Southern Springs

I have a sunburn!
I have a sunburn in February!
I love Louisiana!

There are only a few people I know who would understand my excitement of having a sunburn in February:  all of the women in my family and Emily from South Dakota.  My reasons, the women in my family are accustom to lathering on mixtures of iodine & baby oil climbing up ladders and onto black shingled roofs in order to perfect their Southern tans and Emily from South Dakota...while her Irish complexion tries to convince her otherwise, this damn yankee should have been born into a family of Coppertone babies.

An early Spring is just another reason to love this great state.  While I was soaking up a few hours of sun on Sunday I walked around our yard to enjoy the first signs of Spring.

The exotic fragrance of a Southern Sweet Olive tree.

I pulled a T and made Drew come outside and smell these amazing blooms with me. :)

Plenty of buds on the Camilla bush Willie gave us.

This ain't no pansy!  

Quite a few of my pansies survived the freezes and frost.  

They live to bloom another day!

Finally, nothing says "Southern Spring" like an Adirondack chair and an Arnold Palmer.

Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!
~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"

Carrie Addis' Grand Arrival!

Sheeeeeesss Heeeerrrreeee!  :)

Since Carrie Addis was breech, Syd was actually scheduled for a c-section tomorrow.  But obviously Carrie Addis and the Man Above had other plans!  (This also may have been thanks to Aunt Erin's  prayers that Baby Carrie would come early since she would be on out town on Tuesday!)  Syd started having contractions around 4am Saturday morning, 10 minutes apart.  She and Bryan alerted the family and headed to the hospital.  A short hour later Syd & Bryan were proud new parents!

8 lbs. & 14 precious oz.!

The doctor let us slip in to see baby, mommy, & daddy between the OR and recovery...

Syd was a little loopy her first words to us were, "I have a baby....a BIG baby..."

Haha!  It was so great!

 Gotta love that new Daddy smile! :)

Once the McCumsey family was all settled in their room we all went back to welcome Carrie to the family.

Willie was all smiles!

Look in the background, there's nothing like a new life to bring a smile to so many faces.

Aunt Erin!

Proud Uncle!

Proud Aunt!  I had to show off her hair. :)

Uncle Drew & Aunt Do-Dah

  As an aunt of 13, now 14! nieces & nephews I've had lots of practice I'm pretty sure we're going to do Carrie Addis proud.  We are SO looking forward to many years of spoiling, babysitting, pacifying, shopping, and trying to explain to Carrie that her parents really aren't trying to ruin her life! ;)

If...

Drew and I started a new "game" of sorts.  Evelyn McFarlane & James Saywell wrote a book of "If" questions called "If...(Questions for the Game of Life)."  We answer a few of the questions a week and I write them down in the book for Andrew and our own children to one day read.

Here's part of the Intro:

"If is the ultimate book about fantasy.  Each of its questions is meant to spark and tantalize the imagination.  They are a celebration of the human spirit, which loves to dream and needs to hope, but which can also fear and even grow angry.  Our ability to imagine is the remarkable give we have been given to lead us into joy and aspiration and out of despair or sadness, because common to all of us is the idea that there could be a different world, perhaps a better one."

I thought I would share a few of the questions we've answered to spark your own "Ifs."  You'll find that right behind the If question always comes a Why question.

• If you could eliminate one thing you do each day in the bathroom so that you never had to do it again, what would it be?  Drew automatically answered brushing his teeth. "How great would it be to never have bad breathe are dirty teeth.  I was torn between blow drying my hair and brushing my teeth.  His argument persuaded me to go with the teeth brushing.
• If you could read the private diary of someone you know personally, whose diary would you read?  Drew said Mama Day's.  I said my sister Stacie's. 
• If you had to eat the same meal for the rest of your life, morning, noon, and night without worrying about nutrition what would you eat?  Drew:  Steak, Eggs, Potato, Biscuit.  Brooke:  My Mama's Pancakes, My Daddy's Lamb Chops, and Fresh Milk from Mr. Clinton's ( I was definitely a little specific on this one!)
• If you had to die in one of history's disasters, which one would you pick?  Drew: The Titanic  Brooke:  Apollo 11

Playing Ketch-Up

So what have you been up to?
Standard answer:  Not much just work, same ole same ole. 

