Sweet Tea and Celebrations

...are two of my very favorite things about going back to see everyone in Arkansas! Whether it's a wedding, birthday party, Razorback game, or just being with the people who bring out my southern accent (and my southern attitude), we always have a reason to celebrate down there! Now don't get me wrong, I love Fort Wayne, but there are things about the south that I miss. Things that you just can't get anywhere else. Like ordering sweet tea when you go out to eat! Here is a recap of my fabulous weekend back home.

Friday Night Slumber Party
Elli wasn't feeling very well on Friday. Personally, I think she just needed a little lovin' from Aunt Jeni. We played with my jewelry and apparently even two year olds feel better when they get new jewelry! I realize this is a terrible picture of me, but I woke up at 4:30am so gimme a break, ok!

Hunter, Aspen, and Elli spent the night with me Friday night and we had a blast! Of course I woke up really early Friday morning and I did not take that into account when planning our slumber party, but the reward of having my adorable nieces and nephew for the night far outweighed any negative thoughts of sleeplessness/insomnia/I'm literally staying awake on a glass of sweet tea and a double-tall-non-fat-white-chocolate-mocha, with whip cream, of course!

Hunter was such a great sport about our slumber party. Usually he gets me all to himself on Pogey Bait night, but I had him and the girls this time. He is really good at entertaining those girls. They adore him!

The kids got a special treat for dinner (McDonald's happy meals). Aspen and Elli's happy meals came with a My Little Pony toy and Aspen insisted on "riding her horsey"! She couldn't understand why the darn thing just kept falling over!

Saturday: A Birthday Party & A Wedding

Aspen and Elli's birthday party was Saturday. Elli turned two years old on October 6th and Aspen will be three on November 19th. They are only 11 months apart!

Make A Wish!

Elli, Aspen, Bella Cate, & Lana. Elli clapped for everyone when we sang Happy Birthday to her and Aspen. I wish I would have videoed it because she was so adorable!

Pawpa, Dad, & Meme (my Dad with his parents)

Me & Pawpa (my Mom's dad)

Spencer & Brittany...cute little lovebirds

My Mom with her three grandchildren. She couldn't be happier!

Ryan & Me. We should have taken this picture standing up. I swear he gets taller everytime I see him! I think he is at 6'2" now! Also, TODAY IS HIS BIRTHDAY! Stay tuned for my Person of the Week post!

Brandlyn & Chris in their new kitchen...my favorite part of the house!

Lana & Jim Eggleston (below) Lana is Chris' twin sister, and I swear we were meant to be related. I just love her and Jim, and their little girl, Bella Cate, is just as sweet! Lana and Jim are expecting baby #2 next year!

Bella Cate & Aspen playing with the new toys.

Elli demolished the Happy Birthday crown and made a headband out of it. Creative!

Now, this picture makes me laugh! You know how I always have a hair tie on my wrist (even when I forget to take it off at inappropriate times like when I am a bridesmaid)? Well, the other two sisters have apparently made this same faux pax. Obviously, as the eldest sister whom we look up to, this must be Brandlyn's fault.

The Wedding

Saturday afternoon I attended Lauren and Lee's wedding in Heber Springs. They had a beautiful outdoor fall wedding at Lee's mother's house and the reception was at the Red Apple Inn. It was beautiful! I should have taken more pictures, but I was so busy talking and catching up with all my friends.

Our small group with the beautiful bride! Left to right: Kendall, me, Shelly, Lauren, Whitney, Joanna, & Jessica

Ken & Jen...I was so happy to see her!

Me and Dustin Jones. One of my favorite people from NLR.

Me & Joanna. I just love this girl! She puts a smile on my face everytime I see her.

Jessica and I were each other's date because my hubby and her boyfriend couldn't come. She rode home with me from the Red Apple Inn and we had a great time catching up! Definitely one of the highlights of my weekend!

The getaway golf cart was very creative! For those who may not be familiar with Heber Springs, AR, the Red Apple Inn is on a golfcourse.

Blogger Facelift

I am working on a new template and background for our blog. I want to give it a fresh new look, but I am not quite finished yet. Gotta few kinks to work out like finding the blog title...where did it go? Not sure! I am lovin' the pink and brown theme though. What do you think?

