Celebrating 60 And 80 Years

This weekend was a fun filled fast weekend with family. We all headed to the lake for a little surprise celebration for mema and papa's 60th wedding anniversary and papa's 80th birthday. All the fam came in town and hit the ground running busy busy to make this a special weekend for them. Friday night Caleb let Fulton play with his toys... sweet. Aunt Keri was trying to keep him entertained because we were coming up on bedtime and I could see a meltdown in our future.

Showing some love to each other.

Saturday morning daddy and little buddy did some reading. We want to raise our child right

Aunt Keri got Pops this super sized Mtn Dew and Fulton was dying to break into it. Have you ever seen a coke this big? It's ridiculous.

Fulton really does love his Pops... he woke up just in time for the party to start and was in a little bit of a daze.
Quick family picture before the madness began. Now, you know older generations... they like to arrive early. Well, we had a really early guest... an hour and a half before the party started. Talk about panic mode. We all quickly said "not it" for as to who was going to entertain them until it started.

A little bit of the decor. Mom did great decorating and everybody came together to make the food look fabulous. We even had a real live wedding cake. Presh!

Look at the cute couple! That is their wedding picture next to the cake. Papa had his eyes closed in their wedding pic. At least they were open this time.

We had to force them to be nice to each other during this.

Lots of friends and family. Let's just say lots of free coffee at McDonalds for these folks.

Kim, Keri, and Ann working hard in the kitchen.

Susan, Mom, and Amber were on the welcoming crew. Amber has a little bun in the oven and they just found out it's a boy!! We have lots of little boy cousins to play with each other.

Me and sister. Sister and I worked hard Saturday with cutting the cakes. I was in charge of the wedding cake which I did several samples of because it was red velvet, my fav. Sister did the birthday cake and her hands may forever be green from the icing.

The boys worked hard too. Matt was on daddy duty all day and he was a champ. Fulton was a trooper and got lots of cheek pulling from the little old ladies. He loves it.

But, the party wore him out. He was pooped by the end of it.

At the end of the day we had to take our group family shot... despite the moans and groans.

And we ended the night all watching mema and papa open their cards and gifts. Lots of people love this sweet couple!

Busy Busy

It was a busy and fun weekend. Friday our weekend got started early thanks to an early dismissal for a potential bad weather threat... thankfully it ended up being nothing around here. It gave me a chance to hit up 2 good consignment sales and scored some fun stuff for little man. Saturday morning little man woke up and was ready to play. He had a really good night's sleep, which in turn meant we all slept good. Thank you Lord!

His mood turned quickly when I told him he was going with Aunt Keri and I to Cottontails. We spent the good part of the day there and found some really cute stuff. He was such a good shopper too and just oohed and ahhed at all the ladies. My favorite booth was the homemade pimento cheese (which I purchased) and right next to it was the red velvet cake samples. Geeze I am a sucker for this kind of stuff.

We got back home and we were both in desperate need of a nap. We had a small group get together in just a few hours and it wasn't going to be pretty if someone didn't get some rest (really I mean both of us). I snuggled up with little man and we both tried to snooze in the big bed. Unfortunately, I could not let myself fall asleep. Let me make a little confession here. When I lay down to take a nap but never fall asleep but just get really sleepy and then get up... well, it is not pretty. Seriously, I wake up in an awful horrible ugly mood. This happened again on Saturday....poor Matt usually gets the worst of this mood. So, we both decided these "lay down but don't go to sleep things" are not good for me.

This little traveler didn't want to get up either, but we had to get going.

Sunday was fun filled with an afternoon at mom and dad's because mom was hosting a bridal tea for some long time friends. Sister and I went for moral support and I did end up helping serve the punch. I really just did it so I could be closer to the food table. After the tea we met up with the boys for some mexican food.

Fulton is loving some cell phones. He takes advantage of KK and Aunt Keri's phones when they are around since his non-techno savvy parents don't have nice phones. We pretty much still carry the Zack Morris phone if you know which one I am referring to. So, it was a good jam packed weekend.

