Easter and ASH IS HOME!

What a great last few days! It started with Easter. We got up super early, everyone got all fru-fru'd up and we headed to church. I took pictures before we left out...

Britt is 7 months pregnant here. This is the dress she'll also wear at her baby shower.

You KNOW they have to clown around too...

Here is a good one of Court...she works at a tanning bed, so she is getting dark!

Britt is NOT tanned in any way, fashion or form...

Next was the Royal Wedding! YES, we were one of the BILLIONS that got up to watch the big event. We did it "Southern Style" complete with Krispy Kreme donuts, chocolate milk and a center piece...my mater plant.

Then, later on that day, ASHLEY CAME HOME for a few days!

Two car loads went to the airport to haul her home...

this is a bad picture, but notice her smile?

She was SOOOO happy! The two boys beside her are Britt and Court's boyfriends...

It's been fantabulous having her home!

SOOO, after that was Courtney's horse show.

We all loaded up and headed to it!

Court and Lady won two 1st Place ribbons!

Deanna went to her first horse show and got some love from Lady too....

Angie, who is Dillon's Mom, rode Peanut, who ALSO won several 1st place ribbons...

So, what did Ashley do during this you ask? What she does best...tanning and scoping out the hot guys on horseback...

and make faces...

Here I am with Ash and Lilly, Angie's new puppy...

Here Mom and I are...

and family...

Here Court and Angie are competing...I will neither confirm nor deny Dad taking any of these next few, average, adequate photos....

and more riding...

and more riding...

That's it for the moment! I'M OFF WORK FOR THE NEXT 13 DAYS. So, hopefully, I'll be taking loads of pics while my baby is home and Britt's baby shower, and Britt's 4D ultrasound and tons more stuff! We're all SOOOO excited!

More soon!

Spring has sprung!

My back yard is so pretty! I wish it would stay that way all year long.

I have always put pics on here every spring of our flora. It's just such a switch from the bareness of winter!

What have we been up to? Well, these following pics I put on my Facebook, but I'll add them here too.

These pics were all taken from my old-school Blackberry Curve 8330 in PINK. This was my first Blackberry I ever owned and I still use it from time to time for nostalgia.

Britt received a pair of the CUTEST SPERRY's EVER for Lillie!

Here they are...

They're a size 3-6 month, so if she's born with Britt's HUGE feet, so could go home from the hospital in them! hee

Here is a pic I took the other night of Britt and Court...

I love that picture!

Here is a picture of Courtney playing Rook.

That's it! Not much happening around here lately, but that's about to all change!

ASHLEY IS COMING HOME! In 10 days. Yes, the tornado is headed this way and we've got to prepare! Actually, she's usually SO tired when she first gets home, it takes her like 6 hours to recharge her batterys then LOOK OUT! Time flys when she's home and we enjoy every nanosecond of it. I'm taking the whole 11 days off that she's home and I'm gonna take loads of pics. Britt's baby shower is during that time and she will be a huge help too. I think Britt's shower will be more of a reunion than a shower! We're so excited, we just can't hardly stand it!

As soon as the shower is over, Mike is starting on remodeling the bathroom. It will be a huge undertaking and I dread it. As long as my dual-flush, chrome-plated commode works, we'll manage.

Also, the Royal Wedding is next Friday and I will be up watching! SOO EXCITED!

I'll post more as it happens!

Joan

Nuttin' New

I almost hated to post anything at all because it's been so normal and boring around here this past few days, which is WONDERFULLY refreshing!

Ash dyed her hair! She sent me a picture on my cell phone and I haven't sent it to my computer yet, but it looks...dark! It's actually black or close to it! She wanted to go back to her natural hair color before she flys home, but WHO KNOWS WHAT COLOR THAT IS! HAAAA!!!! I always thought blonde suited her best, being that she acts like one. Just sayin'.

hang on...let me see if I can put a pic on here...

There it is! That's one of her BFF's AND my Facebook BFF, Kori. She's from L.A., you know. That's Lower Alabama. BAHHHHHH-HAAAAAA! hee. Her hair color is normal.

