I hope this doesn't become a habit!

Mardi Gras Bunco

Erin hosted our BUNCO group at her house this month. We had a Mardi Gras theme complete with shrimp etouffee, beignets, cajun corn, beads, masks, and so much more! Almost 1/2 of the "regulars" couldn't make it tonight but we really enjoyed our subs!

Sip and See for Tatum Ray

This afternoon I helped host a "Sip and See" shower for Miss Tatum Ray Stivender. It was simple and sweet and the honoree was very well behaved..I don't think I ever even heard a whimper out of her! She looked beautiful in her lavender smocked dress. Tatum is such a great baby and I know her mommy and daddy feel beyond blessed to have her!

Take Your Son to Work Day...

We declared today, "Take Your Son to Work Day!" Brooker got to go to work with daddy and Mary Kate and I got to go shopping in Lakeland with Mammy on her day off from school...sounds like a pretty good deal to me :) When Brooker got home he told me that daddy paid him $1 for working. I asked him what he did to help dad and he said, "I collected sharks teeth at one of the farms." That's a dollar well earned!

Highlands County Fair

Tonight we joined lots of cousins for fun at the fair! It was ALL boys and Mary Kate! She didn't last long and Mammy came to the rescue...poor girl wanted to go night night. Thank you Mammy! Brooker had fun riding rides with Oren, Nolan, Jacob, Andrew, and Ladd. I have decided that his favorite thing about the fair are all the games that cost $$! We brought home a few SMALL prizes that cost a fortune!  I even paid $1.50 for Brooker and I to see a "real" mermaid. He wasn't sold at all! At least they could've tried not to make it look so obvious by painting her tail on a piece of plywood...geesh! Good times!

Checking out some grizzly bear cubs.

Here he comes!

At this point she was ready to go home!

Brooker and Nolan are engaged in some serious conversation aboard Dumbo!

Something caught her attention and she liked it!

Please can I have a fish daddy??

This face says it all, "I LOVE GAMES AT THE FAIR!"

Brooker rode the bumblebee with some random little girl. They were too cute! I wonder what they were talking about up there??

All the boys checking out the World's Smallest Horse

We even got daddy on a ride!

Happy LOVE day!

Valentine's Day was special at our house! Brooker got RIO, a movie he's been wanting and Mary Kate got a new puppy book and a dress that her daddy picked out for her at Jellybeans :) Both kids wore the shirts I made for them just for today! We were all really excited when daddy got home from work with flowers for both of his girls and yummy cupcakes for all. I think the little sign I made really says it all, "I LOVE US!"

Really blurry but it shows my girl's super excited face!

Celebrating Oren's Big Day!

We wrapped up the weekend with another birthday party for a special little boy, my second cousin Oren. I remember when Heidi went into labor with Oren 7 years ago...he came early and was so sweet and tiny! He's still so sweet and one of Brooker's favorite playmates...Mary Kate is pretty fond of him too :) The party was meant to be a backyard BBQ but out of nowhere the weather turned VERY cold so most of us stayed indoors and enjoyed the warm fireplace! Loved the simplicity of this party and just being together with family!

Happy 90th Birthday FBC!

This morning First Baptist Church celebrated it's 90th birthday! Our mayor, George Hensley shared a few good words, as well as our pastor emeritus, Rev. Jay McCall. The children's choirs joined together to sing "Jesus Loves Me". Brooker is on the far right in the front row. After church we all went to the ROC for Dinner on the Grounds. Talk about a TON of food!! We had a huge birthday cake and sang Happy Birthday. I'm blessed to have been a member of this church for almost 20 years!

Georgia Turns 4!

Today we celebrated sweet little Georgia Mae's 4th birthday John Deere style! She had on an adorable tractor dress and boots. We enjoyed Mr. Fred's hayride through the orange grove. Mary Kate even tried her first m & m and loved it! The kids thought the homemade ice cream was delicious. It's hard to believe Miss Georgia is already four. We have enjoyed watching all three Walters girls grow up and celebrate birthdays and we're excited to help welcome the fourth Walters child in a few months!

Upward Game #5

He played another awesome game and earned the gray star...This represents Good Offense!

Today is the 100th day of school!

Mrs. Dawn encouraged the kids to make a poster with 100 items on it. Well, my boy decided he wanted to pick a variety of things to put on the poster so we counted to 100 by 10's. He included ten of each...crosses for Jesus, sticks, leaves, popcorn, beads, Disney stickers, feathers, seashells, rocks, and star stickers. All of this we put on a heart shaped poster in honor of Valentine's Day!

Angry Birds

These two boys have missed each other. Without August in the neighborhood, their visits are few and far between. Today we brought August home with us so they could have some quality time together. One of their many activities was Angry Birds on the ipad. They have so much fun together!

Happy Birthday Papa!

Tonight we celebrated Papa's birthday at Don Jose's. Brooker was Papa's "best friend" when the fried ice cream came out! He comes by it honestly :)

Amazing Asheville!

I just returned home from the most amazing retreat in Asheville, NC. While it was a work-related trip, we got to have a lot of fun and relaxation in one of the most beautiful places on Earth! Some of the trip highlights included high tea at the Inn on Biltmore...talk about DELICIOUS finger sandwiches and desserts, a private dinner at the winery...tons of food including lobster risotto, every cheese imaginable, fruit galore, gnocchi, and much more, an appearance by "Sister" Schubert....if you've never tried one of her yeast rolls you are truly missing out, a nighttime reception on the library terrace of the estate along with a privately guided tour....seeing the home in the evening was so spectacular, meeting Bill Cecil and Dini Pickering...the two great-grandchildren and heirs of George Vanderbilt (such down-to-earth people who truly value each consultant and what they are doing to help grow this new business), playing the "Amazing Race" Biltmore Style...I should mention that my team won (I am just a tad bit competitive), and lastly, all the wonderful women I got to spend time with...I always love that I make life-long friends on these trips! It was fun to be away but I missed my family dearly and am happy to be  home!

High Tea at the Inn on Biltmore

Ready to head to a private dinner/reception at the Winery

Bill Cecil sharing his thoughts with us in the Winery

"Sister" Schubert...She had an unbelievable story to share!

Two of "Sister" Schubert's rolls...scrumptious!

My favorite meal while we were there...shrimp and grits, crab bisque, ham with chutney sauce, hoppin jon, collard greens, jalepheno cornbread, pimento cheese and toast, and MORE!

Myself and Ann Ashley...the Founder of Biltmore Inspirations...Lovely Lady!

Enough Said!!

Just love all my new friends :)

Beautiful view of the Estate from the Lagoon