"Sweet & Sassy"

There's a new hair salon called "Sweet and Sassy" that just opened that is just for little girls. My neighbor and I took our girls to get their haircuts the other day (well, her girls and Sydney...obviously Addyson isn't in need of any of her hair being cut). It is the cutest most girly place and I LOVED it. The girls can choose between Dance or Cheer shampoo and their little smocks they wear have "Sassy Diva" embroidered on them. They get their hair washed and massaged, just like Mommy's do, then they get their cut and style. Sydney was very excited about the hair dryer, but told her stylist "no thanks" to the flat iron, as Mommy has been VERY clear that she stay away from my flat iron because it's extremely hot. After the style, they spray a soft glitter into their hair, then paint a little glitter star on their cheek, give them a pretty flower sucker and a balloon. It was so cute. Sydney was just miss chatterbox to her stylist (I guess I've taught her well). :)

Addyson was mesmerized by the buckets full of different colored flower suckers. I let her pick one out, and then she kept getting more out and taking them to everyone. It was cute.

They also have a little manicure/pedicure station with mini-couches with pillows and mini-spa pedicure baths. They have makeup stations, dress up stations, a dance floor and a runway. Of course, they sell a TON of girly stuff, so the store itself was so exciting to the girls. They have all different kinds of girly-themed birthday parties you can have there, and they even have a hot pink limo that will pick the birthday girls up. So, needless to say, I'm excited about this little store. Sydney wants to go get her hair cut every day.

Addyson was so cute and just followed the big girls around everywhere thinking she was just as big. She cracks me up.

So, if you live around here and haven't heard about it, you've got to check it out. It's in the Avenue off of exit 13 on 400. If you don't live around here, then you have to come and visit me and we'll take our girls there. :)

Sydney chose the "Dancer" shampoo.

The red head stylist on the right used to do my hair!

They had a Hannah Montana video playing on the TV in front of the chairSydney's still talking even though the stylist couldn't hear her.
If you look close you can see the glitter. She felt so pretty.

Yes, it was just a trim....gotta keep it long.

Addyson with her sucker and the buckets of suckers!Addyson in the Diva chair eating her suckerThey're saying "Sasseeeeeee".Little Divas on the runway.

Finally! A picture of us together!

I made sure to bring my camera out with us on Saturday, so we could get a picture of us together. I asked our waitress to take a picture of us, so she took one, and then one of the ladies at the table next to us said she wanted to take our picture. We told her it was our 6 year anniversary, and she told us that we didn't look old enough to have been married for 6 years. When I asked her how old Travis looked, she said 25, then, I of course, asked her how old I looked. I was bracing myself for the answer since I'm really self conscious that Travis looks way younger than me. Plus, she wasn't drunk, but a little tipsy, so I knew she'd be honest. When she said I looked 21, I almost leaped up and gave her a hug, but then thought...hmmm....maybe she really is drunk, and people always look better to drunk people. It made my day anyway, and it made Travis happy that someone thought he looked older than me. ha ha.

6 years of unbelievable happiness...well, it's really 8 years...

First of all, I am so lame because Travis and I don't have any digital pictures of us together. That is so lame! I need to get on it.

