Our Sweet Madi is 16!!!

Hard to believe, but our girl… our sweet Madi, is 16!  Her Birthday was a month ago and while it was a little heartbreaking for her Dad and me, it was, in all, a truly happy time!  It’s a strange combination of pride, joy, sadness and fear watching your child mature and become more and more independent.  As parents, I think we always carry around a mixed bag of emotions though.  And, I honestly think it gets worse the older they get! 

Anyhow, Madi’s special day turned into a weekend long event – as it usually does!  Madi’s friends come out to the house on Saturday, Feb. 22, to do some celebrating before we all traveled to Austin.

Her friends put together a really sweet video wishing her a happy birthday and talking about how special she is and how much they enjoy spending time with her. It was really kind and pretty funny, too! Lots of smiles and lots of tears. But, that’s a room full of fifteen and sixteen-(and one 30 something) year-old girls for ya! 

Madi’s main Birthday request was to spend a full day in Austin shopping.  So, that’s what we did – we stayed the night in Austin (the girls had their very own room which they were thrilled about!) and on Sunday, Feb. 23 (Madi’s actual Birthday) we took Madi and her friends exploring around Austin for a little bit and enjoyed some super-tasty donuts courtesy of Gordough’s on South Congress! Then, at their request, it was off to Lakeline Mall for some serious shopping.  To Jack and me, it felt like we were there for days, but for the girls – it was heaven! And, as the day was coming to an end, we convinced the whole crew to stop at a park on for some pictures before driving home.

Here are a few pictures from Madi’s Birthday weekend….

Madi's Tiffany Blue themed dessert table 

This GORGEOUS cake was made by Lily's Cakes in Harker Heights, Texas. 

I made mini cupcakes and cake balls to go along with the cake.

Instagram picture of the cake 

Sweet 16!!!!

Video of Madi opening her Nana and Papa's card - they moved to Georgia almost two years ago...she, obviously, misses them! 

Most of these pictures were taken on my cell phone - thus the granny quality. Anyway, here's the gang - Austin bound!

The girls at the Hilton Austin.

On one of the balconies at the Hilton - watching all the crazy fools on 6th street. 

We had the yummiest donuts at Gourdough's in Austin! 

I don't remember the name of the park that we stopped at, but we walked around for a little bit and took some group photos just before driving home. 

These two...

Dad and his 16 year old!!! 

First family photo with our 16 year old! 

 So, Madi got to spend her special day with good friends, doing what she enjoys most – SHOPPING!  It was the perfect 16^th Birthday for her. 

We really hope that these memories are as special to her as they are to us! It seems like just a short time ago when birthday parties were filled with little ones running around and playing games with gifts of little toys and cute stuffed animals. It’s hard to think about how few birthdays we have left with our Madi-girl before she’s grown up but, we will definitely treasure every one!!!

Just One Month

Sometimes I forget about the blog or - if I'm being honest, I get too lazy to post to it. I end up posting things that belong here on Facebook instead.  But, it's just so much easier (in my opinion) to hop on Facebook and share things.  It's a little more complicated to get it all together and write it here on our blog.

Here's an example.  On Thursday, January 23, 2014, I was thinking about Madison and her upcoming Birthday.  Jan. 23rd means that we have just one month before her Birthday on Feb. 23rd!  Just one month! And this year, she's turning 16! It's an exciting time. It's also a little stressful - trying to figure out what to do for her on her special day and how to get it all done in just one month.  And, again, if I'm being honest, it's a little heart breaking. I can't believe our little girl is turning 16!  Wasn't it just yesterday that I was kissing her chubby baby cheeks and rocking her to sleep? Sure seems like it.

So, I'm full of mixed emotions. But, one thing is for certain; I couldn't be happier for our sweet Madi! For this special time in her life and all the things that go along with being a free spirited teen.  I want her to have the BEST teen years! I want her to look back and say - "yep, it was an amazing time".  Other than school and making good grades (so that her dreams of going to her college of choice are attainable),  I don't want her to have a care in the world.  Those cares will come in due time, lets not rush it.

So anyway, here's what I posted on Facebook when I got to thinking about this special time...


This is my favorite picture of baby Madi and me. It's hard to believe that in a month my sweet, sweet girl will be 16! What a joy it has been watching her grow and mature into the young lady that she is! Her Dad and I couldn't be more proud! She is truly exceptional - and I am so blessed to be her Mom!

