The views on the beach were great. I loved the coastal mountains in the ocean.

We made friends! Ashlee and Benji were from West Virginia. They were on their honeymoon. We had a lot of fun with them!

My dear husband was so proud of his Ray Ban purchase from a Mexican Vendor. He loved the lime green. He still thinks they are authentic. I think they say Ray Bam. :)

This was our last afternoon. We lived in this spot!! The infiniti pool with a swim up bar was a great place to be!

Mississippi Weekend

We went to Mississippi for the weekend to see my family. Friday night we all stayed at my parents house, ate dinner, and spent some GREAT quality time together. I think we all needed this weekend. The summer has been busy! I love what my brother told my mom. He said that he counted 11 heart beats Friday night under one roof (of course that includes the three dogs and Sophie in Katie's tummy.) But, it just shows how wonderful a growing family really is! I feel so blessed!

She really does melt my heart!

She played dress up in all of my old clothes... including this dance recital outfit. I was a chicken.

So cute!

Ava LOVED Sam. They played and snuggled all weekend.

Ava and my Dad

Adam (my brother) and me

Family photo! Love y'all!

Stop and Smell the Basil

I love to cook. It is something that I think about all of time, and I am always trying new dishes. I think the food network is the number one channel that I watch... well, that and E!. My favorite style of cooking is Italian. (I kind of secretly want to be Giada de Laurentiis.) I am sure it has lots to do with my heritage and the fact that my grandmother is one heck of an Italian cook. Eugene had to learn fast when we got married, that yes, garlic does go with EVERYTHING!

So, a few weeks ago I made a pasta recipe that I found in Good Housekeeping. It called for fresh basil. My mother in law grows all kinds of fresh herbs at her house and told me growing basil is a cinch. So... after having to go down and clip it when I need it, I am now growing it. I planted my first sprig over the weekend. It smells heavenly.

Grow little sprig, grow!

Comeback Kid

I am sure that all of you faithful blog readers have been wondering where I have been... right? Well, I just haven't felt that inspired lately. I hope to get that feeling back soon! It seems that I just have lots on my plate and even more on my mind to aimlessly blog. I am hoping to come out of my funk soon!

In other news, I did have a great 4th of July week. I am sure that seems like forever ago, but since I didn't blog about... here goes!

I went to Tupelo to meet sweet, precious George Menetre! He is such a doll. I kind of wanted to stuff him in my suitcase and take him with me! :) I also enjoyed visiting with Gracie and Bailey so much. They were such fantastic hosts. Thanks again Menetre's for treatin' a girl so nicely.
Here is my one and only pic I took of George. I think I was so busy visiting and snuggling him that I didn't take many pics.

Look at that face!! Such a handsome little fella!

After Tupelo, I went on to Pickwick to meet up with Eugene's family. Eugene parents and both sisters have houses at Pickwick Pines. It is a great retreat to get away. I could live on the front porch of his parent's house! Mary Hellen (my mother in law) made a special request that we bring a spike watermelon. We did it last summer, and she loved it! It was quite the converstaion piece for a good 24 hours to see this sitting on the front porch!

Don't forget to eat your fruit!

Elizabeth (Eugene's sister) had her good friend from Knoxville in town. Her precious two kids helped to keep us entertained! Here is John and Eugene driving the boat.

I mean look at this precious child! This is John's sister Sally, and she is the tiniest cutest kid ever! She also had MJ on her Ipod and danced for us all weekend to Bad!

This is cutie patootie Maddie! She is our niece. (Eugene's oldest sister's little girl)

Another Year Older... or maybe wiser

I am so excited! I am getting a Canon Digital Rebel!!!!!!!

I have been eyeing this camera for quite some time now (maybe since my photography classes at State.) Anyway, I have really wanted one, but just couldn't make myself part with the $$ to get one. I bit the bullet. Thanks to my parents, grandmother, and in-laws for some bday money to put toward my new item! I ordered it today. I CANNOT wait for it to come in!

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Not only was yesterday my birthday, but it also marked 5 years ago that Eugene proposed. I am not sure I have ever told the story on the blog, so enjoy.

I was working in Jackson, MS as a sales rep and of course was impatiently waiting for Eugene to pop the question! :) Living 4 hours apart was just too hard. I made him promise me that he would not propose on my birthday or any other big holiday. I did this so I would not find myself expecting it and then be ultimately disappointed when it didn't happen. Well, when June 12, 2004 rolled around, I was coming up to Halls to see Eugene. He told me that we may go into Memphis Saturday night and eat dinner for my b-day. On Saturday, we stopped by his sister's office to get a part for one of his tractors. (Little did I know, my ring was in this box.)

When we got to dinner, there was a gorgeous flower arrangement on the table. He had it sent to the restaurant. I kind of starting wondering at that point but then when he didn't do it at dinner, I thought ok, not tonight. We went to the Peabody to wait for some friends before heading to a party. I asked him if we could go up to the roof to see the city at night. He proposed on the top of the Peabody MUCH to my surprise! We then spent the night with great friends celebrating and dancing at Silky's to "Going to the Chapel." It was by far the BEST birthday ever!

Celebrating at Silky O'Sullivan's

New crush

So... I have to make a confession. I have a new crush. Eugene and I watched He's Just Not That Into You last night. Umm... has anyone noticed Bradley Cooper? One word... smokin! Although he doesn't have the best reputation in the movie, he is awfully NICE to look at.

ahhhhhh

Bath time anyone?