication Nancy achieved her goal. 

It seemed as if the entire family showed up for the festivities.  My parents and Lucas, Natasha & McKenzie, Brandon, his parents, Brandon's bro Nathaniel and his family, and his other brother's wife all were there.  She had a HUGE cheering section.  The kids especially loved yelling her name and waving their arms frantically for her to see them.

Later in the evening, Brandon organized a cookout in honor of Nancy and her achievments. Lots of family and friends showed up to help Nancy celebrate.  We had a great time.

Congratulations Nancy on all your hard work. You worked very hard and met your goal. I am very proud of you and I know that everyone else is as well.

(You can check out Nancy's blogs about graduation to see photos by clicking here and here.  I am a slacker and haven't uploaded any of mine yet.) 

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On Thursday May 20th, my niece, McKenzie, "graduated" from PreSchool.  I wasn't able to make it to McKenzie's pre-school graduation, but Nancy has blogged about it. I wanted everyone to be able to check out my little pumpkin, so you may see her blog by clicking: McKenzie's Pre-School Graduation by Nancy Breedlove.

Camping Trip - May, 2010

On a random Friday in early May, Mickey and I decided that we would go camping.  We just got a wild hair and made plans to go to Jack Rabbit Campground for the night. 

When I told Matt of our plans he couldn't quit laughing.  He thought it was rather funny that I was going to go camping.  I don't know what he was thinking, but I grew up camping...and yes that meant staying in a tent sometimes too!  (He thinks I'm super prissy and girly.) 

Anyway, between the two of us, we packed clothes, blankets, chairs, tiki torches, grilling accessories, dinner items, breakfast items, biscuit roasters, the ov-glove, cooler, radio and firewood.  And over the mountain we went. 

We arrived at the gate of Jackrabbit when we realized that they were not open!  I was so aggravated.  It was so not funny.  But we went to another campground that had only 1 open site...and we got it!  We set up our camp and got the fire going first. 

I have a slight confession to make here....Mickey and I had EVERY INTENTION to sleep in a tent. However, she couldn't find her daddy's tent and it only made sense that if we were going to spend $50 on a tent, we just as well stay the night in a hotel. So...we set up camp in the back of Mickey's Tahoe. We put the seats down and had the perfect little bed in the back. We left the windows down and the hatch open...so it was just like sleeping in a tent.

Then came the hotdog roasting.  Mickey had the coolest hot dog roller!  It rocked. I want one for Christmas. 

Mickey perfectly roasting the weiners.  (Check out the awesome ov-glove.)

After we cleanned up our dinner mess, we sat in our chairs around the fire.  It was great fun sitting there swapping stories, laughing hysterically, enjoying each other's company and listening to the radio.  The crickets and frogs were so peaceful.  I think that was probably the best sleep ever.  Then we enjoyed some fresh-made smores. 

Apparently the campground we stayed in was full of super early birds. Because when we rolled out the back at 8:00ish, all our camping neighbors were finishing up their breakfasts.  After we got our fire going again, we prepared our biscuit roasting sticks.  Basically what you do is wrap a canned biscuit around the end, cap it off, then "bake" it over the fire.  When its done, you put butter and/or jelly inside of it.  I've done this several times before and it is fantastic!  However, our butter-me-nots were slipping on the stainless steel...they kept sliding off when the butter melted.  After a couple of our biscuits fell into the flames, we decided it best to just put them in the cast iron skillet.  To be honest, they were probably the best canned biscuits that I've ever had in my life.   I highly recommend everyone trying a fried canned biscuit with butter and jelly.  YUMMY!

Roasting biscuits.

Poor biscuit...it had such potential.

On to Plan B

Check out this Pink truck.  And it belonged to a MAN!

After we packed up camp.  We decided to go check out the Ranger Flea Market in Murphy.  I always loved going there as a kid when we camped.  We didn't get to stay long because it was a little later in the day.  But I found some great treasures and happened upon an awesome little store that has tons of Coke Cola and Pepsi items.  (Mom and Matt would've both been in soda pop heaven waging war over which manufacturer is the best.)

