Graduation Weekend

SHE DID IT! Ahhhh, what a FUN weekend we had celebrating Syd's graduation last weekend! It zoomed by (well, except for the whole graduation ceremony part!) and it was wonderful to be able to spend more than a few hours with my family.  Friday night was laid back with a fun dinner at Taylor Grocery and listening to the Rebs beat the Bulldogs in the first game of the Ole Miss/Georgia baseball series.   Saturday, it was up-and-at-'em for Sis's graduation in the Manning Center.  After lots of hugging, congratulating and picture-taking, we took a break by the pool (and from opening mounds of grad gifts!) before heading to dinner at Lenora's.  Sunday was Mother's Day and we capped off the weekend with a delicious brunch at The Inn.  If you haven't been to The Inn for Sunday brunch...GO.  It was super easy to get reservations, the food was great and the atmosphere was very casual.  We loved it and will definitely be going back again.  Congratulations, Sis! We are proud of you and we're super excited that you'll be staying in Oxford for grad school this fall!!

 

 



The Graduate

This weekend is going to be weird...but in a good way.  Weird because my little sister (the one who was SIX when I went off to college) is GRADUATING from college herself.  I mean, what?!?!  Somewhere along the way, I got old and she grew up.  I seriously could not be more proud of her and the person that she has become.  She is the absolute best and it definitely doesn't get any better than her.  Her past four years at Ole Miss went by in a flash.  Happy Graduation weekend, Sis! We love you, we're SO proud of you and we can't wait to see what the future holds for you!! CONGRATS!

 

13.1

CHECK CHECK CHECK!!  Last weekend, I ran my very first half marathon.  Surprised?!?! Because I am.  I never in a million years thought I would run one of those.  NEVER.  Even after my precious husband got into running them and then got into doing triathlons.  I was always happy being the spectator and cheering on my man.  Last summer, my sis told me she was going to do the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville and wanted me to do it too.  So, I thought, what the heck...it'll be a good think to check off my bucket list and I signed up.  I started training in September...mind you, I hadn't run further than a mile in the past 6 months.  This was going to be some feat for me.  I found a training program online and started my work.  I did lots of training on the treadmill at the gym (I'm one of those that actually likes a treadmill...and air conditioning...and a tv!) with some training outside.   About 3 weeks before the race, I did a 10K and it was HARD.  But, I felt confident in how I finished in that race and in my training to that point...good thing, since the countdown to race day was on!



 

Last weekend, the whole fam headed up to Nashville for the big event.  We got all checked in at the Expo then headed to the Opryland Hotel to meet up with my parents and get settled in for the evening.  BTW:  I hadn't been to the Opryland Hotel since high school and I had totally forgotten how AWESOME that place is.  We ate at Solario (the Mexican restaurant) and I might have had a little bit of gelato, too!  Saturday meant an early wakeup call (4 AM!) and RACE DAY! 

 

The weather was gorgeous, the crowd was energized and we were excited.  Reed was in Corral 1 so he started at 7 AM and finished in 1:30:30.  AMAZING.  Basically, he was finishing just as Sis and I were starting (we were in Corral 35).  We finished it, though...whew! I was slow...2:50:09 but hey...it's my first one! It really was such a fun experience...one that I definitely want to do again!

 

 

Happy Easter!!

 

Happy Easter from the Stacy fam!!
 

 

Girl's Weekend

Ok, if you haven't ever been to the Spring Pilgrimage in Natchez, MS you absolutely MUST go!  Last weekend, my mom and I went on a belated birthday trip (for her) to Natchez to partake in their spring pilgrimage festivities.  It was too much fun!  We stayed at the cutest bed & breakfast,The Dr's In, right in the heart of downtown Natchez.  We were so close to everything that we walked just about everywhere we went the whole weekend.  We had delicious suppers at The Castle at Dunleith and Magnolia Grill.  We had the best lunch at Cotton Alley Cafe.  We toured two mansions, Rosalie and Longwood and three homes: Texada, The Burn and Twin Oaks.  Twin Oaks and The Burn also serve as working b&b's...they were super neat!  We also took a fun carriage tour which I highly recommend.  Being the bookworm that I am, I had to see the Turning Angel statue in the Natchez City Cemetary.  Kinda creepy, I know, BUT I absolutely love Greg Iles (his books are so good) and this statue was the title of the very first book that I read of his. 

