Random Ramblings.

We have had sooo much going on lately..time is passing quicker than ever and my little Bennett is transforming every day into the sweetest boy I've ever met!  Ok..maybe I'm a little biased, but his personality is to die for! 

Here are some randoms...

-Bennett is sleeping soooooooooooooooooooo good.  Not to jinx anything but most nights he goes down around 8:30 and stays put until 7 or 7:30am.  I have transitioned him out of his rock & play since his legs were hanging over the edge and he seems to really enjoy the crib!  Most times, when he wakes up in the morning and after naps he starts playing..grabbing toes, etc.  I also broke him of his swaddle a few weeks ago.  That was a challenge, but he caught on and is loving the freedom! We have a thumb sucker on our hands.  I'm perfectly ok with it..gone is the paci! :)

-I have been able to enjoy 2 nights out with my girlfriends so far and it has been nothing short of AMAZING! First, Greg's mom enjoyed a night with Bennett while I went out to dinner and movie with Laura Beth and Ash.  P.F. Changs might just be my newest addiction that I had forgotten about..and Footloose, come on! Love it!  Secondly, my mom watched Bennett since my beloved Abigial was coming in from Korea to renew her vows with her hubby.  Since our husbands are both in the Army, it's not everyday both her and I are in the same town so it broke my heart to say "see you soon" at the end of the night!  The four original members of the P.C. were in attendance and it felt just like old times.  I can't tell you how many late nights, laughs, tears, and hilarious moments I have shared with them.  I have for sure been blessed with some of the most amazing people in my life. 

I thought this pic was so cute so I combined it with one from our glory {college} days...so much has changed in our lives, but when we get together again it's like we never missed a beat!  Greg said this pic would be way cooler if we were standing in the same spot, but I blame them for that because I totally was ;)  My good side people!

-We are l.o.v.i.n.g fall! The leaves are so gorgeous here and the crisp weather gets me all excited!

-I cannot believe it's almost the Holidays!  I feel like once Halloween is over, I blink and it's Thanksgiving.  Feeling super sad about experiencing them without Greg!  Butttt, that just means the New Year will be here so soon..the year that Greg comes home! :) Yipeee.

-While at Abigail's wedding reception I ran into a friend from High School that I used to cheer with.  She was one of my favorite people in the entire world my sophomore (her senior) year of school.  I met her sweet husband and she is so incredibly happy!  It makes my heart so happy to see people I care for, some of who I've sadly lost touch with, grow up to be such awesome people! *Shoutout to Amanda..she reads this blog* ;)

-I also ran into another friend from high school while out to lunch one day.  We were in the showchoir together and she was always such a sweet person...hasn't changed a bit!  For someone that hasn't seen me in 9 years, I loved that she could tell just how much I love my life/little family! She said she keeps up with me on facebook..I've had numerous people tell me that from my hometown and I love it!  I grew up in the greatest place, for sure!

-This new mommy is in a huge fashion rut!  I just don't love my body so it makes clothes shopping so hard.  I can fit into all of my pre-pregnancy clothes, but they just look awkward on my new body.  Jeans are fine, but it's the tops that I'm not loving.

-Recently it has come to my attention how much bullying/judging goes on in the world.  It starts at the earliest ages..preschool, grade school, high school, college, and even in the adult world!  Now that I'm a mother, I worry about Bennett's character.  It has become one of my biggest goals to make sure that he grows up to be a kind, loving, accepting man.  I want him to know that he is no better than anyone and to treat everyone he mets with respect, regardless of differences.  I don't ever want him to become a victim of it either...if I could, I'd protect him forever.

-Greg makes me laugh soooo hard during our skype dates.  He really is hilarious.  So thankful I know that side of him.

-He has made some wonderful friends while he's been overseas and I am incredibly thankful!  He spends most of his time with them and it feels so good to know that he has people who are kind to him and help fill the lonely moments.  Most of them I'm already friends with (and their spouses) but there are a couple I've only met once or twice.  Cannot wait to all be together again and get to know them better!  It's true..when you "click" with someone, it only takes a second to become instant family in the Army Community.

