Oh yeah.....Breaking Dawn!!!!

Some of you maybe wondering why and how I already have a copy of Breaking Dawn. I am really starting to believe that Nick is my lucky charm especially when it comes to finding me books. We went to Publix tonight to refill my prenatal prescription, I just went grocery shopping earlier that day, so we really didn't need anything. As we were waiting I went to the bathroom and Nick wandered down the book isle.....well......Nick happened to stumble upon Breaking Dawn. I am not sure if Publix put the book out early by mistake or what. But I came out of the bathroom with Nick waiting for me holding a copy of it in his hands.....I couldn't believe it!!! I still really didn't believe it and I made Nick take me down the book isle where I saw for myself some copies of Breaking Dawn sitting on the shelf. And the perk was it was actually on sale..... I didn't even pay regular price for it!!! So, maybe your Publix by you has the copy already out as well.... go check it out!!!! You know what I will be doing for the next couple of days so don't expect any posts.......

Toe in the Road

Alright, I told some of you this story over the phone yesterday. But here's the story for everyone else. I'm driving home trying to get there before it gets too late b/c we're having friends over for dinner and I had to help clean up and all that good stuff. Well I'm driving right on this guy's tail and have been on his tail for a while. I wouldn't have driven this way if he at least went the speed limit but since he was going so slow I couldn't help myself. Due to driving so close to him i was unable to swurve out of the way of an ice cooler that the car in front of me barely missed. Since I didn't swurve the cooler became stuck underneath the car and I ended up dragging it until I pulled over. It takes a bit but I'm able to yank it out from under the car and then I open a human toe packed in ice!! It was absolutely disgusting!!!! The gross thing was, I couldn't quite tell what it was so I opened up the zip lock bag that it was in and touched it. By that point I figured it out!!! But it was too late, I had touched a human toe that someone was probably taking to the hosptial or something????!!!!! Anyway, that was my crazy story for yesterday!!!! I took a picture of it on my phone but Jess told me not to post it.

Bug bites....Ouch!!!

There are people in our ward that put together a Family Home Evening night at a park that is close by our house and they have a fire pit where you can make smores and roast marsh mellows, the men play soccer, the woman sit around and talk and watch the kids. They do it every other Monday and we have never been to it so at the last minute last night after dinner we decided to go. Besides the heat, it was pretty fun....I couldn't go anywhere near the fire because when it is 90 degrees out and you start a fire.... you can imagine what happens!!!

So, by the time the evening was coming to an end for us..... Davis was soaking wet in sweat. I mean his whole entire head was wet, his legs were covered in dirt and his feet were black from something..... probably rolling around in some dirt somewhere!! Davis had the time of his life yesterday.....he LOVED it!!!


Once we got home and threw him in the bathtub after washing off all of the dirt and sweat I noticed these HUGE red bumps all over his legs, feet and a few bites on his arms. They already were swollen quite a bit since we had been home. So we jumped in the car and went to Publix and bought some kids bug anti-itch medicine. At this time he was already itching his bites like crazy!! When we got home I smeared the cream all over his poor little itchy legs and thought to myself he is going to be up all night itching.....and of course he was!!! He itched all night long and in the middle of the night I put more cream on him but it didn't do any good....he itched and itched and itched!!! He scratched them so much that they are swollen and they even look a little bruised and it looks like someone has taken a ruler and has beaten his legs with it!! He is still itching them like crazy today..... I wished that I would have thought to put bugs spray on him before we went last night because poor Davis got bitten alive!! At least I will know for next time.....

As you can see I took some pictures but they do not do justice at all to his HUGE bug bites!!

Another Weekend Getaway!!

This weekend we went and visited family and friends down in Columbus we had a lot of fun. We were planning on coming back home Sat. night but every time we go down to Columbus there are so many people that we want to visit with and we always just end up staying through the whole weekend and ended up coming home late last night.

Friday we went to our nephew Tucker's birthday party which was on the lake. Nick always enjoys anything that consists of water and a boat. Nick loves the lake and I just know that one day he will follow in his brother's footsteps and either own a boat or jet skis!!! Davis for some reason wasn't enjoying the boat this time so Davis and I stayed in the house pretty much the entire time!!!

