Tonight, Russ and I helped host a Gift Card Shower for a friend from med school. Seth and Lauren are getting married, and we showered them with gift cards, wings, and a few other things! It was a fun night! And it's always great to see friends. Now that everyone has matched, getting ready to move, taking trips before graduation, etc...it's hard to get a chance to see everyone.

Bride-to-be and Groom-to-be

Pretty soon after the shower started, the guys did what guys do best - challenged each other to a wing-eating contest! They wanted to see who could eat their wing the fastest. It's so easy to entertain them!

Getting ready

The winner - Chad!

Chad and Ginny were kind enough to have the shower at their beautiful new home. Thanks so much, Ginny and Chad! Everything was wonderful! I'll let you take a look at some Kodak moments throughout the night.

Russ and Ginny

Me and Lindsey

Shawn and Sarah - getting married this weekend!

Michael and Mary Madeleine - newly engaged!

Patricia and Jessica

Daniel and Christy

Kelly and Patricia

Hosts and hostesses with Seth and Lauren

Congratulations Seth and Lauren! And, thanks for giving us an excuse to get everyone together!

Here's the Scoop...Reading is Cool!

The theme for our afternoon was "Here's the Scoop...Reading is Cool!" Van Winkle's third grade has the privilege of being part of one of Junior League of Jackson's projects. The Jr. League does so much for our school. Not only do they give every child in the school a free book multiple times throughout the year, but they also donate their time twice a week to come read to struggling readers. Each classroom has two Jr. League volunteers. These ladies work with about six struggling readers each week. The students absolutely adore these ladies! They love the undivided attention and the cheerful dispositions of each volunteer. It has really proved to be a tremendous benefit to our school. And when I say "proved," I mean test scores have verified the effectiveness of their working with our third graders. These children rarely, if ever, have adults reading to them or with them at home. Many parents are working two and three jobs, day and night, and they do the best they can to provide for their families. So, by simply reading with our students and encouraging a love of reading is huge! We are so grateful for the time spent with our children. I also found out that one of my volunteers has a husband in his third year of medical school. So, we had several friends in common. What a small world!

As Jr. League's time with us for this year ended, they treated us to a wonderful surprise. They gave ALL third graders an ice cream sundae party! Oh, how the kids loved it! And, I must say that the teachers loved it too!

Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Jierski, and me

Some of the Jr. League ladies serving ice cream

The kids were so excited!

And...in case all that is not enough! They also brought gifts for all of us - the teachers! Very nice gifts! We got beautiful pitchers and a cute dishtowel. I was super-excited because it matches my glasses I have at home! What a thoughtful group of ladies!

Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Hicks, Lisa Miskelly (chairman of this project), me, and Mrs. Jierski with our lovely gifts!

I felt like I could not say "thank you" enough today. I cannot wait until the project starts back up again next year!

For This Child She Has Prayed...

For the past nearly three years, I have struggled through infertility. However, for the past year and a half, I was not alone. A dear friend of mine struggled with me following a miscarriage two years ago. Felicia has encouraged me, cried with me, cried FOR me, and been such a wonderful friend. She deserves the very best, and she shall have the very best, sweetest, adorable baby boy in less than 6 weeks! It's so exciting and encouraging to see her tears of longing and loss turn to tears of joy and excitement. Pat and Felicia will be wonderful parents, and I cannot wait to meet little Toby!

We hosted a baby shower for Felicia today, and it was a huge success. She got SO many great things for her nursery and for Toby. It was fun watching her open gifts. I had the wonderful job of recording the gifts. Have you ever tried to politely and properly record gifts at a baby shower when you have no idea what they are!? Nursing bra pads - seriously!? A high chair tray - nope, it was a bathtub for the baby! What in the world? When Felicia gets home, she will laugh for hours at the names and descriptions I gave each gift so as not to stop the shower and say, "What in the world was that?" Love that job, by the way! I sure learned a lot.

Me and Felicia before the shower - cute diaper cake in the background

Precious cake - and yes, we took the cake apart at the end to see if that rattle was solid chocolate. It was hollow. Ha!

As a last minute idea, I grabbed this tub at Kroger to transport her gifts from the shower. It can also double as a toy bin. It was full. She also got a high chair and activity center.

