A December to Remember

I have not fallen off the face of the Earth.  I am reminded daily of what a horrible blogger I am and how I need to blog.  It's not that I need to blog, I need something to blog about!  Luckily, I have a great topic to blog about after last weekend.

My big brother married the sweetest and prettiest young lady I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.  I am so thrilled to have a new sister and I am so completely happy for my brother.  I know his prayers were answered when God brought her into his life.

We have had a great time over the past few months celebrating the December 1st wedding.  Getting to know a new family and getting to see and catch up with other family members and friends that I haven't seen in a while was a fun time all the way around!

However, I couldn't help but think of me and Heath when we were little.  I kept having flash backs to different times in our lives when we were growing up and seeing him in the center spot light, where he LOVES to be, as a grown man about to be married, well...it can still bring tears to my eyes.  They are good tears of course.

My big brother.  The one who called me Kyle for years because he wanted a brother, the one who made me play endless games of basketball because "Rebecca Lobo's brother made her play all the time too and look where she is."  I guess I didn't realized that I wanted to be the next Rebecca Lobo!  The one who made me catch all of his fast pitches (knuckle, curve and breaking ball all included), the one who made me work with his show steer every day (while mine just wondered around thinking "Sucka!" about his steer!).  The one who stopped letting me go to bow shoots, and sold MY bow without me knowing, because I beat him in one little moving target section of a bow shoot (beat his friend, too!).  Him.  He was getting MARRIED!

I am so happy for Heath, but I do have a few mixed feelings.  For the last 10-12 years, I have been his personal shopper, advisory committee, firing squad, and confidant.  I realize these all will change and while I am glad to see a few of these duties go, I am sad to think of those sisterly duties that I enjoyed.  However, knowing that the trade off for these duties is the addition of an amazing woman into our family makes it a lot easier.

I am excited for their future, as well as our families and the additions that may bless us in the future.  Of course, I would prefer it to be sooner than later, but it has to happen in its own time.

Love you, Buddy

   I hope to have additional pictures soon and will probably blog again about gorgeousness of the whole wedding weekend!

Life As We Know It...

Here is a brief picture summary of what has been going on over the last two months...

Ashley threw me a "going away" party...

...Because I no longer live here...

...I now live with these two.  Which works out nicely because  I want to save  $ to buy a house...and...

...these guys.  They are getting married shortly and they are having showers and parties every weekend.

...and getting to spend time with my soon to be sister-in-law is great!

....I also have my half marathon coming up on Sunday, but after a little accident, I may or may not have broke my toe...we shall see how it feels come Sunday.

I will try to be a little more attentive to my blog, Dad and J. Jason.  I will strive to give you something to read a little bit more frequently.

My Latest Hobby

I am going into month three of running.  Yes, running.  I don't know what has gotten into me either.  It started with a simple plan of attending boot camp twice a week and now I do that and run with a group out of boot camp on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.

I hated running in school for sports.  Basketball was THE WORST!  A mile or two BEFORE practice and then practice which usually included full court scrimmage and for the full amount of time.  Then, just for fun, we would end with a couple of suicide runs.  Yay.

Now, in just a mere 70 day's I will be running my first half marathon with my running buddies!  I am actually excited about it.  I don't always look forward to the 4 mile run we do on M, W, & F, and I really don't look forward to our long Saturday runs (the last one was an 8+ miler).  However, there is a great sense of satisfaction upon completion that is priceless.  You may not think it when you are pouring with sweat so bad that it is like a dripping faucet that is steadily running off your pinky fingers while you run.  You just can't stop it.  So...just 70 days and I will be running the measly 13.1 miles for this pretty little thing!

http://www.runningforthebay.com

Get excited!  I will try and keep you all up to date on how it's going!

In other news, my cousins Brad and Nicole came to visit with us this weekend to go see my friend, Bobby, and his band play.  I always love hearing them play and I try to go to see them when ever possible!  I am so glad that Brad and Nicole were able to make it!  Now, Brad, I know that my slight case of OCD is quite amusing to you.  You move pictures around and I move them back.  You move my soap around and I move them back.  You put the wrong shoes in the wrong box and, again, I move them back.  You move my shirts around, out of the alphabetical order that I have them in and I move them back.  But one, just one, slipped by me and I didn't realize it until today...

The way they should be (with a little better folding job-see I'm not a total nut job!)  with the bands of the towels lined up...

The way Brad put them...

I love you, buddy!  You keep me on my toes and I like to think that I give you something to do when visiting...other than leaving all the cabinet doors and drawers open! 

I must go now, I seem to have some laundry to do since half my towels are gone!

Happy Birthday, Brother!

Today is my brother's birthday!  I cannot believe that he's the big 32! It seems like yesterday he was hauling me around on his little bike and I was hanging on for dear life...much like the picture shows!

