CTBaker in the Acres: 10/2011

Sunday, October 30, 2011

My birthday, fair, and kickball

I was very blessed to celebrate my 3?th birthday surrounded by the people that I love!
Thursday October 20th, my actual birthday, my mom, dad, aunt Judy, aunt Laynie, and cousin Renee treated me to lunch at Jason's Deli (my fave salad on the planet is there)! Such a nice treat.
I love y'all! Thank you for loving me back!

It was sooo windy and cold downtown, but so beautiful outside. Poor Ollie looks to be asleep in this pic.

Renee, Aunt Laynie, Aunt Judy, Mom, Me and Ollie (Dad...behind the camera)

It's also fair time here! We continued the celebration with my boys there after Shan got home from work. My mom went into labor with me the night she got home from the fair. So I feel like the two events go hand-in-hand. ;-)
A few years ago I posted my fair checklist. It has changed slightly since we have added another little peep to the bunch and Sam and Fu are older.

It goes kinda like this...

Park at TNT sports -c/o Carter Ellis (He has our VIP spot every year...THANKS, Carter!) Please support them! Side note...They are a fantastic local sporting goods store---Love the Ellis family!
Fried Mushrooms -Me & Shannon
Corn dogs -Shannon, Sam, and Oliver
Pig Races-The whole family
Cattle barn and Petting zoo -The whole family
Various Kiddie Rides -Fulton and Oliver
Various Big Kid Rides -Sam, Fulton, and Me (Shannon gets motion sickness)
FISKE French Fries -The whole family
Various Big Kid Rides -Sam, Fulton, and Me
Sand sculpture-The whole family
Giant Ferris wheel for picture-The whole family
Cotton Candy/Candy Apples -Sam, Fulton, and Oliver
Elephant Ear -The whole family
A few more rides for the boys
Bye Fair!!!! See you next year!

It was a great day to celebrate being blessed with another year!

On Friday we had the school Mother-Son Kickball game. It was so much fun and I highly recommend it as a small fundraiser for your school.

My dear friend Katie and I with 2 of our 3 boys

Shannon had arranged for us to meet a few of our closest friends at The Public House after the kickball game. I just love these people. Their friendship means the world to me. Unfortunately, the Gibsons and the Kirklands couldn't make it and neither could Brooks's husband, David. But we managed to still have our usual belly laughs and great conversation.

Anne Stuart, Jen, Me, and Darby... (Brooks missed the photo-op)

I love that I share my birthday week with 4 other family member...April (S-I-L) and Jameson (nephew)-10/14, Sam-10/15, and Clayton-(10/22). We try to cram them all in at once with my side of the family since everyone is all hither-thither-and yon now.

So we did just that on Saturday. I was really bummed that my youngest brother, Nic wasn't able to come. But, we still had a great time catching up.
On Sunday, Shan and the boys still hadn't cut my ice cream cake or given me my present because we had been going non-stop!!! So we invited mom and dad to lunch and FINALLY did it!

Me with my mom, dad, and two of my three brothers

I am truly blessed and thankful for all the years God has given me on this earth. I am equally thankful for all the wonderful people who are here to celebrate it with me. I love my family and friends more than they know!!

Friday, October 28, 2011

Forget-Me-not Friday

I have two.
One-
This face.

Two-
The sunlight in my backyard shining on the fall foliage.

Wish I had a good camera! The iPhone doesn't do it justice.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

FAN Halloween Parade

First annual Forest Acres Neighborhood Halloween Parade. Inviting all those on foot, bikes, and golf carts to join us as we follow a short route to celebrate Halloween. Come dressed in costumes, decorate your bikes and or golf carts. Please bring your own flash lights. Children under the age of 12 must have an adult participate with them. No child under 16 allowed to operate a golf cart in the parade. At the end of the parade donuts and hot chocolate will be served.

The parade route....begins at the corner of Satchelford Rd. Go right onto Oakhill Rd., right onto Landrum Dr., right onto Briarfield Rd. right onto Satchelford Rd.....ends at school. We'll try to stay close to or on the sidewalk on Satchelford Rd.

