Blue Love

Was this weekend even real life?!?

If you don't know what I'm talking about then crawl out from under your rock because we are in the Final Four!!!

I still don't think it has set in that this team is two games away from a national championship. They play Wisconsin Saturday night and if we are victorious we will play Monday (winner of Florida & UConn) on my birthday!

The celebrations started early as Georgia Grace and some of her AKK buddies wore their UK blue to school on Friday. I'm glad she is surrounded by kiddos with such smart mommies and daddies ha!

We beat Louisville Friday night in an unbelievable game to advance to the Elite 8. You won't hear any Louisville bashing from me. I'm just happy to be part of BBN and the SEC-the best conference in the nation!

Saturday was a rainy, yucky day that was only good for a slow start with morning cuddles in our bed. This has become a weekend tradition for us and I look forward to it so much. I hope that the little things are etched in her memory just as much as the big things.

And I think it should be noted that she is totally still celebrating with her three goggles ha!

The slow morning gave way to a slow afternoon and a slow night. Georgia Grace spent some time with her grandparents for a little while on Saturday and I took some time for myself and started reading The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman. I took the love language assessment pre-Mrs. status so I doubt it is accurate and will take it again once I am finished reading. I learned so much just from reading the first 50 pages. I know I say this all the time but the best gift we can give our children is a strong marriage full of grace and love and that is Christ-centered. I want to do anything I can to harvest that.

Sunday was a normal Sunday for us. We went to church and volunteered in the nursery and then we went to mamaw's for lunch.

I mentioned Friday that we are learning our animals and sounds so I couldn't wait to show Georgia Grace an actual cow on my grandparent's farm. She mooed at them and wasn't a bit scared.

We had a busy, excited girl this weekend so pictures didn't happen often but when they did she was on the move mostly. I had to document her UK attire (her UK squeakers came from Cracker Barrel). We went to James & Ashley's Sunday to watch the game. We are a rowdy crew and GGH got spooked a few times when a big roar would erupt so we went outside and played in their front yard a while. I went back in just in time to see the big Aaron Harrison "3" to seal the victory!

Final Four bound and headed to the big D!

And a BIG birthday shoutout to our fur baby who turns 5 today! I have no idea where the past five years with him has gone. I remember the day they brought him home. We drove to the dollar store for puppy food and he sat on Marcus' shoulder ha! He had huge paws as a pup so we knew he would be a big boy. Life has been 148204 times more fun with him along for the ride. Messier? Yes. Sometimes more stressful? Yes, but we take it all in stride and wouldn't trade it.

When you turn five you get a BGE grilled steak!

Happy Birthday sweet Owen! Or "O-wa" as your sister calls you. You have officially made me a dog person. We love you so much big boy!

TGIF

I have been anxious for Friday with much anticipation for the "Battle of the Bluegrass"! We play Louisville in the Sweet Sixteen game in Indianapolis tonight. We have a strict dress code at my hospital with one exception-the NCAA tournament when state schools are in the tournament. Today will be seas of blue and red no doubt.

Highlights from our week:

Baby girl has been sitting in the preschool circle at AKK on the mornings she is with gram but just this week she has started participating in Show & Tell. Aunt Shanna got her saying "Uhhhh" before words because there was a book that she read her about colors and before she would pick a color to add suspense she would say "Uhhhh" first. Hilarious! I can't believe she's big enough to be participating in preschool already.

Tuesday I had the privilege of going to a local elementary school to observe a school lunch and gym class as part of a population health committee. I know school foodservice has a bad reputation but I was impressed with the meal we received. Whole grains, lean proteins, and fresh fruits and vegetables were all on the menu. This is the generation we must target to change lifestyle habits and create a healthier population.

Tuesday night I had a court date for the first time in my life. I received a parking ticket at the beginning of the month that I contested related to the ice storm and safety (I could not see the yellow lines) and I won!! It was nerve-wracking. I had to appear before five judges, it was filmed and I had to take a legal oath. It was serious business but all worth it when it was waived.

Yesterday Georgia Grace and I attended Career Day at my old high school. Since my mom is a high school business teacher I had a built-in babysitter so I didn't have to take time away from her on my day off. I had a small group of potential nutrition majors and we had some great conversations. I hope I was able to make a difference!

 I caught this little cutie standing in the hallway practicing her new mooing like a cow trick :) We are learning animal sounds right now and it's the cutest thing ever. She actually went and got one of her animal books from her room last night and brought it to me to read to her. I hope she is always interested in learning and that it comes easy for her.

It has been nine years since I walked these hallways as a high school student. I will be planning our 10 year class reunion next summer. My former teachers were so sweet to me, I felt like I had never left.

Yesterday afternoon Aunt Ash came over so we could see her new piece of jewelry-she is engaged!!!  I told her mom I was almost as excited for this engagement as I was my own ha! I couldn't be more happy for her and James. What a breathtaking beach bride she will be!

Georgia Grace was over taking pictures for the day as you can tell. I told Marcus when he came home from school that I had disciplined her more today than I ever have before. I felt like "No" was my word of the day and I was constantly redirecting her. It was mostly safety-related redirection due to her climbing and standing on chairs, playing in the trash can, and running toward the street while I was getting stuff out of my car. We have seen a streak of defiancy this week out of our strong-willed child. Bless her heart she didn't stand a chance in that department ha! We are staying strong and practicing tough love in order to do what's best for her.

Well that recap became quite lengthy but I had quite a bit to cover. I'm looking forward to a slow weekend at home with my family. Spring Break starts today at 3:30 pm for Marcus and we have a couple fun trips planned for the end of next week I am super excited about.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and GO BIG BLUE!

