Ridley's Place

Valentine's Weekend

2012-02-14T18:52:00.003-08:00

Friday afternoon Jason took me to see The Vow. Oh my gosh, it was as great as I thought it would be. Once the movie ended, Jason asked me if I wanted to take a moment to compose myself! Ha! Bring some tissue if you watch it!

We spent the weekend in Dandridge at Mountain Harbor Inn. This was our third visit there. It's one of our faves :) It was freezing and we had some snow. I'm not a fan of the snow, but when it doesn't stick to the roads I have to admit its pretty.

Big shocker, we found a cat. We brought him home with us and he's going to the no kill shelter on Thursday. I'd love to keep him but we are at capacity at the Ridley home!

Saturday night the Inn had a Valentines party. I think we were the youngest people there! It was fun though.

Bustin' a move!

Emily is 7!!

2012-01-29T17:35:00.000-08:00

It was a Justin Beiber themed night on Saturday. She is a HUGE fan! She has watched his movie about 20 times and knows everything about him.

Yall know she never smiles during her party but she loved the cake. She requested her slice have his face on it!

And she cheated at pin the tail on the donkey. I think she gets that from her Grandpa (my dad).

She racked up on gifts. Fingernail polish, Barbies, clothes, a jewelry maker and a feather for her hair. Next week, her bday party at Nannys.

TOTAL Domination!

2012-01-09T20:38:00.000-08:00

What a dream game for Bama fans everywhere! Honey Badger, who??? Defense wins championships and we're champions again!! ROLL TIDE ROLL!!

Christmas!

2012-01-02T14:55:00.000-08:00

Santa made a stop at Emily's school and she told him her VERY long list!

Emily's tower of gifts.

She was ecstatic over these boots.

Jason's Aunt Brenda and her son's family.

Aunt Margaret and Uncle Dan.

I made Bear a wrapping paper dress! Haha!

Our New Years Eve pic from dinner at Sunset Grille, one of our favorite restaurants.

Hope you all had as wonderful of a Christmas as we did! We are truly blessed with an amazing family and I couldn't imagine Christmas without them!!

Jamaica!!

2011-12-24T09:19:00.000-08:00

We had a very relaxing time on the beach! The weather was perfect and I didn't want to leave. The last day we were there this gorgeous rainbow came out of nowhere. Of course, we were downstairs eating breakfast and I didn't have my camera. I ran up 8 flights of stairs and when I got to our room this was all that was left :(

The Italian restaurant we ate at the last night of our trip. It was the best meal we had. Jason said their cheesecake was awesome!

The stage area of the resort. We watched a steel drum band there one night and they were amazing!

Merry Christmas, yall! It was so weird to be lying on the beach and hear Christmas carols about the weather outside being frightful! I was like, no its really delightful!!

We have this exact picture from 6 years ago when we were married.

Drink in my hand, toes in the sand!!

Snorkeling!

We were upgraded to an ocean front room!

Our December So Far

2011-12-13T19:01:00.001-08:00

We took Emily to Yogi Bears Campground to see Shadracks Christmas lights. The lights are set to music and it is amazing! My pictures don't do it justice.

Once you drive thru the park they have a tent with a carousel and a jump jump. Emily loved it!

My Aunt Liz's dog Lilly loves my mom! I wish she loved me as much :(

Larry turned 31!

My mom had her annual Christmas brunch and we helped her decorate the tree.
All the stars must have aligned because I got a picture of 3 dogs together! Lilly didn't want to join in.

The Rematch!

2011-12-06T10:43:00.000-08:00

I can't wait for January 9th! I know there is a lot of controversy surrounding this particular game, but the system actually worked this time. The 2 best teams in the country are playing for the national championship. Needless to say, trash talk is king in the Ridley home right now! Roll Tide!!

17 days until....

2011-11-29T10:41:00.001-08:00

we are here!!! Jason and I are going back to Jamaica for the first time since our wedding. We can not wait! The past couple of months have been a bit stressful so we both need a vacay. Work is super busy and between our house and car repairs it seems like we can't catch a break. Anyway, I'm dreaming of laying on the beach and reading while Jason dreams of snorkeling ALL day! Im just praying for no snow here or in Charlotte where we switch planes.

Celebrating her 86th!

2011-11-13T18:43:00.000-08:00

It looked like Christmas for Nanny today b/c she had so many gifts! She had a wonderful birthday with her family.

Special thanks to Emily for everyone's Christmas stickers that she colored :)

Emily and I loved this particular gift. We're hoping Santa brings us both one!

My mom went on vacay last week and we kept Jackson. He was so good and I think he had fun even though he missed his mom. The dogs love Jason!

This one makes me laugh! Poor Lucy is going to get as close to Jason as she can.

Happy 34th

2011-10-16T18:59:00.000-07:00

to my wonderful husband! I love you always!

It's Fall but Feels Like Summer!

2011-10-13T16:39:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we took Emily to a fall festival near our house in Chapmansboro. She had a blast! There were so many activities for kids.

She loved the hay ride.

And this 60 foot slide. It was super fast!

She made her way to the top without help but the pic I have of her is on my phone.

How cool is this pic?? I actually took it at the perfect time!

It was about 85 degrees when we were there so we cheated at the corn maze! After 20 minutes of wandering aimlessly around we went out the side. I love making these memories with her!

6 Years!!!!!!!

2011-10-02T17:42:00.001-07:00

After planning the first 5 anniversary celebrations, this year it was Jason's turn. He did a fantastic job! He knows how much I LOVE log cabins and he found a gorgeous B&B in Kentucky. It overlooked the river and we had a deck right off our room. Ours is on the top floor in this first picture.

Relaxing on the back deck.

This was the view from our room looking through the cabin. The owners were so sweet and accommodating. They are from Cinci, Ohio and when we told them where we were from the wife said oh I love Gatlinburg! Northerners love it there. If we ever build a log cabin, I would love this exact plan. It's perfect.

The view from the back deck.

Jason found the perfect gift for me. It combines my love of country and dachshunds!

This picture was Jason's idea. Me with my Halloween dachshund and Lucy!

We had an amazing time this weekend. I love you Jason more everyday and I am so blessed to have you as my husband. You are my favorite person!!

State Fair

2011-09-25T13:41:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday we took Emily to the fair, one of her favorite places. She talks about the cotton candy and Sprite for weeks before we even go! And the rides of course. This was her second time to ride a pony so she wasn't afraid in the slightest.

She BEGGED me to ride this bull, so of course I did. I stayed on for a while and when I was done I asked Emily is she liked it and she just shrugged her shoulders like I've seen better!

She was not a fan of this ride!

Can you tell she loved this one??

She always rides the swings with her Dad.

Warrior Dash

2011-09-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

The Warrior Dash is a 3 mile obstacle course held in an open field in Manchester. The same field where Bonnaroo takes place. I decided to do this race with Jason and Tom because surely 3 miles can't be that bad, right? Well, when you throw in about 8 obstacles and they give you 1 cup of water the entire race, it's bad! I faced a lot of fears yesterday. Height and fire were the biggest two. Some of the cargo net climbs freaked me out, but I completed all of them with the help of Jason pushing me through!

The before pic.

People were dressed up in some crazy outfits! I even overheard some guys saying they drank liquor in the parking lot before they ran. I would die if I did that!

Tom pushing through the mud pit. He had a much better time than Jason and me.
My first thought when I saw the mud, ugh I'll just go for it!
I was so tired by this point that I just held onto Jason's leg and let him pull me through!

You could donate your shoes after you finished. One girl was actually sitting on top of this pile while someone took her picture. Disgusting!Check out the random dude that jumped into our pic. Takes all kinds!
Thanks to my mom for fixing my hair and coming along for moral support! Jason's mom and sister were there, too. They got some great pics! We both finished in 54 minutes which shocked me. I thought it would be worse. This really was fun and I'm glad I did it, but my entire body still hurts today!

