Papa's Funeral

Papa's funeral was on Friday, September 25th, 2009.  A hard day for sure.  There was a viewing the night before which we, of course, went to.  The kids were a bit weirded out at first at seeing Papa's body in the coffin.  To be honest- it was weird for me too.  I hate funerals (who doesn't?), but this one was really tough.  Matt had never been to a viewing before in his life, so this was pretty tough for him too.  Papa looked so peaceful, and we know he's in a much better place. The funeral was really nice (well, as nice as a funeral can be).  It was a military funeral since Papa served in the Army for 22 years.  They did the rifle shots, taps, and played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes.  Yes, all tear inducing events.  Matt and Chris both gave excellent little talks about Papa.  So hard! I don't know how they did it!  These pictures are from the lunch we had after at Charles and Sharon's.   Martin and Sharon both prepared really nice picture slideshows of Papa throughout the years.  

**Note** yes, I refuse to wear black to funerals.  I think it's depressing enough to be at the funeral, so why not add some color! My girls and I wore hot pink and white.  I like to think of it as being a bright spot on such a hard day.  

The group of family that was there

Me, Lexie and Nanny

Charles (Matt's dad) and Nanny

Nanny, Becky and Max (Jenny and Martin's cutie little boy!)

Nanny getting ready to watch the slideshow

Becky and Sydnee at the viewing

Jenny and Lexie at the viewing

Sharon (matt's mom) and Lexie

Martin, Jenny (matt's cousin), and Lexie

Couples get together

Last weekend we had 7 other couples over for a pot luck dinner, game playing and chatting!  That's 16 people in my tiny house, folks!  I can't wait till I move to a bigger place! Then we can invite even more of our friends!  I had to cap the invitee list, because I just didn't have the room!  Anyway, it was so fun!  We talked A TON! And everyone seemed to really enjoy Nicole and Ryan's Rock Band!  Thanks Voges!  We will definitely be making this a recurring event.  Denise and Brandon left before we got pics with them--bummer!  But here's the rest of us.....we did get a group pic, but melissa needs to email it to me..hint...hint, and then I'll put it on here!  :) 

                      Girl Chat

 Yes, we know I'm an idiot--this just confirms it even more!

The Girls Band

I LOVE Tim's expression in this pic! He is the life of a party for sure! 

The Boys Band

Our Papa

Our wonderful Papa passed away this past Sunday.  He was 87 years old.  We have a lot of good memories with him, and we will miss him dearly!  I don't think our kids really realize that he's gone yet.  The family parties will be so different, but we know that he is in a better place and feeling A LOT better.  He's just waiting for us to join him!  The kids are still keeping him in their prayers.  Tonight Sydnee said, "please bless that Papa will have a good day in Heaven."  It was one of the sweetest things I've ever heard!  Lexie has his namesake-Shelby- as her middle name.  He always called her Baby Shelby, and I love that.  Sydnee and Papa's birthdays are a day apart, so we always got to celebrate both at the same time- that I will miss.  Rest assured, Papa, I will eat some cake for you!  I went to see him and drop off some flowers a week ago today.  He was in the acute care hospital, and didn't look well at all.  I just had a feeling that it might be the last time I saw him.  I talked to him for a bit, but he was very sleepy and having a hard time speaking.  I turned to go, but before I did, I turned around and said- "HEY!"  he said- "hey!"  I said-"I love you, Papa."  he said- " I love you too, girl."  And that's the last thing he ever said to me.  I'm so glad I got to say goodbye- and I know he's waiting in heaven for his beautiful Luna and us to reunite with him.  It just hurts a bit for now. 

Lexie- 7 months old already!

7 months already!! (Well, technically not until the 27th) Can you believe it?  I sure can't!  This little cutie is doing a TON of new things!  She is sitting up solo now-even in the tub,  she has 2 cutie little bottom teeth, drinking from MY water bottle *you should see her face when she gets a hold of it*, eating little snacks by herself, sitting in her highchair, and TRYING TO CRAWL!!  No! Stop it! Wait up!  She's leaving me in the dust!  She has seemed to just start doing everything all at once.  This little girl is SUCH a joy.  She is constantly happy, and is content to play by herself for quite a while.  However, when she's done, SHE'S DONE.  And she will let you know with an incredibly LOUD scream.  She must have inherited my skill for loudness, because she can certainly get loud!  

Giant Steps Family Day and some cute ones

On Saturday, the 19th, Giant Steps (Sydnee's preschool) had a Family Day Picnic for the students and their families.  I have to say, it was more fun than I thought it would be.  They had Mcgruff the Crime Dog, face painting, moon bounces, a balloon lady, and TONS of food.  The kids had a great time, and it was a good way to pass some time on a Saturday afternoon.  The last 3 pics are ones we took last week after David's birthday lunch.  I just thought they were cute, so I added them in. 

It's official!

