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Saturday, October 22, 2011

Lately

The past few weeks have been exciting, relaxing, enjoyable.

First, Julie and Charles brought sweet Kate into the world! And man is she a cutie! Our little crew went to visit the Puryears at the hospital and snapped just a few photos.


{holding kate for the first time}


{look at that sweet little pout}


{the girls}

Last Friday night, while Kyle was with a buddy, I spent some sweet time with Alicia and Declan while Patrick was at work. We played and played and took a bath and then snuggled for a bit. I can't believe he is getting so big. He is probably the cutest little man I have ever seen! And I love that he is my godson!


{bath time with declan and his duck tub}


{playing in the water... look at those cheeks, both sets :) }

Last weekend, Springer and I took in a little matinee. We saw Memphis at the Orpheum. It was INCREDIBLE! I cried. I laughed. I got mad. GREAT SHOW!


{marquee}


{springer enjoying her adult beverage out of a sippy cup - amusing}

Tuesday, my boss and I and another therapist, headed down to the FedEx Forum to be the physical therapists for the dancers from season 8 of So You Think You Can Dance. I was too chicken to ask to take pictures of the dancers we got to work with, but we got to meet Melanie, Nick, Missy, Marko, and Ricky. So sweet! All of them! And incredibly talented!!!!


{schedule}

{that's us!}

Not much excitement this weekend, except my boss' wedding tonight. Will definitely post pictures from tonight later on.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!!!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Pumpkins, Leaves, and Mums

This weekend was spent relaxing and doing a whole lot o' nothing...

I somewhat decorated for fall... As in I randomly placed fall-themed objects around the house.

But before I did that, I spent Saturday morning garage-sailing with my friend Lee. I was looking for and only gave myself permission to buy a reading chair. I needed a quiet place to read, spend time with the Lord, etc. I totally despise our office. It's not comfortable to me, it's too manly, and every time I look at it I want to take everything out and start all over. So I created a little reading area in our guest bedroom.

Saturday morning must have been my lucky morning, because at the first stop, I found a chair for $15, but only paid $10. It was clean, in good condition, and had a funky pattern. So I bought it! Here it is:


Sunday after church, Kyle and I headed to Second Baptist Church right down the street from our house. They had a great little pumpkin patch and I was ready to pick some up for our house.


{HUGE pumpkins}


{perfectly round}


{my wheelbarrow man}


{pumpkins, mums, gourds}

Once we got the pumpkins home, I headed out to shop some. Found some neat little things. I am starting to appreciate and love Williams-Sonoma, and it has become quite dangerous that the outlet is right near our house. A little too convenient.


{this pasta sauce just seemed right for fall. heated it and poured it over cheese-filled tortellinis. delish}


{for dessert, i made this pumpkin spice bread. sooo good. especially with the cream cheese topping}


{cream cheese topping - my kitchenaid mixer made this way easy}

Here are just a few pictures from around the house. Just quick pics from the iPhone.


{right when you walk into our mudroom. that candle is the "sage and citrus" yankee candle and i loooove it. has a very clean scent}


{bumpy gourds and pumpkins in a gray bowl on our coffee table}


{apothecary jars on the right side of the mantle}


{side shot of the mantle - clearly my clock is not set}


{glass leaf and another yankee candle - harvest something...}


{my friend bubba made this shelf for me from scrap wood. having a hard time deciding how to organize it}


{cute ceramic owls that i found at kroger of all places}


{straw pumpkins from the dollar spot at target}


{buffet in the brick room}


{fat pumpkin, fat candle - mullen cider scent from walmart}


{pumpkin candelabra from hobby lobby}

Now, if Memphis weather could drop below 80 degrees we could really welcome the fall...

Hope everyone is finding themselves preparing themselves for the holiday season with gratitude and a right perspective.

With love....

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Asher + Kate

Last night, Kyle and I attended a couple's shower for our friends Kayla + Travis and Julie + Charles. Both of these ladies are getting very close to meeting their little additions.

I have already told you a little bit about them here, but definitely wanted to share some pictures with you from last night.

