Where's Abby (+ Dylan and dogs)

I'd say this was one of the most unique Christmases I've had. I guess that starts to happen as you add a second half, double your family, and work schedules alter your traditions.  We had our first Christmas Eve brunch with the future in-laws, Mom, Dad and Mimi, and  Christmas night, we enjoyed dinner with Dylan's parents. I attempted to relax in a hot tub, but I confirmed they're not relaxing for me.  With Dylan working Christmas afternoon, I studied a bit for the GRE before texting Meryl to see what she was up to and got the nicest invite for dinner with them. So I strolled on over with the pup, arriving at their house soaked for the second holiday in a row. We ate the most delicious pork and learned about Puerto Rican Christmas traditions and Meryl's character of a dad. Down their street I walked to join Benton and his parents for hours of board games and a beach walk before heading back home. Codenames is quite a fun, thinkin game.  The goodn...

Christmas time is my favorite time of the year, and today reality hit me that it was Christmas time and I hadn't decorated! I woke up this morning and went straight to Publix for meal prepping and became overwhelmed with excitement at the little details I wound up with. Candles and flowers were all I needed to send my hormones to euphoria.  Later we went to get our first real tree, had Dylan's parents over for dinner and finished decorating this humble abode. This place has gone through a lot of changes since last year .          I hope everyone else is enjoying the holiday as much as I am. If not, get on my excitement level! It's joyous!   Thanks Benton's parents for these lovely candle holders Peter the Pine And thanks, Mama for these Christmas sand pipers! They don't call these Christmas cacti for nothin. Look at that cool bloom! I didn't even know it did that! Ol' Nelso...

Holy mackerel guys, I knew I'd been failing miserably at this whole blog deal, but I didn't realize it had been since MAY. Since then, I said "Yes, of course!" to a man with a ring on his pinky in the Atlantic Ocean. That man and I trekked around Costa Rica and Panama for two fantastic weeks. I jumped back into the craziness of Lindamood-Bell and am thoroughly enjoying it. We have the most intriguing, fun kiddos. In July, I witnessed another of the Bests become a wife to her very comical hubs. Such a fun wedding, as you can see from a snapshot below. One weekend, I finally visited Ms. Leslie Wiles in her new Georgia home and had our senses overloaded at the Buford Farmers Market . That place is nuts. We filled our cart with fruits we never heard of that needed intensive cutting instructions and safety warnings. I started on my track to GRAD SCHOOL for speech language pathology. Now I've covered four types of colleges: private Christian college (King Colle...

"Bring clothes you don't mind trashing,"  they said. "It can't be that muddy," I said... This caving festival opened my eyes to a new kind of dirty and adventure. First of all, the setup was a unique one with a bunch of caving enthusiasts camped out on someone's large property with music, barbecue, and camp fires.  We only did one day of caving which wound up being ok, considering the adventure that was to come. We entered Hollow Ridge cave and started off finding a huge viewing room with crazy structures that looked like crystals and giant lady parts. A "lights out" had us in the darkest moment I've ever experienced. I started out feeling pretty confident, feeling the benefit of the ab part of yoga classes kicking in. We continued on and started a tight section where I kept hitting my head on the top, so I just chose to look down and crawl forward. My light fell off my helmet getting covered with mud, so not really d...

Weekends are for... Hiking new places. Little Talbot was the place this Saturday. A duney, driftwood delight. First time ferry rides. Sierra, being scared of a car was not a fan of a car on a ferry.  Cafe sitting . Cafe Karibo in Fernandina was the perfect backyard oasis after our hike. Dog friendly, tree canopies, and a caramelized onion, basil, turkey sandwich creation.  Post hiking cuddles. Barbecues and laundry according the the smells on my run. (That's actually what inspired the idea for this post that I think I'll make a regular). I did the laundry but missed out on the barbecue.  Running! Got two runs in this weekend, even after the hike! *pats herself on the back* Green Room f or a tequila-infused beer special, Cards Against Humanity and adult convos about grad school, babies, and the housing market.   Helping brother and sister-in-law paint their very first house!  Sunday morning naps. The...

The month of March was one of sadness, family time, story sharing, tears, and laughs. It was the month we lost our Papa. He passed in early March and it's, as I'd expect, still hard to believe it.      

Somehow when Amy said she "went Trudy O'Connell on our Galentines Day Brunch," I wondered what she could've planned.  Clearly I just wasn't thinking.  Growing up, any occasion my best friend's mom hosted was worthy of a magazine article or Downton Abbey scene. You'd find three kinds of cookies, at least two cakes, maybe a pie or two, rice crispy treats, jello, homemade candies, perfectly decorated tables, trinkets, party favors and all.  These party throwing expertise have certainly been passed down to Mrs. Sapp.  I showed up to an entry table decked out with adorable signs of love and glitter. Walking into the living room, I find a table set with the sweetest rosette tablecloth and tea set. A handmade cross-stitch made by Trudy herself, perfect for the occasion, was found displayed with a book of Shakespeare love sonnets that I attempted to bless the group with later. A chandelier was draped with glittery hearts, the sweetest flowers were bur...