While I was gone....

In my absence from the blog world, here is what you missed:

I went to Destin with my mom and her girlfriends to celebrate her very special birthday. She has the sweetest, most fabulous group of friends, most of which I have known my entire life. I absolutely adore them all. It was so much fun to spend the weekend with them.

Some of the Bham girls and I went to a Friends of St. Jude event while Rick was traveling for work.

We also went to a couple weddings. One of which was my family friend, Renee's wedding in Bay St. Louis, MS. Renee is my best friend my entire life's older sister. She used to TORTURE us as kids, and is more like a sister to me than just a friend. This was a family affair and we couldn't be happier for Renee & Sam.

Rick, me, my bestie Traci, and my new bestie Paul, at Renee's wedding.

We became members at Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood, and this was our 1st Easter as official members (and our 1st married Easter). We've been going to Trinity for years, and are so excited about our new Trinity family.

We also attended Cathleen & David's wedding here in Bham at The Club. Good times were had by all, but I didn't get a pic of the bride and groom.

The girls...

And the guys.

Early May we went to RailRoad Park to celebrate our FABULOUS friend Talty's birthday. It was a BEAUTIFUL day with kids, dogs, beer, BBQ, and most of all GREAT company. We had so much fun, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TALTY!!

It was also my WONDERFUL father-in-law's birthday, so in McKibbin fashion we headed to the lake to celebrate sweet John. We got him a kindle from all the kids and he was pretty excited.

Last but not least, we decided last minute to go to Hot Springs, AR to visit my parents for Memorial Day weekend. It was a nice relaxing weekend. As you can see Lilly LOVES the boat. My parents friends Bill & Penny took us out on their boat to watch the fireworks, and Rick and I agreed they were the best fireworks we've ever seen. So nice to watch them from the water, LOVE IT! So, that's what we've been doing. Nothing too exciting, but we enjoyed it all.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUPERMOM!!!

From this:
To this:

Today is my SUPERMom's Birthday! She is, BEAUTIFUL, amazing, talented, smart, kind, generous, strong, hard working, and the best role model any little girl could ask for! I hope that one day I am half the woman my mom is today!!!! I absolutely ADORE you mom, and hope you have the BEST birthday ever. Wish I could be with you to celebrate, can't wait to see you next week!

Rick's 3rd Annual Bowling Birthday

Last weekend was Rick's birthday, and as we have the past 3 years, we had a bowling party. I know it sounds silly, but it is REALLY FUN! Not to mention something different. Here are a few pics from the party.

Rick & Walker

Sweet Cameron's first time to bowl. She was SO amazed my the entire thing.

Rick, his dad, his brother, and nephew.

Rick is the most AMAZING man in the world, and I feel so LUCKY to have him as my husband! I get pretty excited about birthdays, and this year, I just felt like I couldn't possibly do enough to make his day special. He does SO much for me, and has made me happier than I ever dreamed! I love him madly, and am so glad I got to spend this day with this fabulous man.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICKY BOBBY!!

Catching up with Mississip friends

2 weeks ago I went to Missisip for the weekend to catch up with some of my girlfriends, my family, exchange some wedding gifts, and pick up my new Walter Anderson painting Rick bought me for Christmas. Friday night I stayed in Hattiesburg with Chirissy. We met Bonnie & Taylor for a drink @ Cork. B & T both have 2 little girls that keep them pretty so getting to actually sit down and catch up was FABULOUS!!! Chrissy as always was an amazing host. I LOVE hotel FANCY!

Saturday, I headed to the coast to celebrate my bestie Traic's birthday. It's crazy how many birthdays we have celebrated together. I love her!

After dinner at Manhattan Grill, we headed to the Beau Rivage. It was such a fun night. I also got to catch up with my old friend Leigh.

Sunday I spent the night with my brother and his family. Monday it was back to Bham. It was an exhausting, beautiful, fun, fabulous weekend! GREAT to see everyone. Rick and I will be back for Mardi Gras.

Oh Brother

Since both of my brothers had birthdays in the past 2 weeks, I thought I would post a few pics of the 3 of us. I just adore my brothers and would not change one minute of the torture they put me through as a child.

I can't believe its been a year since we lost our dad.

Happy birthday brothers! I LOVE YOU!

Happy birthday Allison!

Last Saturday we went to Parkside, a new little bar in my old hood, to celebrate Allison's Birthday! We loved this place! So cute and fun. Thanks for inviting us, we have a new fav bar. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AL!

Plenty to celebrate!

Friday before last we had a cookout because we have LOTS to celebrate. It was Eric & Stephen's birthdays, and the first time we've been able to celebrate our engagement with our Bham friends. (Really just an excuse to have everyone over!)

Rick with the birthday boys!
I'm not sure we were ready for this one.

Some of the crew.

All of these guys have been best friends since high school, and they still are. I have never seen a group of guy friends as close as these, it's pretty awesome!! I am so excited to be joining such an awesome group.

Thanks to everyone who came, we had a blast (which made wedding dress shopping a little difficult at 8 am the next morning).

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!

Rick's 2nd Annual Bowling Birthday

We decided to make Rick's Birthday a bowling party again this year. He dominated the game, people were even asking if he was in a league. I was horrible, but had a great time. Here are a few pics:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICK!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

FABULOUS @ 5!!

