CONGRATS Heather & Walker!!

Our good friends Heather & Walker got engaged this past weekend in Orange Beach, AL. W & H introduced Rick and I 3 years ago when I lived with H, and we just adore them. CONGRATS!!! We can't wait for all the festivities.

Cameron Elyse Samford

Abnous and James Samford welcomed baby Cameron Elyse Samford on February 20, 2009, weighing 8 lbs. 8 oz., 20 inches long.

Mississippi Day 3, PASCAGOULA MARDI GRAS

Saturday morning we woke up and sadly checked out of the Hard Rock heading to Pascagoula. First stop, EDD's chili cheese burger! Best thing in Goula. YUMMY!!!! I crave ccb from Edd's all the time, and get so excited when I actually get one. Then we headed to the parade with all my friends. Rick met about 400 people, my friends from high school, my parents friends from hs, my brothers' friends from hs, and wives, husbands, kids, etc. He says he remembers about half of their names. In Pascagoula this is the biggest day of the year. More people come home for this than Christmas. We had a blast, and the weather was beautiful, Rick even got a little sunburn. After all day celebrating, we ended with Waffle House, and off to bed at Ashley & Lindsey's. It was a FABULOUS weekend, got to see all of my family, and friends, and introduce them all to Rick. He may be a little scared, but I am really glad he got to see where I came from and the people and places that made me who I am.

Mississippi day 2, Hard Rock & Ocean Springs

After getting my hair cut in Hattiesburg Friday, we headed to Biloxi. Rick got us a room at the Hard Rock Casino, and I just LOVE that place. Traci & her dad came over to have some drinks & apps with us, & get the Mardi Gras festivities started, then we headed over to Ocean Springs to Rick's 1st parade!! We met up with my little brother Ryan, & my cousin Ashley & her husband.

Ryan, Ashley, and Me

Rick & me @ his 1st Mardi Gras Parade!!!

The Guys, Rick, Ryan, & Raun

After the parade, we went to my dad's restaurant, The Manhattan Grill for dinner. YUMMY! I am serious, the food is SO good. If you are ever in Ocean Springs, it is a MUST!!! After dinner we went back to the Hard Rock, the beds are so comfy that we could leave. So we just rested up for PASCAGOULA MARDI GRAS!!!

Mississippi Day 1, Hattiesburg

Our trip to Mississippi started Thursday in Hattiesburg. We stopped by my friends Brad and Kristen's house to see their new baby Sadie, and their 6 yr old Logan.

Then we met a group of my friends at my favorite restaurant Crescent City (if you are ever in Hbg, you MUST go eat there!). My dear high school friend Aaron and his little girl Avery stopped by just to say hello. Doesn't she look just like him?

Sam "was" going to be the envy of his co-workers with his leftovers at lunch the next day, but someone knocked them out of his hand and all over the floor. It was HILARIOUS!!!!

Fancy came to dinner, but wasn't feeling well so had to leave a little early. Bonnie & Blaine Tyrone also came to catch up. After dinner Rick and I spent the night with the Tyrones. The next morning I got to play with sweet little Reese Tyrone. Such a cutie, and INTO EVERYTHING!

It was a great way to start the long weekend. I love and miss all my Hattiesburg friends so much, just spending time with them makes me SO HAPPY, especially with Rick there too! I love you all, thanks for coming to catch up with me.

A Valentine Wedding

Saturday we went to Vance & Riley's wedding here in Bham. Vance and Rick went to high school together, and their group of guys from high school are so good about keeping in touch. They are a very close group, and all such awesome guys. We had a great time catching up with everyone, especially Jordan who came in town from New York. Good times were had by all. Congrats to the happy couple. Whew, February is wearing me out, we are off to Mississippi Thursday for a long Marid Gras weekend.

This is most of Rick's crew from high school.

Kitchen Update: Barstools

This weekend we picked out barstools. I wanted backs, Rick wanted no back. So we brought one of each home, and after staring at both, we decided on 2 with backs and one without. I LOVE THEM!!! Thoughts?

Rick, Lilly, and a rake.

Rick was raking the yard yesterday, and I went inside to take a shower leaving him in charge of keeping an eye on Lilly. I was in my room and heard him yelling her name. I looked out the window and saw this. It cracked me up!!!

