Road Humor

Yesterday on my way home I got behind this motorcycle and I could see what looked like a dog over the driver’s shoulder.  I thought, Holy Cow, is he holding a dog while he is driving?  So I floor it to get up beside him.  He wasn’t holding the white dog, this silly thing was just walking around on part of the seat.  I did my best to get a good picture.  We were going almost 80mph and it was SOOO windy.  I mean I was doing good just to keep my car in line.  I’m surprised the little thing didn’t just fly off.  How random! 

 

Well, I’ll be.

Mark and I love to act silly together, he makes me laugh all the time!  My favorite thing we do is sing together in the car.  If there is an old song on, we both just start singing.  Mark puts so much into a song, he makes it very dramatic but he always sings it very well.  I just sing a lot with my hands.    Last night leaving dinner Mark started singing “Friends in Low Places.”  I don’t much like that song so I didn’t join in.  He flips channels all the time, so then he came across “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain.  Well, I knew that song and liked it too.  We just sang our little hearts out.  I’m laughing just thinking about it.  This story just does not do it justice.  Maybe I will record us next time.   Or maybe you will see us on American Idol.  Take time to laugh and enjoy each other.

“You gotta learn to laugh, it’s the way to true love.” — Michael

 

My second visit with Drew

This weekend I traveled to Knoxville to see my punkin’ baby Drew.  I don’t think he has really changed that much, he is getting more handsome, but I think that changes daily.    He is starting to get his eyebrows and eyelashes and thank heavens he is starting to get a little chunky!  I had a great time with Casey and Drew.  He is awake more now and I just love looking at him.  Saturday night some of Bradley and Casey’s friends came over for pizza and games, what a great time!  Thanks for letting me be part of the party.  However, Drew just slept throught the entire thing.   What a great weekend, I am already looking forward to my next visit.  

 

Drew makes several funny faces, this one is my favorite! Kiss, Kiss! 

 Sleeping with his hand on his face, Casey says he is a nervous baby.  

       

Just cuddling.

 

Belle Meade Plantation

Last night Mark and I went to dinner at Martha’s at the Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville.  It is a great taste of Southern cooking.  They are usually just open for lunch and brunch on Sunday but they have started having dinner and live music on Thursday nights.  We got there a little early and walked the grounds, which are beautiful, especially with the flowers and trees blooming.  When we went inside the restaurant the musicians hadn’t arrived yet and we were the only couple besides a table a cute grandparents.    But the musicians finally  arrived, they were GREAT and we had a wonderful dinner.  It was a great date night.      

 

The mansion

The garden

Fall Creek Falls

On Sunday Mark and I took a road trip to Fall Creek Falls.  It was so beautiful on Sunday, it was perfect weather for hiking.  We took a picnic, hiked to the falls, and rented paddle boats (my calves are now killing me).  We had a great time enjoying the weather and each other.

Beautiful view of the valley

Resting after the hike

Paddling away…..

On the paddle boats

 

Drew is here!

As many of you have heard Drew Jackson has arrived!  I received the call early Wednesday morning that Casey was in the hospital.  I left the office right away.  I have had my bags packed and in the car for about 2 weeks.  I made it to the hospital in record time to witness the birth of baby Drew.  It was such an amazing experience, God is so GREAT!  Casey did wonderful and Drew came with no problems.  If I do half as great as Casey did then I think I could have about 10 kids.    We are so thankful that all are doing so well.  I am a proud aunt for sure, I can’t believe how much I love him and how much he continues to change each day.  He is so precious!  I defiinitely did not want to come back to Nashville, now is the time I wish I lived closer.  I must say I am a bit jealous of Grandad, Granna, Papaw and Granny.  All I can say is that mom and dad better get me up to speed with lots of pictures. I just love holding him and can I just say that I am the only person he smiles at.     We still can’t really tell who he looks like but he has Casey’s pudgy nose and Bradley’s little ears. 

The Stooksbury’s

The proud family

Aunt Katie and Drew

Mark and Drew

Granna and Drew

Grandad and Drew

Such a nice weekend…..

We had such nice weather this weekend.  Saturday Mark and I went to Cedars of Lebanon State Park to have a lunch picnic, swing and enjoy the nice weather.  It was a little cool but we still enjoyed a fun time outside.  Sunday I spent Easter with my family celebrating my grandmother’s birthday, Easter and visiting with my cousin in from Washington state.   It was a great time of family and fellowship.  My mom was so excited because this was the first time all the grandsons had been together in  years, due to their time in the military, etc.   

 

Our Easter Baskets!  Mark got lots of candy and cologne and I got candy and a new dress!  What a great Easter Bunny!

All of the grandsons!

The grandkids with Papaw and Mamaw.

Blonde or old age?

That’s the question!  I do have some blonde hairs and I did just turn 25, so what’s the deal?  There have been a couple of times that I have made myself look pretty dumb lately, but only in front of Mark until now.   

