Sleepover at Aunt Kat's!

Friday night Christen (my sister) asked me & mom to watch a few of the kids (divide and conquer) while her and Ryan went on a date and to go Christmas shopping! I was so exhausted and as of 3:15, officially on Thankguving break, but I can never pass up time with my nieces & nephews! Also, Unlce Ty was on a hunting trip so I was alone at home anyways...So I headed to pick up Aubrey & Levi and we had big plans of a pj party! 

First we decided to eat dinner and wait for traffic to die down (I picked them up right at 5:00 in the middle of rush hour). 

We went to one of our favorite restaurants, Urban Cookhouse! We mainly love this place because of one reason:

The half-baked cookie. 

It. Is. HEAVENLY.

We devoured it in about 30 seconds. Heavenly. Oh so heavenly.

After dinner, we listened to Christmas music in the car on the way home and then quickly changed into our pjs for our pj party! 

We watched several Christmas movies and drank hot chocolate! 

Around 9 or so, Christen & I decided to let them stay since they were late leaving the outlet malls and the kids got so excited! 

They've never spent the night with me, so this was a first! 

It took them awhile to settle down in the bed but I turned on some cartoons and they finally fell asleep. 

Of course they slept pretty much on top of me all night instead of spreading out in our king size bed but I actually got some good sleep!

Around 5am, Levi woke up but I quickly told him we do not wake up that early at Aunt Kat's. ;) Thankfully, he laid back down and we both went back to sleep. 

We got out of bed around 8 and I made chocolate chip pancakes! 

They were a big hit! Aunt Kat for the win.

We watched cartoons for awhile and then met up with Christen around lunchtime. 

I had such a good time with them & I hope they had fun too! I am so thankful to be making memories with them & I adore being their aunt! 

Honeymoon, Part 3!

I never finished recapping our honeymoon and I'm scared I'm going to forget all the details so I have got to finish! 

Thursday morning we woke up BRIGHT & EARLY to go snuba diving! All the other days we were slow to get up so even though we were excited, it was rough getting up early! 

This was our sunrise breakfast view Thursday morning! Oh how I want to go back!!! 

We got on the boat & took about a 30 minute boat ride out to a reef and then I basically felt like they just threw us in & said good luck! Ok ok, maybe that's not what happened but this chick had several freak out moments trying to get down to the reef. My googles kept filling up with water and I was totally drowning. Dramatic? Maybe, but that's what I felt like! And my oh so sweet husband clearly wasn't waiting for me to get myself together because 2 minutes into it, he was gone!!! Luckily my fabulous snuba instructor stayed with me through several freak out moments (YOU DONT EVEN HAVE A LIFE JACKET ON!!!) and she ended up switching goggles with me and hers stayed on my head way better so I finally made it down with the rest of the group! 

In class last week we talked all about what's under the sea and it was so fun getting to tell my kids about my snuba diving experience (once I got down there!). We saw so many beautiful fish, lots of lobsters & crabs, and a ton of awesome sea life. Luckily we didn't see any sharks because I may have lost myself again & flipped out. Ha! We ended up snuba diving at two different reefs and both were just gorgeous! 

I'm not sure if it's something I'll do again (I had nightmares) but it was such a cool experience! It is a very weird feeling knowing you are under water breathing. I literally couldn't sleep that night thinking about it! 

Here we were after snuba diving both reefs! Ty was on cloud nine, he loved it!!!! 

That night we went to a really fun restaraunt where you walk up to a window & order and you give them a famous person's name. Then they make your food & call your name (the famous person) and you get to eat your food at picnic tables with this view:

It was quite hilarious hearing things like "Brittney Spears your order is ready!" Haha!

Next up: Key West, a sea plane ride, and snorkeling at Dry Tortugas! 

