Christmas

We hope everyone had a great Christmas!
We did... it was just really busy, as usual. The kids, Jake, and I got more presents and goodies than we could have possibly needed. Clothes, computers, purses...all kinds of fun stuff.
Now we're on to Xtreme. Today we finished the 1st of 5 conferences, and this afternoon the next 6,000 people are checking in. Everything has gone smooth so far.
I'm sure there will be more to post soon and hopefully some pictures.

Surprise Party

This is such "old" news, but yes I did help throw a surprise party for Hollie's 30th birthday. It was a bash to say the least! Somehow I didn't end up with any pictures from the night, but Hollie has some posted on her blog. We had a Prom themed party and had fun getting dressed up.
Happy 30th Bday to Hollie!!

30...

Did I mention that Hollie is turning 30 tomorrow??!! Just a reminder...I'm sure there will be more to follow!

Christmas Party at Mom's

Last night was one of Mom's many Christmas parties she hosts at her house during the holidays. Jake and I had shopped all day and were exhausted, but we stopped by for the fun for a little while.
Miss Priss was proud of her picture with the Governor. He and Mrs. Mary were able to be at the party. I bet Hollie has her picture posted by now too.
Christmas is only 6 days away now...back to my shopping.
Merry Christmas!

Happy Graduation

Saturday we went to Birmingham for Taylor's graduation from Samford University. It was very exciting, to say the least. Taylor did a great job singing with his choir friends. Haha! All that really matters is that Taylor got a diploma and is ALL finished now! Congrats Taylor...you did it.
Now on with the wedding plans!

BIG News!!!

Today Jake, Me, Lindsey, Taylor, Taylor's parents, Maddie, Trenton and Annatate went to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Petty Experience. Most of us did the ride-along and we all had a great afternoon. We were celebrating Taylor's graduation from college. Well....that and Taylor had a really important question to ask Lindsey. He wanted to ask this question in Victory Lane at the speedway. We all know the way to Lindsey's heart is through the racetrack. :) Taylor proposed to Lindsey!!!! Down on his knee and all. Lindsey was very surprised, and of course she said YES! Lindsey for once didn't know what we had planned...it all turned out just perfect.
Congratulations Lindsey and Taylor!

Escaped...

We escaped on Friday from all the traffic in Atlanta and all the Christmas shopping! We came to PCB for a couple of days to relax and enjoy the warm weather.
It's been a beautiful day here...Jake and I walked this morning for an hour then headed out to the beach. The beach is all cleared off this time of year...no chairs and umbrellas, rental huts, jet skis, but we called our Beach Services friend and he hooked us up with chairs and umbrellas for the weekend. We are just chilling and relaxing...getting ready for a busy next few weeks. Jake is busy putting all the final touches on Xtreme, and I can't hide too much longer from finishing up our Christmas shopping.
That will be for Monday, for now I'm just going to enjoy the beach!

Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus Concert

By some miracle Jake got the kids tickets to the Hannah Montana concert! The day finally came this past Wednesday, and I took the kids and our friend Emily to the show. Jake actually took us all and dropped us off. He went shopping and came back after the concert to get us.
It was a packed out arena with lots of screaming!! The show was actually entertaining! The Jonas Brothers were there too. Now they are some cute boys!
The kids thought it was the GREATEST thing!

Hang-over...

Yes, I definitely have been suffering from a major vacation hang-over! I have been in denial that we are really back from our unbelievably wonderful trip! 10 days of 90 degree weather, someone waiting on you non-stop, being spritzed with Evian by the pool, scented towels to cool you off, hot stone massages, watching the sunset on the beach, listening to the monkeys howl...who would want to come home??
It took a little time to get back in the groove here with school and getting ready for Christmas, but we are all good now. We had a fun week last week and starting a new week today! When do we get to travel again???

Thanksgiving Dinner

After our adventuresome day we all met for Thanksgiving Dinner. In Costa Rica they don't celebrate Thanksgiving, so for the Americans at the resort they offered a special Turkey dinner. Most of our group opted for the turkey. Hollie's favorite part of the dinner was the Apple Cider...just ask her! I felt like a stuffed turkey when our 2 1/2 hour dinner was over...I could hardly breathe! Dinner was a nice conclusion to a "out of the ordinary" Thanksgiving Day.

Day in the Jungle

Today's adventure was a trip to Witch's Rock Canopy Tour. It was a zip-line through the jungle. I was not sure about this all the way up until the guy pushed me off the 1st platform. I was horrified...but it was AWESOME!!! The kids had a blast. Check out the pictures...I had a "what am I doing, I might die" look on my face, Hollie was practically crying, yet everyone else thought it was the best thing ever. Hollie and I agreed once we got going.
It was definitely a memory made that none of us will soon forget.

More Pictures from the Jungle

Fishing Trip

Today we went out on a boat fishing in Costa Rica. The scenery was beautiful, and we even caught fish! Here's a few pictures from our day.

Hello From Costa Rica

We flew out of Atlanta Friday morning and arrived about 3 1/2 hours later in hot, sunny Costa Rica. It is very beautiful here. A lot different from other beaches we have visited. There are mountains, volcanoes, lots of monkeys and birds that sound like we are at the zoo! Not sounds we hear in Georgia or PCB!! Jake, me, the kids and Mom came on Friday, but Dad, Hollie, Pete and the girls arrived this afternoon. We are here together for Thanksgiving. Jim & Kathy Law and Jack & Star Lee came too. We are staying at the Four Seasons Resort here, and it is magnificent. The hotel rooms are to die for! The have screened in terraces that have doors that completely open to make it part of your room. It's a unbelievable ambiance and very spacious.
Jake and I are eating sushi outside overlooking the ocean and listening to the band play. The kids are out on the lawn watching a movie. It's part of the organized Children's Program they offer at the resort.
We hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving! See you soon!