When in reality we are all busy, busy people!  I've been so busy I haven't had time to blog in forever so I'm going to try to bring y'all up to speed all in one big-ole blog. :)

Super Bowl Supper Club

February's Supper Club was held on Super Bowl Sunday at the home of Sandy & Denny Wackett.  The theme was "Finger Lickin' Good," so everyone brought their favorite finger foods.

Pictured Above:  Sliders, Muffalettas, Crab Bread, Quesadillas, & Potato Skins

Pictured: Polish Mistakes aka "Sh!t on a Shingle" and Sausage Balls

Red Velvet Cake Balls...MMMM!

Although she may look sweet enough to eat, this is not a finger food this is Miss Allie, Michelle & Brent's little girl.

Miss Hannah & Mama Britt

My sis Stacie with my brother Barry's famous Crab Bread

The Supper Club Crew!

March Supper Club:  Mexican Fiesta at The Hughes Residence!

Spanish Town Mardi Gras Ball

This year's theme is "BP Blows & Wiki Leaks."

Our table that Britt & I decorated.  Drew built our oil derrick for us, thanks babe. :)

Downtown Rick Brown & Drew Baby

We went as "Gangsters & Saloon Dancers"

I don't know how women wore corsets, I could hardly breathe!

Aub's Last Show

Aubrey is graduating from DSHS this year (tear), so the next morning Drew & I headed to Lamar Dixon to watch her show.

Gotta Love a Big Ole Belt Buckle ;)

Valentine's Day

Our first Valentine's Day as a married couple was one of the best ever!

Some girls get flowers, candy, or dinner.

I got flowers, dinner...and flight lessons!  I'm so excited, I can't wait to get my pilot's license!

 Off to dinner at our favorite sushi place..Sakura in DS.

We shared the "Love Boat" :)

Race for a Cure

Yesterday we joined 12,000 other supporters, survivors, and fighters at the 2011 Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure.  We had so much fun and it was a moving experience to see so many show up for a great cause!

The Rhodia Gold Diggers

The Biggest Jambalaya Pot I've ever seen!

Finished the 5K and headed straight for the Pizza Tent! Ha Ha!

Our team placed 3rd in Team Fund-raising!  We were so proud!

Other stuff going on: 

• Andrew's school has had the most snow days it's ever had in 26 years!  While getting out of school for snow is pretty great when you're a kid...we were pretty bummed that he wasn't going to be able to come home this weekend for President's Day because they have to make up one of their snow days.  :(  Sooo...we're looking forward to March and his 2 week visit for Spring Break.
• Work has been crazy busy!  We had our TS Team Meeting this week and our counterparts from the Houston Rhodia site came in to visit and set goals for 2011.  It was great to meet people I talk to on an everyday basis and share our experiences in plant life.  
• My Aunt Faye was given a month left to live. We know she's ready to meet her heavenly Father, but waiting is hard.  Especially after a 10 year battle.  We would appreciate your prayers and thoughts during this difficult time. We pray for peace and an easy passing from this world into the next.
• Drew is currently building 2 houses.  One for a family who's home burned a few days before Christmas.  Thankfully they made it out safely, but I can only imagine what it's like to watch your home go up in smoke.  The other is a 7,500 square foot home for our cousins Andy & Amber in the Country Club- WOWZERS!!  He has 2 finished and for sale, if case you're looking for a new home!  As far as the flooring store goes, it's steadily growing...so much that we had to buy a fork lift to move flooring! :)

Life is busy, which is a good thing I guess.  I'm off of work Monday for President's Day I plan to spend it working in my yard then sunning with a good book. :)

Hope you all have a great week!

