These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things: 2010 Edition

This is my year in pictures. Now, there are a lot on here that I could add but these stuck out the most to me. 2010 has been a great year leaving great promise for 2011.

A bittersweet moment for me, my last night as a coach. I have been with this group of girls since they were in 7th grade until they graduated.

Celebrating Wesley's 30th birthday. As for a gift, I did a little walk down memory lane to see just what got him to where he is today.

Pred's game cotton candy....too bad we paid $4 for it when after the game, it's $1

Top Gun Party. No explanation needed, it is what it sounds like. Such a FUN night, I really hope there is another one in the future!

Celebrating my 26th Birthday with my best friends. Who knew 26 could be so good! Cake, wine, hotdogs and ice cream. Did I mention emerald earrings and a cruise!!!!

Steeplechase 2010...the best one yet! Cannot wait for this day to come in 2011. What a fun day of drinking, eating, napping, visiting friends, and betting on horses! And maybe the most fun is planning on what to wear...sundresses and big hats!

World Cup....USA! For every game, we found it very necessary to gear up in our finest red, white, and blue. It made for a fun few weeks and awesome pictures....the newspaper sure did think so. Front page baby! Thanks goes out to Michael!
Kidd's wedding! These boys are the ones to watch.

Daniel's 26th birthday! Yes, we did go to Medieval Times and had so much fun! This is much more fun as an adult when you can drink.

Welcoming a new addition into the family of girls....it's ok that he is a boy, we will still let him come to all of our trips!

This is a centerpiece at the shower that I did. I have found a new love in my life this year....flowers! I have high hopes for a flower shop one day.

A weekend away with Daniel's best guy buddies and who would have thought it was really a weekend for the girls! Meeting new friends and getting on the jumbo tron will always be talked about when we see each other!

Fright Fest @ Six Flags with Courtney and Daniel!

An early reason to be thankful. All my girlfriends from high school are in one place a weekend before Thanksgiving. SO thankful to have them in my life....

Spending a wonderful 2 years together with Daniel.....and it snowed!

Making Christmas cookies for some, for me, it is wine drinking. Something I found myself doing a lot of this year. It seems to always make my spirits brighter!

Waking up to a white Christmas. This hasn't happened in my lifetime.

My Meaningful Gift

This Christmas I was given things I an not so sure I was good enough for. Despite all the materialistic things I received (and love), I was also given things with so much meaning. When I was a little girl, I had a book called, "Tales From A Duck Named Quacker." It was given to me by my grandmother who just learned she had cancer. She was a huge fan of Ricky Van Shelton, a classic country singer for those who don't know old school. My parents took her to see him and my mom was able to get her and my grandmother backstage to meet him. Of course my grandmother didn't just relishing in the fact of meeting someone she adores, but she thought of me and my other girl cousin. She saw that he had written a children's book and bought us both a copy and asked if he would sign them to us. I loved this book for the story, not for the meaning. But all of that changed as I got older and didn't have her here anymore.

Fast forwarding to when we were moving out of my house when I was a senior in high school:

My parents hired someone to come and haul off the junk we had accumulated over the years and said he could have anything he wanted except a certain stack which had a few choice important things from my childhood. This smaller load of things included a baby doll bed my grandparents handmade me, my favorite Disney castle toy, and a comforter bag filled with all my favorite children's books. Inside that bag held The Bearinstain Bears, Goldie Locks and the Three Bears, Nursery Rhymes, Disney books, Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day, Holly and Ivey, and my Quacker book. It was gone. Never to be found again. I was so upset, my parents called the man who by the way had a litter of kids at home who would just love all my books, but yet he didn't take them. Yeah, right.

Years go by, I never saw this book again. I have talked about it, and I have missed it and get the sick feeling when I think of how mean someone could be to take away such a wonderful gift that had all the meaning in the world to me. How priceless this book was to me and yet I bet my copy is torn, ratted, and in a used book shop somewhere where people just use it and abuse it, color on it, read the inside and think, "huh, wonder who Katie is," and just toss it aside. It breaks my heart.

So Christmas morning came, and it was my last gift to open. My mother was standing over me freaking out and saying,"Wesley, do you remember, this is it, Wesley, get a camera. Wesley, Wesley, Wesley...." She had me a nervous wreck. I open a big box, or she does...who remembers at this point. I find 2 gifts I already knew about seeing as though I picked them out. At the bottom of the box, is an envelope. My mom is back to freaking out again. Wesley doesn't have a camera because I told him I was in my pj's with no makeup on and pretty much threatened him with his life. I open it, peer in, and there is Quacker, and the tears start breaking free from my eyes. My mom had found the book I had cherished. I of course hug this book, crying, asking how. Mom said to open it, and on the front over it said:

To Katie

From Granny Mary

Ricky Van Shelton

Again, tears.

My mom tells me the story of getting the book and how Ricky Van Shelton and his wife were so touched by my grandmother and how I missed this book so very, very much. They mailed my mom a copy that week and didn't let her to pay for it, this was something they wanted to make possible.

Again, tears....

So, as I write this long story and read over it...I can't help but to have tears in my eyes. This book means the world to me and I cannot believe my mom had the wonderful thought of finding it for me. Thank you mom for the HUGE surprise and giving me something I will always cherish.

