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Asheville

If you watch/listen/read the news, then you've been hearing about Asheville in the last 24 hours because President Obama has been here talking about his jobs plan.

The creative director from my ad agency and his wife managed to snag tickets to go hear him and because of the nature of the gathering, this was the picture he snapped:

No matter your politics, it is always exciting when the President comes to town.

My kids have been asking lots of questions about the President. But #1, "Is President Obama in charge of the world?"

To which I answer AND I believe, "No. God is in charge of the world. Because He is sovereign. Right now, He has let President Obama help take care of our country."

Can everybody say "sovereign"?

sov·er·eign

   [sov-rin, sov-er-in, suhv-] 

noun

1.

a monarch; a king, queen, or other supreme ruler.

2.

a person who has sovereign power or authority.

3.

a group or body of persons or a state having sovereign authority.

A Months Worth of Pictures

With my camera lens having broken while we were in France, I haven't been very motivated to take any pictures. But that changed when I replaced it with an upgraded 50mm lens. 

This glass is SOOO much better its unreal. 

Example 1.

This is inside with no flash.

 Example 2.

I have not been able to get pictures of Ranger because his coat is such a weird color it doesn't show up well in pictures. NOT ANY MORE!

Look at my beautiful dog. 

 This is a ridiculous picture of Lucy just to show you how much she's grown this summer. 

This was a suit that fit her in June. 

She insisted on wearing it. 

I laughed the entire day. 

 Our prizes at the state fair. 

 Asher is now playing flag football. 

I have always used the line "don't smile" to get him to smile. 

So now that I am trying to get a picture of him being "tough" he can't help it, he has to produce the biggest grin you've ever seen.

 Gah, I love this handsome boy. 

 Lucy is as silly as ever. 

We were hiking and she got herself next to a rock and said "Mommy, this will be a good one."

 Then struck this pose. No lie. 

 A boy and his dog. 

I am so glad I captured Asher's expression here. 

Priceless. 

Merry Christmas!

The Sloan Family is celebrating Christmas for the first time in our beloved Asheville and it has been such a sweet time for us!

I baked and baked and baked today.

So much so that I opened up every woman's dream:

A Kitchenaid stand mixer for CHRISTMAS!

I love it so much.

The kids are beside themselves to open presents in the morning.

We can't wait either.

We have never been home on Christmas before and so this is new territory for all of us.

We find ourselves marrying a little bit of our parents with the things that we have always wanted to do but never really could do to the whole traveling every year thing.

Pecan Pies.

Treasure hunts.

Christmas Cookie decorating taking the whole afternoon.

Family craft times.

Family Christmas Jammies.

Giving the kids their own Christmas ornaments that represent the year.

AND

The Sloan Family picture in front of the Christmas tree:

Lucy's face. Amazing.

Sorta cute, but forced. Also, lots of my leg in the foreground.

We had to cut loose for a minute.

Lucy isn't really sure about this whole picture thing.

Close enough! Let's wrap it up!

Survivor Season Finale

Last night was the season finale of Survivor and our friend Chase came in a super close 2nd place. He lost 5-4 on jury votes after winning four straight reward challenges and physically dominating play throughout the season.

He was awesome! A little crazy on some decisions, smart on others, made crucial alliances and broke them when they didn't work out. Basically he played Survivor and almost won whole dang thing.

The most crazy part of the whole show is when they let the jury have a say and ask any questions that they want. About 50% of the people don't even ask questions, they just use the opportunity to verbally back-slap the contestants who have outwitted, outlasted and outplayed them. It's a grown-up version of sour grapes and it looks so silly and immature. I would love to see Survivor figure out a new way to do this section of the show.

Otherwise, it couldn't have been more fun to watch and see Chase "survive" week after week!

Vampire Weekend

Last week, Amy Noll and I went to see my new favorite band: Vampire Weekend.

It was a most fun show. See:

It was a blast, and I haven't stopped listening to them since.
Great summer soundtrack music. Go now.
Love them.