The hostesses and mommy-to-be
Lindsey, me, Felicia, Angela, and Amy
Kaylee wasn't able to be there, but she hosted as well.

Congratulations, Felicia! I'm so excited for you! Mostly - I'm excited about all the free practice I'll get before it's my turn! Ha ha! Love you!

Mansion 5K

Okay...I did it! I completed my first 5K! Friday after school, I headed to Saltillo to stay with Jimmy and Roan. We woke up between 5 and 5:30 this morning so that we could be at the race by 6:30. Roan and Julie wanted to run two miles before the race to WARM UP! Seriously!? I was thinking that I would be lucky to finish what I had to already! Ha!

Jenny and me before the race - still looking fresh! Roan was running, so she missed the picture.

After registration, we lined up and took off. Now, my plan was to finish in 45 minutes. I have had some knee issues (Yes, the booty issue is over!), so I planned to take it easy. Jenny and Season came ready to walk the entire thing. So, I let them in on my plan and told them to follow suit. I'm not sure that was a good idea because they were both killing me! We walked the first 10 minutes. Then, we would run 1 minute and walk 2, run 1 minute and walk 2. We repeated the pattern throughout the race. I know that may not sound big to you, but let me tell you! I could not breathe for the last mile and a half. I was wheezing and couldn't get a full breath. So, we walked a little longer toward the second half. It wasn't long after we got halfway that runners began to lap us. The race went around the mall, onto Gloster, and ended with another lap around the mall. So, here I am sounding like the fat lady in Spanx that I started out immulating when runners are breezing past me carrying on conversations as they run! When Roan finished, she actually joined us and ran the last lap with me to keep me on pace and encourage me through my suffocation! Ha! I really think I would have walked the rest if she hadn't run with me. Thanks Roan...by the way!

Jenny, me, and Season around mile 2 or so.

Roan helping me get to the finish line around mile 3. Olivia and Julie ran out there to cheer us on too! Thanks girls!

Season and me running to the finish line - so excited!

Lynn, Season, Roan, Jenny, and me right after I finished - Notice the wetness. Yes, it rained!

This 5K was actually a little long - 3.3 miles instead of 3.1, so our times weren't exactly accurate. My new Garmin watch (I'm so in love with this little device!) says that I ran 3.25 miles in 42:41. So, Jimmy helped me estimate what my time would have been for the correct 5K. We came up with 40:45 based on my average pace of 13:07 per mile. That was pretty exciting because my goal was 45! Woo hoo! I think I'm ready to exercise my lungs and run MORE!!!

My new watch

Last night Roan and I stayed up until close to midnight - like we always do when I stay! We were going over our running wardrobe when we realized I had brought the same outfit that Roan had planned to wear. I did bring other options, but we decided to match! Yes, we did! Navy running skirt, our new magenta running tops, and we topped it off with our Seaside hats we bought during our trip last summer! Ha! I think because of the late hour, we were a little delirious...we got on Facebook and told Lynn to dress accordingly. We already knew Jenny would be wearing pink too. I think it was Lynn who said, "I feel like I'm in junior high!"

Matchy - matchy!

After the 5K began, they had a 1 mile Fun Run. This was Leah's first time to participate. She's been training for a while. She did a great job!

Leah was so proud of her medal!

We stayed for the awards ceremony. Roan and Julie both won a place, as always! They are so good! Jenny and I went to check our times, but we realized that they stop posting times after a certain time. I'm assuming we didn't make the cut, because we were not listed! Ha! I hear the times will be posted online soon.

This is what I needed - to ride in a stroller! Jenny could have handled it for sure! She's so fast! And I could have enjoyed some oxygen during the race.

The whole crew
Jenny, me, Season, Becky, Lindsay, Roan, and Lynn

I had a great time! I really cannot wait to train some more and get myself ready for the next 5K in June! Thank you Jimmy, Roan, and girls for all your coaching!

Pajama and Breakfast Bunko

As I've said before, a group of present and past Van Winkle teachers get together once a month for Bunko! We always have so much fun visiting, venting, and catching up. This month was my month to host. I decided on a relaxed pajamas and breakfast bunko night. It was a good choice, if I do say so myself! Everyone wore their pj's, and I served breakfast food. I love breakfast food, so I was happy. I rarely fix breakfast because I get up so early for school and it's just Russ and me. Cereal or Pop Tarts is our breakfast of choice. So, I really enjoyed tonight. Russ was playing with his camera and snapped a few shots of the spread. Unfortunately, he ran away from home while all the girls came over, and we weren't able to get a group picture.