We then decided that we watned to find an IHOP for dinner.  Random, I know.  We knew there was one in Buford and decided to head that way by way of Murphy.  We ended up finding one in Elijay, GA.  Since we had no where else to be and weren't in any hurry, we chose to continue towards Atlanta then make our way back home through Clayton.  Ended up we found a shortcut that took us through Dawsonville and Gainesville.  We stopped and shpped at Old Navy and then headed on home. 

It was the most fun I've had in a long time and it was a blast not having an agenda or schedule.  We just followed the road. 

As my moma always says:  "All roads lead home."  Our road home just consisted of a 250 mile circle.

I held true to my word.....

I told you that I would have some reading for you to enjoy!

I really have had the writing part of the posts completed...it was the picture uploading that took me a bit.  Anyway...here are the newest posts (oldest to newest):

365 Prject
Valentine's Day
Matt's 27th Birthday - March 5, 2010
Adios Amiga - March 6, 2010
Easter - April 4, 2010
Soccer

I also have a new page as well.  I've got a little more work to do on it....

Furry Friends

Enjoy!

Soccer - April & May 2010

Some of you may have read on my sister’s post about our nephew, Lucas and his soccer games. I tell you what, that kid cracks me up.

Being a former soccer coach (ha, don’t laugh; I was last year….seriously!) I could tell that Lucas was doing a good job and has the potential to be a great soccer player in years to come.

Lucas is one kid who never seems to get tired or worn out. He would get out there in the heat of the day and run his rear off after the ball. Every coach wants a kid like Lucas on their team. As soon as he sets foot on the field he only has one goal: get the ball. And boy does he go after it!

His first couple-three games he made a score. He was very helpful in getting the ball going towards his goal. He is a great kicker too.

Being 4, he does have some polishing to learn and to be more of a “team player” but overall he is a wonderful soccer player. His coach told him that “he was the best player of the day” and he absolutely beamed.

One thing Lucas wasn’t too excited about was that his team was co-ed. This meant he had girls on his team. Lucas can definitely be a He-man Woman Hater sometimes when it comes to things that he believes boys can do better. HA! But still he played somewhat great with the girls too.

The whole “famiwee” would show up for his soccer games. He got to where he didn’t want to go to practice because he thought that his “famiwee” should go to his practices as well.

My niece, McKenzie, was very upset that Natasha didn’t sign her up for soccer this year either. But 1) Natasha didn’t know that McK wanted to play, 2) luckily for Natasha, McK wasn’t old enough this summer to play….so that helped. But now McK knows that whenever she turns 4 she is old enough! Although McK couldn’t play, she would show up to be a cheerleader for her best cousin, Lucas.

Those kids melt my heart.

Here are some photos to enjoy….

"Hey coach, put me in, I'm ready to play!"

Serious action...

Alisha - Proud Mother

Pass it to me!

"How did I do guys?"  "Where's Matt Matt?"

(I will say that he was VERY excited that his famiwee was there to support him.)

Lucas & McKenzie

Lucas going for the goal.

Alisha, Parker and Evelyn watching the game.

Evelyn, McKenzie and Natasha.

Lucas after a game enjoying a snack.

Easter - April 4, 2010

I failed to get a lot of photos for Easter because everyone kinda went their own way this year. 

My mom was sick so I didn't go to their house so she could rest.

Natasha was still caring for McKenzie who was having a hard time after her tonsilectomy. 

So, Matt and I went to church, then went to Mamaw & Papaw's house. 

Afterwards we went over to Matt's house to see his family.  But we had just missed his brother, sister-in-law and niece. 

I was able to get a quick snapshot of Matt and I in our Easter duds.

Although we weren't able to spend a lot of time with our families, we were able to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior.  Which is the real reason for Easter. :)

Adios Amiga - March 6, 2010

In the summer 2009, I met Gayle Amati through my friend Clarissa. Gayle & Clarissa worked together at the Jackson Co. Health Department. I had grown quite fond of Gayle and her funny antics. She is such a joy to be around!

Sometime in January or so, Gayle announced that she was going to be moving back to her home town of Las Cruces, NM. We all were pretty devastated as we have grown to love Ms. Amati. But we all understood her reasoning….she missed home and her family.