Friday night and Saturday we visited with our friends John and Angie. I know that you guys hear so much about them all the time but what can I say we have known and been friends with them since Nick and I have been married!! And for Nick and John even longer since they grew up together.....I can't forget to mention the steaks that John cooked for us....YUMMY!!!! Angie and I were nice enough to let them go on a date and go to the movies while we stayed at the house and took naps!!!

Nick and John were playing with the camera and this is the outcome of their picture taking!!

Sunday we went and visited with Mimi, Papa and Mark and ended up staying pretty much the entire day with them. Papa and Davis picked tomatoes out of the garden...Davis loved this!! Papa and Davis also enjoyed a watermelon from the garden. Then more family showed up and it was nice to visit with them. Davis and Abby had a BLAST playing together!! I am a little sad that my camera died and I didn't get any pictures of them. They were so funny together.....running around chasing each other......so there you have it our weekend in a nutshell!!

What a post would've looked like 6 years ago....

Ok, so John Haralson and I were talking about life as newlyweds and how we acted with our wife. We used to be so corny and goofy and cheesy and everything else. At least I know I was!! i would never leave Jess's side and I swore I never would. Hanging out with friends was a burden and I would only long to be with Jess again as soon as possible. Honestly, that is still partly true but I do enjoy playing some basketball or going to a movie that Jess doesn't want to see or whatever else. But then John brought up the idea, what would we have said if we blog'd back during that time. And to tell you the truth, I think I would've said a little something like this:

How did I find you when you were so far away from me,
What led me to you when we were separated by a country,
When I prayed at night that my loneliness would come to an end,
Was someone listening ready to show us His plan,

It seemed each day was filled with meaningless endeavor,
But working in the background was that plan meant to bring us together.
Too bad I didn’t know as I continued to say my prayer each night,
Too bad I didn’t know and that I didn’t have that bit of insight,

But let’s say I did know those things I wanted to know,
Would I have prayed as hard for my girl out in West Yellowstone,
To keep her happy, and close to God and safe wherever she may be,
Would I have prayed as hard that this girl that I did not know would know me on the day we would meet,

Would I have prayed as hard that she would be prepared to be the wife that I know I need,
Or that she would love the gospel and would want children who she would teach,
Would I have prayed as hard that we would be best friends and love each other until no end,
Or that we would laugh and stay up late and talk until the next day would begin,

There are so many things I pleaded for each night as I went through this time of loneliness and frustration,
And I know that I would not want to take a chance of not praying with such determination,
And that I do not care to ever find out the answers to these questions,
It’s something that cannot be denied that prayers have been answered by just a glance at this beautiful creation.



Alright, so there you go!! A post that I would’ve left 6 years ago!! We’ve known each other for just over 7 years and I’m still amazed at how lucky I am to have Jessie as my wife. And although I do not claim to be a poet, I do claim that what I said (even if some of it doesn’t make sense due to trying to rhyme and all that) is true!! I know I should say corny stuff more often and be more romantic but for some reason time makes us get lazy and you start to actual care if people think you’re whipped or whatever!! But I decided today that I’m going to go back a few years and turn into a newlywed again! So Jess, I love you!!

Did I swallow a butterfly?

Nick took this picture of me when we were in Tennessee....I feel enormous already for only being 17 weeks along!!

Nah....I didn't swallow a butterfly and hopefully if I did my stomach would not look like that!! It is just the baby letting me know that it is there!! So, for the past couple of days I have felt the baby move a little bit not a lot but just a little. I totally forgot about this feeling and how at first it feels like butterfly flutters in your stomach like you swallowed a butterfly....really, the coolest feeling EVER!!! It is totally awesome to experience it again.....I know that you start showing a lot sooner with your second but I am amazed at how fast I am showing with this one.... it took me forever to show with Davis!!

