Savannah after Thanksgiving...

Curtis & I took our first vacation together without the kids... since they were born. Though we missed them, we had a fabulous time! We didn't drive one time while we were there. The way the city is laid out on grid just makes it so easy & enjoyable to explore the city on foot... and we did just that. Our first day we probably walked conservatively 6 to 7 miles soaking in the history of Savannah.

I wore my camera like a third eye. I wanted to capture every inch of a city that we absolutely fell in love with at first sight. We could see ourselves living there one day... many many moons from now!

So... many people believe that Savannah is one of America's most haunted cities. I don't know... But what I do know is that the photo below is straight from my camera and was taken only seconds before the one below it... Hmmm?!?

Same shot seconds later!

The photo below is of a building that I am totally in love with... attached to a home that I am equally in love with. Unfortunately, it caught fire some years ago causing significant damage. It was broken & beautiful at the same time.

So when I say we walked everywhere... I mean everywhere. Including Riverstreet several times... a day! The many stairways to Riverstreet were built by slaves, for slaves, with scraps. They were steep, narrow footed, and uneven.

Vinnie Van Go-Go's was hands down one of the best recommendations we got from our carriage tour guide. A cash only dive with delicious pizza!

On Sunday we went on the Paula Deen Tour & our stop for lunch was Uncle Bubba's. We got to skip straight to the front of a long line at Uncle Bubba's since we were on the tour. Pulled pork & cheese grits... yum! Bonus to the tour... you get a voucher allowing you to call & make a reservation at The Lady & Sons skipping the long line.

We stayed at The Marshall House. The service was fabulous & everything was very clean!

An 11pm walk about the city will stay with us forever. It was quiet, beautiful, unassuming.

In the stillness of the night... a celebration!

On Monday we went to The Lady & Sons. No waiting in line for us since we had our voucher from The Paula Deen Tour!

This would be Jelly Roll ringing the dinner bell... the smile on her face... contagious...

This would be Jelly Roll... the look on her face... priceless...

Last stop... The Paris Market...

We will definitely be going back...

I don't think I've introduced our newest family member...

Granger Wren...

a beautiful Chocolate Lab...

who is not so little anymore...

but is still super sweet...

he loved Sasha's eyes right out of her head...

they say...

beauty is in the eye of the beholder &

he definitely loves her!

Thanksgiving...

Thankful for the time spent with family & friends today!

The boy can catch 'em...

The kids spent the weekend in Crystal River fishing with their meme & papa. Between the two of them they caught 12 keeper fish. It was a great way for them to kick off the Thanksgiving break & gave us time to get stuff done around the house! We have been overwhelmed with our schedules & have needed desperately some time to devote to things around house.

Celebrating 15 Years...

With a gift to ourselves of course! July 19th we celebrated 15 years of marriage! We knew back in May, as soon as we saw this magnificent/massive thing [a postal sorting table], that we would be celebrating not by going on some grand trip... but by getting something that we both loved for the house! It took Curtis & three of his friends [oh... and my supervision] to get it moved!

If you live close you should definitely check out one of my favorite shops... Vintage! If you don't live close... drop Angie a note to get on her email list. She is such a pleasure to deal with! The red chairs next to the postal sorting table are also from Vintage... love em!

Beautiful Girl...

I can't believe my beautiful girl

was 12 yesterday...

She has been and is a joy & a blessing to my life!

I love you always sissy...

you make my heart smile!

Coming soon...

to a wall in my home from one of my favorite stores... Vintage!

Photo from Vintage!

A Day at the Gardens...

Things could be worse...

I'm slowly getting back in the swing of things.  This year has delivered yet another setback, but I am reminded daily that... things could be worse.  Yes... even worse than dropping $4,300 on a house you're so upside down in you may never recover financially.  And, incase you haven't figured out what the mess below is... it's a brand new septic tank & drain field... yep... a $4,300 eco friendly holder of poop!  All the butchered white pvc would be our irrigation... we're experiencing a drought so who needs it anyway...

Just a few current blessings...

1.  family (husband & kids)

2.  friends that are like family

3.  home

4.  employment

5.  a great new boss

6.  school is almost out

We interrupt this blog to...

Dig a new drain field!  I am keeping up with everybody, but just haven't had time to leave comments!  Be back soon!

p.s. Jackie... email me if you're heading to see your daughter.  You said to email you, but I didn't see a link to do that on your blog or in your profile.