Then, as we grew a little and reach our teen years and adorned Santa's hat for pictures, I still seem to be clinging to him for dear life...

 ...probably scared that there was going to be more pictures to take and I'm pretty sure one of us asked if there was going to be anymore pictures after this one...even the dog was tired!  Side note:  This was my favorite red sweater!

But, no matter what, I always loved helping celebrate his birthday with him!

Sorry I couldn't be there this year, brother!  I hope that you had a terrific birthday! I miss you lots and can't wait to see you soon!

So....

Its been a while since I blogged.

Tonight I am taking advantage of the newly recorded True Blood so that I can blog.  Ashley watches this horrid show and since the mosquitoes are drawn to me as soon as I step outside, I thought I would blog.  Anything to get away from that show!

This past week I was off and was able to be at home for a little family time!  I really enjoyed it!  Here are a few pictures from my week...

Heath giving Elisabeth and I our plant lesson for the day.

I was trying to get a bolt of lightening in my picture, but I just wasn't quick enough!  However, the clouds look pretty awesome anyway!

My friend Libbie and I went to Coldwater creek for a little kayak adventure on Friday.  We had a really good time!

I always enjoy going home and seeing friends, old co-workers, and family.  All of which are irreplaceable!

Independence Day and a 5k

Yes, I know that I am the worst blogger, ever.  To bring you up to speed, I will use a few photos...

Cleaning like a crazy person

It's been so long since I took this picture, it looks like this weekend I will be cleaning like this again this weekend!

Getting the only cucumber that survived a round of worms right before I ripped my garden up

I was so tired of looking at my garden and seeing it not producing any good vegetables I finally just ripped it up!  FYI, the Farmer's Market sales all the vegetables I was growing for dirt cheap! 


My first 5k

I can mark 'Running in a 5k' off my bucket list, right after I write it on there.  It was really never something that I really wanted to do, it just kinda happened and I really enjoyed it!  The results came in today.  My official time was 38:04 putting me at 172nd place.  While that seems so low, I am quite pleased with the results for my first one.  I was far from last and I was not even close to being last in my age group.  Next year, sadly, I will be in the 30's group; so sad. 

I hope you all had a great 4th of July!  Since I wasn't home to spend it with my family, I was able to spend it with some great friends and enjoy our wonderful freedom and enjoy a break from our busy lives.

My Numero Uno

The man that is "Numero Uno" in my life is my daddy.  It was so nice to be home this past weekend to celebrate Father's Day.  Not only did I get to spend time with my daddy, I also got to spend time with some friends that I have missed so much and of coursed, I got to see my wonderful family!

Friday, I literally got out of my car and into my brother's truck and he, Elisabeth and I met up with The Trawick's and we went to Stix in Spanish Fort for a great supper!  Of course, I don't have any pictures on my camera of that night, but I do on my phone and since I don't know where my computer cord is for my phone, they will not be posted.

On Saturday, Heath and Elisabeth had to go out of town, so mom and I took daddy out to Pensacola for supper and for him to pick out his Father's Day gift.  Sometimes, it is best to let someone pick out their gift so that it is exactly what they want.  In this case, that was the best option.  Daddy wanted a Study Bible and there are MANY choices in stock!  He did decide on one and Heath and I hope that he is very happy with it.  I cannot thank God enough for such a Godly family.  Especially my dad...He is pretty good about reading his Bible every morning.  I'm doing good if mine gets out of the car during the week.  I will have to work on it. 

He really racked up this Father's Day between his Bible and the gift from my mother.  While they were in Hawaii, my dad fell in love with the fresh pineapple from the Dole Plantation.  Well, that wonderful wife had some pineapples flew in from Hawaii for the father of her children.  Wasn't that sweet and thoughtful?!

Sunday, we were able to go to church together and have nice lunch.  Dad invited his mother over for lunch so I was able to see both my grandmothers this weekend!  Mawmaw, next time you are not getting away without a picture!

I also got to stay an extra day at home and it was Elisabeth's birthday so I took my wonderful future sister-in-law to breakfast and then we celebrated again at lunch with Heath and my Aunt Luanne.  Shortly after that it was time to head all the way back to Georgia.  I had such a good and relaxing time at home!  I loved every minute of it!

Isn't it cute that they still dress alike! :)

Daddy,
I hope that you had a great Father's Day.  I love you so very much.  You will ALWAYS be my numero uno.  Mom, Heath and I are very blessed and lucky to have you.  From you we have learned so much.  Thank you for all you do and all you have done for us. 

-Suzanne

No, I Have Not Died...