Sorry for the very short notice. But, we are hoping you will make plans to attend. The parade be a fun time and make lasting memories for the children and adults for many years to come!

So, grab your babies, your neighbors, your friends, your grannies, your camera, your noise makers...come on, put on a mask, a hat, some ears, anything festive!!!! Let's have some Halloween fun!!!

Important notice: Enter the parade at your own risk...event creators, organizers, promoters, and all others are not responsible for your safety.

RSVP (click here...)

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Sam's Birthday (Part 3)

Just in case you missed it...Here's Part 1 and Part 2.

I posted several years ago that we celebrate birthweeks, not just birthdays. Sometimes I think it gets kinda outta hand but then I say..what the heck!!! Why not celebrate as long as you can. Right?

Any who...

Sam's Birthday actually fell on a Saturday so I think that's why it seemed to stretch from Thursday to Sunday! Party Thursday, Shannon and I finished shopping for his gifts on Friday, lunch with friends on Saturday and we gave him his gifts, dinner with just the 5 of us on Saturday night, and lunch with Nana and Papa (Shan's parents) on Sunday after church. THEN we had his Celebration of Life (explained here) at school on Monday!

WHEW! Momma was wo' out!
But I wouldn't have it any other way. I love my boys...I quietly celebrate all three of them every single day. They are they greatest gifts of my life!

What could it be?

Yay!

What else?

A new helmet and ALL the safety gear...Mommy's favorite part!

And away he goes! I watched between my fingers!!!
(Disregard Fulton whining in the background because he doesn't like his skateboard. It went on for about an hour. But never fear, he used his birthday money to get a new one. Now everyone is happy.)

Sam's choice for his birthday dinner...Hibachi!

In lieu of cake, he requested Yumilicious. No arguments here!

I'd say he likes his present.

Me and my Testosterone Posse

Lunch with Nana and Papa. And I gave up on a good picture. This is as good as it gets.

Sam's Celebration of Life at school. It's always so sweet. Sam and Fulton have gotten to the point where they anticipate me getting teary. They just laugh! My favorite part is the children passing the stone and saying something special about Sam. I think it makes him feel really good!

Happy Birthday, Sam! I hope you have a fantastic year being 9! We love you!!!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Nineteen Years!

1992

Every year on October 24th Shannon and I recognize the years we have been together. Today we celebrate # NINETEEN! We don't do anything special, but we do acknowledge it. This morning I awoke to a very sweet text from him, as he was hopping on a plane. He beat me to it and it made my day!!!

I have been very blessed with such an amazing guy.

In the past 19 years we went through college, found our careers, got married, changed careers (a few times), had 3 beautiful baby boys, and have created a lifetime of fantastic memories.

He still possesses all the same great qualities that he did when we first started dating.

He is a man of quiet confidence and great character. He is a good Christian and role model for our boys, a very hard worker who continues to plug away even when the chips are down. Underneath his shyness, he is quick-witted and frequently makes me laugh out loud...usually at myself.

He is my best friend AND husband.

What more could a girl ask for!

2011

Too bad the Capitol Cafe is closed...we'd go re-create our first date all over again.

Who knew Paul, an "Old Shoe", and water with fry would usher in a beautiful life together??

I love you, Shan!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

What a wonderful... (Sam's Birthday Part 2)

Birthday Weekend for Sam!

It was an incredible birthday weekend for my sweet Sambo! It all started with a bang Thursday evening. We were able to have his party on Thursday night because they were out of school on Friday. Sam had been asking for a rock-n-roll party for a while. When Fulton got his karaoke machine for his birthday a month ago, Sam decided to make it a rock-n-roll karaoke party. It actually turned out well for a "thrown together" event, as I was late planning. It doesn't hurt that I have a musician for a dad either.

Of all the parties we've had, this one ranks up there with the Biker Bash for Fulton's 4th. I loved it and so did the kids. I think my mom said it best...in their 9 year-old heads they REALLY are ROCK STARS! That's what made it so much fun.

So on with the show!

Setting the stage...