-I have been thinking about my single girlfriends a lot lately.  I truly know some of the sweetest, talented, beautiful, most driven girls in the world.  In my eyes, I have no clue how they aren't taken!  I'm praying that they find the perfect mate at the perfect time!  They are just too great to go on like this much longer! :) Wish I knew more single guys so I could play match maker, but I trust that God will place the right person in their life!

-I'm estatic for the Breaking Dawn Part 1 movie to come out!  Geez!

-Pinterest does nothing for my productivity during nap times!  I have gotten some of the best ideas and recipes from it though..so time well wasted?

-Getting soooo excited for Halloween!  Things are so much more fun with kids! :)

-The Singoff...obsessed. Must be the showchoir girl in me.

Ok..there are a million other things on my mind, but this will do!  Happy Week, friends!

blessed baby bennett!

I haven't posted about this yet, but I know I will want to be able to look back on these memories soooo..a post is in order! 

During the month of March, Greg and I were able to take a trip to our homestate of NC!  We had such a good time and the 10 days passed by all too quickly!  While we were in town we had two baby showers..one thrown by my family and friends and the other by my Dad's church!  I'm telling you...it was wonderful to see all of my favorite people who were soooo generious with things for Bennett!  Here's a few pics:

Greg and I at our Friends & Family Shower!

My Mom & I!

Some of my Favorite Girls! 

Diaper Cake that my Mom made along with our maternity pic!

Perfect Decor!

At the shower thrown by the ladies at my Dad's church!



Lastly, when we got back to AK we had brunch with a few of our closest friends!  It was an amazing afternoon with some of the sweetest people...I couldn't imagine my life without them!  We didn't really have a shower here in AK, but I've found that these three couples are the ones we can depend on!  And that's what matters most in this time of our lives!

Here's a diaper cake my sweet friend Charita made for the brunch!

{oh, and her husband Alan being a creeper in the background! ha!}

Like I said..it's these moments that I will remember for the rest of our lives.  The sweet people that helped shower us with love as we welcome our first baby!  THANK YOU to everyone...means far more to us than you will ever know! :)

hello south.

hi.
i'm shannon.
what happened to me?!?

My blog has become so lame lately..I do apologize.  Moving on...I went for a week-long visit to my homestate of North Carolina in the middle of May and boy, was it AMAZING!  I made up for lost time with my family, Greg's family, best friends, and most definately my nephews!  It was a total spur-of-the-moment trip...like as in, booked my flight 4 days in advance, trip.  My husband had a field training exercise during that week and school had just let out for summer.  Well, what's a girl to do when her husband leaves, no job opportunities, and a hurtful longing to see everyone?  Head straight for below the Mason Dixon line!

I shopped till I dropped with my Mom {hello Target, TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshalls, Goodwill, THE MALL} and had a terrible time getting all my finds back to AK!  Holy worst airport experience ever known to man!  Ate at places I used to take for granted, i.e. Olive Garden, Buffalo Wild Wings, Crackerbarrel, Fatz Cafe, and Sonic just to name a few..and actually lost 4lbs!  How that happens, I'll never know!  I blame it on all the butter Southern cooking has in it! :) I spent every possible second I could with the 3 little boys who have captured my heart...Landon, Jackson, & Alex! 

As well as had some amazing girls nights..man, do I miss those!  I loved seeing some of my favorite girls again, childhood friendships and dance team reunions...there is just nothing like a really comfortable friendship!  It did feel like I never even left..and to me, that is priceless!  {Katie, are you still nervous?!?} I know for a fact that we will be eighty year old ladies still having girls nights...even if it means in the nursing home lobby! 

While I did have a fabulous week in NC, my heart longed for a certain handsome soldier and our cute little place we call home here in the great white north!  The entire time I was in the south I felt like I was in a foreign country...it's true, like a totally different world! 

And speaking of girlfriends..I just found out my best friend, maid-of-honor, non-blood related sister, is coming to visit me here in AK the first couple of weeks in July!  Excited wouldn't even cover it..our 1st Alaskan visitor!

