Our friend Adam's birthday party

Last weekend we went to Greer and celebrated Adam's 2nd birthday party. Adam's mom, Melissa and I worked together at Carlisle Foster's Grove Elementary (and left the same year as well, Praise GOD from whom all blessings flow!!!!!!!)



Anyway, Neilie and Adam are close in age and play together from time to time. We took a couple of pictures at the party and I thought I would share them with you all.


Here is Adam about to blow the candles out... look at the anticipation on Neilie's face!!!





Neilie is so excited about Adam blowing out the candles... Claire is thinking, "Let's Eat!!!!"





The friends discussing a party hat...




The cake came from publix, Melissa said... it was sooooooooooo delicious!!!




Happy Birthday Adam... we had a great time!

Autumn McAbee, Miss NGU!!!

So those of you who read my blog know all about my cousin Autumn. She was in Miss North Greenville University...... and WON!!!!!

I have posted a few pictures from the big event! She is now headed to Miss South Carolina in July (i think).

This picture was us waiting for the pageant to start. I had to take this picture twoce because the first time my mom and MaMa looked totally bored!!! So this was the result of telling them to look HAPPY!!!

My family cracks me up!!!

Contestant # 7, Autumn Michelle McAbee






This next picture was neat because the girl that was sitting in front of us was a queen from some other pageant. Anyway, I didn't realize the picture was going to turn out with Autumn in the center of the crown!!! Was this an indication of who was going to win?!?!?! Just a thought.


"With a broken wing, she carries her dream! Man you oughta see her fly!"
Autumn sang sooooo much better than Martina McBride!









Ok so when Autumn came out for the evening gown competition the people behind us said, "Whoa look at her dress!" Then after Autumn left the lady behind me, leaned forward and said to me, "She is beautiful!" I said, "We think so!"



This last picture shows how pretty Autumn's dress is!!!

We are so proud of you Autumn!!! Congrats, Miss North Grenville! Best of luck in Miss SC!!!

Happy Birthday Little Donna!

Many of you that read my blog know all about my sweet aunt Donna. She suffered with cancer for over 20 years of her life. She was first diagnosed as a teenager, then time after time, another cancer. Today is her birthday and she is always remembered! What is great about my family... we remember the funny things and the happy things.

I might get in trouble for sharing this memory but it is too funny not to share... Preston, Donna and Autumn lived in a neighborhood when Autumn was young. New neighbors moved in that happened to be African American. Apparently, my uncle knows several men named Barry. One day, Preston was telling Donna something about a "Barry", Donna didn't know which Barry he was talking about so she referred to all the Barry's she knew... finally describing the new neighbor, "Black-Barry". I am laughing just typing this story. She could always make us laugh!!! The things she would say were priceless.

Here are some pictures so you all can see how precious she really was!

This picture was at a family reunion in August of 2004. She is with Autumn and they look great. I also have this picture up in my therapy room at school! What great memories!




This picture was taken Christmas 2004. We all miss her very much.





Donna left such a legacy behind when she passed away! Everyone that knows her or knows of her is thrilled to know that she is praising Jesus while seeing him face to face right now... and there is nowhere else she had rather be!
What a blessing and an honor that I am Donna Fulbright McAbee's neice!

Another Memory Shared:
I remember a time when I was about 6 or 7 years old... we were all at the beach and it was raining! My parents, my grandparents and my uncle Preston and my aunt Donna were there. Autumn wasn't born yet, I didn't bring a friend and was getting very antsy to do something... anything! I can't tell you how long Donna and I played make-up and hair that day. I will never forget that memory of her playing with me. I have nothing but great memories of Donna.

I hope this blog was a tribute to her, she meant so much to me!

My First day of preschool!!!

Neilie had her first day of preschool at Covenant Child Development Center on September 2. She helped me make pink princess pudding to go in her lunch box and was excited to go.

Her daddy helped her get ready for the big day.



She was ready to tell us BYE!!!



She went right in and started playing.... she loved it!



They spelled her name wrong (story of my life...). Anyway, I suppose it is our fault for spelling it weird... Neilie Chappell.



This after I picked her up... we went to Nanny's house. This picture was on Nanny's front steps. Neilie looks like such a big girl! I can't believe my baby is a big girl! WOW!!!

Paula Deen LIVE

I have been meaning to blog about this so that everyone could see my cool pix!

So last year my grandmother (MaMa) took me to see Paula Deen Live!!!

Last year on my anniversary (June 29), MaMa, Julia (my g'ma's friend ... the one who got the tickets) Julia's mother Ann, and I went to see Paula in Charlotte.


Which if you are reading and know anything about me... you know I am a foodie!!! I LOVE to cook and create new recipes!

The stage was incredible!



We sat in the balcony but Julia brought her binoculars and my camera could really zoom! We got some great pics of everything that was happening on the stage! We had a great time!

This picture is of Paula, Michael(in the blue shirt) - her hubby... in case you've been living under a rock and don't know who he is... just kidding! Oh also, here is her brother Bubba (in the pink shirt)




This picture was of Paula... being Paula! I am not sure what this was all about but it was funny! The guy in the background is the host of the show! He was funny too.


Tha last picture is of Paula cooking. The camera guy was driving her crazy by being over her shoulder! Too funny!



The whole place smelled WONDERFUL! Paula made fried pork chops, turnip greens, macaroni and cheese and corn bread (i think). She chose certain people from the audience to come up and be on the stage while she cooked and then they got to eat it! Not me... but would have thrown WW out the window if she would have called my name!!!



As if Paula weren't enough...secretly, Neil had arranged this whole dinner for our anniversary and had the house all set up. He had a chef come to our house and cook the dinner, he arranged babysitters! It was great! Last year was our fifth anniversary! This is what my dining room looked like when I came home from Paula! What a great guy! That's my fine china that we got as wedding presents and have never used!!! Isn't he thoughtful?!?!

"I'm too busy"

This has become Neilie's new phrase when I ask (tell) her to do ANYTHING!

Yesterday, she was coloring (like on paper in a coloring book... not on walls or furniture, etc) and I asked her to go potty... her response was, "Not right now MOM... I'm too busy coloring!" First of all she called me MOM... not mommy! Next she said she was too busy to go potty. So i just said okay... we'll try again in a few minutes. She isn't even 3 years old yet!

I got the camera and started taking pix of this... the first two are Neilie coloring she was working very hard!




Next is Claire... when neilie got the coloring book out, Claire got her one and started flipping through the pages. She wants to do everything Neilie does... it is precious!



Next is Claire crying after I took the crayons away from her because she was eating them!!!





The last pic is just too cute of Claire Bear not to post! I took the crayons away from Claire becuase she was eating them... after her little fit of crying, she walked over to me (where I had the crayons) and looked at me with this face! The "Who me... eat crayons?!?!" face!

Ring Pop

This was messy but fun! Claire had her first Ring Pop today... Neilie has had one before. Claire was a complete mess! These pictures are great! Both girls got a bath when the ring pop was over! They had a good time.

Here is Claire's red tongue! She had a cherry ring pop!






... Neilie's was watermelon!

YUM!