Local Bloggers Get-Together

I was talking to Casey yesterday about getting some local bloggers together for coffee or dinner or lunch or something soon.  I don't have an agenda, but thought it would be fun since there aren't that many of us!


If you are a blogger in North Louisiana, would you be interested?  Please leave a comment and I will get it planned!  Tell your bloggy friends!

Our Weekend

I couldn't believe how quickly our week flew by and that we were already to the weekend.  Friday got here so fast!  I think our weekend might have gone a little bit faster, though.  We started off by camping.  On Saturday, I sold our bedroom furniture on Craig's List.  I had to get all the drawers and what-not cleaned out.  I didn't really think ahead on the whole where-am-I-going-to-put-my-stuff thing.  So, I have my clothes sitting on the shelf in our TV cabinet!  It's OK, because I have got to get something done in our room.  Ever since I found a very inspiring room on Pinterest...I haven't been able to get it off my mind!  Our room will be making it's transition to white and gray...can't wait!

I went to a couple sales with Erinn, we met up at Starbucks with Leslie, and then I went to a couple estate sales with Amy.  We found a little nightstand for $7 that I spray painted gray.  It looked really good last night in the dark.  We shall see what  I think in the light of day.

On Saturday night, we headed to Derrick's 40th birthday party.  April, his wife, planned a low-key party with his friends.  He loves rotel and wings, Strawn's strawberry pie...so that's what she had!  It was cute.

us

Happy Birthday, Derrick!

We got up and headed to church with just Henry since Bennett was in Ruston.  Bennett LOVES going to Ruston and he is loved on so much while he is there.  I thought Henry looks adorable in his little cap for church.  Neil did not love his accessory!!! :)

It was a great family-filled weekend.  Looking forward to many more where we are ALL together.

Happy Campers

All the Lewis boys went camping yesterday after school and work.  Henry and I joined them for dinner and campfire time for a little bit, but came home for bed and warmth!  Bennett was thrilled to be out at the 604 Hunting Club.  Neil has been trying for about 2 years to get some sort of shelter out there for us to stay on weekends or for them to hunt.  I think they have finally decided on a single wide mobile home.  It's gonna be swanky!  I can't wait to have a little redneck weekend getaway!

I was so excited to head out there after work.  Bennett was so excited he could barely speak in a full sentence.  He just couldn't get over the camper, woods, and endless supply of flashlights.  When Richard pulled up with the camper, it was like he was seeing a celebrity pull in to Hollywood.

I will speak for Neil when I say that he was probably really glad I decided to go out there.  He never really thought about what he was going to do if Bennett needed to go to the bathroom.  Let's just say that we had a piece of firewood, wipes, a flashlight, and the woods.  I won't elaborate, but I want this written so we can look back and laugh!

He was such a big helper unloading all the wood. Check out his boots.

He unloaded all the chairs.

Look at the Lewis boys with their arms crossed!  So macho! (Richard had his arms like this so Bennett copied to look like him!)

With camper in background

Grandad and Henry

me and my little man

Having a flashlight outside while camping is the BEST!

All 4 boys!

Roasting marshmallows

He ate about 15 marshmallows and that was only while I was there.

He had canned apple juice and thought it was so cool.

Connor and Chad got there later and they had a BLAST!

Random Week Post

Our week has been full.  We haven't had lots of activities or anything like that...it's just busy going to work at 7 and not getting home until 5:30.  We have had lots of fun in the evenings relaxing (ha)!  We seriously go 90 to nothing until the boys go to bed.  It's fun chaos and I would not change it!

We decided to have our Gymboree friends over on Tuesday night for dinner and play time.  I made this Paula Deen dish that was not fabulous.  I joked that it might be one of her "post-Diabetes" recipes! Ick, don't make it! Bland city.

Bennett and Mason had a blast in Henry's bed

Henry, Evie, and Ahni playing

All 5 kids!  Bennett, Henry, Ahni, Mason, and Evie

Last night, Bennett and Neil got their hair cut.  Bennett hops right up in the chair and is so good while getting his hair cut.  He requests a brown and orange sucker afterwards.

And on a totally random note... I FINALLY had my towels made.  Jeannie did an awesome job putting the boy's initials on them.  They go great with the shower curtain.

Is it already Thursday?  I guess time flies when you're having fun!!

Beville's Baby Shower Dinner

We had a fun time last night celebrating the Beville's!  We can't wait to meet their sweet little Anna Kate!  Katie is due February 13th, so AK could be here any day!  We are so excited for these 2...they are going to be great parents!

We got Jared his own "Daddy bag."  It's manly, but doesn't come in until the end of February so we had to give him a picture.

Jared and Katie

Amy and me

Here we all are: Hanna's, Beville's, us, Amy, Raines', and Cox family

Yay!  A boppy!

Only a couple more weeks until we all meet Anna Kate!!!

I'm Baaaaaaaaaack!

Today was my first day back to work after being off for almost 8 months.  I haven't not worked for that long of a stretch since I was a freshman in college.  It was nice.  I loved staying home and being with my kids day in and day out.  I felt like I could stay on top of the house work and laundry.  I am surely counting my blessings!

Now, I am back to the grind.  2 fabulous things about my first week back... 1. it's a 4 day week and 2. we have 2 green and gold days! (this means that I get to wear a school t-shirt)

me and my boys on my first day back to work!

I had a nice first day.  I liked my classes and everyone was so sweet to welcome me back!  Now the question that is on everyone's mind...When is our next break???


Guess what?  My cousin, Carrie started a blog!  I am so excited to have a family member join the blog world.  Check her out here.

My Actual Birthday...the BIG 3-0!

