Windy with a...

dash of Bridal Luncheon!

It's always windy in Nashville (or so it seems), but it was seriously windy the day of the Bridal Luncheon! The Bridal Luncheon was held at Jupiter Beach Resort, so in order to keep Brent from having to stay at the hotel locked in a hotel room with the boys, we loaded Brent, the boys and my Granddad up in another car and took them with us. We figured they could play on the beach and by the pool, while we enjoyed lunch with Jody, her family and the other bridesmaids.

Before the festitivites began, it was a must to get pictures on the beach...ok, well, there really wasn't a beach. I can honestly say that I have pretty much seen every beach in Florida (except the Keys...I know. I know!), but I have to say, I've NEVER seen rocks on a Florida beach. But what do I know???!!! This beach had rocks. Tons of rocks and only about 10 feet of beach.

Of course, I can't go to a beach without taking pictures, so here we go...

The water was really rough. REALLY rough! And the wind was worse, somehow managed to keep the hair down while we got a halfway decent picture of all of us.

Not a bad picture...My Granddad took this picture while his hands were shaking like no tomorrow, but he actually did get a good picture.

So cool having my Granddad in a picture with us. Bless his heart, he can't hear hardly anything, but he loves being with us. He LOVES the beach, but doesn't get to go, so it was nice to take him with us and let him enjoy being at the beach and with the boys.

My Mom and I. I love this picture. My mom and me together, along with Florida, the beach, palm trees and Lilly...this was without a doubt, a great day!

Next up, Bridal Luncheon pictures...

TRULY BLESSED to have these memories,
Chasity

PS...Palmer fell on the rocks and scratched his little arm, bless his heart. Rocks...who knew there is a Florida Beach that has rocks...who knew?!

Groomzilla and Mickey Mouse...

What do the two have in common? Both made an appearance on Thursday!

Yep, not only did we get to see Mickey, Pluto, Lilo and Stitch, but we also got to meet Groomzilla...aka, Chris!

Once again, we took our time getting to breakfast. Of course, since breakfast wasn't at 7 a.m., the boys thought they were going to starve...HA! There's a method to my madness. Since breakfast was scheduled for 9:45, they were starving and actually ate their food!


Family pic at Ohana...

Palmer showing off his Mickey waffle...see his treasure box that he bought with his own money?

MICKEY made his appearance!

Then Lilo came around. We hit perfect timing for the characters. We didn't have to wait a million years for them to get to our table.

Pluto...he looks happy, but I seriously think the person inside had issues. Palmer pulled his tongue and Pluto (or person inside) didn't like it. I mean really, he's 4 and he's good at it. Pluto, your tongue is going to get pulled by a 4 year old!

Stitch was great. A funny character. Stitch would fit in well at our house...WHAT AM I SAYING?

Not the best picture in the world thanks to the uncoordinated Disney helper, but since it's the only one I've got, I'll take it!

Another year of Disney down! Now, on to meet Groomzilla.

GROOMZILLA...aka...Christopher Thomas Bailey. As soon as we got to the hotel, I met up with Mom and Chris to go take a look at Harborage Yacht Club, the site of the rehearsal dinner. Poor Mom, she couldn't say anything without Chris jumping all over her. So, as I was sitting in the back seat it suddenly occurred to me that he was acting like a Bridezilla, only he was the Groom...so Groomzilla came to mind. Of course, I then had to put that as my status on Facebook. Chris' reply to my label of Groomzilla was "It's not me, it's her." I then replied, "that's what every Bridezilla says." I'm truly surprised he didn't try to kick me out of the car! Fortunately for me, Jody, his fiance, caught on that he was a little "stressed." She liked the Groomzilla comment! At that point I decided to take the "parent/child" approach to their squabbling -- next person that talked owed me $5...and $5 for each time they talked. Chris owes me $40 and Mom owes me $15. I'm still waiting! They need to pay up!

It's was a long day, but the next few days are going to be exciting and fun...can't wait!

TRULY BLESSED to know a Groomzilla (I think!),
Chasity

PS...Mickey and friends were fun too!

Shamu...

Shamu is huge! Seriously, huge!