June 21st, 2002 at 10:30am in the Atlanta LDS temple was the beginning of my eternal family. It all started at North Forsyth High school in 2000. I was a guidance counselor, volleyball coach and soccer coach, and Travis was a history teacher, head wrestling coach, football coach and soccer coach. I met Travis in August, I suppose...that's what he says, but I don't remember the exact time. I was on crutches after tearing my Achilles tendon playing volleyball, so I didn't get around the school as often as I would have liked. Travis started coming in my office in October to talk about a student he was concerned about. Then somehow, he had a reason to stop by everyday. I thought he was fresh out of college. By the looks of him he could have been anywhere from 17 - 22. He surprised me when he said he was 25 and a whole month older than me. I thought he was so funny. He would come in and just crack me up. I was also impressed that he was a coach. Athletic guys and guys that love sports have always been a turn on for me. He was also VERY confident...bordering on conceited, but that was a turn on too. I didn't realize yet that he was extremely intelligent in other ways than coaching as well. When I found out how smart he was, it blew me away. I'm still blown away by how smart he is. I knew he was new to the area, and that he made me laugh, so when I was going out to an improv comedy club with some of my highschool friends, it occurred to me, while he was walking out the door of my office, that he might have fun. So I called out from my desk..."HEY, COME BACK" (remember, I was crippled, so I couldn't get up quickly). He popped back in and I invited him to come along. I found out later that he cancelled other plans to go with me. That evening, as he was driving to my house, where some of my friends were meeting before going downtown, we talked the entire time, and he was so funny and easy to talk to. When he gets to my house, I find out that some other people had not been able to come, so it was me, Travis, my friend, Holland, her boyfriend, my friend Micky and his girlfriend. So, it TOTALLY looked like I had asked him out on a date....which I totally didn't, but he thought I had. I felt so awkward and embarrassed, but couldn't let on to him that I felt that way. Anyway, we had a great time that night and that's the night when I decided that I really wanted to hang out with him more.

He ended the night so great too. As he was leaving my house it could have gotten a little awkward b/c it ended up being a date but it wasn't supposed to be....so....as he was leaving, he said he had a great time hanging out and the he said two words that just won me over..."High Five" and put his hand up. It was so cute and funny and perfect. And, if he had known me all through highschool, he would've known that I always used to give people high fives. But, he didn't, and he still did it anyway....he was meant for me.

He asked me to go out to get something to eat after the football game on Friday night. So, I go to the game and wait for him to get done coaching and we go out to a bar to meet some other football coaches. Well, when we get there, the kitchen is closed. I was starving! But, I had a good time nonetheless. I saw him in his element with the other coaches, and he was fun and a perfect gentleman. When we were leaving, he walked me out to my car and gave me a hug and the sweetest little peck on the lips. It was over....I knew I wanted to date him. So, we continued to date, but I was wary about dating someone from work, so I didn't want to get serious. He asked me "where we were" in our relationship and I just said "Oh, I'm just going with the flow"....he did not like that answer at all, so he brought it up the next time we went out. I told him that I thought it was unwise to get too involved with someone at work and it would be awkward if we broke up, etc. He then looked at me like I was crazy and said "But, what if we don't break up and it's wonderful?" I honestly hadn't even thought of that b/c I was so worried about what would happen if we broke up. After that, we were hooked. Even though, he thought I was a total snob....I don't know if I should tell that story or not.... But, I made up for that in wit and looks, right honey? ha ha We started dating the end of October, he met ALL of my family in December, he started going to church with me in February...which was a freakin' miracle b/c he soooooo hated organized religion and let me know right off that he would never go to church. I met his entire family in May and we were engaged in July. We were engaged for 11 months and 15 days. Which seems like a long time, and it was, BUT I had major issues with my dress and it honestly took 10 months to get the things the way I wanted it.

So, since we met, we've never had a fight. Yes, we disagree and get disappointed with each other, but we always talk about it and always get it worked out right away. He is SOOOO good with me. He diffuses me right away before I can blow up. I'm not sure how he manages to do that. He is so fun and is so perfect for me. I could go on and on, but I already posted my "100 things I love about Travis", and don't want to be too redundant. I think he should post 100 things about me...what do you guys think? haha

He is the best father and my best friend in the universe. I never imagined ever being loved the way he loves me, and before I met him, I never knew I could love someone so much. I had been in love before, so I thought I knew what it was, but with him, it was a whole new ballgame. Marrying him was the easiest decision I have ever made. I just knew. I used to HATE when people would tell me that b/c I didn't understand....until I met him. These last 8 years that I've known him have definitely been the best years of my life, hands down, and I am unbelievably thankful for being so blessed.

I love you babe. You rock. AND, you totally make me laugh more than Adam Sandler.

You can hire me for your next b-day party!

