The McKibbin's join the BLOG world!!!

Rick's sister-in-law has started a blog for their family (after a year of debating), and I am so excited!! I have added them to my blog list on the right, or you can check them out by clicking HERE. WELCOME KATIE!!!!

Ole Miss vs Auburn

Bright and early, Rick & I headed down to Auburn to watch the REBELS play! Our FABULOUS friend Burton had some extra tix so we went with him. Might I say his tix are AWESOME!! I was super pumped, Ole Miss was favored to win, great tix, and good friends. Well, Rick on the other hand, not so excited. He had been so sad about Auburn letting him down the past 3 games, and he said "one of us is going to leave there mad." Whatev! Needless to say half way through the game he was smiling from ear to ear, thrilled that we came to the game, and super pumped about Auburn football again. I on the other hand, was sad about the rebel defeat, but man what an INCREDIBLE game! I was a good sport, I did the Auburn chants during the game and all. Our friends Tom & Rachael (the 3 of us were the only Ole Miss fans in sight), met us at the game. Oh, and THEY GOT ENGAGED 2 days before!!!!

CONGRATS TOM & RACHAEL!!!
Here's the crew.

P.S. Excuse the rain gear, it did in fact rain, but Burton's seats are covered!!!! YAY for BURTON!!

Woodland's Annual Halloween Party

Last Friday we went to Rick's brother & sister-in-law's neighborhood Halloween Party. Last year Rick was out of town so I went alone, and he was shocked at what an event this is. The entire street goes all out with the decorations, weeks in advance. There are around 75 kids that live on this one street and they are all buddies, and so are the parents, which makes for a pretty fun party. Check out the pics:

Here is the pumpkin carving contest.

Our little family Halloween pic, as usual Lilly is thrilled.
I found all the girls later that night in Rick's niece, Claire's room, costumes no longer intact, playing ever so quietly. So quietly that the mom's sent me up to check on them.

Michelle & Eric came by , but since E is the king of having his eyes shut in pics, he didn't make the cut.

Claire tried to climb "Uncle Rick" at the end of the night, I think she was trying to get him to stay.

It was a fun party, probably more for us than all the parents since all we had to keep up with was little Lilly bears. OH, and Katie made adult punch that was great, well after I talked her into double spiking it. This didn't help me get up at 7am to head to Auburn. Thanks for having us over Woodland!!

Saints UPDATE

My NEW ORLEANS SAINTS are still UNDEFEATED after a tough battle against Miami last weekend. Final Score SAINTS 46 DOLPHINS 34!

WHO DAT!!!!

Next game: Monday Night Football against the rival Atlanta FALCONS

USM Homecoming

Last weekend Rick and I headed to Hattiesburg for Southern Miss Homecoming, and WHAT A WEEKEND!! We had a blast! This was Rick's first USM home football game (we went to the Auburn game last year @ AU, and the UAB game this year here in Bham), and at one point he said "You guys actually have a pretty good atmosphere around here." REALLY RICK? I guess he didn't expect much, but was pleasantly surprised. He was also impressed by the stadium, it's no SEC stadium, but pretty nice thanks to all the new additions.

Friday Fancy, Joe, Larkin, Rick, and I went to dinner @ The Brownstone, and it was YUMMY!! Then off to the Bottling Company (a friend of mine from college's bar downtown), and this is what happened...

Fancy & I
Fancy & Joe

Joe, Rick and me @ BOCO, then....

Not really sure what happened here. I guess we found a tractor and the guys got excited. As you can see Joe is posing for a fabulous pic, while Rick is a little more serious as he tries to figure out how to start the tractor!! WOW!! This is what happens when we get together with old college friends. LOVE IT!!!

And Saturday after a morning of recovery, our little weekend family (as Joe called it, he would also call for family meetings, strange, I know), finally made it to the game. I hate that this pic didn't turn out better, it was a gorgeous sky in the background.

It was a PERFECT weekend with PERFECT friends, and USM beat Tulane 43-6!!!

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!!!

THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

For those that don't know, I am a HUGE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS FAN!!! I LOVE THEM!!! My dad, brothers, and I have been loyal fans since I can remember. Every Sunday, we all had to sit in the same spot we sat in the week before, if we won. If not, we had to change it up, my dad was very superstitious. We have been there through thick and thin (mostly thin), more losing seasons than I can count, but we never gave up! Well this Sunday, I remembered why I was a SAINTS fan, with our 48-27 victory over the undefeated New York Giants, and New Orleans own Eli Manning (Hotty Toddy). The SAINTS are undefeated after 5 games for the first time since 1993, and for only the 3rd time in franchise history, and I AM SO PROUD!!!!!!! My heart was just full of joy Sunday, and I know my Dad would be on top of the world about his beloved Saints. So, I just wanted to share my excitement with everyone else. WHO DAT!!!!