I'm already ready to go back for the Fall Pilgrimage in October...I love Natchez!!  Check out their pilgrimage website here to plan your trip! 

Clockwise: Mom & me, the Turning Angel, the Mississip', our carriage tour and Rosalie

Clockwise: Confederate graves in the city cemetary, Longwood, unfinished upper floors of Longwood and The Dr's Inn

TWO WORDS...

COMPUTER PROBLEMS (or idiot-user problems). Seriously. For the last 3 months. YIKES!!  So, although I've missed several months, you haven't missed much at all.  Well, except for the fact that our baby is getting cuter, sweeter and bigger every day...but DUH.  :)  So, let's start with:

JANUARY:  It's cold in January, the fireplace is always on and I always have cabin fever.  This naturally leads to long Saturdays out running errands and shopping...much to my credit card's dismay.  I can't help it.  I get bored and I want to buy things!  Stafford, on the other hand, discovered that his palate is expanding to include: McDonald's cheeseburgers!  This kiddo LOVES a Quarter Pounder with Cheese (Plain) and French Fries from McDonald's.  He's borderline obsessed with this meal so being the naturally good cook that I am, I let him eat it whenever and wherever he wants.  Is it bad that my two year old sees the arches and instantly says "fwench fwies?"  To counter-act this new found love...we've started back at his gym classes.  He loves them!!

January Happenings

FEBRUARY:  Ah, the month of LOVE! I've always loved February because it contains my favorite holiday - Valentine's Day!  It never gets old for me...I love the red & pink themes, the chocolates, the flowers and the gushy cards.  This Valetine's Day was spent all together as a fam - eating hibachi.  Stafford inherited his love for fried rice from his Daddy.  This month also involved spending time in Oxford and Memphis.  Sis and I had a sister-date to Wicked and it was PHENOM.  I want to go see it again.  LOVED IT! Of course, since we have a cheeseburger lover, we had to have lunch at Huey's!

February Happenings

MARCH:  Why is March such a tease?  Beautiful, spring weather one day and cold, rainy weather the next.  Despite the can't-make-up-it's-mind weather, March was slam-packed with fun activities.  We journeyed to Oxford for a full weekend of Ole Miss sports.  Marshall Henderson's last home basketball game as a Rebel and Ole Miss baseball!  Saying that we love Ole Miss sports is an understatement!  We also played at the outlet mall, watched TONS of March Madness and "learned" how to play golf at Perry's birthday party.  March was FUN!

March Happenings

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Welp, since we are three days in to 2014, there goes my intention to do "A Year in Review" before the new year actually hit.  OH WELL! Believe it or not, picture queen over here did not take one single picture on New Years Eve ( I am so mad at myself for that!) but we had a great time dining and celebrating with great friends anyway!

Now...the dreaded New Year's Resolutions.  Do you make those?!!  I debated on whether or not it's even worth it to make them this year...I mean, really.  I'm pretty sure that I've never followed through with any that I've made.  I've made sincere ones and silly ones but I simply cannot get them to stick. For example, in grad school, one of my resolutions was to eat less crispitos, burritos and potato logs from Chevron...uh, major fail.  I think I probably ate MORE of them! Regardless of my success (or rather fail) rate, I've decided to make a few resolutions anyway...after all, I am a sucker for tradition.  So, here are my "resolutions" for 2014:

1.  To REALLY start training for a half marathon
2.  To spend more time with God
3.  To put down my phone, my Ipad, my computer, etc. and just be PRESENT
4.  To read more and DVR less :)
5.  To not sweat the small stuff

Best of luck to all of you in making (and following through!) with your resolutions!  I hope 2014 will bring you much love, lots of happiness and constant joy! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!