Mallori

Today I picked up Mallori's wedding portriat, wow she looks so beautiful and so very happy. As a Mom that is all I want for her, to be happy. I can still remember the day that little 6 pounder was born. She took her time getting here and from that day forward she has done things her way, and only her way. This is the child that would try my patience, only because she wanted to do things her way. Mallori is very head strong, she gets that after her Dad, :) When she decides something, she does not quit until she does it her way. I admire that about her. She has grown up to be quite the beautiful young woman! When she decided to be a nurse, she did it!
Well 11 days to go and we will have a son. We are all so excited about this day, I just hope I can hold it together and now cry like a crazy Mom! :) I'm sure I'll be good. I hope. Mallori we are so proud of you! Love you bunches!

Mallori's Bridal Shower

Me, Mallori and Amanda

In two weeks my oldest daughter Mallori will be married...Wow...married...does she know what she is doing? Probably not, but did any of us know what we were doing when we married? We are all so very excited about the wedding and marriage and just it all. My Mom and Sister threw Mallori a Bridal Shower a week ago. They did such a wonderful job. We had games, gifts, food, friends and family, what more could we ask for? She received a ton of really nice gifts and was excited with them all.
The next few weeks will be crazy and I'll be sure to post a wedding photo or 10! It's hard to believe it's almost here and I'm trying to enjoy it all. Happy Wedding Mallori and Anthony, we love you!

NCBA 2011

I just returned from my annual North Carolina Basket Convention. What a great time was had by all. I rode with my good friend Billie. She and I have been riding together for a few years now and I really do enjoy it. Our guild made a great showing with over 50 members attending, 8 members receiving awards and 10 members receiving door prizes. My roommate Jamie was a really enjoyable roommate, thank you Jamie!I had two great teachers and made three beautiful baskets. I am finally home, a little less jingle in my pocketbook, but I'm home and will sleep great tonight in my own bed. Thanks all for a great time. Already looking forward to next year!!

San Diego in January

Last week I took a business trip to San Diego. What a great city! Our plane ride this year was without issues. Thank you Delta for a great ride. Leaving early on a Monday morning is stressful....but we were all there and on time. San Diego weather was wonderful. The Virginia weather has been so cold and bleak these past few weeks, that San Diego was a welcome change. Mid 60's during the day and mid 50's at night. Our first day there we needed to work for a couple hours by inspecting the training rooms that we would be using for the rest of the week. After that we checked in to our hotel and had dinner. Shrimp taco's, chips, salsa and an ice tea...what more could I ask? That first day I saw the sun rise on the east coast and watched the sun set on the west coast. Wow they both were beautiful sites! I'm a real sucker for a sunrise/sunset. Finally going to bed was easy, I was exhausted. Day two we started our training and what a good day it turned out to be. The rest of the week, I was able to take a few walks on the beach and a few runs on the boardwalk. It was beautiful. This trip really helped my mental state too. It was so nice to be in weather where I did not need to wear a coat and was able to get out onto the beach. One day I hope to live on the beach and my dream is to be able to walk on the beach daily. Back to the trip...the four days passed quickly and I was back on a plane. Coming home is always nice. The plane ride was good, although we did run thru a little turbulence, and of course the man next to me got the death grip! As I arrived in town and walked down the airport terminal there stood the hubby. He is always there waiting for me at the airport, just like all the years I was on the other side, the waiting side. Well, good bye San Diego, I hope to see you again soon.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus! Today was a wonderful day spent with my family. The morning started off with a delicious breakfast cooked by my Mom and myself. I tried a new recipe for Cinnamon Rolls, out of the cookbook from the Pioneer Woman. They turned out to be a HUGE hit. Yeah, me!!! After dinner, our daughters' arrived to spend the day with us. They both are not feeling well today, I hope they are feeling better soon. About the time they arrived all the family started to parade into the home (my childhood home) of my parents. Once the entire crew arrives the chaos begins. Children running around, everyone talking at the same time and the smell of food!!! That's the best part.. hehe. We all gathered to eat the food we all prepared and then it was time to open gifts. The kids wait so patiently and then the time has finally arrived...the opening of the gifts. That lasted about 10 minutes, a whole year of planning, making, buying and wrapping and the whole thing is over so fast. But the look on the children's faces, it was perfect. Everyone loved their gifts and fun was had by all. That was about the time we all looked outside and the snow was falling heavily. This is the first snow on Christmas we have had since the early 90's I think. It was beautiful, but we (and the daughters) could not be snowed in there, so the hubby hustled us all in our cars and we headed for our two hour drive home. It was a snowy, long, cold ride, but we made it without any problems. So now I sit here, thinking about our day and also watching for our snow. Thank you Lord for a great day and Happy Birthday Jesus!!

Christmas Eve

Happy Christmas Eve 2010 to everyone. It's been a great holiday season so far. All the gifts are bought, wrapped and ready for delivery. The food gifts are cooked and delivered and now at my Parents home enjoying time with family and friends. My holiday weekend started with a visit with two longtime friends from high school. You know the wonderful Facebook social network, it allowed me to hook back up with two special ladies and we were able to spend a few hours together talking about the past and present. What a great gift they are and what a great gift I was given. Today I had lunch with my best friend in the whole world. It is our tradition that my BFF and I have lunch on Christmas Eve every year. We went out, sat, ate, talked and just enjoyed each others company. My second wonderful gift of the season! The rest of today will be spent cooking, and attending Church tonight with my Mother-in-law. Then in the wee hours of the night Santa will appear with his sleigh full of gifts and I sure hope he unloads here. :) Tomorrow will be a wild frenzy of family, gifts and food. I cannot wait! My hubby and children will all be here along with parents, grand parents, brothers, sisters and children. Children, it's what Christmas is all about! My wish this Christmas season is for all my family and friends to enjoy this Christmas season and remember those not with us. Have a blessed season everyone!

Christmas Shopping Frenzie.....

Christmas shopping for me is the worst...I love the giving, I love the holiday, I love the cooking, I love my family, I just hate the shopping. I make my list, check it twice (hehe), then head out to the stores. I walk around aimlessly not knowing what to get. Some of my family members are really easy to buy a gift for, then I have the others that I just cannot find anything...like the hubby! So today I treated myself to a massage, a walk on the beach and then was going to tackle the rest of my shopping. Getting out to the store, walking around and then nothing. I bought a couple little things and then just could not get into it. When it started to rain, that was my cue to come home. Sitting around the house I finally decided to get online and see what I could find and whooohoooo I found many things and purchased many things...now just hope they all arrive on my door step. As the hubby arrived home I explained to him my wonderful hours of shopping :) and told him many packages will be arriving and he is not to open a one! Each and every year we all know when Christmas is going to arrive, the date never changes. Each and every year I try to find items through out the year for gifts, but I'm never ahead of the game. Once in my lifetime I hope to be able to make each gift for my family members. If I would get my act together early in the year, then maybe I could...hmmm...well there is always next year. And everyone don't worry your gift this year will be purchased and wrapped by Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas to everyone! Happy Shopping!!!