Masters Porch Party 2016

Family is good.

Friends are good. 

But when your family are your best friends and your friends are like family...well that's the best.

My heart is full.

Last night our home was filled with 14 guests.

We ate.  We played. We talked.  And we laughed.

We stayed up way past my bedtime just enjoying the fellowship with one another.

Today 14 more people joined us for our first Masters Porch Party.

Our house was filled with people and noise, but more than that it was filled with love.

This morning the guys played a round of golf.

The trash talking was intense.

They came back thinking one team had won by three strokes.

A quick recount revealed the other team had actually won by six strokes.

(The one in green is my favorite)

While the guys played golf, the ladies stayed behind to cook and set everything up.  I so enjoyed this time with my sister-in-laws and friends.

This was a simple party but I love the way it turned out.

I didn't take many pictures during the party. I was simply enjoying visiting with everyone.  But I could not resist snapping a few pictures of the three youngest of my nieces and nephews playing together.

I also had to get a picture of me and Miss Julia Kate.  She is our friends Kyle and Robyn's little girl and she is absolutely precious.

And of course a quick selfie with these two guys.  Such a fund time celebrating their birthdays today.

All the Countdowns

March Madness tournament starts in three days.

Y'all this is the only time of year I really watch college basketball but I LOVE it.  If you've been around since last March you know our family has a little bracket competition each year.  

The smack talking is a little intense, but oh so much fun.

I have two goals each year....don't come in dead last and beat Andrew.  

This year there will be a trophy so maybe I'll have three goals this year.

I'm taking it a step further this year and creating a little competition with some of my students.  I can totally make this a little math lesson right?

This is the last week before Spring Break.  

No big plans other than an orthodontist appoint, an eye doctor appoint, and sleeping in every day.

Oh and lots of cleaning and organizing.

Getting ready for a fun party.

Our Masters Watching/Joint Birthday Party.

We are going to celebrate Andrew's birthday along with our nephew Cody's birthdays.

The guys will play golf and then we will lunch and watch the Masters.

I'm having fun planning and learning about the Masters.

Andrew bought us tickets for Memphis in May.

I may be just a little excited to see Megan Trainor.

And last but not least the planner in me is looking forward to summer and days of workshops.  My mind is already thinking about next year and ideas I want to try and themes for my classroom. 

The Little Mermaid and Golf

This past weekend we had a mini getaway with some of our favorite people.

Chris, Krystal, and Kandace picked me up Friday afternoon and we headed for Branson.

Andrew rode up with Cody & Pryce.

We all stayed in a condo at Willow Ridge Resort.  It was pretty nice and made us wish we could have stayed a couple of nights.  We were a little bummed about not getting to enjoy their pool.

The guys played Frisbee golf and miniature golf Friday evening.

The girls went to see The Little Mermaid.

Krystal and I may have been more excited than Kandace.

It was really good!  There were a few things that were different from the movie but for the most part they stuck to the story line.

One of my favorite parts was the wedding at the end.  When Ariel and Eric walked out, I was immediately taken back to my childhood.  They looked just like the dolls I received for Christmas one year.

Saturday morning the guys played a game of golf.  We weren't with them a whole lot through the weekend and apparently they didn't take selfies.  This is the only "guy" picture I have.  Thanks for the pic Cody.

We girls played a game of miniature golf and did some shopping.

It was a quick little get away, but so much fun.  Lots of laughter and fun memories.

Our Mini Vacation

Saturday morning Andrew and I packed up and hit the road for a mini vacation in Branson.

I was especially excited for this weekend together because A is getting ready for a lengthy business trip.  I already miss him.  

As soon as we arrived in Branson we hit the outlet mall.  I was on a mission to find something to wear for family pictures in Destin later this summer.  I found a few good deals but nothing for pictures.

No worries though, I found something that was perfect that evening at Branson Landing.

We haven't been to Branson since 2004 so Branson Landing was new to us.  It is such a fun place for some evening shopping and dinner.  The weather was perfect.  

Sunday morning we woke up bright and early.  It was the whole reason for the trip.  We went to watch The Legends of Golf tournament.  For those of you who are not golf enthusiasts, that translates to old men playing golf.  HA!

I can't even tell you how excited my husband was to go this event.  

The course is absolutely beautiful.  Andrew actually played this course ten years ago on our last vacation to Branson.  They have added quite a bit of new things since then like this driving range.

They also added a chapel that was exquisite. 

 .  It pretty much made me want to get married all over again.  Maybe we can renew our vows here someday.

They held a worship service in the chapel Sunday morning but sadly we didn't make it there on time.  Parking and getting to the course took longer than we had anticipated.