Wedding day shoot...

Just a few photos I took yesterday at a wedding day shoot assisting friend & photographer Mandi Peace!

New toy...

Check out Animoto.com.  I have had the best time playing around with this & there is a free version!

Brian & Nikki Maternity Shoot...

The Hancock Family Meets The Wheat Family...

This past Sunday we met the Wheat family for dinner at Downtown Disney in Orlando while they were here vacationing.  They are just the nicest family and we enjoyed getting to spend time with them.  Their little guy Noah is the cutest!  We have family in the area they live so we sure hope to see them again and possibly meet some more blog friends!  If any of you are down this way... just let me know... we'd love to meet you!

Rachel & Me

An afternoon at Picasso's Cup...

with Logan...

Courtney was sick so she couldn't go, but we had

a good time just hanging out & painting some

hearts for Valentine's Day to hang from our

chandelier with some ribbon!

And speaking of painting... look what has arrived!

I know for sure some of you will recognize the logo

on the box.  Kim did a beautiful job on the "C" for

Courtney's room.  It looks so cute hanging above

her dresser.  Let me just say her work is amazing,

the packaging impeccable, and the enclosed thank 

you note is just the sweetest.  I know... I've got to

get some photos of it up in Court's room.  Soon.

Blog interrupted...

by life...

Contrary to what Weight Watchers thinks... 

I'm not still at the Pig Fest!

I have been...

1.  On a one day retreat with 12o college students.  Three meals, snacks, a rotating schedule of overlapping activities, training, and praise & worship... exhausting!

2.  Completely overwhelmed by the fact that my director, mentor & friend is leaving SEU.  Her husband Dr. Mark Rutland, President of SEU, has been called to preside over ORU.  It was tempting to pray they wouldn't leave, but that wouldn't have been right.  The series of events leading up to this transition are clearly the work of God.  His hand has guided everything leading up to this moment and it is clear that it is His Will.

3.  When somebody leaves a position that position is filled... which means a new director for me.  Rev. Charlie Dawes will now direct FIRST Teams, which is the program I work for at SEU.  I consider the opportunity to work with Charlie a privilege & blessing.  At retreat I had an opportunity to get to know a little more about his wife and she is just a wonderful person.  A bonus... they're expecting their first baby!  Keep them in your prayers!

4.  Courtney has been sick... which was sidled by a whole other set of issues that I will be posting about soon.  She is fine now, but the issues still have me bent.

5.  Logan is getting sick now.

6.  My sister called last week and a lifelong friend of hers was murdered in front of his 3 children on Friday, February 6th, in a parking lot dispute.  Please pray for the children & family of Dutch Schwerin.  Some of you in TN may even have known him or know his family.  Absolutely senseless & tragic!

7.  Curtis & I have had 1 three hour break from work & the kids since January 6th.  Not really a break, but an opportunity to grab a meal and go purchase dress shirts for Curtis.  Other than that we have been in perpetual motion.

8.  Dieting!  Dusted off the old Weight Watchers stuff and signed up for free 1 week trial online.  I did not enjoy the online experience.  At 5'4 & 182 pounds it told me I am obese.  At first I thought it said if you eat anymore you will be obese... but no... it said I am obese now.  Oops!  Seriously... I weigh about 15 pounds more than I did in the family photo on my blog.  Good news... I'm down to 176 as of yesterday & will continue to work on it.

9.  Going through diet coke withdraw!

Ok... I'll just stop here with #9.

I have been reading everybody's blog, but haven't had time to make comments & make it through my favorites... all listed on the right side of my blog.  I'll be catching up tonight though since Curtis is working!

Lakeland Pig Fest

Lunch from Bubba Grills...

A film crew...

For who?

For our favorite guys to get BBQ from?

Maybe... we sure think they're worthy of the spotlight!!!

(their bbq & sauce is out of this world good)

(order your sauce today)

Actually they were all here for this guy...

Food Network's Jamie Oliver

No... he's not naked...

but, he is The Naked Chef

While we were there we saw our neighbor Mr. Murphy...

and his boys David & BG...

Rice Crispy Pigs anyone?

Courtney & Logan at his favorite Pig Fest activity...

the driving simulator...

We left shortly after this and he was asleep before we got out of the parking lot!