A Day of Remembrance

2011-09-11T17:31:00.000-07:00

I have to share this poem that was in our church bulletin today:

Lady Liberty Cried

Another bright September day
Another sun-filled day
She stands her ground
with endless pride
As planes above her fly

She looks upon her children
Her loved ones dear to heart
As they go through
their normal chores
Some only just to start

But soon the peace was shattered
As men so filled with hate
Soon turned their rage
to senseless acts
To meet their horrid fate

First one and then another hit
Impossible to seem
Two other impacts elsewhere
As in a horrid dream

Tho some did fight the evil
As heroes they had died
And as the proud twins
met their fall
The Lady Liberty cried.

I know I'll never forget that day and feeling so scared and confused, but in the days that passed I knew America was safe. God was with us and He put in place a president who would find those responsible and make sure it never happened again under his presidency.

We found another lost dog yesterday. He is super sweet and Lucy actually gets along with him. We put up missing signs so hopefully his owners will see them. If not, we'll take him to the no kill shelter. For now Jason is loving having a big dog!

We celebrated Gma Ridley's 86th birthday yesterday. We all had lunch at Mimi's Cafe and Linda made her banana pudding. She is such a blessing and I think she had a great time with her family!

Just a cute pic of my Lucy. She is having her teeth cleaned next week and I'm a little nervous because they have to put her under. I'm sure she'll be fine. I just keep telling myself that!

I Am One With Nature!

2011-08-15T04:30:00.000-07:00

Me and dad finished our 14 miler when this little guy came from nowhere right to us.

You know me and animals, so I thought I'd just say hello...how hard could it be...it's just a wild deer?

Apparently, when you are completely one with nature it's not hard at all. This guy licked all over me.

He also really liked having his neck scratched, but did not like my gatorade. Eat it Ceasar Milan! Dog whispering is a joke, try it with deer and then do a tv show.

On a completely unrelated note. I have stopped thumb wrestling with Bear since he has started to cheat and use both hands as you can see above.

Our Weekend

2011-08-07T17:19:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning Jason decided we should go one a bike ride at one of the parks in Nashville. Great idea until we got caught in a huge thunderstorm. Poor Jason was hearing about it the whole way back! To say we were soaked is an understatement. It was like I jumped into a pool completely clothed.

Later that evening we took Jason's parents to Stoney River for their anniversary. It's one of our favorite restaurants and Jason has been dying to take them. They are celebrating 37 years!

Emily starts 1st grade this Thursday so my mom and I took her for a pedicure and ice cream this afternoon. She loved her glittery purple toenails. Unfortunately, they were crazy busy so mom and I had to forgo our pedicures :(

Poison and Motley Crue

2011-07-05T17:30:00.000-07:00

Jason and I have been offline now for about 12 days thanks to AT&T. He got a cell phone and used our home number. What should've been a seamless process was not. I have a lot of catching up to do! My best friend Melissa and I went Sunday night to see one of the best concerts. I've seen many bands play live, but Motley Crue was everything you would think. Fire, fireworks, dancing girls, and Tommy Lee's drum kit on a ring of fire.

I have a video of this but it takes forever to load. When I first saw this ring thing I thought, wow that would be crazy if his drum kit went upside down. But I never thought it really would. It did and he even attached another seat and some chick from the audience went for a ride. So cool!

Brett Michaels still rocking out!

So, walking into Bridgestone Arena I see a guy who looks just like Bret and then I notice lots of people taking their picture with him. Well, Melissa and I jumped right in! We were so excited and thought how cool he's hanging out front meeting his fans. Well, shortly before Poison came on stage I notice "Bret" in the section below us still taking pictures with fans. I told Melissa he better get on stage soon! She even made the comment that maybe he's gonna start the show from that section. Soon after the real Bret Michaels came on stage! We were tricked be a Fakey Fakerton! What do ya'll think? Would you have been fooled? Everyone I showed the picture to really thought it was him.

My Birthday Celebrations

2011-07-05T17:19:00.000-07:00

Friday night Jason took me to Cheekwood Nights for my birthday. We had dinner at The Pineapple Room and then strolled the gardens and the mansion. They were having a special event with a band and numerous bars set up throughout the grounds. It was lovely! Cheekwood is special to us as Jason proposed there, so this was the perfect birthday.

Then on Saturday my awesome brother took us out on his boat. My favorite place to be!

Jason tried out wake boarding and did pretty well!

Emily enjoyed some fishing.

Then ya'll know the drill, bday at Nannys!

Thanks Mom for my favorite cake!!

NKOTBSB

2011-07-05T15:19:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago the New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys came to Nashville and I was screaming like I was 12 again! I went with 4 girlfriends and we had a blast. They played all their hits and even did the same dances! Oh, and my favorite Joey has aged very well :)

Their stage was super cool. The New Kids ended the show in the Celtics jerseys. Adorable!

Sedona

2011-06-07T18:07:00.000-07:00

Jason and I left last Friday for a weekend trip to the desert. After seeing a House Hunters episode of Sedona, I had to see it for myself. The weather was great. They are about 10 degrees cooler on average than Pheonix. There was zero humidity and my hair has never been so straight! First off, country music singer Luke Bryan was on our flight to Pheonix! I'm not very calm around famous people and I tend to scream in their face (sorry, Jeff Gordon), but I was cool and collected when I saw Luke. Later, I found out he was doing a show with Tim McGraw in Pheonix that night. Well, I know Tim was on his private plane with Faith and the girls, but had it been him on my Southwest flight I would've been elbowing some people to get to him!!

We drove the 2 hours to Pheonix and stopped for lunch at In & Out Burger. Lord have mercy, that was the best burger I've ever had! I hope we don't get them in Nashville b/c I'll have to get a membership at the gym. When we drove thru Flagstaff I had to remind Jason that's where Clark Griswald had to drop off Aunt Edna when she died on the way to Wallyworld!!! Yes, this swing is in the creek behind our resort. Soooo relaxing!

This chapel is built into the side of the rocks. So cool. I said a prayer for some special people here.

We went to Sliding Rock State Park on Saturday. The water was 58 degrees but after paying $20 a car to get in the park, I was getting my moneys worth! Seriously, Sedona is not cheap. It is gorgeous though. As you can tell, I really didn't slide as much as push myself.These crazies were jumping from the cliffs.

But this was more our speed :)

Jason bored while I shop.

These awesome loungers were on the back deck of the resort.
Sunday night we sat outside and watched the Heat bring it!
This was the view from the front deck.
I loved our room! It was quaint as you can tell.

On our way to Sedona we stopped at this scenic overlook. We didn't realize how much prettier it would get!

Montezuma's Castle was built by the Native Americans in the 1400s. Up until 1951 ladders were placed against the rock and visitors could go through the castle.

We had a great time and made some fun memories.

So Thankful.

2011-05-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

I can not begin to express how indebted I feel to our service men and women. I love this country and I'm SO thankful for all of our freedoms. Just singing "America the Beautiful" at church this morning moved me beyond words. So, tomorrow when I'm on the boat with my wonderful family I'll be thinking of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. A special thanks to:

My Papa. He retired from the Marines and the Air Force. He served in the Korean War.

Tom. He was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne.

My brother. He served in the Air Force and is currently in the Army National Guard.Jason's Grandfather. He was a general in the Air Force.

Muddy Buddy

2011-05-21T10:21:00.000-07:00

The Muddy Buddy is a 6.8 mile run/bike obstacle course. It's in Ashland City so we didn't have to drive out of town for this one! Jason and Tom finished in 1 hour. They won their age division but we left before the awards ceremony so hopefully they can have their trophy mailed. I actually saw them finish for once! This first pic shows how many people were there. I think they had 1800 participants. Crazy!

This wall was right before the finish.

Tom finishing strong.

This is why it's called the Muddy Buddy. The last obstacle before the finish.

Wardrobe malfunction!

They said it was a fun but hard course. I even got a sweet muddy kiss post race! I actually told Jason I would do it with him next year! I know ya'll are shocked. We already have our team name: Shake n' Bake!

Happy Birthday Lucy!

2011-05-13T17:06:00.000-07:00

Lucy is 12 today! She loved the cake Jason made her. It was chocolate free and we only gave her a little piece. More for Jason and me!

A Modern Day Fairytale

2011-04-30T12:32:00.001-07:00

I was not disappointed by the Royal Wedding! Kate was gorgeous and I loved her dress.

My favorite part, the Duke and Dutchess' first public kiss!

Prince Harry was dashing in his uniform. He's my fav!

Mom and I had lunch at the Homestead Manor near Franklin. The food was yummy and the grounds were gorgeous. The gift shop was Royal themed that day, but I only made one purchase. I was disappointed but Jason was happy!

I forgot to take a picture of me in the shirt. My brain wasn't really working at 4am! I'm so glad Mom and I could watch together. It's a memory I will always treasure!

HE is Risen!

2011-04-24T14:37:00.001-07:00

Just a few pics from our Easter celebration. Church was great. It's always nice to see so many people there.

I love this one of my sweet Nanny and Papa.

Lucy with her favorite person. Could she get any closer to him??

For those of you not on Facebook, Jason and I have new neighbors. We met them Friday and I'm excited about the Cajun catering business they are starting! They have 2 daughters named Heather and Erica. Jason is terrible with names but I told him he shouldn't have a problem remembering theirs since they have the same name as 2 of his favorite people! Hope ya'll had a Happy Easter.

Congrats Katie and Carlos

2011-04-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

Saturday night we headed to Winchester, TN for the Roda's reception. Katie and Carlos were married last Thursday on a boat in Florida. Their reception was a blast! I was dancing it up, but my favorite part of the night was watching Katie's dad on the dance floor. He was having too much fun!!

They wore their wedding attire and I loved Katie's dress.

I am soooo happy for this girl! She deserves to be happy and Carlos is a great guy.

Katie and Elizabeth

Congrats Sylvia and Alan

2011-04-10T19:03:00.001-07:00

Saturday was the hottest April 9th on record for Tennessee, but thankfully it didnt rain! Sylvia and Alan were married at Alans' parents home. The ceremony was beautiful. They even wrote their own vows. Brave!

Sylvia and Emily were both gorgeous! Emily walked her mom down the aisle and gave her away. Too cute!

Emily was really listening to the preacher.

I loved the organized schedule posted on the fridge.

We are all so happy for Sylvia and Alan. I pray they have many happy years together!!

23 More Days!!!

2011-04-06T06:31:00.000-07:00

I admit I'm obsessed with the upcoming Royal Wedding. This is the ultimate fairytale. An actual "commoner" is marrying a prince. Kate is adorable and so classy. I'm taking their wedding day off from work and spending the night with mom to wake up at 3am and watch the wedding live! Then we have lunch plans at Homestead Manor in Thompson Station, TN. Their gift shop will be royal themed that day. Jackpot!!!

Ziplining part 2

2011-04-03T14:15:00.001-07:00

Our Christmas present to Tom and Kim was zip lining tickets. We finally went yesterday since the weather was perfect.

Jason is a pro now!

Poor Tom got stuck twice on the same line. Everybody got a good laugh at him!

Kim was not excited about stepping off the platform. It does feel like you're stepping off the side of a building!

Um, guess who had their helmet on too tight?

Spring Break

2011-03-22T14:17:00.000-07:00

Emily was on Spring Break last week so she stayed with us for 2 days. We had so much fun together! The weather was gorgeous so we spent one day at the park. The cutest little 2 year old boy followed Emily everywhere she went. Poor thing could not keep up with her! We went to McD's and played countless games of Uno with Jason. She beat us about 6 times.

Ultra Marathon

2011-03-21T18:51:00.001-07:00

Jason and Tom ran their first full marathon on Saturday. It's called Ultra because its 32 miles instead of the usual 26 miles. Jason finished in 6:49 and Tom in 6:59. They placed 30th and 36th. Both of them were ecstatic with their times. Oh, and Linda and I missed them finish again! They told us to be at the finish line at 2:30 and we were. They never expected to finish under 7 hours. So proud of them!

Katies Getting Married!!

2011-02-28T18:41:00.000-08:00

Katie (middle) is a good friend from high school/college. I have a million fun memories with her and Elizabeth. Katie's bachelorette party was at Opryland Hotel. A great idea since you have a ton of restaurants and bars to choose from.

Liz had the great idea to recreate this picture from Panama City Spring Break 1999. Yes, we are that old!
Pretty close!
Playing a little bridal win, lose or draw.

Owning the dance floor! We had so much fun and I cant wait for Katie's reception.

She's Ok!

2011-02-25T15:41:00.000-08:00

Lucy had a little surgery on Monday to remove a few moles. The major one was on her back and since it was infected, they had to make a pretty large incision. When we came home on Tuesday, she hadnt tried to pull out her staples, but on Wednesday she had pulled out 5! Thank God Jason got home before me so he was lucky enough to see the damage. I would've puked first then taken her to the vet. So, now she has to wear the cone and she is NOT happy about it. I'm so thankful her surgery went well and she's on the mend!

Happy Love Day!

2011-02-14T14:34:00.000-08:00

Jason and I took a weekend trip to Gorhams Bluff in Pisgah, Al (Roll Tide) for Valentines Day. It's only about 3 hours south of Nashville. The weather was perfect. No snow! The mansion overlooks the TN river and each room has its own private deck.

They also have cottages available to rent and it was like a little town. They had their own post office.

Jason said I bet they have a lot of weddings here and it really is gorgeous!

This picture was taken in our room, in front of our own fireplace.

Jason finally shaved! Goofing around with a fu man chu(sp?).

The dining area. We decided to eat at Mud Creek Fishing Camp which is as redneck as it sounds, but so delicious! It's on a side road in the middle of a neighborhood, so we were shocked to see a road block set up when we left the restaurant. It took Jason forever to find his proof of insurance and I really thought the cop was going to write him a ticket! I debated telling him I was a Bama fan, but I was afraid he might be an Auburn fan and definitely write us a ticket!

We had a very relaxing weekend and I would highly recommend this place!

Oh great, more snow!!

2011-02-10T14:31:00.001-08:00

Another 3 inches of white hell rolled in last night. I'm really over it. I think even Jason is done and he loves the snow. It started snowing at 3:30pm, right at rush hour. Good times! It took me an hour and a half to get home, but it took my coworkers 4.5 hours! Good news, the 7 day forecast is looking up. We should see 60 degrees by Monday!

I hate going out in the snow, so this is the same view as the last snow. I just open the door and snap!!

Happy Bday Tom and Linda

2011-02-05T20:28:00.000-08:00

Since their birthdays are only a month apart, we had a combo celebration! We had dinner at Logans and I brought Gigi's Cupcakes for dessert.

BFF's!

I'm glad they put us in the back because we were a loud bunch!!

If you are cheering for the Packers tomorrow, I hope your team wins!!! Go Pack go!!

6 Going on 16

2011-01-31T18:18:00.000-08:00

Emily celebrated her 6th birthday with a skating party. She got the hang of it pretty quick with only a couple of wipe outs!

This was her expression when they turned off the lights.

Even Mimi showed off her skating skills!

"Who is this from?"

This was her reaction to the cake. She requested Taylor Swift, but Taylor's image is copyrighted. Emily didnt understand that concept!

After the party, we had dinner at Maggianos. She was pumped about her ice cream.

She was happy about her Hannah Montana cake!

Please, No More Snow!

