Drifting Away (photo overload)

Last week was the annual family beach trip.
Last week was WONDERFUL.
The beach was beautiful, the water was perfect,
and most days were pretty uneventful.
We ate a lot of shrimp, caught a lot of rays,
and enjoyed each and every moment.
There were 13 people, which included
3 children at and under the age of 3, with 1 condo
and only 2 bathrooms. However, we survived
and I have TONS of pictures to prove it.
ENJOY. 

my nephew, Will and me

 my daddy and me at Doc's

 Meghan (my brother's gf and me)

 My brother, Daniel and me

 My newphew, Judson

 My niece, Ryleigh Bug. No her name isn't "Ryleigh Bug H----. However, if you ask, she will tell you that it is.

 My sister, Jessica and I

 love.

 Meghan, Daniel and me

 My Dad and his gf Michele

 Maybe my favorite picture of the bug.

 Daniel and Meghan

 I have tons more pictures. Actually, in all, 3 people managed to take 1799 pictures!! However, I will spare you the excitement! Hope everyone is having a great week. Also, I ask for lots of prayers for a sweet family. Please read her story here.

A blog about my birthday.

my birthday was on Wednesday, but I am just now getting around to blogging about the big day. I am very sorry for the delay, but it has been a rather busy week. I started the day off in school, whomp whomp whomp. It really wasn't that bad, and I was out by lunch. Just in time to pick up the niece from school, and head to the park. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY, and I can't wait until spring is finally here to stay.

Ryleigh, my niece, took this picture of me. Yes, she is only 2, but she is pretty smart, and LOVES TO TAKE PICTURES.

At the park, we enjoyed BIG SLIDES,

and even LITTLE slides,

flying "in the sky" on the swings,

and making silly french fry faces.
We had a blast. I am thankful I am able to share in special little moments like this all the time.

On Wednesday night, we ALL ate at OUTBACK.

 It is one of my most favorite.
My mom made these DELISH minnie mouse cupcakes. LOVE.

I was so grateful everyone got to come.
This is my brother Bill, my sister Jessica, me, and my brother Daniel.

Miss Ryleigh insisted she feed me my salad.

And I quote, "Sissy, I feed you."

Here are some pictures from the end of the night...
My dad and Michele

My mom and Kimbo

My brother Daniel and me

Jessica carrying Baby #2, Ryleigh, me, and Jeromy

and Bill (I am sorry his eyes are closed, they were closed in both pictures, and I really wanted a picture of everyone up here) Will, me and Melissa!!

Thank you again for all of the birthday wishes, and for my sweet family who came to dinner just to celebrate my birthday. You are all the best.

Love you much, and

HAPPY FRIDAY!!

THANKFUL for Thanksgiving

so Thanksgiving is one of my FAVORITE holidays. so I will try and list most of the things that I am thankful for...but we all know the pages aren't long enough to list EVERYTHING. Becca over lifeintechnicolor is doing a thankful series, so I will just pick up in the middle. 

days 1-15, for november 1st thru right now. 

GOD: because HE is amazing, to say the least

my mom & dad: because they haven't given up on me yet

my brothers & sister: because they are the greatest friends

my niece & TWO nephews: because they put life into a whole new perspective

my family ie cousins, aunts&uncles, grandparents: because they are awesome

my boyfriend: because he makes me laugh

the friends: because they understand me

my pup, Tallulah & pretty much my pup, Stella: because they are the best furry friends a girl could have

nursing school: because second chances are possible

my JOB: because it teaches me about life and the people in it who aren't as fortunate

the Bullet: because its my beloved little ride

caffeine, ie DR PEPPER: because it keeps the headaches away

brownies: because i love them

my cellphone: because it is THE life line.
MUSIC: because it keeps me SANE

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my number 1 nephew. Although we waited for you for almost a decade,
we wouldn't have it any other way. God's plans are phenomenal and you are living
proof of his miracles. Your smile, laugh, and little personality
are bright enough to shine the world.   

Happy Birthday #5, Wilbur, Beef Willingtan, or just Will.

I love you big.

One Family + One (or three) Photo(s) = Day Ten

melissa.bill.will.dad.michele.me.daniel.unclescott.jessica.jeromy.ryleigh.

jeromy.mom.jessica.ryleigh.me.daniel.

jeromy.jessica.ryleigh.dad.me.daniel.

 

 

 

favorite thing about today #9

my favorite thing about today is...
being able to announce the most wonderful news ever...
my brother in law and sister are expecting number 2. meaning I will have ANOTHER niece/nephew. I couldn't believe it when I heard it, but I am so excited. I can hardly stand it. The love I have for my niece and nephew now is indescribable, so to share more of that love is AWESOME. I just can't wait, but I will have to wait until to APRIL! I think I should start another countdown!! :)

The little things

Q: why did the 6 run away from the 7?

Well if you happen to watch Playhouse Disney, then I am almost positive you know this fun little joke. I don't remember what episode we were on or how many my niece and I had watched, but I seemed to be enjoying them just as much as her. Or maybe I was enjoying the enthusiasm and excitement in her face when they played the hot dog song at the end of every episode. The little things are what seem to make me smile the biggest, and are too often the things that go unnoticed.

If you happen to know me, even for a day, then you know how much my heart still contains that inner child thing. I still get excited when I hear the ice cream truck, see a Disney World commercial, and even the thought of actually meeting Minnie Mouse makes my heart flutter with giddiness. I try to not let the little things go unnoticed but I too am often guilty of missing out on the pleasure of the little things

As our worlds turn faster each and everyday, we seem to forget the things that actually once made us happy. See, my mom is a pre-school special education teacher and has several children who will never experience the simplest of pleasures in this lifetime. One in particular just pulls at my heart strings each time I get to see her. On this particular day, this little 5 year old friend was laying on her belly. (She suffered a TBI >traumatic brain injury< as an infant). So there she was laying on her belly and she began raising her head then trying to roll over. A simple task for most, but to her, another stepping stone and another defying the odds moment. Although we may take great pleasure in our child, niece, or nephew rolling over... We quickly forget the joy its brought to us because a greater something has taken its place. For her there may not be a greater task but to her and to all of us watching that day it was the greatest. In life we seem to forget the simple things. We seem to forget the joys that they can bring to our never ending, hectic, always going lives.

The joy I receive when I see my niece or nephew accomplish something new is something I will never forget, even it is just a simple smile. Because for that moment, it made me the happiest person in the world to see it.

Ohhh the answer.... But a quick reminder of the question:
Why did the 6 run away from the 7?
A. Because the 7 8 9. :)