The Beauty of the Beach

During the last week of June, we took a family trip to the fabulous Naples, Florida. It was definitely one of my favorite places I've ever been. Typically at the end of a vacation, I'm ready to head home, but I did NOT want to leave Naples! The white sand beaches of Naples are nestled in the Gulf of Mexico and are gorgeous! . The town of Naples is so relaxing and non-touristy. We felt like we lived there (and we even discussed that this is the ONE place I could move besides Fayetteville!) The town is so amazing and welcoming. My parents rented a beautiful house...

The house was absolutely perfect. It was open and airy and every room opened to the pool. I got to spend several mornings watching cartoons with Grayson (loved it!) Back Yard The pool at night

Josh fishing in the beautiful waterway that ran behind the house

Grayson was walking like crazy exploring the house!

This alligator was swimming in the ocean by the Snook Inn on Marco Island where we ate seafood by the ocean and listened to live music!

Friday night we had "date night" on 5th Street (think Downtown KC). We had a great Italian dinner at Cafe Luna and drinks on the patio at McCabe's Irish Pub.

Our last night, we went to Randy's and bought fresh seafood to cook at the house.
We had Grouper, Salmon, Halibut and Alligator!

Josh cooking his fresh alligator - it was YUMMY!!

My sister took a bike ride every night - I think it was her favorite part of the trip.
You know the old saying "it's like riding a bike"? That saying did not apply to me after a few glasses of wine...the bike and I had an altercation.
I LOVE this picture of my parents = happiness :-)

Jesse, Grayson and Brook

This is how sad I was to leave :-( I can't wait to go back every year!! THANK YOU Mom & Dad for taking us to this gorgeous slice of heaven!!

40 Years Later...

...and happy as ever!

My parents were married on May 20, 1969. It was the day before my mom turned 18, and my dad was home on military leave. They moved all around the country as my dad was transferred between different Army bases. They were young, and in love, and that was all that mattered.

I feel so blessed to have the greatest parents in the world who have been married 40 years! From watching them over the years, I have learned the importance of love and patience in my own marriage. I have learned that things won't always be perfect, but as long as you have the other person by your side, you can get through anything. And most importantly, I have learned (I hope) how to be a good parent. My parents have always been there for me and my sister, and if I can just take a little of that and apply it to my own children, they will be as lucky as me...

Family Portrait - 1982 (Dad, Mom, Me and Brook)

This weekend we had a party to celebrate my parents 40th Wedding Anniversary! We had the party at my sister's house and had a great time with great friends! Their friends told a lot of stories about my parents, and my dad told stories about how they met, their first date, etc. It was so sweet!

My parents

Their wonderful friends and family!

Brook and Nanny (my dad's mom)

Josh and Daddy

Meme (my mom's mom) and Me

Me and the Hubster - Here's to the next 40 years, baby!

Take that, Idol Haters!

For everyone who said Kris Allen didn't deserve to win, or that Adam didn't win because he wears guyliner, or because he likes dudes, or that AT&T rigged the votes so Kris would win...

Kris and Adam BOTH released their own version of "No Boundaries" (a really terrible song if you ask me!). Here's the total number of records sold this week:

Kris Allen: 134,458

Adam Lambert: 35,984

Let Kris enjoy his well-deserved win!

No Problems, Mon!

Well folks, we did it!! We FINALLY went on our honeymoon! We spent a week in Ocho Rios, Jamaica and it was gorgeous! We had an amazing time, we were relaxed, and it was a trip to remember! The Jamaicans favorite saying was "In Jamaica we don't have problems, just situations." That's my new life motto :-)

We all get so caught up in our everyday lives that we sometimes forget to just look at the person who sits next to us couch every night and remember how beautiful they are! My Josh is beautiful and it was fabulous to spend a little cell-phone-free, TV and internet-free, work-free, no-interruptions, romantical time together :-)

Before dinner at the open-air Italian restaurant

The view from our room!

Josh smoking his Cuban cigar and sitting
on a swing that overlooked the ocean

Me and my Cuban

My favorite view on the trip :-)


These Jamaican ladies were hilarious! They had their bras and bums padded and they said "Grab my boob, mon!" Josh was happy to comply! I was laughing so hard I had tears running down my face!

We went on the Chukka Cove Canope zipline and it was a BLAST!
We did 9 ziplines through the Jamaican jungle! Gorgeous!

Dinner on the Pier

Josh's favorite pasttime, the Miami Vice
(Strawberry Daiquiri, Pina Colada and RUM)

The (Other) Love of My Life

Today I had lunch with my sweet little nephew, Grayson, my sister and my Nanny. I love my little man SO much...he makes me smile so big and those big blue eyes just melt my heart! He is such a blessing...I just can't get enough of him!!