We've got some news! We're expecting...

... a puppy!

Gotcha!  Haha   We are so excited to announce that we are getting a female yellow labrador retriever! My sister and brother-in-law's dog had puppies, so of course couldn't resist one of these adorable pups.  We don't know exactly which one we are getting, but Jesse is bringing her home in 2 weeks- so not only will I get my husband back but I'll get a puppy too!  Talk about a happy girl!!

Here are some pictures from Mary, Anna and I playing with some of the litter:

If you're a squealer, get ready because they are adorable!

This could be a problem!

Caught this little guy asleep!

So there they are! We are so thrilled to bring one of the gals home!  If you have any ideas on names, we are still trying to decide. 

This past weekend, Jesse and I met up for the last time before he comes home!  July is absolutely flying by.  We met in Cleveland, which is about 30 minutes outside of Chattanooga, where Kristian and George live and played with the pups some more!

Ashlyn loves the puppies

On Friday we made our way to Atlanta to go to IKEA and to see the Braves play!

On the road again!

Our first stop in ATL was IKEA.  Now, I have ALWAYS wanted to go to IKEA but have never had the chance, so you can imagine how excited I was.  We had lunch there when we first arrived and spent the next 3 hours wandering around.  This place was awesome! We are definitely going back after we move to get some things for the house.  I wanted so many things, but sadly we were in my car... and we are about to move - so the less to move, the better!  We just might rent a U-Haul for the way home next time. ;)  What we got: a $10 duvet cover, a $15 duvet cover, a $10 wine rack, two 43 cent dog bowls, and we picked up a $20 coffee table for Kelley.  

After dragging ourselves from IKEA, we made our way to check in our hotel, freshen up, then make our way to the marta station so we could go to Turner Field to see the Braves play the Milwaukee Brewers!

At the game :)

Awesome cheap seats!

This boy is pretty serious about some baseball -- especially when the Braves are playing.

We lucked out and went on a night that they had fireworks after the game sponsored by Publix!  Thanks Publix! Oh how I miss thee.  (If you know me, you know that Publix is on the list of things that I miss about Birmingham. haha)  Even though they lost, this was a great way to end a great day.

The next day we woke up and made our way back to Cleveland.  We spent the afternoon with family and bought some things for the pup:  collar, leash, dog bones, treats, a 40 lb bag of food.... that's a good start, right?  After some errands, we ate at Olive Garden (can't get enough salad and breadsticks!) with this little princess:

The next morning, I got up early to do my run for the day. (In case you are wondering, the running is going great!  Right on schedule and loving it! I think this half marathon in December is really going to happen!)   After the run and a cool down, George made beignets so good that I thought I was here.  After breakfast we went here for white water rafting, except we decided to try out a 2 man kayak instead and had a blast! I love spending the day on the river... makes me wish we lived somewhere that it could be a regular thing.  Here's a pic of the gang once we got back to the outfitters:

Overall, it was a WONDERFUL weekend!  Puppies, IKEA, baseball, rafting- doesn't get much better than that!  If you are still reading, thanks for hanging in there.  I know its been a long time since I have updated this. Next on the list - PACK.  Uhh.... I'm so sick of packing and moving but I can't wait to make this new place our home!  Hope you have a great week!

-AC

New Project = New Hobby= New Career Move??

So, this all started Friday when Mary and I got all nostalgic... we were looking through old pics and came across some of our favs from spring break Junior year.  We decided to print these for ourselves and frame them... aren't they cute?

So, then while sitting at Sonic enjoying our sparking strawberry lemonades (1/2 off - happy hour!!) we decided to spend our afternoon enhancing our craft skills!  We decided to create a cute way to display our jewelry.  

Step 1: Choose a picture frame, get rid of the glass and backing, pick a paint color and GO!

Make sure the paint is very dry before moving on to the next steps!

Step 2:  Cut screen to size and place on the back side of the frame.

**Caution we had to use a staple gun (thanks Jesse!) to apply the screen.**

First time staple gun user!!!

And make sure to get our your glamour hammer to ensure that the staples are in place.  ;)

Trim the edges of the screen to fit.

Step 3:  Use a drill (thanks Jesse!) with caution, and with a very small bit, drill holes along the bottom of the frame.

Then screw hooks in place for necklaces!

Step 4:  Apply wall hanger to the back.

Now we are ready for the next steps!

Step 5:  Choose beads for decoration.

Using a hot glue gun (with caution), glue the beads to the frame however you like!

Finished product:

And voila!  A cute, handmade way to display your jewlery!

New Project = New Hobby = New Career Move?  What do YOU think???

Love AC and Mary

Half Marathon

So... I'm thinking about doing it... training for a half marathon.  Am I CRAZY???  It's something I have wanted to do in my lifetime, so why not do it now, right?  I've done a few 5ks, but this is a whole new level.  I'm being coerced into doing the Disney Princess Half in February, but I think I would like to (either instead or in addition to) run the St. Jude Half Marathon in Memphis on December 4 -- one day before my birthday!  I know I have plenty of time to train.... thanks to Becca, I now have a schedule, which starts on Monday.

