The Ladners come to stay

Aaron, April, and sweet baby Avery came to stay with us Thursday night, and it was SO nice!!! I really wanted to keep Avery forever. She is such a little cutie and she was so good. Didn't cry or get upset the entire time they were here.

Avery just LOVED Lilly.
Tom also came over to catch up with Aaron. I just had to take the ole Pascagoula High School pic (the 3 of us graduated together for those that don't know these guys).

This visit was PERFECT timing. I really needed to spend some time with old friends. I smiled all night. This was also the first time Aaron really got sit down and chat with Rick. Aaron has always been like a brother and been looking out for me, so seeing them chatting it up was fabulous. I loved going to bed knowing I had such dear friends in the house.

Lilly, the human

I woke up Saturday morning with Lilly above my head sleeping on my pillow, as if it were hers. So when I got up I guess she moved to Rick's pillow.

So later that day we tried to teach Lil to sit like a human. We really want her to sit and watch TV with us like this.
After all that, she needed a nap. When I started taking pics, she was less than thrilled! She really thinks she is the boss.

Another HOT June weekend...

Friday we went to dinner with Michelle and Eric @ Cheesecake Factory patio. For some reason I didn't get a pic of Michelle? We had a great time as we always do with these guys.

My dear friend Anna was in town this weekend from Pascagoula. She had a baby shower Saturday and stayed with us that night. While Rick went to a guys night, Anna and I had our own little girls night. We went to dinner @ Bottega Cafe for some yummy drinks and most fabulous food. Anna really liked her Appletini.
I was more excited about the food!!!

Then we went to Anna's old stomping ground Innisfree. Her face just lit up when we walked in. I think she spent most of her time in Bham in Innisfree when she lived here.

Lilly also REALLY enjoyed Anna's visit. She followed her around all weekend, even slept with her. TRADER! As you can see, Lilly spent most her her time in Anna's lap.

So we had an entertaining Friday and Saturday. It was GREAT to see Anna, just when I needed a friend. Perfect timing ANC, I LOVE YOU!

Mississippi Barrier Islands

When I was little my dad insisted that we spend EVERY weekend on the islands. Most days my brothers and I were not interested at all, especially when he woke us up at 7am to load up. Many of those island trips we were joined by the Shamburger family. For those that don't know about the barrier islands, they are BEAUTIFUL! They are about 10 miles off the coast of Mississippi, and completely uninhabited. White sandy beaches, lots of sea life, and may days water so clear you can see the bottom. Well, while Rick & I were home after my dad passed away, we stayed with my lifelong family friends the Shamburgers. The Sunday before my dad's services, they took us out to the islands for a day to think about the all the good times we had out there with my dad. It was the perfect day, not to mention Rick's 1st trip out. We all talked and shared memories about my dad and how much he loved it out there. Actually my dad's ashes will be spread out at Horn Island so he can forever be in at his favorite place. I have no doubt that my dad was smiling down on us that day, I could just feel it. This is a Saturday & Sunday ritual for most Mississippi Gulf Coast residents, as you can see by all the boats.

Here are the Shamburgers walking across Horn Island.

There were TONS of dolphins out this day, or as my mom would correct me, a POD of dolphins. They were EVERYWHERE! Seeing a dolphin is nothing new to us, since you usually see at least on every trip out, but it never gets old. We were amazed.

WHAT A PERFECT DAY!

STAIDUM DOGS at our house

We had people over Sunday afternoon for stadium dogs to watch Southern Miss in the College World Series. I was super pumped since it was the Eagles first ever trip to Omaha, I think everyone else was just excited about the stadium dogs. I made sure we had every topping possible for a hot dog. Condiments and toppings are my favorite part of every meal. Here is a picture of Walker's 1st round.

Mr. Alex was too cool all night with his awesome Dora shades. I could just eat this kid up.
Kyle enjoyed our front porch swing with all the kids, and they all said "whee" every time they moved. This wend on for 20 min at least.

It was a GREAT time, and I LOVED that everyone came to support my Eagles (or at least I like to pretend). Unfortunately Southern Miss didn't get the W, but they were playing the #1 team in the nation.

P.s. Southern Miss got beat out of the tournament yesterday with a loss against UNC. I am still VERY proud of the Eagle Baseball team!!!