2011-01-26T14:20:00.000-08:00

We've had more than enough snow this winter! Today is about our 5th round, with 3 inches falling overnight. I will admit that yes, this morning when I stepped outside I was momentarily in awe at how gorgeous the neighborhood looked. However, I forgot all about this picture of peace when I hit the interstate on ramp. 35mph all the way in to work! I'm really ready for 80 degrees and sunny skies. I can't stop thinking about the boat, flip flops, and tank tops! We had a weekend of warmer temps when we visited my Dad in Tampa. I forgot to take pics, but we had a great time. Oh, and the good news is the forecast for Saturday, aka Emily's skating party, is 50 degrees! If you'll remember, last year we were unable to attend her bday party due to snow.

Merry Christmas! (a week later)

2010-12-31T10:27:00.001-08:00

Blessed is how I would describe our Christmas! We have the sweetest family and friends and are thankful they all live so close. This first pic is after the gift exchange. The dogs were pooped!

Jason is so great at picking out my gifts. He found a section of the turf from last years Rose Bowl that Bama won. Yeah, little excited!!

Our new couch for the bonus room. Love it, but Rooms to Go delivery will make you lose your mind! We do NOT recommend them.

Bear is happy with his new gift from Santa.

The new Kings of Leon CD is awesome! Even better than their last. I have to mention they are from my home town, Mt. Juliet!

Could she be any cuter??!
Looking for her gift!

This girl racked up! Before she would open her gift, she would ask who it was from and then thank them. Soooo sweet!

Uncle Dale and Chloe.

Christmas as Kims.

Our annual family photo!

Jason checking out Grandmothers kitten calendar!

I was trying to take down the tree, but Bear doesnt want Christmas to end!!

The Fontanel Mansion

2010-12-20T16:13:00.000-08:00

Fontanel is the largest log cabin in the world at 27,000 sq. ft. It was originally owned by Barbara Mandrell and her husband. They designed it and had it built in Montana. After tearing it down, they flew all the lumber to Nashville and rebuilt it. Money!! I am obsessed with log cabins. I hope to own one someday and this one was amazing! It is currently owned by 2 country music producers. They are making bank selling tours! Oh, and just a warning, I could NOT stop taking pictures.

The formal dining room.

This balcony looks over the great room. Our house could fit into this room! Barbara and her husband renewed their vows here and its now open to the general public for weddings. I told Jason I really want to renew our vows there!

The ceilings are so tall in this room, Barbara's daughter would hold her cheer leading practice there.

This room is my favorite. It holds the indoor swimming pool.

On Saturday evening they were set up for a wedding reception. The pool is covered with glass. It was like walking on water!

Doesn't everyone have a formal family photo?!

Barbaras bathroom.

Her bedroom.

Since the record producers now own the mansion, they lined the hallway with gold and platinum albums from the artists. Alabama, Kenny Chesney, and Gretchen Wilson are just a few.

Barbaras daughter set up her room almost exactly how it was when she was a teenager. This was the dress Barbara was wearing the night before she delivered her daughter. If you look closely at the picture you can barely tell she's pregnant!

Please notice Jason looking at me like enough with the pictures already!

Their bonus room.

It even has booths like at a soda shop.

Welcome to the 30's Club!

2010-12-06T18:25:00.001-08:00

My little bro is 30 today and I've made sure he knows it! I even wrote old man on the front of his card. That's what sisters are for, right? He looks like he's putting a lot of thought into his wish.

We missed Emily at the party and we were suppose to have dinner with them tonight, but she had a stomach virus. I know she hated to miss the ice cream cake!!

7 Years and Counting

2010-11-29T18:09:00.000-08:00

I love to celebrate the big events in life, and our first date was pretty momentous! After dinner we walked around Opryland Hotel taking in the sights. I was so sad when the hotel was flooded in May. It had 8ft. of standing water in the conservatory. 6 months later its completely restored and more gorgeous than ever!

I've been dying to ride this boat but the line is always a million people long. To solve that problem, we went on a Monday! It's a short ride, but really the best way to see the hotel.

Love this man!

I didnt get a chance to take many pics on Thanksgiving, but I did snap this cute one!

My First Trip to Bryant Denny Stadium

2010-11-21T18:59:00.000-08:00

I had a blast! It was everything I dreamed and more. I loved being around so many other fans and I'll never forget singing Sweet Home Alabama in Tuscaloosa! I picked a game that I knew Bama would win. They played Georgia State and the score was 63-7. It would be nice to see the Iron Bowl though. Maybe that will be my next game!

We parked a few blocks away at a florists' shop and I couldve bought everything on this display!

A great view.

Me and Big Al.

Weekend Recap

2010-11-14T17:42:00.000-08:00

Friday night Emily's school had their chili supper/auction fundraiser. Mom won a Tim McGraw blanket and Emily won a Hannah Montana poster. I bid on 5 different items and didnt win a single thing! Emily had a blast getting her hair spray painted and playing games with her friends.

The finished product.

Can you tell pink and purple are her favorite colors?!

My Nanny will be 85 on Tuesday, but we celebrated today. She is such a blessing in all of our lives. Emily was so proud of the jewelry she picked out for her. If you look closely you can see Emily lost her first tooth this week! It hurt my heart because she is too big too fast.

Unfortunately, my aunt Liz is having surgery tomorrow, but that means I have 2 dachshunds at my house! Temporarily anyway. I cant stop taking pics of these 2 dogs! They are so cute. Jason isnt as thrilled as I am, but he's been very helpful. Lilly is so sweet and she loves to snuggle. This was the best pic I could get!

Happy Fall!

2010-11-08T16:11:00.000-08:00

Trick or Treat!

2010-11-01T15:31:00.000-07:00

Jason's carving skills.

Hannah Montana

Madonna and Hannah

She even sang us a Hannah song!

Family Weekend in the Mountains

2010-10-25T14:54:00.000-07:00

Our cabin in Murphy, NC. It had a hot tub, pool table, air hockey table, and bunk beds for Emily.

We celebrated Jasons bday with his parents at the Murphy Chophouse.

Saturday we drove to Helen, GA and on the way we passed this tourist stop.

The goats are actually on the roof! Its the craziest thing. They cracked me up when they ran across the bridge.

Emily was the bingo queen. She kept winning!

All the buildings in Helen are German design. Even the Wendys!

Future pro golfer!

Taking a putt-putt break.

Ice cream break after putt-putt.

Giving Linda a free manicure while she enjoys her wine.

Happy 33rd Jason!

2010-10-18T14:59:00.000-07:00

I decided to take Jason ziplining for his birthday. He'd done it as a child, but I never had. It was so much fun! Not as scary as I thought.

We zipped for an hour and a half over 9 zips. Some of the lines were over 80 feet!

Jason was the guinea pig of the group. He went first every time. The landing was the trickiest part.

On a couple of the lines you had to climb onto a platform. Taking that first step off was frightening!

Safety first!!

For Lauren!

2010-10-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

Jasons new car.

My new car.

Yes, my car was totaled so Jason found the same car only a year newer with less miles so I bought it. You just cant beat a Honda! I took Jason ziplining for his bday yesterday so I'll post pics tomorrow.

A Memorable Anniversary

2010-10-03T18:29:00.000-07:00

Friday was our 5 year anniversary. I have been VERY excited about celebrating. Jason was going to make me crab cakes and lobster bisque (my fav. meal) and he was going to have pizza since he hates seafood. I bought him a fire pit and we were going to roast marshmallows on the deck. He bought me 2 new wedding bands which I love! But, on my way home from work Friday I was in such a huge hurry trying to run errands and get home that I didnt see a car in front of me stopped to turn left. Yes, it was my fault and I'll find out tomorrow or Tuesday if my car is totaled. And yes, its the Honda Civic Jason bought last year. The car he just gave me last month. Very, very sad. Im so glad I'm ok and the lady I hit is ok. I know it couldve been a lot worse, but I'm really mad at myself for not paying attention. I feel like I ruined our anniversary even though Jason said I didnt. Speaking of Jason, he is in a word amazing. I dont know what I would do without him. He wasnt the least bit mad about the car. I cant say I wouldve been the same if the situation were reversed. We still managed to have a nice weekend. Tom and Linda came over yesterday to watch the UT game (heartbreaker!) and my sweet Mom and grandparents gave me some beautiful flowers. Oh, and the crab cakes were yummy! The lobster bisque didnt happen b/c I was suppose to pick up the lobster meat on Friday. Hopefully this weekend we can use the fire pit.