So, in just 3 more weeks we will be having our 20 week ultrasound. We tossed up the idea of letting it be a surprise. But, I think that we will find out what we are having because I came up with this analogy the other day when we were trying to decide if we wanted to let it be a surprise or not and I am pretty fond of it.
It is like giving Nick and I a million dollars and then locking us up in a mall and telling us that we can't spend any money.....YEAH RIGHT!!! That is what it will be like for us in the ultrasound you know that we won't be able to NOT FIND OUT!!! Even though we both think it would be super fun to let it be a surprise...but I am not sure that I can wait the entire pregnancy and not know what it is!!!

So, we have come up with a different idea...Davis's birthday party is scheduled for the day after the ultrasound and hopefully family will be coming up to help celebrate with us and at the ultrasound we are going to have them put what it is that we are having in an envelope and open it up with all of the family with us the next day!! So, they will be finding out when we find out....that is if we can have self control and not peek in the envelope the night before everyone gets here!!!
As you can tell I have put a lot of thought into this :)

The things you see as you look out your window!!

Today has not been the best day. I was trying to lay down and get in a power nap before Davis woke up from his nap. I get up stairs to our room turn on the TV and close my eyes and all of a sudden someone starts knocking on the door. Just to let you know if I am home alone....I do not answer the door!! I know I am paranoid but I just can't help it. So for future reference if you ever want to pop in on me for a visit you better call ahead of time.
After I don't answer the door they try ringing the door bell, still no answer the they try pounding on the door....finally they give up!!!
Right when I am almost about to fall asleep probably about 5 minutes later here comes another knock on the door. I open my eyes and lay there thinking I wonder who it is, should I go see, nah...a nap sounds way better. That time they gave up really fast after two little knocks.
I close my eyes again and not even 2 minutes later another knock on the door. FINALLY this time I get up unwilling saying good-bye to my desperately needed nap and walk downstairs to the door. Thinking okay what in the world is going on that is so urgent!!
As I look out the window I see my neighbor Kenny on our front porch and right over his head I immediately see this.....



So, there you have it.... go on laugh, you know you want to...but just to let you know it wasn't my fault and I will explain why. I think the first words out of my mouth as I opened the door was "Oh Crap". Nick's car decided to take a little roll down our driveway and into our neighbor's mailbox. So, those of you who have been to our house know that we have a sloped driveway and it totally SUCKS!!! And Yes, I was the one that was driving Nick's car today....but that doesn't mean anything!!
Anyway, I run down to the car to see if there was damaged to the car and to look at the mailbox and I see this......



After I am examining the damage I look in the car and notice that the emergency brake was on and it was in gear, so I am thinking what in the world happened. Nick's car just rolled down our driveway with the brake on and in gear...see... so I am refusing to believe that it was my fault. I pulled the brake up and it was in gear. So, I run back up to the house and call Nick....you know I am emotional these days for some strange reason so am crying a little bit. Nick acts like it is no big deal and tells me to first settle down no reason to get worked up and then instructs me to take pictures and try to move the car and he will be home shortly!!! So, I hang up the phone run outside snap some photos and I get in the car to try to move it however if I move it then the whole bumper is going to rip off of the car because of this......


the cement that was holding down the mailbox came up as well and is right under the bumper. So, Nick gets home they jack up the car and pull the cement out from under the car.

Anyways, Nick is finishing up with the neighbor's mailbox as I am currently typing this and we even have to plant them new flowers and everything. We don't even have flowers around our mailbox I guess I can look over at our neighbor's mailbox and take a little pride in the work that Nick will put into it since he won't even do that for ours!!!
After Nick is finished with that he will be talking with Mazda about a faulty emergency brake....I will keep you posted with the outcome!!

Rest of the trip!!!!

So, here is how the rest of our trip went. On Saturday we went up to Lookout Mountain it is very pretty up there!!! It was really hazy that day so we didn't get that great of views but it was still pretty. We got a good start in the morning trying to avoid some of the heat!! We were able to take some great pictures here are my two favorite. Nick was going crazy taking pictures and I have to give him credit he did most of the photography work that day!!! He took this great family picture of us by setting up the camera and taking it himself. As you can tell we love to take pictures!!! I Love this family picture....who knows maybe it will be in our Christmas cards this year!!

