The Big 0-3

Today is our Anniversary...the Big 0-3. It has gone by so fast but at the same time I can't believe how much has changed since then...new jobs...new house...new dogs...not to mention additions to families {not us} and subtractions from families. I can't imagine a better person to walk through these times with. He always seems to know when I need that extra little boost whether it be folding laundry, rubbing my back, or searching for whatever I have lost...keys...cell phone...or jewelry...he can usually find them all. He lets me be completely who I am...whoever that may be on a daily basis....sometimes crazy, sometimes creative and everything else in between. He can make me madder than anyone else and he can make me feel better than anyone else, and I cannot wait to see what the next 3 years brings...and the 3 after that and the 3 after that and the....you get the point.

So....Happy Anniversary Babe...I Love You!

Break

I need a break....a respite if you will...


I need a little joy in my life....


something happy....




I have been working really hard this week...trying to hold things together...


while people have been trying to kick me down....


So I just need to think some happy thoughts...and pray I make it through the week in one piece....please join me on a quick little jaunt to Lucca and Pisa....













AHHH....I feel better already....at least until tomorrow gets here....

Let There be Light

Well its Monday...the same day that every Sunday night sends me in to a spiraling pit of depression and anxiety...trust me...its not as fun as it sounds.

We did have a great weekend at home this weekend. Saturday was spent at the pool and Sunday we ran around like crazy people trying to get everything done that we put off on Saturday. I realized that I might be reaching middle age a little ahead of my time when I pulled out my Sunday paper at The Cracker Barrel {adding The to the beginning of places you go is also a sign of middle agedness} to browse the coupons....and then proceeded to rip them out by hand since I had no scissors...I'll make sure to be prepared next time. Wow that's kind of embarrassing actually written down. None the less, it was a good day. I took a picture I bought in Italy to get framed...I can't wait to show it to you. I am kicking myself for not buying the bigger version...because I think it might be my most favorite picture. Also....drum roll please..........I bought lamps for our room...





Please ignore the various necessities that it takes to survive on the nightstand...Burt's Bees really is a necessity and that Paula Deen Ginger Snap candle is pretty amazing too....and the Kleenex...well sometimes Brandon gets a little teary-eyed when we watch lifetime...but I digress. I found the lamps on clearance at HomeGoods...and what you can't see is the hideous monstrosity that is the lamp shade....because my camera batteries are dead and this was taken with Brandon's Blackberry....just imagine Asian inspired roses wrapping their way around the shade...and you'll understand why they were on clearance...I was actually kind of embarrassed to put them in my cart because that was all you could see...but it's a small fix for a good lamp. An interior designer would probably tell me those are all wrong but I kind of love them and love the extra light even more...so I think they'll stay put. Now, I just have to get the other nightstand to put the other lamp on....cart before the horse...that's what I like to say.

In other various life news...please bear with me this week....like you haven't heard that before. I have been left to my own devices in the office, as everyone else is off on their vacations to Canada and the beach...so if you don't hear from me after a few days...send a search party. My brother in-law is also getting married this weekend and Brandon and I have our anniversary so life will be pretty jammed packed with STUFF this week. I'll try to check back in at some point...who knows if all the tenants behave I may actually get through some more Italy pictures...considering we have only made it to day 3 of 10....I hope your ready.

Without Further Ado...

Ok ignore pretty much everything in this picture. I had to turn on the flash thanks to the near non-existent light in our room and it did crazy things to the colors. My paint is not that pink....the curtains are not that gold and that bedding is soon to be gone...I did make it up for you though...ok no I didn't but a little fairy {named Rachel} did while I was at work...I love it when that happens twice a month.

Anyway, there they are in all of their imperfect glory...so don't look too closely...

L is for Lake

AHHH...the lake. There is nothing like looking at this picture on a weekday morning to make you hate your life and want to run away from your desk job for good. I'll give us a minute to soak it all in.

Ok now back to work. We had a great weekend with some of Brandon's co-workers/friends from the office. We kicked his parents out of the lake house and they had to suffer at the beach last week...or something like that. Please join me on a trip down memory lane....



Saturday we had a boatload {pun intended} with 8 adults and 4 kids....we had a blast...how about some pictures I think that tells a story better than my words ever could...

This is Jake... He is a great kid...I might actually consider having one if I was guaranteed they would turn out like this. He also loved our Curby who I am actively trying to pawn off on them...

and this is his sister Madie....I could listen to her sweet little southern accent all day...and man when was the last time you had a conversation through a child's point of view....priceless...she loved Max....back up sister he ain't goin' no where...

and this is their mom Melissa....and Max...again


We had a great time cruising on the boat checking out the scenery.....

{That's Max's cruising face...I'm sorry he was really photogenic this weekend...and No none of those houses belong to us...we can only dream. }

....jumping off Chimney Rock {Scott was the brave one who jumped off the top}, and swimming to our hearts content.

{Good ole Chimney Rock}

{Mike}

{Jake}

{Scott}

{Cyndi and Kiley assessing the situation}

{Jake and Madi taking a break}

Jake even caught a fish...and my camera focused on the background

Carson was the brave one who let Brandon drag him around the lake...what a fearless little boy

The grand finale to the day was our low country boil complete with shrimp, sausage, potatoes, and corn....this is the first and last picture that was taken that night before we dove it....actually that is a lie...I think there is a picture of us all crowded around the table just waiting to dive in but I don't have it...I didn't take it...I was too concerned with the contents of the table to worry about taking pictures

Oh yeah....there was also karaoke to round out the night...but that is just better left to the imagination...I'll leave you with a few more pleasant pictures from the weekend