I'm not sure why I am blogging about this... maybe it's because if I throw this out here on the internet for the whole world my faithful readers to see, I will have some accountability.  Maybe it's because I'm thinking like a crazy person and I need someone to wake me up.  Anyways, we'll see what happens come Monday!

Photo Update

I do believe that I am WAY over due for a photo update!  After busy weekends, I can't wait to share fun photos on the blog, but then Monday rolls around and work gets busy, and then I'm out of town for work, and then before I know it, another week has passed and I'm on to another weekend. While I am happy that the days are so busy and are flying by, its time to catch you up on what I have been up to!

Chattannooga/Cleveland, TN

A few weekends ago, Jesse and I met up in Cleveland to visit my sister, brother-in-law and neice as well as to see each other! 

Hanging out in Chattanooga:

If you know the joke about us getting a great dane, then you'll know why it was funny that we ran into a statue of one that day!

Art Museum

Awesome wall of mirrors!  We played in front of this like little kids!

The next day we went to Fall Creek Falls, got some hiking in and saw some beautiful waterfalls!

Ashlyn looking at the waterfall

Madison, MS

Here are a few photos from Anna's bridal shower at my parent's house a few weekends ago:

Mary's presentation skills:

Some food favorites:

Fruit with dip (strawberry cream cheese, marshmellow cream and cool whip!)

Cheesecake bites (original, turtle, and raspberry swirl)

Mini BLT bites (cracker, mayo, bacon, green onions, parm, parsley, tomato, cracked pepper)

The girls!

Greenwood, MS

I only have one picture from this but last week I got to spend one day at the Viking Cooking School! We held a healthy cooking class called "The Other Side of Fried."  I honestly think my dream job would be to teach cooking classes here!  I have some amazing recipes that we taught at the class.  Maybe I'll put them on here some day!

Gulf Shores, AL

This past weekend, I visited Gulf Shores for the Moon Face Gang Reunion.  We had an amazing time visiting with family!  Here are pics of some of my favorite people in the world!

Meet Ashlyn-  She is a fun little girl that never stops! She loves her cousins and wanted to spend every moment of the weekend with them. She loves flowers and her Nana.  She is 3 and belongs to Kristian and George.

Meet Hamilton- Hamilton is the most responsible kid I know!  He is always concerned about what he is doing next, loves soccer, and played in the lagoon the entire weekend!  He is 8 (almost 9) and belongs to Jennifer and Travis.

Meet Price-  Price is a fun loving kid with the cutest smile in the world.  Price lost 2 teeth over the weekend!  One in the meat dept at Wal-Mart (eww) and one at Gran and Grandy's.  Price loves baseball and was content swimming the pool all weekend.  He is 7 and belongs to Jennifer and Travis.

Meet John Taylor-  JT has the most beautiful blonde curly hair in the world.  He has the cutest personality and also loves baseball.  He and Grandy invented their own little game of baseball in the pool  and played constantly.  John Taylor is 3 (almost 4) and belongs to Jennifer and Travis.

And finally here's one of the group with Nana/Gran and Grandy.  Mom is Nana to Ashlyn and Gran to the boys.  Grandy is Grandy to all!  They are the best grandparents!

If you are still hanging around, thanks!  I hope to do a better job of keeping things updated. :)

Check!

I feel like these days I am just checking things off my list... which means that summer is flying by!!!!

• Jesse move to N.C. - check! (not that this is a particularly happy thing...)
• Brian and Becca's wedding - check!
• Trip to Chattanooga- check!
• Anna's bachelorette party- check!
• Jesse coming home to visit- check!
• Anna's bridal shower- check!

The things that I felt would take forever to get here are here already!  This weekend is especially a busy weekend and I wish I could be in two places at one time... I'll be in Gulf Shores for our HUGE Price family reunion and I am so excited to see all of the family!  And when I say huge, I mean huge... my dad's side of the family is so big! To date our family is made up of 69, but by the end of the summer we will be up to 72... and it keeps growing...  And that's not even really even far off distant cousins or anything, just aunts, uncles, and cousins!  It's always a crazy fun time.  I'm sure we will try to crowd everyone around the pool, because its not looking like we will be able to make it to the beach... thanks, BP.

Also, going on this weekend (and why I wish I could be in 2 places at one time): Stacey and Zach's wedding and Kelley's grand arrival!  Starkville will be a busy place come this weekend full of friends and family.  If only I could teleport... that would help things.

I feel like June will be over before we all know it and then only one more month of Jesse being gone!  We will be moving into a house when he gets home and will hopefully be getting a puppy sometime this fall, so lots for the English Family to look forward to!

Happy Summer!