1/4 of a Century old

It's official.  I am 25. 

TWENTY. FIVE.

I have been for almost 2 weeks now (sorry about the late post!) and I still can't believe it.  Time rushes on as you get older.  I can still remember a lot about my childhood, teen years, and just a few years ago.

I'm not worried about dying or even aging really but one thing that really makes me sad is the thought of losing my memory...I cherish my memories so much that I never want to forget!

25-so far so good.  I am excited about this year because:
1) I will complete graduate school, 2) I am starting year 3 of my marriage, 3) I may be moving to a different state (HUGE life change-more on that another time).

Lots to look forward to.  Normally on this kind of post I'd talk about what I did for my birthday (dinners, cakes, gifts, family, friends) but I think I'll leave it be for now.  I had a great time with the exception of 1 part but overall I thoroughly enjoyed it all and am super stoked about my future.

I AM TWENTY FIVE! 1/4 of a century old, approximately 1/3 of the way through with my life.

WHOA.

Birthday Boy

Last Tuesday-my lovely husband turned 24!  We had a great time.  We ate some food I picked up after my half day at work, baked some birthday cupcakes, showered and then got ready to head the Lanes, Trains, and Automobiles-the local bowing/lasertag alley.  Some of Derrick's work friends came and we had SO much fun!!  After bowling we went to Old Chicago (for the first time for Der and me) and played trivia with everyone while we ate and drank.  It was a great time and pretty laid back.  I know I really enjoyed meeting some of Derrick's co-workers and hanging out on a Tuesday night (something I'm not going to be able to do much of this semester!)
Check it out!  I didn't get too many pictures because I was bowling and laser tagging too but here's a few of what I got.

Derrick, Mark and Brian being goofy while they put on their awesome bowling shoes in the cosmin bowling lanes.  We had to use those lanes first but it was good for just us 4 while the others were on their way.

The only good pic of me and the birthday boy! <3

The guy's got a technique!

Some of the group post laser tag (I came in 6 out of 7 and Der came in 2 out of 7). From L to R: Kadi, Derek, Mark, Der, Brian, and Philip (Russo).

The same group as above plus Trent-they're all so silly and fun!!

All in all I think it was a great birthday.  I know I had fun and Derrick really seemed to enjoy himself!

HAPPY 24TH (again) MY LOVE!

XOXOXO

24 baby!

Sorry it's so late BUT...I turned 24 at the beginning of May! YAHOO! I can't believe it!  I got some amazing cards from a BUNCH of different people along with a few gifts (Thanks Amanda, Kelly, Melissa, John & Elisa, and Shelley!)  I had to work half a day, but I got all dolled up and hung out with my co-workers and giggle-partners in crime, Kristy and Amanda!

 

Me and Kristy

Amanda and Me

Then, after I left I went and had a pedicure and then got a 30 minute back massage! Man oh man it was absolute bliss.

After I lazily drove home I hung out a bit reading and enjoying the sun streaming in through the windows. Derrick had finals so I waiting until he got home for the rest of the details for the night.

He got home and we hung out-him telling me I needed to get ready for dinner and he surprised me and took us to Carrabas! So delicious. So delectable. Derrick had planned for a group of friends to come as well but only Tonya was able to make it. That's alright though because (as always) she was LOADS of fun and us 3 enjoyed some fabulous food, drinks, and friendship!

Me and Der

My birthday Tiramisu-complete with a tiny candle! OH GOOD GOD-DELICIOUS!

Me and Tonya-great friend for showing up! =]

My birthday cards all displayed in front of our t.v.-love them.

So this was on Monday and that weekend, to celebrate both my birthday and Mother's Day, we went to Chattanooga to have lunch with my family!  We went to O'Charleys and had a bunch of food & fun-I'm so glad my family and I get along so well, LOL.

From Left: Jen, Mom, Me, Brad, and Aunt Phyllis (the sun was in Mom & Brad's eyes!)

DotDot (my grandmother) bought our lunch and then we went to Bath & Body Works where she loaded me down with smelly-good lotions, perfumes, and body washes! SCORE!

I also was given a TON of books! I usually ask for a load of books for Christmas but I did the same this year for my birthday and I got tons!  I can't wait to start on them all!
 
