Caroline's 1st Clemson Game!

Several weekends ago Jay and I made the trek down to South Carolina for our annual College Friends reunion weekend. This year was different though because Miss Priss got to join in on all the fun.

Let me just tell you that I was pretty darn excited for her to experience her FIRST EVER football game {I am fully aware she won't remember it, but I will!}. It was a big "Caroline's First Milestone" for me because I love football {clemson football in particular} so much, mainly because of all the family memories that we made centered around football over the years. My sweet Daddy loved adored Clemson football, and I know he would have been thrilled to take Caroline to her first game, but I am pretty confident he had a front row seat looking down on our joy-filled weekend from heaven.

We rented a lake house for the weekend, and enjoyed lots of yummy food, went hiking, had the most perfect weather, and pulled off a Tiger Victory! It really was such a refreshing weekend. Just something about catching up and laughing with dear friends, and enjoying God's beauty in a place that we love that just makes things close to perfect.

On our way down to Clemson we stopped in Charlotte to meet precious 3 week old Baby Braston! Caroline wanted to get her hands on him so bad. It is always special when the three of us Roommates can get together.

This beauty LOVED her day outside hiking to Whitewater Falls. 

 {In case you're wondering, that is sweat on my shirt. HA! Not even going to try and deny it. I wore Caroline in her Ergo carrier the couple miles there and back, and it was hard work!}

 My stud of a husband. Man, I am blessed. 

They were doing search and rescue training at the falls while we were hiking... These helicopters were flying around the whole time. It was great hiking entertainment! 

The morning of the game was chilly, and the perfect excuse to wear her Clemson Hat from Rachel! 

 Caroline's first Tailgating experience! 

And C got to hang out with another friend Tillman! 

 Cheering for the Tigers with the Spanglers!

Death Valley on a perfect Fall day! 

Great Fall memories for our little Family and lots more fun {Adventure?} ahead at next years Clemson Game weekend when Caroline will be running all around!



{All pictures are thanks to my trusty iPhone, and our great friends Adam, Leigha, and Spangler! Jay and I decided keeping up with Caroline and all that involves was more than enough, and there was no need for a camera bag too! Thanks friends for great pictures of our girl!}

super creative baby gift idea

My college roommate and dear friend Leigha gave us the neatest baby gift last weekend.... 

They are "Baby Fruit Parfaits" - SO cute and SO stinkin' creative! 

Look closely.... there are Baby washcloths on the bottom, diapers, super cute onesies, more diapers and then baby socks for a cherry on top! 

Isn't Leigha talented! Its an awesome change from the traditional diaper cake. They were simply too cute to not share :) 

Thanks Leigha!

Proud to be a Tiger

Not only am I so stinkin' proud to be a Clemson fan this season because we are fun to watch in football, but I am also SO very thankful for the wonderful friends that Jay and I have from our days in Tiger Town. Wonderful college memories and more great memories of our weekend reunions since graduating.

Several of us traveled to Maryland last weekend to hold our breath as the Tigers had a scoring battle against the Terps. It was an amazing, nail-bitter of a game, but more importantly it was fun to all be together. And let me tell you, we know how to tailgate...

 Steve Spangler was our grill master - he made sliders and it was yummy as always!

 I learned that I am officially TERRIBLE at Corn Hole, but please check out my husband's face... oh my. He was the complete opposite of terrible, and as usual was very competitive and quite the corn hole champ. 

Look at that form - mad skills :)

Love, love, love this crew! They seriously are some of my favorite people. And I am also a fan of all that orange! We had such a great weekend catching up, laughing and pulling our Tigers to a win! (By the way, we are 8 - 0! Whoop!)

 My sweet college roommates... this picture makes me smile so very much! Baby Girl is going to love her Aunt Nicole & Aunt Leigha at next year's tailgate reunion! 

** A side note: most pictures borrowed from Nicole & John's photos!

January 8, 2011

This is my dear friend Katie...

... and January 8, 2011 will be her anniversary! 

Today she is marrying Aaron and becoming Mrs. Katherine Ann Schultz! 

Katie, since I can't be with you at your wedding celebration today, I wanted to let you know that I love you, and am blessed to have you as a friend. You are going to be a beautiful bride and an even more gorgeous wife. Aaron is lucky to have you. Marriage is so different that anything else in this entire world, but it is so very rewarding. I know you, and I know you will step into this new phase of your life adventure with the same grace-filled confidence that you embrace each new step in your life with. 

 You have been such a huge encouragement to me throughout our friendship and I so badly wish I could be there to give you a big hug before you walk down the isle... but know that I am praying for you, and supporting you, and loving you all the way from virginia as you GET MARRIED!

 I know I have only been married for 2 years, and Jay and I have so, so, so much to learn, but I wanted to give you my very limited marriage advice...Celebrate the big stuff and let the little stuff go. Life is seriously wayyy too short to get upset about stuff you will not even remember in a month. Don't let the little annoying things turn into something huge. Instead spend the energy and time rejoicing in all the things you love about Aaron {cliche I know, but seriously spend more time celebrating your marriage}. Laugh a lot. Work together to accomplish your goals. God has given you each other to be each others biggest encouragers, so take advantage of living with your best friend :)

 Katie, thank you for being you! I am confident that God is going to do huge things through yours and Aaron's lives. I love you and can't wait to celebrate again with you in April.

HAPPY WEDDING DAY my sweet friend!