Katy and Kyles Big Day

2010-09-20T18:39:00.000-07:00

Katy and Kyle were married Sunday evening at the Sam Davis Home in Smyrna. The grounds are gorgeous. It was extremely hot, but the wedding only lasted about 10 minutes. The ceremony was so sweet. Katy's preacher told a cute story about how Katy asked him many years ago to marry her and he kept his word! The wedding was a southern belle theme. Katys brother Shane is escorting their mom Diana. She was beautiful in her dress.

Kim and Kyles dad.

This ring bearer was adorable!

Katy was gorgeous and I've never seen her happier!

They did shoot a cannon and it scared me half to death!
I loved Kyles cake. The pool balls were little cupcakes.

The best family photo of the Ridleys! They are all color coordinated.
This one needs to be in a frame!!

The pout always works!

We had such a blast at the wedding. Congrats, guys. We wish you all the best!

Girls Night

2010-09-20T14:53:00.000-07:00

Saturday night was the much anticipated Sips & Strokes. For 3 hours you are given step by step instructions on how to paint a chosen picture. Oh, and you can bring your own adult beverages! So, type A personality that I am, I knew mine had to be perfect. Even though I have zero artistic skills! Well, very early on in the evening it became clear that mine would have to be an abstract piece! And when I showed it to Jason he said, its very abstract! Exactly what I was going for. Mom and I giggled too much and the Auburn game was on so I was a bit distracted. I really thought Auburn was gonna lose it. Melissa's turned out great. We had a great time and I would definitely do it again.

Mom said she was gonna tell everyone she found hers at a yard sale! She cracks me up.

The finished product.

Fair! Fair! Fair!

2010-09-15T19:00:00.000-07:00

We took Emily to the fair on Sunday and she had the best time. The title of this post is what she kept yelling all day at my Nannys house until we left for the fair! She was a bit excited.

I had to rock the VY jersey after that butt kicking we handed the Raiders!!

Jason did NOT want to take this picture, but he's so sweet he did it anyway!

I have to share the story of this dolphin. Mom always lets the guy guess her age and they never get it right because she looks so young. Well, this year the guy was only off by 1 year so she lost. So then it was my turn to win Emily a stuffed animal. I was so excited when he said 28!! Oh yes sir, you just made my day! My first words were, ha ha Jason I told you I dont look my age. Then it was Larrys turn. The guy guessed 25 and hes soon to be 30! Thanks Mom for the young looking genes!

Arrington Vineyards... Finally!

2010-09-06T18:53:00.000-07:00

I think Jason got tired of hearing me talk about how bad I wanted to visit Arrington so he planned a day trip for us. We met his parents at Cracker Barrel for breakfast and then to the wine tasting!

This place is absolutely gorgeous. The weather was perfect and I could have stayed all day!

Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn owns a major part of the vineyards. They also have live music in the evenings during the summer months. You can even bring in your own food and have a picnic. And I must say, Arrington makes the best Riesling I've ever had. Delicious!

We had a great day and I'm so glad Jason planned it for me!

Katy's Shower

2010-08-29T16:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, mom and I went to Kim's best friend Katy's bridal shower. Kim and Katy have been friends for life just like their moms, Linda and Diana. Kyle and Katy are so cute together. Cant wait for their big day!

The bride and her maid of honor.

Roll Tide!

I loved the centerpieces Kim and Linda made.

Mom wanted to show me the first house she and my dad bought together. Mom was preggers with me when they bought it and we only lived there until I was 3 months old. In 78', it was in a lot better shape! My room was the one with double windows.

Happy Graduation and Anniversary!

2010-08-15T09:22:00.001-07:00

Sylvia graduated from Tennessee Technology Center Friday night. We are all SO proud of her! She sacrificed a lot to complete her degree.

I love this picture! It was Sylvia's boyfriends idea to get a pic of all the Hall girls.

Sylvia with her boyfriend, Jeff. Emily was so cute. She kept saying "Im so proud of you Mommy! You did so good!"

Sylvia's mom was able to come in from Florida for the ceremony.

Last night we took Jason's parent to the Fontanel Mansion for their anniversary. 36 years! The dinner was great and the grounds were gorgeous. I want to go back and tour the mansion.

The happy couple!

Before dinner we went for a hike around the property. Way too hot for this idea! We only made it about a mile before we turned around.
Mom found a calendar from the year she was born! Haha.
I did too!

Emily is a Kindergartener!

2010-08-12T07:38:00.000-07:00

Her own locker!!

The Wave Pool

2010-08-08T18:57:00.000-07:00

Saturday was the perfect weather day for a water park. It wasnt 100 degrees like it has been so you didnt sweat to death waiting in line! Emily had a great time. I know this because at one point she yelled out "this is the best day ever!" She even went down the kiddie slide by herself. This was a first for her.

Opposites attract!

Emily all dressed up for dinner with her Mom. Check out the pose.

Sylvia and her mini-me!

Embracing Change

2010-07-18T15:32:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, Im starting a new job at Sarah Cannon Research and Im really excited but a little nervous. Ive always tried to avoid change at all costs, but after much prayer Im getting better at welcoming it. So, a new job and a new haircut. Thats a big deal for me, people! Im not crazy about my hair, but it grows fast. Please pray for me this week. Im going to need it, since I'll also be teaching Vacation Bible School.

Emily spent the weekend with us and she had too much fun. The swimming pool wore her out! Of course, it could've been Jason throwing her around all day. She loves it!

Race Pics

2010-07-15T04:34:00.000-07:00

Race organizers have not released the professional photos, so no pics detailing my slow death on the trail yet but stay tuned. These were some that another runner in front of me took. He took 2nd overall so he was way in front of me.
You really dont feel like you're dying at this point. Then you see Mosquito pass ahead and know that the hurt is going to start pretty soon. You actually want to slow down so you can put it off as long as possible.
Steep doesn't even begin to describe the hell hole I've voluntarily put myself in. This is supposed to be fun right? At this point if I had one request it'd probably be for my mommy. And this steep crap kept going for 2 miles!
Sweet baby jesus, I finally made the 8miles to the top! And I only quit twice, cried once, and cursed my existence a dozen times. This is only half way, but at least I don't have to go any higher. If you look close you can see Leadville and the finish right above the runner in black. Down there it's sunny and in the 70's. Here it is 35 with a constant 40-50 mph wind. You think you hear horses, but it was actually the wind vibrating all the rocks you see on the ground.

Moral of the story: NEVER AGAIN
until maybe the Leadville full marathon next year?

Red Rocks

2010-07-06T19:11:00.001-07:00

This was the only place I was dying to see in Denver. My favorite Dave Matthews CD was recorded here and I was so excited to walk the same stage as Dave.

I hiked the 2mile trail while Jason, Tom, and Kim ran. Im just not a runner! It is so gorgeous and I wish I couldve attended a concert there.

On our last day in Denver, we went by the Bass Pro Shop so Kim could pick up some souvenirs. Jason found this recipe and said its exactly how I talk. He's so mean, but I had to laugh!!

Ya'll know I had to buy this shirt. The best part is that I found it in Boulder, which is a super liberal town. I wish I could wear it everyday, even to church!!

Our attempt to hike Mt. Elbert

2010-07-06T18:46:00.000-07:00

Mt.Elbert is the tallest mountain in Colorado, so we thought why not? Ha ha! Little did we know how difficult it would be! We made it about 1 mile from the peak.

It was 6 miles to the top and in this picture I was at 2 miles. Notice the smile. It was real easy to this point.