When we were up in Lookout Mountain we went to a place that is called Point Park. It is a nice little park that overlooks the River and such. Davis loved running around and climbing all over the Civil War canons and stuff!!
Then we went to Rock City......well.... by the time we got to this place it was HOT!!! But Rock City is way cool.....I wouldn't recommend going with small children unless you can spend some good hours there and have time to stop and rest. Davis wasn't behaving very well it was his nap time so he was tired. You can't bring in strollers so Davis had to walk he did great at first then once he got tired Nick had to pretty much carry him all the way to the top and back down again!!
There was still a few more things we wanted to do but we were all TIRED at that point!!! After that we let Davis take a nap in the car while we drove to Nick's Mission President's home. They retired and moved to Tennessee a few years ago. It was a nice visit we ate dinner with them and stayed the night. I know that Nick loved reminiscing over his mission. Davis loved it there!! They live on a really beautiful lake and Davis loved the ducks and geese!!

Okay, here comes the bad part and at least it all happened on our last day!! So, I woke up Sunday morning with a migraine so we left the Mission Pres's home shortly after that. We didn't take the interstate back home we drove a different way that was more through the smokies....more of a scenic route, which I didn't get to enjoy at all!!! Well, this was a very very very bad decision because the roads are very whindy. And some of you have been driving with me while being pregnant I get very very car sick. I am not sure why but the car and me when I am pregnant just don't get along!!! Well, it is curve and turn and curve and turn.....nonstop!! I have the air conditioner blowing on me full blast trying to breathe in and out in and out!!! Well, that didn't help much because there was a turn that Nick didn't see coming and he ended swirving way out of the way and that was enough to make me SCREAM PULL OVER!!! And as you can imagine I got out of the car just in time to have all of my breakfast come up on the side of the road!! I know gross......so Nick got Davis out of the car and let him run around while I tried to get myself together. It was terrible on top of it with a headache..... So, we get back in the car a little while longer, thinking this is going to be a long drive back home. Here comes the turns and curves again and again right when I am about ready to tell Nick to pull over again we turn onto a different road that is more straight and I had to just close my eyes and lay back or else more was coming up!!!

Davis and I feel asleep and about 25 miles from home I try laying my seat back more and squish Davis's poor leg and it wakes him up and he is crying and crying and crying!! Davis would not settle down....it wasn't b/c of his leg he just wanted me to hold him so he could fall back asleep. Then our GPS dies and we get lost because again we decided to take some stupid back way!! We are so close to home and we are lost and Davis is crying and I have a HUGE headache!! Nick pulls over to ask for directions, I climb in the back seat with Davis trying to calm him down but he just keeps screaming over and over "mama, mama, mama" with his hands held out to pick him up. It was so sad..... finally like 2 miles from home Davis calms down after not crying but screaming for a half hour. Well, after all that we made it home and is it ever so good to be home!! Here are some more pictures of our trip!!!

Tennessee.....

Today was a blast! We managed to squeeze 4 things in one day..... come on for a pregnant chic and 2 year old and not to mention that it was 94 degrees here in Tennessee that has to be somewhat impressive!!! It is sooo stinkin' HOT here!!!

First thing this morning we were off to the Aquarium. It was fun.....Davis really liked it!! His favorite thing in the aquarium was the jellyfish....he went NUTS over them! We petted some sharks and stingrays...crazy that they let you pet them!!! I was a little nervous to pet them and luckily for me Davis was more interested in just playing in the water than actually touching them!!

Outside of the aquarium there is a Huge wading pool area for kids and you can't avoid it because it is right out front of the aquarium. So, of course Davis had to go hopping in it to get some relief from the heat!! That water was so nice to put your feet in!!

Luckily we knew about this ahead of time and brought a change of clothes for Davis!!

The second thing we went to was the Children's Discovery Museum. This place was a lot of fun for Davis!! This place was like a mad house and there were kids everywhere!! But it was awesome for Davis!