Sydney came home from my Dad's company picnic with all of these long, skinny balloons and a little air pump and wanted me to make her some balloon animals. I, of course, had to try, and figured out that I can make decent balloon dogs and giraffes. I really didn't try anything else except for a butterfly and that was a big flop. Now the neighbor girls on each side of us want me to make them balloon animals. I feel like the neighborhood clown or something. ha ha. Just don't ask me to make anything fancy! Sydney was very impressed with Mommy, so I told her that I would display my "artwork" on my blog. (She is all about putting her picture on my blog). Sydney, Kayla, Sammy and Addyson with their balloon dogs and one pink giraffe.

I took this picture yesterday when the girls were sitting in their chairs all eating a popsicle. Addyson had been sitting down too, but once I had retrieved my camera she had moved to the grass. Oh well.

Father's Day

Wow. I am so incredibly grateful for the father's in my life.

1. My Dad is so great. I am so grateful for his friendship, love, protectiveness, generosity, spirituality, sense of humor, education and eternal perspective. My love and appreciation for my dad has grown since I've become an adult and a parent. His birthday is coming up next month and I'm going to write more about him then.

2. My wonderful husband and father of our children, Travis. I love him more each minute it seems. I didn't realize the love my heart could hold until after Sydney was born, and I felt like my heart would burst with love for this wonderful man. It was as if seeing him as a father and seeing his love for me and for his daughter just skyrocketed my love for him. I am truly blown away sometimes by the level of love I have for him. I always thought the old cliche' "I love you more than the day I married you", was just that, a cliche', until I got married. :) It really is true. Someone asked me the other day which year of marriage has been the hardest, and I tried to think of one, and couldn't. There hasn't been a hard year of marriage. Marriage to me is so easy. We have never had a "fight". This is ALL due to Travis. As soon as one of us starts to get upset, he automatically lightens the atmosphere. I posted "100 things I love about Travis" on an earlier post, so, I won't repeat myself, but if you didn't get a chance to read it and you want to, check it out.

After Sydney was born.

After Addyson was born. Snow in GA

I love you babe. You're my hunka-hunka-burnin'-love!

Summertime

Ahhhhhhh....Summer.

This is what our summer has looked like so far.............

Popsicles after every meal.

Water Slide addiction

(this is the water slide at our neighborhood pool, and the girls are addicted to it).Pool, Pool and more Pool. When it's over 90 degrees by 9:00AM, there is really not anywhere else we'd rather be....except maybe the beach.

These are some of Sydney's "best" girl friends from her pre-school.

Ryan Elizabeth, Sydney, Marina and Reece (Ryan Elizabeth's sister) Adult Swim....which is also snack/water break.


Hangin' out with Friends

Movie break: Addyson, Gavin, Sydney, Grayson
Just kickin' back, relaxin'

A Night Downtown

Alyssa, Todd and Me

I have a friend from high school, Todd Alexander, who is a local artist here in Atlanta. He had an art show last night at his studio downtown at the Mattress Factory Lofts. I hadn't seen him in at least 7 years and it was so great to not only see him, but to meet his family and see his amazing artwork! He is great. I was seriously blown away by his art, and I'm soooo unknowledgeable about art. There were a lot of other artists displaying their art as well and it ranged from amazing (Todd's), to the almost insane. It was really cool, though. I also got to see my great friend, Alyssa, who has been one of my best friends since I was 14. She lives in the city limits of Atlanta as well and we don't get to see each other often, as I'm up in suburbia.
I'm not "into Art" that much, but Todd's art show really makes me want to go back to another show. I'll definitely be at his next show if possible. And, to be honest, if I had had $10,000 to spend on art, I would have bought one of his big pieces.

Todd and his family

Keri, Shellie, Lazette, Me, Alyssa

Of course, I had to bring along my posse....Lazette, Shellie and Keri. After we left the art show, we went out to eat in Atlantic Station at Ashton Kutcher's and Wilmer Valderama's restaurant, Dolce's. The food was fabulous and it wasn't as expensive as I thought it would be. Our waiter was great too. We wanted Dr. Pepper, but the restaurant didn't have any, so he went to Publix and bought us some. Way cool.

Shellie, Keri, Me, Lazette at Dolce's

Lazette, Me, Keri and Shellie grubbin' on some good food.