Linda's Graduation

Linda and I....old college roomies!!!!! :)

Bryan and I went to St Louis this weekend for Linda's graduation! She is now officially Dr. Linda Jones, DC and a graduate of Logan College of Chiropractic. I am SO proud of her! Her graduation was Saturday morning and there was a reception afterward. Later in the day we went to Mount Pleasant Winery. It was a BEAUTIFUL weekend and perfect for sitting outside. Here are some pictures from our weekend!
Travis, Linda, myself and Bryan with "our tree"
the graduates!

The view at Mount Pleasant
Hayden and Bryan after graduation!

Baby Mary Claire is here!

Cindy had baby Mary Claire on Friday morning. She weighed in at 10 lb 7 ounces of cuteness! I was very excited to meet her, and even got to hold her! Congratulations to the new family of four!!! :)

Nashville Trip!

I had a great time in Nashville a couple of weekends ago! I landed at about 11:00am and Mariellen picked me up and of course we headed straight for some lunch! We ate at Nero's (yum) and did some shopping at one of my favorite spots in Nashville. I had an encounter with denim leggings for the first time at Francesca's. Well really Mariellen tried them on, I just watched. I was filling a little sluggish from stuffing myself minutes earlier at lunch! I still haven't decided what I think about them...alternative to skinny jeans? I don't know.

We then went to Murfreesboro so I could see her house for the first time, I should have taken a picture. It's beautiful, complete with two white rocking chairs and an American flag out front! :) I did get to meet Mike's and Mari's new puppy Ringo...and say hello to my old roommate Sidney-pup. For dinner we met up with Erin and ate some super yummy sushi and caught up on life.

Myself, Mariellen and Erin at Lime trying some yummy drinks after dinner! My sangria was awesome! That is on my list of things to make some day....with all the yummy fruit floating in it!
Ringo Pup
Sidney and Ringo playing!

On Saturday Mariellen and I met up with Ashley at went to Arrington Vineyard which is owned by Kix Brooks. It was fun, we did a tasting (which involved a chocolate truffle that was made with the raspberry wine) and sat and enjoyed the sunshine. I loved their reisling and the KB special wine....of coure b/c it was the most expensive...dangit. :) They also had a live band playing which made it even more fun!! Mike then took Mariellen and I out for a great dinner that night!!

I had so much fun visiting, and sure wish my "mari, mari, mari" lived in the same place as me!


Ashley and Mariellen at Arrington

Oh, I forgot!

One more Easter thing. Today Bryan had an Easter basket waiting for me that he had made for me! I was so suprised! I was just standing there saying "But, I didn't make you a basket!" And it really had never occured to me to make him a basket. So, he got me! It had a movie and an itunes gift card as well as lots of candy!! I thought it was very sweet and thoughtful! I'll have to remember next year to make him one!!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! It's been an eventful Easter weekend. Hadleigh got a high chair. I got a wedding dress. We ate at Cheesecake Factory. :) Everything has been great.

Wearing my pearls.


Liz, Joe and Hadleigh!
The new high chair!
She has her name on her bloomers!
Bryan looking tired of pictures and Hadleigh playing with the ball.

"To a Christian, Easter Sunday means everything, when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ." -Bernhard Langer

"The cross is the victory, the resurrection is the triumph...The resurrection is the public display of the victory, the triumph of the crucified one." Eric Sauer

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:16-17

Lesson learned....

I do text message and drive. I do check my email while driving. I admit it. I try not to do it at inconvenient times, however, really I guess anytime you are driving a car is not a good time to be looking at your phone. And I know that, but do it anyway. Bryan always gets onto me for messing with my phone while driving.

Yesterday I learned some really sad, and for me life changing news. A person I knew while living in Jonesboro was in a car accident. He hit someone head on and killed the other person. He was text messaging at the time of the accident. This happened sometime last year, and since I didn't really keep up with him anymore, I had NO idea until yesterday. The other devasting part of this story is that sometime in the months following the accident he was so distraught over what had happened he took his own life. It's a tragedy from all aspects. A perfect example of how life can change in an instant. In an article I read about the accident, his dad (who I worked for while in college) was quoted as saying that his son told both he and his mother after the accident that he would support any bill that would ban texting while driving.

I don't understand things like this. I can't imagine what either family went through following the accident. I don't know the person that he hit, but I did know him. He was the nicest of guys, and was an excellent cook among many other things I am sure.

What I feel I can do is share this story and hope that everyone thinks twice before answering a text or checking your email or browsing facebook while driving. I've done it, but I guarantee you I will NOT do it anymore. Lesson learned.

Happy Birthday Gran Gran!!!

Today is Gran Gran's 70th Birthday! (Technically, she is Kati's Gran Gran, but I claim her as my own) She's a fabulous lady who I love! Hope you have a great birthday Gran Gran! Thanks for being one of the five people who read my blog! :) hee hee. She's looking fabulous at 70!

Highway Robbery

This is highway robbery as I know it. I flew to Nashville and carried my luggage on, so I would not have to pay $15 each way to check a bag...so that meant very few toiletries. What I couldn't borrow from Mariellen I planned on buying once I got there. Everyone that knows me, knows how much I LOVE my hairspray. I've used the same kind for years. My stocking at Christmas is usually full of it...:) I buy it at trade secret here, it's nothing that fancy but it is $15 dollars a can. For instance the Thursday before I left for Nashville I went and bought Bryan's mom two cans of it (I have her hooked as well) and the total was $32 dollars.

To the point. Mariellen took me by Publix's in Murfreesboro on Friday so I could pick up a can of some type of hairspray. Imagine my suprise when Publix not only had the exact kind I use, but it was also HALF the price. Not on sale. Just all the time, a can in TN is $6.89. I was flipping out in the hairspray aisle, and even took a picture. If they would have had multiple cans of it, I would have stocked up and mailed it to myself. So, the price of a can of biosilk hairspray in Fayetteville, AR is $15 and the price in Murfreesboro, TN is $6.89. HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

(That's my bottle in the middle)

Sweetness

headband no.1
headband change- headband no. 2 Miss Cindy, thanks for helping me craft this big beautiful flower..can't wait to see MC in hers!!!
Hadleigh checks out the duck.
:)
Hadleigh ignores the bunny
And Hadleigh just looking cute!

I've seen few things cuter than these pictures (I might be biased).....being an aunt really is the best thing ever. :)