If you look closely, you can tell Jason and I are both sucking air! It was terrible. I thought I would die. I will never do it again, but Im glad I attempted it.

We made it to the snowy part. Jason and I both slid down the mountain on our butts!
Sooo tired after hiking 10 miles. NEVER AGAIN!

Jason and Toms Half Marathon

2010-07-06T18:33:00.000-07:00

Our Colorado trip was planned around a 15.5 mile run through the Rocky Mtns in Leadville. Jason and his Dad have been training for a while, but with the altitude they really didnt know what to expect.

This map is the route Jason and Tom ran.

They made it! Tom finished in 3:27min and Jason finished in 3:47min. I decided to walk part of the course so I could video Jason running the last half mile. Warning: he was not a happy camper, so there is some foul language! After their run, they decided to jump in the lake across from our B&B. The water temp was about 55 degrees. Ill pass thanks!!

Our Summer Vacation

2010-07-06T18:03:00.001-07:00

Well, Colorado was definitely busy! We stayed in Denver and Leadville, and we also took a day trip to Boulder. I'll have to do a couple of blogs to have enough room for all the pictures I took.

While Jason and his Dad ran the half marathon, Kim and I toured the Tabor Opera in Leadville, Leadville is an old mining town 2 hours southwest of Denver. In the 1800s its population was around 30,000, but now its about 3,000.

These carved seats were rare at the time because they were so expensive. The Tabor family had mining money.

Where the rich people sat. I definitely felt out of place!

Our Bed and Breakfast in Leadville.

Our postcard view from the B&B. I could get use to this!!

The Delaware Hotel is where Doc Holiday frequented.

My birthday lunch in Leadville. I love wearing this shirt on my bday, I always get free stuff!

My birthday dinner in Denver. Jason picked the Altitude restaurant and it was delicious!

Fathers Day Weekend

2010-06-20T17:18:00.001-07:00

Wow, too much fun this weekend! Yesterday, we took my dad on the boat for the first time. He really thought he would get motion sickness, but the poor baby was ok! He even got on the intertube with Emily.

Fishing with Uncle Jason

Swimming with Dad.

This is a milestone for Emily. Normally, she will hang on you and nearly drown you whenever shes in the water. We FINALLY convinced her to let go and she was so proud when she did!

Love this family pic!

I have to work next weekend so we had my bday party today. A little early, but still fun.

I have to blog about the wonderful day we had at church. We currently have an interim preacher who is awesome and very well liked. Today we voted to hire a new preacher who is very familiar at our church. Clay was our pastor for about 4 years and he resigned 2 years ago. That was definitely a hard time for our church. He expressed a desire to return and was voted in. I have had mixed feelings for the past week and have done a lot of praying. Today, our interim pastors sermon was on the prodigal son. Then Mom reached for a Bible in the pew behind her to read Luke 15:11, the passage on the prodigal son. Well, as she turned she noticed this particular Bible was missing the majority of the New Testament and the last page was the prodigal son passage. That definitely helped me make my decision for the vote. Im ready to give Clay a second chance and Im so glad God brought him back to us!

The Latest

2010-06-01T18:28:00.001-07:00

Emily had professional pics made in her dance costume and I had to share. I cant wait to have this one in an 8X10!

A couple of weeks ago Jason and I took Lucy to the park in downtown Ashland City. This is where the majority of the flooding was in our area. You can still see the water line on the trees. I stood in front so you could get an idea of how deep the water was.

I have to brag on my awesome husband. I had a minor procedure done today and he took excellent care of me! Picked up my post procedure Waffle House meal and made sure I had everything I needed. I really dont know what I would do without him!! Also, big thanks to my Mom for coming by the hospital even though she had no idea what I was saying. They had to give me a little extra sedation so I was super high when she saw me.

Tiny Dancer

2010-05-27T17:43:00.000-07:00

My sweet Emma did such a great job at her dance recital last weekend. She looked gorgeous (makeup courtesy of Mom) and had a blast!

Such a cute kitty!

She was so cute with her flowers like a professional dancer!

Five Rabbits and a Funeral

2010-05-26T14:17:00.000-07:00

So Vandy had our large burial service for the anatomy donors at Woodlawn Cemetary last week and these guys had taken up residence right on top of the burial plot. The backhoe missed these guys by inches, but the grounds crew was going to re-cover the area with more dirt and these guys would have been buried. We could have told them just to watch out for the rabbits, but these guys looked like they eat babies and kick cats for fun, so da da da da da da guys-who-have-know-idea-what-they-are-doing to the rescue!

There are actually five in there.

Ity-bity babies. I so wanted to take them home. The mom was around but since we had to move the whole nest we didn't know if she would come back. However, the wildlife rescue lady I frantically contacted to save these guys from the cat kicking rednecks told me that wild hares less than 10 days old raised in captivity have a 95% mortality rate. We had to leave it up to mother nature.

Be vewy vewy qwiet, I'm hunting sweeping wabbits.

Cuteness that fits in the palm of your hand.

The Graduate

2010-05-19T08:23:00.000-07:00

We went back to the dachshund picnic this year to help raise money for the rescue group. They moved it to Nashville Shores which is so much closer to us.

Lucy kept getting in line for a hot dog, but no luck!

Emily graduated from preschool on Saturday afternoon. I cant believe she will be in Kindergarten starting in August. I thought I would be very emotional but I didnt cry much at all!

Love this one of her with Larry! She looks so happy.

And this one. Ive never seen her smile in so many pics!

I think Mimi will be framing this one.

All her classmates and teachers.

They all sang a couple of really cute songs and Emma knew all the words. Each child stated their name and what they want to be when they grow up. Emily said she wanted to be a singer/actress and live in Beverly Hills! I cant believe she even knows what Beverly Hills is!

Probably her favorite part of the ceremony. The cupcakes.

Jasons sister turned 30 on Friday so we all went to the Omni Hut on Saturday to celebrate. The Omni Hut serves Polynesian style food and Jasons entire family loves it.

Emily checking out the waterfall.

Congrats Fred and Happy Mothers Day!

2010-05-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

Saturday I was able to attend the wedding of a man Ive known my entire life. I was best friends with his daughter from birth! Kathy and I went to church together but not school, so Sundays were always special for us.

The groom and his gorgeous daughters, Lesley and Kathy.

I love living so close to my Mom and Nanny. Being able to spend every Mothers Day with them is such a blessing.

Lucy found the perfect size chair for her!

This past week has been a very stressful time for all of Nashville and the surrounding cities, but I must say Ive never been more proud to be a Nashvillian. I have heard of only 1 instance of looting during the flood. Everyone has been more than happy to volunteer for clean up and help out wherever it is needed. Thanks for the prayers and good thoughts!!

A Birthday to Remember

2010-05-02T16:42:00.000-07:00

We are still alive here in TN! We didnt sustain any flood damage to our house but I cant say the same for my workplace. The 1st floor of the womens hospital had flood damage and forced a couch threw a window. It was the worst day at work. None of the elevators were working so I got plenty of exercise! All of our computer equipment was in the basement, so we had no working computers. Anyway, I made it home safely and Im going to attempt to work tomorrow but Vandy still has alot of water around it so Jason has a 3 day weekend.

I took this on my way home from work. Its about 10 miles from where we live. If you zoom in on this pic you can see the house in the background that has water up to the roof. Ive seen this type of flooding on TV, but to see it in my city is insane. Yesterday, we saw a portable building floating down I24. Crazy.

Last night we celebrated my moms bday at Olive Garden. We had a small group due to the weather but still had a great time. Happy Birthday to the best mom!!

I love this one of Emily. When the mood hits her, she will smile!

Lucky Mimi got 2 purses!!

