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!

Mothers Day

My Mother.  Where do I begin.  I love this woman more than anything!  As the years have gone by, she has played many roles in my life.  They are as follows:

1)  Mom (duh!)

2)  Guider

3)  Spelling word drill Sargent (still is)

4)  Teacher

5)  Role model

6)  Leader

7)  Guidance counselor

8)  Giver of my attitude :)

9)  Decorator

10) My best friend

....there are MANY more, but thought I'd do an even 10 points...

I decided to surprise my mother this past weekend for Mothers Day.  I talked to my dad Friday morning and by lunch I had decided to go home.  I succeeded in surprising her.  I decided to let Bentley run in the house first and I could hear her scream.  She thought she was seeing things!  I'm so glad that I went home.  After loosing PawPaw, it made me really realize how precious the days are that we have with our loved ones.  Take every chance you can to spend it with them.

One of my most vivid memories of my mother and I takes place in Dutch Bend, which where most of my memories were created.  My mother is actually a good artist and I remember her sitting out in the front yard (more like a pasture!) and drawing our trailer along with the beautiful, majestic oak tree with a picturesque deck surrounding it.  I remember asking her how she drew so well and she responded with "I just draw what I see."  Pretty simple.

She loves Brighton so we picked her up some of their sunglasses for her MD gift...I think she liked them!

I think we all had a great time this past weekend.  On Saturday night, mom and I cooked some seafood and the newly engaged couple ate with us.

 

Bentley also enjoyed his trip home

He was able to catch up on some Zzzz...

On a side note, boot camp is still pretty tough...today we ran for about 40 mins.  After which, we did about 5,462 sit-ups and push-ups.  He kept telling us when we were running "long, lean and sexy baby" so of course all the women found hope in that.  I heard one of the guys shout out "no hope for me...I'm just short and fat!"  This group of people crack me up!  Later in class, one of the ladies said that she was at her ideal weight, just not her ideal height!  After the "abs of steel" saga and we were picking up our mats, which were soaked with sweat, he said to us "welcome to the next level."  Personally, I like the previous level.  I saw nothing wrong with it.  Boot camp and I have a love/hate relationship.  I don't dread going, it is an awesome workout!  I hate how sore I am and hate some areas of the regime that I still have lots of room for improvement for, but I'm ready for the future levels.  Long, lean and sexy baby....ouch.

Boy! Was My Face Red!

Especially when I got home this morning at 6:30!  Today was the first day of boot camp and I really enjoyed it!  It was tough and a great workout, but I do believe my face was pretty red from exertion.  Ashley even made it a point to tell me when I got home. 

Let me walk you through the torture chamber, aka the Gym.  At 5:30, I arrived at the gym and met the other seven members of this boot camp.  We started out in individual "stations" and worked our way around the gym.  We had to do each station for one minute.  They are as follows:

1. Lay on your back with a weight ball in your hands and basically do sit-ups but touch your ankles (alternating)
2. Bicep curls-this station has two ropes with handles that stretch from the wall.  You stand up, hold on the the handles, and lean back.  Using resistance, you pull your hands to your nose; basically pulling your self back into an upright position.
3. Push-ups
4. Lay on your back, again, with a weight ball, again, and keep your legs straight in the air and reach up to your feet with the ball.
5. Box steps up
6. Bicep curls with free weights
7. Quad machine
8. Squats
9. Pull ups-lay on the ground and pull up on a weight bar and get your body off the ground
10. Calf raises
11. Jumps
12. Quad extensions
13. Step Ups
14. Jumps-this time back and forth over the bench
15. Lunges-the length of the gym
16. Bike
17. Wall Squats

...I think that is all.  After that, we went outside and did some running and skipping. I actually liked the skipping.  It has a way of making you feel like a kid again. After that, it was weigh in and time to go home. Finally.

Once I got home, I realized that my work out was already taking place because it hurt to wash my hair and to put on my make up!  This afternoon, I am feeling fine.  Thankfully!

Overall, I enjoyed it and ready for Thursday.  By the way, for all of you involved in the upcoming wedding, there are 207 days left. Get to steppin'!