Happy Birthday,Grandpa!

This is my grandfather, Claude...Dawson's great-grandpa...




...and we want to wish him a very happy 82nd birthday today!

My grandpa is just cool...he is smart, handy and hilarious. He grew up in Manchester, served in Japan during WW II, and until recently, still drove veterans from Chattanooga where he lives to the VA Hospital here in Murfreesboro so they could receive healthcare.

He is a Godly man with a generous heart and we love him very much!

Happy Birthday, Santa Claude!

A Visit from Aunt Amanda!

We were excited to have a special Aunt and fellow blogger visit us recently! Aunt Amanda came to see us and hang out for a weekend...we shopped, visited, ate and played with Dawson!

Me, Dawson and Amanda outside Mimi's where we met Meag, Moo and Vance for brunch...
This picture will be in their high school graduation invitations...
Me, Meag, Moo and the boys outside Mimi's...
Aunt Amanda and Dawson reading the special pumpkin book she brought just for him...
Amanda and her "nephew"!

Thank you, Amanda, for coming to see us!

Happy Fall, Y'all!

I am one lucky girl to have so many friends who are just plain talented...and that includes my BFF FOREVAH, Meagan.

Some of you may not realize that she is quite the photographer. She has a great eye and a really cool camera, so I was super-excited when she offered to shoot Dawson at Cannonsburgh, just as the leaves are starting to change. For those of you not native to Murfreesboro, Cannonsburgh is a wee replica of the 'Boro back in the 1800's (think Williamsburg, only much smaller), and it's situated next to walking trails and a creek. It's a really neat place, and it was the perfect setting for some fall pictures.

Enjoy! And call Meagan if you need some great family/kid photos on a budget!

This is What Happens When the Griswolds Have Their Picture Taken

Ok, so maybe we're not as bad as the Griswolds. I mean, no one wore a vest with Christmas lights attached to it or anything. No one wrapped up their Jell-O mold, either. However, when you get 11 people - including two babies - together for a photo shoot, it is bound to be hilarious.

Andrea at Krista's studio was the saint who shot us. She did a GREAT job and was infinitely patient.

Here's what's coming soon to a Christmas card near you!

"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas..."

Although Jason does get to come home early next year, he will miss Christmas this year, so we decided to have our "family Christmas" early!

My tree...my mom and I found some great deals at Hobby Lobby!
Jason opened his gifts first...this is the gift Dawson got him! It's a picture of Zoey in a frame that says "Daddy's Girl". And trust me, she is. She looks like him, acts like him, you name it.
Princess Zohan and her Sleeping Beauty DVD. I think Krystal is hoping she takes the hint.
"Oooh! A Pooh toy! I've been wanting one of these!"
This is the stellar wrapping job that Brandon did. Oh, yes. That would be a pillow case. 'Cause nothing says "I plan ahead" like wrapping a gift in a pillow case.
This is the typical scene at the Eaves-Fletcher Christmas. My dad videotaping, tons of wrapping paper and plates everywhere, with someone trying to take a picture in front of the tree.
Great-Grandpa shows Zoey the tree...
Mom and Dad pose with their gifts from Jason...
We had lasagna for our Christmas dinner after having family photos taken at Krista's studio...
...and the entire day was topped off with this. Jason's favorite strawberry cake. As Cousin Eddie would say, "That stuff is gooo-oood!"

Stay tuned for pictures from our family photo shoot!

When God Throws a Surprise Party

When God throws a surprise party, the greeting He shouts at you when He jumps up from behind the couch as you walk through the door goes something like this:

"Surpriii-iiise! What up, yo? Guess what? I'm bringing your brother home from Afghanistan in MARCH, instead of JULY!! Guess what that means? That he'll be home for EASTER! And FATHER'S DAY! And ZOEY'S FIRST BIRTHDAY! Woo-woo! Want some punch?"

"Oh, and? In case you thought I finished? He doesn't have to deploy til November 27, which means he gets to spend THANKSGIVING at home this year, too."

So, in case you wonder, God performs miracles. Every.Single.Day.

Quote of the Day!

Back in high school, Meag and I would have a Quote of the Day nearly every single day. It would be the P.S. at the bottom of the notes we'd pass back and forth...hilarious! It was usually a funny line from a movie we were currently addicted to watching 73 times in a row, or one from an extremely smart (read dumb) teacher who had irritated all of us.

So, I am hereby reinstituting the Quote of the Day.

It will be in the left-hand margin and will HOPEFULLY be updated daily.

Here's where you come in: leave a comment with a funny quote or one you just really like and I will feature it on the Quote of the Day!

Leave one now!