This is us the night her and Katie surprised me with a stretch escalade full of all of my favorite girlfriends at my doorstep during my wedding week!  There are no words to describe the feeling I had when I found out I was moving to Alaska after Greg and I got married.  That meant life without Laura Beth?!?  Her and I have a very long history together..all the way since grade-school.  Danced and lived together all through college and even moved into a house together when we graduated from WCU.  Where there was one, there was the other.  Very rarely did you see one of us without the other close by.  Usually people always asked, where's the other one? :)  Typing it all out just doesn't do our friendship justice...it's probably one of the most bizarre and wonderful things on this earth since high heels were invented.   

To sum it all up, we've done life together.  And Alaska has been our 1st "seperation".  I just cannot WAIT to share AK & our new home with her..until then, you can find me prepping our guest room with any and all things she loves! :)

p.s.- we might or might not have went on our 1st Alaskan camping experience last weekend!  More to come on that event later..oh, and the BIG city of Anchorage!  Hope everyone is doing well!  I do still read your blogs & oh-so-enjoy keeping up with each of you! 

WCU Homecoming Madness

Tonight, Greg and I are heading to NC for the weekend! It's our alma mater's homecoming this weekend and we are pretty dang excited about it! I've mentioned before, but Greg and I met in college! I still cannot believe that this is my THIRD Homecoming as an alumni! No doubt about it, those 4 years were the BEST of my life!! It's going to be so fun going back to our old stompin' grounds as a married couple! Last year when we went back we were newly engaged and Greg even mentioned that he ALMOST made a plan to propose to me during halftime with the Dance Team on the field! {since I used to be on the team} Holy crazy he is!! :) So thankful he decided to do it on-top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere...

Anyways, here's some blast-from-the-past pictures to get me in the spirit of Western Carolina Homecoming! :)

This was right before my Graduation Party! It was actually a month long celebration, but this is a pic from one of the nights! Bittersweet, for sure!


Charleston for the SoCon Tournament


Catamount Madness during Spirit Week!


That's me right up front..Senior Year :)


Before the Homecoming Parade in 2006!


Back in 2005! After performing about 10 times that day..I promise we didn't always look this rough!


Singing the WCU Song...good times. Especially after you JUST got done performing for about 10 mintues in 90degree heat.


Football games were so much FUN! I'm in the front left :)


Team Photo 2004-2005...holy forever ago! However, one of these girls is a Carolina Panther TopCat and another is a Washington Redskins Ambassador! And in case you're wondering...there are no pro sports teams in Alaska! :( I've already looked into it...boo!


And you better believe this place will be involved! :)


AND I'm looking forward to seeing these two beauties...Ashley & Jackie! They both went to Western same time as I did and are just absolutely the sweetest!

Do any of you go back for Homecoming?!?

Gooooooooooo CATS!!! :)

Wedding Week-Ness

To clue you guys in on my last week as a single girl..here's my agenda!
Monday - Run some last minute errands & do some shopping...pack everything and get it ready to be transported to the wedding venue..tan.
Tuesday - PORCH DAY! If you know me and my best friends, you know what this means..but I will give you a hint, sitting on the back porch with the best girlfriends a girl could ask for, talking about any and everything in the world & laughing until we pee our pants.
Wednesday - I'm supposed to have everything done by Wednesday...so I'm told. I honestly have no idea what is taking place on Wednesday, but I do know my BFF's have been working very hard! :)
Thursday - Go to the wedding resort with my girls and check-in to our condo and head to the SPA! Oh yes..a 90 minute body treatment is coming my way! I believe I deserve it, can I get an Amen??
Friday - wake up earllyyyyy and SEE my fiance!! He's gonna stop by my condo before he heads to his golf outing on the resort with his guys. Me and the girls are going to get our nails done and enjoy some fabulous girly time together! :) Rehearsal starts at 4, then Rehearsal Dinner at 5:30! :)
Saturday - MARRY THE MAN OF MY DREAMS!!!!!! :) And we are staying in the newest hotel in Biltmore!
Sunday - wake up and visit with families..drive to the city we are flying out of the next morning & get a room
Monday - OFF TO JAMAICA!! :)

You can't tell I'm excited or anything can you??
haha...I will return as a Mrs.! Until then, have a fabulous week girls!