Then we went on a AWESOME river boat ride down the Tennessee River for 2 hours. We went exploring the River Gourge it was nice to be on the boat and luckily for us it was busy!!! I was really concerned keeping Davis couped up on a boat for 2 hours but luckily he did great and enjoyed the ride!!

Last but not least we even went to an Imax theatre and saw Grand Canyon in 3D playing. Again I was worried about Davis sitting through an 1 hour long show but again he did GREAT and enjoyed it!!! Davis wouldn't keep his glasses on so we watched the movie blurry.....I guess he didn't mind!!!

Overall was a fun jam packed day!! I am exhausted and am going to bed.... we are looking forward to having another busy fun day tomorrow!!!!

Funny quotes!!!

Funny quotes from Nick today that made me laugh and I thought that I would them share with you guys!!! Because we all know how stinkin' HI-LARIOUS Nick is..........

Nick ate at a chinese buffet for lunch today and this is what he said when he got home from work:
I love eating chinese food because for the rest of the day it taste delicious when you burp it up!!!!

Tonight we were running around doing some shopping and we stopped at Sonic for a tasty treat I ordered a Butterfinger Sonic Blast that I could share with Davis and Nick ordered a banana split:
You know why I like banana splits? Because it's a good way to get your fruit!!!

Swedish Snail!!

I was going through some video tonight of Nick on his trip to Sweden and I came across this one and I DIED laughing!! It really did confirm to me how lonely Nick was in Sweden by himself!!! Hopefully you enjoy it as much as I did!!!!!

New do........Re-do!!!

Okay....I know that you are probably tired of me posting pictures of me and all of my haircuts and I swear this is the last one for awhile!! I was not digging my haircut this last time. I liked it when I left the salon and I thought that she styled it really cute. But the next day when I went to style my hair.....it just wasn't working and I was not digging it!! She gave me a lot of layers but the layers were very short upfront with long ones in the back. I asked her to thin it out for me which she did a little to much. She thinned it out so much in the back that when I tried to fix and style my hair, I swear I had a MULLET!!! I am not kidding you "business up front, party in the back". Maybe I just lived in Alabama too long and am a little paranoid about mullets, not sure.


But even Nick agreed a little bit so that is when I knew that the mullet had to go!! It took me quite some time to grow out my hair and it was a little sad to see all of my hair get cut off but now it is back to being short again (really the way I like it!!) I am proud to say that I had a mullet for 2 days before I could get back in the salon!!

Here is the new result......

Hobby Lobby Scare.........

Yesterday I was definitely feeling like an unfit mother and it has carried over today. Which I was hoping that when I woke up this morning that I wouldn't still be beating myself up over it! I actually didn't even sleep that well because of it last night. I don't feel like explaining all of it so I am going to give you the best short version that I know how!!

Yesterday I went to Hobby Lobby (btw...I love that store). Davis somehow got away from me while I was looking at something that seemed like I swear for a second! Which I was searching through the isles, screaming his name, panic started to rise up in my throat when I kept looking and looking and he was no where to be found. Of course I am FREAKING out! I was trying to calm myself down long enough to think. The only thing that I could think of was get to the front of the store!! But at the same time I didn't want to because I knew that he had to of been somewhere close by and I didn't want to leave that area. Once I finally convinced myself to go to the front of the store just in case Davis tries leaving out the front doors or worse case he has been snatched and hopefully you can make sure no one is leaving with him!! Anyway, right when they are about ready to close the store down and not let anyone out because "some terrible mother has lost her 2 year old". I find him down on isle close by the front of the store having a good ole' time trying to climb up a ladder and is on the third step up! Which that in itself could have been terrible!!

Nick was gone all night he helped someone move and then went to the movies with some people from the ward! His cell phone was dead so I had no way to get in touch with him. I was crying and crying and couldn't get myself to settle down I felt TERRIBLE!! By the time he got home at 11:00 as soon as we walked through the door he knew something was wrong with me. Let's just say talk about a reality check I have been given yesterday! I seriously have never been soooo scared in my life. The crazy thing for those of you that know Davis can testify to this is that he is very clingy to me, he always stays right by me, never lets me out of his sight. I usually don't have this sort of thing to worry about especially in places he isn't familiar with!! Well, I guess today he felt like giving his mother a reality check to let her know that I have gone to hobby lobby to many times b/c apparently Davis is comfortable when giving full reign to run free!! I think that I will stay out of that store for awhile because if I go back they will probably have a mug shot of me saying "worse mother of the year!!" I think this story will stick with me for a LONG time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tupperware Thief!!

