Is it really winter?

Hello from the beach! My little sister is on Spring Break, and I had a few days off work so the two of us decided to take a little trip to my dad's side of the family's condo at Amelia Island, FL.
We had a fun drive down...had a little dance party in the car! :)

 We got here in plenty of time to change and spend a little time on the beach! Last night, we just had some girl time and Kathryn tried out new hairstyles off of pinterest on my hair!

 This morning we woke up to a beautiful day! We spent some time this morning listening to a sermon from one of my favorite pastors (George Robertson from First Pres Augusta) and then headed out to the beach!

 There was an agenda for this trip: get some sun and do some reading! :)

 And that's just what we did today! We spent all day outside soaking up this beautiful weather! It's hard to believe that technically it is still winter! :)

Looking forward to a few more days before we head back home! I am so glad to have this time to spend with my sister!

Party Weekend!

Saturday was a busy day for events! I actually had 4 events I could have attended, and had to choose 2! I kept with the theme of 30th birthdays! I first went to a friend's 30th birthday at this amazing restaurant called Public House. The atmosphere, food, and company were great! I didn't get any pictures myself, but here's one I stole from a friend...
Great RN friends from Children's Hospital:

 Next, I went to another 30th birthday for a very special couple! This sweet husband and wife turned 30 within a couple of weeks of each other, so they decided to throw a huge dance party to celebrate!! The venue was perfect...an old fire hall!

More good food!

 The dancing took place in the garage where the fire trucks used to be stored! Here is the birthday couple after we sang "Happy Birthday" to them!

 In the food room:

 I was behind the camera most of the night, but managed to get in one or two!

 We had SO much fun dancing the night away! This group sure knows how to have a good time! :)

There and back!

My mom and I took a quick little trip to Birmingham this morning! We intended to stay until after super tonight, but we decided to head back early due to concerns about some stormy weather that was supposed to hit this evening! Fortunately, we managed to miss it all!
Even though it was a quick trip, we had so much fun catching up! We had lunch out together and a little shopping excursion. Didn't get too many pictures this time...I think Thomas is getting tired of Aunt RuRu always pulling out her camera! :)

What a sweet smile!

 One last hug before we rushed out the door...Thomas seems more interested in the chocolate chip cookie...can't say that I blame him! :)

Tonight, my daddy helped me change out my headlight on my car! I felt pretty grown up fiddling around under the hood! He is so smart about knowing how to fix things and I am so thankful that he has taught me a thing or two about fixing things! :) I wish that I had a picture of us! I was still all girl even under the hood...my bangle bracelets kept getting in the way, and my necklace kept hitting the car battery! :) Fun times!

Happy Birthday!

I want to wish my sweet mama a very happy birthday today! I got to spend most of the day with her, and what a joy it was to celebrate her life and the gift that she is to our family and SO many others!
 My mother is an amazing woman of God! She loves the Lord, and serves Him daily! She is a prayer warrior, an encourager, a devoted wife and mother, and a friend to everyone she meets! She is walking hospitality, and engages others with a sweetness and sincerity that is unmatched by anyone I know! She loves to laugh, and enjoys life to the fullest!

 She's a dancing queen!

 A go-getter!

 She has always been an example of a wife who is fully supportive of her husband's calling (even if it means long hours away from home!).

 She's a fashionista:

 An amazing grandmother:

AND...she raised me, which makes her pretty awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Happy birthday to my sweet mother and dear friend!! May God bless us with many, many more happy years together!!

February...

February has been a great month so far! I have had lots of fun catching up with friends since my return from Trinidad...my kitchen has been hopping this past week with two dinner parties with friends, my annual Valentine cookie bake, and a baby shower last night! I love it!!

First, a few additions to my focal wall in my bedroom...
My sister gave me the 4 corner plates for Christmas and I have just not taken the time to put them up! They are a perfect color of yellow and grey to match my theme! The middle plates I found at TJMaxx.

 Here is a closer shot...I am really on a bird-theme kick right now. I love how they remind me of the verses from the Bible that God sees the sparrow and cares tenderly for his creation! Seeing these birds reminds me of God's sovereignty in my life! God sees provides for his creation and God provides for me!

For one of the dinner parties, I cooked homemade chicken pot pie and mashed potatoes, which we had with salad and a deep-dish chocolate chip cookie pie (smothered in vanilla ice cream!) for dessert. I didn't get any pictures of the food or the fellowship! We had a great time visiting, and they didn't leave until about 1 am! I did manage to snap a shots of the flowers before the guests arrived. I love fresh flowers around the house...

Last Sunday evening, I made about 7 dozen cookies to take to work (because I work mid-shift, I always try to bring enough to cover day shift and night shift staff!). Getting ready to ice the cookies...

They turned out so cute, and I had a fun time doing them...

 Last night my sister and I hosted a baby shower for our best friend, Rena Carolyn. I love having things like this in my home!

 The theme was a new addition to the nest! I had a little mother bird in a nest for the centerpiece.

 

 Charlie with his mommy:

 The grandmas:

 Aunt Katie:

 Best friends!

 Loving me some baby boy!

Back to B'ham!

This past weekend, I went to Birmingham with some of my family to celebrate with my dad as he received an award during UAB's Medical Alumni weekend. It's neat to think that my parents started out in Birmingham so many years ago, and now both my brother and sister are there now! My parents always enjoy going back and remembering those years of medical school!

We rolled into town Friday evening and had a fun time together at dinner:

 Thomas is getting so big, and looked like a little man in his overalls!

 Saturday morning we got dressed up and went to meet my parents at the Birmingham Marriott where the luncheon was being held.

 Grandmommy and Thomas:

 Thomas did a great job playing with his trucks during the event!

 Tom and Ivey:

 My precious parents:

 Sisters:

 So proud of my Daddy and how God has gifted him and continues to use his life to impact so many others! He is a true example of a Godly man who serves others!

 We were glad Robby was able to leave the hospital in time to make it! I am so proud of him, too! He is on a rough rotation this month, but he loves what he does! (Sorry the other two brothers couldn't make it due to work and school!)

 Most of the family: