Ziplining Extravaganza!!!

Roomies Ziplining Adventure!

The whole gang: Jess, Brande, Me, Teresa, Becky and Amy

Sunday afternoon, me, Jessica, Amy, Teresa, Becky and Brande went on an adventure to do something none of us had ever done before. We went to Adventureworks in a little bitty town about 20 minutes west of Nashville called Kingston Springs to go Zipling. I must admit, I'm quite a chicken when it comes to adventurous things, but I decided that I'm 25 and need to put my big girl panties on and go for it!
I'm not really the 'outdoorsy' type of girl at all and just as my luck would have it, as soon as we arrived just beyond 'no man's land' I had to use the bathroom. (I think I have the bladder the size of a pea). Oh--and did I mention that I couldn't wear not 1 piece of jewelry?! I thought I was going to have a come-apart about that whole situtation! We met our guide and he told us we will need to use the restroom now if we plan on going. So I'm looking around thinking, "Ok...I'm sure the 'headquarters' for this place is right around the corner or so in a cute little cabin with all of the needed facilities." Clearly, I was wrong when our guide, Brian, said, " Y'all can just go right up that hill and turn right and there are 2 port-o-johns in the bamboo."........ Are you kidding me?! So we get to the top of the hill and hang a right and sure enough there are the "facilities" along with this gigantic bottle of Germ-X sitting on a stool. (I may have used half of the bottle!)
Enough with all this potty talk...

So we all got our harnesses and got strapped in and got the crash course on how to hook and unhook our carabiners on and off the 'zip' so that we would make sure to do it safely and not die. (Oh...and we did have to sign our life away before we could participate) **gulp**
So we first tried the 'bunny zip' and it was great. Brian said that after this one they only get higher and longer...and he was not kidding! I can safely say that this was so much fun and I will definitely be doing it again! The 9th and final zip was their newest one...and when I say newest, I mean they just finished it at 11:00 that morning and Brian said that we were going to the the first group to go down it. (Guinea pig comes to mind if you ask me...just sayin') It was amazing! 600 ft long and it was my favorite one because I actually was able to stay straight the entire time and I landed feet first (like you are supposed to do!)

Meet Ella Grace!

It was July 2009. We had all planned to come to Mississippi throw a surprise birthday party for our sweet Papaw who was turning 80. I was the last one to arrive to the Puckett Plantation that night. I was so excited to see Ashlee because I hadn't seen her in 7 months. So it was late, I had just got home from making my drive in from Nashville and was rather cranky (give me a break...I had worked all week and then I drove to Mississippi that night). Never-the-less, I was still trying to muster up some excitement because I was so glad to get to see Ashlee. Well, Ashlee can get there crazy ideas sometimes and they can be a little cheesy. Me and her both love sparkling grape juice like something crazy.

So she had some of that and some glasses and said in a very hyper voice, "Hey everyone! Let's make toasts and tell something we are excited about or thankful for."

Me being the grump of the night, I was like, "No way. I'm tired and ready to to go bed. We can toast our hearts out tomorrow."

Ashlee insisted we all toast that night so I tried to play along with her childish games she wanted to play so late that night. So we all go around and say something to toast about and then Ashlee in a silly giggling voice says, "To Auntie Em and Aunt Laura: Y'all are going to be great aunts."

It was rather humorous because me and Laura just kind of looked at each other like, "Uhh...yeah, anyways. So be for real." It was silent and Ashlee just kept looking at me and said, "I am for real" and she laughed again. I said, "No you're not. Be for real. I'm tired and ready for bed." Ashlee was like, "I AM FOR REAL! WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BABY!" When I finally realized she wasn't kidding, I screamed with excitement! I couldn't believe it! Ashlee and Billy have been married for 6 years and we've always joked that Ashlee has to raise the kid she married before they have any real kids! So I was totally excited about it.

*************Fast Forward to February 23, 2010****************

Ella Grace Cash finally graced us with her presence that afternoon! I was so excited. I flew out to meet her on February 26th and we have been having the best time. I'm going to be so sad to leave on Saturday, but I guess I have to get back to the real world. . I wonder what she's thinking. I wonder if she's wishing that EmEm will hurry up and go back to Nashville so that she will stop having to wear sunglasses that are too big for her, but are so cute; or that she will stop having to get her clothes changed so much, or woken up so much just because EmEm wants to hold her and kiss her and squeeze her. Oh well. Ella Grace has been quite a trooper and been such a good sport with EmEm loving on her to pieces. Here are a few pics of my precious niece Ella Grace. She is so fun to watch.

Mommy and Sweet Ella Grace

We even celebrated Ashlee's 28th birthday!

Ella Grace all clean and bundled up after her hair washed by EmEm and Mommy.

Squeeky clean after another bath!

This is the picture of our first moments of meeting. I could kiss her all day long!

She is the prettiest baby!

Yet another picture after another bath time...hey, so I like clean babies, sue me!

Needless to say, we've had the best time together. It's been fun to be here so I can help Ashlee get adjusted to motherhood. Even if it's just coming upstairs every morning when Ashlee texts me to get her so that she can go back to sleep! Such fun times! I'm going to hate to have to leave.

She's finally here!

Today is a very special day. Today my first niece was born, Eizabeth Grace Cash. We are going to call her Ella Grace. This day is so special to me because my sister and best friend is now a mother! For those of you who may not know my sister Ashlee you are really missing out and should go to Mesa, Arizona and meet her immediately! (See a blog post from a while back for a longer description). She is a fun-loving, outgoing, hard-working, selfless, kind hearted, godly woman that is a sister, daughter, granddaughter, niece, wife and now, Mommy! It's just one of those things that I don't even think has officially sunk in with me yet. It just doesn't seem real. It seems like just yesterday we were riding our bikes down Forrest Street and working on the doll house with Beth and baking 1,2,3,4 cookies. It seems like just yesterday I was standing beside her as her made of honor in her wedding. But today, wow! She's a mom. I can already tell you that she is going to be such a wonderful mother. Sweet Ella Grace doesn't even know how blessed she is to have Ashlee as a mom and Billy as a dad.

Sweet Ella Grace, I am so excited that you are finally here! I don't think I've even been as unproductive at work as I have been today. I've been praying all day and anxiously awaiting for your arrival and I can't wait to meet you and talk to you and love on you. I can't wait to watch you grow and become a young lady and I pray that you will learn to love the Lord like your parents do and both your families do. I can't wait to meet you for the first time in only a few more days!

1.4.3.
EmEm

**pics to come as soon as I get there...promise!**

One of THOSE days

Today had been one of THOSE days. You know...those days that you just want to scream and pull your hair out???? Today has apparently been 'headache day' at the office because several of us gals have had headaches all day that will not go away. We will just hope for a better day tomorrow...which I can't wait because I'm going to Florida to see Davey, Wendy and Abby!

I just wanted to share this with you.

Have a great day!

Sips N Strokes

My best friend, Jessica, came down for a much needed and way overdue visit. I was so excited to see her. We made reservations to go to this place I heard about called Sips N Strokes. As many of your know I absolutely LOVE to paint and so I was thrilled with the idea to go. My friend, Melissa also joined us on the adventure as well (we sure missed you Tatum--next time!). We had a blast! The instructors do a great job at demonstrating each step so that people who have never painted at all are able to do it as well. Check out these pics of our artwork! I totally recommend you try it out. You may even see me there next time too. Here is the link to the website and you can look at the calendar to see what painting they will be doing. https://www.sipsnstrokes.com/home.aspx All you have to bring is yourself & a beverage of your choice to Sip (you can never go wrong with ice water or diet coke!)