Happy 3rd Birthday Mollye!

Mollye Addison Casey was the first baby in my group of friends.  She was the first child I really saw growing up!  I can't believe she is three years old.  I sat in the hospital and waited on Mollye and let me tell you- WOW! It was an eye opening experience.  I knew nothing about how babies were born.  Thankfully I had Ashley, Courtney, and Stephanie to teach me, while making fun of my naiveness. 

 My favorite memory with Mollye has got to be Disney World.  Michael and I went with Adam, Kim, and Mollye to the Magic Kingdom last summer.  Disney World is already my idea of a dream vacation, but seeing it through a child's eyes is like experiencing it all over again.  That vacation really made me want to have kids so I could take them to Disney, and here I am with Ryder a year later.  Funny how things work out.

I remember thinking back two years ago at Mollye's 1st birthday that it just seemed impossible she was turning 1!

Here are pictures of Mollye holding Ryder:

Finally, here are some pictures of the most precious Under the Sea Ariel party that Mollye had yesterday!

Ryder's 1st Vacation

We recently traveled the short distance to Pigeon Forge to spend some relaxing time in the mountains.  It was so nice to be somewhere and not worry about any kind of work!  We ate at some really good restaurants and went shopping and read books.  It was fantastic. 

Usually we eat at the same old restaurants when visiting the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area.  This year, I decided we need to try a few new places.  Inspired by my friend, Kara Watson's blog,  I went to Trip Advisor and looked up popular restaurants.  My favorite places to eat are officially now as follows.

1. Bull Fish Grill
2. Cakes by Bakin' Bishop- yummy cinnamon rolls and cupcakes
3. Apple Barn
4. Old Mill Pottery House Cafe and Grille- best French onion soup I've ever had

Dinner at the Apple Barn.

One of my favorite things we did while in Pigeon Forge was visit Wonder Works.  It's technically an interactive museum for kids, but it's equally enjoyable for adults.  Ryder loved looking around at everything.  I couldn't believe how good he was the whole time!  I can't wait until he is older and can really enjoy it there.

Making Taffy at Smoky Mountain Candy Kitchen

Christmas Village- We stopped here just to get a picture with the train!

Books

I've been meaning to blog about some of the books I've been reading.  These are books I have actually gotten something out of, not my "beach" reads.

First, Time of My Life
This is a book about what ifs.  A woman is looking at her life and wondering how it got that way.  She has become a stay-at-home mom who has lost herself.  Around this time she hears her ex-boyfriend is getting married.  She begins to wonder what happened with them.  Would life be better if they'd never broken up?  Magically, she goes back in time to learn the grass isn't always greener.  It made me think a lot about my life.  No matter how long you are with one person there are going to be some kinds of problems.  Whether it is over an unbudgeted shopping trip (not that I would ever do that) or leaving the tube off the toothpaste or whose turn it is to do the dishes.  Being married is about compromise and making it work no matter what.

Second, The Girl Who Chased the Moon

I absolutely love Sarah Addison Allen!  Her books have just enough magic mixed in to make them fantasy, but it's mostly a simply good story about real, normal people.  17-year old Emily goes to live with her grandfather after her mother passes away.  The strange thing is until her mother died she didn't even realize she had a grandfather.  Emily soon learns the reasons her mother didn't talk about her hometown and why the people there still talk about what happened with her mother.  Even more enjoyable than that is the side story of Julia and Sawyer.  Julia, a girl Emily's mom use to torture, is a baker at her dad's old restaurant and is trying to save enough money to get out of town as soon as possible.  She is also running from a high-school fling with a surprising twist!


Next, Saving CeeCee Honeycut
The best way I can describe this book is that it is very similar to The Secret Life of Bees.   It's about a girl whose mentally disabled mother dies and therefore she is sent to live in Savannah, GA with her great-aunt.  I loved the characters here and all of CeeCee's adventures.






Then, Divergent
I predict this series of books is going to be the next big thing.  Move over Harry Potter, Twilight, and Hunger Games!  When teenagers in this book turn 16, they must choose what faction they are going to live in for the rest of their lives.  Factions are divided by what character trait the members value most.  Tris leaves her faction of selflessness and joins the faction that values bravery.  And of course that's when both the excitement and romance begin.




Finally, Heaven is for Real
This book has changed me forever.  This is the amazing story of a boy, Colton, who claims to have gone to Heaven while being operated on at the age of 3.  When first hearing about this book, I have to admit I thought it was some crazy person just trying to get attention.  It's not that I don't believe in Heaven, I truly do, but I've personally never met anyone who claims to have been there.  It's amazing that the boy's description matches up so much with that Jesus promises us of Heaven in the Bible.  I honestly think this book could make a believer out of anyone.  All you need is a little faith.  I was amazed over and over again!

3 Month Pictures

In so many ways it feels like we've had Ryder forever, but on the other hand I can't believe my baby is already 3 months old.  He is such a constant joy in my life!  I just simply can't get enough.  We decided to go outside today to do our photo shoot.  I have to thank Michael for keeping him entertained while I set things up and took pictures.  Here are my favorites.