This book now has a new home on my bookshelf that was also given to me this Christmas by my dad. Daniel came up with the place where it should go, he said it was to special to not display it. So now, whenever I see it, I will not only think of my granny, but also the person who made it possible for me to have it back, my dad for the bookshelf, Daniel for the idea, and Wesley because he was there. All the people who matter most to me in one children's book. Pretty wonderful.

Happy 2 Years

Daniel and I just hit a landmark: 2 years (and 8 days) together! We celebrated in the snow with milkshakes, hamburgers, fries, and onion rings! Nothing could beat it! I have loved these two years and 8 days; I am so in love.

*4th Of July trip to NC and met these cute little fur balls.

*At Steeplechase right after our cruise!

*Me getting in on a little Beer Pong action. Maybe even beating DJM!

I knew I loved him from the very first day. Let me explain: I loved the thought of him, of us, and everything that was possible. The future was bright, he showed me that from day one with his smile. I loved the idea of how great we could be. Only to find out how great we really are together. I have grown to love so much more in him than just the things I thought and are seen. I love his scars, his quarks, his memories, his singing, his laugh, and how he always nudges me like a dog to scratch his back. I love our lazy days more than anything else. I love that I take adventures and chances with him. I have found myself to be braver than I ever thought possible! How he always giggles when I start another book or better yet, give the gift of a book. He has had a hand in making me smile every morning I awake....even when I dread going to work and am so tired I don't think I will make it. He helps me get through the day a little easier.

*Us taking a break from sledding in the January snow.

*Supporting the Lookouts!

*My first time snorkeling on our first ever cruise!

*Us at our annual Red Wings game in Nashville.

*He will be a signed act one day.....

This past year was about becoming a team, becoming best friends, and trusting we won't break each other's hearts. My life isn't just going through the motions anymore, I am living my life very happily. I have learned that somethings in life mean nothing without him. I love the little things in life so much more.

My dreams were never this good : )

*Kidd's wedding.

My Christmas Wish List

Just in case you were wondering, here is what I am hoping to get from santa this year. I bet you have some of these same wants on your list! Let's do a little comparing and see what we come up with. I don't wanna miss out on something so great and cute. I know you don't want too either....

http://www.victoriassecret.com/sleepwear|sleepwear/pajama-sets?ProductID=1265347816354

http://www.zappos.com/lucky-brand-andria-brandy

http://www.target.com/Canon-PowerShot-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B002LITT3S/ref=sc_qi_detailbutton

I have really been wanting a watch that reminded me of my grandfather...I think this one is perfect with a feminine twist (sorry there is no eye candy):

http://www.fossil.com/en_US/shop/women/watches/boyfriend_watches/decker_chronograph_gold_dial_watch-es2683p.html?departmentCategoryId=30000&N=0&Ns=p_wsc0%7C0%7C%7Cp_weight%7C0&rec=7&pn=c&imagePath=ES2683

By now everyone knows I am a huge fan of Etsy. I wonder why they don't have gift cards??? Either way, I have some things I would love to have:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62771143/custom-ruffled-collar-dress-w-sash

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63380678/french-stripes-denim-clutch-tres-chic-en

http://www.etsy.com/listing/31425300/grey-town-and-country-bag

*Really, ANYTHING from this store would suit my fancy! I LOVE it!

Of course there items are just some of the great things I have seen for a girl like me this Christmas. Happy Shopping!

Sun and Sand, Pumpkins and Halloween: Beach Trip With The Boys 2010

This year I braved the cold and hit the road with 3 boys in tow! We decided to take a late trip to the beach this year, the best time of year to go has proven once again to be in October. After shedding our layers from Tennessee, we got into our suits and spent the days with our toes in the sand. There were no crowds, no lines, no waits for restaurants, and live music decorated with Halloween backdrops. We met new friends, drank 8 ounce beers, made homemade chocolate chip cookies, downed a few bottles of wine, tried to save a cat, rode in a cab, and danced. Needless to say, what a great vacy!

However, with all these great things....I didn't see the beach until the second day we were there. I ate something terrible, horrible, no good, rotten, and just down right wrong. Let's just say it kept me on the couch for hours under a blanket sipping on sprite until the following morning. Glad that only lasted one day!

Our hotel was located right by Schooners, a wonderful local bar with great food, maybe the BEST onion rings I have ever had in my life. It was right on the beach, you could actually walk in in your suit after hanging out in the sun all day. When we went, they had a great band from down under with a singer that would make a great Keith Urban look-a-like. Talk about hot! : ) We made friends with the band, sang songs, and danced the night away. There was also a little arm wrestling involved between the boys. My man is defiantly still the champ!

We of course darkened the German bar once again from summers past and enjoyed a night outside watching the Halloween costumes go by. After a cab ride home, we called it a night and of course I gave a big roll tide for winning the game against Tennessee. Of course these boys were cheering for the wrong team. Earlier in the evening, we had dinner and drinks to feel at home watching the game. How great for me that I had a table of Alabama fans to enjoy touchdown after touchdown and high five with!

Our last day was the most relaxing and low key. Daniel and I hit the beach, just us, and made friends with a seagull. As the winds were coming in and the sun was going away, we covered up and sat ocean side just enjoying the time we had with one another. Thankfully this was our last day because a huge storm was rolling in. The last night, we ate dinner in and got take out at Schooners...you can never go wrong getting food from there!

After a long drive home and a change of seasonal clothes, we all in all had a great last vacation at the beach for the year. Until next year....