My Friend Darcy

I want to tell you about one of my best friends, Darcy! Darcy is 34 and lives in Atlanta, GA.  She is one of the most super fun people I know.  She is cute, smart, funny, and is absolutely everything you would want in a friend. She was my college roommate and we are still good friends today.  She is one of those people who will always go out of the way for someone else; and she is a very loyal and supportive friend. She is also someone who is always ready to get out and do something fun!  She is just a great all around girl and I would love for her to meet the right guy!

This is Darcy. She's from Niceville, FL and then went to Auburn for college (War Eagle!) and moved to Atlanta after graduation.  She's worked for the same company since college and owns her own condo in Atlanta -- all to say that she has it together!

Darcy is adventurous; she loves trying new things, and she absolutely loves to ski!

She likes cats and dogs.  Although she does not have any of her own, she is always willing to dog or cat sit for family and friends. 

She loves to travel, take cruises, and even has a trip to Italy planned for later this year!

She loves Auburn football!!

She is very close with her family and enjoys hanging out with her mom and her sister. 

She enjoys being outdoors - exercising, running, going to Braves games, etc.

She loves kids and is always the first to play with my kids or our friends' kids when we are together!  We usually meet up at the beach at least one time a year and she is always willing to get down in the sand and build castles, etc. with the kids.  I have no doubt she will make a great mother one day!

She really enjoys entertaining and is about the best host you will ever find!  She has been known to host the cutest birthday parties, baby showers, etc. 

As her former college roommate, Darcy is a very neat/organized person but she is not uptight and can certainly live with those of us who are less than neat and tidy people!

As you can see from just these pictures, Darcy has a lot of interests and is such a great, fun person! I really would love for her to meet the right person!

Day Out with Thomas

A few Saturdays ago we took Ben to Day Out with Thomas. Ben is OBSESSED with trains or "choo-choos" of all kinds. We must see them every day on the way to work and on the way home. If we say we are going to the zoo, it is all he talks about on the way there, while we are there, and on the way home. He makes choo-choos out of his sandwiches, chips, etc. We watch the train portion of Toy Story 3 several times a day. You get the picture. Anyway, I think this may have been one of the best days of his young life. He still tells me most days "Mommy, I rode Thomas."

Checking out Thomas when we first arrived.

Riding Thomas.

Looking around at the other trains.

Daddy & Ben - matching Thomas tattoos.

On the way home.

Sweet girl.

Weekend at Home

We had a nice laid-back weekend at home and took a bunch of pictures (yay-us)! Here are a few of my favorites.

Clare's 5 month picture. She can now blow raspberries and mimic you saying "ba." She also had her first ear infection.

My cool kid!

Just because I like her outfit!

We decided it was time to try out the jumperoo. Ben's favorite thing to do -- "ride his bike." He talks about it pretty much every day on the way home from school. It usually goes something like this: "I ride my bike. I ride fast. I have a bike at home. Charlie [one of his friends at school] has a bike at home too."

And yes, we were bad parents and totally forgot to put on his helmet before we went out to ride. And yes, a helmet is necessary with a trike as he likes to barrel down the hill (small slope) in the street into the cul-de-sac with his hands and feet off the pedals. We foresee a few trips to the ER in his lifetime. The boy is CRAZY.

Clare - 4 months

Clare at 4 months -- How sweet are those chubby little legs! I love it! Her fourth month was a big one -- she nows laughs like crazy (usually at Ben) and can roll front to back and back to front. She was 14 lbs (70%) and 25 1/4 inches (90%). She is growing way too fast!

Clare's Baptism

Clare was Baptized on Sunday and here are a few pictures from the day.

Clare's Godparents - her aunt Reagan, Uncle Mark, and Uncle Dan.

Clare with Aunt Margaret.

Later in the day and after everyone left after lunch I wanted to try to get a few pictures of Clare in her gown and bonnet. These are a few from her photo shoot.

And any time I take Clare's picture, Ben insists that I take his picture too.

Cute little tush!

Clare - 3 months

Clare at 3 months. She weighed approximately 13 lbs 1 oz. It is getting so hard to get her picture without fingers in her mouth. You have to pull them down and then try to take the picture quickly before she gets them back in. This was the best I could do.

Ben trying to get Clare to smile for the camera.

No luck.

Playing in the snow.

Kicking and stomping the snow is the best part.

Fun Valentine's shirt from Aunt Reagan.

Celebrating Christmas

We were fortunate to have many Christmas celebrations. We began in Pell City on Wednesday, the 22nd to celebrate with Matt's parents and step-brother and step-sister and their families.

Ben with Buzz & Woody.

On Christmas Eve, we started the morning with breakfast at Cracker Barrel and a trip to Bass Pro Shop. Ben and Matt racing cars. That night we met my family at Church for the Christmas Eve service and then went to my parents' house to celebrate Christmas with my family.

Our only family picture.

Trying on snow boots from Nana and Grandpa (these will be getting some use in the very near future)!

Clare with Nana and Grandpa.

Cute cousins.

Christmas morning.

Trying out his new "bike."

Shooting hoops.

Stocking loot.

Playing choo-choos with new Thomas gear!

Clare getting in on the action.

Playing with tickle monster hands!

After we did Christmas morning at our house, we left for Pell City to celebrate with Matt's extended family.

Christmas picture with MawMaw and PawPaw.

Finally, Christmas night was spent back in Birmingam with Matt's dad.

Ben and Matt with new guitars.

Riding his bike!