Travels: Norris TN 2012

Okay so I have to admit I don't have any pictures of myself, but I have some photos of my trip home. My parents have a lake place in Norris TN. So usually when I go to TN to see them I just go their and stay there. This time though, we ventured into Knoxville my hometown and walked around. It has been a long time since I have been home and I have to say I missed that city.

We ventured to my old watering hole... well my place of employment for several years...Barley's and right down the street was this amazing little record/vintage store. I scored a pretty skirt, a stool, and fabulous painting. Roo, got a zillion records... okay more like 10.

We spent the rest of the trip on the boat, at the lake, at the pool, or just in a drunken stupor. Our livers needed a break after our trip, but I had such a blast. A much needed vaca!

My parents enjoying an ice cold beverage on their boat... I guess you could say retirement has been good to my dad.

I have to say I LOVE this picture. These are the 2 best men I have ever known in my life. My amazing father (the foobs) and my incredible husband. They are peas in a pod...well minus that height difference. They are both so a like yet so different. I love them dearly!

So there you have it folks, that is my July 4th and my summer vacation wrapped up in one post.

XOXO

Kids

I have a confession to make. I have been thinking about having kids for awhile now. It is something that I think about pretty often lately. I am not sure what triggered this feeling, maybe my biological clock that everyone talks about has finally started. I still don't think we are ready, but I think about it.

As I look up at these pictures and think...well I have kids those little furry creatures are my babies I think there has to be something more. As I think about my life and where it has gone in the last year or so I think about what I want in life and what would fulfill me. I also think am I ready to change my life and never look back. My mom always reminds me not to romanticize children. They are work and not always fun and cute. I know all these things so I have to ask myself am I ready?? I don't know, I suppose that answers it for me doesn't it.

All seriousness aside, our current kids would not be happy to have some smelly crying thing crawling around I can just picture the death glares from Moby now.

Happy Hump day

Instax Lovin

We have one of those handy dandy hipster instax cameras. Which I have to admit is quit possibly the most fun camera I have ever had. I mean look at those mugs up there. Aren't we the cutest? Before you ask, yes that is my cat in the sink. He is such a funny cat. He thinks if he lays there we will turn the sink on so he can drink some water. Little does his dumb ass know that he can't drink it, he can only get wet if he lays in the sink.

Peek a bo

Since yesterday you got to see my little Mobster slutting himself out in front of the fire. I thought today it might be fun to show you another view of my furball. He has taken to laying in my lap a lot as the weather has gotten colder. Well one day I caught him doing a little peek a bo at his momma. Isn't he the cutest little sausage cat you ever saw?!?!

Oldy but Goody

While we are talking about family and I am sappy and shit. How about I share some of my favorite photos of my amazing grand parents. I was one of those lucky kids whose grandmother embodied everything sugar and spice and fairytale like. She was just plain amazing. She used to sing us (her 4 granddaughters) to sleep with Mr. Sand man and play tea party in big hats. She played her piano and sang loud and proud at Christmas. We made lots of cookies and mac n' cheese. So when she had her stroke when I was in high school we lost a lot of her, but never her beautiful shining smile. I have started to see more and more of her smile in my face every day and I could not be more exited.

My grandfather on the other hand, was that strong man. The type of man who took care of his family and watched CNN for a living. He loved computers before we all knew what they were and had a bar in his basement. He was sweet and loving. I cared for him dearly. In the top on the left photo you see him, but truth is I don't know which one he is. I am betting he is the one on the right though, that quirky little smile was all him.

Well all this teary crap has made me cry a little this morning, but smile even more. I hope you can handle this kind of post because when I start those wedding posts there will be lots of tears.

Thinking of mom

My stunning mom on her wedding day. My parents have been married for 36 years.

Lately I have been thinking a lot about my dear mother. My mom is one of those amazing people that pushes through pain and hardly ever lets anyone know she is in pain or suffering something (mental or physical). Until lately. Lately my mom has been dealing with such lower back and hip pain that she can barely move and walk. This after having had a pin put in her foot 2 years ago and not being able to walk for 3 months.

She has been diagnosed with spinal stenosis and all these other hip problems. These problems cause SEVERE pain.  Like the kind of pain where you can't sit up for too long, you can't walk, you can't stand for too long, and can't sleep on your back. Can you even imagine what that must feel like.