Babies babies everywhere

I have always loved babies, from the time I was old enough to babysit. I loved holding my younger cousins or babysitting family friends. I am the proud Aunt of 6 little ones & love them all more than I ever thought was possible! I am at the age where my friends are starting to get pregnant and have babies and there's just something different when your friends are the ones with babies. I often think to myself "are we really old enough to have babies?". Even though I don't think we should be old enough to have babies, the thought of adding a new little one to our bond of friendship is so exciting. I am LOVING this stage of watching my friends become mamas. 

I guess my first close friend to have kids was my friend Lauren. She is such a sweet mama. She totally rocks it and it was totally her calling in life! I have loved watching her with her babies.

Here is her youngest, sweet Ellis Kate. Isn't she beautiful? 

Here we are at my wedding. Lauren res scripture at my wedding & it was so special to have her a part of our day! And how handsome is her son Carter? He is so sweet!!

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Last August, my friend since middle school, Molly, had a little girl. They live in Boston and it has been SO hard being so far away. Molly is really good about FaceTiming me and sending me pictures of Charlie Grace but it's not the same as being able to jump in the car and go see them. It is so hard living so far away! Charlie Grace was a flower girl in my wedding & she rocked it. 

Charlie Grace and I at my bridesmaids luncheon! Isn't she just a doll? I am so in love! 

This was the precious dress I got her for her 1st birthday! She knows how to rock that houndstooth! 

Here is me and Molly at my wedding. What a special lifelong friendship we have!!

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Almost 2 weeks ago, my college roommate Lauren had a little boy and I got to go visit them over Veterans Day! 

Meet Baby Wesley. 

He is SO sweet. I think I only heard him cry once the whole time I was there. He's got a head full of strawberry hair just like his mama. He is so teeny (I forget how tiny they are when they are first born)! I got to love on him for a good 24 hours and I am totally smitten! 

Lauren is already such a good mama! 

Oh I could just eat him up!!! I am so happy for Lauren and her husband Casey! Wesley is just absolutely perfect! 

November

Sheesh I was doing so good and now it's November and I'm realizing I haven't posted in several weeks!

I can't believe how fast October came and went. And for some reason we have skipped fall and it feels like winter outside! I know the cold won't stick around til December but man it's freezing down here in Alabama! 

My first grade team dressed up as Dr. Seuss' One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish on Friday. Homemade costumes are what happens when none of us have money in our bank accounts, ha! Poor teacher probs.

Now that Halloween is over, I am ready for red cups at Starbucks, Christmas movies on the hallmark channel, Christmas music, and anything and everything holiday-ish (yes that's totally a word). If Ty would let me put up our Christmas tree today, I would. I'm all about enjoying November and Thanksgiving but to me, Thanksgiving and Christmas run together and flood me with memories of family, fires, hot chocolates, movies, good food, etc. So why not go ahead and start celebrating it all now? :) Birmingham has a Christmas craft show next weekend and it always puts me in the Christmas spirit! I can't wait! 

We recently got our Keurig out of my Granddaddy's attic (most of our wedding presents are in his attic because we have no room in our apt) and I have become obssessed. Coffee and apple cider and tea, oh my! 

I really don't know how I lived so long without it. It's so fabulous! Ty and I sat outside talking on Wednesday after I got home and I sipped on hot apple cider the whole time. I was covered in a blanket and rocking in my rocking chair. It was heavenly! 

This past week was crazy. Last weekend was my cousins bachelorette trip at the lake (so relaxing!), then my week followed with drug free week dress up days, county walk throughs in my classroom, a pumpkin patch field trip, and then book character dress up day. Whew. A sure way to make for a crazy week in first grade!!! I know the holidays are crazy for everyone but I'm hoping for some down time in my near future!!

Picture overload....

I loved celebrating this sweet bride!!!

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Carnival last weekend with the nieces and nephews! 

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Pumpkin patchin'

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Apple Orchard today! 

And since Alabama didn't play today....I painted my nails :) 

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And just because she's cute...

Ok, so maybe I take too many pictures of my dog. ;)