Bucket List

Recently, a friend of mine created his own Bucket List and by doing so he has inspired me to write my own. Unfortunately his reasons are different from my own, but I have always liked the idea of having a list of things to accomplish before my number is called. I believe a bucket list is a list of things to do if you found out you only have one year to live. Let's hope I have longer than that, but how cool to have this and maybe get to cross some things off. I know some of these I might never get the opportunity to do, but it never hurts to set a goal!

Nothing too fancy on my list and some of you may have even done several of these things. I have done a lot of cool things in my life, but these are the ones that I still want to accomplish. I tried very hard not to make my entire list about traveling to places, but I must say 95% of my dreams are about traveling. I would also like to add that traveling to Europe is no where on this list, not because I don't want to go, but more because I know Brian will NEVER take me, so why bother putting something on the list that I know will never come true. Now - some of you may think some items are also pretty lame and materialistic (for instance the shoes), but a girl can dream and I will face the fact that yes, sometimes I am a little materialistic. Ok who am I kidding - I am a lot materialistic, but I am working on this.

So here's my list - hope you enjoy - don't laugh too hard!

1. Spend Thanksgiving and July 4 in NYC with my family
2. Parasail in the Caribbean
3. Collect and Read a biography on each U.S. President (currently in the works)
4. Learn to snow ski - in real snow
5. Attend an NBA Basketball Game
6. Go to the National Championship Football Game with AU playing (hmmm!?!? No cracks on this one!!)
7. Get my picture made with President George W. Bush (almost several times)
8. Run the country music half marathon in Nashville
9. Learn to cook 20 new dishes
10. Roll Toomer’s Corner with Brian and our children
11. See Wicked on Broadway
12. Volunteer for a mission trip abroad
13. See The Biltmore Estates at Christmas Time
14. Tour Dallas Cowboy Football Stadium
15. Get my picture made with the Hollywood Sign in the background
16. Own a pair of Manolo Blaniks (these are very $$$ shoes)
17. Get my Boating License
18. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride at night with Brian
19. Touch a dolphin – in the Bahamas
20. See magic in my Children’s eyes at Disney World
21. Go horseback riding on a beach
22. Hike a trail through the mountains
23. Visit Old Faithful
24. Take my kids for a ride on the Polar Express
25. See a ballgame at the New Yankee Stadium and at Fenway Park
(already done the old Yankee Stadium, thankfully before it was gone forever)
26. Send a handwritten note with my favorite memory to all who are important
27. Start a new holiday tradition with my kids
28. Keep a journal for each of my kids to cherish when I am gone
29. Trace my family tree (always wanted to do this)
30. Read the entire Bible (working on this as well)
31. Take a surfing lesson
32. Re-learn how to play the piano
33. Live my life in a way that makes Jesus Christ proud to call me His child
34. And Finally be the wife and mother that God wants me to be!

The Loveliest Village on the Plains

Last weekend, the day after we buried my Granny, I really needed a change of scenery. After much thought, an opportunity presented itself for Brian and I and Hayden to spontainously head to Auburn and spend the night. We had a great time. It made me truly miss that town and brought back a flood of memories. We headed over late Friday afternoon. We had no plans and that was 100% fine with me. I just wanted to relax and spend some time with my family strolling through campus. That evening we had dinner at a nice little mexican place and then walked around campus close to the Auburn University Hotel & Conference Center - which is where we stayed.

I love that hotel and the sales director there knows me personally and was nice enough to comp our room and even had a little treat for us when we checked in - wasn't this so nice?? It really is the small things that make a difference.




On Saturday, we got up super early, thanks to Hayden and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast buffett at Aricca. Then headed out toward Jordan-Hare, oh how I love that stadium!! I was so excited to snap a few pictures of Hayden with some AU in the background. We finished the day with lunch at Mellow Mushroom downtown and then an afternoon full of shopping and walking around downtown.




I purchased Hayden her very first AU cheerleading outfit and was floating in the clouds all day afterwards. I told Brian when we left the store that I have waited my whole life to be able to buy an AU cheerleading outfit for my daughter. Brian looked at me with a very sad face and said that he has waited his whole life to buy an AU football helment and jersey for his son, doesn't that make you so sad?? I told Brian maybe next time, only God knows for sure. But I can tell you this, Brian is an awesome father to his little girl. God knows best!

Until football season begins, these pictures will have to do. I LOVE AUBURN!! God help us both if Hayden or our future kids turn out to be anything but Auburn fans...just saying.

WAR EAGLE - Auburn truly is the loveliest village on the plains.





I am pretty sure in this picture - Hayden is thinking "LET ME IN"

4th of July

We had a wonderful and long holiday weekend for the 4th and I wanted to make sure that Hayden had a great time too. I think she did.

On Friday, Brian's parents came and picked Hayden up that evening to spend the night at their house. Lowndesboro was having a mini parade early Saturday morning and they wanted to take Hayden and have her ride in the back of the trailer. I don't have pictures from this since we weren't there, but they said she had a blast. Brian and I joined them late that afternoon for a family cook-out.



Sunday we went to church that morning and then joined my sister and her family and my parents in Wetumpka for their festivities late that afternoon. It was super hot, but I think the kids enjoyed themselves. We did not stay for the fireworks that night since they were not starting until 8:30ish and I wanted Hayden to get to bed at her normal time which is around 8:30. That wasn't the case, since our neighborhood was lit up with fireworks, but once we got her to sleep she slept all night, right through them - thank goodness! Here is a picture of Hayden after church, it was the best I could get and she had already made a mess of her dress, but still so cute.



These pictures are from our afternoon in Wetumpka. First one, Hayden was busy trying to find more cheese puffs, that child loves her puffs!



Here is Hayden with my Dad, he was making her laugh and she paused to check out my camera.



While there, we checked out the playground and Gram was happy to play on all the equipment with Hayden.



And here I am taking her down a slide for the first time, she had no idea what to think, but she got the hang of it.







The batteries in my camera pretty much died before my sister and her family joined us so I have no pictures of them, but thankfully Lesley had her camera and she got some cute ones too.

Monday was a holiday for me and we just enjoyed staying at the house for most of the day, didn't do a whole lot but we had a pretty busy weekend. Hope you all had a great 4th. I am so proud to be an American!

Family Legacy

Some of you may know, others not, but my beloved Granny passed away yesterday morning. Although she was 90 years old, it was very unexpected. I do take great comfort in knowing that she did not suffer or have long hospital stays due to illness. She lived a great and full life. She was the proud mother of 5 children, 9 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Her legacy will forever live on in those that she helped to give life.

She was the last remaining grandparent for me and my sisters and will truly be missed. She was a constant, never changing. I will always look back on the memories I have of her and smile. In my entire life I never heard her say a cross word about anyone, even though she had plenty of times when she could have(and maybe even should have). She never judged anyone and always had a smile on her face, isn't that a wonderful way to live? If only we could all be like that.

I know she was 90 years old and had lived a wonderful and very full life, but I just assumed she would live forever and if not forever, maybe 10 more years. But that would have been selfish of me to have wanted that for her. It was her time and she was completely at peace with that, what a wonderful way to go. She is now at home, where she belongs, with all of those that have passed on before her. She is with her family and friends and with Granddaddy. I take peace knowing this as well.

God Bless you Granny, you will forever be thought of and I hope your legacy continues in all of us. I am especially grateful that you were able to see Hayden. This picture will always mean the world to me and hopefully to her one day as well. We love you. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for my family, especially my Dad, as he grieves the loss of his mother.

Hazel Dean June 1, 1920 - July 6, 2010