My L.o.t. Rox update:

I mainly started blogging last year so that I could whine about all the things that got on my nerves about living in Roxboro.  Blogging was a good try for me because it was FREE and I couldn't really afford a therapist. Trust me, not much has changed - well, except for the fact that I probably still need a therapist. 

Let's discuss...

Here are all the things that I have discovered will always get on my nerves/pet peeves:

1) Wake up phone calls -  some people have learned that you shouldn't wake me up - no matter what the circumstances are. Some people are yet to figure this out.The only person I really let slide is my Mama cause I always love to chat with her in the mornings (and you can't get feisty with yo' Mama even if it is before 8am).

2) the Wal-Mart factor - Seriously...you know that it is impossible to go to the Wal-mart without seeing someone you know. I have quite honestly started skimming the parking lot for cars of those whom I wish NOT to run into. Here is what I have discovered are the best times to go to the Wal-mart to avoid said run-ins:  Tuesday nights after 6:00, Wednesday nights after 7:00 (a lot of people are at church), and Sunday mornings before 9am. You are Welcome :) If you absolutely have to go there, be aware of your surroundings. I pretend not to see people all the time. That is SO bad I know. But some days you just don't feel like 'catching up' while your child plays games on your cell, and people are staring at you like get-out-of-the-way. I hate it when people stop mid-aisle for a reunion. Which always begins with, "how's your Mama?"

3) Why is the frazlin' McDonalds drive-thru line always backed up into the road? I mean how hard should it be for a girl to get a McCafe Caramel Mocha Skinny Latte on demand? I totally miss the Micki-D's at the top of the Hill at the King Bee. And the one in the Wal-Mart does not count....(see # 2) Y'all feel me? ...And speaking of things I miss... remember when Wendy's had a salad / hot bar? DANG I miss those days. This is where I learned of my love for spiral pasta and tomato sauce. AND I miss the Sonic. Who really shops at Rite-Aid anyway??? I am a CVS girl. I would much rather have the Sonic back and hit up a Route 44 Diet Cherry Limeade instead of a Px refill.... Who is with me????

 I know that these things are minor but it would make life more bearable if they could maybe open a Target (to split the Wal-mart crowd and bring on the quality goods), and get another McDonalds, and bring back the Sonic. I am talking quality of life here for the Rox. If you are not from the Rox, be daggone thankful if you can reach a target in a 10-15 mile radius.

BUT, here is what I wouldn't change for nothin' - 

1. Being near my family. (however dysfunctional we may be ;) 

2. Making new friends and growing close to the old ones. I LOVE my Raleigh girls a ton and I MISS them EVERY day, I think of them EVERY day, I PRAY for them still,  but God has blessed me with some extremely wonderful friends since I have moved back home. They make life dreamy and the best part is that they are all my sisters in Christ. Sean handpicked out one for me last year when we were engaged and he said that he thought we would grow to be good friends one day. I told him he was crazy and now I just love her to death. See how God works? And I love me some Sean Austin for encouraging me to do so! I was so frustrated when I first moved home. I couldn't get my hands on my friends enough because they were all so far away. I felt like I was left out of everything here.  Even at some family gatherings, I am sometimes the "outsider" but I have learned that it is OK.  And even some friends BECAME family. God has also blessed me with one incredible friend at church which was an answered prayer for me. Now I find myslef having trouble splitting my time. What a blessing! 

3. Being married to a crazy, funny, handsome, and DRIVE-ME-CRAZY man! I KNOW I drive him twice as crazy! Oh what a year it has almost been. I wouldn't change it for nothin!!!!! We are definitely a unique couple and what we have works for US! We have so much more learnin' to do but we are well on our way. What we have is OURS and nobody can ever take that away. Georgia Anne keeps us laughing all the time. Tonight we all 3 laughed at the table during dinner over something crazy and I thought it was such a cliche but it was just like sitting and watching it in a movie. There we are cracking up at the simplest things, and our life is just revolving around us and we don't even notice. We just roll through our days and take it as it comes. 

