Willis-Ashbaker Wedding

Last weekend we went to our friends Tom & Rachael's wedding in Pascagoula. Tom and I graduated high school together, and Rach and I have known each other since we were kids, and they both live in Bham now. This wedding was BEAUTIFUL! There were TONS of people there, one of which was my adorable mom!

And one of my best friends Aaron and his wife April. Funny note, Aaron and I were in preschool together at the same church where Tom & Rach were married. We sat together at the wedding and I thought my mom was going to cry. She said "I could just picture you and Aaron up there holding hands in the Christmas program when yall were 4." I am very lucky to have such an awesome life long friend.

You knew I had to toss in one if Ricky Bobby and me.

Oh, and my big teddy bear of a friend, Tanner! We were really good friends in college, and he just so happened to marry Rachael's sister. Tan and Katherine just had a little boy that looks JUST LIKE TANNER! It was so great to see him, and he reminded Rick that I was always just one of the guys. I am sure Rick was thrilled to hear that. LOVE IT!

I failed to get a picture of the bride and groom due to the large number of people there, so this is all I've got! The photographer did take one of RB and me with the happy couple so when I get that I will add that.

It was an awesome wedding, and great to see all the smiling faces of Goula. I LOVED catching up with all my friends parents too, they are such sweeties! Every time I see them they say, you know you and Rick can stay with us anytime. Just so sweet! Now the newlyweds are in the Dominican Republic at the same resort where RB and I got engaged!! CONGRATS ASHBAKERS!

Busy Mississippi Weekend

Rick and I had a VERY BUSY WEEKEND in Mississip! Friday we stopped in Hattiesburg to stay with Fancy and celebrate her birthday. Then Saturday we headed south to Pascagoula. We went to see my older brother's new house he's building, and visit for a little while. Saturday night was one of my favorite people, Brent Lachaussee's wedding. Brent & Leslie's wedding was so nice, and we got to catch up with tons of my fabulous friends from Goula. After the wedding we headed to the casinos to meet up with Traci and the crew to celebrate her birthday. Traci and I have been friends since she was born, so this was a big birthday. Not many 30 year olds can say they have a best friend of 30 years. Sunday, I helped host a shower for my sweet step sis, Summer, in Biloxi. What a weekend! Rick and I were exhausted, but we squeezed a LOT into our 48 hours in Mississip. I'm already missing the coast! It was GREAT to see everyone, and we will be back for Summer's wedding April 16th weekend to do it all over again. CAN'T WAIT!

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.

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.

MNF

Rachael, Tome, Rick, and I went to Oak Hill for Monday Night Football. We had some pretty interesting conversations, and as always we had a great time. I love my 2 Goula in Bham friends. I guess that's all I will get to see this year, since I'm not going to Pascagoula at all for the holidays. I will have to go with quality over quantity this year. Thanks Tom & Rach, you guys are the best!!