Here to Stay

I'm back in Auburn to stay...for a little while at least. I haven't been here for the weekend since the second week of June. Yep, that's five weekends of driving and about 2,500 miles on my car...yuck. The visits here and there were all pretty good though. I was home four of the five weekends and visited with family and even got to see a dear friend from high school get married. She was beautiful, as always. The other weekend, I stood by another dear, dear friend who married her very own Prince Charming.

It's so weird that people I went to school with are getting married and having babies. Kinda makes me feel like I'm still a little kid in a grown up world. But, on the other hand, I cannot imagine being married at this point in my life. I definitely want to finish school and hopefully have passed the CPA exam before tying the knot. I think, for me, following my parent's example and being a little older before getting married is the right way to go. That being said, there's still a little bit of the green monster of jealousy when I see my friends and seemingly everyone around me finding someone to spend the rest of their lives with

Enough of the marriage talk. I have the Charter people coming tomorrow afternoon (or night!) to install digital cable and high-speed internet. I also having a group coming over tomorrow, so I need to unpack and do a little spot cleaning before I have people coming over.

My parents are also coming this weekend! They haven't been down in quite a while and I'm excited to take my Dad to Sno Biz. It's an old treat from my childhood and the place here tastes just like home. Sorry to the one at McFarland Park...you're better than the waterpark shaved ice place, but not the shaved ice of my memories!

Florence, Here I Come!

This is where I'm going this weekend! Over my four years at Auburn, I have really learned to appreciate Florence and all the good things there.

First and foremost, the majority of my family is there. Mom and Dad, Grams and Grandaddy, and my as-close-to-family-but-not are all there or close-by. I am so grateful for every minute I get to spend with them--especially with Grandaddy in light of the events of the past few months.

There's also my church family. They are a big part of my life that has been missing while I have been in Auburn. It's just not the same here and I have never felt like I really belonged. Maybe because I knew it was only temporary, but my church home is at 415 N. Seminary Street in Downtown Florence. I know when I'm there, I will be welcomed home with open arms and pulled down to the choir room to sing and gossip, of course!

I'm a little ashamed to mention this, but I love coming home and planning my meals! Mom has always asked me if I'm thinking of food all day. I do admit to planning dinner sometimes during breakfast! I love Saturday lunch at my Grandparents' house--always something good and always accompanied by ice cold tea. I can't remember when we started going over there for lunch, but I also can't remember what we did before the days of Saturday lunch. I love summer at Gram and Grandaddy's house because Grandaddy and I would sneak off and cut a watermelon. That's always been our thing. We would share if there were other people around, but it was really just for us. I know to look in the basement refrigerator to see if we have a treat for later that day! At trip to Florence is not complete without a visit to Casa Mexicana or Ricatoni's either! You just can't beat the food you grew up on!

Lastly, I can't wait to sleep in my bed. My bed has such special memories. Before it was in my bedroom at my house, it was in my bedroom at my Aunt's house. It actually belonged to my Great-Grandma Almond and was passed down to my Aunt and then to me. I slept in this bed at my Aunt's house for most of my childhood and it was what I wanted most from her house after she died. I guess I felt like bringing this bed home with me would keep a part of her with me always. I have other silly things with me all the time--the ring from her keys has been on my keyring for years--but seeing this bed when I walk into my room still makes me smile and remember good times of weekends past.

Another good thing about Florence is Emma is there! She's been with Mom and Daddy for two weeks since I was so busy last week with school and I was out of town at Tiffany and Will's wedding this weekend. I miss her like crazy! I hope she's excited to see me and will cuddle up to me so we can make up for lost time!

Well, I'm off to pack so I can get home to Florence faster. I'm leaving as soon as my class gets out at 11:15. I'm so grateful for only having classes four days a week this minimester. I'm looking forward to being in Florence alot during July!

New Pictures!