Apparently I have to much time on my hands doing a post like this. The other day I was looking through my tupperware and I started to notice a pattern. That the majority of the tupperware that I have doesn't belong to me. I started searching for where my tupperware was and I just kept pulling out more and more tupperware that doesn't belong to me. Somehow all of mine is missing and I have very few pieces that actually belong to me. For some reason I have a collection of tupperware from my friends. So, I don't know what has happened to my tupperware over the years I am hoping it is nice and safe at other people's home. But even more so I am hoping I am not the only one that doesn't return tupperware. If so then I guess I admitting that I am the tupperware thief!

New Hair Do......

Lucky for you guys 2 posts in one day!!
Recently I have been feeling like my looks have been a little.......un-taken care of. I think this is what pregnancy is making me feel like. Usually I only fix my hair for church and occasionally when I am feeling adventurous, seriously this isn't a laughing matter. Other then that up in the pony tail my hair goes!! So, I decided to get "my hair did" and hoped this would cure my strange feelings of whatever it was I was feeling. I called and scheduled my hair appointment and waited patiently for the day to arrive. When the day came last week my hair appt was scheduled for 5:45. I got inside that salon and this is how the conversation went.

Salon Worker: Hi, how are you?

Me: Great, I am here for a 5:45 appt with Gabrielle.

Salon Worker: Pause......gave me a strange look.....ummm we don't have anyone that works here by that name.

Me: Are you sure? I just talked with whoever called me earlier today reminding me of my appt.

Salon Worker: Yeah, I am positive we don't have anyone with that name that works here.

Me: Pause......giving her a strange look

Salon Worker: Do you think you could have possibly scheduled your appt on accident with one of our other locations.

Me: Laughing....no I am pretty sure I would have called the Alpharetta Salon. Are you sure there is no one named Gabrielle?

Salon Worker: Again, I am positive no one works here with that name. Why don't I check with the other salons to make sure. What is your name?

Me: Jessie Bettes

Salon Worker: (on the phone with the Atl location) I am calling from the Alpha. Salon was wondering if you had an appt scheduled for a Jessie Bettes at 5:45......pause.....you do! (Looking up at me and saying) I am going to have to cancel that appt she accidentally scheduled it for the wrong location.......pause.....Thanks!!

Me: I am so sorry and I feel so dumb.....

Salon Worker: Laughing......

To make a long story short I got my hair appt finally scheduled for today and only had to wait another week. I was hoping that there would be a different worker at the counter when I got there today. But it was not my lucky day! Here is the conversation from today with the same salon worker.

Salon Worker: Hi, how are you?

Me: (Before I could answer)

Salon Worker: I remember you!

Me: I bet you do!! (I am glad I give off such wonderful first impressions)

Here are the results!! Not much of a difference I wanted to keep it long since that is what it seems like everyone likes on me. But I asked her to thin it out for me since my hair is so thick! She did not stop chopping and and my hair has never felt so thin and light before. I seriously know what it feels like to be a dog now and get a shaving for the summer!! She lightened up the color quite a bit!! I like it...... but next time I don't care what you guys say I am going short again!!

One last post for Rachel!!

My friend Rachel is moving back to Utah and I am very sad. Last night was her going away party and I will miss her very much!!
It never seems to amaze me how the Lord seems to put the right people in your life at the right time and Rachel was one of those people for me!! She was one of the first people that I talked to when we first moved up to Atlanta and in our new ward. I have only been friends with her for a little over a year but I feel like I have known her forever. She is my sidekick and shopping buddy. She is what I like to call my soul sista. She is a great person and has the sweetest spirit. She has had the greatest impact on my life this past year and I am just thankful that we are friends. Davis and Ali were such great pals as well and they were inseparable when they were together. I know that Davis and I both will miss Ali!!
But as hard as it is to say good-bye I know that Utah is where Rachel belongs and will be the happiest. I know that your families are excited to have you moving back. We wish you and your family the best of luck and will miss y'all a ton!