Triple Falls

On Saturday, the weather was beautiful and Amy Noll and I took the kids to Brevard to go hike in Dupont National Forest.

Three miles, five waterfalls.

It was amazing-seriously. The trails we hiked have a back story that is connected to Young Life and unfortunately, a good guy lost out on a lot of money. But--I am really glad he did. Or we would never have gotten to visit these waterfalls. Way to go North Carolina!

The kids did a great job and we had a really nice time in the 70 degree temps walking in the woods together.

I can't believe that this hike is only 20 minutes from my house!

Enjoy!

Girls Gone Wild

I had a birthday last week. My sweet husband had about a million and half things going on (including his father having surgery for colon cancer) the next day but he made the time and effort to throw me a little family birthday party.

Look how cute! Streamers, table cloth, and a little "Happy Birthday" banner.

I did make my own cake, but that's just because I LOVE CAKE. And didn't want something from the grocery store.

Sometimes, you have to take these things into your own hands.

32 years! The time flies don't it?

It snowed the whole dad-gummed day and it derailed all plans my friends and I had for going out so we had to up the ante. What were we going to do to celebrate my birthday? (Not that I really care-it's just an excuse to escape our houses and do something ridiculous)

I decided on getting my nose pierced.

Like someone who just turned 18.

But I didn't. And I'm not 18.

And I convinced a few others to go along with me and perhaps get something tattooed or pierced as well. So yay! Girls Night Out=Girls Gone Wild! Woohoo!

When we pulled into the Tattoo Shop; Ace of Spades, and I have to say; it felt more like an episode of Desperate Housewives, Buncombe County.

A mini-van, a Volvo Station wagon playing Beastie Boys smelling like throw-up from earlier in the week and then Amy Noll and her college aged self with her cool college aged sister were there in their single cool college aged lifestyle on Spring Break.

Sarah and Ellen are solving the crisis in the Middle East.

Robin's Boob. You just can't help yourself.

Here is Amy Noll spilling money for spilling ink. Yes, she got herself a tat.

Won't her mom be excited I was with her on this monumental night?

Gross tattooing magazines. Here's a free tip: Don't GO to a tattoo shop for inspiration. Have what you want already in mind. I have my reasons below.

It turned out that the shop we were at didn't so much offer piercing anymore and we had to find another one that was still open.

Our only option?

Liquid Dragon.

Believe me. I feel like I could get hepatitis from just reading that name. But we soldiered on. After all, I had to get myself pierced.

Classic Desperate Housewives. Except Sarah. *in the middle*

So if you're single, she's single. Sure she's holding an inhaler. But consider it a beacon of hope. She's a fighter and has overcome the world that has tried to beat her down.

Want her number? Message me on Twitter...

This right here is why you come to a tattoo shop prepared. Otherwise you might leave with one of these "beauts" on your body for the rest of your life.

Please tell me why you would get "pimple, nuclear or plague" tattooed onto your body.

This whole section completely baffles me. Not one do I see that would even make a lick of sense to get tattooed on ones person. You could make a case for poems or pleased. But that is IT.

Liquid Dragon in all its glory.

We walked in, the man asked to see my ID-to make sure I was over 18. I kissed him on the mouth. (Just kidding). And then he took me in the back. Shoved a piece of cork up my nose so hard that my eyes watered and did the deed.

It really didn't hurt and I have had no problems since....

Except this morning I was at the high school and ran into one of my girls who USED to have a nose ring.

I asked what happened to it and she said,

"Oh. You didn't hear? I had to have surgery to remove it because I had MRSA."

Awesome.

Then, I went running. Got sweaty and forgot about the nose ring. Wiped my face and yep, ripped the ring through my nose. I very quickly reinserted it (without washing it or my hands off) and as soon as it was back in place; all I could think about the rest of the day has been:

MRSA

So. I have a nose ring.

But hopefully no MRSA.

Cause that would be really terrible.