 This is exactly the kind of thing I want to have here on the blog so that one day we can look back and remember these times.  Facebook is nice for sharing things, but all the important things eventually gets buried by all the unimportant posts that come in after it.

One day, Madi will comb through these blog pages. She'll smile, laugh and probably cry as she does.  She'll be reminded of how very much we - Mom and Dad - have loved her and how we have dedicated our lives to making sure her's is an amazing one.  And for that, taking a few extra minutes to post here rather than Facebook is SO worth it!

Madison, we love you! As you're approaching this special time in your life, we hope that you embrace it and that when you are reading these words, years down the road, you'll be thrilled to say "yep, it was an amazing time!" 

42 Years

Today my parents are celebrating 42 years of marriage! 

I took this picture of Mom and Dad 2 years ago on their 40^th anniversary.  They no longer live here in Texas –they moved back home to Georgia a 
little over a year ago. So, I can’t be with them today or 
take an updated anniversary picture. But, this one will do 
I think - it’s my favorite anyway! 

My Mom and Dad have such a strong, united marriage and are a wonderful example of a lasting love.  I feel blessed and am so thankful for them.  

With a heart full of love for you both - Happy 42^nd Anniversary Mom & Dad! Thank you for the amazing parents amazing and even more amazing grandparents that you are!

MoonPie and RC Cola | A Sweet Southern Treat!



Holy cow were these babies good! 



Father’s Day is always a difficult time for me as far as gift giving goes.  I have a father who is extremely hard to buy for.  He has just about everything and even if he didn’t, he would never admit to wanting anything.  I guess most men are that way – especially Dads.   Anyway, as Father’s Day began to come into focus this year, I was at a complete loss as to what to get him.

Well, thank goodness for Pinterest because it totally saved my bacon this year! About a week or so before Father’s Day, I was browsing through pins on pinterest when I ran across a link to a recipe for homemade MoonPies!  Homemade MoonPies??! How absolutely awesome is that?!  So anyway, as soon as I saw that link, I knew that that was it – that was the golden ticket!

I have so many wonderful childhood memories of my Dad, my sisters, MoonPies and RC cola! We lived in Alabama back when I was a kid and on the weekends, my Dad would let us girls {me and my two sisters} walk to the store {about a mile round trip} and buy MoonPies and RC Cola {because you just can’t eat a MoonPie without an RC Cola!}.  And sometimes, we would get to have boiled peanuts {which is my all-time favorite southern treat!!} and RC cola instead - it just depended on my Dads mood, I guess.   It was a special treat for us girls – a treat that my sisters and I would sometimes have to arm wrestle our Dad for.  Even though it was the three of us against his one arm, we never won; he was as strong as a bull {and still is, mind you!}, but he wasn’t a mean bull, he was a gentle one and even though my sister’s and I didn’t win, he’d usually give in and let us get MoonPies or boiled peanuts anyway.   

So, thanks to Pinterest, I had my gift idea – MoonPies, RC Cola and salted peanuts {for dumping into his RC Cola, of course!}. By the way, I had to go with salted peanuts rather than a bag of boiled peanuts because, believe it or not, in Texas where I live, boiled peanuts are pretty much unheard of - crazy, I know!  So anyway, I was totally psyched about this gift -  I knew that my Dad would be delighted with a nostalgic gift such as this!

Madi was also pretty excited! She couldn’t wait to get started and I was so thankful for her help because, turns out, these babies aren’t that easy to make – well, sorta easy, but really time consuming.  But!!  Boy, were they worth it – the finished product tasted just like the store bought, sweet southern treat I’ve enjoyed so many times before!  

Marshmellow filling  - sorry for the poor quality photo, I took it with my blasted cell phone.

MoonPies before they were dipped in chocolate!

Another shot of the MoonPie, pre-chocolate coating.

 MoonPies after being dipped in chocolate - another cell phone shot, sorry.

Madi and I wrapped them up and placed labels on each. 

  Dad's gift basket completed!

Because we hadn't seen my Mom since before Mother's Day {they were gone to Savannah, GA for a few months} we weren't able to give her her gift until the same day we gave Dad his Father's Day gift - July 19th.  Mom's gift was ALSO a pinterest find!  I modge podged a photo of my her and my Dad to  an 11' x 14" canvas.  It turned out pretty good; it almost looked like a painting rather than a photo.

Jack giving Dad his gift basket.

Dad - not really sure what it's about just yet.