Monjuni's

Nothing makes a great night out like great friends!  We went out to celebrate Dani's graduation from Aveda.  Congrats Dani!

Steals & Deals

Shop-A-Holics Alert:  If you have a shopping problem DO NOT read any further! 

In honor of the approaching Valentine's Day I thought I would tell you about my newest love:  Rue La La.com!

 Each day Rue La La "opens" premier brand boutiques for a limited time and allows shoppers a private shopping experience!  Some of my favorite finds include:

Built Case for my Kindle

I paid $15.00

Regularly: $30

Drew's Cole Hann Aviators

(These look better on me!)

I paid $39.00

Regularly: $95.00

Saucony Grid Raider Running Shoes

I paid $49.90

Regularly $79.99

Max and Cleo dress

I paid $39.90

Regularly $128.00!

Ooh la la I love some Rue La La! ;)

Super Bowl Commercials

Since the Saints weren't in the Super Bowl this year all of my attention was focused on those 3 million dollar, 30 second commercials.  Which were your favorites?

Here and my top 2:

When this one came on all of the Mom's at Supper Club said, "That is so something Andrew would do!"  It's so true!   Then today I called my Mom to see what her favorite commercials were and the first thing she said was, "I loved the Darth Vader commercial, if reminded me of Andrew when he was about 4."  I sure do miss our little man!  Can't wait to see him in 11 days!

This was my 2nd favorite.  It reminded me of the old Lassie TV show. :)

Eating Cat Heads

Every weekend Drew and I cook breakfast together.  The center of our breakfast always consist of one thing...homemade biscuits.  I use my Mama's recipe and when you make "drop" biscuits like this they no longer qualify as  your every day biscuit, they become Cat Head biscuits.  Because they are the size of a cat's head!  Whenever I would have a bad day I would call my Mom and she would say, "Come on home, I'll make you some biscuits and gravy."  That is one thing that I miss most since my folks moved, the comfort of home along with the comfort food.  Love you Mama!

Drew is in charge of the sides which sometimes consist of eggs, fried ham, bacon, sausage, or gravy.  This weekend he made deer sausage gravy.  It was de-li-cioso!  Check it out, you're stomach won't want to miss it!

I always make a mess, but it's so worth it!

Wa-la!

I always take half of my biscuit and slather on the gravy.  

Then I use the other half and eat it like this...

With sour cream and homemade sugarcane syrup made by Mr. Jim Jenkins. 

(Just like my Dad eats his.)

Mmm-em-mmm!  I think we'll have breakfast for dinner! I hope you all have a super Super Sunday!

Pink Zone!

Sunday I volunteered at the LSU women's Pink Zone basketball game.  I helped recruit people for the Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure.  It was so much fun and truly inspiring to see so many families who have been effected by breast cancer.  Candy Coburn, the country singer, was there and sand her hit "Pink Warrior."  You should have heard the crowd! There were over 80 survivors who walked onto the court at half time and 100's of fans who held up donation cards honoring loved ones who lost their battles.

 Love those pink Nikes, even Coach is sporting a pair!

Mike leading the Survivors' Parade

Candy singing "Pink Warrior"

 God has a way with timing.  My Aunt Faye has fought cancer, beginning with breast cancer which eventually led to a double mastectomy, for as long as I can remember.  And up until recently she has been victorious.  This past weekend she was admitted to the hospital to help control the pain from a cancerous mass putting pressure on her spine.  Aunt Faye's daughter, my cousin Laura, has also fought and won her own battle with breast cancer.  Because of Aunt Faye & Laura it was an even more amazing experience to be around so many survivors, fighters, and supporters of such a great cause all in an effort to snuff out a disease that negatively alters the lives of so many. 

To become apart of the solution visit Susan G. Komen.