Happy Birthday Holt...

Today we celebrated Holt's 3rd birthday...Happy Birthday, Holt and thanks for inviting us to your party...we had such a fun time!

Holt had a "fire engine" birthday party and it was complete with a visit from the fire truck, which took all the kids for a ride. Our Anna Lauren has no fear so she climbed right in the truck with the other kids and enjoyed the ride...

Holt, the birthday boy! He is such a special little boy to us...we are not going to know what to do when he moves away in a few months...

Anna Lauren and Daddy looking around on the fire truck...

And off they go...Anna Lauren was all smiles...this picture is not too clear, but she was having so much fun!

Unfortunately, I don't think you can see her big smile...but maybe!

Way to Go Big Buddy...

Many of you have heard us mention "the buddies" so I feel as if it is time to explain "the buddies". The buddies are our sweet friends Eugene and Jennifer O'Donnell...Jennifer and I actually went to MC together and reunited through spectating our husband's traithlons this past summer. Then Jennifer started running with Matt and I when we were all training for the St. Jude 1/2 marathon in Memphis and that is when we all became great friends!

Now...the buddies? Eugene calls Jennifer "little buddy", and I really cannot remember how we started calling him "big buddy" unless that is what Jennifer calls Eugene. I just cannot remember that part. But with all that being said, we call Eugene and Jennifer Big Buddy and Little Buddy and that is the story of "the buddies"...

Now...what I am really posting about is "way to go, Big Buddy"...Big Buddy ran the Boston marathon on Monday and finished in 3 hours and 8 minutes, which qualifies him to run the Boston marathon again next year! He had a great race, and we are so very proud of him!

Big Buddy has the "most" supportive wife you will ever meet...she screams like a crazy woman at all of his races! This is a picture of her doing just that...screaming like a crazy woman...at the Heatwave this past summer.

3rd Place...

As I have mentioned several times, Matt and I competed in a biathlon (ran 3.1 miles and biked 10 miles) a couple weekends ago. It was my first time to race on my bike, and I was extremely nervous! The Saturday morning of the race, we woke up to thundering, lightening, and pouring down rain. However, we got dressed, loaded the bikes, and headed out to race. The entire time I was thinking...will Matt please just say...it's not the day, let's go back home? But...he did not as he was determined to race that morning...I on the other hand, was not so determined because I could just see myself having a bike wreck trying to ride in the rain or on wet roads if the rain did stop. Again, this was my first time to race on my bike, and I am still too nervous to even try to drink some water and ride...much less ride in the rain.

So...we sat in the car for over an hour and the thunder, lightening, and rain finally stopped. At this point, we unloaded our bikes and got everything ready to start...I was still unsure about racing on this particular Saturday morning.

And then we started...we were feeling great...had a fabulous run (we ran together) and we took off on our bikes (Matt left me). I actually enjoyed my bike ride except for the last couple miles, which seemed to be straight up hill. But it was fun and now I am looking forward to more races...let's just hope for no more rain on race mornings...that definitely took the fun out of "race morning"...

And last but not least...the finish...I got third in my age group and here is a picture to prove it...3rd place even came with a trophy...

1st Golf Lesson...

Two weekends ago, we went to Gulfport for Matt's "birthday" weekend...Matt and I did a biathlon on Saturday morning and then stayed at the Beau Rivage Saturday night for his 30th birthday. Anna Lauren got to stay with her Meme and Poppie and had a great time!

Matt's parents live on a golf course, and I have always told Matt, I want Anna Lauren to learn to play golf...that is just one thing I wish I had learned to play...I do not have enough patience (or time) to learn now.

So...before leaving Gulfport on Sunday, Matt and Poppie gave Anna Lauren her 1st golf lesson. I don't know who had more fun...Anna Lauren or Daddy and Poppie?

Anna Lauren having a great time playing with the golf balls...her Daddy and Poppie would hit them to her and she would just laugh...so much fun!

She didn't care much for her "kid" clubs...she preferred the real thing...

Poppie trying to teach Anna Lauren that the position of her hands is very important...not sure how well that went over but Poppie was trying hard...

Enough of the clubs...just putting the ball in the hole was way more fun!

Matt's 30th Birthday...

On Monday, we celebrated Matt's 30th birthday! And as I posted earlier this week, I actually pulled off a suprise party for him...I was so proud of myself and more than anything I was glad I was able to make it possible for him to have a fun birthday and one he will always remember. Thanks to our sweet friend Jennifer, here are a few pictures from the party...enjoy!

Anxiosly awaiting for Matt to arrive...thanks to everyone who "kept the secret" and was there to celebrate such a special day with Matt!

Matt rounding the corner to hear "surprise"... notice me carrying Holt's birthday present. Matt really had no clue and was confident he was going to Holt's birthday party.

Matt realizing the party is actually for him and not Holt...he is asking me...is this really for me?

Now he is all smiles as he has realized the party really is for him. I on the other hand, have tears in my eyes as I was just so relieved / excited I had pulled it off!

Present #29 was a cap for him to wear at his party...and Present #30 was his party! He had such a fun time opening all his presents. I let him start opening his presents on Saturday as I showered him with 30 presents for his 30th birthday.

