Happy Birthday Emma!

So hard to believe that exactly one year ago God brought this beautiful miracle into our lives. Life has gotten better EVERY day of this past year.

Apologies

So sorry for the lack of updating....

things are a little crazy around here...Lots of little things to do... but we are SO excited... for Emma's big day!!

Alice Springs Quesadilla

Have I ever told you that my hubby is an excellent cook? He's an original. He comes up with his own creations and they are ALWAYS good! This past week, he made his own version of Alice Springs Quesadillas and they were scrumptious!

We used a new quesadilla maker and extra large quesadillas.

Add a little chicken, bacon bits, low-fat honey mustard and fat-free cheese. You could also add mushrooms and onions if you would like.

Grill for 10 minutes and....

ENJOY!

I don't usually blog about cooking (because....well, I am not a good cook) BUT this creation was worth blogging about!

A birthday Preview

I am so excited about Em's party. I have been working so hard to make it just perfect. I just love working out all the details and can't wait for the big day...even though I can't believe it is almost here!

Who needs diet food when you have legs like this...

A little Q & A

Get ready for super long, full of information, fun post.

Duet Diva asked...

Besides Outback (which she knows is my fav), where is my favorite place to eat?

I love Carraba's. I think I like it more than Outback. I always get the same thing...Filet Marsala with veggies and pasta alfredo. I'm sure it has like 5,000 calories but who cares when it is THAT good!

What is my favorite thing about John Allen (my hubby)?

It is hard to pick just one thing. I love almost everything about him, except the fact that he leaves his wet towels on the bed and/or floor every day. I guess my favorite thing would have to be his love of surprises. Whether it is him surprising me or the other way around. He keeps things interesting and we always have a good time together.

Do I wear perfume? If so, what kind?

I have several. I usually wear Design by ????. I also have Lacoste perfume and I love Miracle by Lancome.

When I am all by myself, what do I like to do?

I love to do crafts. I got a sewing maching for Christmas and am looking forward to learning how to sew. I like to paint and draw. I also LOVE to read.

What has been my best mommy memory?

There are so many! If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the first time we met. When I first counted her ten little toes, first touched her little fingers and kissed her little cheeks. Everything about that day was so special and it has only gotten better from then on.

Stephanie asked...

How did we decide on the name Emma?

Well, you see, it all starts back in high school. I am Jane Austen girl. While Emma is not my favorite JA novel (that prize goes to Pride and Prejudice...ooooh, Mr Darcy makes my heart do jumping-jacks) ...I fell in love with the name. It only helped when Rachel used the name. No other name would do. I'm just glad that my JA (John Allen) liked it too!

If Emma were a boy, what would his name have been?

Good thing we didn't have a boy, b/c we could not settle on a boys name! I liked Jackson, Grayden, and Sam. He liked James, Allen and Robert. Still can't settle on a boys name, but we do have another girls name and NO I'm not telling. :)

What are our plans for Emma's birthday?

We are having family and friends come to a Clemson themed party with lots of polka dots and fun activities for all. That's ALL I'm saying. :)

Ellen asked...

How are thing going with our move? Do we like living closer to family?

Things are great! We love being so close to our families and definately don't miss our long drives back to Raleigh. For those that don't know, we are currently living in my parents basement apartment and have just started looking for a house in SC. It was rough to transition into such a smaller living environment, but my parents have made it WONDERFUL! Emma loves being so close to Granna and Papa and since my mom keeps Em while I work, it makes it easy to "drop her off" at daycare...just a quick walk up the stairs.

How did I meet the hubby?

Are you ready for a long story? Well, we worked together at Outback for a long time before we started dating. In fact, we hardly ever spoke. Then one night, I was supposed to work behind the bar with a guy named Jason. Right before my shift, Jason's girlfriend came in and asked to pick up my shift. I gave in and decided I would go and meet my roommate for a quick bite. On my way home, my roomie and I decided to stop by Charlie T's to see if our friend, Erin was working. We walked in the door and saw John Allen (my hubby) sitting at the bar by himself. You see, he had just moved into a new apartment and did not have cable hooked up and he REALLY needed to watch a basketball game on TV. We walked over and sat down with him and the rest is history. We spent the night hanging out and had our first official "date" a couple of nights later. I often think about ALL the things that had to happen for us to meet that night. Thank you Jason, Jennifer, Mandi, Erin, and Northside Cable Company.

This was SO much fun! If you have any more questions, shoot! And, do a post on your blog...let's get to know each other!

The end of an era

A breakdown of the last decade

2000 I am a college freshman. Enjoying life with my best friend, Mel. Making mistakes. Skipping class. Studying hard. Missing my grandpa who passed away Christmas Eve 1999. Feeling the freedom of living out of my parent's house. At my ideal weight. Working for the Clemson Football office. LOVING life.

2001 Still in college. Living in an apartment. Fighting with my friend, Mel. Missing her and still dating a somewhat questionable boy. Break up with somewhat questionable boy later this year. Changed my major from Nursing to Education. Start back working at Outback.

2002 I'm a junior. Living with some very good friends from my major. I buy my first car...a black Volkswagon Jetta. Turn 21. Have fun with friends. Make a roadtrip with Erin to Boone to visit my cousin at App. Get stuck in the snow and get made fun of for NOT bringing warm clothing. Date a boy from work.

2003 I graduate from Clemson. Decide to NOT go into the workforce yet. Move back home with my parents. Share a bathroom with my brother. In the fall, I move back out and live with Karen and Mandi from work. Turn 22 and have an awesome birthday with friends at Villa Luigi's in Central.

2004 In January I meet a boy at a random place....Charlie T's. We fall in love. Go to The Masters. He graduates from Clemson. He moves to Raleigh. I turn 23. I start subbing at schools and interviewing for jobs in NC.

2005 I get a teaching job at Rolesville Elementary. I meet a lot of GREAT people. Move to NC. Teach writing and SS in 5th grade. Visit DC for 3 days with 125 5th graders. Go to the OIB with the fam. Attend friends weddings. Get engaged on my birthday in September. Papa Alexander passes away the day before Thanksgiving. Go to Charleston for New Years with the Columbia crew.

2006 Get married. Buy a house. Friends get married. Thoroughly enjoy the wedding season while attending 7 weddings. Celebrate Christmas with my new hubby and his family. Reese graduates. Go to Mexico for our honeymoon. Buy an I-pod and a new camera. Turn 25. Car insurance rates go down.

2007 Move to Second grade. Get a new principal. Enjoy a trip to Virginia with the hubby for our first Anniversary. Gain weight. Try to learn how to cook. Visit home almost monthly. Enjoy many Clemson football games. Enjoy life as newlyweds. LOVE teaching. Hubby surprised me with a new car on Thanksgiving day. Put our house on the market.

2008 Got pregnant. Found out my hubby's best friend's were pregnant too and so is my good friend, Courtney. Celebrated several weddings. Took our house off the market. Drowned in lesson plans for my maternity leave. Girls nights with the second grade crew at Los Hermanes. One HOT Clemson football game=one tired swollen pregnant lady. Road trip with Julie. Malana got married. Put our house on the market again.

2009 Emma was born. Moved back to SC. Sold house. Quit job. Miss NC friends. Moved in with parents. Celebrated many firsts. Got two part-time jobs. Celebrated 3 years of marriage. My cousin and the closest thing I have to a sister got engaged. My brother, Reese married his adorable wife, Meredith. Try to save money. Search for houses.

WOW! Things really have changed over the past 1o years. From college freshman to wife and mother. Hoping that the next decade is even better than the last!