Happy Fall

Fall is my very favorite season! I love seeing the change of seasons when the leaves turn to beautiful bright colors. I also love seeing my wardrobe change from wearing summer clothes to breaking out my scarves, sweaters, and coats! And of course college football season! The fall just makes me happy all around and, for the first time ever, I got to decorate my very own house! I've posted pictures of most of our fall decor.

I didn't know how hard it was to see the pumpkin (below) until I took a picture. I need to do something about it...maybe add a few other things around it??

Some pictures taken in the kitchen.

I'm still not sure what I want to do with this pumpkin or my pig cutting board, but I love 'em both so I had to at least take a picture.

Sam & Jeni as scarecrows; how do you like the apple on the haystack? Call me 'Teach'!

Pam, one of my girlfriends' mothers, got me these cute ceramic pumpkins as a house-warming gift. Love them!

I love having fresh flowers in the fall (ok, really anytime is great for fresh flowers). I have a boquet of daisies, lillies, and cat-tails in the kitchen and a bouquet of mums in the front entry way.

Here is the mantle in two pictures...left side, then right side.

I cannot believe the stores have their Christmas decor out already. I mean don't get me wrong, Hobby Lobby, I love your store, but at least let me enjoy the fall through Halloween. I will not decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving, but that doesn't mean I can't shop for a few things!

aspen brooke frensley

This photo hasn't even been retouched yet! Seriously, my niece should be a model. Brandlyn and Chris, I see photoshoots and pageants in your future...

Insomnia Musings

Insomnia-such a terrible word. I hate it when I can't sleep. I try everything to get myself to sleep. Eventually I start talking to myself in my head. That's when you know it's really bad...
.
close your eyes and lie very still
relax all your muscles
change positions
get a drink of water
flip the pillow.....ahhhh, that's nice!
change positions again
elbow Sam while pretending to sleep because his snoring is clearly the reason i am awake
stop thinking...about to-do lists. that's why you have 'em in the first place!
stop telling yourself to stop thinking. doesn't help.
great, now I'm totally awake again....change positions, flip the pillow, relax
what's on my agenda tomorrow?
NO! stop it! i'm seriously annoyed!
tomorrow is thursday. best day of the week....grey's, the office, private practice
What is my "McName"? darn those writers for keeping me awake at night!
ok, now i'm just gettin' crazy!
change positions and flip pillow ten more times and...
did i just do my cardio workout for tomorrow?
THAT'S IT! I'M DONE!
1 glass of red wine. relaxed. finally. goodnight.

8.15.09

Our wedding photos have finally been posted on The Hudson's website! Find our picture and then type in the password jenisamwedding. There are pages and pages of pictures so I took it upon myself to post a few of our favorites! Seriously though, when you think there are no more pictures just click the right arrow and there are more. Kudos to my wonderful photographer, Kara!

Right after the I DO's!

Bennett-Sackett Family Picture

My Family (Spencer must've been M.I.A.)

Me, Sam, & the Groomsmen

Kels & Aspen

My Deltas

LOVE this picture!

Some of my girlfriends from high school. Left to Right: Jessica, Lauren C., Allison, me, Lauren Kay, Kendall, & Elizabeth

Me & My Dad dancing...doesn't he look so GQ!?

Adorable family pic of Matt, Keri, Noah, and Ella

This picture is cute and halarious. Hunter looks like he is up to something...

Spencer caught the garter (this is definitely a sign)

Dancing

Honeymoon, here we come!

Hard Workin' Man

Move in day! Sam and I, along with some of our wonderful friends and family helped us move into our new home. Ever since this picture was taken he has not stopped working, which is why he is my Person of the Week! We have been in our new house for a little less than two weeks and he is almost finished with his Honey Do List (I love lists)! I know I talk him up a lot, but he really is a great husband. And ya gotta give your husband some credit when it is much deserved!

Mowing the new lawn. It is much bigger than the lawn at our old house. Thank goodness for the riding lawn mower!

Here he is breaking up the concrete on the side of our house. This entire walkway off the driveway was raised above the rest of the concrete. Let's just say it was very hazardous! We had a new walkway poured last week and it looks great with our initials carved into it.

All the cabinet knobs in the kitchen and laundry room were gold...really gold! He bought new knobs, 69 of them to be exact, and changed them all out for me!

He hung the mirror by the stairs. I loved playing with the stud finder power tool thing.

I LOVE this iron/ironing board holder....

and my utility organizer! I just noticed I need a broom and dustpan...

Thanks Honey for all your hard work!