Meet Trae, My Favorite 6 Year-Old...

     As most of you know, my brother and I had a nanny growing up.  Darlene started keeping us when I was just 5 weeks old.  She has spent almost every day at our house for 25 years now.  She is part of our family, my 2nd mother, and my best friend. 
     When I left home to start attending VSU in August of 2006, Darlene started working for a second family to keep their newborn, Trae.  I still remember going by the Hardy's house to say goodbye to Darlene before I left town.  She was standing in the driveway holding Trae, crying as I pulled out.  She did the same thing when I went to Kindergarten.  I'll admit, I was a little jealous when I found out Darlene would only be with us part time so that she could go on to raise new children.  I felt I was going to be replaced.  Little did I know, I would grow to love those children like they were my own siblings.
     I love Trae and Kate Hardy like I have never loved any other children before.  I'm so glad Darlene has raised them to be a part of our lives.
    Yesterday, I had the privilege to attend Trae's kindergarden graduation.  I can't believe how fast he has grown up. Here are a few of my favorite photos of him I have taken over the years (a couple of these are from his mom's FB page). 

Big brother with little sister, Kate (2008)

My buddy (2009).

At my house in summer 2009.
  

3rd birthday party (2009)

So sweet and still has that "baby" look.

Trae eating with his papa.

This was taken while I was babysitting them one evening (2009).

Sitting with us at an HHS football game (fall 2010).

Playing on the gator (winter 2010).

Christmas 2010

Trae's first year playing t-ball (2011).

My favorite t-ball player. One of my favorite pictures of us.

Duke's of Hazzard 5th birthday party (2011)

Trae with his parents at his pre-k graduation from FBC day school (2011).

Trae and me at his pre-k graduation reception (2011).

Trae's first day of kindergarten.  This photo almost had me in tears the first time I saw it.
He looks so grown up.  Priceless photo (August 2011).

Swapping Christmas presents (2011).

Trae and his sister, Kate, love to go to the "Waffle Place" (Huddle House).  I took them there a couple of weeks ago when I was babysitting (May 2012).

"Look! I've lost 2 teeth!"

Yesterday at his kindergarten graduation from Westfield.  So proud to be a part of this precious little boy's life.

Chatty!

This past weekend I made a quick trip to Chattanooga, TN to visit my good friend Ashlee.  She took a job at the newspaper there as an intern last summer and is a photojournalist.  She is so fabulous at what she does!
Saturday, I left Perry around 10:00 and arrived at Ashlee's around 2:00.  The drive only takes Ashlee about 3 hours and 10 minutes but of course I don't have that kind of luck.  I stopped twice, got stuck in THREE traffic jams, almost had a wreck in Atlanta, didn't realize I missed my exit until 20 minutes after the fact, AND got lost.  Whew!  I was so happy to see Ashlee standing outside of her apartment once I finally arrived!

I see mountains!

FINALLY in Tennessee!

We didn't waste any time. We jumped in her car and drove to town. We scoured a junk store looking for photo props (no luck) and then had a late lunch at a really neat restaurant called "The Terminal". It's located next door to the famous Chattanooga Choo-Choo.

After lunch, we went to the mall and several other stores to shop.  The shopping there is great and we got lots of neat things!

Ashlee fell in love with this beautiful tulip painting but we had no way to get it back to her apartment. :(

I'm obsessed with turtles so when I saw this serving tray at World Market, it had to come back to Ga with me!

 Sunday, started off with picking up a sandwich at Jimmy John's and then heading over to Cooliage Park to have a picnic.  It was such a beautiful day and the park was so nice.  We watched the kids there play on the splash pads and fed little birds with our left over bread. 

Ashlee Culverhouse Photography

Ashlee Culverhouse Photography

After playing with the birdies, we took some pictures together and then walked across Walnut Bridge.  The bridge was about a half mile long and had awesome views of the city.  Once we made our way across the bridge, we had some ice cream at a cute little ice cream shop.  It was sooo good! I had coffee cheesecake!

Ashlee is moving back to Perry in July. I can't wait! We always have so much fun together! Even though it was a quick trip, I fell in love with Chattanooga and hope to go back soon! 

 

Priceless Photos

My good friend, Ashlee Culverhouse is an amazing photographer.  Like, seriously amazing.  When I saw on facebook that she was hosting a day of Easter portraits, I quickly contacted her to take some photos of my family and I.  We haven't had pictures made since we added Molly to our family.  We also haven't had pictures recently with all three of us.  Usually Cody and I are only in the pictures so I thought this was the perfect opportunity for us to get some great family photos.  I love pictures that are taken in the spring.  The colors are so pretty and lively. 
Here are a few of my favorites....

The wonderful photographer and I.

If you would like Ashlee's information for your next photo session, please let me know.  I hope you enjoyed these as much as I do!