#TBT Chicago 2008

For Spring Break 2008, I took a trip to Chicago with my stepmom Dianne and step sister Becky. Dianne was going to the "Windy City" for the American Dental Association national meeting and we just tagged along because she had frequent flyer miles she needed to spend. I am much obliged to her for that and thankful for taking me on this trip!

Our trip started off rocky as we left Kentucky when a major snow storm was sweeping through the region. We barely made it to Louisville for our flight and actually had to go up a day early because we knew the roads would be too bad the next day.

We made it!

A snowy spring break

This was 6 years ago and I remember thinking I was so cool with my ear buds :) They were the newest and greatest thing.

The view from the plane window never gets old for me

I do believe this was my very first taxi drive. Small town girl meets the big city! 

We stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago. Hands down the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in. I don't think I will ever forget the softness of the robes and comfort of the down comforter. It was heavenly.

Here's a fun fact. Our hotel address was 160. Oprah's penthouse was in 180!! She seriously lived in the same building we stayed in except she was on the residential side. Also, I'm 99% sure I worked out with Stedman one morning. Why couldn't I be brave and ask for a picture?!? I'm still disappointed in myself.

The lobby of the Ritz. You got it-ritzy!

Our views from our room on the 27th floor

The park that was directly across the street from us where Oprah walks her dog!

Soldier Field

It was right on the lake and super windy. I bet watching games there is painfully cold.

We went to the top of the John Hancock Center to experience an aerial view of the city. You can see four states and most of Lake Michigan. It was magnificent!

Our hotel was just a few buildings from North Avenue Beach (shore of Lake Michigan) so we took a couple trips to see the water. And also Chicago earned it's name the Windy City for a reason ha! Forget ever having good hair days in this place.

Some of the lake was still frozen from the winter

The famous Drake Hotel

We did a lot of shopping while we were in Chicago because that's what you do. If it is made it can be bought in Chicago. I should also note this was the height of the Ugg boot era. How funny is it that I'm already looking back on this shaking my head ha!

Michigan Avenue, one of the most famous streets for shopping in the world. We saw a woman get her purse stolen from her right before our eyes but another patron caught him before he was too far up the street. This trip was an experience!

Eating at the Grand Lux Cafe

The Field Museum

We got to see Sue, the most intact and best preserved T-Rex

Navy Pier

Crazy mirrors at NP

Beautiful Lake Michigan

On the last night we were there we attended the ADA Reception. We felt pretty important getting to do this. 

It was so nice and classy, we had a wonderful time meeting some of her colleagues.

And it appears that we must have went for pizza later that night because we are wearing the same clothes ha! This was at Giordino's and that's the pizza pager.

Museum of Contemporary Art on the last day of the trip before we boarded the plane for Kentucky.

It was an unique and fun spring break that I will never forget. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to go experience the city and to experience all the luxuries. It is such a huge city we just didn't have time for everything but that's just an excuse to go back and take my husband this time :)

Celebrate Good Times

That's right. We had a wonderful weekend full of celebrations of all kinds. Family, sports, babies-it was 48 hours filled with excitement.

  On Saturday morning we went to visit some of our extended family. We visited Great Aunt Georgia "Nell", Great Aunt Gladean, and Great Uncle Bubby and Aunt Joyce. It is always a blessing getting to visit with them. Our next stop was to Meme's but nap time interferred so we will have to reschedule that one for next weekend.

 One of the highlights of the trip was the stair chair lift at Uncle Bubby and Aunt Joyce's house. Of course Georgia Grace had to ride and I had never rode one myself so I was equally excited. It doesn't take much to entertain us!

And then she insisted on riding again with Aunt Joyce :) Such a sweet picture I will always cherish.

Before we left my Aunt Joyce had two quilts and a baby pillow that she wanted to give me. These were baby items they used for their only son Timmy. They lost Timmy when he was a teenager in a car accident. She told me she knew she would never have grandchildren to give it to so she wanted me to have them.

She will never know how much these pieces mean to me. I am honored that she entrusted me to have them and that my babies will get to use pieces that represent the Porter family. The blue one was made my by Great Aunt Loyce and the patchwork quilt was made by my Great Grandmother Porter. As you can see they are "used" but I think that only adds to their worth.

Georgia Grace's crib has never looked so beautiful :) I am so thankful for all our heirlooms.

Sunday was Georgia Grace's Baby Day at church. This is an event they have every three years to celebrate and honor all the little ones. I was so proud of my baby for walking down the aisle like a big girl. Once we were standing at the front of the church she spotted and hollered "Papaw". She is super observant! 

Several of our family members came to our church for the special occasion. GGH traveled from our pew to her Ma and Pa's seats several times throughout the course of the service!

Gammy, Gran Stan and Mamaw Carolyn also came to ABC. She was so excited when she saw them walk in the door.

Sunday afternoon I helped host a baby shower for one of my best friend's Rachel. It was such a fun shower to plan and be a part of! We gifted Roman his Pottery Barn Anywhere Chair but unfortunately it is backordered until April 22nd. I'm just hoping it arrives before he makes his arrival! I love these people so much and can't wait to experience parenthood with them.

This little girl had a big time playing with all the boys at the party. She is surrounded by boys and doesn't care one bit. Ace couldn't wait to show her his baseball and Abbott was a little ham. We are blessed with sweet baby friends!

And the most thrilling, stroke inducing part of the weekend was watching UK beat the overall #1 seed and undefeated Wichita State to advance to the Sweet 16!!! After a regular season of underperforming, it looks like we might be peaking at the right time. My brother lives in Wichita and wore a Kentucky shirt to the gym just to be ornery ha! I'm glad he didn't have to eat crow.

Friday night it's another battle of the bluegrass as we play Louisville for a ticket to the elite eight. I hope my nerves can handle it!!