Taylor Comes Home!

I can't believe that in the last year Taylor has come to visit 3 times!! For those of you who might not know, Taylor is my oldest friend! We went to church together as children and we were partners in crime through most of middle and high school. We even lived with each other during our 'adult years'. We had a great time catching up, reminiscing about the old days and taking a look back at some really funny pictures. I had forgotten how mischievous we were!

THEN...

We were at a chuch retreat, wearing matching clothes and pigtails.

Later on that evening we were bored so we gave each other hair cuts!!

BAD IDEA!

For some reason we always took baths?? Don't ask!

Maybe our hotels didn't have pools?! 

This was a few years later. We were slightly more mature.

NOW...

Taylor, it was really great to see you and meet Savage.

I can't wait till the next time....maybe in Eugene, OR!!

P.S. If you have any better pics than the one above, please send so I can update :)

A Wedding and Parasailing!

Saturday night Coleman and Kayce got married! It was like a high school reunion, everyone was there. It was a beautiful ceremony and fun reception. Pat was a honorary groomsman which included driving a golf cart around the church parking lot, shuttling people from their cars to the church, the perfect job for him. Haley and I attended the wedding together as we have in the past, maybe too many times. We were both surprised at how many people didn't know who she was marrying or that I was married at all!!

Sunday Pat went to Irmo for a fun day on the lake. A few hours later I get a call from Jesse, "Your husband is about 100, 150 feet in air attached to a parasail!" As much I wished I was there I was worried about the landing of the contraption. I had heard a little about it and all I remembered was that the success rate of getting in the air and actually staying up was very low. But all went well and apparently it took so many tries that by the time Pat was in the air there was an audience of boats (including DNR) that stopped to watch!

Another highlight of the day was...

Pat found a boiled peanut with 5 nuts inside!!!!

 I should also mention what Pat points out about this blessed day, "I rode a parasail, I found a 5 peanut nut and Osama bin Laden is dead!" It really was a great day!



Another Great Weekend!

This week I took Friday off and went out to the lake Thursday night to be with my family. Friday was such a nice day. We spent most of the time outside swimming, fishing, jet skiing, kayaking and sun bathing. I love being able to spend time with the kids in a setting like the lake. When we are outside they seem to find things to do on their own (well that excludes Emily, she is at my side every second). Dylan runs back and forth from the jet ski to his fishing pole. Then the next thing you know they are running down the dock and jumping in the water. When it comes to fishing, it doesn't matter who caught the fish because they all get excited, keeping it in a bucket until they get the next. I love to sit back and watch them, being the southern girl I have become, I don't particularly care for the water until the temperature is about 78 degrees. But I did dive off of the dock once to show them "...how much I love you!" Dylan became a pro at the stand up jet ski (as we all knew he would) as well as Rick and Pat made sure he took Isaak and Emily for a ride too.

If you can't see the cute smile on this handsome face then click to enlarge!

Isaak, mouth open, yelling no doubt.

Emily, happy and waving!

Krista and her kayak.

Oh, that's a snake on the end of his pole! Ewww!

First makeshift diving board...

And the second...

Friday night was game night. We played Chinese checkers, Jenga and the never-ending game of war. I was very impressed with how high our Jenga tower got considering we were playing with a 6 and 8 year old! Not to mention that I can be a little clumsy and Pat....well he has been known to mess a few things up in his day!

Saturday morning I treated Emily and myself to pedicures. After which she told me she would not be going swimming that day so her polish wouldn't wear off. I told her not to worry I would put a clear coat on top to keep it on...it was almost all gone by 4:00. Oh well, at least I got a picture!!

Goodbye Baumgarner Clan! We will all miss you very much!!!!



Happy Easter!!

One of the things that I love about Easter is that Rick and Krista and the kids come to town. We had a great Easter at the lake. We decorated cookies, had an Easter egg hunt and, of course, a big dinner. It was such a great weekend.

Each of the kids decorated and egg with their initial.

I should have lined them up in a different order...D.I.E....opps!!

The Easter egg  hunt was lots of fun. Mom and Krista hid 70 eggs. It was a pretty close race but Dylan ended up the winner by 2 or 3. Pat really enjoyed walking around the yard, making siren noises whenever he would discover where one was hidden. I told him he needed to be careful so that a fight wouldn't breakout and his response was, "I just like watching them run around and push each other..." Oh boy, it should be interesting to see what happens when we have children of our own! Ha!

And then there's Easter dinner!!!

After dinner, everyone was tired, including Emily. She didn't want to admit it, and pouted when we pointed it out, but here is the proof...

Under the table, fast asleep with her little sunburned arms.

I am looking forward to the rest of the week and the fun to come!!



Spring Cleaning!

Thank goodness for "Dudes Weekend"! It is amazing to me how much I get done when Pat is not around! If I had my way we would be together every weekend... only because we have so much fun together. But I do enjoy my weekends alone!
I spent this weekend in. And I mean in! I went to Lowes and the grocery store. That's it.
I washed the sheets on Friday (for the third time this week!) so I would have an opportunity to enjoy one whole weekend, without the smell of sweat, or crumbs in the bed, and the best part...there wasn't melted chocolate all over my pillowcase!! But every morning when I woke up I wanted nothing more then Pat to be there, cuddling with me and Maggs!
I have to admit that I did my fair share of lounging around, but overall I feel that I kept busy. I bought new plants and topiaries for the planters on the front porch and I love the way they turned out.

I also pulled all of my summer clothes out of the attic and packed up the winter ones, which took the good part of Saturday. It is always such a good feeling when it is done!!

Out with the boots and flats, hello heels and wedges!

 My most prized possessions...

As the years go on, I enjoy looking at them more than wearing them!

(does everyone feel sorry for me and my tiny closet?)

Today I did my spring cleaning. I cleaned things that I have not thought of cleaning before! I even had time to make banana muffins for work tomorrow. Hope they are yummy!

Now, Maggie and I, are anxiously awaiting Pats arrival.

Absence really does make the heart grow fonder!!