Violation of the Protective Covenants.....

So, this is the first time that Nick and I have ever lived in a subdivision where you have to deal with the whole HOA sort of stuff. I have to admit it is nice having a pool and playground but sometimes dealing with HOA gets on my nerves. On Thursday we got a letter in the mail from our HOA regarding a violation of the Protective Covenants. Our violation that we have been wrote up for is the area around our mailbox needs to be weeded.

Uuugghh.....annoying!! When I read the letter I couldn't stop laughing because at the time this is what our yard looked like......yes the weeds up front are almost as tall as Davis!!

And this is what the area around the mailbox looked like.....not to bad!

Now I agree we probably deserved to get written up but if you are going to write us a violation then you better do it right or else I am going to think that there is something wrong with your vision!!

Anyway, to make a long story short Nick and I are not yard people in fact we both HATE it!!! I mean it is not fun at all to me and I can find much better things to do with my time that I enjoy. I wish that Nick would just listen to me and we would pay someone to come and do it! But we are taking this violation very serious and we are still going to go and buy some wood chips and hopefully next weekend we are going to pull out all of our old pine straw and lay down wood chips. I will post some pictures of our HARD work when it is finished!! But here is Nick's sweat and hard work today.....BEAUTIFUL!!

Our Fourth of July!!

We had a lot of fun this Fourth of July! We celebrated the day with Wren, Richard, Kinley and Logan. We BBQ some steaks and burgers and ate some great food! After we stuffed our belly's we went to the Chattahoochee and threw rocks in the river and walked along some trails, which he ended up in some COOL and DARK grove of some sort!! It was amazing it felt like we left and went into a different world, picture it like Chronicles of Narnia that is what it seemed like. It was pretty awesome but never go in the woods with Nick he tries every attempt to scare you and I still fall for it the majority of them!! Wren even took her share and convinced everyone that there was a black bear cub. She got us good and everyone believed her. Davis loved every bit of today! He loved the river and throwing rocks and walking along the trails with his cousins. I guess Nick and I need to get him out more. The weather was perfect it wasn't hot at all and just a little muggy. After we worked off all of our food from earlier we went back to Wren's house and ate ice cream and peach cobbler. Then their neighbor's were lighting off some pretty impressive fireworks and so we all had front row seats to an awesome fireworks show. We didn't watch long because like last year Davis is still afraid of fireworks!! But it was the perfect way to end the Fourth of July. We can't wait for next year....we LOVE the country we live in!!

My Montana Family!!

So, this time I am writing and dedicating a post about my family!! I love and miss my family like crazy....for those of you that don't know my family. I have an older brother and sister which leaves me being the youngest. They all live in Montana, except me! I go through crazy phases where I want to move back so bad to be by my family. Nick has looked for jobs out there but just not a huge selection to choose from. I moved to Georgia 7 years ago and I love it here, I really do, but I just wish that I lived a little closer to my family. At least be in driving distant to jump in the car and go visit them and Montana. I see them about once a year and honestly, it just isn't enough to cure the homesickness!

I miss my mother's conversations. She always seemed to give me the best advice at the right time. We would always talk while she was cooking something in the kitchen, to me she cooks the best food ever! I grew up eating some deer, elk and trout meat that my dad would hunt (come on I am from Montana) and you could never tell the difference because she always cooked it sooo good! My mother has German in her and she always cooked a few German dishes that we were raised on and I miss it so much!! My mother tried giving me cooking lessons in high school but I refused to do them and didn't listen and now I kick myself for it! I also miss the smell of my mom's perfume, she always smelled so good even after working all day!

