Raleigh's First Easter

Our church is ginormous, so they had 5 Easter services.  We attended the first one, which was on Saturday night.  Raleigh Kate sat with us for about 30 minutes before she started being silly and making noises.  Then, I took her to the nursery, where she continued to be silly and make everyone laugh. :) 

Adorable outfit #1 (MudPie) from her Grandma Daphne.  

The bloomers were a gift from my cousin, Kristin,
which she gave us before RK was born. :)

On Sunday, we headed to Greenville to see some of my family at my Aunt and Uncle's (Jane and David's) house.

My contribution to the delicious Easter lunch.

Raleigh with Daddy

Easter dress (MudPie) from her Grandma Daphne.  Beautiful.  

With her great grandfather, Ray Ray.

With my cousin Alan 

With my cousin Luke

With my cousin Jennifer

With her great aunt Lynn

With her great aunt Jane

With Alan's wife, Ashley

Raleigh Kate's First Rodeo!

Bullmania was in town at the Western NC Ag Center, so we decided to make a night of it!  Raleigh enjoyed every minute of it.  She had been going to bed around 7:00, so her staying awake until 10:15 with no fussing was a big deal!  We can't wait to go with her again when she's old enough to understand all the humor that comes with the rodeo clown. :) He was great!

Bullmania! March 22, 2013

In her little cowboy hat from her Texas grandparents and
John Deere Boots from her Grandma Daphne (Mast General Store)

Some unhappy bulls

Bull riders

Barrel racing

Rodeo clown

We brought the Baby Banz just in case and we were glad we
did when the rodeo clown decided to blow stuff up! 

I love that we take RK to so many events with us.  I'm a pro at it now and know lots of secrets!  For example, about 30 minutes before we left, I went ahead and changed her diaper and into her pajamas in case she fell asleep.  Right when we put her in the truck, she was out.  All we had to do when we got home was get her out of the carseat and plop her in the crib!  Perfect.  

Grandma and Uncle Casey Visit Sat-Sun

RK with Uncle Casey

Lovely face, Raleigh Kate! 

Shopping on Grandma's iPad!

Grandma loves her baby girl!

Daddy, RK and Uncle Casey

Maxwell and Montgomery

Life Lately

Every Monday night, Ray, Raleigh Kate and I play Team Trivia at Beef O'Brady's - a family sports restaurant and pub.  We have come in 3rd and even 2nd place a few times, but we've never won the 1st place $25 gift card...until last week!  We were shocked and everyone was happy for us. :)  To top it off, Raleigh was in a great mood and wide awake the whole time we were there.  She was making everyone smile!  People have enjoyed watching her grow each week.  

RK after our win!

The hubs has been managing two stores lately - his "home" store and one in Greenville, SC.  It's about a 45 minute drive, but I'm so glad he's commuting each day rather than staying in a hotel there.  I'd miss him too much!  Plus, I'm tutoring Monday and Tuesday nights, so he watches RK while I'm doing that.

On Thursday, Ray had a day off so we decided to be productive.  After hitting up the gym together, we went to the bank to see about getting his truck refinanced.  After looking into it with the bank lady, we realized we were pretty well off as far as how much he has already paid on it and how much it's still worth.  It was a good time to...get a truck that is more practical for a family of four!  In his old truck, I was cramped in the front seat because we had to pull it way up to make room for Raleigh to sit in her carseat behind me.  I would have been dead if we were ever in a wreck.  (His old truck was a crew cab.)   We went to the dealership and found the perfect deal on the perfect truck.  I love everything about it!  It's almost like having a suburban, but with a truck bed instead of an extra row of seats.  :)

Ahhh, we are all so comfortable (and much safer!) in riding in it now.

This weekend, my sister Amy and her husband wanted to make a little getaway to Asheville.  They stayed at our house and enjoyed the great food Hendersonville and Asheville have to offer, caught a movie at the Brew & View, and even rented a scenic view hot tub on Sunday afternoon.  We were glad to have them stay with us and visit for awhile!  They met up with us on Saturday to watch the State/Carolina game at our usual place, Pack's Tavern.  We were sad to see our Wolfpack lose.  

An unfocused pic of Amy and RK at Pack's.

Although the Wolfpack loss was pretty sad, Jimmie Johnson pulled through to win the Daytona 500 on Sunday!  I was happy about that! (Hubs not so much.)  Excited for the rest of the NASCAR season!

Cheers to #48!

A Week Overdue

On January 31, 2009, I married the most thoughtful, loving, handsome best friend I've ever had.  Since then, four amazing years have flown by and there is nowhere else I'd rather be than with him.  We have shared so many experiences together in such a short amount of time and there are so many more that I look forward to sharing with him.  (You're going snow skiing with me one of these days, Ray!)  Together, we have grown so much as a couple, as parents and most importantly, as Christians.  We've both changed (I think he more than I!), but only for the better.  We've had plenty of arguments, but at the end of the day, we know we're madly in love and we don't need to waste time fighting.  He's much better than I am at letting things go.  I tend to stay mad and hold a grudge longer.  Our personalities are a lot different, but it works for us. I loved the shy guy (who always had a clean apartment) I met in Winston Hall at NC State in January 2007; but, I love the hilarious, outgoing, country music loving, NC State fanatic, NASCAR redneck lover, sports addict, father (who never puts anything where it's supposed to go) with whom I am going to grow old, even more!

First dance song :)

Last dance song <3

September 2007

January 31, 2009

January 31, 2009

January 31, 2009

July 18, 2012

Happy New Year!

I love New Year's Eve.  It's a time to reflect, remember and look forward.  2012 brought so much change to my life.  I gained a lot of family, but I also lost my grandmother.  I am so thankful to have gotten to know Effie and to have spent 26 years with her on this earth.  She knew I was pregnant and was so excited about baby Raleigh.  I wish they could have met!  I wish she could have been here for at least the rest of the year, to celebrate with our family as we grew.  She passed away in March.  In May, my sister Amy got married; in July, Raleigh Katherine was born and ten days later, my sister Courtney got married.  Another one of her grandchildren (Alan) also got married over the summer.  In October, another great-grandchild was born.  Even with all the joy during these celebrations, there was always some sorrow because of her absence.  So, we've celebrated new family members, new life, and we continue to remember the ones who are no longer with us.

And now, we look forward.  Most people come up with resolutions, goals, hopes and plans.  I don't (come up with anything specific), because they're usually out the window come March January 2nd.  I look forward by envisioning myself as a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and most of all as a better Christian.  I will strive daily to glorify Christ in all that I do, even on the days when I don't leave the house.  God has blessed us more than we deserve and I want to show Him (and it will never be enough) that I am extremely grateful.

Matthew 5:16

Wordless Wednesday

My sister, Anna, and her two little ones (+ one on the way!) visited for a little while last Saturday.    

Raleigh & W

Sweet E!

Anna and Raleigh

W did such a great job with Raleigh!

Kisses