Day 27 Challenge: {My month, in great detail}

The beginning of this month, we drove to Texas to attend Conor's Aunt's funeral. Suzanne lost her life to ovarian cancer after a long battle.

A couple of days after that we were on a plane with the girls flying to Atlanta. Our 1st family trip with all 4 of us on a plane. It was memorable to say the least, and I'm pretty sure I wanted to ask the flight attendant for a double vodka & tonic, but I opted for a sprite instead. I mean with Ava attached to the front of me in her baby bijorn, I hardly would've received mother of the year award in my husband's eyes. Georgia was a blast as always. It's always hard for me to come back home after being surrounded by gorgeous tall pine trees, curvy country roads & good southern food.

I had my first Junior League orientation this month as an active member. Woo Hoo, I made it! My placement this year is Cultural Literacy. I will be working with children in the metro libraries creating arts and crafts & teaching them about culture in other countries. I'm sure I will learn a thing or two also. I'm so excited this is where I'm at this year. I have some wonderful ladies in my group as well, and look forward to getting to know all of them better. We're also gearing up for Mistletoe Market in October, so things are really starting to get busy. I will be working in hospitality like I did last year. Making sure all the vendors have had a break/lunch and work in their booths while they take a breather. You get to walk around and mingles and look at all the fabulous things.

My best friend's children, Ayden and Beckham both celebrated birthdays this month. Ayden turned 4 and Beckham 1. My nephews both had birthdays as well. Gunner turned 7 & Jagger turned 4. My mother celebrated a birthday as did Conor. My nephews had a joint bowling birthday party and we celebrated my mom's birthday at my sister's home. Shrimp boil at our home for Conor's party. BIG month for birthdays as you can see. I felt like my head was spinning. I'm always relieved when August is over, so I can take a breather. Leo's are taking over the world apparently.

Last but not least, as all of you know, my Grandmother passed away on Aug 23rd.

It's been a rollercoaster month of ups and downs.

I'm ready for a new season....my favorite season. Fall. Football, cooler weather, pumpkins, lazy weekends, good food, holidays, movies in front of the fire, hot cocoa, patio fires in the firepit, smores.....

I feel better already.

Day 26 Challenge: {My week, in great detail}

My week has been extremely bittersweet. We buried my 90 year-old beloved grandmother on Thursday and we also celebrated my husband's 27th year of life with a Shrimp Boil on Saturday. I went through an array of emotions this past week. I felt sad, broken-hearted, depressed, bummed, in a rut, happy, excited, accomplished, annoyed, exhausted, & emotionally drained. Trying to plan one of our biggest parties all year and deal emotionally with the loss of a loved one is a combination that just doesn't mesh well together. I got through it and honestly, I'm glad last week is finally over!

Conor's Birthday Shrimp Boil

::Southern Style::

Mason Jar Vases

My best friend Jen & I have been friends since 6th grade. Amazing lady!

Crab legs, shrimp, potatoes, & corn is a meal I could delight myself in every night of the week. A shout out to Terry Fields (who also cooked at our wedding) for always preparing an amazing feist!

Look at Conor salivating in his beer. Ha!

You know it's a party when a chair collapses on a guest. Man Down!

We served everything under the sun. Vodka 'The Danger' Lemonade, beer, wine, scotch....

How cute is Conor and his smiley faced sign for guests. :)

Happy Birthday to the amazing man in my life!!

Dear friends & family

Brandon

A fabulous mess

Make a wish

Cozy by the fire

Day 25 Challenge: {My day yesterday , in great detail}

Saturday was a very busy day for Conor & I. We prepared our patio and home for Conor's Birthday Shrimp Boil. I pulled weeds, gave Ava a bath, packed the girls for their stay at Nana & Papa's, cleaned off the patio, set up tables & chairs, decorated the tables, cleaned the house, polished the wood floors, and finally with an hour to spare got myself ready. Guests arrived at 6 and stayed until 3am. It was quite the little showdown! We ate crab legs, shrimp, corn, potatoes, crab dip, & cupcakes. Later on in the evening, we built a fire in the fire pit & sang Happy Birthday to Conor. Things got weird when this man walked threw our side gate and nobody knew who he was. I tried to have a conversation with him to find out more about him but it was obvious he was under the influence of something. Eventually, I had to call the cops after the drifter was escorted out of our party and came back twice. We live in a great neighborhood, so I have no idea where he came from. I guess he saw lights, cars, & heard music and thought he was welcome. It was very odd to say the least. We continued on and around 1am I was hitting my wall. I retired to bed while the troopers continued to enjoy themselves. It was a pretty fabulous 'Southern Style Shrimp Boil' and I think everyone enjoyed themselves!

Ava Rose~3 Months

Our little fatty is finally getting some rolls! I love chubby babies!

A beautiful day to be laid to rest

{Grandma Ruth's Graveside Service}

A Tribute To Grandma Ruth

My beloved Grandma Ruth passed away on Monday. We had her funeral this morning. Even though she was fragile and 90 years old, it's hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that she is gone. My heart is broke. She's all I can think about.

Two years ago she gave me a start of her cockscomb seed that she used to spread in her garden every year. I planted it hoping to have a plethora of them last summer.....nothing. Finally, last month my cockscomb started growing from the seeds I planted 2 summers ago. And this week, the first bloom sprouted. Coincidence, perhaps? How cool is that?But I think it's her way of letting me know she is okay. It made me smile.

my sweetest memory of Grandma Ruth ~

I was always very scared to visit the farm in Oakwood and stay overnight because of the coyotes that would wake me up in the middle of the night howling. But, I always had such a wonderful time there, so I would overlook my fear and enjoy the time I could spend with grandma and grandpa. I would help Grandma pick strawberries, pull weeds, cook, play skip-bo or canasta. She would sit in her patio chair in the front yard and look on with delight as Grandpa would push me in their swing. We spent hours hitting a balloon back and forth to each other in the living room. I was probably 4 or 5 at the time but can remember this memory like it was yesterday. Every night before bed, she would tell me the story of Goldylocks and the 3 bears over and over again until I drifted off to sleep. Grandma was such an inspiration to me and I will never forget our laughs, our talks, our drives and our lunches together.

On Sunday when I went to say goodbye to her, I let her know how incredibly happy I was that she got to meet Conor, see us get married and meet our children. She adored Audrey and even on her hardest days when she wasn't feeling well, her face would light up the minute we walked through the door. She was a wonderful Grandmother to me and I will miss her smiley faced, sticker cards that she gave me every year for my birthday.

She loved and missed Curtis so much, and I feel good knowing she and Grandpa are together again.

~A trip down memory lane~

{Grandma & I~ 1980}

{1982}
{Such a wonderful memory}
{Grandpa Curtis & me}
{This is what we did on cold winter weekends when Grandma & Grandpa came to visit. We would put together puzzles & play skip-bo or canasta}
{Christmas 1983}
{Christmas 05}
{Road Trip to Clinton- 2006}
{1st time meeting Audrey}

For her 90th Birthday in March, I threw her a surprise party. Her brother and sister who live in California flew in to see her. She was beyond shocked and so grateful. It would be the last time she saw them. I'm so thankful she had a wonderful time on her last birthday and her expression when she saw them will be a memory I will hold in my heart forever.

{Singing Happy Birthday to her}

{Ed and Alice, her brother and sister}

{Family}

{This is the the first time she met Ava- May 2010}

{This is my last picture I have of her}

Squeeze your loved ones tight!

In Loving Memory of Ruth Jacobs

March 21, 1920-August 23, 2010