Count your blessings...twice.

I must admit...I only started this blog because my sis-in-law has one and she keeps friends and family updated with their life and growing family...I thought we could do the same. Little did I know it would turn into such an amazing outlet for me! Not only do I stay connected with friends and family and get to give them a glimpse into Greg and I's life, but I am able to "meet" and share life experiences with some of the most awesome girls on the planet..from all over the world! From Germany, Ohio, Florida, Texas..all over! Never in a million years thought I would "connect" with girls I have never met before and truly find a friendship via internet world...but I have! :) I email some of you girls on a daily basis {well, I used to before it became a week away from wedding! haha..you will forgive, right?} and have SO much in common with a lot of them! Your sweet and encouraging comments never fail to make my day. Many of you are such an inspiration to me as to what a Godly wife, mother, and friend are all about! Thank you! As you all can probably acknowledge..it is SO hard to find great girlfriends..period. It.just.is. I feel sooo lucky to have had this experience through blog land and I plan to continue doing it in the years to come! Reason for all this babble?!?

A couple months ago I received the SWEETEST Gift Card {to a place we are registered} from the absolutely beautiful Lauren! Please go check out her blog! You will not be disappointed...I sent her a Thank You note, but have not recognized it on the blog yet! THANK YOU! Lauren is one of those girls who gets along with EVERYONE! You know that kind...the girl everyone wants & is friends with. She is such a BOLD Christian and encourages me in my walk with God more than she knows. Lauren, I am thankful for you..for God placing you in my life and for the kind words of encouragement you give me on a daily basis!

And just this morning I woke up to THIS!!

The sweetest, most ridiculously adorable gift EVER from Kristen!! Every married girl needs a kitchen that ROCKS! THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!

I love this little card she included..I'm going to put it in my wallet! :)
It is a MUST that you read her blog! Not only is she gorgeous, she has a wardrobe that is to die for! :) I'm still waiting on her to move to my town and be my BFF so I can double my shoe inventory ;) haha..but for real, Kristen is an amazing Godly woman who serves her King and serves Him well!! She is such a light to this dark world that we live in and it has been a true blessing to experience life with her! Girl, thank you for the thoughtful gift and for being such a fabulous girlfriend! You are such a blessing to so many people, including me!

Hat Party Bridal Shower! My FAV. day!

Saturday I had my second bridal shower..it was a hat party! :) Talk about girly! I sooo LOVED every minute of it! A lot of my girlfriends surprised me by coming and it was the BEST feeling! I, of course, invited everyone..but after college we all moved off in seperate directions and it's super crazy hard to get us all in one place at one time. I'm sure you all know how that is, but it meant the world to me that they all made it happen! We got some fabulous stuff that I'm just SO excited about!! THANK YOU to everyone who came and everyone who helped with the shower & for making my day so special! Oh, what I would give to be with all these ladies every day of my life...here are some pics of all the girly fun! :)

Toilet Paper Dress Game :) All the Brides together!

Seriously in LOVE with my zebra bedding! Thanks Aunt Susan & Tash :)

The whole Fabulous group!

Girlfriends..most of us are WCU Dance Teamers :)

Are they not absolutely BEAUTIFUL?!?

BFF/Maid of Honor/Sister {from a different Mister}

Hil, girl on far left, can be found HERE!

Tasha, girl on my right, can be found HERE!

go check out their blogs...FABULOUS ladies!

These are my Gorgeous Bridesmaids! {Minus One}

BFF/Cousin Tash!

3 Generations...Mamaw, Me, Mom

Family! My cousin Tasha, her babygirl Jade, Aunt Susan, and Lori!

Little Miss Jade! She's my miniture flower girl and let me just tell you, she is going to look DARLING in my wedding! :)

Seriously, BEST gift! Thanks Tash!!

Greg...you like baby?!? ;)

Wow! Sorry for the overload on pics...I just seriously loved every single thing about the day! I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend! And am I the only person who cannot believe it is the middle of JUNE?!?!?!?