King of the Jungle

2010-04-23T15:35:00.001-07:00

Fez is getting up in years and having some trouble keeping her hair groomed. So, Jason decided to get her completely shaved a couple of weeks ago. When I got home I realized he went a little overboard with the cut. He said the groomer had a picture book of cats with the different cuts she offered. This was the one he picked. I feel like Fez is embarrassed! She looks hilarious. But she acts like she feels TONS better. She is definitely more social and not as mean. Jason has been on me to post this pic so I had to share.

Busy Weekend

2010-04-18T20:43:00.001-07:00

I love being able to spend time with such great girls that Ive know for years. We always have a great time and talk nonstop!

Saturday night Jason and I went to Zanies with my brother to see Daniel Tosh perform. Larry and Jason loved it but I thought he went a little too far with some topics. He was still really funny though. Tosh didnt come out for a meet and greet like the previous comedian we saw. Jason was pretty disappointed. He really wanted to meet him and give him some ideas for his show!

Warm Weather is Here!

2010-04-05T16:49:00.000-07:00

It is definitely spring time in TN. This past weekend was really warm and Friday when we turned on our A/C it was bad news. Fortunately we had it repaired and are once again cool!

Lucy thought she was suppose to be on neighborhood watch when we opened the windows!

I know I post a million pics of her, but shes just too cute.

Poor Weez, he was finally able to cool off and get some rest.

Land Between The Lakes Half Marathon

2010-03-14T18:38:00.000-07:00

Jason and his dad invited Linda and me to see them run their 14.6 miles in Kentucky yesterday. Well, we are the worst wives ever! We missed them finish the race. It started at 6am and Tom said they would finish around 8:30am. We got to the finish line at 8:25 and they were sitting down waiting for us! They both finished in 2 hours 20 minutes.

Jason was in charge of our accommodations, and lets just say that may be the last time. What was advertised as a "cabin" was more like an above ground WWII bunker! It was hilarious. It had 2 bedrooms with no doors, a kitchen, and 1 tiny bathroom.

They ran through the woods and it has rained the past 4 days, so they were covered in mud.

The very tired runners.

Inside joke on this picture. For Jasons 30th bday we rented a chalet in Gburg with the family. One day we shopped and one of the stores had a huge magnet stand. Well, Linda decided to put Toms earlobe between 2 very strong magnets and he screamed so loud. My mom and I were dying laughing! So after dinner Friday night Linda was like Heather look magnets! Of course, I made them take a picture with them. I must say my favorite part of the trip was driving to Metropolis to gamble at Harrahs. Guess who won $100 on blackjack? Yep, it was me! So breakfast at Cracker Barrell this morning was on me.

A Hilarious Friday

2010-03-07T15:07:00.000-08:00

I cant get the red eye fixed on this picture, but I had to post it anyway. Friday night, Jason and I went to Zanies to see Jo Koy. He has a special on comedy central that we saw last year and I thought it was hilarious. Well, he did NOT disappoint! Within the first two minutes of his show, I was crying I was laughing so hard. Im sure you can find some of his stand up on youtube and he is also on Chelsea Lately. The show ran late because the audience was calling out requests. He has so many hilarious bits that he couldnt get through them all in an hour. After the show, he was cool enough to take pictures and sign autographs. Ive been to Zanies a few times, but this was by far my favorite comedian. Jason thought he was great, but he is SO excited to see Daniel Tosh next month. Im afraid he may rush the stage!!

The Concert of all Concerts

2010-03-01T05:19:00.000-08:00

Ive always wanted to see Eric Clapton in concert and Saturday my dream came true. My dad and Jason's dad went as well. Roger Daltry (from The Who) was the opening act. He was ok. It was cool to see him, but Clapton just sounded so much better. He had a guitar solo in every song (which I loved) and his voice sounds the same as always. Vince Gill was the special guest and played on 4 acoustic songs, one of which was Layla. I dont think Vince has stopped smiling! You could tell he was pumped to be playing with one of the best. My 2 dads also loved it. It was great to go with them.

Funny Story....

2010-02-23T18:09:00.000-08:00

So, Emily looooves lip gloss and has since she was about 2. When she puts it on, its all around her mouth. It looks like she has been eating fried chicken! Someone bought her a ring with lip gloss inside and she wore it to daycare last week. Well, her teacher noticed she had been applying it ALL day but didnt think anything about it. A short while later Miss Tiffany noticed Emilys friend Bryson had lip gloss all over his face. When she asked them why they both blamed each other. Emma said Bryson wanted me to kiss him, and Bryson said she wanted me to kiss her but I didnt want to! Hilarious. I guess we will never know who kissed who!

Happy Valentines Day!

2010-02-14T15:06:00.001-08:00

Jason and I went back to Mountain Harbor Inn for Valentines day. We stayed here a couple of years ago for our anniversary and decided to go back. They recently built a cabin next to the resort and were offering a CHEAP winter special that was too good to pass up.

The view from the front porch.
The cabin had 2 bedrooms and a huge living/kitchen area. We were really excited about the fireplace until we got there and saw that is was fake! Cant really make smores on that.

I had a terrible sinus infection on Saturday, but after a quick trip to a walk-in clinic and a stop at CVS for a Z-pack I was feeling much better. Saturday night the owners had a Valentines dance complete with a DJ and a chocolate bar.

I couldve eaten everything on this table!

We never get tired of staying here. The owners are so sweet and they are always willing to go the extra mile. I definitely recommend this place for a weekend getaway.

Still On Cloud 9!

2010-02-08T19:24:00.000-08:00

Thank you to the photographer who took this pic! I would love to blow it up to poster size! Most of you know Im not a Manning fan. I LOVE that he threw an interception so he couldnt blame their loss on anyone else! Way to go Saints!!!!

Happy Birthday Emily!

2010-02-01T14:46:00.000-08:00

I can not believe this baby girl is 5!!!!!! She is the sweetest and most well behaved child Ive ever been around. Well, I may be a bit biased!! She had a great time at her bowling party with her friends.

I love the picture of her pointing at her present. Her friend Katelyn's face is like OMG I cant believe you got the Taylor Swift Barbie!!

Sunday we had her family party at my grandparents house and we had a blast sledding. We started with an actual sled but then found some vinyl flooring laying in the neighbors yard, and who knew that would be faster than a sled?! If you look very closely in the first pic of Emily and Jason you can see Larrys dog Snoopy running next to them. He had more fun than anybody!
This is my favorite one. Sylvia was born and raised in Florida so yesterday was the biggest snow she had seen. She was screaming SO loud and Emily covered her ears and kept saying too loud Mama!! Hilarious!

You couldnt sled for too long on the vinyl floor before your butt would be soaked! Worth it though.

Lookout Mountain 10K

2010-01-30T14:40:00.000-08:00

Jason ran another trail race back in December. He and his Dad both finished within an hour. This was when it snowed the night before and by the morning of the race it had all melted. Not good for a trail run. Jason fell in the overflowing creek! He still made it though. He and Tom have another half marathon in March at Land Between the Lakes. Ive never been so we are making a weekend out of it. Very excited!!

Too Much Snow!

2010-01-30T14:30:00.000-08:00

This morning I tried to take Lucy out so she could do her business, but she was not feeling the snow! She kept trying to go up the steps to get inside. Jason had to clear a big circle in the back yard so she could walk without being buried. I loved snow as a kid but now I pretty much loathe it. We are stuck in the house until at least tomorrow and I missed Emily's 5th bday party today at the bowling alley. Tomorrow we are going to try to drive to my Nannys house for her party there.

5 Years Ago Today...

2010-01-22T17:57:00.000-08:00

Jason asked me to marry him at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. 9 days later, Emily was born. January 2005 was a great month for our family!! I surprised Jason with lunch at The Pineapple Room today, and we took some pics by the reflecting pool where he proposed.

Jason had my mom, his mom and sister standing above us taking pictures when he proposed. I am near sighted so I didnt realize it was them and I said "oh good, some people took pictures, we can ask them for a copy!" Good times. This place is really gorgeous especially in the summer, but I told Jason today I like going in the winter because its so quiet and theres hardly anyone there.

