Talk About a Wedding Party!

My Aunt Patsy got married Saturday, June 28th at the Lake. The service was at the Chapel at Children's Harbor and the reception was my parents' lake house. Mom really outdid herself and the small little family wedding quickly grew to a big party, all in celebration of Patsy and Jerry.

And it really was something to celebrate. My Uncle Ken passed away in early January 07. It was very sudden and a huge shock for our entire family. It had always been very obvious that Uncle Ken & Aunt Patsy were truly in love and a couple that had a lot of fun together. Everyone knew them for their wonderful family, faith but most of all fun! Whenever they hit the dance floor they always put on a show and I will always remember them laughing. We were all so worried that Aunt Patsy would totally be lost without him.

My mom, who is Aunt Patsy's younger sister, was determined that her big sis would dance again! About this same time, my mom started getting email updates from Jerry Hollis who was sending out reports and prayer requests on his wife, Betty Ann, who had cancer. She passed away in the Spring. Jerry was from Troy (as was my Aunt Patsy) and was older but my mom knew him as

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

being a great man and his wife actually reminded mom of Aunt Patsy in many ways-very charming, graceful and beautiful.

There is an annual party at the beach in August that my parents would always Jerry and his wife at. Mom emailed Jerry to encourage him to still come and have a good time. She mentioned that she was going to bring her sister, who also had lost her spouse that year, and that it would also be a first "social" event for her without him. She assured him she wasn't trying to set him up on a date but just that there would be someone else there who would be single but may like to dance.

So the two met and the rest, as they say, was history! I think they both realized they had a lot of living left to do and quickly were smitten with each other. It was like hearing about a high school crush all over again!

Jerry lives on Lake Martin and my parents have a place there. Aunt Patsy had visited several times and casually had made the comment once about how nice it would be to live there. Well her dreams have come true!

Aunt Patsy became Mrs. Jerry Hollis this past weekend and will be living in Jackson's Gap, working in Alexander City.

She was a beautiful bride and so many of both Jerry and Aunt Patsy's (as well as Betty Ann and Uncle Ken's) came to the wedding to celebrate that God had given them both wonderful marriages and now a chance to continue living and loving.

Mom got to play match-maker, wedding planner and maid-of-honor (matron, I guess!) twice.

Here are pictures from the wedding. Campbell’s first “rollers”, getting ready and everyone having fun at the reception. This was Campbell's first wedding  to attend. Although her daddy had to take out of the service (mama was reading scripture), she had lots of fun at the reception playing with her cousins and cutting a rug on the dance floor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The next day, it was time to clean up!  So Campbell got into some bubbles and totally had another party all to herself on the porch, slipping and sliding and chasing bubbles in her diaper & leis (and eventually nothing!). Nana didn’t know what to think about that!

  

 

It was a great weekend to be with family and celebrate a happy ending (and happy beginning!) for Aunt Patsy & Jerry.

We love you Pats and Pops and wish you many, many years of marriage bliss together!!

Giving Jerry “The Power” !

Steph in the City...

So yesterday was officially my 30th Birthday. Yes...30 and flirty, 29 and holding, all that! I had really told myself that there was nothing to get depressed about but I can't deny that I wasn't quite ready to leave my 20s-they were lots of great times for me and "30" just sounds so old! But of course the time was here so there was nothing to do but ring it in! Here's my 30th bday celebration story...

Last week, my sweet but sneaky husband instructed me not make any plans for Thursday night. I had to be prepared to come straight home from work. I figure it's going to be a surprise date night. As the week progressed, I knew something was up his sleeves but didn't want to figure it out. I love a good surprise!
Thursday rolls around and Matt and Campbell show up at work to pick me up. I had been briefed early that morning to be ready at 5pm-any wardrobe changes, teeth brushing, hair & makeup, etc. would have to be done at my office. Coming home would not be an option. Hmmm...

So about 4:40pm, Matt & Campbell walk into my office. Campbell has her sweet little bday cupcake dress on and is so confused. So was I! Maybe it wasn't date night after all...

We walk outside and there is a white limo in my office parking lot!! As we are walking toward it I hear whispers from inside, open the door, AND...

SURPRISE! My closest Troy girlfriends & my mom are inside the limo cheering! Cosmos were being poured, Matt kissed me goodbye, took my car keys and said "Have Fun!" It was a night on the town just me and my girls and I could not have been more surprised or more thrilled.

We get started at the local Mexican restaurant Monarca's for a glamorous night on the town.

(note Waffle House in background-love some Troy, Alabama!! )
Now if you have seen Sex in the City, you know Mexico and margaritas play an important role in the movie. Hwy 231 may not exactly be below the border but what can't be solved over some margaritas and good girl gossip?! And our conversations rivaled Carrie & the girls' brunches!

Matt had put together a booklet on "30 years of Stephanie" which included key moments since 1978 and lists of top songs, movies, toys, news events & fashion picks from back in the day. Lots of laughs reminiscing...who remembers Popples and Jellies?

After dinner it was on to a red carpet arrival at the CC5! Which is the premiere theatre here in Troy.

As you can see, we were mauled by the paparazzi so we had to strike our best pose!(From L-R: Kristy, Jessica, Laura, Steph & Candace). Look for our fashion pics in next week's US Weekly...

Then someone says "Laura-you weren't smiling in that picture." To which Laura immediately
replies, "I know, that's my Posh face!" I think we laughed for 10 minutes straight!!

So then we go into the movie and laughed together even more! It was an amazing way to celebrate my coming into adulthood (officially) and still hanging on to good friends, good times & lots of good memories.

And to my sweet husband who arranged all of this behind my back and for whom loves me so much and knows that while I love spending time with him and sweet Campbell, a "Steph in the City" night with my girlfriends was just what I needed!!

I am so incredibly blessed to have such good friends and a wonderful husband that goes to so much trouble to make my day special. Maybe I'll turn 30 again next year if I can get treatment like this!

Time Flies...

Where has the time gone?? Its June now and I look at my baby girl and realize that she is a baby no more! Its amazing how many new words and silly little things she has picked up. Our days are filled with "what's this say?" and "what's that do?" "let's say our ..." just provoking her to make animal sounds or dance a little jig or count or say her ABCs.

It has become even more apparent to me how fast she can learn and how quickly she soaks up any little things she is exposed to. My role as a parent is quickly evolving from simply meeting her physical needs (diapers, food, etc.) to meeting her intellectual and even spiritual needs. I don't think I have ever heard anything as sweet as when she has her hands together in prayer softly echoing the names of our family and friends that we count in our blessings, ending with a "Ahmen" or sometimes "a night God."

I can't believe her 2nd birthday is quickly approaching and still I ask myself "am I ready for this?" am I really responsible enough?". Possibly I will never stop asking those questions.

Since I failed to find the time to upload pics and blog last month I will do my best in make up blogs...

Father's Day

We had a great weekend at the lake celebrating Father's Day. Campbell gave her Matt and Papa pictures for their offices and Dora cards!

Happy Father's Day!!

May Days...

The month of May was filled with many memories. Here's the recap...

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, MAY 24-26
Our summers always begin and end (with most weekends in between) on the water. Memorial Day weekend we went to the Lake and had a great time with Campbell. We knew it was her first time to really be old enough to enjoy swimming, playing on the beach and the boat. She was such a cutie in her swim suits but she much prefers her birthday suit!

some good Daddy & Daughter time

Playing on "Campbell's Beach" especially created by Papa just for some quiet, sandy play time. Thanks Papa!

Nothin' like getting back to Nature...

After a full day of play, boat ride naps are the best.