Happy 27th Birthday, Matthew!!!

Happy Birthday to my love! I promised Matthew that I would come back to Lynchburg on his birthday, so that's just what we did.  Pa, Reagan, and I left Tennessee early in the morning and arrived around 3ish. I had planned a party that night for 6pm, so I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off getting everything ready.  It was perfect though.  Our guests of honor included Sarahann, Jay, Jimmy, Ashley, and my dad.  I just realized that I have no pictures of any of them.  Great hostess, right? Haha!

Sarahann and Jay gave Matthew some old albums so he could melt them into artistic pieces.  Fiddler on the Roof was significant, because Matthew was in that musical years ago.  Awesome gift, guys!

The rest were from me.  

New swimming trunks.  Get him anything BLUE and he will be happy. Haha!

Oh, and notice all the girly bags -- Bath & Body Works, Victoria's Secret, Aerie....poor guy.

New BLUE button down

Okay, this next gift turned out to be really funny.  Matthew told me a while back that he wanted a blow gun, so as a surprise to him, I have been hunting high and low for one and finally found one at Target.  Well, unfortunately it couldn't be ordered online and was only available in certain locations, so my dad and I finally found a Target in Knoxville, Tennessee that sold this particular item.  I was SOOOO excited and just knew that he would be thrilled and blown away that I had gotten him the blow gun, and don't forget the extra ammo pack.  Well, needless to say, it was a joke the entire night, because the gun that he really wanted was a legit, adult blow gun that you blow darts through and I got him an age 8+ plastic blow gun that shoots spit wads with plastic safety glasses.  WHAT WAS I THINKING?????  

Last but not least, we sang Happy Birthday and had some cake.

And, of course, he used his new blow gun to blow out his six measely candles.

Yum Yum!  

My dad's famous chicken wings, baked beans, and mashed potatoes

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MATTHEW!! 

REAGAN AND I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!!

(Matthew as a baby, with his big brother, Jonathan)

Tennessee Fun Part 2

Most of our trip was spent visiting friends and family.  It's so nice that he is getting older and enjoys going places rather than sleeping all day long, although he is still very good at that.  Our first stop was a surprise visit to the family salon.  I have always called my grandma "Tootle" and I'm pretty sure she has hated it the entire time, so she will be renamed "Big Nanny." Hahah!

Aunt Karen got some cuddle time in, too, in between hair cuts.

Then, we went to Nana's house, where we were greeted by Mikki, a family friend.  She had made Reagan a beautiful quilt!

Later in the week, we went to Granny Tabor's house for lunch, which we call "dinner" in the South.  It goes Breakfast, Dinner, and Supper. Anyway, I have always talked about how much food we have at a normal dinner, but now I can finally prove it.  On the first table was mac 'n' cheese, ham, corn, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn bread, pinto beans, rolls, yams, fried okra, turkey, roast, and chicken 'n dumplings.

At the second table was sliced tomatoes, cole slaw, deviled eggs, green onions, and salad.

At the dessert table was (all homemade, of course) chocolate cake with hot fudge, banana cake with icing, molasses cookies, ice cream and pecan tarts.

After stuffing our faces and even going back for seconds, Reagan spent some time with his Uncle Bruce and Aunt Janet. 

On our last day, we went and visited my Great Granny Tabor in the nursing home. 

Funny conversation while there:

Granny: "My birthday is coming up, you know."

Cousin Sharon: "How old will you be?"

Granny: "74"

Cousin Sharon: "Do you mean 94?"

Granny: "NOOOO."

Me: "That would be way too old wouldn't it Granny?"

Granny: "Yeah."

Also, while there we ran into Reagan's Great Grandmom, while working.  She is my dad's ex-wife's mother.  She has always kept in touch and stayed in my life:)

Last but not least, while at my mom's house, I came across some old pictures of me.  Even though Reagan looks just like his daddy, I can see some similarities.  Maybe it's just wishful thinking....



Tennessee Fun Part 1

Reagan and I had a blast in Tennessee!  There was so much to share and show that I will have to split it up into different posts.  This first post is all about fun with Pa and his "big boy toys."  Half an hour after our 7 hour drive, Reagan and Pa hopped on the four-wheeler and rode around the farm. 

The next day, we took a ride around Pa's yard.

Later in the week, Pa, Nanny, Aunt Karen, Reagan, and I went to Dale Hollow Lake. 

Sisters being sisters:)

Fun is done:)