Happy Blog-aversary to Me!!!

It's been one year since I began our blog. For several years I had tossed around the idea of documenting our family's ins and outs with a blog, but I had never actually taken the initiative to bring it to fruition. Then, when I finally "took the plunge," I had no idea how it would turn out. I have to say that I am proud of my work and efforts. Even though it's time consuming, can be frustrating, and sometimes I go entirely too long between posts, I have to give myself kudos for bringing it as far as I have. It's so neat to go back and re-read posts that are months old. So many of the "little moments" would have been lost to memory had I not posted them here. So, happy birthday, Three Belles and a Beau! May you have many, many more!!

"The most essential factor is persistence - the determination never to allow your energy or enthusiasm to be dampened by the discouragement that must inevitably come." 

~ James Whitcomb Riley

Sprinkling Amanda

"The girls" gathered recently to "sprinkle" one of our own, my sweet, sweet friend, Amanda, who is expecting her second baby, a little GIRL (yay, PINK!) in April. We could not NOT celebrate, so we all gathered at Village Tavern in Alpharetta for lunch and then went for some much-needed pampering at a local nail spa. It was fabulous to have kid-free time to catch up with some of my oldest and dearest friends. I treasure this group of girls so much and I am so glad that I have them in my life - even all these years later. There's just nothing quite like a group of trusted, loved, and ridiculously smart, successful, beautiful women who know ALL your secrets (and love you in spite of them!). Thanks, girls, for yet another wonderful day! I think we may have a wonderful weekend in store... gonna have to get on that one.

Sweet Little Moments

You know, I never forget how blessed I am to be married to my husband and to be the mama to these two precious babies. The other night I was cooking dinner and Caroline and Travis were on the deck having a little alone time. I couldn't resist taking this picture... saving the moment forever. And, of course, I also had to get a shot of Little Miss Emily gazing out the window dreaming of the day she is old enough to join them :) Sweet thang.

"He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it."  

~Clarence Budington Kelland

Mama's Birthday and the Road to Tara!

Well... Mama turned 33. Why do birthdays come in such rapid succession these days? I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure I celebrated (is that the word?) my 32nd birthday just last week, so this must all be a huge mistake. All kidding aside, I'm not sure any woman actually enjoys getting older, but wise ones at least embrace the fact that another year means more experience and more perspective... and that's always a good thing. I'm so thankful that I have my family, my health, amazing friends, and so many new and enriching experiences in my life right now. I have more gray hairs, but I also have more understanding of the "bigger picture." Life is good, and I'm going to wear 33 proudly... until next week when all of your crazy people are ready to celebrate my 34th birthday. Slow down!
Caroline wanted to take me to the "Scarlett O'Hara Museum" for my birthday - so that is what we did. You know Caroline, just like her mama, is a die hard Gone With the Wind fan (sooooo proud of my girl!) and she had heard of the museum where you "can see all of Scarlett's dresses," so Mama came over last weekend and we had a girl's day out. It was fabulous and Caroline was awed and inspired. She even wore her Scarlett dress! Afterward we had sushi for lunch. Beautiful day!!

"I can shoot straight if I don't have to shoot too far." ~ Scarlett O'Hara

Happy, Happy Birthday Little Miss Emily Kate!

Wow! I am so behind on my updates! It's almost been a month since Em's birthday already - what can I say - life's been especially busy since Christmas. I can't believe that my baby is one. Just thinking about it is unbelievable. It can't have been a year since we brought her home for the very first time. Gosh. Where does the time go? What a precious joy she has been to our family, though. Ever since the first time we looked into her sweet little face and deep not brown-but-not-green-but-not-hazel eyes she has held us completely captive by her "Emily-ness." We love her beyond measure. Both of our girls - just pure joy and love! So, Emily's birthday party... what can I say? She had a blast and we did, too. She was the perfect hostess and provided us all with wonderful and perfect memories. Here are some shots from the big day! Such a little lady - but don't TOUCH her cake!!!

"All the world is a birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much." 

~ George Harrison

Winter Wonderland

Anyone who lives in the South (and especially us Native Southern Belles), will readily admit that any hint of ice, snow, sleet, or freezing rain sends us scurrying to the grocery store for milk, bread, eggs, and water, to Home Depot for generators, flashlights, batteries, and candles, and to out behind the woodshed to chop up plenty of extra firewood so we can fend off the possibility of actually freezing to death during the night. To put it mildly, we prepare for a Nor'easter blizzard that actually comes in the form of maybe a couple of inches of actual frozen precipitation. So to all you Yanks out there scoffing at us -- this is not an apology - nor is it even a bit self-effacing - nope, absolutely not. Us Southerners are more accustomed our beloved climate (the very one that entices cold-stunned Yankees to flock here by the millions) - and we are far happier sweating out the strident heat of summer than we would be suffering through the misery of a Buffalo or Chicago winter -- no question! So the fact that a wintry day or two throughout the year whips us into a frenzy shouldn't come as a surprise. We enjoy "playing winter" for a day, or two at the most, and we live it up Hurricane-party style. We have enjoyed the snow and ice here at the Thomas home - no school and a day to play in the white stuff - it's been nice! Uncle Chad, Meggy, Madison, and Chandler came over and we played on the four-wheeler all day. Madison Stanford and Caroline have just come in from the cold and are snuggled up watching a movie and we've got a Crock Pot full of homemade spaghetti for dinner. Life is good. Now... to watch the school closings for one more day's reprieve!

"January brings the snow, makes our feet and fingers glow."
  ~Sara Coleridge

Merry Christmas!

Well, the Big Man came to the Thomas house and what a visit he made. Caroline and Emily slept soundly all night long knowing that sometime during their slumber Santa Claus himself would slide down the chimney and leave some nice treats for "good" little girls who live here. It started early when Caroline came creeping down the stairs, slowly and tentatively at first, then proclaiming, upon seeing her bounty, "He came! He came!" Caroline had wished and wished for her very own Nintendo DS all year long and she just knew that Santa was going to bring her one. How disappointed she was when she saw that he hadn't.... she was still very excited about the other nice things he brought her, but we could see that she was still hopefully looking around for that one special gift. After some serious looking, she spied a shiny, pink DS among the branches of the Christmas tree! Santa had tricked her! She was delighted. Emily slept in (of course, the one day it would have been fine to get up super early and she picks this day to sleep late!! Go figure.) When she did get up, she could tell something special was going on and had a good time exploring her own little treasure trove. We had a good brunch and then tried to relax a little bit. It was a wonderful morning!

"One of the most glorious messes in the world is the 

mess created in the living room on Christmas day.  

Don't clean it up too quickly."

  ~Andy Rooney