I got Mark a new watch for Valentine’s Day and he was setting the clock and he also needed to set the date.  I told him, he is going to have to wait and see if it’s 7 o’clock AM or PM to see how long he will have to wind to set the date.  He then told me, Katie you pull the knob only half way to change the date.  Ah, that is brilliant, I thought.  Well, I got a new watch for Christmas and to set the date, I sat there and turned the clock until everyday at midnight the date would finally change.  I bet I went through 4 days, whew that’s a lot of turns.  I thought surely there was a better way to do it.  O’well, now I know. 

A couple of weeks ago I was driving my mom’s car and had left my garage door opener in my car in Rockwood.  Every day, I would open the garage door, back the car out into the driveway, get out, run shut the garage door, run out the front door, lock the house door and go back out to my car to leave, making a HUGE circle.  I told Mark I had been doing this and Mark said ummm, don’t you have a sensor at the bottom of your garage door that you could just hop over without going all the way through the house??  Hmmm, never thought of that.  I sure did think it was a big hassle to do what I was doing. 

I have one smart cookie on my hands or I’m just a bit blonde or old!?!?  Actually, I think everyone is entitled to these moments every once in a while. 

5FT from KENNY

Kenny Chesney is coming to LP Field in July with Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes and others. Tickets went on sale this past Saturday, March 1.  Mark and I have been looking forward to buying tickets to this concert.  We were so excited that we were going to pay good money for very good seats.  On the radio they have been giving away 5th row, 4th row, 3rd row, 2nd row and FRONT row seats all week.  Well Friday was front row Friday.  I turned the radio up about 2pm and told my friend Megan, who sits in the office with me, that I was going to win front row seats to see Kenny.  So the DJ came on and said to listen to this sound and be the 98th caller to WIN.  Well I had the number on redial so all I had to do was pick up the phone and I was ready.  I had been tuned in, trying only to leave my desk when a full song was playing.  I finally hear the sound and begin dialing quickly.  I was caller #7, shoot, try again.  I kept dialing, busy, busy, busy.  Well Megan began calling, we were caller numbers 77, 88, 89 and finally Megan was caller #98.  SHE WON FRONT ROW TICKETS and who do you think she is taking………..ME!  Woohoo!  Can you believe it!  I am so excited, what a way to add to the birthday celebration.  I will get to touch him, maybe even get on stage and sing “Back Where I Come From.”  We were super excited, and pretty worthless the rest of the day.  Too bad Mark and I didn’t have to pay $100 per ticket.     I will be so close, do you think this comes with backstage passes!?!?!?!  OH MY! Stay tuned for pictures on July 6.   

My 25th birthday celebration

Well the celebration started on Feb. 23 with my family in Rockwood.  While I was down for Casey’s Rockwood shower, Mark went with and then we went to lunch and had cupcakes (cake #1).  Thank you for a fun afternoon.  I have always enjoyed how my family makes birthdays such a big deal and such a special day.  Thanks!

 Sunday we went to Columbia to celebrate David and Rachel’s birthday and Mark’s sister got me a little UT personal cake (cake #2) with a birth year coin set.  Thank you!

At work on Tuesday Leanne sent me tulips, (MY FAVORITE) thinking Tuesday was my birthday.  YAY!  She was early for once.

Susanna baked me a cake (cake #3) on Friday.  It was chocolate with strawberries, YUMMO! 

Mark had told me all week that we had dinner plans on Friday and Saturday and also on Saturday we had something to do in the afternoon.  I’m usually not very good with surprises and secrets.  I read into everything that is said and cannot wait to find out the surprise.  All I wanted was to eat at Bricktops, MY FAVORITE!  So he finally told me we were going to Bricktops on Friday night with our friends Katie and Jon.  After work we just went to his house and watched TV until our reservations at 7pm.  He told me our reservations were at 7pm but that they probably wouldn’t seat us until about 7:15pm.  (Hello, should have been a red flag)  I love to be early or at least on time.  He would not leave the house until like 5 til 7 as I rant and raved about needing to get there so Katie and Jon would not have to wait on us.  We finally get in the car and he has the nerve to say he needs to get gas.  Really?!?!!?  Right now?!?! We can’t wait until AFTER dinner?!?!  UGH!  So we finally get there, in the meantime Katie had already called saying they were there.  I walked in and saw my friend Susanna.  I knew her friend was coming into town so I thought aww, they are here too.  Then I saw Katie and Jon sitting with Susanna. I immediately thought that was weird but they did know each other.  Then I finally took a double-take and realized more of my friends were there!  SURPRISE!  Happy Birthday to me!  I was so surprised, Mark did such a great job pulling this off.  We had an amazing dinner and we even had cake (cake #4). I had told him earlier that I thought he had done such a great job in planning this week even though I really didn’t know what he had up his sleeve.   And get this the cake we had at Bricktops, Mark had taken it to the restaraunt earlier that day, now that is planning!

 

 Saturday we went to breakfast and he told me that I have an afternoon at the spa for a massage, manicure and pedicure.  WOW!! That is GREAT!  I felt great afterwards, so relaxed and really ready to take a nap.  But instead we met Mark’s family at Olive Garden for dinner and cake (cake #5).  What an amazing sweetie I have.  Again, didn’t he do a great job at planning!?!?!  Maybe my skills rubbing off a little.  

 THANK YOU to everyone for all the sweet cards, phone calls, messages, gifts, and CAKE!