He's eyesight ain't what it used to be. Lol!  It took him a minute to figure out what the labels said - I think the one he picked up just said "Happy Father's Day", so he had to pick up another one ...

NOW he's figured it out!   I love his reaction here - his big ol' smile!  It says it all and makes me :) big!

Lucky Me | A Birthday post for my Mother in Law.

Today is my Mother-in-law’s Birthday!  I can’t express how very blessed I am to have her as my mother-in-law and as my friend.   She’s an amazing lady with grace and class that I hope to one day possess.  Lucky me, I totally hit the Mother-in-law lottery!  So, Happy Birthday to my Mother-in-law, Camille!  I love and cherish you {we all do!} completely! *Madi, Jack, Camille {the Birthday girl!}, Jackson & Johnny.  I had really hoped to have a picture of Camille with both her boys,  daughter-in-laws and grand kids.  However, this will have to do, for now.  Picture taken on June 16, 2012.

Happy 13th Birthday, Madi!

* this post was actually completed yesterday - well, not this one exactly, but one just like it.  It took me several hours to gather pictures, load and title the pictures, and write a paragraph about our Birthday girl.  However, somehow I lost it all just before publishing. You can't (unless it has happened to you) imagine how infuriating it is!  I just about cried, I was so disappointed and furious!   Sweet Madi, she came up to me and gave me a big hug and told me it was okay, but I hated that I didn't get a post out ON her actual Birthday.  

So anyway, just pretend (for the sake of reading this) that today is Madi's Birthday - February 23rd and here is the post that should've been...

It's hard for Jack and I to believe, but today our little girl is officially a teen!  Madi is now 13 years old and is starting a new and challenging (no doubt) chapter in her life.  And though we are shocked at how fast time has gone by, we are excited to see what the teen years have in store for our bright young lady.  I know that there will be some rough patches along the way, but I have confidence that Madi is going to continue to shine through it all!  I know that she will tackle the teen years with grace and a smile and that she will continue to be the sweet, loving and cheerful girl she is today!

I remember writing a post last year after Madi's 12th Birthday titled, 350 days and counting.  At the time, I was half joking about how she would be 13 years old in just 350 days, but I never expected those 350 days to go by as quickly as they did! 

Where did the last year go?  Here are some Madi-highlights from the past year...

Feb. 23, 2010 ~ Madi's 12th Birthday

March 2010 ~ Spring Break

April 2010 ~ Easter

April 2010 ~ Family Bluebonnet drive

May 2010 ~ Jason's Tennis Tournament

May 2010 ~ given the "Sprit of Choir" award.

May 2010 ~ Memorial Day

June 2010 ~ First day in June and the Memorial Day weekend.

June 2010 ~ Last day of 6th grade

June 2010 ~ Family Baptisim

June 2010 ~ 1st day of Aggie Swim Camp 2010

June 2010 ~ Last day of Aggie Swim Camp 2010

June 2010 ~ Our first time at a Round Round Express Baseball game

June 2010 ~ Celebrating Cami's 60th Birthday at Crystal Lake

4th of July, 2010 ~ tubing at Lake Stillhouse

July 2010 ~ Junior Olympics

August 2010 ~ Jason's 14th Birthday celebration

August 2010 ~ 1st Day of 7th grade

September 2010 ~ 7th grade class picture

September 2010 ~ Round Rock Unclassified Swim Meet

Round Rock, Texas

September 2010 ~ after Round Rock Meet

October 2010 ~ Her first Middle School Swim Team Swim Meet

October 2010 ~ Rock Climbing with her Swim Belton teamates 

October 2010 ~ Halloween

 November 2010 ~ 2nd Middle School Swim Meet

November 2010 ~ Thanksgiving  

December 2010 ~ Christmas Choir Concert

December 2010 ~ Christmas morning

January 2011 ~ Watching Papa and Jack toast to a New Year.  Not a good picture, but unfortunately it's best I got for Jan.!  :(

February 2011~ all dolled up for a friends Birthday party/dance

February 2011 ~ Valentine's Day

And TODAY

February 23, 2011 ~ Madi's 13th Birthday!  

Happy 13th Birthday, Madi!  We are so proud of you and feel so totally blessed to have a daughter whose light shines so brightly!  YOU are the best thing that has EVER happened to us!  We love you!

*Since Madi's Birthday was on a weekday, we will be actually celebrating Madi's Birthday on Saturday, Feb. 26th.  So, look for a Birthday wrap-up next week!