New Cuisine

We have taken on a new adventure in our home. Solids. Hooray!!
Last week we started with those fabulous sweet potatoes that momma made. Here we are all happy and excited to try this new cuisine.
Still happy... not sure what's going on or what this orange stuff is dripping down his belly.
Then he decides no more. Uggh... these are gross. I guess he gets it from his momma. I dislike, in a great great way, sweet potatoes. Doesn't matter how you make them. Matt really wanted to make me a sweet potato last year and he knew I would just fall in love with it. I ate the brown sugar off the top and gagged at the rest.

We took a break from food and tried on some hats that Fulton's friend Jackson gave him. I think we will have to wait until next year to wear these, since we are nearly breaking out the flip flops with this warm weather.

A few nights later we tried sweet potatoes again... look at this face. My goodness. We took a break from those because I had a brief hospital visit with a not so friendly visitor in my body which most of you know as a kidney stone. All I can say is awful, simply awful. Anyways, back to the food.

This week we tried peas. So proud of myself for making these too.... but unfortunately we had the same reaction. My heart is broken.

I mean if that isn't a look of disgust. He actually gagged this time. Great, my kid is going to go to kindergarten drinking milk from a bottle.
He really is looking at Matt like please please don't make me try that nasty stuff anymore. Guess who else doesn't like peas... me. I know you are thinking, geeze do you like anything healthy.
All done.

Meeting New Friends

Monday we had the day off school, hip hip hooray for that. We have been squirming to see our good friends from college, so we met half way for lunch. This is sweet Jackson. He will be 1 in just a few short days. He is so sweet. And loves to smile for the camera too.

Fulton and Jackson finally got to officially meet each other. The last time we saw Jackson was before Fulton had entered the world. Fulton is a chunk compared to Jackson... he is tall and lean.

Fulton had to take Jackson his early birthday present in case we didn't get to see them again before the big day.

Jessica and I have been dear friends for nearly 12 years now. We met going through rush at JSU and got into the same sorority and became instant friends. Thankfully we have kept in touch through the years and now I am so excited that Jackson and Fulton are just a few months apart.

The sweet boys said their goodbyes as we left. Nothing like a little pat on the back as you are leaving. Sweet day with precious friends!!

My Obsession

I have a confession... I have a slight obsession with tupperware. I really love it. I like all shapes, colors, and sizes too. It drives Matt crazy. He says we have too much. But guess what, I actually did clean out some not too long ago.... and as much as it hurt me, I threw it away. What really burns his chaps is when I keep the plastic tupperware from places like Jim N Nicks when they put the to-go food in it. And.....if you ever bring something to me in your own tupperware, I promise I will give it back. Sister always brings food prizes to us and she always says... throw this away, do not give it back. I just can't bring myself to throw them away.

Little 5 month old charmer wore shoes for the first time this week. What a milestone. And guess how long they stayed on... 10 minutes. He seemed to enjoy them.

He also sat in the high chair for the first time this weekend. His loser parents finally put it together. And he loves it. Why didn't we do this weeks ago.

Aunt Keri came over last night to play with little man and let us go on a date. A real live adult date at a restaurant. Oh how nice it was. Thanks sister!

We had to get that high chair together for his new cuisine. Baby food! It's time already. This morning I gathered all my supplies, put my apron on, and said a prayer before plunging in to this task. I decided to make my own babyfood, which is totally against my personality. This is so not like me, but I actually enjoyed it. And I am hoping to save a few pennies in the process. 2 sweet potatoes made all this food.

Fulton was so excited and just stuck his sniffer right in to smell the deliciousness that his momma had created. Tonight's the night.... so stay tuned for photos of the big food eating event.

Happy Heart Day

Happy Valentine's Day to all you love birds out there.

Of course we had a quick photo session before school this morning. Fulton had to pop his sweater collar like his daddy today.

Little family pic without the Harley man...he was holding the camera.

Look what I arrived home to. Love it! Sorry ladies he's taken. This is our 10th Valentine's Day to celebrate together. It gets more fun every year. I love this guy so much.

Fulton racked up for V Day. Sweet gifts from Aunt Keri and Uncle Pete and KK and Pops. Today he had a Valentine's party at his school. I tell you his friends are the most gift giving littles I know. Fulton (or shall I say his mommy) gave his friends each a little Valentine's bag with some goodies in them. See the poster he made at school.... a heart with his footprints...presh.

He enjoyed digging through his bags and destroying them. Fulton says Happy Valentine's and thanks for the goodies.

