Weekend Fun

For my Dad's birthday back in May, all he asked for from his girls was a home-cooked dinner with the whole family. I hate to admit, but it was not until this weekend that we finally pulled through on our promise. Dad-I promise next year we'll do better!! Sister and Blake graciously offered to host the feast at their house. It was an amazing meal full of fabulous food and great conversations. I brought "The Reb" along to dinner so I could capture the scrumptiousness of the meal!!

Sister had my favorite V-Day candy out...Sweet Tart hearts!!

While Sister, Blake, and I cooked, DiDi and GrandBobby entertained the DB!!

Everyone was getting excited for the meal!

Cheers to Dad!!!

I made some twice-baked potatoes.....

Chef Blake cooked up some amazing fried crab claws and filet mignons!!!!

Gotta love a lettuce wedge!

Creme Brulee for dessert!

Finished product!

In addition to doing some cooking this weekend, we also did some decorating! There is always a project to be done in my house, and I'm happy to report that we have checked another one off the list!! Last summer, I purchased some brown dried-leaf wreaths to hang in my bedroom. Until this weekend, they had been sitting in my bedroom floor!! I had been dying to get them hung, but we were waiting on the arrival of the armoire before we decided where they would hang. After much debate and lots of ribbon shopping, they are now hung in my bedroom and they are looking wonderful! After focusing months on the downstairs of my house, I am now shifting focus to the upstairs...specifically-my bedroom! It is a work in progress, but we are getting there slowly but surely!

I love them!!

The wreaths beside the "much anticipated" armoire

Chelsey's Baby Shower

This weekend, I loaded up and headed to Aliceville, AL for Chelsey's baby shower. Chelsey is one of my best friends from college, whom I do not get to see enough of! She is expecting a baby boy at the beginning of March and his name will be Andrew Caleb Hamlin. (Named after his daddy!) Her shower was absolutely beautiful and I had the best time hanging out with her and getting to play in the nursery with all of her fun presents! She hit the "mother load" at her shower and got TONS of great things for Baby Andrew. Here are some pics from the weekend!

The beautiful centerpiece

The food was amazing!!

Baby Andrew will be wearing this beautiful gown home from the hospital!

Casey, Chelsey, Allison, and me

Chelsey painted this chest herself....it looks wonderful in the nursery!

These tiles came all the way from Albertville! I can't wait to see them hanging on the hospital door when Andrew arrives!!

Andy was super-excited about the "Baby Bjorn!"

While staying at the Hamlin homestead, I was lucky to partake in some wonderful meals. Chels is a great cook and she whipped up some great recipes while I was there. The food tasted just as good as it looks in these pictures!

Amazing Crawfish soup

Homemade Pimiento Cheese...AMAZING!!

Ham and Cheese Quiche

I still can't even believe Chelsey is having a baby! It seems like just the other day we were roommates at Auburn...gosh how time flies!! Andy and Chelsey are very excited about the arrival of their son and they are going to be great parents!! Baby Andrew is already so loved by so many people and he doesn't even know it yet!!

I Give a Hoot

Thought I would make this post about two of my favorite things...owls and "The Reb". To those of you who don't know me, I felt the need to explain my love of owls. The obsession started almost eight years ago on the Loveliest Village on the Plains. The owl is the mascot of my college sorority....Chi-O. To me, the owl symbolizes friendship, fun-times, sisterhood, and a special connection to lots of amazing people known and unknown. With "The Reb" hung around my neck, I went on a quest to find the perfect subject matter. Then it dawned on me....my OWLS! Each of my owls has a special story behind them. Some were presents, some were souvenirs, and some are just down-right funny. Below are some pics of a few of the ones I found hiding in my house tonight....Enjoy!

"Going Green Owl"

"Office Owl" (A.K.A. paper weight owl)

"Cutie Owl" (this is actually a present for my niece)

"Going Out Owl"

"Soapy Owl"

"Pop-A-Top Owl" (Brought to me from Europe...thanks Britt, Casey, and Lucas!!)

"Paula Deen Owl"

"SLP Owl" (Given to me by my amazing, student intern Caroline who is a fellow owl-lover as well....this is a unique hand-crafted owl who flew in from Mississippi!!)




Here's looking at y'all! HOOTY-HOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Additions

2010 is off to a great start. Getting back into the swing of things at work has been hard, but I am glad to be back on my schedule. I have become OBSESSED with my camera. I ordered a new lense (50 mm still) and I have been snapping away at home. I have literally taken a picture of everything in my house. In a few weeks, I will be starting my first photography class at a local university to learn all about my Canon Rebel!!! I have nicknamed my camera, "The Reb"!! haha Over Christmas I added a few decorative items to my house. Below are some pics of the "additions" and just some fun pictures. I am trying to perfect my up-close pictures with a blurry background...let me know what y'all think! Also, I am in need of a new camera bag. If anyone has any ideas/suggestions, please let me know!!

This beautiful oil now hangs above my brown chair in the living room

Fresh flowers just make me smile!

I finally found something to hang over my couch!

DB loves the camera!

DB looooves ice cream sandwiches!!!

For those of you living in the South, I sure hope y'all are staying warm! I LOOOOVE the cold weather, but the past week has been beyond cold...it's down-right frigid! Although, I shouldn't complain...my hair does so much better when it's cold and dry outside! haha I have been spending my down-time curled up on my couch with my electric blanket! I hope everyone's year has gotten off to a great start and that 2010 will be a blessed year for all!

Christmas: Part II

This Christmas brought on new traditions for our family. Instead of spending Christmas Day morning in A'ville and the rest of the day in Huntsville with the Ferneaus, we (Deckers and Ferneaus) came to B'ham to spend the day with Sister, Blake, and the DB. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to hold back ripping into the presents until we made it to the Ham. I know I am 25, but I am actually still a 5 year old at heart. I wake up early (6:30 a.m.) every Christmas morning ready to open some presents...and yes, I still make a list for Santa. They say when you stop believing, he stops coming...so I will ALWAYS believe! We made it to B'ham in time to visit with Blake's parents before they left for AU. The DB was taking her morning nap when arrived, so we decided to do our Christmas while she was asleep so we could focus on her presents when she woke up. Santa had already come to see K, but we had LOTS more for her to open. Personally, I think this was my best Christmas ever...guess I was extra good this year!! haha
Below are pics from Chrismtas morning.

We love towel wraps in our family...DB got one for herself! It's soooo tiny!!

Sister and me

Pre-opening

Sister was super-excited about salt and pepper shakers

I always love a Tory Christmas! Can't wait to wear these in the spring...they're snake skin!

Can you tell by the look on my face? I was sooooo surprised to open a.....

CAMERA!!!!!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was the last present I opened...I started screaming like a kid!!

This little bear was her favorite present! haha

I gave DB 'Baby Stella' and this cool puzzle

She needed a little help from Mommy to open all of her loot

Another wagon for the DB....it's so cute!

Dad got an AU Snuggie from his Secret Santa person...his isn't as cool as my hot pink one! haha

As evidenced by the pics, our family had a wonderful Christmas. I can't even begin to list off what all we opened. A big shout out to Sister for putting on a wonderful spread for us to eat...she had big shoes to fill, but I think she outdid herself! We had wonderful food and drinks all day and managed to play a few games...things tend to get a little heated with our family! haha Watching the DB open her presents was the highlight of the day...I often wonder what we ever did before she was here! My favorite present was definitely my camera!!! I have already ordered another lens for it and am looking into taking a photography class...watch out blog world...my pics are about to be taken to another level!!!