weekend recap on tuesday

Hey y'all! 

I have a 15 minute break, 

so I thought I would pop in and give y'all an update on my weekend. 

Saturday, 

I had to work until 3 pm. Yuck! 

But it wasn't a horrible work day 

and we were really busy, 

so, the time flew by. 

D DJ'ed (sp?) a Sweet Sixteen party Saturday night. 

It was a lot of fun. 

I really do not miss being 16 though. 

It reminded me of how awkward I was at that age. 

Sunday, 

I slept way too late. 

Guess, my introvert brain needed to really recharge. 

That afternoon I went with D's family to 

The Moving Wall. 

Explanation from their website: 

"The Moving Wall is a half-size replica of the Washington, DC Vietnam Veterans Memorial and has been touring the country since 1984." 

It was truly an overwhelming experience. 

There are 58,000 names on that wall. 

That alone is overwhelming. 

Volunteers were reading the names on the Wall. 

They started Thursday morning and still had not finished reading all of the names when we got there Sunday afternoon. 

I am just continually grateful for everyone that has served in our Military and to their family members. 

Sunday night, my brother called and told me that it was 

baby night!!! 

She was officially born on Monday morning at 12:17 am 

at a tiny 5lbs 12oz. 

Please let me introduce my newest niece ... 

Ms. Anniston Elise. 

I will not get to meet her until the 2nd week in September, but I am in love already. 

weekend recap

This weekend was a fairly busy one. 

I went to the farm & visited with the family.

I caught up on my snuggle quota with this handsome little man!

I cannot believe he will be 9 months old tomorrow. 

Time is going by way too fast.

And spent some quality time with his older sisters.

{who were not cooperating on the picture front}

I also worked on wedding stuff with Isa.

{via}

It was nice to spend the day with Isa & her future sister-in-law.  

We finished almost all of her invitations. 

Let me tell you if I do not see one more purple ribbon in my lifetime, I will be perfectly fine with that. ;) 

We also got a lot of small stuff finished & nailed down. 

Overall, it was a very successful weekend!

just some randomness

Late weekend recap:

This weekend was pretty much a lazy weekend. 

I made my first peach cobbler of the season

and it was oh so yummy!

I did not exercise at all on Saturday or Sunday and

I do not feel one ounce of guilt about that ;)

The bestie & I played 

Super Mario Bros on the Wii

for 6 hours Sunday.

It took us right back to our childhood. 

I big happy heart Super Mario Bros♥

{via}

Overall, it was a pretty great weekend!

Update on my favorite little man:

My nephew Nash has had several important firsts

over the last couple of months. 

He started crawling!

And my sister caught it on her phone for me. :D

He started off pretty shaky

but he is a crawling machine now.

He got his very first boo-boo. :(

My niece Cas was playing with him on the bed

and he fell off and bumped his head.

Kinda like 12 little monkeys!

He was fine just had a little bump.

My sis said it scared him more than anything else.

He went to the beach for the very first time. 

I was actually there for that one, 

it was my idea!

He loved the sand

but did not care for the water that much.

And here are a few pictures 

just because he is so darn cute!

Apparently, he does not like smiling in pictures.

the loot

Finally, the last road trip post . . . promise!
I actually did not buy a lot of souvenirs on this trip.

I did get postcards and magnets from

Texas & Louisiana.

I also got this super cute mask from one of the shops

in the French Quarter.

On our way back to Georgia 

we stopped at an outlet mall in Mississippi.

This is where I got into trouble;)

I bought two new pairs of Chucks!!

The mall had a Carter's outlet.

I called my sister to double check the dude's size

and she just laughed when I told her where I was at.
Her advice: try not to go overboard.
I think I showed considerable restraint;)
However, Mr. Nash did score some goodies!

 Too true :-)

 a baseball & fish on his butt . . . just adorable!

I hope y'all enjoyed my road trip recaps.
Maybe it was not too boring for you.
Overall, we had an absolute blast!
And are already planning our next road trip.
We are leaning towards NYC or somewhere in the NW.

pure sweetness♥

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My niece Cas is now 11 going on 30!