I'm still here.  I have just been busy and lazy about blogging.  One thing I stay busy with is my yard!  I am thankful to have a yard, but after the horrid rains we have had and the wind that went with it, my yard looked like a war zone!

The pictures don't do this justice...this would be the combined effort of my neighbor and me from the storm pick-up...

Four hours later on Saturday, I had my yard picked up, cut, and the patio, car port and driveway blown off.  Also, four hours later, I was so drenched with sweat that it was like I had been pushed in a pool. 

And now, as I am typing this, it is raining again and there are some more twigs and branches that have fallen into the yard.  It's a never ending circle these days.

Anyway, my garden took a beating as well.  I've had to pull up a few plants and some water logged vegetables.  My bell pepper plant took a big beating and so I've got to rig something up to help its roots establish again.

So, like I said, I'm not dead just busy and nothing important enough to blog about.  However, after yesterday, I felt like I should be dead! 

I am really looking forward to going home this weekend for Father's Day. I am ready to see my family!  This four hour away stuff is starting to get old.   

Lillies...

Lillies, Orchids, and Tulips are my favorite flowers.  Just so you know.

This weekend, my friend Libbie came to visit me.  I am so happy and thankful when my friends from back home come to visit.  Currently, Libbie is the one who holds the record for visiting me the most!  She got here Saturday around lunch and I had already finished all the yard work that needed to be done so I was ready to enjoy her company!  I hope all my guest feel at ease and at home like Libbie does when she is here.  After our late lunch on Saturday, I asked her what she wanted to do.  She responded with "I would like to take a nap."  Great and fine with me!  While she was taking her nap, I crashed on the couch and watched my usual NCIS marathon.  Like I told her, it's her weekend too.  I don't ever want anyone to feel like they have to go and do while they are here.  On a typical weekend, I work in the yard and around the house.  I don't always have to go and do so I don't want my visitors to feel like they have to either.  Only if they want to!

Saturday night, Libbie cooked her Crawfish Etoufee.  She is from Louisiana and any time an opportunity arises for her to cook and for me to watch, I take full advantage of it!  I have called her many a times about my roux...I believe after telling her one description of what my roux was looking like she told me to throw it out and start over!

On Sunday, we ventured over to Farmhouse Daylilly Farm, which is only about 20 minutes from here.  My garden club went last weekend and I was kinda bummed that I didn't get to go, but I knew Libbie would be all over the chance to go look at flowers!  Here are few beauties...

 

There were so many varieties it was hard to only pick one "favorite" out of so many beautiful choices!

After we were through gazing, we headed over to see my aunt since it was her birthday.  Aunty Cathy, I cannot believe that you let me leave without getting a picture of you for this post!! I hope that you had a great birthday!  I love you very much!

Time...

Where does it go? 

This past weekend, my family on my mother's side got together to celebrate the high school graduation milestone in the life of my cousin, Caroline.  I have loved this child since the day she was born!  She and her brother, Ben, are so very close to my heart.  I remember keeping them after I just graduated from high school in Birmingham while their parents looked for homes in Spanish Fort.  After they moved, I stayed with them a good bit that summer while they were settling in and Greg and Rhonda were working...and if my memory serves me correctly, the following summer too.  I'm pretty sure it was then too, because I vividly remember taking Caroline with me to Faulkner to drop a summer class...it was probably a math class!

So where does the time go?  Her actual graduation is tonight.  The students graduating this year from high school were born in 1995!  In 1995, I was 12 years old.  A short 17/18 years ago my parents were almost the age Heath and I are now.  Heath will be 32 this year and my parents were 34.  Gets a little more scary when it's delivered that way, isn't it?  Notice that I didn't use my age as an example!

This little girl...

...who came to see me in my Sr Homecoming Court...

...who I use to play dress up with and just play with at Maw Maw's...

...is graduating tonight from High School!!

Goodness!  Time really does fly by.  It just goes to show you how precious time it.  I love you, Caroline, and I am SO proud of you!!

Boot camp Update.

This morning we started with a lovely 2 mile run...followed by ab workouts...followed by sprints.  I am pretty tired from this morning...also, I now have this lovely article of clothing in my wardrobe...

Apparently, my joint is pretty pissed at me today...a little inflammation and a little prescribed medicine to knock it out...I'll be good as new in a few days!

While looking through my pictures this afternoon, I found this one of our trailer from our farm in Alabama. This should help you better visualize the tree that I spoke about my mother drawing in my Mother's Day post.

One day I will have to locate all my pictures from Dutch Bend and blog about it.  It is the best place on Earth.  Most kids have Disney, Heath and I had Dutch Bend.

And finally, I leave you with some more graduation party pictures and probably one of the best pictures my dad and I have ever taken...I loved it so I had to include it!

Maw Maw and Caroline

The Grad and her parents

I love you daddy!