Christmas Card Time = Family Photos

So even though most of our pictures with the dogs looked like this...

 

we were still able to get some really good shots.  Shout out to Melissa for taking some amazing photos for us!

Below are some of my favorites from the shoot.  I have recently learned how to use Photoshop Elements so I had fun editing some of the pics.

 

I always enjoy sending out Christmas cards and I really like getting them (let me know if you need my address). :)  It's just one of the many fun traditions of Christmas!  Below is this years card followed by the previous two years.  I thought it would be fun to take a look back and see the changes - hair, weight, etc. :)  Thanks goodness I've got Alan (and the pups) around me to help me look better!

2010

 

2009

2008

Christmas is right around corner.  I am proud that I got my cards out earlier this year.  Don't wait until the last minute to get everything else done like me!

Ruger

Last time I mentioned our new puppy, he was not at our house and we had not named him yet.  Well, he's here and his name is Ruger.  This is the day we brought him home. 11.21.10

 

Isn't he cute?  He is pretty good for a puppy too.  He does have the really sharp puppy teeth though!  The weekend after Thanksgiving we took the kids to Ellaville.  They had a blast playing in the woods together.  Here are a few (maybe more) photos from that trip.

This is what Maggie and Ruger look like when they play fight.  Kind of scary but have no fear, no one gets hurt.

 

Ruger.  Such a stud.

Maggie.  What a beauty.

Ruger in action!

Typical.  Ruger chasing Maggie.

We are now a happy family of four.  One day we will have children that do not have fur covering their entire body.  One day.  Until then, we are enjoying our fur babies!

Help! I need somebody...

to open the gate and let me out!  Why?  Because I locked myself in our backyard.  Freakin' locked myself in our backyard.  I figured since I had been absent from the blog for a while - now would be the perfect time to reappear...and tell a story (and not have to start cleaning just yet).  

Alan and Ruger are in Ideal, GA having an ideal time.  Maggie and I are in Macon, Ga having a not so ideal time.  (Really we are fine - I just like to be dramatic).  Our day has been filled with lighting candles, doing some laundry and thinking about cleaning the floors.  About 2:45pm, the mail man came.  Should we start cleaning? NO - let's go get the mail!  Perfect distraction!  Outside we go.  We get the mail then we decide we will venture into the backyard and try out the new gate Alan put up.  We walked into the backyard and then we heard a click.  What was that?  The gate shut behind us?  NOOOOOO!  Insert photo of gate.

Beautiful isn't it?  Just be careful when opening it and venturing to the other side.  You can get trapped!  Do you want to know how we got out?  Okay, I will tell you.  I called Alan and told him what happened.  First, he laughed.  Not nice.  Second, he said something about climbing up the fence and yada yada yada.  Once I heard climb, I knew his suggestion was out the window.  I called the neighbor - no answer.  Alan called one of his friends that lives really close - he was out of town.  I called my next closest friend - no answer (Thanks Tiffany for not answering!! JK.)  I called my next next closest friend - no answer.  What was I (or rather we) going to do?  Luckily, the next next closest friend called me back!  Insert David and Melissa Dark.  Heroes of the day.

They (along with Lady and Jack) came to our rescue!  I am so thankful they could help us today.  We really appreciate it!  While we were waiting, I was very thankful to have the mail I picked up with me.  Thank you Martha Stewart magazine for coming today!  I am also glad that I had Maggie with me.  It would have been so lonely being trapped by myself.

How has your Saturday been?  Any funny stories?  Do tell, do tell.  HAPPY SATURDAY!

Terrific Tuesday

I spent some time with my model Tuesday morning.  Alan said here she is saying "I'm too sexy for this deck."

We took the beautiful anniversary roses out on the back porch.  I just love them!

I also reminded Maggie that her new brother is coming home in 1 1/2 weeks.

(Thanks Abby for the picture! :) )

She looked at me with eyes that said "Are you for realz mom?"

 

I assured her that she would get the same amount of attention.  She seemed a little better and posed for a picture.

On another note, Alan found my blue mason jar!!!  I tore the house apart looking for this thing.  It was in his closet, holding his coins.  I put it there.  Sigh.

And, I am now getting FOUR free magazines.  I like all of them except for Harper's Bizarre - just not sure about it.  The others are great - and it's even better because they are FREE subscriptions!

Two blogs I follow that share these subscription freebies are Hip2Save and Southern Savers. Go follow!

2 Years

11.08.10 = wedding anniversary of Ashley & Alan.

I can't believe it has been two years since I married my best friend - in sickness and health, til death do us part.  It has been a happy two years full of learning and adventure.