It's official folks! NOVEMBER 15, 2009!! I've registered for the Rock and Roll 1/2 marathon! That's 13.1 MILES to be exact!   YIKES! I am so excited and nervous at the same time.  I've never been a long distance runner, so this is all new for me! I have been running 4 miles 3 times a week with Lexie in the jogger stroller, and Nicole and I do our long runs on Saturday mornings.  We are scheduled for 7 miles this week! AAHH!  We'll see if I die or not...ahhahahah! It's been really great running with a friend, because we talk A LOT, and the time seems to go by pretty quickly.  We've got our time down to a 9:25 mile (right nicole??)--I'm sure I'm slowing her down!  My legs are about half the length of hers! LOL!  Anyway, Nicole reserved us a room downtown so we don't have to deal with parking and all the craziness that Matt and I dealt with last year. We are just going to get up, and have a warm up walk to the start line!  Matt and Ryan are going down with us for moral support, and of course to snap pics of us! hehe ;)  Matt really wanted to run the 1/2 marathon again this year, but his knee is really giving him problems.  He didn't want to chance ruining it more!  Thanks honey for letting me do this!! I can't wait!!

ps--I'm LOVING the results of my runs--all my pregnancy weight is gone, and my pants fit! YAY!

Tennessee Last Day- Grand Ole Opry, lunch and the airport!

AWWW- my last day in Tennessee.  I was so sad to leave.  My trip wasn't near long enough! I needed to stay like 2 weeks!  These are some fun shots we took before we left, then at lunch and The Grand Ole Opry (we didn't go in because it cost a TON of money, but we went to the gift shop and walked around the grounds-which were beautiful), then finally at the airport.  I can't even begin to describe all the fun I had with my sister and her family.  She was such a good host, and I can't wait to go back with my whole family!  We did so many fun things, and had so much fun! 

In front of Kate's cute house!

Lunch at the Macaroni Grill

Saying goodbye to my sweet niece

I love my sister!

Derrick swinging Lexie around! He was so cute with her! 

Tennessee Day 3- Franklin and Ft Campbell

On day 3 in Tennessee, Kate and I took Lexie to go over to Franklin.  (Ky and Derrick stayed home to have a daddy-daughter date)  Franklin was really full of history!  We went to a place called the Carnton Plantation. This was where the Battle of Franklin took place--one of the 5 bloodiest battles in the Civil War.  We didn't take the tour of the house, but I bought a great book called The Widow of the South.  It's a SIGNED first addition, and I'm so glad I bought it--now if I could just find time to read it!   We also got some stone bullets that they actually dug out of the ground.  We ate at a super yummy place called the Mellow Mushroom--if you are ever in the area of one, I HIGHLY recommend it!  After we left Franklin, we actually turned the wrong way, we were driving along and all of the sudden there was the Temple!  How funny is that?!?!  So, of course, I had to get out and get a picture!  We stopped at home and picked up Ky and Derrick to go out to Ft Campbell (where Derrick works).  It's actually in Kentucky--but I didn't get a picture in front of the state sign- boo.  Anyway, we saw the helicopters that he flies and many more!  It's like a helicopter mecca! We jumped out to get a quick pic in front of some, and it started raining, so we left the kids in the car- ky was crying about it, thus, the reason for the last picture of me and her.  man, i love that kid!

A house on the road in Franklin-wouldn't you love to live there?!

The Carnton Plantation House

The Confederate Cemetery with the Carnton Plantation in the background

Kate and Lexie at the Mellow Mushroom

The Nashville Temple

Big Copters

Love this girl!!

Tennessee Day 2- Walking tour of Nashville and Country Music Hall of Fame!

Day 2 in Nashville!  We went on a 90 minute walking tour of some famous sites in Nashville and then went to the Country Music Hall of Fame.   On the walking tour we saw the Ryman Auditorium (the first home of the Grand Ole Opry)- ky and I played on like crazies on the stage.  We also got to see backstage at The Ryman, and saw the dressing rooms where Johnny and June got ready!! We saw Tooties Orchid Lounge (where a TON of famous country songs were written)...yes, we took our babies--IN A BAR!....we also heard a lot of insider stories about stars and Nashville--it was so neat!  There is too much to list of the awesome things we saw at the Country Music Hall of Fame...a few of my favorites were: 

*Elvis's car-this thing was HUGE, and it had a TV in the back!

*Elvis's gold piano

*Carrie Underwood's HUGE maroon taffeta dress she wore when she sang at the CMA awards in 2008.  

*George's Hall of Fame induction plaque

*TONS of gold and platinum records from over the years

I thought this giant guitar was awesome!

The Country Music Hall of Fame

GEORGE'S PLAQUE!

Derrick and Lexie at the gift shop

Elvis's giant car! yes, it's blurry, but they wouldn't let us use a flash. 

Yes, I am on the sidewalk--but George is painted on it! 

Singing at the Grand Ole Opry! (the Ryman Auditorium)

Derrick and Lexie walking--she fell asleep on him--sooooo sweet!

Having an apple

We had a picnic in the back of the truck-much cheaper than buying everyday- and it was yummy!

One side of the street- BARS were everywhere! And usually rockin by 11 am! HA!