P.S. In true SAINTS fan form, I know this is only the beginning of the season, and a LOT can change by the end of the season. I AM JUST SO EXCITED FOR THE TIME BEING!!!

New chairs....

OK, so not really new chairs but re-covered chairs! Every little bit helps. I was so proud of my self, especially since I am NOT crafty at ALL!

BEFORE:

AFTER:
Not the exact fabric I wanted, but it will do for now.

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)

Shower for Katherine & Mac

Last weekend we helped host a wedding shower for Rick's sister Katherine and her husband at our house. We had a great time, it was a super easy shower, and the Greenes got lots of fabulous gifts.

Rick & Katherine
Heather, Beth, & me.

Mac & Walker

Katherine and all her girlfriends!

Katie & Scott (Rick's oldest brother and his wife). Thanks for all your help Katie!!

Southern Miss vs UAB

Last Thursday we went to the Southern Miss game here in Bham, and well......we lost. So that's really all I will say about that.

Rick & me
The girls.

Kelly & Erick

We did get to see my sweet friends Chris, Joy, and Macie Rayburn at the game. Above are Joy & Macie.

Baby Sawyer

So I am WAY behind!! Our friends Courtney & Lindsay had their little boy Sawyer James on Sept 16, 8 lbs 14 oz 21 1/4 inches, and healthy as can be. Rick and I took them dinner shortly after and got to meet the little man, and I wanted to bring him home. He is such a cutie, and I can totally tell he already loves Aunt Candice. Congrats Corley family, we love SJC.

Hayden-Hurt Wedding

I went home to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Sept 19 weekend for my dear friends Leigh & Luke's wedding. This wedding was 8 1/2 yrs in the making! I know, crazy, but they have been dating since we were 21, and are just the happiest couple ever. I couldn't be happier for them.

The ceremony...
The cake...

Some of my very best friends and roommates, I just adore them.

Traci, Leigh, & Aubree (she is 7 months pregnant with baby Bunyard)

THE HURTS!!!!!

The bride and me.

What a GREAT weekend! Congrats friends, I love you guys!

Bathroom MINI makeover

Rick thought I was nuts to want to waste any time on our bathroom since he has plans to completely remodel it soon, but I just HAD to pull that wallpaper down (I know you wanted to do it so bad Traci!!). Well I did, and it was easy as pie. It took me all of 5 min. It just pretty much fell off the wall, and when it did.....

I got a big laugh!! The ocean scene was so detailed, it was a trip. I got so tickled. So I got out the primer and attempted to cover it with one coat, then another, then the basic white paint, and you can still see a tiny bit of the aqua but only if you look real hard. I decided not to do a 4th coat of paint since it is only temporary. I hung a few of my Walter Anderson prints (a FABULOUS artist from my hometown, click HERE to see or purchase his art), and added a simple white rug from Target, and BAM! we have a new bathroom. I was so impressed at what a difference this all made, Rick.....not so much. Not bad for a day's work.

Old dog = NO new tricks

I was in the back of the house washing my face getting ready for bed, went to tell Rick and Lilly good night, and found this:

Rick TRYING to teach Lilly to shake. She is clearly uninterested. This lesson was very unsuccessful. I guess the old saying is true....You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

J-O-B

I GOT A J-O-B!!!! FINALLY!!!! Most important it is a job I am excited about, and can't wait to start!!! I will be doing marketing for 4 locations, Destin, FL, Jackson, MS, and 2 in Birmingham. Mostly I will focus on increasing the catering business, so don't forget Mellow Mushroom for your catering needs. I start Monday, so everyone wish me luck!! Oh, and thanks to everyone that helped encourage me over the past months of unemployment, and let me know of any opportunities you heard of, I REALLY appreciate it all.

P.S. I think Rick and my mom are just as excited as I am, if not more!

Last lake weekend before football....

We headed to the McKibbin Lake house for what is known in the south as the last weekend of summer before FOOTBALL season and your weekends are consumed by the game. As usual we had a great time with great friends. As you can see from the pics, my little boyfriend Alex was the life of the party. Enjoy the pics.

Thoughts on this painting?

It was Rick's great, great grandfather's, so he is pretty attached. Do you think that a new frame and matting would help?

NEW LIVING ROOM FURNITURE!!!!!

The plaid couches are OUT!!!! I could not be more excited!!!! WOOHOOO!! I have been waiting on this for a long time. I had a really nice red couch and Rick wouldn't have it in our living room, so I sold it, and this is what we kept.

WOW, I know. Well finally we agreed on a new couch and love seat. I am THRILLED!!! There are still a lot of things that need to be done around the house, but this is a HUGE improvement. It is amazing how much furniture can change a house. Here is the love seat.
As you can see Lilly loves the new couch too!! Rick says it made her more lazy than she already was to begin with.

So what do you guys think????

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!