I miss my dad and the "mountain man" that he is. I miss watching him going fishing or hunting and him coming home always with a great story. My dad is AMAZING at both of these outdoor sports. I love how everytime I talk to my dad he asks if Davis is a fishermen yet. I miss his lectures even if I didn't agree with him you can always get into a good conversation with my dad because he loves to talk!! My dad can talk to anyone that will listen to him. I followed my dad's footsteps and played basketball in high school. My dad would be awake a lot when I got home from my games and he would walk me through the game and tell me the good things I did and the bad. My dad is a Vietnam Veteran and I am thankful for the strength and courage that he has because he has been through a lot!

I miss my sister and brother even though they picked on my like crazy growing up since I was the youngest!! I miss listening to my brother play the guitar, he is truly a natural musician and now he plays the piano too...amazing!! I miss my brother's sons James and Eric (my nephews) and they are so big now that they seem like my little brothers. I miss my sister and the safety she always gave me, my sister and I shared a bedroom a lot growing up and I would always find myself in her bed... because I was always scared!! She always let me sleep with her even if she was annoyed by me. No one would pick on me when we were younger because then you would have to answer to my big sister. She is tough and has always been that way. If I could only have an ounce of toughness that she has!!

Montana itself I miss. I miss the clean mountain fresh air. I miss the cold and snow. I miss going snowmobiling and cross country skiing. I miss the mountains and the beauty that is all around. I miss the clean rivers and lakes that would still be freezing in the summer. I miss the bison that sometimes would wonder into town. I miss driving on the highway and always seeing deer, elk and moose and this is something that you wouldn't see occasionally but all the time!! I miss the stars and how you feel so close to them that you could reach up and grab them. I miss the small town feel where everyone knows everyone, even if that got annoying, I still miss it!! When Christmas comes around I truly miss having a white Christmas!! I miss EVERYTHING about Montana and my family! One day, maybe not next year, maybe not even 5 years, but one day I will wake up and have these things in my life again.

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Okay, so I don't usually like a big fuss over my birthday. The only thing that I try to squeeze in is have Nick changed a few more diapers maybe have him get me something to drink or eat when we are both laying on the couch...I do play it up a little. But when it comes to parties and presents I try to run the opposite direction. I don't like the whole center of attention sort of thing. But between Nick's family and my family the phone seems to never stop ringing which therefore doesn't let me just go throughout my day like no big deal and I might add that the phone started this morning at 8:30. This is usually how I think but for some reason my mind has changed this year. I love the phone calls and am soaking up all the attention this year!! Is this what happens the older you get??

Our friends John and Angie came up and stayed with us last night and they come walking into our house with a big pink present and I admit I was waiting for the uncomfortable feeling but it never came!! I opened it up and it was an AWESOME panini and sandwich press, which I have always wanted one of these. I was totally stoked!!!
Today, my friends Shellie, Rachel and Dawnelle took me out to lunch again I don't like the whole "Jessie's birthday", but I wasn't uncomfortable at all and I loved how thoughtful and sweet my friends are. Even if it was a fast lunch due to the kiddies I still loved it. I got a big bag of chocolates, I think secretly my friend Rachel is trying to make me fat, and I got this cool makeup bag to keep in my purse, which I LOVE...some hair products and lotion and lipstick. My friends are AWESOME!!!
Nick over did himself this year and bought my a new i-pod and a sound deck to put the i-pod on. It is way COOL!! And once I get some music put on it Davis and I will be jamming all day long. Nick woke me up this morning before he left for work showering me with kisses and singing "Happy Birthday". I seriously have the best husband ever!!
Not to mention the money my parents sent in the mail a few days ago and I ran out and bought a new rug for our foyer. I would have never in a million years paid for a rug like this on my own!! Thanks Mom and Dad :)
But really I can't forget the best present of them all and that was Davis saying "Happy to you momma" with a HUGE hug to go with it....I love that kid!!

So, overall this birthday has been AWESOME and thanks to such wonderful friends and family for making me feel so LOVED!!! I love all of you guys and thanks so much for everything that you do for me!! I seriously could get use to this sort of treatment. Y'all should have been thankful that I was low maintenance when it came to my birthdays and now you have created a monster because you totally out did yourselves this year and I expect bigger and greater things next year!! So, this is your warning you have 364 days to start planning for my birthday next year!