Tag! You're It!!

Kristen tagged me to answer these questions..........


What was I doing 10 years ago...

Ten years ago I was finishing up my junior year of high school. Life was fun and carefree. I was junior class president, so I was pretty busy working on the Jr. /Sr. Prom. I was also getting ready to go to Girls State. For fun on the weekends in Andalusia, we would drive back and forth from Hardee's to McDonald's with an occasional loop through the Sonic. I spent most of my time hanging out with my friends, shopping, and going to my little brothers' baseball games.



5 things on my to do list today...

1. laundry


2. lesson plans for next week


3. work on a special project


4. get some addresses gathered up


5. take care of my sick, sick family members

5 snacks I enjoy...

1. tortilla chips with pineapple and peach salsa


2. frozen strawberry popsicles


3. Mike N Ikes


4. Rice Krispy treats


5. Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies

5 things I would do if I were a billionaire...

1. be debt free


2. tithe


3. travel with the entire family


4. buy lots and lots of new clothes


5. if billions were enough, I'd fix the education system in AL

5 bad habits...

1. I'm the world's biggest procrastinator. (I think I'm marrying the 2nd biggest)


2. I blow too much money on clothing.


3. I drink too many Diet Cokes.


4. I let my hair go too long before getting it cut.


5. I spend too much time in the sun.....but I love summer!!

5 places I've lived...(I've only got 2)

1. I've lived in two houses on Robin Road.


2. I lived at Willow Terrace in Troy.

5 jobs I've had...(Just 4 for me)

1. I worked part-time at Clark Trailer during high school and college.


2. I worked at The Cabbage Patch (daycare) in Troy for about 6 months.


3. I was library aide at WS Harlan Elementary School


4. Fourth grade teacher at Straughn Elementary School

I want to know more about...(a nice way of saying I'm tagging you)

1. Leslie Parreco


2. Susan Griffies


3. Wendy Smith


4. Suzanne Cotton


5. Jana Ealum

Reminiscing

Well I've been an engaged woman for exactly six months now. We've got a little over 200 days to go before the big day. Dave says it will be here before we know it, and he's exactly right. I still don't feel like I'm old enough to be getting married! The wedding plans are coming along pretty well. My mom has been a saint this week. She bought me all sorts of goodies for the reception. Our wedding room is getting pretty full. I need to get in there and do some organizing. I also have a big favor to ask of some of you in a few weeks. It's wedding related too, and I hope you'll be able to help me out!

I have been looking at dresses, but still have not found the one. I hope to have one by mid summer. Is anyone else sick of seeing strapless wedding gowns?? I'll probably give in and end up with one too, but my stubborness is keeping me from trying any strapless dresses on right now. I hope to get a lot of planning done this summer. I know I've mentioned that I'm taking some graduate courses, but I'm also in charge of planning my 10 year reunion which is in October. Somehow, I'm going to get everything done!

I guess that's all the details I have to share right now. Don't you just love the effects on the slideshow? It looks like an old 8mm film. Oh how I wish I could find a working 8mm camera to film the wedding!

Please don't kill me for this Dave!

Wendy and the boys came to Andalusia last Tuesday for their first sleepover at Nana's and Papa David's. This was the first time that Dave and I actually got to get our hands on them. Well, I got to get my hands on them. Dave doesn't mind rough-housing with "the older Smith twins", but Whit and Brady are still too delicate in his opinion. We had to pay him to hold them in the pictures....but it was definitely worth it! (You'll see below.) They are four months old now, and such sweet little babies! I hope they plan to come to Andalusia often. We had a great time visiting with Wendy too!

Dave holding one baby=$5.00

Dave holding two babies=$10.00

Photo evidence of spit-up on Dave= Priceless!

Summer Lovin'

Don't you just hate that time between spring break and summer vacation? We've still got five more weeks of school, but kids seem to think the year is over. This year we have to go for an additional week AFTER MEMORIAL DAY!! I am definitely ready for my summer vacation......... At least the vacation from teaching. I may live to regret it, but I'm taking more graduate classes this summer. I'll be driving to Troy three nights a week, and I keep telling myself it will all be worth it!

