Avery - 1 yr, 2 months

There's a dog store @ the Chenal Promenade that has all kinds of gourmet dog treats!! Any time I'm in the area I go by and get Avery a few treats... This particular trip I got her a doggy happy meal.. it came with a free toy. Below you'll see what happened to her free toy... these pictures were takin about 5 minutes after giving it to her....

What??

Here is her burger and fries.. she really enjoyed it!!

Avery is about 115lb now give or take.. yet she still thinks she's a lap dog!! As I'm writing this she's sitting on my bed watching me, pitiful!!

The Grant family leaves for the beach early tomorrow morning... because Ben started school last Monday he will not be able to go with us.. I'm sad but I know he's doing it for us and in a few years it will pay off!! I'll have lot's of pictures to come..

Today is my MIL's birthday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARY ANN, we love you!!

Lake Hamilton 2009

Some friends let us use their lakehouse for the weekend.. Amber and her fam went up and stayed Friday night, the rest of us met them on Saturday for a fun filled day on the lake!! Ben had to work so he wasn't able to attend, we really missed him!!


Amber and I after a loooong day on and off the lake.. the girls being goofy acting like Nonny (aka mom) in their matching hats!!

just Megan!!

Megan was terrified of the tube.... that is when it was hooked to the boat. I'm guessing it's because everytime someone fell off we'd all yell, clap, laugh, etc. I'm pretty sure she thought we were hurting them.. when it was on land she decided to get in, then proceeded to tell me, "get in Auntie!!"

Laci and her big catch - ha

Her daddy was there to get it off for her..

Laci and I with our matching french braids courtesy of Amber!!

Laci pushing Wes into the lake!!

Diva (she takes after her mom)

Brave Laci and Wes on the tube

mom and I

Nonny & Poppy!!

like mother, like daughter!!

typical Brad face - haha

Wes, dad, and Meg (picking her nose)

Megan with her life jacket on.. which she wasn't fond of!! Amber let the girls get in the lake with their floaties on, it made a world of difference!!

She's getting too old, tooooooo quick!!

me and my loves!!!!!!!!!

We had a blast @ the lake, we hope to do it again soon!! Only this time with Benny : )

Avery - 1 year old!!

Avery is a year old and getting so big... she now weighs close to 115lb!! She still sleeps in our bed, I've created a monster!! She really is a good dog, she loves Ben and I soo much!! Our family laughs because she's soo spoiled but she's all we've got for now.. she will always be our #1 baby!! This is Avery's pool she LOVES!! It's also become a water dish.. I clean it out and put fresh water in it a couple times a week..

It's so funny that she always goes to the shady part of the grass.. she's like a human I swear!!

This is her play mode.. she's either about to pounce or start chewing on a toy..

typical Av position.. we say she's "airing out"

Swimming!!

Our close family friends, the Burton's have been out of town the past week.. we were told to use their pool as often as we'd like... we took them up on their offer!!

Laci has been a swimming fool this summer!! She's now jumping off the diving board with no floaties and swimming to the side.. she attempted a front flip and belly flopped.. she reverted back to the floaties for a few more jumps.. she's now back to no floaties!!

Wes will be attending Georgia State in the fall to play baseball.. we are soo proud of him!! Here Laci is cheering for him, "Go Georgia State Panthers!!" Laci was wanting me to get off the floatie and play in the water!!

mom and Wes

My brother, Wes and I

Wes being.. well, Wes!! (AKA Michael Phelps)

Wes being too cool for school!!

Mom and Laci

Laci swimming!!!!

We go to the beach in a few weeks, we're soo excited!! Ben will not be able to go, he starts school July 6!!!

Benny update

I have to brag on Ben.. he's had two micro tests thus far which he's made a 125% and 120% on.. did I mention the tests were only worth 100??? He's been working four 12 hour shifts a week plus going to class Monday & Wednesday nights from 5-9 and studying... oh yea, hanging out with Avery and I in his spare time : ) I couldn't be more proud of him!! We are both eager for him to start actual nursing school.. only a few more weeks!! Keep him (us) in your prayers!!

new piece of furniture!!

Ben and I met Mary Ann (his mom) @ a garage sale a few weeks ago.. it wasn't a typical garage sale, it was one of her close friends who lives in WLR. We went over on a Thursday to get an early look before Saturday.. When I saw this chaise lounge, I HAD to have it.. it's a little big for our room and don't mind the zebra sheets with the leopard chair.. it's a work in progress!!basically it's become a stepping stool for Av to be able to get onto our bed easier : )

a close up of sleeping beauty..
We've been in our house a little over a year and we love it!! We are having soo much fun buying new things when we can.. We got a few other things @ the garage sale that we love!! (Bakers rack X2, pillows, greenery, a planter pot, something for Ben to use when he grills, and a globe)
All for decoration of course!!

Most people say the first couple years of marriage are the hardest but I have not found that to be true.. I will admit you learn a lot about each other but I find that fascinating!! I am more in love with Ben today than I was yesterday..

These next couple of years will be tough on us financially with Ben being in school full time.. Thankfully, we've been good at saving $$ over the past couple years. I have a great job and Ben will be able to work on the weekends. We are soo exciting about our future and what it holds.. it's all in Gods hands and we're comfortable with that..

until next time...

we're still here!!

Not much is new with us.. it's been a while since our last post. Ben is still working in the ER @ Baptist Springhill (NLR.) Going from the corporate world to the medical field is a BIG change, I was concerned of how he would take it.. thankfully, he LOVES it!! He is eager to start school in July!! My work is still going great, the economy (surprisingly) has not hurt our plastic surgery practice!!

Below are some recent pictures of Avery.. this one is how we find her every morning once we get up.. she's pitiful, really!! Ben was determined she would NOT sleep in our bed.. well, 2 against one and we won!! All 115lb of her sleeps with us!! Thankfully we have a king bed..

too bad she's only one and still growing...............CHEEESE!!
our pride and joy : )