Everything I wrote about her sister in my never grow up post

I want for her as well! 

This little girl is my mini-me

and was my little shadow for years!

So much so that her first word was 

MY NAME!

I might still gloat about that one;)

{just a little bit}

She is our little drama queen.

Whit is so laid-back and easy-going.

Cas is the absolute opposite.

Everything is big in her world.

Big emotions, big laughs, big smiles, big tears.

We are definitely not looking forward to her teenage years;) 

However, she is also the most loving sweetie pie!

We have our special "squeezy hugs" & "double kisses"

that have always been our little tradition.

She is always just so happy & energetic.

She has the best smile.

And her laugh . . . it is contagious! 

You Are My Sunshine is our song!

I used to sing it to her over & over when she was little.

You are my sunshine

My only sunshine

You make me happy

When skies are grey

You'll never know, dear

How much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

never grow up

{via}

Today my niece Whit turns the big 13!

It has been amazing watching her grow into 

a beautiful young lady.

But she really needs to slow down

the whole growing up thing!

I still find it weird at times that I can hold an actual conversation

with her that has nothing to do with cartoons or toys.

I am not too comfortable with the conversations about boys but that is part of growing up and being a teenager!

I love how her personality is really starting to show.

However, I really hope she does not go through that 

rebellious teenager phase.

She most likely will to some extent 

but I am not looking forward to that.

Hopefully, because I am the "cool aunt" 

I will not be classified as embarrassing! 

I just wish I could keep her & her siblings little forever.

I know how cruel the world can be and I want 

them to keep their innocence for as long as possible.

My sister is seriously a fantastic mom and 

has instilled a strong set of values into both of her girls.

And she will continue to teach them as they grow.

So I know that they are well equipped to handle life's opportunities & struggles.

I just want to protect them and shelter them.

I think the hardest thing is letting them make their own mistakes.

And if I feel this way, I cannot imagine how my sister feels!

I imagine it is tempting to just lock them up in their rooms 

until they are grown;)

I do not know if you have heard Taylor Swift's song 

Never Grow Up 

but it pretty much sums up what I want to say to Whit.

Especially this part: 

To you, everything's funny

You got nothing to regret

I'd give all I have honey

If you could stay like that

Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

Just stay this little

Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

It could stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you

Won't let no one break your heart

No one will desert you

Just try to never grow up

You're in the car on the way to the movies

And you're mortified your mama's dropping you off

At 14, there's just so much you can't do 

And you can't wait to move out

Someday and call your own shots

But don't make her drop you off around the block 

Remember she's getting older too

And don't lose the that you dance around in your PJs getting ready for school

my beautiful kiddos!

One of my close friends Jess is a photographer.

So, I got her to take some pictures of my kiddos.

I needed some for a birthday present I am doing for my sister.

And we needed some updated pictures since the dude was born.

My sister was very gracious by letting me steal them for an afternoon!

This post is definitely going to be picture overload.

All of the pictures were SO AMAZING GOOD that it was hard to pick favorites.

If anyone in the Georgia area that needs a fabulous photographer be sure to check out 

j. leigh Captures!

{link to her facebook page}

{link to her website} 

I may be a little biased but my kiddos are GORGEOUS!

shop 'til we dropped

The girls and I went shopping in Tallahassee today.

And I am now exhausted!

However, we had a ton of fun

and the girls got some fun new outfits!

Here is the loot:

Both of the girls got:

2 pairs of jeans

1 button up shirt

1 sweater 

3 t shirts

& 1 pair of shoes

We literally spent all day in Tally.

I now know the meaning of shop 'til you drop.

Poor Whit fell fast asleep on the way home.

Tomorrow I am getting professional pictures taken of all 3 kiddos. 

I am so excited to see how they turn out!

P.S.  Isn't he the cutest thing ever?!

And look at those baby Converse!!