So, this year, we gave the boys the opportunity to choose where they wanted to go...Disney World or SeaWorld...well, they chose SeaWorld. Just fine with us. It's been forever since I've been to SeaWorld:)

Believe it or not, I actually took the "we'll get there when we get there" approach to getting to SeaWorld. I know! Not like me, but to be honest, it was nice to take our time getting ready. No character breakfast to attend, no long lines...just a quiet morning (after a long night of sleep -- we stayed with my best friend and her family...they didn't run the air conditioner, so pretty much all night all I heard from THREE different boys was "It's hot." We're the air conditioner kind of people:)

This was a great time of year to go. Seriously, no lines for ANYTHING! It was great. So after breaking the bank to buy tickets, we were at SeaWorld. Just a we walked in, we found ourselves staring at Shamu...

The boys ran to Shamu...

Apparently, Brent and I did too:) The sun was bright, so the boys didn't necessarily want to have their pictures taken, but we did the best we could.

This was the boys' first ride on a roller coaster...we started out on the kiddie coasters. By the end of the day, Palmer passed the height requirement, so we all went on the "wet" roller coaster ride (Palmer refused to go again, but Peyton would the big roller coaster twice)!

This was Palmer and I playing around while we were waiting for the Shamu show to start. Brent and Peyton decided to sit in the "Soak Zone." They got soaked with 50 degree water!!!!! At the end of the day, we all decided to sit in the "Soak Zone." We were three rows up from the whales and only managed to get sprinkled (the hair gods were looking out for me)!

Shamu was beautiful!

See the diver flying off Shamu's nose...it really is amazing. We later learned that it takes a ton of trust on behalf of both the whales and trainers. These whales can do some damage to people they don't know that try to swim with them -- just ask Peyton -- we've had to tell him a certain story a million times!

The entire reason we went to SeaWorld was because the boys have really been into sharks and fish lately! Just ask me any question about sharks...I've had to read a million and one books about sharks lately. Fortunately, the boys were able to feed the sharks (5 shrimp = $5...ridiculous, but worth watching the boys excitement feeding them) and were able to pet the Manta Rays (Peyton got completely splashed by one of the Rays).

This was about the time Palmer started to crash. It's not very often they get to miss naps, but today, they were going to miss nap time...this was nap time! We were waiting on our food and cokes...yes, I gave the boys coke, hoping it would give them an energy boost!

While we waiting on our food, I was trying to entertain a very tired, grumpy little boy. So what did I do...I gave him the camera and started making funny faces. He took pictures while I made faces. The above face is a fish...appropriate for SeaWorld don't you think?

It worked a little bit. He calmed down...THE COKE ARRIVAL TOOK FOREVER!

Then, before we knew it, the day was done. Shamu show x 2, Soak Zone, Roller Coasters x 2, BIG MANTA RAY roller coaster for Mommy, sharks and manta ray petting...we had a great day. One we won't forget!

TRULY BLESSED to have these memories...wouldn't trade them for anything in the world,
Chasity

PS...I am dead serious when I say that Palmer fell asleep on Brent's head while Brent carried him out of the park on his shoulders. Feel asleep on Brent's head. Poor little guy had a very busy day!

Disney or bust...

MICKEY MOUSE! Donald Duck! MICKEY MOUSE! Donald Duck! Forever let us hold our banner High! High! High! High! ... M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!

We left Tally for Disney World and Bethany's house (to see my best friend and baby Bryce) just in time for "nap time." And of course our first stop had to be at Lego Land at Downtown Disney...

Peyton had saved up $58 dollars and had been saving his money for his trip to Lego Land. He was so proud to buy his box of Star Wars Legos.

Palmer also had money...thank goodness he didn't end up buying this Mickey. We would have had to strap him to the top of the car...seriously! He did end up buying a toy pirate chest full of silly stuff...

We ate dinner at the new TREX Restaurant, so while we waited for a table, they boys started digging up fossils (a great way to kill time while waiting for a table). We sat in the "Ice Age" area of the restaurant which was pretty cool! Think Rainforest Cafe, just dinosaurs!

It was a great day...tomorrow will be even busier!

TRULY BLESSED to be able to take our children to such wonderful places,
Chasity

PS...Ridiculously expensive restaurant! Who pays $7.99 for a kids meal -- no drink included!

