Hello Fall Traditions

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. THe air, college football (GO DAWGS & ROLL TIDE), county fAirs. I love the first week of October, when the leaves are just starting to change. Then the third weekend in October when my little hometown of Dahlonega, Georgia turns into a massive fall festival called Gold Rush that is straight out of a movie scene. One of my favorite traditions of the fall (besides football) is carving PumPkins.

Jamesleigh helping her MommY take the guts out of her pumpkin.

She loved pulling out the seeds.. she kept saying "Ew!".

THe boys get wAy too into pumpkin carving. Parker puLLed Out a drill gun this year.

Patrick is all smiles.

I decided to steal Parker's drill gun because I Was being lazy. :)

Our Pumpkins complEted and all lit up on the porch.

TADAAAA!!!

 

 It's bEen years siNce I have been Trick or Treating But this year Jamesleigh (One of my sweet nieces) was oLd enough tO actually say trick or treat so I went alonG for the fun. Our town square puts on a Great HallowEen for families. They stop all tRaffic and everyone walkS in a line around the square to all of the shops. Its so cute and perfectly small town.

Two of my favorite girls.. Jamesleigh and Chelsea.

Jamesleigh and her friend Anna.

The Dahlonega Square.

I hope everyone else is enjoying this beautiful fall like I am.

P.S. let me know if you got my message.. :)

I'm still here..

I was recently thinking about my blog and how long it had been since I have written a new post. It has definitely been a while. I was wondering if I should even write a new post because at this point.. what's the point? However, blogging makes me happy so why not?

April 26, was the date of my last post. So what has been going on since April? Lets do a picture recap. 

I bought an iPad.

 We took the jeep up to Blue Ridge with our friends to see a drive in movie. (Madagascar 3)

 We went fishing. ALOT

 Patrick and I got to meet our newest niece Karli Grace Ellison.

  I read the Twilight Saga for maybe the 10th time? This is my favorite quote from all 4 books. Ironically it happens to be from my least favorite book out of all 4.

 Hung out at the pool.

 Our nieces Kymbil, Kaleigh and Kaitlyn came to visit us for a week in July.

Patrick and I attended a bunch (probably close to 10, I lost count) of Braves games. Since it was Chipper's last season, we wanted to go to as many games a we could. We went by ourselves, with friends, with family, sat in the pouring rain, tailgated every time and chopped our hearts out. The season didn't end the way we wanted it to.. but I have to say Thank You to #10 for playing his entire hall of fame worthy career with the Atlanta Braves.

 I had the privilege of holding my dear friend Kate's hand leg while she gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy.. Dylan Michael Warner. His daddy was serving our country during his birth, so Kate needed all the help she could get.

 I took a 3 day trip to Nashville with some friends.

Went to a UGA game in Athens with my friend Abbie.

 
My little sister Aimee came home from her 8 month stay in London. My sister and I have been best friends since the day she was born. Living with out her for 8 months was definitely one of the hardest things I've ever had to endure. I'm glad she had the opportunity to live in a different country and spread her wings, but I am so happy she is home.


Attended Gold Rush Days in my hometown of Dahlonega with some of the best friends a girl could ask for. (Click on THIS to read more about Gold Rush.)

Thanks to all of my followers who have waited patiently for me to return to the blog world.

The Past Few Weeks..

So I've been MIA from the blogging world for the past few weeks. Two weeks ago my Mother In-law passed away. She was 69. Too young to go. She was a beautiful, caring, hilarious, smart, amazing woman, mother and friend. As soon as we got the call Patrick and I dropped everything and went to Alabama (where Patrick and his family are from). We stayed a week. Its terrible the things you have to decide so quickly after someones death. I think it was twice as hard on Patrick, his sister and his older brothers because their Dad passed away almost 10 years ago. So there was no one but themselves to rely on for decisions. I can't even begin to imagine what it must feel like to lose both parents so young. Patrick is 32.

So to say the least the past couple of weeks have been hard. I hate knowing how badly someone I love is hurting and knowing that there is nothing I can do but just be there.

I have always said that I am so lucky as far as mother in laws go. Being a hair stylists you hear a lot of drama. I can't believe the things some women have to go through with their in laws. Annette made me feel at home and part of the family the instant I met her. At our wedding she danced with Patrick and then when the song was over she asked me to dance with her. She said that if Bob (Patrick's father) had been alive he would want to dance with me to welcome me into the family. As we danced she told me how much she loved seeing Patrick happy. She told me to always make eachother smile. I know she loved me and I know she knew how much I loved and adored her. She was always joking. Sometimes it took me a minute to realize she was kidding. I'll miss her smile and her laugh. But mostly (and I'm sure all who love her feel the same) I will miss her hugs. She was such a small lady but could make you feel so special with just one hug and a simple I love you.

What I'm loving Wednesday

Visit Jamie @ This kind of love!

1. I am loving that tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I love my family and can't wait to see them. I am the most excited about the actual food! Grandma is back to making her cornbread dressing (I've had to make it the past few years because she hasn't been able to make it to dinner), Mom is making broccoli casserole and I am on dessert duty.

2. I am loving that my new KitchenAid mixer is coming today! It was my "Get well soon, just because I love you" present from Patrick and I can't hardly wait to get home and open it!

^^^Isn't it beautiful!!!^^^

3. I am loving all of the desserts I am making tonight. I may be up all night but they are going to be Gooooooooooooooooooooood!

Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake

Source: closetcooking.com via Amberly on Pinterest

Red Velvet Cake (Secret family recipe but here is a good one from Pinterest)

Source: marthastewartweddings.com via Amberly on Pinterest

Source: marthastewartweddings.com via Amberly on Pinterest

Red Velvet Brownies (For Patrick's employees on Black Friday)

Source: smells-like-home.com via Amberly on Pinterest

Peanut Butter Cup Truffles

Source: sixsistersstuff.blogspot.com via Amberly on Pinterest

4. I am loving that we are two days away from the biggest shopping day of the year! I will definitely be a big part of the madness at midnight-whenever Friday morning!

5. I am loving that today is my last day working this week! I don't have to be back until Monday! YAY!!


6. I am loving that (Lord willing) as long as Alabama beats Auburn this weekend we are getting our rematch on at the National Championship! ROLL TIDE!

A sister is a friend for life..

Today is my little sisters twentieth birthday. I seriously can't believe it. I remember the day she was born. I was five and I had been waiting forever to meet my sister! When I saw her I was instantly in love but also disappointed and started to cry because she was not big enough to be my friend.

The day I met my sister.. 11/4/91

Growing up she was annoying. She was so cute and always stealing everyone's attention.
I used to have to take her everywhere with me. You couldn't help but love her though..

Mommy, Aimee and me.

Us with our great granparents.. Nannie and Poppie.

Us with Aunt Bessie.

Mom used to make us do things like this..

Thats right.. Matching Halloween costumes. 

Aimee was always making up random songs. Songs about her sippy cup, songs about Jesus.. come to think of it she still makes up random songs.. I guess some things never change. We used to have a shared bedroom when our brother Zack was born. When we moved into a bigger house we had separate rooms.. yet every night we still slept together. I couldn't sleep with out her. She's the sister that holds your hair when you are sick, crys when you've had your heart broken and stands behind you as your maid of honor and holds your bouquet at your wedding.


Boy, was I wrong (about her not being old enough to be my friend).. She is now my best friend, the one person I know that I can tell anything to and she would never stop loving me. Yes, I have other best friends too, but there is nothing like a sister-best friend. A sister is a friend for life.

We made these aprons when we were kids..




We love each other..


We've conquered the world together..


Happy Birthday Sissy... I love you.