Craws 4 Maws

The 8th Annual Craws 4 Maws was Saturday! Our annual crawfish boil has become one of my favorite holidays...it's so great to visit with all of the moms and, now, watch all of our little ones grow and play! Kevin took Friday off so we could wash & wax the boat (this year is the latest we've done it and I think Kevin was about to go into withdrawal). And we took an inaugural boat ride on the McKee pontoon (also the latest I think we've ever gotten out on the water)! We also celebrated Mike's 35th Birthday with Cara's homemade dark chocolate cake!!!

Saturday started early...Cara was up organizing and chopping all the good stuff for the boil while the rest ate pound cake and cookies for breakfast - what vacas are all about! I was banned from chopping since the first lemon I cut resulted in slicing my finger open! The day turned out fabulous...the sun came out and bellies were full! And Beasley jumped in the water no less than 200 times!

Below is a slide show of a few pics, but click here for all of the pics: #1 & #2!! (They are on snapfish so you'll need a login.)

I'm It!

Well, my friend Maggie tagged me it seems months ago but now that we're back from our extended vaca (see below) and the house is back to "normal," I thought I'd get to dishing...on myself that is! Since I'm putting it out there, I sure hope you enjoy reading a few tidbits about me! And then find out if you're tagged at the end!

What was I doing 10 years ago?
I was about to graduate from Opelika High School, thinking how cool I was as a big Senior, jammin' and doing "psycho drive-bys" with friends in the Corolla (AKA Casper)...and of course, getting ready to go to Auburn!!!

5 things on my To-do List Today (And since today is almost over - yea - 4:00 and almost over! Once nap time is over, the day flies to an end...so this is for tomorrow)
1. ballet class
2. target
3. sign up Hudson for swim lessons
4. set up a playdate
5. play outside with Hudson

5 Snacks I Love
1. swiss cake rolls (kevin thinks these are gross - what does he know? right Maggie?)
2. gharadelli caramel squares
3. special K protein bars (choc pnut butter - yummy)
4. mini nilla wafers
5. chips & salsa/cheese dip

5 things I would do if I were a Billionaire
1. give, give, give
2. build our dream house in Auburn
3. buy a lake place
4. save, save, save - and live off of interest
5. set up charities for under-privilaged children and rescue dogs

5 Bad Habits
1. too much computer time (esp. blog stalking)
2. picking at my nails
3. not eating healthy enough
4. not doing my quiet time daily
5. keeping the TV on (not even knowing what's on half the time)

5 Places I've Lived
1. 907 India Road, Opelika
2. 1105 North 1st Street - then my parents built a new house...after I moved out...what's up with that???
3. Wittle Dorm - Freshman Year at Auburn (my sister lived there her Freshman year too, but before it was re-done, thus it was known as "shittle" dorm - which was quite the contrary when I lived there)
4. 2 duplexes & studio apt in Auburn
5. Sandy Springs, GA

5 Jobs I've Had
1. Dance Teacher (preschool, kindergarten, and 6th grade)
2. Party Depot in Auburn (I loved this job...esp b/c of the girls I got to work with)
3. Teller at First American Bank
4. Staff Accountant at Atlanta Bread Company Corporate...that lasted 10 months...BOOOO!
5. Treasury Sales at SunTrust Bank...I probably could've stayed there forever if it were just for those I worked around (not with)...too bad a few can spoil the whole thing!

5 People Who I Want to Know More About
1. Shelli Adams
2. Allyson Baker
3. Erin Shelton (my new blogging buddy)
4. Elizabeth Shaw (b/c you should just start a blog)
5. anyone else who comes across my blog

A Few Days Away...

Does anyone else ever feel like a short vacation can seem like a month? Ever since I've entered motherhood, one day away from home can completely disorient me...but...it sure was nice to get away! And a bonus...we visited family in Florida...which means free room and board with warm weather!
The last few years my little family as well as my sister's little family have ventured down to the Tampa Bay area to visit my dad & stepmom (AKA Paw Paw and Nana)! The 7.5 hour trip last Thursday went better than expected, and we arrived in Lutz with plenty of time for Hudson to get acquainted with his new surroundings! Friday we went to the Tampa aquarium (at Harper's request) then the boys played outside in the water "park!" But as fun as Friday was, Friday night proved much different! Kevin and I climbed into bed (in the same room as Hudson) and heard some funky noises coming from our little man...then...a funky smell! And pretty much once an hour until around 3:30, we were up changing his diaper. There was even a trip to the bathtub! Saturday morning came & I went out for more diapers, Pedialyte and yes - SPRITE! (I'm glad my sister was there to give a few pointers!)
Saturday - the men played a round of golf (and almost got into a fist fight - don't ask - another story for another day) while the girls and kids hit the pool! Hudson even came around - and just in time to scrape all the cheese off of my grilled cheese with his teeth. Saturday night, our friends - Scott & Charlotte - from St Pete, FL came up for Paw Paw's famous ribs...Hudson made an early exit but it sure was great catching up! Paw Paw even managed to teach me how to play Texas Hold'Em!! We can't wait until next year!!!