The first thing A did when we got there was buy a flag for the players to autograph.  By the time we left that afternoon he had collected quite a few autographs and was a very happy man.

I know he's had a good day when he asks me to take his picture for facebook.  HA!

He was like a kid at Christmas all day.

Gary Player was a hoot.  At first he told A he wasn't signing for him because he had already signed for him.  They joked about A having a twin at the tournament.

I tried to get a picture of Jack Nicklaus signing A's flag but he attracts a bit of a crowd.

If you look closely you can see that A is holding his flag.  At this point Mr. Nicklaus has signed his flag and A is waiting for his sharpie back.  A got the first autograph of the day from Mr. Nicklaus and never got his sharpie back. 

Getting Bernhard Langer's autograph.

Sometimes you had to jog to keep up with the golfers while they signed your flag.

Watching all these grown chase after men for autographs was comical to say the least.  I would just follow along laughing.  One man would say there's so and so  and then a whole flock of them would take off after the autograph.

At one point A assigned me the job of keeping an eye on Nick Faldo so that we didn't miss the opportunity to ask for his autograph.  

I'm pleased to say that I successfully completed my mission and A got his autograph.

I know I know...wife of the year.  LOL!

I've never seen A be so timid as when he was asking for autographs.  

It was cute. :)

I even received a golf ball from Doug Tewell's caddy.

Confession.  I don't know who Dough Tewell is.

I didn't know who half those guys were.

But I knew my husband was having the time of his life.

So I enjoyed every minute of it....right up until it started raining late in the afternoon. 

Thankfully we had great weather for the better part of the day.

Late afternoon I was wet and cold and spent.  We grabbed some dinner and headed back to the hotel to crash for the night.

We came back home to our sweet LBs this morning.  Thank you Sinclair for taking care of them while we were gone. 

A Little Staycation

Andrew surprised my by taking Thursday and Friday off.  Since he was also off on Wednesday for the 4th, we've been able to enjoy 5 days together.  It has been really nice.

We played golf every morning.  I finally made some progress yesterday morning.  Fixed a big problem that has been very frustrating for me.  My ball goes straight now. :)

We took naps every day in the afternoon.  Oh how I love a good nap.


The husband helped me with some big projects in my classroom.  Thankful for that!

We did some shopping.

 My husband has the amazing ability to look at light bulbs for 30+ minutes.  Seriously, it's a light bulb.  Just pick one.

Are these not the most awesome golf pants ever?!?  I've decide I love golf clothes because you can seriously wear ANYTHING and it be normal.  Unfortunately though I could squeeze myself into these, there was no way I could move in them.  They are still at the store. :(

We have laughed with each other and at each other over the last few days.
We have just enjoyed each other while being bums.  It has been so nice.  We ended it perfectly tonight with some Casa Mexicana on our back patio.

Fore!

I've always enjoyed tagging along when Andrew plays golf as long as I have a good book in hand.  Riding around in the cart can be relaxing.  For the past several years Andrew has been trying to convince me to let him buy me clubs and teach me to play.

We went to the driving range on Mother's Day and I actually listened to the tips Andrew was giving me.  Lo and behold the ball actually left the ground.  It was kind of fun.  

He ordered me clubs and they arrived last Thursday.

We went shopping on his lunch break and bought me all the necessities - aka cute clothes. :)  Once he was off work we were all set for the driving range.  I'd say it went pretty well for my first lesson.

Of course it doesn't hurt that my coach is good looking.

The next day we went to Hurricane Golf Club where are members.  It was around 7:30 when we went and since they had a tournament that day, they were out of range balls.  Translation - I was about to play on an actual golf course for the first time.  I tried to tell the husband I wasn't ready, but he said I'd be fine so off we went.  I did not throw my first golf club after only two holes.  It can be a very frustrating game.  I had fun though and managed to hit a couple of good shots.

I love how happy it makes the husband that I'm playing.  Just a warning, if you talk to him, he will bring up the fact that he has a wife who is playing golf now. :)  I love it!  It's nice to have something we can enjoy together.

Monday night I had my third practice, my first bad practice.  It was one of those days where I was being extremely sensitive and everything was making me cry.  Not to mention it is 100 degrees outside.  I was getting very upset and there were a few tears.  I was thankful the husband was my coach.  I'm sure anyone else would have thought I was a crazy person and quit then and there.

The husband has been very sweet and patient with me.  He is an excellent coach.  The LPGA is playing in a town a couple of hours away this weekend.  He wants to take me.  Ya'll my husband has never watched ladies golf!  Ever!  But he wants us to go  this weekend.  :)  Maybe I'll learn a thing or two.