Washington Wedding

Thomas Carlisle (Patty and Fred's son) had the neatest reception. Judson and I were glad we went. They are both working and living in D.C. so they had a neat little twist of the Capitol in their reception. This picture is the grooms cake. The flowers behind were in the shape of an American flag backdrop. 

The wedding cake was actually petite fours. They were delish!

This was a neat idea...A "faked up cake" displaying cookies in the shape of Mississippi, Tennessee, DC and Virginia. The states that they are a part of now. 

My driver for the night in his "Mommas" "Mercedes"! BAHAHAHAHAHAHA...inside joke

Judson and I dressed up for the "black tie wedding"...whew...it's been awhile...it was easier to get this dressed up when I was 16 or 18 or even 22?!?!

But, it is still a lot of fun...even if we do embarrass our children! 

Uh oh...birds started flying...

FUN Night!

Wedding Season...Advice

I subscribe to the Proverbs 31 Ministries daily email for women. I always enjoy reading it. This was my email from today. How appropriate since this is the year of the wedding! I thought it was VERY good and worth sharing.

Great Marriage Advice

Campbell Clinic

Cast Coming Off...Yes!!! So THANKFUL we were able to avoid surgery! 

Go Lucy Go!

What a fun day! Days like today really make you appreciate being from a small town like Covington. Oney, Judson's Jidi, used to always say that Covington was "the Garden Spot of the World". I have come to understand his true love for this sweet little town the older that I get. 

It was awesome seeing Lucy smiling and waving to all of her fans today. Such a sweet, beautiful and innocent girl that is one tough little cookie. Boy will she hear stories told to her for many years about how she changed so many lives. Her Mother, Kate, and family are such an inspiration to everyone. 

Go Lucy Go!

I have been having some issues with being on my feet for a long amount of time lately. So, I didn't think I should even attempt to walk the 5k. I am saving myself for my big Washington trip with Abby and the 8th graders coming up next week. I went to cheer everyone on! 

Boy does Lucy love her Amanda

I was just snapping pictures left and right like I do and look at these two pictures I got! Ms Nancy and Mr Paul blowing kisses and waving to Lucy and Erik and Kate cheering on big sister Ella! These are two of my favorite scenes from the day. 

So very PROUD of my girl, Abby. She ran the 5k and finished with an awesome time, 37 minutes. 

Oney with his cousins Jake, Hyatt and Gracen. 

Oney didn't do the 5k because of his broken arm. He still wanted to be a part. So I signed him up for the fun run. His doctor would probably kill me if he knew. 

We had a FUN day together, me and Abby and Oney. Just wished Judson and Ally could have been there, too! GO LUCY GO! 

Dentist...Again

Time for the dentist...again? Seems like we sure have been there a lot lately! Good news? Don't ask me how, but Abby's "dying tooth" that was turning colors suddenly is looking normal again! Yippee!!! So, for now, we are putting off the root canal per Abby's request. I can't say that I blame her there! 

The Sleepy Mother

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful mother,

Who cared for her kids, without being a smother.

She worked very hard, and needed a rest,

This nap will help her, and keep her un-stressed.

She  loved her life, but was so tired you see,

When you're "On the Go", you sleep every moment found free.

There are many joys in life, like watching her kids grow,

But nothing is better, than attending a Las Vegas show!

Her kids are all great, but Abby is the best,

When she prays every night, she knows she is blessed.

While this mother is sleeping, everyone keeps quiet,

That's hard in the Naifeh house, we are always in a riot. 

I think the world should finally know,

My beautiful mother's shining glow.

When she awakens from an afternoon nap,

The whole world should burst with a clap. 

An INSPIRATIONAL poem about a young women's nap,

By: Abby Naifeh

Launch Day for Passionate Mom

I have had the unique opportunity to get to know via email/social media the author of Passionate Mom and the Director of iMom, Susan Merrill. She is such a sweet, down to Earth mother. I guess I was at the right place at the right time. I submitted my name and email to be a part of her "delivery team" for her new book. I have never done anything like this before. I just knew that I liked her and what she stood for and so I thought I would give it a whirl! I got a free book and t-shirt in return. I have had a lot of fun participating and I have learned a lot! So, here is my last sales pitch. Get your copy today!