During our trip - Kevin had an idea to take a few extra days off and drive over to Ponte Vedra to visit his dad & Carmen (AKA Grandpa & Omi - for those wondering, Omi is German for Aunt)...and since he's soon to be on a new project at work, we decided to take advantage of his free calendar! So Sunday, we loaded up and headed to the eastside of Florida! Only, now mommy wasn't feeling so hot! We arrived, and I was pretty much out of commission until Monday afternoon. Since sick days weren't written into my "contract" this year (hee hee), I couldn't have asked for it to work out better! Omi & her sister, Ingrid (from Germany) took care of the wee one - and Kevin and his dad got to keep their golf tee time! Tuesday morning we woke up and found out it was Omi's BDAY!! She doesn't like a lot of people to know (oh, well), but I'm sure glad we found out. Apparently, German tradition is that the birthday girl/boy takes everyone else out to dinner!!! Now, that's something I could get used to! So after a day at the pool and a quaint lunch at the marina, we went out on the town- at 5:30! Ah, life with a toddler! (Note...please excuse all of my whiteness at the pool...I've already purchased some tanning lotion as to prevent pics of this kind!)
We're home now - and all I could think about was "Thank Goodness I Cleaned Before We Left Last Week!" Even with all of the sickness, we had a fabulous vaca...and it couldn't get any better for Kevin, 2 rounds of golf - both paid for by the dads!
And since Maggie tagged me forever ago (it seems), I'll be working on that post asap!

I Did It...I Did It!!!

Coming from a "non-techie", I can't believe I actually figured out how to create, save, and add a "scrapblog" header to my page!!! Maybe I'm the last person to figure this out...but no matter...I FINALLY DID IT!
If you need help...scrapblog was super easy. They didn't have a load of options, but most of them were quite cute! AND...it's free!!!
One catch...when I saved as a jpg. picture from the editing screen...it was too big as a header for my blog. Quick & easy trick to make your pics smaller...upload to snapfish, shutterfly, kodak, etc then right click on the pic from the website and save again with your other pics. Now...load to your blog!!

Happy Anniversary Sweetie...A Day Early!

So, because tomorrow is a Saturday and I know Kevin will be very busy showering me with gifts (ha, ha), I thought I would put a "Happy Anniversary" post out here for my honey!!!

I can't believe it has been FIVE fabulous years! It's so amazing how much life has changed but at the same time, all stayed the same. Even though my sweetie is 8 years older than me, I think it's great how he acts 8 years younger!! He definitely keeps me from taking myself too serious. And I didn't think I could love him any more than the day we got married until we had Hudson! I feel like I love him more each day when I see the two of them playing! He's such a wonderful husband and daddy, and I can't wait for the next 55 years!!!

100 Things...

So, I haven't been "tagged" by anyone but I'm just using this as a personal goal to write 100 things about me! I didn't think I could do it (and wanted to stop a few times) but here it is...I hope someone is able to make it through all 100 and others find at least one interesting part! (Confession - I got some ideas from a few others (hence the "hodge podge" towards the end)!)

