Sunday, December 29, 2013

13 in '13


Hey yall!
 
I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas...I know I sure did! But I'm definitely ready to take down these decorations and move on to a new year.
 
Even though I'm a little late to the party, I'm linking up with Hadar, Kristin, and Traci for their annual end of the year linky!
 
I was struggling a little coming up with 13 great memories from 2013, but then I just started scrolling through my Instagram photos. I had forgotten how much I actually did this year! It was fun reliving those moments:)
 
So here they are.....my 13 top moments in 2013.
 
Having my whole family home for Christmas
 
I have a rather large family. There are 19 of us in total and we are spread out all over the country, so its not always easy to get everyone together. But my sister Kristie and her family are getting ready to move to Germany next summer, so my mom told all the troops that they better make it home for Christmas this year. And they all did!
 
This is what Christmas for 19 looks like...
 
 
We got to spend a few days together with all 19 of us and it was such a blessing! My mom was in absolute heaven :) Our family, like most, have Christmas traditions that we had to get in before the big day.
 
The Sibling Pyramind {in our Christmas jammies, of course!}
 
 
The Grandkids Pyramid
 
Displaying _MG_1780.jpg
 

Meeting Baby Brooklyn
 
My brother and sister-in-law welcomed their second child on November 26th. I had to wait almost a whole month before I got to meet her, though! She is absolutely perfect and I might be a tad bit obsessed with her sweet little self. I may or may not have taken 143 pictures of her this week...
 
Meeting her for the 1st time...the first of many snuggles
 
Brooklyn with Uncle Wes
 
Brooklyn with proud big sis Alyssa
 
Christmas Brooklyn
 
More snuggles with her Aunt Natalie :)

Girls Trip: Nashville
 
In May, I got to visit Nashville for the first time to celebrate my bestie's bachelorette party. I took a tiny, tiny little plane that was a tad bit scary.
 
 
We went to see the infamous Bluebird Café.
 
 
And, of course, checked out the nightlife!
 
 
It was such a fun trip and I can't wait to visit again!

Blogging Meet-Up: Greenville, SC
 
In August, I traveled to Greenville to meet up with some amazing blogging buddies! So.Much.Fun!
 

Photo from Ginger.


Family Trip: Charleston, SC
 
In July, my sister and her kids came to visit. We decided to take a quick little trip to Charleston to get in some beach time while they were down.
 

Couples Trip: Ashville, NC
 
In March, the hubs and I traveled to Asheville to meet-up with some friends. We stayed in a cute little cabin, walked around downtown, and checked out the nightlife.
 

Widespread Panic for NYE
 
The hubs and I are HUGE Widespread Panic fans, and we try to see them at least once a year. This year, we started it out right with a trip to see them play in Charlotte, NC.
 
Jimmy, Jojo, and JB

Wedding in Johnson City, Tennessee
 
In June, the hubs and I traveled to Tennessee to see my bestie get married! She was a beautiful bride and we had such a great time.
 

B2S Trip: Hilton Head Island, SC
 
It's quickly becoming a tradition for my hubs to take me to the beach to celebrate my first week back to school. Its a lovely way to spend a long week and really helps get me geared up for the new school year. Sort of like a last hurrah :)
 
It was too cold to actually go to the beach, so we just enjoyed each other's company and did some serious shopping. It was also the first time we took the pups with us on a trip....never again!
 

Grace Potter in Columbia, SC
 
In October, my friend Jennifer and I went to see my girl crush Grace Potter in Columbia. It was a school night and I didn't get home until after 1 am, but it was soooo worth it! She is just absolutely amazing! We had a blast and Jennifer even caught her guitar pick!
 

Earning my Ed.S
 
In December, I finished up my Ed.S degree! My thesis about killed me, but I made it through and even got a 4.0 :) Hello pay raise!
 
Rock Fore Dough 2013
 
Here in Augusta, we have a little tournament every year called the Masters. Maybe you've heard of it? :)
 
They always throw a big concert to celebrate during the week and I try to catch it each year. This year, my girl crush came! You might recognize her from #10 :)
 
After the show, we stopped at the local Mellow Mushroom to grab a bite to eat. Well, little did I know that Grace Potter was there eating at the exact same time! I didn't find out until later, and was sooooo bummed that I missed getting a chance to meet her!
 

Reconnecting with Old Friends
 
This year, I reconnected with one of my best friends some high school. We had lost touch over the past few years, but ran into each other early in the year. We've since grown even closer than we were in high school and I am so thankful to have her friendship again!
 
 
I was super excited to see this pretty lady welcome her baby girl to the world! And I've been loving on her ever since :)
 
 
 
2013 was an amazing year, but it didn't bring me the one thing that I want the most. Here's hoping 2014 gets the job done!

Happy New Years yall!


Saturday, December 14, 2013

Be Kind

Hey yall. I come to you today with a heart full of grief for those fallen angels at Sandy Hook. One year ago today, 20 children and 6 adults were brutally shot and killed at Sandy Hook Elementary. I know we all remember that day. It was a day of sadness and confusion and I cried for all those innocent angels that were lost that day.
 
 
I couldn't {and still can't} imagine what kind of person would commit such unspeakable acts, especially to those innocent babies. But then I remember how we can help people like that, just by doing something so small and seemingly insignificant.
 
Be kind.
 
Maybe if someone had been kind to Adam Lanza, he wouldn't have gone to that school that day. Maybe he wouldn't have shattered all those lives. Maybe he wouldn't have taken those lives.
 
Be kind.
 
We can all be kind today, and everyday, by doing small things for others. The mayor and people of Newtown have asked for us to be kind to commemorate all those lives lost.
 
How can you be kind? There are so many different ways.
 
*Purchase someone's coffee this morning.
*Pass out candy canes to the holiday shoppers.
*Smile and greet every person that you see today.
*Let someone go in front on you in the checkout line.
*Volunteer at a nursing home.
*Take cookies to your neighbors.
*Donate clothes or blankets to a homeless person.
*Babysit for free.
*Send a card to a friend or family member and tell them that you love them.
 
And the list goes on and on...
 
I'll be spreading kindess today...will you?
 


Friday, December 13, 2013

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Hey yall! Happy Friday!
 
How's the countdown going for yall?
 
 
We're down to 3 days people....3 days!!!
 
I've been really getting into the Christmas spirit this week, so I've linked up with Casey to share the spirit!
 
http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2013/12/five-for-friday-linky-party-december.html
 
1. I've been working hard on getting the house holiday-ready this week. My whole family is going to be in town for Christmas....all 19 of us! I can't even remember the last time we were all together for Christmas, so I'm over-the-moon excited!
 
 
Some of the girls from school came over and we had a little wine/painting party! We decided we needed a little holiday décor :)
 
 
 
And yes, those are stockings for our pups :)
 
2. I've been on the hunt lately for some cute little slippers to wear around the house. Saw these babies at Target and snatched them up....LOVE!
 
 
Totally worth the twelve bucks!
 
3. We've been having fun adding some spirit in the classroom, too! We made these adorable little stockings from Cupcake the other day.
 
 
4. Yesterday, our whole school went to see A Christmas Carol at the local theater. I was worried that it was going to be waaaay too long for my firsties {an hour and forty-five minutes!} but they did sooo great! They were amazingly well-behaved and totally into the play! Proud teacher right here :)
 
These sweet girls were snuggled up on the bus ride back.
 
 
5. I've been without a bulb in my ActivBoard all year, but it FINALLY came in this week! My kiddos actually cheered when they got to watch BrainPop Jr. on the big screen! No more huddling around my tiny desktop monitor :)
 
 
Enjoy the weekend, friends!