Parlor Night

This weekend was loaded with family time. I spent most of Saturday shopping with my mom and sister.  My sister was looking for wall/classroom decor.  At the beginning of the summer, she was offered a position at a different high school that she decided to take.  She will be teaching AP 11th graders instead of 9th grade English.  We literally spent 8 hours - EIGHT HOURS - shopping.  I picked up some workout gear, nail polish (like I needed more), and a couple other things.

Saturday night, my parents hosted dinner and Parlor Night.

BTW - everything about that first photo is typical - typical Husband acting like a Bad A and typical sister sticking her finger in the frame at the last second! =)  

 

 

Yes - I really am as uncoordinated playing pool as it seems in the above photo! I was also laughing pretty hysterically when I FINALLY hit the cue ball!!

 

 Dad gets FIERCE when he plays - he is very competitive...think I should be the pot or the kettle today???  oh well - at least I get it honestly!

 

   

BTW - see the dart flying through the air up there?! yeah I was excited about that ha - and it only took ONE photo attempt =)

      

I made everyone get together for a family shot.  The men on the ends complained but this is honestly one of the more believable shots of the two of them lol!  

I am so glad that we live so close to one another.  The night wasn't wild or crazy; the cops weren't called and we didn't go streaking; it was a lot of fun though and I'm very fortunate to have such a fun group of people to call my family.

What do you like to do when you get together with your family?

A Beautiful Mother's Day Weekend

heyyyyy!!!!

Ashley here!! Today is day 8!!! EIGHT days already at my new job! I love it.  I am SOOOOO much happier.  TONS happier.  People close to me tell me they can tell a difference.  It is really hard to work somewhere that you have given everything you can and just keep getting kicked down.  It is exhausting and very defeating.  I am thankful for what I learned and how I grew but I am excited about my future with this company!

Not only that but every other Friday, the office closes at 1! yipppeeee!!!! This Friday will be the first time they are implementing this new schedule.

In other news, we had a wonderful weekend this past weekend.  Yay Mother's Day!!!
Saturday my mom wanted to spend the WHOLE day together for Mother's Day celebration.
The biggest thing my mom wanted to do was go to the beach for the day.  We picked THE perfect day to go.  It was BEAUTIFUL and there was a really nice breeze so it didn't get unbearably hot.  That didn't stop me from getting a tiny bit too much sun...in my defense I put on sunscreen.  Apparently I just missed a few spots!

 

My dad and The Husband went fishing:

That night all 6 of us got together for a mother's day dinner.  it was very yummy ! To say I was tired at the end of the night is an understatement!

Sunday morning The Husband and I stayed in bed until 1130!!!! That is CRAZY for us.  We are usually out of bed no later than 8!!! Clearly we needed the rest.
That afternoon, we went to The Husband's parents and then dinner that night.

 

We had such a relaxing weekend! We definitely deserved it after all the hard work we put in last week.  I'm hoping we can catch some more sunshine this weekend and get a LOT more relaxing in.

I hope you had an amazing weekend!
How was your Mother's Day?
What are you looking forward to this weekend?

Its Tradition...

"... he always waves at the gate."
I will be SO impressed if anyone other than my mother knows what movie 

this quote is from mainly because it is a bit obscure lol

I don't know why it became a tradition...

I can't remember if it was me or my sister who started it.

All I know is that it is a silly thing but we always laugh a lot when it happens.

The tradition is that my sister and I always stick the bows from presents on ourselves...

Its just what we do. Its silly and it ALWAYS provides tons of laughter and fun. 

I swear one day my parents are just going to buy us each a bag of stick on bows!!! =) 

      

After looking at just these handful of pictures I would venture to say my sister started this tradition =) 

I have limited access to my photos here on my lunch break but I think you get the idea.  I hope it made you smile on a Friday!

I don't know why we do what we do but I hope it is something we always do together.

Happy Weekend!

Do you have silly traditions with your family?

Top 12 of 2012!