I cannot believe that I am 30. I feel like it was just yesterday that I turned 21 and got to go to the casino for the first time!  My how birthdays change.  This birthday started with poop and lots of it.  Bennett and Henry had extra poopy mornings. (Can I say that?)  Anyway, I got so much done around the house today.  We were all off for MLK day and had a nice relaxed day at home.  We left only to meet friends for lunch at Chick-Fil-A.  I got so much laundry done, cleaned a bunch, and made lunches to prepare me for going back to work tomorrow for the first time in 7 1/2 months!

So, here is our day in pictures...

Neil got up and made homemade banana pancakes complete with candles for us.  Such a sweetie!

Bennett wanted to blow them out after me.

Beautiful! (except for that large number on top)

We met Dad and some friends at Chick-fil-a for lunch.  It was a lot of fun to enjoy these friends during the day one last time before my return to work.

Henry/me, Casey/Evie, and Ann/Max

Look what Ann made for me!  A personalized birthday banner!

me, Dad, and Henry

Mom was so sweet to take us to Outback tonight for dinner.  She even brought balloons and one said "fabulous, flirty, and 30!"  I don't know about the flirty part!

Mom, Bennett (with tongue out), Henry, Neil, and me

Neil and me 

Happy 30th to me!  It was a great birthday!  Now, back to the real world tomorrow!

Leslie's Going Away Party

Leslie got an AMAZING job in Dallas and found out she would be moving.  We are SO PROUD of her! She really deserves this new job because she has worked so hard.  She is going to be an interior designer at the largest health care facility construction in the USA! How fabulous is that?

Once we heard the news, we all got together to plan a "Texas" themed going away hoe-down.  Since she is moving to Texas, we thought she needed BBQ, boots, and all things cowboy.  The decor turned out soooo cute!  Erinn made everything look so cute with her artistic eye.

Here's the BBQ table along with boots and bandannas

Jacques made every bit of the BBQ and it was amazing!  He is an excellent chef.

Bandanna bunting is so fabulous!

We served tea and lemonade in Mason jars...so southern!

Erinn, Leslie, me, and Emily

Cheers!

The Sigma Kappas in attendance...I think we should send this to the Virtual Violet!

The hostesses with the guest of honor. L-R Deb, Erinn, Leigh Ann, Leslie, Holly, me, Emily, and Emily

Holly and me!  I just love Holly Wood!

Carol was so sweet to hold Henry while we cleaned up.  

me, Leslie, and Erinn

My 30th birthday celebration!

I had such a wonderful birthday celebration last night.  We sent the boys to the Buteau's to play with a babysitter while we had dinner.  Neil orchestrated the whole thing and I felt so special.  He is such a sweet husband!  He enlisted the help of Leslie, Amy, Casey, and Erinn with the details.  It was not a surprise or "purprise" as Bennett calls it.  I told him that I did NOT want any form a surprise party.  I would have been too embarrassed.  Anyway, he had Charles Ashley cater the dinner.  I had close friends and family over for a fun evening of food, drinks, and games!  Everyone that came was exactly who I wanted here.
And this party just shows how much Neil really knows me.  He took pictures of every detail before the party...something I always do.  He helped plan the menu and knowing my love of sour cream...he had sour cream au gratin potatoes.  He had Caesar salad because it's my favorite and several other things.  I just loved it!

Neil and me (still 29 in this picture)

The decorations were so cute as well!  Leslie HAND-MADE the cutest "Lindsey is 30" banner.  I just love all of the cute fabrics and ribbon she chose.  Amy planted cute cyclamen in pots for each table.  Leslie also added paper "place-mats" for each guest and markers on the table for them to leave a message for me.  So thoughtful!  There were pictures of me EVERYWHERE.  They had them clipped to the stairs, bookcase, and on the tables.  Some really old ones, college pictures, wedding pictures, family pictures, TONS of pictures.  I loved the invitation, too.  I never thought I would get to have a fabulous invitation made by Caroline at the Paper Tulip, but I did!  It's adorable with a green chevron pattern in the shape of a big square...add a vellum envelope and you have a recipe for a fab invitation.  She is supposed to be sending me a PDF so I can post it here.

The menu was fabulous.  Charles made "soup shooters" for the appetizers.  They were wonderful!  I love foods that are in a mini form.  He made crab and corn bisque, tomato basil, and loaded baked potato for the passed app.  It was so cute!

Amy posing with the soup shooters.

The cake was so great!  Bennett watched the Elf on the Shelf movie about 98,264 times in December and a little bit of January.  So, we watched it that many times.  Chippy the elf sang a song called "Extravaganzalorious" that would get stuck in my head for days.  So, this is where Neil got the writing for my cake!

Look at the detail on this!

Matthew and Casey

Me=the product of these 2

Carol, Leslie, and Dad serving their plates

me and Leslie

Rebecca, Richard, and Carolyn

Beau and Tim drawing their pictures.

Amy is practically an artist!

 

Here I am waiting on my cake to arrive while everyone was singing  "Happy Birthday!"

NEW TO POST!!!! I found some software online that allowed me to recover old files!!!  It found lots of files that I had lost spontaneously.  So, without further ado...the rest of my birthday celebration!

Janine, Mom, and Neil sang our family birthday song to me...How sweet!!

Erin and me with the scarf she gave me

Thanks to Leslie for the Twilight game!

Love these Lewis family notepads from Erinn

The Smiths looked so cute all cuddled up!

group shot!

My SIL and me

It was a fabulous birthday celebration.  I was so glad that Neil's parents spent the night with us and Mom decided to keep Bennett over night at her house.  It was a great night!