Refuse to Attend Alone

For the last several weeks Dad has been encouraging church members to invite someone to come to church with them on November 11th. We had some hilarious videos during the services reminding everyone to "Refuse to Attend Alone".
Yesterday was the "big day". Our family was happy to have several guests. Our neighbors Kelly and Kelly and their 2 girls came to the 9:30 service with us. Then at the 11:00 service some friends of ours, Brant and Libby, came. The different services worked better for each family, so Jake and I went to both. We were just glad the friends came for the 1st time with us. We had a special KidzPlace for the kids, so Miss Priss had a friend Mackenzie visit with her.
It was an exciting and busy day! I hope lots of families who attended yesterday will come back again! We are so priviledged to have such a wonderful church to be able to invite others to attend, and WOW that Preacher sure is GREAT!!! :)

It's Been Over a Week

I can't believe I haven't posted anything in over a week! That is because it has been a whirlwind here.
Jake and I went to Nashville last week for the CMA awards. That was alot of fun and lots of good performances! Keith Urban was there and yes he looked HOT!! Everyone in Country Music was there too...I just like Keith Urban alot!
We came back home on Thursday and have houseguests. Jody, Kim and their 3 kids have been at our house since Wednesday. They are having their hardwood floors refinished due to water damage, so they had to move out of their home for a week. We are having fun with them here! I'm going to be bored when their house is done and they move back home!
This week there's lots going on and gotta get ready to leave for Costa Rica this week too!

Time Change Tonight

Right now the clock may say it's 10:15 pm, but it is really only 9:15 pm!! Dad says so!
Tonight you move your clocks back 1 hour...and it never fails when the time change comes Dad talks all day about how it's really an hour earlier. Then after tomorrow for at least the next week we'll all hear how our body thinks it's an hour later than it really is or that last week at this time it was an hour later. For some reason he is totally intrigued with the time changing and talks about it everytime for days! This is just how it is and how it has been as long as I can remember!
So, don't forget about turning your clocks back tonight! If you don't you'll be an hour early for church tomorrow. Or if you're me it might make you be right on time! :)
I Love You Dad!!!!

More Party Pics

Happy Birthday Mom

Mom's birthday is coming up on Sunday! We celebrated with a few of her friends a little early on Halloween. We had lunch dressed in our Halloween costumes at The Swan Coach House in Buckhead. It was crazy and fun. I don't think the "socialites" quite knew what to think of us! I won't tell who all these girls are...maybe you can guess!

Happy Halloween

Hope everyone had a fun Halloween... we had a really fun day and night! More later about the fun during the day, but here's the kids with Emily and Alex tonight. Scott came over dressed in his Fireman costume along with his "partner" and their firetruck. Really it was his uniform and the guy working with him tonight. He was a hit with the firetruck! When he had to leave we got to even see and hear the sirens! This picture was on the truck. Emme came dressed as a Princess, Coleman was a Skunk, Taryn was a Mummy, Ty was a Soccer Player, and Ella was Minnie Mouse (to match her Mommy) Did me, Mom, Hollie and Kim dress up too??? You'll have to wait and see!!!
Fun, Fun!!

Fun Weekend at the Race Track

Little Man wiping down the 98 before the race

Kerry with Coleman at his 1st race!!

Jake and Justin before qualifying

The kids with Michelle watching from the hauler.

Who Is This Crazy Person???

I don't know, that anethesia must have done something crazy to my hair!?!

I Made it and I'm Still Alive

YAY! My first surgical procedure I've ever had in my life is over and went just fine. I was so nervous about being put to sleep and all the unknowns of the surgery, but thank the Lord it all went smoothly. I had come up with these ideas in my mind that the doctor was going to think I was asleep but I really wasn't going to be and in my mind I was going to know what all was happening but not be able to tell anyone!! I know I'm crazy!! :) Nothing like that happened...they put my I.V. in then the nurses started coming in the room and the doctor started setting up instruments. I told them my heart was beating real hard in my throat... then next thing I knew I was in a different room lying down and Jake was there. I was so confused as to how I got into this room. They said I walked in there... but that was oblivious to me! My mouth and throat was so dry! They started the extractions around 10:00 and by 11:00-11:30 I was back home. Anyway, it's all been totaly fine... I haven't had to take any of the pain meds just Advil. I really don't feel bad... just a little sore when I open my mouth and talk. Jake says good then maybe I'll keep my big mouth shut for a couple of days. No, just kidding! Thanks for everyone thoughts and especially your prayers! I now have 4 less teeth! Thank goodness they were in the back and not my front teeth. That would be pretty!

Fall Break

The kids had last week off from school, so we went off for a fall break trip! First we went to our condo and stayed 5 nights, then we headed over to Disney World for 5 days. We had lots of fun both places! We got back in time to go to church Sunday and hang-out with our friends after church. Now it's back to school this morning for the kids and back to the office for Jake, and me... well back to everything else! :) (hopefully that's back to the beach soon!)
Here are some of our highlights!