So.... all in all, the Rox has sucked me in Y'all. .

Literally, I'm stuck here.

Who could leave all this?

The Rox Does Main Street

Ever since I was a little girls I have LOVED the parades. From the days of riding with Smokey when I was younger, to dance studio performance, cheerleading for PHS, and not to forget Jr. Miss, I have always loved being in parades. ESPECIALLY the Christmas parade! In case you have not gotten this by now...I LOVE me some Christmas. Hey, I get it from my mama. 

Well, when GA was born, I made it perfectly clear that she would in fact LOVE parades too. This may quite possibly be my first parenting success documentation. GA LOVES the parades too! 

This year, we didn't just watch..it was her first parade participation (with mommy of course!) - Back on the float with Smokey in more than 15-18 years (trying not to reveal any ages), there I was with my baby; handing out candy, waving, freezing, and getting my Christmas spirit on. I really thought that I would miss watching the parade and seeing GA's excitement. HOWEVER, participating is so much better!

She thought it was soooooo cool to throw candy out to her friends (while she ate her weight in it too), and to wave at complete strangers.   Pageant material?????   I think yes.

Stellar waving skills lesson in progress....

I so enjoyed spending that time with her. All of Roxboro was out. The largest crowds I've seen in years. EVERYONE was happy....smiles all around (and a few Pall Mall's here and there and koozies with beverage cans of a questionable nature.) 

Much to my disappointment we did not make the front page of the Courier Times in the parade section. Oh well , there is always next year! Here is a somewhat lengthy recap in parade photography anyway :) - You gotta see what it is really like here On the Rox - 

We let our children get dirty - 

 

Future construction worker or pageant professional?

 We <3 Bojangles and friends from back-in-the-day.

lovely ladies from Jaycee's - and longtime friends of mine from PHS and middle school!

Some people abandon their horse drawn carriages to socialize-

We support our parents!

 

We force our children to smile for numerous photos.

Kayla & Kelbie with GA

 We love our babies!

We will ride anything with wheels in order to be in the parade....

This is what "shootin' the breeze" looks like..... They (fire departments and such) also call my daddy "Booty" - weird.

Additional photo resources for your enjoyment :

Merry CHRISTmas Y'all!

Still Recovering from Black Friday...

Can I first apologize for that ginormous heading up there - will correct after Google search of how to shrink said photo ;) 

annnndddd Yes. I am still in fact recovering from Black Friday - stayed up Thanksgiving night and finally went to bed at 4:30 am. Got up 5 hours later to go get GA- All that staying up late used to be easier......But, Black Friday totally taunts me-  I stalk the cites online for who just got the black market version of the sales papers in hand. I love it when they get leaked and the scanned copies from someones Iphone get circulated via internet too early. 

Anywho....

So, in honor of my being absent for soooooo long, we will take a quick recap of Life on the Rox over Thanksgiving.

{REWIND}

Standard Thanksgiving Activities: 

1. Kissing babies 

2. Corn Hole 

3. Austin Family Photo 

4. Gator-rides from Daddy 

5. Hunting (Hubby and Brother-In-law both got a deer! - yep...that's how we do!)

6. Black Friday Shopping & Recovery 

7. BFF visitation / shopping / crafting 

GA and Reagan hit the Merle Norman for a make-over!- They are their mama's child.

 crafting for The Summers

  

girl time (with 3 children in tow of course)

- and that's how we do Thanksgiving....On the Rox! 

And now for a brief preview of some upcoming Holiday Posts!

1. Drafting my Spreadsheet of Christmas gifts (any my own list of course)
1.5 - Decorating 101 

2. The Santa House ... on the Rox (get excited!)

3. Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast - tradition...