A Saturday CWS cookout

Beth & Kyle had people over to grill out at their new house to watch the College World Series. They are always a fun time, and Beth is a GREAT cook.

Beth & Kyle
Walker & Kyle

Cameron trying out some of Ella & Davis' toys.

The kids L-O-V-E Uncle Matthew!

Rick & Kyle looking for a massive bug that was flying around.

We had a good time, and it was great to get out and be around friends. Thanks guys!

Lilly loves the 4Runner

This is how she rides in the 4Runner. She loves just looking out the back window with the wind blowing in her hair. So strange.

Southern Miss Baseball.....CWS

I am cheering on the Golden Eagles today in their second game in their first EVER trip to the COLLEGE WORLD SERIES!!! WOO HOOOOOOO!!!

Happy Birthday Big Brother

Yesterday was my big brother's birthday, so I thought I would share one of my favorite pics ever! Happy Birthday Brandon, I love you!

Pizza with the Morgans

Like I said I am way behind on blogging so here is another old one. Thursday 2 weeks ago, I met the Morgans at Dave's pizza to enjoy the patio. I rarely get to see them, so it was great to catch up. I had never met Myles, and I really wanted to adopt him. Here are a few pics.

Shay and me

Myles was looking for some $ to play in the game room, and I was a TOTAL sucker! I would have given him every dime I had.

Shay and Steve

I was seriously considering taking him home to live with us. We are best friends. It was a GREAT Thursday, with great friends, food, and weather. I LOVE SUMMER!

*REMEMBER THEY OWN SHAY'S JEWELRY IN HOOVER, SO GO CHECK THEM OUT!!!

Mobile with Joe

Memorial Day weekend, I went to meet my dear friend Joe (who lives in San Fran) in Mobile for our friend Russell's rehearsal dinner. Joe ALWAYS makes for an entertaining night, and this was no different. Here we are at the dinner.

I also got to spend some time with one of my favorite families, the Millettes.
I also got to see my friend Scott from high school.

And catch up with a friend from college, Laurie.

Saturday morning we had lunch with Joe's parents and we ran into the groom and pretty much everyone in town for the wedding.

Joe's parents just crack me up. That was one of the funniest lunches I have ever had. Non stop laughs. It was great to see this crew.

Happy Birthday Gannon

I am WAY behind on blogging, and trying to get back in to normal life, so......

A few weeks ago a few of us went to Hacienda Mexican Restaurant to celebrate Brad Gannon's birthday and I wanted to share a few pics. Here is Gannon with everyone singing to him, and clapping while he wore the fancy cowboy hat. He seems thrilled!

And here are he and Kat (his fiance') after the song, but still in the hat.

We had a great time, HAPPY BIRTHDAY GANNON!

I am SO BLESSED!!!

This past week has been very bittersweet for me. Thursday before last my dad went into the hospital and that Friday night he passed away. I have learned so much in the aftermath of this, most important is that EVERYONE deals with grief differently. My brothers and I have each handled this loss in completely different ways and this has made it all so much worse. I loved my dad VERY much and I am finding a little peace knowing that now I have a guardian angel watching over me. I have also gained so much strength from all the support I have had from friends and family over the past week. Half the flowers at the service were from friends of mine, and since I have been back in Bham, the flowers just keep coming. Not to mention all the cards in the mail, the text, phone calls, facebook messages, emails, everything has been SO AMAZING!!! If anything could make this all easier, all of the above support has made it possible. I feel so loved and blessed to know that so many people care about me, and my family, it means more to me than you will ever know. Your prayers are working, so THANK YOU! Most of all I need to thank Rick. He has been so wonderful through all of this. I would not have made it through with out him, NOT AT ALL! I have heard people show their true character in the worst of times, and Rick has shown what a WONDERFUL man I have in my life. I am SO LUCKY!! With all that said, I wanted to share all the flowers everyone sent to my family and me. It is hard to be sad around here with so many beautiful flowers, and kind cards around. I will be so sad when they are all gone. Also see that Rick even planted some of the flowers in the backyard so I could see them every day. I am such a BLESSED PERSON!

DAVE MATTHEWS GPS

My DAD....

Roy Bennett Dunn

December 20, 1949 - May 29, 2009