10 hours later,......

we finally arrived in Birmingham!  This past weekend Jacob and I drove home to spend some quality time with family and friends.  We ended up leaving Tulsa around 8 pm on Thursday night and pulled into Birmingham just in time to see the sunrise!

After a quick nap, we were ready for the day!  It is always so much fun being at home!

But the day took a turn for the worse when mom mentioned she had purchased pogo sticks for my nieces.  WARNING: These things are not as easy as they appear!

                      Falling.....                                                                                         Spotting........

Mom opting for the kid proof pogo stick (notice the huge disk it is mounted on.  EVEN this one was hard)!

                 Falling.........                                                                                     Spotting.......

Jacob felt bad for my lack of pogo stick skills so he decided to pick it up in order to get some bounce....look how bored he looks!

Now I know why he looked so bored........he is a MASTER pogo sticker!

However, the day was not a lost cause!  It immediately got better by lunch (and even better with dinner).  When we are at home, I can not eat enough of all the good southern home cooking ....

and apparently Jacob can't get enough either!

On Saturday, my family attended a very special wedding! My dear friend of 14 years, Buck Poole, got married! I had no idea how much fun this night would turn out to be.......

Meet my best friend Kala and her husband Vance!  Kala and I met when we were 6 months old.  26 years later plus family vacations, high school and college graduations, living together, being maids of honor and spending countless hours on the phone, our friendship has withstood the test of time. 

College friends, Johnathon and Palmer Mayer

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Buck Poole.........how excited is he!!!

Life-long friends, Stu and Jamie Floyd....

Clay-Chalkville High School buddies.....9 years later!

Time for dancing.....

The happy groom and his father....

Vance and Jacob trying to exclude the girls....

I think this picture is better anyways....

 

Final photo of the night!

What a great weekend!  It was wonderful spending time with so many old friends and being apart of a great wedding.  These individuals and their spouses are all incredible. I am very fortunate to call them all friends!

Man...I am really looking forward to the 10 year reunion now!

I sure do love Birmingham trips!  They are always filled with good food and fun events!

...5...6...7...8

Meet Lucy! She is our little ballerina.....

For those of you who know me, you will understand what a BIG deal Lucy's first dance recital was for our family! But for those of you who don't fully understand the magnitude of this event, let me explain...... 

I started dancing when I was three years old.  It was my LIFE! We lived at the dance studio.  I typically would get home from school, change into my leotard and head straight to the studio.  I would eat dinner between classes and do my homework in the car.  This was our routine at least four nights a week. But that was just during the school year.  Of course there were the weekend competitions and the summer dance camps...oh and the summer competitions.  Plus weekend dance conventions and special dance productions at schools, nursing homes, malls and then the travelling to all these locations.....ok so you get the picture. 

                    

This was my life...or my families life...for 15 years!  I have so many wonderful memories of this time because this is were I grew up! And this was the place I found my best friends!

                              

Friendships that have lasted since day one.....

                                     

So naturally when Lucy decided to begin her dancing career this year, we were all very excited!

                         

Maybe too excited! 

   The day of the recital, we all drove/flew to Atlanta.  She had her personal styling team getting her ready......

and one very proud daddy!

Even Molly was excited!  She had her own camera to capture this special moment (this is a pretty big deal if Molly is allowing Lucy to take up memory space)!

Nana wanted to make sure she had a picture with our ballerina!

When we started loading up to head to the recital, we noticed Lucy playing in the garage. And she didn't really seem in any hurry to leave.  At this point, we began to wonder " is she really as excited as the rest of us?!?!?" 

Seated and ready for the show ......(don't worry she really does enjoy my kisses!)

proud mom and dad....

Grand-doug and Molly...

The Lucy Dance Posse

The big moment...where is Lucy you ask?  please see large pink arrow.....

5 and a half minutes later, we are waiting on her outside the dressing room....daddy was loving those flowers...I was not sure he was going to hand them over....

THERE SHE IS!!! Our little dancer. She did such a great job.  She remember every step and put some extra sassiness into the dance that we had never seen before! 

But we then realized all good things must come to an end.  Because what we witness next is Lucy explaining to my brother that she no longer wants to take dancing.  She wants to take karate!!!!!!!!!  OH well....I guess karate recitals could be fun, right?

Either way Lucy Elizabeth, we are SOOOO proud of you....

and we will all be there to cheer you on whether it is at karate matches or pottery sculpting contests!

Here's to a great weekend in Atlanta!

I love these little girls so much!  I am so blessed to have such a great family!