Emma and I like to have pictures made with pretty flowers! My all-time favorite hydrangea in my favorite shade. Emma does get a little distracted during long photo sessions! It's a little hard to get both of us looking good in one frame!

Emma likes to walk around on the balcony. She loves being free from her leash! She looks around at the cars and people below and gets plenty of fresh air. She doesn't get to go out for long on the balcony now though since it's so hot. Poor little thing just has too much fur to live in Auburn during the summer. She's been in Florence for a week already and I'll finally get to see her again Thursday. I have talked to her on the phone though! :)

My sweet Grandaddy turned 90 on June 17. He is such a wonderful man and I am proud to be his granddaughter. I can't wait to see him over the 4th of July weekend! I'm so glad Grandaddy is doing better. He's had a rough few months and I pray that he accepts his new limitations and continues to improve.

One of my oldest friends, Tiffany, married her fiance, Will, this past weekend in Tuscalooserville, AKA Tuscaloosa to those of you who sport crimson. This picture was made right after we showed her the practice bouquet and veil made from ribbons from her shower gifts. She carried the bouquet and wore the veil for the rehearsal on Friday night. There will be more wedding weekend pictures later.

Finally, a picture of me at the rehearsal dinner made by the bride. I guess the sunburn did pay off since I don't look quite as pale as a sheet of paper!

Sunburned

Today, in between classes, I went to the pool and laid out. Fast forward about an hour and I'm quite sunburned. I didn't think I was that burnt until I went to class and saw myself under the classroom lights. Hopefully it will feel better tomorrow and will turn into a little bit of a tan instead of just peeling off. I really want to have a little color for Tiffany's wedding.

On another note, I only have this week and next before the worst of summer school is over. I can't wait!

The Week(s) Ahead

I made it through my test today and turning in my project. I think I could have done better on the test, but I'm satisfied with how I think I did based on the amount of time I had to study and everything else I had going on.

The Week(s) Ahead:

1. Cost Accounting test Thursday 6/
2. Strategic Management test Tuesday 6/16
   
3. AIS test Tuesday 6/16
4. AIS Excel Project Wednesday 6/17
5. Strategic Management test Tuesday 6/23
   
6. Cost Accounting test part 1 Tuesday 6/23
   
7. Cost Accounting test part 2 Wednesday 6/24
8. AIS Final Friday 6/26
   
9. Tiffany and Will's Wedding Weekend Friday & Saturday 6/26 & 27
   

Plus various projects and groupwork worked in between all of this.

I'm so ready for July when I only have 1.5 hours of class a day, four days a week. I'm hoping those five weeks will be a breeze!

I have got to go so I can start getting ready to conquer that list!

One Word

Waren. As in Waren Sports Supply. They are a fictional company in my Accounting Information Systems class where we have to manually take about twenty transactions completely through the Accounting cycle. It's not that bad, but it's quite a pain! It's due Monday in class (3PM) and I still have quite a bit to go. I've been working on it almost all afternoon without much of a break (dinner only, really). I've gotten a lot done, but not as much as I wanted to since my goal was to finish everything tonight.

I'm going to get back to it, but I really am trying to take time out to update!

P.S.--Emma's 1st birthday was yesterday. I took pictures, but haven't downloaded them yet!

Two Weeks Down, Three To Go

Today marked the end of our second week of the first mini-term. Only three weeks to go! The day after my last final on June 26, my very near and dear friend, Tiffany, will be walking down the isle to become Mrs. William Nevin! I'm so glad I'll be able to stand with her while she and Will are starting their new life together! My dress finally arrived yesterday, about a month late, so it's seeming more and more real that they are finally getting married!

School is very busy and I'm quite tired of it already, but I know it will be worth it when I walk across the stage in the coliseum on August 10. I'm really glad that I only have one class that only meets four days a week for my June classes. I plan to enjoy my four-day weekends and hopefully visit my family at least a couple of times.

I've got a bunch of work to do tonight, so I better go, but I just wanted to update with what's on my mind!