1. I was born in 1980 in Opelika, AL
2. I have brown hair
3. And blue/gray eyes
4. My parents divorced when I was 5
5. Both are re-married (dad when I was 8, mom when I was 12)
6. They are both Auburn grads and re-married uat (bama) fans - we've been successful at converting my step-mother!!!
7. I have 1 sister, 2 step-brothers and 2 step-sisters
8. My parents were married and divored on the same day (March 17)
9. My husband's parents were married and divorced on the same day (May 3)
10. I graduated from Auburn University in December 2001
11. Wish I majored in Building Science and Construction (not Finance) - like my dad
12. I met my husband, Kevin, through my sister - he and her husband were fraternity brothers
13. He is 8 years older than me (old man - hee, hee)!
14. We were married in April 2003
15. We never admitted we were dating to our friends and family
16. We are huge Auburn fans
17. Got our golden retriever, Beasley, 2 months after we were married
18. Also moved into our house 2 months after we were married
19. Had our son, Hudson, in December 2006
20. He didn't have a name until 5 hours before we left the hospital
21. I love my sister
22. ...I wish we were closer
23. Favorite colors: blue & green
24. I love wearing jeans...I wear them everyday
25. Am taking a ballet class...and wish I hadn't stopped taking
26. Love making a budget
27. Hate sticking to a budget
28. Love scrapbooking
29. Love bargain hunting and consignment sales
30. Wish I read more books
31. Addicted to chocolate
32. Also addicted to coke/cherry coke/dr. pepper
33. I love eating...mainly snacking
34. I could eat breakfast food all day - bacon, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, french toast, hashbrowns, grits
35. I get sucked into Orbitz Games easily
36. Would like to travel to Italy for an extended period of time
37. Would like to go back to St. Lucia
38. Would like to be anywhere it is warm
39. ...with a Mai Tai and/or Margarita
40. Love Lake Martin, AL in the summers
41. I love warm weather and warm nights
42. Like the "idea" of the beach but hate sand and salt water
43. My dog, Beasley, has an annoying habit of bringing us his KONG for a treat after we are settled for the night on the couch
44. We have a huge hole in our family room wall due to the previous owner's bright idea to put his TV in it and build an entertainment unit around it
45. We have an aquarium (fish tank) in it now - behind our chair
46. We are going to "hole it up" and paint it as an accent wall
47. We are paying someone to do this
48. Want to learn more about interior decorating
49. Want to design our future house
50. Hope the house will be in Auburn
51. Don't want to move to Auburn until we have a second child
52. Tried "science experiements" to get pregnant the first time around
53. None worked...
54. ...we "took a break"...
55. ...and got pregnant the next month
56. Can't imagine having a baby without my doctor
57. Ecstatic he schedules inducements when he is on-call
58. Only pushed 40 minutes until Hudson greeted us
59. Am scared I won't know what "real" labor is like with #2
60. Will be super tough to think of another boy name
61. Have a girl name picked out
62. Terrified of having a little girl
63. But I would probably sew more if I had a girl
64. I like to sew, but am "challenged" and could learn much more
65. Would love to own a maternity boutique
66. Love organizing
67. ...and planning
68. Want to spend more quiet time with my Lord
69. Love our Sr Pastor, Andy Stanley
70. And our church, Buckhead Church (sister church of Northpoint Church)
71. They started a new church in Auburn (Auburn Church)
72. Makes my husband and me siked about the possibility of moving to Auburn
73. Can't believe I use the word "siked"
74. A favorite Bible study...read one chapter of Proverbs each day
75. Favorite movies: comedies and girly (but not too sappy)
76. Like Pretty In Pink, Father of the Bride, Office Space, Steel Magnolias, Ocean's 11/12/13 - you get the jist
77. Hudson doesn't like TV - except watching Regis & Kelly spin their prize wheel
78. I once ate an entire box of Girl Scouts Thin Mints in high school...for lunch
79. For those counting...it was something like 63 grams of FAT
80. I love shopping
81. Especially with my husband
82. He has an uncanning knack of finding the perfect items for me that I would never pick out
83. Want to tone my mid-section
84. Must kick the chocolate/coke addiction
85. Taught ballet/tap/jazz to 5 & 6 year olds and 6th graders when I was in high school
86. Love being a night-owl
87. Need 10-15 minutes of wake-up time
88. My first car was a white Toyota corolla
89. I have had 5 cars since then
90. Never thought I would be a stay-at-home mom
91. Am glad I am a stay-at-home mom
92. Need to have the TV on to go to sleep
93. Need to buy a diffuser so I can wear my hair curly this summer
94. Wish more of my friends had blogs
95. Love watching re-runs of Reba, Will & Grace, FRIENDS and yes - Beverly Hills 90210!
96. I am excited that Memorie will be staying with us a few days this week
97. Enjoy blogging more than keeping up with MySpace
98. My sister got married on April Fool's!!
99. My husband thinks it's funny that I sometimes refer to those I blog "stalk" as 'friends!' :-)
100. Must finish to pick up Hudson from Mother's Morning Out!!!!

YEA...I did it - and for anyone who made it through all 100! I'm not going to officially "tag" anyone, but I would love for April to give it a shot!!

World's Best Daddy

What a wonderful Daddy Hudson has! He not only played hookey on Thursday - Hudson had what we thought was an ear infection (turned out to be just a cold and lots of teeth coming in) so Daddy volunteered to take Hudson to the doctor while Mommy went to Ballet class then just ran errands with us and had lunch - but he also took Friday off...to build a swing set! And he had so much fun doing it! I'm sure the best part came when Hudson took his first swing with a huge smile on his face!!!

Oh, where to begin!

Making Progress

Hudson thought climbing the slide was super fun!

Is it time to swing yet?

YEA...Swinging!!

Finished Product