Well the other day she got a shot in her hip that was supposed to solve all her problems. It helped the pain but numbed her foot/hip/calf areas this caused her not to be able to function. So yesterday she went to a surgeon to find out what hell is going on and they said she may never recover all feeling in those areas. This means she may always walk like she has had a stroke and struggle to go up stairs and drive. My mom is an active woman in her 60s and it breaks my heart to think she may have to endure this type of pain and issue for the rest of her life.

I have not seen my parents in a year. They live in TN I live in VA. It's an 8 hours drive and without paid vacation at this time in my career there just wasn't a way to get to them to visit and with all the hip stuff it wasn't easy for them to get here either. I will see them for Thanksgiving but I miss them TERRIBLY and at this point with all my mom is dealing with all I want to do is be able to give her a hug and tell her it's going to be okay.

Sorry for the Debbie Downer post, but truth is this is my blog about what's going on in my life and this is all I have been thinking about lately. I am not going to say keep her in your prayers because the truth is I don't think that makes a difference. However I do believe in positive energy. Any kind of positive energy and thoughts that can be sent her way. I think that helps. Thanks for listening.

Sigfried and Roy

I am betting you are thinking what the hell is Emily talking about. Well folks a while back I had the best text message conversation with my best friend of forever. It was so classic and funny I had to share it with you all.

If you tell me that didn't make you laugh you are a crap face liar!! I mean come on...as you have seen from photos of me...spandex and glitter could be a little rough. Not to mention my dad in spandex...SCARY.

So just a brief back story Nicole and I have been friends since my 7th grade and her 8th grade year so a total of 15 year. It blows my mind sometimes all the good times we have had and how well we know each other. Just for fun....

I mean really!! We were so young and so not cute. I had braces and we both fought our curly hair. Just for the record that is a scrunchy in my hair and I am wearing breakfast food pajamas because well they must have been awesome if I was wearing them...nough said! On a side note can we talk about the awesome gymnastic cat poster in the background...and I wonder why I wasn't in the popular crowd.

*This is the girl I was supposed to go to Oregon with that I discussed in our love story. I will explain more about how she took my not going and how our friendship was healed in my engagement story.

Let's talk....my dad

So since it is Monday and I know how we all love a good Monday morning. I thought it would be fun to share a little vlog with you. I thought I would talk further about my dad the Foobs. Without further ado....enjoy!

 I mean you can't resist that frozen face before you hit play. Holy cuteness!

Meet the fam: Andrew

So now that we have seen the pets (first of course because they are so important) it's time to share the mister with you. My mister is Andrew and he is a tall skinny fabulous man. When I say tall I mean TALL...6 feet 9 inches tall. I tried to pick a picture or 2 that will show you his height but you really have to put him next to my 5'4" self to understand.

Isn't he handsome... I adore his ruby red lips and that crooked smile. He is an industrial designer and a biker. By biker I mean mountain biking, he is the co-captain of one of our local bike teams. He loves ice cream, and anything I cook (well he better!). He designs and builds metal sculptures as well as furniture from bike tires..he just loves to create and build. He is currently building a work shop in our backyard that he designed himself. He may be major tall but he is also major cuddly and I love him more than anything in the world.

Well now that you have met the fam, maybe next I will share photos of our home not sure yet.

Meet the fam: Owen

It's hard to top the cuteness that is my little Moby, but I think my sweet Owen may be able to do it. Owen is a 7 year old German shepherd/lab mix also from our local Richmond SPCA. He is very sweet, and always needs lots of love.

 

He is a happy puppy who loves his daddy more than life itself....that is total bull if you ask me considering I feed and walk his sorry ass. Oh well can't win em all....Moby loves me best :) ...(insert me sticking my tongue out at the dog)

Owen loves to chew sticks, hide when theres thunder, sleep on the furniture, take me for walks (he pretty much drags me on down the street), and cuddle with his dad. He loves to sit and survey his backyard, and keeps it 100% clear of all squirrels.

Tomorrow....I'll introduce the mister.

Meet the fam: Moby

Let's start this little bloggity blog off with a few introductions. You will be seeing a lot of the following creatures on this blog so I thought I would do a post for each one of them. First meet my pussy cat Moby. I probably should have done a post for the husband first....nah let's show cute kitties instead :).

Isn't he handsome. He is the cutest little tuxedo kitty cat. He loves to jump on everything. He sleeps on my dirty laundry, and lays in the sink while you take a shower. He loves to cuddle but only at night when you can't cuddle back. He is a master bug killer and really likes to eat your fingers. He is a sweet sweet baby and and I feel very lucky to have found him at the SPCA.

Tomorrow I'll show the dog....and then maybe the husband the next day.