I love these two women like sisters, have so enjoyed watching them grow in their walks with the Lord over the past year, and absolutely cannot wait to meet Asher and Kate. Kate will be here in just a few short weeks and Asher will be more of a Christmas present :)


{the spread}


{one of my favorites - grape tomatoes with mozzarella and basil}


{twice baked potatoes}

The ladies let the men do most of the present-opening. I think they loooooved it!


{travis and charles loving their bath towels}


{sweet jammies from kyle and i}


{audrey, me, and kirsten}


{adorable knit hat for kate}


{that's asher inside kayla's belly :) }


{charles thinking about all the boys he is going to have to ward off when kate wears this cute little thing}


{guests}


{trammells - gracious hosts}


{julie + charles}


{jb + audrey}


{me + kirsten}


{kayla + travis}


{kayla and her sister summer}


{the preggers and me}


{close-ups}


{the ladies at the party}

Kate and Asher, the McShans love you already and can't wait to meet you and love on you and tell you embarrassing stories about your parents.

Kayla, Travis, Julie, and Charles - we love you guys and are so proud of you! You are going to be great parents and we know that these two kiddos couldn't be any luckier!

Pink October

This weekend has given us the first hint of fall weather. And I. LOVE. IT.

October is probably my favorite month of the year. There is so much going on. Football. Good weather. Getting ready for holidays. On so on...

But the most importantly, it's breast cancer awareness month.

In 2008, during my first year of PT school, Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Luckily (ironic word when talking about cancer), she was diagnosed with DCIS, ductal carcinoma in situ, in her right breast. Meaning, a non-invasive form. She did, however, have one microscopic focus outside of the ducts. She had a mastectomy followed by reconstruction, as well as removal of three lymph nodes from her right axilla. Though her prognosis was good, the word "cancer" resonated all the same. Since her surgery and beginning Tamoxifen, every scan since has come back cancer-free.

For our family, Mom's early detection was key! Though she is a woman who despises taking medicine, she has always been religious with her annual check-ups. Her last mammogram (prior to diagnosis) had shown a change in density of some fibrous tissue, and for good measure, a biopsy was ordered. Sure enough, the C word. Who knows how much those cells could have and would have spread over time had she not kept up with her annual mammogram. Possibly outside the ducts. Possibly to her lungs. Possibly to a point where she may not have been here today. But by God's grace, and His alone, she is here with us today as healthy as can be. Quite honestly, healthier than me.

Mom is no longer working. Though keeping a house is enough work in itself. But she isn't sitting around, wasting her time, becoming sedentary. She is incredibly active, playing both golf and tennis regularly. Let's be honest. Daily :) And she is benefiting others along the way.

Several weeks ago, she hosted a golf tournament at Ridgeway Country Club to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and breast cancer awareness. Here are a few pictures to show:


{mom and mike's house full of donated goodies for a raffle}


{more goodies}


{everything packaged pretty in pink}


{all the golfers in the tournament-men in pink too. mike, my stepdad, is a good sport.}


{her golf group-mom on the right}


{mom was honored for all her hard work with a beautiful crocheted blanket that looked like a patch-work quilt. i secretly wanted to steal it from her house last week.}

{blanket}

With the start of October yesterday, the Avenue at Carriage Crossing in Collierville hosted its third annual Pink Tie Event to raise awareness for breast cancer. Shops from around the mall donated items for door prizes, Baptist was there offering mammograms, and survivors and supporters enjoyed a fashion show.

Who were the models you ask? All the models in the show were breast cancer survivors. Mom being one of them!

Each model donned an outfit fit for fall, donated by the women's retail stores at the mall.

My mother loves all things Talbots, so it goes without saying where her outfit came from.

My friend Springer (Lauren Springer that is) and I ate lunch at Firebirds yesterday and then headed over to catch the show.


{the catwalk}


{here comes the model}


{stopping to show off her sequins}


{workin' it}


{strutting her stuff}


{i have a feeling at this point she was thinking "don't fall, don't fall, don't fall...}


{cheesin' for her favorite daughter}


{the finale}



{mom-on the right- and her friend laura}


{laura and mom}


{me and mom-the model}

Mom, I am so proud of you and so thankful to God for your life. You definitely exude Proverbs 31:25 when it says "strength and dignity are her clothing..." Your strength and character are what make you beautiful! I love you! And I hope I look like you when I am 50!

And now I will wait for the phone call from you where you yell at me for telling everyone your age... :)