Happy 58th Tom!

2010-01-19T18:35:00.001-08:00

We celebrated Toms bday Sat. night. Unfortunately, I had to watch the Colts win which I was not happy about!

Tom with his girls!

The first take....

Dont let the coffee cup fool you, its wine!!
The best part of the party was when I convinced Tom to read Sarah Palins new book once Im finished. I am loving it and hopefully I'll recruit another Sarah fan!!

We Are The Champions!!!!!!

2010-01-12T18:42:00.000-08:00

This pic says it all. What a great season for the Crimson Tide!!!!!! Thanks Saban for being such a defensive genius. Your incredible work ethic earned us the championship. And a first time Heisman winner. So, see ya next year! Same time, same place!!!!!

Happy 2010!

2010-01-01T19:15:00.000-08:00

We had such a blast last year at Chaffins Dinner Theater we decided to celebrate there again. This time we took my mom, her best friend Debbie, and Debbie's sister. Mom loved it!

We didnt color coordinate our outfits! I was already dressed and Jason came out in his favorite purple shirt.

All of our dancing pics turned out blurry for some reason.

We kept my friend Lauries dog over the weekend. Ivy is a bulldog/boxer mix. She, of course, loves Jason and is such a sweet dog!

Please notice Lucy at the top of the pic. She is not happy to have Ivy as our guest! Ivy wants to play with Lucy sooo bad, but Lucy isnt having it.

Merry Christmas!!

2009-12-27T17:25:00.001-08:00

Hope ya'll had a wonderful Christmas with lots of family and friends! Jason and I spent Christmas Eve with his family in Murfreesboro. We had enough food to feed an Army and too many gifts!

Jason's Aunt Margaret put together a wonderful gift for his grandmother. She loved it! Check out who made the center picture.

Jason and I worked as a team to make this tree cake. It was our first attempt and was very yummy!

Im really trying with buying all this UT crap! Linda loved her new shirt.

My sweet girl looking for her gift!

Ah!!! Jason's real smile. It's rare to be caught on camera.

I'm at a loss for words here. His fav. movie is A Christmas Story and his mom and sister found these pajamas and had to get them. Jason freaked out. He was so excited. Im a bit embarrassed, but I married for better or worse!!

This girl got too much stuff! She was a very good girl this year. I got her Taylor Swifts new CD and when she opened it she screamed, TAYLOR SWIFT! I think it was a hit.

Wrestlemania!

Of course Santa didnt forget Lucy. She loves her new burrow bed, but she has to fight the cats for it.

My Aunt Liz got us both Titans snuggies. We were very excited!

Jackson's favorite resting spot.

Making Memories with Emily

2009-12-20T14:17:00.000-08:00

I love having Emily spend the night with us. She is always such a good girl and has a great time.

First, we made and decorated Christmas cookies. They were delicious!

Then she decorated a couple of ornaments.

And of course, she had to spend some time with Lucy.

After the cookies and Gatorade she went INSANE. She was singing at the top of her lungs. She and I sang a Hannah Montana duet. I know Jason really enjoyed it! From the little bit of snow we got last night, Jason made a snowball and brought it inside to throw at Emily. She thought it was hilarious!

Our 400th Post

2009-12-06T18:26:00.000-08:00

Wow, I cant believe we've been on Blogger for 4 years now! And what better way to celebrate than with a post about Alabama going to the National Championship!!!!!! I havent stopped smiling since yesterday. I just saw on the BCS Bowl Selection show that Bama is favored to win 21-14. This is our year. Saban is a defensive genius and he's shown that defense definitely wins games. Oh and it doesnt hurt to have the best running back in college football!

So, Lucy looooves my new Bama snuggie. And she's even happier when Jason gets in it with her.

Saturday I took Emily to her dance class and then to McD's for lunch. We had a great time even though it was freezing out and the playground was locked.

I have a very important prayer request. My friend from college just left today for Iraq. John will be there for a year and his wife is currently pregnant with their second child. He seems to be in good spirits and is more than happy to serve his country. Please pray for his family and his entire unit as they have a dangerous job ahead. Thanks!!

Thanksgiving Weekend

2009-11-29T14:41:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for this year. Living in a free country and being able to be a Christian without fear is most important. Also, Jason and I have a great family that we love very much!! Oh, and I cant forget Alabama having another undefeated season and heading to the SEC Championship on Saturday. Roll Tide!!!

These 2 are so cute together. Lucy could care less for Bear but he loves her!

This was Jason's view when he was eating Thanksgiving dinner at his parents house. Cody wanted to chow down on some ham!

Love some Bailey!

Jason's Aunt Susan came in from Dallas. It's always great to see her.

This year I decided to put up 2 Christmas trees. 1 upstairs and 1 downstairs. Bear is really happy because now he has 2 to choose from!

I Love This Store!!

2009-11-21T11:46:00.000-08:00

I went back to Tickled Pink, the consignment store in Bellevue where I found the $5.00 shoes just on the off chance that I might find some more great stuff. Well, I did! The dress (with the tags still on) was $16, the purse was $5 and the shoes were $10! People, this is insane! I could never leave a department store with these items for $34! The purse and shoes go perfect with my New Years Eve dress and I bought the dress because I know I can find somewhere to wear it. You can find Tickled Pink on Facebook and they will let you know when they receive new clothes. Oh, and I heard country music singers take their clothes here. Who knows, maybe Carrie Underwood wore these shoes!!

Les Paul Tribute

2009-11-20T19:30:00.000-08:00

So its been a while since I've posted, I know, but we have been really lazy since Halloween. I'm really happy that Bama is headed to another SEC Championship!! But sad that I'll miss the game due to a prior engagement. Remember Jason's bday present? A Christmas Story on the 5th. It sucks but I didnt think about it when I picked that night.

Last night Mom and I had free tickets to see some great performers celebrate the memory of Les Paul. It was at the Ryman Auditorium which I love! This first pic is all the musicians who were able to attend. It was a great show! John Rich was by far the worst performer and Charlie Daniels was the best. The place went crazy for Charlie!! We learned a lot about how Les was so instrumental in creating and perfecting the guitar. He was a musical genius. There are few things in life that I couldnt live without and music is definitely one of them. Im thankful that Les Paul had such a passion for music and making it sound amazing!

We always have a great time wherever we go and last night was no exception. You are a blast, Mom!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-30T15:04:00.000-07:00

Jason carved this awesome Dachshund pumpkin.

His inspiration!!

Halloween Party at Moms

2009-10-25T18:38:00.001-07:00

Saturday night was a blast at moms! All of her friends are sooo sweet and I love hanging with them. The food was great and the games were very memorable!!

Emily loves babies.

Everyone looked great in their costumes.

I have been counting down the days until this party because Sylvia was going to do my makeup for the first time. She is very talented and I think she did a great job!! She did moms too. Isnt mom just the cutest hippie?

The most precious fairy, even if she doesnt smile! You may notice Jason isnt in any of these pics, well thats because he was a party pooper and stayed home!! He wouldve had a blast had he gone.

Stump Jump 2009

2009-10-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago Jason and his Dad participated in a 12 mile trail run. They both finished without puking!! They had photographers along the trail and this was the best one. They both had a blast and are planning to run a 10k in December. Jason even wants to run a 30 mile in February. Crazy!! I wouldnt run that much unless someone was chasing me, but to each his own.

Happy Birthday to my gorgeous husband!!!

2009-10-14T07:41:00.001-07:00

Today Jason is 32 and I never let him forget hes older than I am!! Sunday we had his party at my grandparents house. I was counting down the days until I could give him his bday present. My mom saw that A Christmas Story (Jasons favorite movie) was made into a play and would be at TPAC in December. I knew he would be sooo excited and he was! Too bad we have to wait until December. Today Im taking him to see Couples Retreat. Vince Vaughn=Hilarious!!!

Emma and Nanny enjoying some yummy ice cream cake.