All in all-24 ain't half bad. I think I wouldn't mind stickin' around for another 24 more.

Love and laugher,

J

Dylan's 1st Birthday!

Alright so do you all remember Andrew's Birthday back in January?  Well February was great because his little brother Dylan turned 1!  It's so crazy to think that this baby-who I watched being born (literally) and have seen him grow up-is already 1! (For details on his birth and such-check this out).

So: he actually turned 1 on Feb 15th but his party was that following weekend on Feb 18th.  Der and I trekked to Lebanon, complaining about the awful music that was playing on every station the whole time. When we got the we found the birthday boy and his older brother playing and seeming glad to have so much company!  This is the first time big brother Andrew has had a holiday where he wasn't going to be either celebrated alongside Dylan (Christmas) or given all of the attention (his own birthday) so to make it easier on him we got him a little gift.  According to his parents, he did not handle Dylan's actual birthday well so...we hoped to make the party a bit easier for him.

His party was themed baby giraffes since they're SO cute and have a little tuft of brown hair just like Dylan! Aunt JoJo and Uncle Dot (me and Der) got him a little stuffed giraffe as his gift and it looks JUST like the themed one. He seemed to love it! Now, my camera died half way through the party *silently weeps* but we got some good ones before so check them out!

His baby giraffe theme-so adorable and original!

Our yummy spread of BBQ and homemade coleslaw.

The cake! How cool is this?! It was SO tall, moist, and rich-tasted great and obviously looked incredible.  Notice the cupcakes at the bottom spelling his name?

Dylan's 1st birthday banner! How sweet is that?  He too had balloons everywhere but the camera died before I could get them....

Dylan's very own birthday cake-ready and willing to be destroyed and thrown about the kitchen in sheer enjoyment. Can you tell big brother got into the frosting, LOL?

Dylan in his high chair-having fun with the balloons.

Here he is prepping for some cake while Kelly lights the 1st candle before we all sang "Happy Birthday".

He's ready to dig in! Look at those curls-totally jealous.

He's got it! Absolutely loving his cake.  He would squish some in his hands, eat it, then giggle and clap-obviously enjoying it. It was so cute!

Here's Pickle trying to grab Aunt JoJo's camera! No sir, LOL! After playing in his cake he had to get a quick bath while everyone else enjoyed cake and ice cream.

Then it was present time!  The camera died after the above picture so I didn't get one with me and Dyl or of him opening and playing with his presents...hopefully Kelly and Wes did and I can have some-at least for the album.  It was a good day with a ton of people there to celebrate him and his life so far and forthcoming.  

It's still a little boggling that my other nephew-by-non-blood is already growing so fast but I'm so happy to be a part of it that I don't think I really mind.  =]

Yay Charles Dylan! Happy 1st birthday! We love you Pickle!  <3

The bear turns 2!

It may seem silly-but on February 9th me and the husband celebrated out beloved dog Tucker's 2nd birthday!  We got him when he was just over 12 weeks old so it's bizarre to think he's 2 already!

Time sure flys when you're in love ; ]

This was our precious baby the day we brought him home! How adorable is that little face?! You can't turn down something that precious =]

Here he is (now) just snoozing away.  Again-can you handle the cuteness?!

Here's the birthday boy! Absolutely snuggleworthy.

Before lighting the candle....

With the candle lit! The 2 candle sits atop a tiny container of vanilla ice cream-his favorite (and only choice, LOL).  He ate half of it while we sang "Happy Birthday to You", never hearing me off key.

It seems silly, and I guess it is, but we consider this dog our child and we love him like one. So cheers to Tucker for turning 2 and here's to hoping for many more to come! <3

The husband is born!

So-January 10th (Monday) was my husband's 23rd birthday!  He's a "baby" but I still like him ;)

It was 1 day after my nephew Andrew's 3rd birthday so they are literally 20 years apart-so cool! Anyway, we celebrated Der's day by playing in the snow and playing Rock Band 3 with our neighbors.  I couldn't go in to work since it was SO snowy so luckily we got to hang out all day!