Party Animal

We've been practicing sitting up by ourselves these days....
Usually starts out like this. Sitting up all nice and neat and then....
he begins to fall and.....
ends up like this. We'll keep trying.

Party animal went to his first middle school dance Friday night. Matt and I (and Fulton) were in charge of the "coat room." It was quite entertaining. One of my sweet students said "Oh and I am so nervous I have never held a baby before." I responded with... don't worry you won't start tonight. Back away.

Fulton enjoyed himself. He was so in awe of the girls running in and out checking their makeup and rubbing their feet because they wore their mom's high heels, that I had to cover his eyes a few times when there was too much flesh showing with a few of these dresses.

Saturday morning I went to a place I have never been before and it was so yummy. We had a baby shower for our sweet friend Kelli (blonde sitting beside me) at The Egg and I. I ordered a blueberry pancake and it was the size of a basketball. So good. Matt and Fulton had some daddy son time and did a little shopping (hopefully for a Valentine's gift for mommy--I did leave the Belk ad out with something circled and a coupon).

Sunday afternoon Claire and Avery came over for a facial with our friend Chrissy. Avery is such a sweet thing and sent Fulton his very first Valentine this week. He sort of blushed when he opened it. She's a keeper.

Pops, KK, and Aunt Keri came over to get a facial too (well, Pops didn't get one, he just played with little buddy). We all had a fun family dinner tonight and enjoyed each other's company. I am so thankful to live close to my fam. Love them!

Making Friends

This little guy has been trying to make some new friends lately.
Fulton really wants Harley to be his friend... Harley, not as much. See when Harley gets close, Fulton "tries" to pet him, but ends up grabbing a chunk of his hair. Harley is not a fan of this.

Harley man finally decided to show some love. I know you germ a phobes are freaking out right now. Don't worry, I thoroughly sanitized his face afterwards. Maybe they will be better friends one day.

In other news in the Howard homefront we have been dealing with major sleep issues. Naptime is out of control. A friend (thanks Amanda) recommended we read this book.... we didn't have to go far to get it because it has been sitting in the stack of books under the coffee table for a few months. I bought it when I was on maternity leave, but the words were too small and there weren't many pictures, so I put it down.

Little buddy struggles when it comes to taking a nap in his bed... actually I should re-phrase that.... not a struggle, he just won't do it. Guess where he likes to nap--in your arms. It's crazy because the lady he stays with gets him to nap in the crib 2 times a day, what is the deal when ma and pa try to get you to do it?! So, here we sit looking at the monitor watching the little red bar go up, trying to let him cry it out. Each weekend we think, this will be the day... unfortunately no gold star for us today.

Aunt Keri did come have lunch with us today. We had a long walk on the trail in the back of our neighborhood and grilled some burgers afterwards. Sister couldn't take any more of the crying and headed home to her nice quiet house. We enjoyed her visit though.

This is much much needed. Some of these were Christmas presents and today I finally unpacked some new everyday china that we got. Let me just tell you about our everyday stuff we use now. We didn't register for any when we got married, just the fancy stuff, and I thought what I was contributing to the marriage was nice enough, we didn't need anything new. Whatever. I bought that "china" when I was in college at Big Lots. I use the word china lightly, because I think I paid $1 per plate. Anyways, after much encouragement from the fam they just decided to start giving us pieces and I had no choice but to discard the old chipped plates and bowls and bring out the new stuff.
I really do like it. It's Fiestaware and it's chocolate... yum! I still want to get a few more place settings, but sister kept prodding me to just wash it and start using what I had. So I bit the bullet and the dishwasher is going as we speak. Matt is still at it trying to get monster to take a nap. We have dinner plans with friends and it is not going to be pretty if someone hasn't slept all day. Here's to happy napping!!

Anyone Single?

I am linking up today with Kelly's Korner for Show Us Your Life Fridays.... and today is Singles Day!! So, let me take a minute to feature my sweet single friend, Amanda. Please note the lady on the market is the one on the right. Amanda is 25 and a southern girl, straight from the great state of Alabama. She is precious!! A beautiful girl, inside and out, grounded in her beliefs as a strong Christian woman. She is a keeper!! Know any single fellas out there we could set her up with?!