Welp, that's it for this morning. I gotta work today, then I'm off for another 3 days. Somebody's gotta be off work, might as well be MEEEEE!!!

Later-

Joan

Registering for the baby!

Yesterday, Britt wanted to go get the baby registered at the store. While we were planning out our day to add that to it, Mike called from work and was wondering what we were doing. I told him what we had planned. SOOO, he said, "Uh...Mmmm...well, I'm headed that way, so I'll meet you at the store". So, the three of us went baby regestering shopping.

Here they are, steady clicking away on various baby items!

Midway thru, we became STARVING...as usual. Mike and Britt decided they wanted to eat at the mall food court, their favorite. So, we left mid registering, and headed to the mall. Britt had chinese. 20 minutes later, she had a bout with heart burn. 2 hours after that, she had her scheduled Dr. apt. NEVER a dull moment.

last weekend, Court had another horse show. It went splendidly! hee

These are a mixture of Mike and Dad's pics taken there. WHERE was I at, you ask? FREAKIN' WORK!

Even Mikes family went!

My parents went too, but I don't have any pictures of that.

Here is Courtney getting judged in something. Not sure what since I WASN'T THERE!

Here the judges are checking them out!

Dillon's parents bought a couple blood hounds and even THEY GOT TO GO TO THE HORSE SHOW!

They had a great time, I heard. whatev.

Today, we're going to Walmart and we've GOT to clean this house. After that, I get to go dazzle my guitar teacher with my mad pickin' skills! hee

More soon!

My phone.

This morning, I was sitting here looking thru the gallery on my phone and I thought geeeze, I've taken some pretty interesting pics lately! I think I'll share them! Actually, they are boring, which sums up the last few weeks here. We're all in a holding pattern awaiting May when Ash comes home and Britt's baby shower and July when the baby FINALLY gets here!

OHHH....last night Britt was laying on my bed and she said the baby was moving. SOOO, I figured I should start singing to her. So, I got real close to her belly and started singing the alphabet. LOUDLY. I got to..."Q R S..."and right after "S", she kicked the hardest she has yet! She loves me and my singing! Tonight, I think I'll get my guitar out and play Dueling Banjo's just for her!

Anyway...back to my boring pictures.

This pictures was taken after Ashley called me on Mike's birthday wondering if he received her card in the mail yet. I said, no, it hadn't come. SO, she asked if I was sure! SO, I took a picture of the mailbox and sent it to her cell phone.

Told you we're boring!

This next picture was taken at Mike's birthday party at his parents house across the street from our house.

His birthday is also St. Patricks Day, hence the decor.

He's 47. I'm 29.5.

This next picture I took at work the other morning. A co-worker brought in a sunflower she had bought for decor. I paired it with a cup of coffee and thought, how appropriate! Two happy things!

This next picture I took while sitting on a bench outside the hospital while I was on break.

I call it..."Spring Time in the Hospital Parking Lot". It looks empty, but we actually do have patients!

Last night, Court sang the Canadian and American Anthems at a hockey game last night. Britt, boys and friends all went too.

And lastly...I didn't take this next pic, but Ash sent it to me last night while I was at the hockey game. She was on duty.

I know you are wondering how is it possible for a mother and daughter to look SOOO much alike and I find it astounding as well. Wierd how genetics play out!

Welp, that's it for my current phone photos. After y'all finish yawning and scratching your heads, remember I said we were boring at the moment! At least I didn't post any Wal-Mart pics! ( I HAVE done that before!!!!)

Joan

Horse Show!!

Saturday was Courtney's very first ever HORSE SHOW! her boyfriend, Dillon and his family have coached, groomed, trained and placed Court on one of their horses for the show. Court's been working with Dillon's Mom for awhile now and Angie felt Court was ready.

Ain't the horse just beautiful! hee

Court was actually NERVOUS! She looked incredible as did Lady, the horse.

The family was there showing support!

Here is Court and Dillon's Mom, Angie competing together in one of the events.

here's another...

and another...