And we all know...Matt loves cookie cake (or should we say icing)...he was determined to eat the "30" due to that part of the cake having the most icing.

I know...you are still waiting for pictures from the Masters. The problem is Matt took over 500 pictures so it will take us some time to pick out a few to post...we will definitely post some because Augusta National is just too beautiful to not share some of the pictures with you. Hopefully we can filter through those pictures this weekend...we are going to be at home, and we are so excited. We are in need of a weekend at home!

Spencer's 1st Birthday Party...

I am going to begin my documentation of all our fun adventures last week...

Two weekends ago, we spent Saturday night in Atlanta for two reasons...it was a good stopping point for our trip to Augusta (the Masters) and most importantly, we would be able to celebrate Spencer's 1st birthday.

Spencer and James are both in Atlanta and get to play often but it is not often Anna Lauren can join them. So...it was fun watching them play although they are at an age of not sharing very well, biting, pushing, etc. I have been told Anna Lauren is the toughest...oh my...I'm afraid we definitely have a tom boy on her hands. That is ok though...I don't think I would know what to do with a "prissy" girl.

Below is a picture of Spencer with his mommy and daddy. Kelly had the greatest idea...they have always called him "bug" so she served dirt cake and put bugs on top of the dirt. It was super cute...great idea for you girls with boys!

Coming soon...documentation / pictures from the Masters!

Surprise..Surprise...

Yea...I did it...I actually surprised Matt with a birthday party tonight! He had no clue as he thought he was going to Gatti Town to celebrate Holt's 3rd birthday. We had a great time, and I will be sharing a few pictures once I get them from Jennifer...of course, Jennifer always comes through and captures all our special moments for us...what would we do without her?

Matthew, Anna Lauren and I hope you had a wonderful birthday...we love you so much and are so thankful we got to celebrate such a special day with you!

Anthony...Happy Birthday to you too! Sorry it has been crazy and your present has not even been mailed. I promise it is coming real soon...

Finally Back Home...

After a week of traveling with 2 days at home thrown in the mix, we are back at home from all our exciting adventures. I am too tired tonight to even think about downloading pictures, etc...but...hopefully by the end of the week we will be sharing with you pictures / stories from the following adventures:

1. Spencer's Birthday Party in Atlanta
2. The Masters
3. Woolmarket Biathlon (I got 3rd in my age group...very exciting)!
4. Celebrating Matt's 30th Birthday at the Beau Rivage
5. Anna Lauren's 1st Golf Lesson with Daddy and Poppie

We had a great week and Matt and I were very fortunate and got to enjoy some time alone...thanks to his parents...they have taken such good care of Anna Lauren this past week. However, I'm pretty sure they are tired and ready to not hold her hand and walk around and around and around the house! She is walking really good but still likes to hold a hand...still working on that confidence!

Off To The Masters...

We are very fortunate to have received 4 tickets to the practice rounds of the Masters through the lottery for Monday. However, Matt has done a little work and managed to get our extra 2 Monday tickets traded for Tuesday tickets. Therefore, we will get to enjoy the beautiful Augusta National on Monday and Tuesday.


The fun will actually begin Saturday morning when we head to Atlanta. On Sunday, we will be in Atlanta and get to celebrate our nephew Spencer's 1st birthday by attending his birthday party and then off to Augusta we will head. Anna Lauren will stay with her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Atlanta, and we will return to Atlanta on Tuesday night. I'm so excited she will get to spend some time with her cousins who she does not get to see as often as we would like.


We will drive home on Wednesday and then head to Gulfport on Friday. Matt and I will be doing a biathlon Saturday morning on the Coast. This will be my first time to race on my new bike...little nervous but very excited about racing with my husband. We love to do these kind of things together. We have not decided...we are thinking he will do the run portion with me and then head off on his bike...we'll see though...he is still tossing the idea of staying with me. I think he is still a little nervous that I may crash on my bike...especially after our bike ride last weekend when I was stranded in the middle of Spillway Road because I could not get my feet back in the pedals. At that point, I called him "Eugene" because why were we not on the bike trail? Don't they make those things for cyclist?


Anyway, after our race, we will then spend the night at the Beau Rivage and go to dinner for Matt's 30th birthday...that was what he choose to do to celebrate his 30th so that is exactly what we will do. So...with all that being said, you probably will not hear from us for the next week or so, but we will post pictures from everything upon our return.


Wow...we are going to be busy...makes me tired so I must go to bed and get some rest tonight...might be the last little bit of rest I get for the next week or so.

Look at My Hair...

As most of you know, Anna Lauren has always had very little hair. Well, it is finally beginning to really grow and is getting thicker by the day. With that being said, her hair provides much entertainment for her daddy when he gives her a bath. Here are a few pictures from their "crazy hair tricks" during bath time...

Welcome Spring...

I absolutely love Spring and especially when all the azaleas are blooming...I guess part of that comes from growing up in small town McComb where there was an Azalea Trail every year as well as it being an honor to be in the Azalea Court when you were a senior in high school. So...needless to say...I am very excited the azaleas in our yard are blooming and put Anna Lauren through a little "photo shoot" in the midst of the beautiful blooming pink flowers.