Fiesta With Lauren and Mark

My dear friends Betzebe and her mother Ms Elisabeth hosted a Fiesta for Lauren and Mark.
It was at a local Bed and Breakfast Anchuca.  The food at Anchuca is always great and this night was no exception.
We had so much fun, but then when there are margaritas how can you not have fun?
See the great pictures.

They gave them the prettiest pitcher, for their own Fiesta someday.
How sweet. 
I just love these two ladies. 

Tools & Toddies and Brunch

Aunt Cookie, Uncle Andy, Andrea, Gene, Kristi and Wayne hosted a wonderful weekend getaway in Birmingham for the happy couple.  It was super, very relaxing and fun.  The weather was perfect, (thanks Irene)
all the food was delicious and everyone had a great time.
The shower was by the pool at Kristi and Wayne's home.  They have done a amazing job landscaping the outdoors.  Uncle Andy smoked chicken, ribs and tenderloin for the dinner.  MMMMM
Take a look at these pictures.  Mark's tool shed is now full and Lauren's bar is now stocked.

The next morning Andrea and Gene hosted a brunch for everyone at their home.  A great way to extend our visit over breakfast before we all hit the road for home. 

This last picture is Mark standing on the trampoline about to swing.   We'll just say the "little boy" in him definitely showed up for the weekend, but his body didn't get the memo.  : >

The First Bridal Shower

It was a lovely day in August for the shower.
Aunt Dianne Jones and Meme Different were the hostess with the mostest.  They did an excellant job.
Lauren and Mark got lots of beautiful gifts.  So many friends and family came to the shower.  Paul worked so hard to get the yard looking good (despite the lack of rain and recent high temps)
The inside was pretty too.
Betty did the food which was super!
Here are a few pictures that will show you more than I can tell you.

Engagement Party

Saturday night was wonderful.  So many friends and family came to the party.  It was really wonderful.
The food was superb.  Thank you Dr. Debbie's sister for making the caramel cakes.  MMMM
The house and pool/patio area was decorated so pretty.
I took a few pictures (until I ran out of room on my memory card)
Here are a few of my fav's

Aren't they the cutest couple ever??

Loving this.

Okay so the Mark and Lauren's wedding is getting closer (71 days in fact)  and things are getting a little hectic in my life. (I know I am the mother of the Groom) 

So I ran across these Universal Truths  I had to edit a few of them but they are too funny.


1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.


2. Nothing is worse than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.


3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.


4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.


5. How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?


6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.


8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.


9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.


10. Bad decisions make good stories.


11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment sometimes, when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.


12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.


13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page document that I swear I did not make any changes to.


14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this - ever.


15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Dang it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.


17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.


18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.


19. I might have to disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite ( or margaritas)  than K



20. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid rough roads" routing option.


21. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.


22. I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.


23. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.

24. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.


25. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?


26. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent another idiot from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!


27. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.


28. Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every year?


29. There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.


30. As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.


31. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.


32. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet my behind everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

And with that I say Thank Goodness It's Maroon Friday!!

NOW it has really been a long time...

Okay now it has been a really long time, but I have a good excuse.  No really I do, you see right after this post (May 13th to be exact) my son Mark proposed to his long time girlfriend Lauren.  Of course she said yes and the fun began.
Then less that a month later I started summer teacher training.  No, most of the time I don't have to be trained or even do the training, I just go and sit and if a problem, question or concern comes up I handle it.
Which means I spend lots of time away from home. LOTS !
I think I slept in my own less than 5 nights since May 31. 
I love my teachers but I was so ready to get home.
As far as the wedding goes, things are progressing quite well.
I have most of my "duties" completed.  A place for the rehearsal dinner, select invitations, almost ready to order them, favors for the rehearsal dinner, centerpieces for RD tables, placecards, dresses for most of the parties and I think for the wedding, and a whole lot more stuff.
The first of the parties is this weekend.  The engagement announcement party, it should be fun.
I'll post more and include pictures too.  I promise. 
See you soon.

Long time no post....

I know it has been a long time since my last post.
Many of you may already know that the day after my last post my dear sweet mamma passed away.
She would have been 92 in late May.
I will post a tribute to her later but right now I am just not ready.

BUT the kitchen did get finished. It looks great. We are so pleased. I can not say enough good things about Wendy and the staff at The Stone Source. We still have other things we want to do to the kitchen but the granite makes such a wonderful change.

And the Winner is...

Netuno Bordeaux is our choice. "This Brazilain granite features a unique combination of engaging movements and subtle colors.
It is known for it's light cream background accented with sweeping brushes of gray, gold, and deeper browns." Once I saw it I knew it was perfect for our kitchen. We selected the slabs from the stone yard (see the photo's) and it was then taken to the fabricators to be cut. The company sent someone out to make measurements of the countertop. Very Techy.
The installation will be in about 2 weeks. I can't wait. I am meeting with the designer today to select the backsplash.
Right now my kitchen is in disarray, but I can survive knowing how pretty it will soon be.
Hope to have some pictures of the backsplash design soon.
Until I can get back in the kitchen I am staying busy in the yard. Weeds, leaves and other stuff need to be cleaned out so the flower beds can be spruced up for spring.  Ferns will soon be hung, flower pots and boxes planted.  Yippee! 
I love Spring!! except for the pollen : (

Choices, Choices

Late last September our microwave died, so we replace it with a wonderful shiny stainless steel one. BUT it was a little bigger than the other one and when Paul and Mark installed it they had to remove some of the ceramic tiles from the backsplash.
Most people would never notice but I did. So we started looking at replacing the countertop, backsplash and the cooktop.
We got some samples of granite from stores, and then we even went to two stone yards. Oh my,  all the choices. I have studied, compared, matched and then in the end I was just as confused. I have looked at stone in cold and windy weather, pouring down rain and one bright sunny day.
I finally made my decision last week. Which one did we choose?  Which one do you like?
Stay tuned to see what we selected.

Happy Birthday Matt!

Matt turned 29 and lots of family showed up in Memphis to celebrate his birthday. Paul and I drove up on Friday while Dianne and Jeff drove in from Atlanta, Mark came in on Saturday and of course Lauren was already in Memphis.

We ate bbq at Central BBQ Friday night.

 Saturday morning we ate breakfast at The Arcade,

and then enjoyed the day shopping for Matt's upcoming backpacking trip until time to go out for his birthday dinner at The Butcher Shop. Yumm.

Great Weekend.