My SWEET BABY LILLY turned 5 last Friday!

I am madly in love with this little angel and can't imagine my life without her!!!

I am so happy she is still so FABULOUS at 5!!!

Happy Birthday BR

Weekend before last we went to BR's birthday party. Here are the pics:

The guys.
Blair & BR

Cheering for the Tigers.

The Woods (minus Davis)

Surprise Kitty

Friday before last, was another birthday celebration. My old roommate Katherine turned 30, and her husband threw her a surprise gathering at Rogue Tavern here in Bham. We had a great time visiting, and seeing everyone we felt like we had not seen in forever since we have been so busy. Happy Birthday KITTY!

No time for rest after the Birthday festivities....

When we got back to Bham from all the FABULOUS birthday celebrations, my sweet Fancy was waiting at our house to stay with us for a few days! I was SUPER excited since she couldn't make it to any of the festivities, and because I just love to extend my birthday as long as possible. Lilly also loved having Fancy here, and slept with her every night. Fancy's (aka Chrissy) last night here we went to my fav Bottega for dinner and drinks, all while I tried to talk her into moving to Bham. We miss you already FANCY!

Wednesday morning Chrissy headed back to Hattiesburg, and it was time to officially end my birthday celebration, so sad. I moved on to celebrating my sweet friend Heather's birthday. Katherine had a few of H's girls over for a birthday dinner and a little wine. Heather, Katherine, and I lived together for about 1 1/2 yrs, and all of our birthdays are within 1 week. Crazy I know.
Thursday, I have to admit I tried to extend my birthday by inviting all my friends here that couldn't make my birthday dinner Rick put together to Thirsty Thursday at the Baron's game, but we got rained out. SO, DeeDee, Duffy, and my sweet boyfriend little Alex came over and we ordered pizza. Little Alex is such a trip, I just love playing with him.

Well, another great yet busy week for us. Sad the birthday really is over, but thankful for the FABULOUS celebrations.

Next stop, Biloxi & the Beau Rivage....

After our stop in Hbg, we headed south to Biloxi. We relaxed by the pool for a little while, before getting ready for my BIG birthday night (even if it was the night before my actual birthday). A few of us went to dinner at the Manhattan Grill (this was my dad's restaurant), and it was DELISH!!! Portabella mushroom stuffed with their fabulous crab cakes, and grouper topped with fresh gulf shrimp. YUMMERS!! Then back to the Beau to meet the rest of my fabulous coast friends. It was a great night with my dear friends from home, most of whom I have been friends with since jr. high or high school. I just adore them all and am so blessed to have these wonderful people in my life. Just a side note, I look for friends like you guy everywhere I go, and they are few and far between. I guess it is something in the water down there (or the chili cheese burgers). PERFECT BIRTHDAY PARTY WITH PERFECT FRIENDS!!!

Just one stop left on the birthday tour....

Birthday Tour stops in HBG!

The 30th Birthday tour headed for Hattiesburg, MS Thursday when Rick got off work, to stay with my most fabulous friends Bonnie and Blaine. Hbg, is on our way to the coast, so this is a normal stop for us, to break up the drive. They as well as Taylor and Drew . had a baby last month and can't really leave town yet, so it was great to be able to catch up with them. Friday morning Bonnie and Blaine cooked a fabulous breakfast casserole and cheese grits, and Taylor brought over cinnamon rolls and fruit, for my birthday breakfast. I LOVE BREAKFAST!! It was so nice, and the food was great.

Thanks friends.
I talked Rick into holding baby Stella Tyrone. He never touches babies so I had to capture the moment.

Here are Taylor, Anna Cooper, Bonnie, Stella, and AUNT Candice.

Here are the little best friends born 3 days apart. Left: Anna Cooper (7/7/09) Right: Stella (7/4/09)

Last but NOT least, miss Reese, Stella's big sis. She runs around like a tornado so getting a picture was a challenge, but I got her. Little miss thing is a ball of fire. I adore all these ladies (and Blaine) and was so happy to be able to celebrate my 30th birthday with such wonderful friends. Yet another key to my perfect birthday.

Half of my life.....

I have wanted a TAGHeuer watch. When I was 15, I was certified to SCUBA dive, and my mom got the most awesome TAG diving watch. Since then I have dreamed of my very own TAG, well this year, 15 years and half of my life later, MY FABULOUS MOM GAVE ME Y DREAM WATCH!!! This is the 3rd stop on the Candice's 3oth Birthday Tour. My mom and sister came to spend the night with us in Bham last Wed, and took me to dinner. After a fabulous dinner my mom gave me a very heavy gift bag. I opened to my most beautiful watch, a bud and ally's t-shirt, and a little pewter cross that says faith. I was (and still am) the happiest little girl in the world. It was like I was 15 all over again. My watch needed another link added to it, but I wore it the rest of the night even though it was cutting off my circulation, and first thing Thursday morning we went to our dear friends at Shay's Jewelery (who was so kind to work with my mom and order the watch for me) to have the extra link added. This birthday is really shaping up nice at this point, and the fun is just starting!!! Thanks MOM, you are the best mom and friend a girl could ask for!!!!