Metrosexual Male...

that's what my brother is...so I decided to spend some quality time with my metrosexual brother.

I know it's not every day that a sister actually goes to get a mani/pedi with her brother, but seeing as this is the week he is getting married, and I needed a mani/pedi for the wedding, he joined me.

We had fun. I teased him...he took it well. I think...

I treated him...my wedding present to him...a mani/pedi. How funny is that?

Then we went to dinner. It was great spending time with him before he gets married. In fact, if I can remember back 10 years ago, I think we did the same thing (ok maybe not the mani/pedi), but dinner together right before my wedding. We made it a wedding tradition and we didn't even realize it...

He had his nailes buffed and a paraffin wax to seal the deal...he was ready for the wedding!

TRULY BLESSED to have spent a few minutes with my brother before he gets MARRIED,
Chasity

PS...I triple dog dared him to get his toenails polished, but he wouldn't do it!

Playing...

at the Park!

What do you do with two little boys with tons of energy? You take them to the park and get them really tired:)

Palmer was the only child at the park wearing his costume (day after Halloween), but he was so proud and I thought he was super cute! Superman and Peyton started to climb the net...

We looked away for two seconds and before we knew it, Peyton was at the top...holy cow...KING OF THE WORLD!

A close up of him at the top!

Then Superman had to be rescued. That's ok. One day my little Superman will rescue me, I'm sure!

And thankfully, Uncle Chris joined us at the park. 6 more days and he'll be a married man. At least now he'll remember what he was doing one week prior to getting married. Swinging on a swing at the park with his nephews.

Superman trying to fly. I thought this was just way too cute!

And this picture right here...he actually looked like he was flying! I love this picture!

So, how do you tire them out even more...let them play football. Uncle Chris was playing football with Peyton. It was great watching them play together.

I love this picture of Peyton!

And this one too...

And this one too. One day, Peyton will be just as tall as Uncle Chris.

And lastly, I love this one. Just one week away from Mom giving away her son to another woman. Speaking as the Mom of two boys...it's just cruel that we have to give them up to another woman!!!!

We had a blast and I am so thankful for the time we were able to spend together!

TRULY BLESSED to have two very healthy little boys and a great Mom and Brother,
Chasity

PS...I purposely left out the pictures of me at the park!

Pumpkins, Candy and Halloween...Oh my!

It was Halloween and we were in TALLAHASSEE!

Yep, drove 9 hours to go home and Trick or Treat...we'll, ok, not really, but since we we're in Tallahassee and it was Halloween, we went Trick or Treating:)

Mom got to see the boys on Halloween for the first time in two years!

They, of course, had to ring her doorbell a million times! And she gave them candy each time!

Peyton was Plokoon from Star Wars. I can't tell you what he is, but I think he is a good guy...I think! All I know is that I had to specially order this costume...yep, he takes after me.

Palmer was Superman and a darn cute one at that! My very own little Clark Kent!

I just love this picture of Peyton, so I had to share.

This is the look of a child with true delight...tearing into a piece of candy on Halloween.

They're a mess, but I love them:)

We decided to go trick or treating with our friends Donna and Baker Wright. Owen (see below) is a true miracle baby!!! And now, Donna is pregnant again, with a baby girl (or at least we hope it's a baby girl). I, of course, couldn't resist holding this cute little boy!

He had been at the FSU game, so he had on his little FSU romper...then he changed into his Halloween costume...

Is this not the cutest little Elephant you've ever seen? HE WAS SO STINKIN' CUTE!

By the end of the night, we were all exhasuted. After having traveled all day and then trick or treated, I was too tired to fight Palmer...so I let him have a Diet Coke. The face said it all. He never gets to drink coke, so when he does, his face says it all!

And that he crashed. My little Superman gave up. He was just my little man and I'm totally fine with that!

What a day, but a day we won't forget!!!

TRULY BLESSED to have traveled so far, yet made it safely. And, to be able to watch my children enjoy one of a child's true enjoyments -- trick or treating on Halloween!
Chasity

PS...While I didn't dress up, I did have on a Happy Halloween shirt:)