Happy Birthday {Hou-Hou} Houston!

Well, tomorrow (1.18.11) will be Houston's first birthday. But on Saturday, Erica and Matt had the family over for his very first birthday party. I had grad school from 9-7 and did not think I was going to make it. So, Edwin and I took Houston his birthday present on Friday night. Houston was excited about his new train set, HOWEVER, the boys were 10 times more as excited because it meant they got to put it all together.



On Saturday, I worked with my professor for my second class during our lunch time and was able to come to his BIRTHDAY PARTY! I was so excited because I really did not think I was going to be able to make it to see this cute face:





At the end of the party, Erica had made these cute favors. Everything was wonderful and super cute.





HAPPY {first} BIRTHDAY MR. HOUSTON BILLINGSLEY. We LOVE you! :)

{{baby love}}

Well, today was day 3 of being locked up in the house from this "snow storm" and I just couldn't take it ANYMORE!!!!!

So, my day began with lunch with Megan, Spense, Erica and Mr. Houston. We enjoyed our little time together. Adult interaction was just what we all needed.

We then began to venture downtown to get my books for Grad School and drop off a present for Ms. Lilly. Houston and Lilly sure enjoyed their time together!



That was until Houston got tired of Lilly pulling on him. Lilly has such a cute personality and is VERY outgoing... so, for Houston, that meant he had to be as excited as Lilly and it just wasn't happening...



As if all this baby love wasn't enough, we even stopped by to meet Mr. Landon for the first time. Ashley and Steven Cogburn's sweet boy!!!



Houston even enjoyed Landon for all of 2 seconds, then was instantly interested in the balls (or Christmas ornaments).



Landon is precious!!! :)

Boys Sledding :)

Yesterday, I posted some pictures of our snow day. BUT for some reason, it would only let me post one video at a time... so, I saved this one for today. Here is a video of the boys sledding behind the four-wheeler.

Snow FUN :)

Today was a beautiful day. It snowed all morning long and put a LARGE blanket of snow over all of South Carolina. Our house in the pretty snow! At about 9:00 AM we already had 5 1/2 inches of snow... and it kept on falling!! Not shortly after taking these pretty pictures, our neighbor, Trent, came by on the 4-wheeler ready to play. We put on our gear and hopped on the 4-wheeler. Only problem was that the boys did not have a sled. So, they put their heads together and created one out of scrap wood and a lid to a tupperware box. It ended up working out great!

After two days of being locked up, Chevy was dying to go outside. So, we put him out. Only problem was his little feet were not use to the cold snow... So, probably 2 seconds later, this is what we saw: Sweet little booger. Knocks at the door when he wants in or out. I LOVE IT. :)

sewing frenzy

I know I have been a little slack on this blogging thing... but I am trying to "pick it up" again. Since grad school, I have been spending most of my "free" time for myself and my family. So, that left very little time for other things... ha-ummm... THIS BLOG.

But now that I am only 6 more class meetings away from graduating, I am trying to find something that I want to spend my time doing and this is it...

{SEWING}

I am determined to get a sewing machine, get cute fabric, and go to town! In my family, it is a must to know how to sew... and I've done a few things here and there, but I have not taken it on full time. This summer, my goal is to master this task and create a lot of cute stuff for my house! The first thing I want to learn to make is a cute camera strap!



I've been looking around for cute fabric to get started with...





I have already conned my friend Megan in to making things with me. We've been talking about a lot of stuff we could make. Pillows, shirts, dresses, curtains, cute place mats, etc.

I thought about making a cute dog bed for Mr. Remmi...



I don't think he'll mind if it's girly... do you? :)

missing: daisy dukes

A couple weekends ago, we went up to Pigeon Forge. Mom and Dad got a cabin for everyone to come up and visit. It was nice. Everyone had a place to stay and we were all together.

When we were there, we did A LOT of shopping! I mean, we hit up outlet after outlet. I knew I couldn't make many purchases because I had been saving up for something GOOD...

BOOTS.... not any kind of boots: FUN, colorful, cowboy boots.





Hopefully they will make their debut before the end of the summer... just waiting on the perfect day and outfit to wear them! :)

{our first anniversary}

Yesterday was our first wedding anniversary. We wanted to go out of town and do something special, but my graduate school classes said NOPE. So, instead, we decided to keep it cheap and romantic at home.

That morning I got up, cut Edwin's hair, folded clothes, showered up and got dressed to go to class. It did not feel like much of an anniversary. I was kind of sad. I thought it was supposed to be this great day and seem just as special as the day we got married... and it wasn't. :(

I went to class and came home to this:



I was so excited! Edwin did make it special! He set the table with all the things that have been special to us. He pulled out our China for the first time, we got to drink out of our crystal for the first time, use our napkins and pretty napkin rings...



He got the flowers we had at our wedding (minus the turquoise gerber daisies). He even put them in the pretty vase Mrs. Donna gave to us for our wedding...



He found the candles that were given to us from Mrs. Lori to burn for our first anniversary and put them out for our nice dinner...



We pulled our cake out of the freezer... it was still just as beautiful as our wedding day...



Two years ago on 6.28.08, Edwin took me up to the Biltmore House to see the beautiful house and to have wine tasting. That same day he popped the question, we bought a bottle of wine to drink on our first anniversary. This bottle of wine has traveled with us throughout the last two years... in this adventure, we had made it clear to all that this was our special bottle and not allowed to be open until our special day...


I got dressed and put in my hair piece from our wedding day. Yes, I am a dork, but I cannot help it!! I loved that thing and to only wear it a couple times was not enough for me! :)


Edwin worked hard in preparing our delicious meal. The biggest steaks I have ever seen, mac and cheese, and lima beans. YUM.



After we ate all we could, we cut into the cake. Edwin was very excited to have the first bite!!!





For our anniversary, Edwin had my ring engraved all over so all my bands would match. I love it.



We enjoyed our first anniversary. Everything ended up the way I knew it would. He knows how to make a day special and I am blessed he loves me so much.

Happy Anniversary Hun.