Puppy Love Pictures

We are loving our puppy Ranger.
He has been a delight to add to our lives and we are so glad to have him. Even hearing Lucy shriek, "Ranger! Ranger! Ranger!" about 700 times a day is cute...sometimes.

He is adorable and funny and he has even given new life to Slappy. She steals all of his toys-with a growl and a bark. It turns out our old wiener dog is a bit of a bully. Who knew?

He extremely talented at fetching and retrieving and biting. He bit Matt's ear and drew blood this week and has managed to decimate a cell phone and ipod charging cord all in the same day.
Talent.

But we love him. He is so definitely ours and we are smitten.
How could you not love something as cute as him?

Braids

When I was little, my mom braided my hair on a daily basis. 

She would braid my hair so tightly, that it would curl on the ends like Pippi Longstocking. 

One day, my kindergarten teacher asked me how she got my hair to do that. 

I told her, "My mommy wakes me up at 5am, braids my hair and hangs me in the closet by my hair until it is time to go to school."

She called my mom that afternoon to ask her if it was true. 

I was THAT CONVINCING.

Or my teacher was a complete idiot. 

I have bred a child cut from the same cloth.

See the resemblance? 

Check out my awesome kindergarten eyebrows. 

It's no wonder I have a bi-weekly waxing appointment. 

Green Eggs and Ham

 I've always shared my birthday with Dr. Seuss.
I am very okay with this since it makes the day much like Halloween in elementary school but with a central theme.
Nerdy much?
Asher has been sick all weekend and today was the first day he got to go back to school.

Think he was excited about it being Dr. Seuss's birthday? 

And with it being my birthday: We wouldn't be able to celebrate without something electronic coming into my life:

And I love it. 

So so much.

It completely lives up to the hype. 

Believe it. 

Spreadable Disappointment

Have you seen the new Miracle Whip commercials?
Brilliance in 45 seconds is what I call it.



When we went to visit my parents this weekend, all they had in their fridge was Miracle Whip. And the line in the commercial that says, "Who wants to eat a sweet lotion sandwich?" pretty much sums up my sentiments exactly.

Where do my loyalties lie?
Duke's Mayonnaise. Just like every good Southern woman's should.

You can not make egg salad, chicken salad or have a decent roast beef sandwich with anything like Miracle Whip.

BUT, being that I grew up with Miracle Whip...there is nothing like a peanut butter, banana and Miracle Whip sandwich. Just like Elvis did. (I know he used real mayo-but let's just say he used Miracle Whip for argument's sake hmmm? Caliente!!!)
Which side are you on?

Fish in a Barrel

Buncombe County Young Life is hosting a Shooting Clay's Fundraiser this spring at the Biltmore Estate here in Asheville on April 2nd. This is an incredible opportunity to raise money for Young Life, shoot guns, visit the Biltmore Estate in an unprecedented manner (since they have only had a handful of events on this range) and have a great time with a group of your friends!

The cost is $200 per shooter but the entry fee IS tax deductible (how bout them apples?) and you get an amazing day out of it.
That's called cheap entertainment my friends.

Go to this website to learn more and register. Help us to raise money for the area and to keep Young Life going in Asheville/Buncombe County. It is going to be a fantastic day!

Family Weekend

This past weekend, my sister and her kids, my brother and our family went to visit my parents in our family town of Albany, Georgia. 

I love the homes here for more than just the family that inhabit them. They actually hold memories. Mine, my mothers, my grandmothers. 

It is so fun to bring my husband and kids here to make their own memories. 

Lucy and my niece Sarah. They were two peas in a pod. 

All of the great-grandchildren with my grandmother. 

Our "Olan Mills" pose

Reasons why I love my grandparents house: 

 Not bought at Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware.

 Their clothesline. Why does it look like a gas pump?

 I don't know. But I like it. 

 My grandfather's barn.

If I was more brave, I would go inside it. 

But I am scared a den of rattlesnakes live there. 

Have been since I was born. 

 Not scared. 

Never. 

 You don't get old oak trees with Spanish Moss hanging down ANYWHERE near Asheville. 

There is something super mystical, serene and very peaceful to be around it. 

The swaying moss just lulls you to somewhere peaceful.
It's either that or the gin and tonics that flow like water round here. 

Through that window is the room where I stayed every summer. 

My things are still in the dresser upstairs. 

I firmly remember playing rounds and rounds of spades, hearts, Othello, calling 1-900 numbers for ghost stories, raising frogs and swimming until everyone was sure that I sprouted gills here. 

No other place compares. 

I hope my kids have memories of places like this one day. 

Introducing: Ranger Sloan

There is nothing like a puppy to bring a family together.