Video on the book

The logistics are easy. Anybody can do laundry and carpool. But what makes a mother the best mom she can be? It’s not better scheduling. Or more activities. Or less. It is passion—the passion to teach, protect, study, and prepare her children for the future. Great, but how?
Susan Merrill, the Director of iMOM and mother of five incredibly different children, has asked that question countless times. And she read countless answers specific to a certain child’s temperament, age, or situation. But nothing she read offered an overall approach to parenting that would enable her to say with confidence, “I am doing this right.” She never guessed she would find a foundational plan—a reliable, universal parenting approach in the Old Testament book of Nehemiah.
In The Passionate Mom, Susan takes you on a journey through Nehemiah and into the heart of parenting. Her stories and confessions in every chapter reveal what she has learned: no mom can control her child’s future, but every mom can parent well.

There is a plan— a roadmap for how a passionate mom can parent almost any child, confidently.

- See more at: http://www.susanme.com/passionatemom/#sthash.GBviOMGb.dpuf

iMom Daily Email

The Year of the Wedding

WOW...this is the "Year of the Wedding"! 

Fred Carlisle's Son, Thomas 

April 27

Anna Laura Mc Gowan and Matt

May 11

Greg Williams and Amy Ruff

June 1

Breck and Stephanie

June 8

I don't think we have had this many weddings this close to us since we first got married! 

Boston Marathon Bombing

Praying for the victims of this terrible tragedy. As of now, there are three confirmed dead and over 100 injured. Our country was stricken with fear similar to 9-11 this afternoon. The news first broke on #Twitter...can you imagine the #tweets there would have been had #twitter existed on 9-11? It was a day to count your blessings and have a reality check on what matters in life. 

NBC News Story

Some photos from the scene are below. There were much more graphic ones posted. I prefer not to share those. 

 I hate the cause of this photo but I love seeing the red, white & blue! May GOD BLESS AMERICA!

 You can see runners crossing the finish line in this photo. The explosion was to the right where the flags are flying just before you cross the time clock.

Our nation was instantly put on "high alert". Look at this photo from Times Square in New York City. It is so chilling to me to see. Thankful for all of the BRAVE firemen, policemen, guardsmen, soldiers, etc who walk directly into danger on a daily basis for our safety. Thank you. Kiss and hug your babies and husband tonight. 

Masters

Adam Scott Wins Masters 2013:
 First-Ever Australian Winner Outlasts Angel Cabrera In Playoff

Those were the headlines from Augusta National on Sunday. The winner, Adam Scott, employs Tiger Woods' ex-caddy. Interesting fact, if you ask me. Anyway, I am not really into watching golf on tv. I get my fair share following my two daughters around on the course in the Fall. But, I always try to follow it a little for the sake of my husband. He is fortunate enough to be a guest each year. So, I have to be able to speak intelligently about the tournament. I think Adam looks a lot like Matthew McConaughey. So I didn't mind looking at him!

Here is a screen shot of Augusta National from my iPhone. Pretty amazing.

A little controversy that blew up twitter...Tiger Woods dropped his ball from an incorrect location. He signed his score card which was technically "incorrect". Someone called in and reported the infraction. The rules committee imposed a 2 stroke penalty on Tiger rather than a DQ. Interesting...

2013 Masters Champion, Adam Scott

Abby's Oooey Goooeys

Abby has become my little chef lately. She loves trying new recipes. She found this one on Pinterest and couldn't wait to try it. She is going to be an excellent cook. She is very good at putting her own personal tweaks on a recipe after she makes it the first time. These were deadly! She has decided that she didn't like the Oreos but she loved the Reese's. She also says she will try Marshmallows next time! I think I gained 5 pounds this weekend!

Oh, and she named them "Abby's Ooooey Goooeys"!

Launch Week!

Susan Merrill...Launch Week!

8th Grade Superlatives

Superlatives were chosen from the 8th grade class a couple of weeks ago. Abby was voted "Wittiest" and "Most Dependable"! They took pictures today for the yearbook. Here are a few shots.

Abby & Anna Claire

Abby & Joze

Abby & Cole

Abby, the Girls & Cole