The Thrill of This Mama's Life

I got to go to the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, TN! Y'all, I'm telling you, it was the thrill of my life!

See, Daddy got these tickets for he and Dawn to go. Only he had something come up and couldn't go. It was a tough job stepping up and taking his place, but I'm his girl, and a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do! **giggle** Can I just say, as a side note here, that as I sit here and type the post, the nerves and stress of this last month fades away just talking typing about this? A thrill, y'all, for real!

So anyway, Dawn and I met in Nashville on Halloween. My childhood

friend, Mr. Wade Hooker,

-- who I haven't seen since like the 5th grade -- picked us up and showed us the local's take on Nashville. He took us to the Whiskey Kitchen and then some bar where the locals hang out...on Halloween. It was so fun.

The next day, Dawn and I went to have our piggies done for our big night out, did a little shopping, and Wade picked us up again for a little more local flavor at the Loveless Cafe. Dawn and I did a little more shopping, and then it was back to the hotel to get ready.

There are no cameras allowed. It's live TV. It's amazing. It's awesome. It's three hours long, and I could have sat there another three hours. I snuck in a COUPLE of pictures with my phone when I thought I could get away with it.

I have informed Daddy that if he ever gets tickets like this again, he is NOT going...unless he can score THREE tickets.

Halloween 2012

Introducing Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch

Blaine won top honors at school for Oscar, meaning he won first place of all grades...for the second year in a row!!

Kylee went trick or treating with dance friends, and Blaine and Joey went to trick or treat with Matty.

I was in Nashville.

So....

...there's some stuff going on, a lot of stuff. I guess one post in November about October may have been a giveaway. If you could see my November pictures, that may be a giveaway, too. There are only 54, and that includes a birthday party and Thanksgiving. So, yeah, there's stuff going on. Prayers are always appreciated.

Now for a quick catch up of what you've missed. Christmas is coming, and I'm determined, no matter the circumstances, to keep this blog up...for my babes.

Thanksgiving 2012

Surprise, Pops!

Pops turned 60 this year, so DD decided to have a surprise party for him. We knew if we did it anywhere near his birthday, he'd totally figure us out so we did it before Thanksgiving. Dawn wanted a slideshow to play on a screen throughout the party, so I was in charge of that. Everybody helped, though, to gather pictures, even my mom!

There is no music because the party had a band. You know Pops; we gotta dance. I think I get that from him!

We all got purty and waited for him to show. And the party...and dancing...commenced. Even Mom took the floor with her boys. It was a great party and made great memories!

Thanks, DD!! And happy birthday, old man!