Looavul, Looeyville, or Louisville

However you want to pronounce Louisville, all in all its a great city! I was there a few weeks ago for work and had a great new city experience. We worked most of the time and didn't get to explore the city much but had a reception at Churchill Downs Derby Museum which was soooo cool and another reception at 4th Street Live. If you have never been to Fourth Street Live, its in downtown Looeyville and has a great atmosphere. There are shops, restaurants and great bars to party it up in Looeyville. It was a great trip other than the horrible traffic outside of Nashville. Enjoy a few pictures I took in Looeyville!

The HORRIBLE traffic we encountered outside of Nashville

Churchill Downs Derby Museum

My beautiful Derby hat

Fourth Street Live

Happy 9th Birthday Anessa

Tuesday was Anessa's 9th Birthday but she celebrated with her friends with a Water Party. It was fun! She had water slides, water balloon fights, and a true water fight. I was too busy being the "water girl" since it was so HOT outside that I didn't take any pictures of the water activities. I did take a few pictures of the presents and activities held inside. So Happy Birthday Anessa and I hope you had a great 9th Birthday Party!

The Birthday Girl

Eating with all her party friends

Her cake that was SO DELICIOUS!!

Opening presents

Of course Anna Grace had to join in on the water activities

At the end of the day, this almost 9 month pregnant mom was EXHAUSTED!

Fun Weekend at Smith Lake

We went to Smith Lake with the Penny clan a few weekends ago and had a great time. It was very relaxing! We had a seadoo and Doug's fishing boat with us. I think the seadoo was used more than the fishing boat. We rode the seadoo and tubed behind the seadoo as well. Ross loved getting on the seadoo and wanted Uncle Doug to go "real fast." It was a great weekend so enjoy some of the pictures!

Our cabin

Uncle Doug and Ross on the boat dock

Rossman and me and our funny faces

Precious Kalyn

Ross, Nic and Kim on the seadoo

Kalyn and Nana chilled on the porch and watched everyone

Rossman and his Lighting McQueen trunks and life jacket

Doug tubing

Overall we had a great time! Thanks Penny family for a great time!

6 Years

Today is our 6th year Anniversary. I can't believe I've been married to the most amazing man in the world for 6 years. He treats me with respect, cooks for me, takes care of me when I'm sick, and even is supportive when times are tough. Speaking of cooking for me, instead of going out we decided to cook delicious steaks on the Big Green Egg. He cooked me pancakes for breakfast too! Life is good! I feel so loved and thanks honey for an amazing 6 year journey. I can't wait for many more years together!! Love you and Happy Anniversary!!!!

Destin, FL

Just returned from an incredible week at the beach in Destin, FL, a place we love going to. We decided this year to go with mom, dad, Mary, and John to go with us. We had the best time. We were incredibly LAZY to say the least and enjoyed every minute of it. Our day consisted of sleeping in, Doug cooking us all breakfast, laying out/swimming in the ocean, lunch, laying out/swimming at the pool, dinner, and then John bartending for us and relaxing at the condo at night. Doug was our chef and John was the bartender. We stayed at the Silver Shells Beach Resort and Spa and had a great condo. Our elevator opened up into our foyer so we had our own personal elevator too. The resort was huge and had an awesome swimming pool. There were NO SIGHT of tar balls of oil anywhere to be found on the beach just a bunch of YUCKY and SMELLY seaweed. You just had to hold your nose and swim right through it. We had some great seafood and enjoyed every single minute of our beach trip. Can't wait to go back next year. We are already planning it!

Now for an overload of pictures!  

The view from our room

The awesome HUGE pool

Mom and Dad doing what they do best - Reading 

Our ocean view from my chair

My theme song for the week was "Toes" by Zac Brown Band

"I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand

Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand

Life is good today. Life is good today." 

Our first night at Louisiana Lagniappe

Mary calls it "Louisiana Landpole" 

This is what happens when you let Mary take your picture

and she is not use to your camera 

Mary and John waiting to eat at Crab Trapp

Our wait was an hour so we started taking pictures of ourselves

This is a tradition for Doug to eat almost 2lbs of crab legs at the Crab Trapp 

The aftermath of Doug's crab claws 

We played putt-putt golf at The Track 

Dad, the golf pro, showing us all how to putt.

Dad ended up winning and I finished next to last!  

Doug made a HOLE in ONE 

And so did Mom 

The Wii traveled with us to Destin

and Doug played MarioKart all night long 

The aftermath of Doug's and Dad's steamed shrimp (with heads) at Harry T's

Mary and John at Red Bar in Grayton Beach.

The best place to eat at!!! 

Doug and I at Old Bay Steamer in Fort Walton Beach.

This was recommended to us by the waiter at Red Bar. VERY GOOD!  

Mary tried steamed shrimp and crab legs for the first time

Mary and John's steamed shrimp got into a battle at dinner.

Look how big those shrimp are!

We are looking forward to next year's trip to Destin and I'm sure I will have more pictures to show!

Tomatoes and Green Peppers

We have decided to plant a garden this year. Doug's grandfather is a very good gardener and he encouraged us to try one this year. So we did and we have 12 green pepper plants and 12 tomato plants. I hope they last long so we can enjoy them! I can't wait for some delicious tomatoes. I don't care for green peppers. If the garden works and lasts all summer, then I guess we will be trying to grow more next year. Doug's dad has already requested some more plants for us to plant. So I guess it will be a garden for everyone!

Here are a few pictures of our garden!

Green Pepper plants

Tomato Plants

First green pepper

Little itty bitty tomato

Doug watering the garden!

HAPPY GARDENING!!!!

Red-Neck Swimming Pool

Since I will be here in 3 weeks, soaking up the beautiful sun in Destin, FL I decided to get some sun before I go and not get burnt while I'm there.

I invested in what Doug likes to call "a red-neck swimming pool." So let me introduce to you my inflatable swimming pool.

Since I don't have a real swimming pool and Doug will not invest in one in our HUGE backyard, I decided to buy a $13 inflatable swimming pool. Yes, I'm a dork but hey it's summer and why not?!?

I laid out today and this is what Ellie Mae did to me while I was out there.  

I guess she was embarrassed of my inflatable swimming pool. I just like to think that it was the fact that it was 90 degrees outside and she was directly underneath the fan. Oh well! I guess I have embarrassed my dog and my husband!

So cheers to a GREAT SUMMER!