This was the view from our patio of my car and the streets-you couldn't even see them! So beautiful and fluffy! 

We tried walking to the restaurant down the street but they were closed due to the weather so we went to Chilis instead! Yummy food and lots of laughs-just what the doctor ordered.  We came back to the house and since I couldn't get Derrick's present we hung out some more with our friends for the evening-very fun, laid back and cold day.

I tried to go Tuesday to get Derrick's surprise gift but because of the ice and snow I still couldn't get there! I let him know and he said it was fine if I got them for him the next day seeing that was his birthday dinner with our friends.

So-Wednesday we go to Red Lobster (which is Der's favorite restaurant) and meet up with a great group of friends to celebrate! Check out the crappy cell phone pics below:

Here's be and the birthday boy! He was being a smart-ass because he didn't want his picture taken, lol.

Der and Elisa (John is right next to her but refused to get a picture!) They're our lovely neighbors you seem to hear so much about.

Mark and Tonya-Mark was the best man at our wedding and Tonya was our attendant who helped so much with everything!

Kelly with precious nephew-by-non-blood Dylan.

Wes-Kelly's husband-and Andrew

And me and Andrew because...I just love this kid!

We all had a really nice night laughing, eating, and just talking.  When the dinner was over Mark, Tonya, John and Elisa came over to play on the Kinect I got Derrick! It is soooo cool! It takes pictures and everything while you play so you can see how much of a nut you look like, LOL!  We had a good time and when they left I crashed! So tired after work, party and then playing on the Kinect. Plus: it was the first day of school the next day so I needed to rest ;)

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get the gift again on Wednesday BUT I was able to put an order in so I could get them Thursday....

May I introduce you to diabetes? Or to a sugar coma? OH. MY. GOD.

This is a GiGi's cupcake-3 delicious layers of butter cream frosting topped with white sprinkles on top of moist and rich white cake?  It really is H.U.G.E. Like...intimidatingly large.

This is called the wedding cake cupcake. Der and I were fortunate enough to have tasted these at our food tasting for the wedding.  He fell in love with them and has always talked about them; then we stumbled across a GiGi's here in the Boro! And we had talked about getting some one day and (lucky Der) a great reason for something this sweet came along!

*Whew!* It's a lot to take in...but oh so good!

And that was the husband's 23rd birthday spanning 4 days long chucked full of friends and food.  

And I don't think he minded a bit!

I LOVE YOU DER! <3

Andrew's 3rd birthday!

Well it's official: my nephew-by-non-blood Andrew is now 3 years old! It's so crazy because I just sit and think about when Kelly called and told me she was pregnant, about when I moved up to Murfreesboro and saw her little preg belly for the first time, about how I watched him grow and helped them pick out baby names...and now he's 3! Man time sure flys.  I get all mushy sometimes because he knows me-like knows me.  He recognizes my face, my voice, and my scent. He calls me "JoJo" and Derrick "Dot" and knows us like he does his family-and that means a lot. I'm not even all gaga over children and get all mushy with all babies but those Blackwood boys have something over me =]

So, today Der and I traveled to Lebanon to celebrate this grand day with the Blackwood's and family! See pics and details below (excuse the bad picture quality).

Here is the birthday boy-Andrew! He got his party hat on and had pizza all over his face...it was awesome!

This was Andrew's homemade birthday banner-his party was themed from the children's t.v. show Yo Gabba Gabba.

Balloons were EVERYWHERE and the boys loved them!

The Yo Gabba Gabba cake and cupcakes.

Me with Aunt Tonya in our awesome party hats.

Aunt JoJo and Uncle Dot

Sweet baby brother Dylan ready for some cake and ice cream!

The big birthday boy with his cake-getting ready to blow out that big 3 candle!

Andrew was decided if he wanted cake, cupcakes, or both! (FYI-He chose both)

Aunt JoJo with the birthday boy. He loves to play and be the attention but when I get a camera on him he always gets so shy! He'll grow out of it, I'm sure.

All of his loot! He got some awesome toys, clothes, and cards from everyone.  I think this birthday was a success!

And that was that! So much fun, food, and family/friends for this wonderful occasion. 

Glad-in every way-to be a part of it  <3