Grandma's Birthday Party

My grandmother is the sweetest, caring, and most christian woman I know.  I strive to be like her someday.   She and I are so close and I usually go see her or spend a night on the weekends I am home from Valdosta.
On March 6th, my Grandma (as her grandchildren call her) turned 83. She had a terrible fall and stroke in the fall of this past year.  She hasn't been herself and I'm scared she never will be again.  So, I dedcided to give her a birthday party, one I hoped would mean a lot to her.  I had someone bake a cake, got together finger foods, drinks, and paper products.  I invited over her close friends to join us for dinner, cake, and cards.  It was so fun and I was so happy to put a smile on her face. 
She deserves the world and I hope my little party made her happy.

The spread!

We had pigs in a blanket, strawberries,  chips and dip, pimento cheese and chicken salad sadwiches, and chinese chicken salad from M&T.  Lina Jones baked a cake from scratch.  It was sooo good!

Dinner! From left, Ms. Pearl, Ms. Norma Jane, Aunt Ann (my mom's bf growing up and Ms. Pearl's daughter,) and the guest of honor.

Getting ready to blow out the candles!

Aunt Ann, Ms. Norma Jane, Ms. Pearl, and Grandma

Whew!

Wow! It's been a while since I have written.  I regularly read the blogs I follow but haven't found the time to write my own lately.  I came home for Christmas break on December 10th and have been going, going, going ever since. 

On December 15th, I made a special day trip to Athens to surprise my good friend, Ashlee Culverhouse at her graduation lunch.  She graduated with a degree in photo journalism from UGA with honors. I was so proud of her! She is the BEST photographer and I feel so lucky to be friends with such a sweet person.
I met her and her family at Chops and Hops in Watkinsville.  Their burgers were delicious and the company was even better!

The next day, I returned to Valdosta to check on things at my house and to babysit for a new family.  I was particularly excited about this job because they have 2 girls and one of them is 6 months old.  I LOVE baby's and NEVER get to babysit girls! We had a ball! They were so sweet!  The next morning, I went to visit with my friend Amy, her husband, and little girl, Summer.  It was a quick visit, but fun!

Summer just went to Disney World! She didn't put Minnie down the whole time! So cute!

On the 22nd, we had our Connell Christmas with my mother's side of the family. It was held at my cousin, Tyler's house.  We had tons of food and presents. Tyler married this past fall and has two step children.  They are the center of attention now at family gatherings!  They rushed through dinner because they wanted to get to opening their presents.

Yes, this is my plate.  No, I didn't eat it all.  I wanted to b/c it was soo good!

Uncle David and older cousins opening presents.

I grabbed these books at Target for my grandma to give me.  I'm reading Kris Jenner's book right now.

 

CHRISTMAS EVE!

Every Christmas Eve, our bank has a "Christmas Eve Breakfast".  This year, because Christmas Eve fell on a Saturday, we had our breakfast on Friday morning.  This was my 8th year attending the breakfast. It's hard to believe I have been working at Planters First that long.  I am so thankful for such a wonderful job and co-workers.  I love that we have that time to spend together as a bank family on such an important day. 

Christmas Eve afternoon was super busy for me this year. I started off by swapping gifts with my sweet Hardy children.  Our Darlene has been keeping them since the oldest, Trae, was born. My brother and  I have become very close with them. They are like our own little brother and sister.  Darlene usually starts out at their house in the mornings and ends up at ours around lunch with them.  We wouldn't have it any other way!

Kate loves to take pictures on my phone. She is in the "sticking-out-her-tongue" phase. But she is still oh so cute!

My big "Trae-Trae" in front of the tree!

After leaving the Hardy's, I went to mama's to swap gifts with Cody's girlfriend, Taylor.  I gave her a note pad, ornament, and coin purse in the Vera Bradley pattern she collects.  She loved it!  She visited a while and mama gave her her gifts.

Around 3:00, Amy, Jared, and Summer came over to exchange presents.  I gave Summer a Little Mermaid vanity, 2 dvd's, and 1 outfit.  She showed up wearing an outfit I bought her this summer at the Bailey Boy's outlet in St. Simons. She looked precious!!

Isn't that outfit the cutest?!  It had matching red and white stripped leggings to go with it!

So precious!

She loved her vanity! Amy sent this to me Christmas morning.

At 6:00, we had Christmas Eve Communion service at our church in Perry, Grace Church.  We usually go with our mom to Christmas Eve service but I wish we had gone with our dad because we didn't sing 1 Christmas song! Not even Silent Night with candles! I was so mad!  I'm very routine so this kinda upset me.  We use to go to church in Cordele during my youth days.  We made life long friends there are are still invited to our friend's (the Turton's) Christmas Eve party every year.  So we headed to Cordele after church to have dinner with them.  It was so much fun to see all of our friends that we miss so much!  We had mexican dishes and a huge dessert bar.  I only took one picture, here it is...

Champagne

Chrismas will be a whole seperate post! Check back soon!