4. Mis Cupleanos! (es correcto en espanol?)

5. Angel Tree Shopping
6. the Rox Christmas Parade

7. More Local Shopping- Support the Locals!

There are so many exciting things I love about the Holidays.  For certain, I begin the dash to Christmas as soon as I pack up, and trash, and eat the Halloween candy. I LOVE ME some CHRISTMAS Y'all! - so get pumped for some Holiday cheer via Life on the Rox! 

Sorry it's been a while -busy,  busy girl.......

Weekend on the Rox

Much needed weekend on the Rox: 

Chapter 1- 'Cheat-as" never win'

Much to my dismay, I was unable to go to the NCSU / UNC game on Saturday. Tears flowed. Twice. I was so torn as to whether I should go or not. I gave my ticket to my daddy. I totally know that I made the right choice. He was so happy to go and he had a great time tailgating with some of our best friends! I couldn't have been a happier girl at the end of the day (in less of course I had been there too).

Overall a successful day: 

#1 ) We (NCSU) did in fact and quite frankly open a can of whoop you-know-what on those tarholes!!! 

13-0

{Insert "whoop whoop"} 

Thank you to the Carolina "Cheat-as" 

oh um....I mean Tarholes 

 

#2 ) Since the hubs is a mostly converted UNC fan (until basketball season anyway) we can continue living in harmony at home. He would certainly fear for his life if said Tarholes had won on Saturday.  That's what happens to cheaters and those "joking around' on the field. The Herald Sun had it going on this morning. I just loved waking up to this...

The NCSU/UNC game is always a biggie for Sean and I. It was our first date 2 years ago and at the time Sean had not yet been converted. Ew....I know...a UNC fan? I was already sure it might not work out. Needless to say, prayers have been answered and he is now wearing red and looks amazingly hot in it. 

If you need an update on tobacco road rivalries please tune in here.  My bloggy BFF gave a quick rendition of the latest on said rivalry. 


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Chapter 2 - Economy Boost!

Even though I missed the game on Saturday I got to promote my biz all day on Saturday. With much success might I add. Another one of the many ways God has blessed me with talent and ability!

I also want to catch you all up later this weekend on some other great local vendors that I think moms and ladies will love for some shoportunity. I met some great vendors on Saturday!!  You will have to wait until later this week to be introduced to my latest purchase. 
I know you can't wait. 

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Chapter 3 - Auntie Loves!!!
One of the great things about living on the Rox is that I get to be a part of my nieces and nephews life way more than I did when I was in Raleigh.   I have 5 and 4 of them had a birthday weekend. Kelbie turned 7, Caleb turned 8, Kayla is turning 10 tomorrow. Praise the Lord! These three are so precious and I love to think on their birthdays about how each one is so special in their own unique way.  Kayla is so thoughtful and affectionate, Caleb is so manner-able and always a sweetheart when you see him, Kelbie the headstrong yet very sensitive little stone. They each have their own fire that is irreplaceable and unique. Sorry I didn't get any pics of their party. Here is an older pic of them all. 

 
I did get some pics of another little man in particular - who had a VERY special birthday. 

My Landon turned one today {tear} - It seems like just yesterday we were coming to visit you in the hospital. 

This was such a special moment for me a year ago. Sean and I were not married yet, and some how I felt that day that I was already untied with his family. When Landon was born it was another stamp of affirmation in my heart that God had ordered my steps from where I had been to where I am going.  I remember a group of us praying over him and Katie and Thomas. Tears filled my eyes in the hospital room that night and I felt such happiness and closeness that I had always wanted for my marriage, and family. It brings tears to my eyes right now just thinking about they years to come and all the joy he has brought to us all this year so far. One thing that just completely fills my cup is that moment when GA held him for the first time. Me and Katie thought she was going to cry her self.

Now, she loves him so much and it has brought out a side of her I had never seen.  I know that they will have so much fun growing up together!! I can only imagine the shaninigans they will get into!!! 

 Poor Landon is all I gotta say!! 

Just remember Landon, Auntie's can always get you out of trouble and they give you way more prizes!!!!!