Here's two of her three ribbons...

Everyone had a great time. Mom and Dad was there too, but Mike didn't get a pic. I was at work, so Mike took alot of these photo's and Dad took alot too.

Here's a link to Dad's pics...

https://picasaweb.google.com/larry29662/CourtneyRides19March2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCOz_mZGbkfy29wE#

Here's a link to Mike's...

https://picasaweb.google.com/112298489614175847253/HorseShow031911#

There will be alot of shows this summer, so stay tuned!

More soon-

Joan

Mike's Birthday today!

AND, we're all going to the Tadpole tonight to eat suppppppper!!!! Darrell and Connie - we'll miss you!

I'll be taking pics there tonight and sharing with you tomorrow.

If you can tell, I've had very few posts lately. Most of that is due to how busy I've been, or lack of interesting material. But a part of that is I don't feel comfortable sharing Britt's pregnancy on here as I'm not sure who's reading it. Maybe NO ONE! hee!! But, it's really bothering me that I may be sharing dates, photos etc...that will be counter productive to her and eventually, the baby's privacy.

We, as a huge family, have "closed ranks" around her to protect her from the over-whelming stresses that comes along with her situation. The enormity of these stresses became too much for her recently, and we've had to restrict access to her....this is AT HER REQUEST.

My blog should be included too, since it is a way in.

So, I hate HATE to do this and I don't even know if it's necessary, but I will have to set my blog to invitation only to view it.

I've had my blog for years and have enjoyed it so much. I will be wanting to share photos, stories and our lives this year to everyone who wants to share with us. I DON'T want to have to worry what I'm posting and sharing to certain people who can find it just by a simple google search. I'm just grateful I have options over shutting it down.

SOO, soon, when you click on my blog you'll see a "invite" button to click on. CLICK ON IT!

I will be SOOO honored to add you to my peeps!

We're SOOO excited about allll the wonderful changes we'll all be having this year and I can't wait to add loads of pics!

Ashley is also coming home TWICE this year and I will be blabbing on and on about that too! ha

I hope you will join us!!!!

Joan

ZZZzzzz.....

For those of you who regularly check my blog for breathtakingly interesting blog updates, I'm SORRY! We really haven't done a thing after returning from Myrtle Beach, except work and watch Britt's belly get bigger! ha

She's so happy and getting so excited. Mike is getting the fever too and will begin remodeling the bathroom soon. I wish his Uncle Sonny was here to help, but Mike will make due. He was a mason in the Air Force, so he can't wait to lay some tile! I will take before, during and after pics of his progress. It will be gorgeous and perfect!

I'm beginning to plan the baby shower. I'm looking for a bigger place to have it. Our house has held 50+ people, but we're anticipating way over that at her shower, plus Mike may be in bathroom mid-renovation. SOOooo, the hunt is on for a larger in-door place. We could have it outside at our house, but if it rained, we'd be in a huge hurt!

We're also SOO excited about Ashley coming home in May. O.M.G. How much excitement can a person take with all this to look forward too in one year!

That's about it for the moment. I'm sure i've left a bunch out. OHHHH....I'm going with my parents next Tuesday to get my little sister, Abby Grace. She's being flown to Charlotte from Minnesota or Michigan or one of them "M" states up yonder. Anyways, she's half Cocker Spaniel and half Poodle! WE CANNOT WAIT! I'm sure all this happiness and excitement is taxable! hee

I don't have any pictures because I haven't taken any. I guess I could take a picture of the inside of Home Depot or Wal-Mart again or the dogs, but I haven't! ha

Hopefully something blog-worthy soon!

Joan

MYRTLE BEACH 2011!!!

We just returned from Myrtle Beach!!! That may not be a huge deal to most, but Mike HATES HATES the beach and for us to go was just amazing. We had the best time and had a blast!

So, it was just Mike, me, Britt and Court. Ash is on a cruise back to Seattle and sick as a dog! We hope she gets better soon!