Alan surprised me by taking me to Natalia's for dinner.  When we arrived, there were two dozen red roses on the table.  He had the florist deliver them there so they would be waiting on us.  Too sweet.  

This was my first time eating at Natalia's - I never ate at the old location.  It was pretty good.  Country came to town when we walked in the door - that's how we felt at least.  We dressed up but just didn't quite fit in.  There were two many forks on the table - it was kind of stressful.   We ate all of the bread they brought and asked for more.  We ate all of the appetizer.  We ate all of both entrees.  We ate all of both desserts.  Are they talking about us in the back?  Is this the kind of place where you really aren't supposed to eat all of it?  Oh well, we came, we ate, we conquered. :)

Mixer, Food, and Friends Oh My!

Last week was a good week - a really good week.

1.  Thursday I had lunch with Cristin - she was in Macon for the day and it was so good to see her and catch up.  Even though we were in the same sorority at Mercer, we did not become friends until after college.  Now we are soul mates.

Photo: 80s Night - 2006 - we ruled that night.

2.  Thursday night I had sushi with Carol & Carley.  I have been good friends with these chicks since high school.  I've know Carley since 3rd grade (when she had brown hair ;) ) but we did not become good friends until high school.  We try to get together at least once a month to catch up and this past week it was time!  We had a great sushi date together!

Photo: Thanksgiving Bowling 2007

3.  Thursday late night I was able to get a KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer from Lowes.com for $19.10 (w/ tax).  I was pumped!  Lowe's was running a facebook promotion in which they gave out a promotional code after midnight Thursday that allowed a limited number of people to get the mixer for 90% off.  I couldn't believe that I got it.  I was so excited and acting crazy that Alan questioned if I was the woman he married. :)

Photo: Picking up my mixer on Saturday!

4.  Friday I went to Christmas Made in the South with mi madre.  I purchased several things that I am excited about - I will share two of them with you.  The first thing is an awesome mason jar lid lamp thing.  I already put it on one of my mason jars.  I have to find a shade for it still - I just love it.  I also have to decide what to put in my mason jar - decisions, decisions.

The second thing is an awesome wood turkey that you put in your pumpkin.  It is so cute!  I had to move it from its current location on the porch to take this picture - the sun was way too bright where it was!

5.  Saturday I went to a luncheon for my friend, Tiffany.  I've know Tiffany since college - we were sorority sisters and roommates.  Saturday night, a group of us went to dinner at Grits to celebrate Tiffany's upcoming wedding.  It was so great to spend the day with 3 of my former roommates and several other friends from college.  We have a blast when we are together!  

Photo: Tiffany, Melissa, Jessica & Ashley - Pig Jig - 2004

Photo: Jess, Mel, Ash & Tiff - Mercer's Homecoming - 2005

I was pretty pumped about my 3 great days in a row.  Working on keeping the streak going...

These things I know

1.  My mom drove this green booger for about 2 weeks.  She killed her first deer, so to celebrate she drove a rental.

2.  Sadie Rose is a pig for Halloween.  Isn't she cute?  My friend Stephanie brought this little piglet to work today.

3.  I love Dave Barnes.  His music is awesome.  I have seen him in concert a few times (go figure).  Don't know who he is - check him out - The Dave Barnes.  My fb status is a shout out to Mr Barnes.

4.  My husband took this picture of "us" - I think he was focusing in on his own face.  Maybe?

5.  On one of our many trips back from Ellaville, we saw this car/truck/suburban thing.

6.  I went to my first NASCAR race last month.  It was pretty ahhhmazing.

These are a few things that I know today - I will know more tomorrow.  I will fill you in as needed.

Goodlettsville

This past weekend I went to Goodlettsville, TN to celebrate Rachel's last days as a single woman.  It was pretty wonderful.  We rented an amazing house about 20 minutes outside of Nashville - it was the perfect location.  This is out the back door. 

There is a field on the right with horses and a field on the left with cows and miniature ponies.  Per the owner's house handbook, miniature ponies may kick or bite - approach with caution.  Insert miniature ponies. 

This is as close as I got; although, they did keep escaping and showing up right beside the house.  Luckily, no one has an battle wounds from the ponies - maybe from their high heels, but not the ponies.  I don't have any group pictures of the bachelorette crew on my camera but once I get some, I'll post.  We had tons o' fun. :)

While I was busy getting my bachelorette party on in Nashville, the husband went to visit our new baby.

Don't be jealous - of either - handsome hubby & cute puppy!

Have a FALLbulous week!

I finally put out my fall wreath - I love the colors - it makes me happy!!

This is Maggie admiring the wreath - I think she approves.

Hope everyone has a fabulous (or fallbulous) week!! :)