Hey y'all!!! I can honestly say I am shocked at how quickly 2012 came and went! I am so thankful for this past year and everything it brought.  The Husband and I are ecstatic to see what 2013 brings!

Before we bid adieu to 2012, I present the Top 12 of 2012!

twelve

Volbeat at The House of Blues for the second time

eleven

My dad taking a jello shot at Howl at the Moon at my sister's birthday

ten

The Husband and I building our first piece of furniture together

nine

Celebrating the Strawberry Festival DIY style this year

eight

 

Catching my first amber jack and the insane trip to The Keys on a whim with The Husband, my dad, and a couple friends.

seven

training and running my second half marathon.  This training was particularly special to me because I trained and raced with my dad.  We had some awesome talks and even some laughs during our training. And even though sometimes I dreaded putting on those running shoes or getting up while it was still dark, I am so thankful for them.

six

TIED: celebrating my mom and dad's 50th birthdays this year.  We threw a surprise party for my dad at our house.  For my mom, we were going to also set up a surprise party, however, she managed to find out so we  went through with the plans but she had input on the guest list =) we had so much fun!

five

    

Taking pictures with my sister for a Christmas present for our parents.  We had an absolute blast and I am so fortunate to have such a strong and happy relationship with my sister. 

four

Going with my mom to a book signing of a favorite author - Iris Johannsen

three

random drink at Margaritaville on a Friday night with my parents, sister/brother-in-law, The Husband, and some of my dad's friends from North Carolina

two

 

celebrating my birthday and setting up a photobooth - hours of entertainment and amazing memories.  Not to mention the hilarious pictures!

one

celebrating our second wedding anniversary

There are so many memories from this year and moments that I cherish.  And 2013 shows to be ultra promising with fun times and good friends.  I can't wait to see what happens next!!

Do you have a Top 12 of 2012?

Vacationing at the Beach

HI! 

Life just keeps moving moving MOVING and all of a sudden it is 153 days until Christmas!!!!  EEEKK!!!  did you panic JUST a little?! 

I'm excited - I love Christmas and the season and the music and the decorations! I can't wait!!

The weekend after my dad's surprise party, The Husband and I made our way to Longboat Key on the gulf side of Florida.  His parents vacation there every year and we TRY (and sometimes fail) to make it to their vacation destination.  You can read about past trips here and here.

This year we planned to be there when Larry and Anngela would be there so we could vacation as one big happy family! =) It was so awesome...sans the rain on Saturday and Sunday night. We missed the sunsets those nights but Monday's sunset was GORGEOUS!!!!

We spent a lot of time Saturday and Sunday on the beach - lounging in and near the water.  The boys fished in the surf - targeting pin fish for our fishing trip we planned for Monday. 

   

Sunday night, we went driving around looking for somewhere to eat dinner. The restaurant we WANTED to go to was pretty much under water from the 'monsoon' we were having...so we drove in the other direction.  Us girls know our way to some yummy food because we helped lead the men to Old Salty Dog...DELICIOUS!!!

 

and of course - we didn't let the rain OR THE DARK ruin our opportunity to take some pictures =) 

 

On Monday, The Husband, Larry, and I all went offshore fishing.  I caught my first red grouper! =) 

 

He wasn't a keeper but it was my first and I was proud =)

Finally on Monday we were ACTUALLY able to get some sunset pictures and group shots...to be honest we went picture CRAZY on Monday night....there were three cameras being used! It was so much fun!

    

It was a MUCH NEEDED four day weekend...one where we just went and had a good time. We didn't have to worry about anything....oh and did I mention that The Husband and I got WASTED?! hehe!!! not chocolate wasted either ;) We are definitely light-weights who don't drink a WHOLE lot too often...we were living it up on vacation =)  

Here is what happens to US when we drink though....

NOTE: this is not staged at all - we for real, laid down in our normal clothes and just passed. out! AFTER our round of giggles =) 

Vacation is amazing and needs to be taken more often by us...seriously I think this was our first vacation since 2010 when we went to Longboat and to The Keys.  We need to do this more often =) 

Where was the last place you went on vacation??