My dishtowel that Russ's sister made for me. Love it!

Mixed fruit tossed in my Southern Living at HOME hurricane.

Pigs in a blanket waiting to go in the oven.

Fruit, bananas, and cute napkins

Baby can drinks in my Southern Living at HOME entertaining bucket and stand.

For the main dish, I fixed a breakfast casserole. It was in the oven during this photo shoot, so we don't have a picture of it. However, I will share the recipe. It's fabulous!

Breakfast Casserole

6 slices white bread, no crust and torn into small pieces
1/2 stick butter
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
5 eggs beaten well
2 cups half and half
1 lb. browned sausage
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dry mustard


Melt butter in a 9 x 13 dish. Layer bread, cooked sausage, and cheese. Mix half and half with beaten eggs, salt, and dry mustard. Pour over layers. Chill overnight. Bake at 350 for about 50 minutes.

Farley couldn't wait for a house full of guests!

Easter and the Annual Smith Easter Egg Hunt

Warning: There are lots of pictures here!

Easter Sunday is always a very special time for our family. Easter is a day the country stops to celebrate our risen Savior. Although we celebrate and worship Him throughout the year, it is this day that our calendars mark the day in remembrance of His glorious resurrection. Thank you, Jesus, for the price you paid so that I may spend my eternity with you in heaven. Thank you that by your sacrifice, I have the hope of seeing Paw Paw, Gigi, Granddaddy, and many other special people again when I get home to You!

Our growing family on Easter

Party of two...

...and we could never forget my sweet baby!

Me, Maw Maw, and Kristin

Lee and his mom

Easter also has its traditions. For example, Russ and I awoke to find that the Easter bunny DOES still come to visit us! I hope the bunny has no age limit!

Russ, my, and Farley's Easter baskets
Russ had already taken his new outfit out. I got a one-hour massage (woo hoo!).

Easter goodies

One of Farley's gourmet treats - doggie happy meal!

Another special Easter tradition is Easter lunch. Mama always cooks a special lunch for the family on Easter. She sets the table so nice and tries to make it very special! This year was fabulous, as always. Our menu included fruit with chocolate, caramel, and fruit dip; angel hair cole slaw salad, honey baked ham, green bean bundles, roasted carrots, creamed corn, crock pot mac and cheese, rolls, banana pudding, and I'm sure I'm leaving something out. Bottom line - TONS of food! Yummy!

The Easter cook herself!

The beautiful table setting
Mama's fine china is only used once a year - on Easter.

Maw Maw even left us a little surprise at our place settings.

One more very major Smith Easter tradition is our annual Easter egg hunt. When we were smaller, we would wake up and get ready for church. Then, hunt our hard-boiled, dyed eggs before leaving. I can remember hunting eggs with my frilly Easter dress and shoes with rollers in my hair. (Maybe I just saw a picture of this once...still - it happened.) After church, my brother, sister, and I would hide and hunt eggs for the rest of the day. Well, since we've gotten a little older, the stakes are much higher! In a desperate attempt to keep us interested in hunting Easter eggs, the Easter bunny started leaving money in our eggs! So, after lunch, it was time for the bunny to hide our eggs.

Around 200 eggs for 3 GROWN-UP children

While the bunny hid eggs, it was time to put our running shoes on...

...and get our game faces on!

Because for the next 10-20 minutes, we are on our own!!! And it is serious! We even had extra spectators come to see the entertainment!

Me and Dustin racing to the eggs

Scurrying around the back corner of the yard

On a mission!

After knocking each other out of the way to fight for our eggs, we slowly realize there are no more to be found. It's time to count!

Dustin always finds a quiet corner by himself so that no one will bother him as he counts his fortune.

I told you it was serious! Look at that face. We're not exactly sure why my mother gave Russ a bigger basket!

Counting side by side
We assure everyone that two people does not mean we share that money! Every man for himself here - married or not!

The winner

The loser
Possibly because of an EMPTY EGG! Oops! The bunny missed one!

The injured

What a fun day! Thanks Mama and Daddy for always making our trips home so special!