I love summer time because of:

Sundresses, flipflops, and great movies. This photo was taken after a "movie marathon" in Destin. We went to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and then Transformers. Dave and I love to go to the movies. It's not uncommon for us to watch a movie, go out to eat, and go back for another.

Beach trips with my family. We rarely get the opportunity for a lenghty stay at the beach due to everyone's crazy schedules, but we do love to make day trips to Destin. Last summer we had a group that went every Friday, and we plan to do it again this year. The photo above is of my baby brother Justin. That cooler is full of canned drinks and ice, and he carried it about 100 yards down the beach.

The boys love summer and the beach too! Last year they were 20 months old, and did great in the water. They would jump into the pool and swim the length of it all by themselves. Of course they had on their Swimmies, but I think they may be able to go without them this year!

John, aka: 4, dimple-face, brother

I'm on spring break right now, and headed to the beach tomorrow with my matron of honor, Britton. I haven't been on the beach since October 28th when Dave proposed to me. That was also the last time I saw my brother John. He left the very next day, on his way to Nebraska. He lives there now with his girlfriend Alyson, and works as a graphic designer for an oil company. He's such a neat person, and has done so many awesome things that I know I would NEVER have the courage to do. You'll see in the pictures below. Some of them are kind of small because I stole them from his MySpace page, but maybe you'll be able to make them out. If nothing else, you should be able to notice his dimples. He has the biggest dimples you'll ever see.

Since I moved off to college 8 years ago, the three of us have not officially lived in mom and dad's house together ever since. One of us has been gone at all times, and now I'm the only one left here. This house is mighty quiet now. Last summer while Justin was still in Iraq, John moved home for a few short months before going to Trinidad. He and I got closer than ever, and had some great times. He was my constant companion, and went everywhere with Dave and I.

I sure did hate to see him move so far away, and I hope he an Alyson might be able to move closer to Alabama one day. Enjoy the pictures below! I love you brother!

John and I with our baby brother, Justin.

New Year's in Japan.

John before a flight lesson.

Here's John and his cute little girlfriend, Aly,

at a Jimmy Buffet concert.

Hold on John! This picture was made

on top of Mt. Cheaha.

We made a quick trip to Camp Mac last summer, and John and Jenny really "hit it off"! She kept asking him if he was married, had a girlfriend, etc... He thought she was hilarious! She asks about you all the time John!

John and I at The Hilltop

Dave and my brothers love to eat

crawfish and oysters there!

He couldn't resist striking this pose.

Dave took us to the top of Mt. Cheaha.....Alabama's Highest Point!

Here he's hiking in a jungle in Trinidad.

John worked on a sailboat in the Caribbean

for a month last fall.

Sitting on his patio in Nebraksa on one of the warmer days.

John made this chair himself!

I miss you Johnny! I don't know what I'm going to do without you this summer. I hope we can get together again before November.

Trash the Dress???

If I weren't having a November wedding, I just "might be tempted" to do THIS & THIS!

Photo Shoot!

This afternoon I took some pictures of my cousin Kellye and the boys at Mr. Jimmy Faulkner's barn and pond. Most of you probably know that Kellye is Miss Covington County Rodeo, but did you also know that she recently won Miss Rodeo Kentucky? She'll get to go for Miss Rodeo America this year too! Good luck K-Wayne! We're so, so proud of you!!
Kellye was in need of some quick photos for the Covington County Rodeo program, so she asked me to take some of her with my new camera. Dave got me an awesome Nikon D80 for Christmas. I'm still learning how to use it, so don't expect these to look professional by any means. Are you still up for that photography class Kristen?

I think one of the boys got the elbow of her shirt dirty.

Houston

Dylon

TOTAL Opposites!

Dylon found a caterpillar.

I like it, I love it, I gotta have it!!!

Calling all "ebayers"!

I need your help!

This bedding is from Pottery Barn, and the pattern is called Brigitte. Unfortunately, it is a discontinued pattern. Dave and I have been trying to find the duvet in a king size for months now, but have had no luck. If you ever happen to be on ebay, and see it in a king, please let us know! Also, we'll take suggestions on other places to look for it. We both really want it!