Houston to Orlando to Tallahasse to Tampa to Houston!

Last month, we had quite the whirlwind trip to Florida. Aunt Emmy (my sister, Emily Anne) graduated from UCF! We started our trip with her graduation in Orlando. Grammie and Papa put everyone up in a gorgeous villa for weekend. We had a wonderful time visiting with GGdad, GGma, Aunt Lori (my Godmother), my parents, and Emily and Zach. Emily chose to go to "Medevil Times" for her graduation dinner, and man, I wish I had pics from that! Ashton got SO into it, and was clapping and yelling go! go! go! as the knights rode their horses and competed in different tournaments. It was hilarious. Only my family would go to medevil times (with my grandparents in tow!), wear ridiculous paper crowns, eat drumsticks off of metal plates and get seriously competitive about our knight winning. Wow. At any rate, the day after Emily graduated, it was Mother's day. John, my dad, and GGdad got up and fixed all the ladies breakfast, and they had cards and flowers for all of us. It was really sweet. After we enjoyed our wonderful pancake breakfast, we got all packed and loaded and headed to Tallahassee. On the way to see Aunt Emmy graduate!

Papa and Emory

Grammie, Aunt Lori and GGma

Three generations

Sisters

Aunt Lori and Emily Anne

Mom, Emily, Me

Aunt Emmy and Uncle Zach

PROUD parents and the graduate

Ashton and Daddy

Emory Anne

After our wonderful weekend in Orlando, we headed up to Tallahassee to continue our Mother's day celebration with John's family. We met everyone at Mary Liz's house (also known as Aunt Izzy) and cooked out and hung around the pool. Ashton, of course, stayed in the pool the entire time we were there and did NOT want to get out when it was time to head to Monticello. Emory loved getting carted around in the pool by Aunt KK, Aunt Izzy, and her cousins Suzanne and Kelly. We had a wonderful time and loved spending time with our fam. Cousins!

Emory testing out the water with Aunt KK

Mamaw opening her Mother's Day gift

Cousin Riley and fiance Jenna

Sweet cousins

Aunt KK and Mamaw

Aunt KK being silly

Haley and Aunt Debbie

Daddy and Emory

Aunt Angie and cousin Haley

Emory sunbathing on Kelly :)

Cousins Kelly and Emory

Ashton and one of his best buds, Uncle Tripp

Sweet Haley Nicole

Ashton

Aunt KK and Emory

Aunt KK, Aunt Izzy, Haley and Emory

We left Tallahassee and headed down to Clearwater Beach on Thursday, for Katie and Kyle's wedding. Katie is one of my oldest and dearest friends, and I was so anxious and excited to get to the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater and start celebrating! John was super dad and took over most (and I mean MOST) of the kid duties, while I did wedding "stuff". (showers, brunches, etc.) He and the kids spent most of their time at the pool area, where Ashton perfected wearing his swimmies. Grammie and Papa (my mom and dad) arrived on Friday, offering John some relief just in time for the rehearsal dinner. Aunt Jordan and Aunt Tots arrived on Saturday, and we had a fabulous time celebrating Katie and Kyle's union. Ashton served as ring bearer and did awesome! The funniest moment was when Katie (looking absolutely stunning) walked down the aisle with her dad, and Ashton looked up at her and exclaimed, "WHOA!" So funny! Aunt Lori and Steph (my Godmother and Godsister) came to the resort and babysat the munchkins during the wedding. It was such a treat to have so many people that I love in one spot, at one time.

Aunt Jordan, Ashton and Papa

Ashton and the boys

Headed to the reception!

Grammie and Emory

Daddy and Ashton

Emory Anne and Papa poolside

Guerrin and Suzanne... Bridesmaids

Emory enjoying her brunch

Kates and I

Marlene and Katie - Mother and Daughter

We presented her with a scrapbook filled with photos and notes from all of us.

Bride, bridesmaids, flower girls, and brunch hostesses

Getting beautified

Guerrin!

SUCH a beautiful bride

Ashton getting down at the reception

Ashton, mommy and Aunt Jordan

My mom and dad

conning Aunt Jordan into giving him Sprite

JAT and JAK

The babysitters

We capped off our trip with a little family get together at my Aunt and Uncle's house in St. Pete. After a wonderful visit with my Gdad and Gma (known as GGdad and GGma to Ashton and Emory), Uncle Chris, Aunt Joyce, cousin Nikki and her son Ricky and husband Ron, we were off to the Tampa airport to head HOME! Such a wonderful trip... Ashton with Grammie and Great Uncle Chris

Emory Anne and my cousin, Nikki

GGma, Ashton, Grammie and Emory

Ashton and his GGdad

I Made This!

My first attempt EVER at sewing. John bought me a huge, elaborate, gorgeous sewing machine for Christmas. I DESPERATELY want to be able to make things. Curtains, pillowcase dresses, napkins, bibs, jon jons... I have been so intimidated by this big honky machine, but I finally bit the bullet and pulled it out. After getting some very basic instructions on how to spool the thread, etc. from my neighbor's mother, I sat down and cut up an old napkin to fashion into a bib. I had to take the pic of Emory wearing it close, because I didn't put anything on the back to hold it together, and she was pulling it off as soon as I was putting it one :) At any rate, I sure am proud of this little first attempt!!