OH...SHOUT OUT TO KORI on her boat! She's one my most fav. blog readers AND she's southern! WOOO-HOOOOOO!

Here are the girls posing...

that was taken at a place called Broadway on the Beach.

This next pic...hee hee...

Then I saw this in a store and took a pic of it....

reminded me of what Ashley is! haaaaaaaaaaaa

Here are some creepy fish that followed us around...they were HUNGRY and YES we fed them!

Finally, we went to the beach and it was SOOO foggy we couldn't see more than 20 feet in front of us.

These next few pics are very edited to lessen the fog...

Here they are feeding the birds too. Mike would throw Cheerios in the air and they would catch them in their beeks!

We just needed Ashley in this next pic to made it complete...almost! Except for Lillie too!

Ash...this is for you!

Here is Britt and Lillie...

and KORI...you asked for a belly shot!

Here is Britt at 20 weeks pregnant taken today!

haaaaaa!!!!

Here is a link to all the pics...

https://picasaweb.google.com/112298489614175847253/MyrtleBeach022011#

Gotta go! More soon!

Joan

A break....

As you guys can tell, I took a long break from blogging for awhile. The day after my last post, Mike's Mom called and said that Harold had taken a turn for the worse. The four of us took off to Laurens Hospital and we shared with the family Harold's life as he passed. He suffered so much with his cancer. I remember hearing Art and others say that the cancer didn't kill him, it saved him. That's true! The family has taken comfort in the knowledge and deep belief that he lives in each of us now.

He is in our hearts, always there to talk to, and he will be there when it's our turn!

Here is a pic I took several years ago in our back yard...

and I found this one too...

I can't speak for the others, but Courtney took it especially hard within my family. I took her to the Dr. and she was given reassurances that she is fine. She has leaned on her deep faith and wonderful memories she has of Harold, and she has come out even more beautiful and special.

Britt also took it hard, but she talked things out with us and she seemed to be OK. I'm very thankful the girls went thru this with the family and grieved with them, laughed at memories with them and cryed with them. It's a powerful bonding that will be with them forever.

Ashley begged to come home and even had the Coast Guard's permission to fly home when they reached their next port, but by then, it would have all been over with. She was allowed to call home from her ship and talked to us, which I think helped her get thru it. She called later to talk to her Grandma and Gt. Grandma Terry, which helped too. She's a strong girl and thankfully she seems to have gotten thru it all too.

Also, Irene passed away the same day as Harold. She was a permanent fixture at the Oolenoy pickin's and singin's we went to. She was also my grandparents next door neighbor. She was a wonderful lady I'm glad me and my family knew.

Sooooo, after all that, it was back to whatever normal is. Britt's ever expanding belly is expanding, my work is crazy as ever, Court is loving college life and doing great, Ash is back stateside going thru alot of training. She seems happy!

In fact, a week ago, they were in Costa Rica and she went mule riding and zip-lining!

GORGEOUS mule! BAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Here she is zip-lining.

I think they had a great time!

Here are a few pics of her and her boat-mates that day...

Ash is center in gray tank-top.

here she is in the purple headed out with the girls...

here she is on the left. working.

and...

and here, she found a friend...

What a life!

The other night, we all went to Cheif's Wings place and Court did some karaoke singing. Britt went too and we had a pretty good time.

Well, apparently, TOO good a time because she wound up in the ER yesterday with fever, dehydration and just felt awful. I called her OB office and they said to take her in for IV fluids, which we did. After the second bag, she was feeling MUCH better. We got back home late last night and she went straight to bed. What a week so far!

Well, that's all the more interesting highlights from the last few weeks. We're all just emotionally drained and ready for this year to turn around and shine some happiness our way! Little Lillie will definitely be a huge part of that!

OH, Ash is coming home in May too for a few days! WOO-HOOO! We have missed her SO much and I know she has missed us. Maybe she'll be home to go to mine and Dad's semi-annual GUITAR RECITAL! HAAAAAAAAA!!!! I can't wait!

I'll post more regularly now that my break is over!

More soon!

Joan