SEVENTEEN

Greg and I celebrated 17 years of marriage today!!  The kids had a sleepover at Gigi and Bubba's house last night, so we were able to spend the day together, just the two of us!  We had breakfast at Cracker Barrel, ran some errands, lunch at Aubrey's and then went grocery shopping!!!

Greg is so sneaky!

Race for the Cure

This morning, our whole family got up bright and early to walk in our city's Race for the Cure event.  It was a COLD, COLD, COLD day, but we had a fun time walking with our friend Tiffany.

Dressed in Pink

 Boys don't wear pink!

What's up with his silly smile?

 Mr & Mrs

 Tiffany, Cameron, Aaron, Tara, Cooper, Greg, Ava, Reagan & Gavin

 our reason for walking, Tiffany

 Cooper need a little lift through part of the race

 walking like a champ

 our view for the morning

 walking a 5k is tough stuff!

 pretty in pink

 getting a higher lift from dad

 finally, it's over

 just as pretty at the end of the race

The Big 4-0

Greg pulled off a fabulous surprise for my 40th birthday!  First, he had arranged for the kids to spend the day with Gigi & Bubba because he had put tickets to the UT game in my card. 



Walking into the Neyland Stadium

 the band

 the dance team

 the cheerleaders

 Go UT

 the "Power T"

 Look who showed up at the game for Surprise #2 - my friends from Hickory!!!  Greg had arranged for them to come in the night before and surprise me at the game

 shots from the game...

 Duane and I share a birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to us!

 the mastermind behind it all!

 After the game, we came back to the house to freshen up and then went out to eat at P.F. Chang's (surprise #3).  After dinner, Greg had surprise #4 waiting for me, a red velvet cake from a fabulous bakery!!!

 The final surprise, #5 for those of us counting, our friends spent the night and then went to church with us on Sunday.   I had the best birthday!  Well done Mr. Sandidge, well done!



Pre-Birthday Lunch

The kids were out of school today and Greg was off work, so they took me out to lunch for a pre-birthday meal.  We ate at Texas Roadhouse, where Cooper had his 5th birthday dinner.  When we walked in Cooper remembered getting on the saddle and nothing would do until I got on the saddle myself!! 

the things we do for our children

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho...

...it's off to work I go!!!!  After a 5 month search, I start my new job today!

 

Coloring

Snowflake was up to his old tricks again this morning.  We found him on the art table where he had colored in one of the kids' coloring book.

He colors very neatly!

I went to visit my Papaw Carl today.  He was recently moved into a nursing home and I wanted to go check and see how he was doing!  Still smiling!!!

 I guilted my dad into getting his picture made with Papaw too!

Sweet 16

Greg and I are celebrating 16 years of marriage today.  It hasn't been perfect, but there has been waaay more good than bad.  We've had fun and would do it all over again!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my 39th birthday!!  One more year before the big 4-0!  Greg and the kids got me a cake and cards, and then we went to church for a dinner and scavenger hunt.  I think our new small group is going to be lots of fun and have great fellowship.  We won the scavenger hunt tonight!

the cake

 the birthday girl

 my wish ~ a haircut!

End of an Era

Where to begin???  Today was my last day of employment with the company I have worked with for the last 11 1/2 years (and loved the majority of the time!).  I began working in the home office in 2000 and was promoted to a sales rep position in 2002.  I was even blessed when we moved to Hickory to be able to transfer into a territory here and keep my job!  I accepted a voluntary layoff that will be effective March 31st.  Crazy, I know.  Who gives up a job with awesome benefits in an economy like this ~ who does that?  Apparently, I did!

Our plan is to move back closer to our families over the summer (once Reagan is out of school here and before school begins there).  We feel as if we are following the Lord's direction in this, but that doesn't mean this is easy or there aren't those "what if" questions.  There are still a lot of things that need to fall into place so we can move and many more things once we get there, but we're trusting the Lord with this one!

putting up my samples

 lunch with Dr M

Please pray for us as we begin our transition!

Happy Anniversary, Baby...

...I got you on my miiind!!

Today, Greg and I are celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary.  Here's a look at us through the years!

before we were engaged

 the engagement portrait

 the Big Day

 the wedding party

 the kiss

 Church directory picture - 1998

Retro Bowl fun with the Alpha Omega Sunday School class at WPBC

 Church Directory picture ~ 2001

 Las Vegas Motor Speedway ~ 2002

 Pearl Harbor ~ 2003

 top of the volcano ~ Haleakala, HI ~ 2003

 riding bicycles down Haleakala

 Luau ~ Maui, HI ~ 2003 

Southern Caribbean Cruise ~ 2003

 

Merry Christmas ~ 2003

Ginger's Wedding ~ 2004

 Thanksgiving ~ 2005

 Third Day Concert ~ 2011

I love you!  Here's to 15 more!!!