RUBY

I went by our friends Shay & Steve Morgan's jewelry store yesterday, Shay's. Well they keep their little baby pup RUBY there with them all day. I wanted to eat her up, she was so cute I just had to blog about her. Look at that sweet face. And what a cute name for a jewelry store mascot. So, for all your jewelry needs (or just to see a cute pup) call Shay's in Hoover.

Kitchen Update: door

OK, so we painted the kitchen door 2 shades lighter than the wall paint color, what do you think? This was my idea, and Rick was pretty hesitant (he wanted to paint it white). It doesn't look as good as I imagined in my head, but I think we are going to stick with it because painting this door was a total pain! Seriously, tell me if you hate it, I think it is growing on me.

P.S. I cooked spaghetti, and Rick is usually good with adding spices so I asked him to spice it up. Well, he put cinnamon in it thinking it was paprika. GROSS!! He tried to fix it and said it was good in the end, but I want nothing to do with it. Looks like he will be eating LOTS of spaghetti this week, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The Grizas

We got to play with my favorite blogger Laura and her sweet husband Erik this weekend at the wedding. They are such a cute couple and so much fun. LG decided to vote me as best dressed at the wedding so I love her even more now! Check out here blog HERE.
After the wedding we all went to the Open Door, and LG & Erik had to catch up on everything with their iphones. They are really obsessed, it makes you feel like you NEED one.

After the Open Door we shared a cab and everyone made it home safe and lived happily ever after. Now go check out her fabulous blog! (http://www.thegrizasonline.com/) . Great to see you guys!

Jessica & Dusty's Wedding

Saturday we went to Jessica & Dusty's wedding reception, and it was beautiful. Everything was just perfect.

Abnous made it 9 months pregnant and her due date less than a week away. All the females there were very impressed.

Jessica designed her dress and had it made, and it was just beautiful! She was just gorgeous!

There was a grits bar that was just fabulous. Rick had 3 bowls!

I got to play with Lizzy Bears & LG, don't they just look fabulous?

It was such a great time with great friends. Congrats Mr & Mrs Otwell! Thanks for a super weekend.

Congrats Summer & Jon!

My precious step-sister Summer and her boyfriend Jon got engaged over the weekend! I just adore them and could not be happier. They are a really fabulous couple. Love you guys!!!

He's Just Not That Into You.....

I went to see this Friday and LOVED IT! I laughed non-stop. Every single thing that happens in the movie is something one of my friends or myself have done over the years. I read the book and swore I would not have dated some of the people I did if I read the book first. So ladies if you love the book or just want to crack up and laugh at how crazy girls really are, go see it! It was FABULOUS.

Super Bowl 09

Sunday we went over to Jennifer & Burton's for a fabulous Super Bowl party. They had TONS of food, most with an Arizona or Pittsburgh theme, balloons for each team, Super Bowl balloons, it was so fab. Rick wasn't feeling fabulous after celebrating his birthday all weekend, but he sure did look good in his new Cardinals shirt Lilly got him for his birthday! We had a great time, and when it was over we came home and CRASHED! What an AWESOME weekend. We have another big weekend coming up with Jessica & Dusty's wedding Saturday, so we are resting up this week.

Rick's Birthday Celebration: Night 2

I had a BOWLING Birthday Party Saturday for Rick, and it was so much fun. Everyone really seemed to have a great time. The guys places bets on their scores, and Rick didn't do so hot. Think he was still feeling a little bad from Friday night. I had these hilarious pics of Rick from when he was about 10 on every lane, and everyone LOVED that. The pic is pretty famous among his group of friends. After bowling we all went to Oak Hill for dinner and drinks. Thanks to all who came for making this such a fabulous 32nd birthday for "The Rick". What a weekend! Enjoy the pics.

Rick's Birthday Celebration: Night 1

We went to dinner @ LaPaz for Rick's birthday. My friend Jeni came from Mississip to spend the weekend with us, and Matthew & Healthy also joined us for dinner. Turner brought Rick a birthday dessert that he and Matthew loved.

Then Matthew made us flip a coin to decided where we would go after, and Rare Martini won.

Matthew danced all night, and the rest of us sat at the bar watching him tear it up on the big screen.

We had so much fun!