Clarissa planned a girls night in Asheville for Gayle prior to her leaving. In early March, Clarissa, Gayle, Kelly, Jennifer and I gathered together for an evening of celebrating Gayle and her friendship with each of us.

We painted pottery at Fired Up!, had dinner, then wandered around downtown goofing off and just being silly girls. After we were all exhausted, we back to the hotel and went to bed, getting up the next morning for a fantastic meal at the Cracker Barrel.

It was a load of fun.

Gayle headed out the following week for NM. We miss you dear! We shall plan a gathering soon! Love you!

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Step 2

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Final Products

Kelly & Gayle creating

Jennifer & Clarissa creating as well...

Group Shot.  Jennifer, Gayle, Kelly, me, and Clarissa

Clarissa Dancing....Thriller?

Clarissa, me and Gayle dancing.

Matt's 27th Birthday -- 03.05.10

Before I even start…..I know what you are thinking, “she didn’t post anything between January and March.” Although this may be somewhat true, it is somewhat false. If you remember correctly, those three months of my life seemed to be the worst part of 2010 thus far. Check out the post here. Although I’ve skipped some time – those three months were definitely very eventful.

March 5th was Matt’s 27th birthday. I had taken part of the day off because we had planned a cookout and bonfire and I needed to get started on the cooking.

I prepared the hamburgers, the kielbasas, and hotdogs. I made Mom’s famous and delicious baked beans, I grilled onions, peppers & jalapenos for the sausages, and we had some potato chips. I ordered cupcakes from Patty Cakes Bakery as well.

Around 7ish people started arriving. We had a small group of close friends come enjoy the evening with us. It really was a great time.

"Happy Birthday to you.....Happy Birthday to you!"

Matt and I

Gayle, Clarissa, Tabitha, me & Mickey

Old Friends.  Tabitha & Matt

Me and Gayle

Mickey, Matt & Barney

It was so cold outside, but we really enjoyed the warm of the fire and of great friendships.

Valentine's Day - 02.14.2010

Alas, the day designated for love.  I don't quite understand this day, but regardless my Valentine's Day was great.

I was able to spend Valentine's with my love, Matt.  We went to a nice afternoon late lunch/early dinner at PF Changs.  I absolutely love that place!  We didn't overindulge and saved room for a mini dessert. 

After we ate we went to the mall for a little bit and picked up a couple things.  I honestly do not remember what I got Matt for Valentine's Day....how horrible is that!?!?!? 

But he purchased tickets for me to go see John Mayer in concert.  He was actually trying to find tickets to see Michael Buble (who I have a mini love affair with.  His crooning makes me swoon.)

I totally forgot to take any photographs of Matt and I together on Valentine's Day.  Oops. 

We ended the day by watching a movie on the couch together.

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Unfortunately, Matt was unable to go to the concert with me. It was during the week (March 17th) and in Atlanta (Phillips Arena). It was out of the question for Matt to attend with me. Clarissa was able to attend the concert with me.

The day before the concert, I was super sick.  I have no idea what was wrong, but I was completely uncomforable and in pain in the abdominal area.  Luckily for me, I was feeling some better the day of the concert and was able to go.  By the time we arrived in Atlanta, I was feeling pretty crummy, but was excited to see John Mayer.

Clarissa and I took off at lunchtime on St. Patty's day and headed to Atlanta.  We made a couple stops to pick up a few things....of course Atlanta always calls for a shopping trip.  :) 

Clarissa and I at the concert - waiting for it to begin.

John Mayer

I love this photo....I can't believe I captured it!

365 Project

I know that I am always trying something new, different way too much.  But my friend Malea has introduced me to the 365 Project.  Basically is it a site where you are encouraged to post a picture everyday of something.  Whether you choose to use a theme or to be random. 

I've chose to use mine for the purpose of being random.  I like it.  So far so good.  I try to take a picture each day of either something that is on my mind, something I'm doing, something I saw that day, etc.

Go check it out here...its pretty neato. 

In other news, I promise I've been working on catching up on my regularly scheduled blogs.  I have about 4 ready to post as soon as I get the photos uploaded.  So there will be loads of reading soon!