July 21, 2012

Floating Down the Buffalo

 Keeping with the goal of the year of doing new things, Sam and I took off with a group of friends to float down Buffalo River today. We started down the river and come up on one of two rope jumps. Most everyone in the group took a turn jumping off the rope. We hung out here (no pun intended) for awhile until it got crowded so took to the river again.

 We made several stops along the way because what started out as an overcast, dull, not so hot day quickly turned into a humid, pretty stinkin' hot day. It rained quite a bit this week, so we had really high water to swim around in. The current was pretty strong too so we had some fun trying to swim against the current.
 This is the group of girls, plus Blake. He thought he was being a pretty big ladies man getting in on our picture. It was really fun getting to know other people today.


 We had five canoes and two kayaks joined together floating down the river. I think we had several people confused when they passed our convoy or watched as we passed by from the bank having a mass of canoes all banned together. We definitely perfected the art of teamwork! :)
This is the last picture that was taken on my camera from the trip before Sam and I flipped our canoe. I got cocky and took the camera out of the wetproof bag and kept it with me to take pictures while I was in the canoe instead of only getting pictures after we docked. Well...that proved to be a not so great idea when Sam and I couldn't avoid a tree in time and flipped. I have the worst luck with technology. Luckily, the memory stick still reads. I'll have to see how the rice bath my camera is sitting in turns out in the morning. :/

Everybody had such a great time today! We were all worn out, but met back up to eat a Mexican feast before heading home for the night. A good night sleep in heading our way for sure!

July 6, 2012

Tattoo Time

 Ever since Sam's dad passed away I have wanted to get a rose tattoo as a reminder of an awesome father in law that I only got to have for 3 weeks as my for real father in law. Mr. Sam always called me "Holly Rose", so it only seemed fitting to get a tattoo of a rose. I had been telling Sam for forever that I wanted to get this tattoo, but we kept saying we would do it and then not do it. Finally we set goal for ourselves to work toward getting them. I wanted to lose 20 lbs and then I could get the tattoo. In March, I finally met the weight loss goal. In April, I met the goal of running the half marathon. Not it's about time I get that tattoo, so today I did just that! I decided to go with the top of my foot. Turns out this is a pretty painful spot to tattoo. I actually think anywhere is going to be painful, but the skin on the foot is so thin that you feel everything!

 This was my face pretty much the entire time. My sister, Libby, came with me to keep me company and take pictures of all the faces I was making! :) I think she enjoyed herself!
 My friend Rachael and her husband Mike came to see us while we were there. She recommended the tattoo artist I was seeing, so she came to see how things were going. It was a nice distraction to say the least!
 At this point, everything was done except for the highlighting. I thought it wouldn't be too bad. I was wrong.
 At this point, I am just trying to stay still. The highlighting was a beast to get through, but it was finally over!
This is the end result! I love it! I will forever be "Holly Rose"! I am looking forward to people asking me about it to get to share some awesomeness of a man that I wish was still here.

July 5, 2012

Change is a Good Thing

I've never been keen on change. I don't like it, but sometimes change is a good thing. This spring, while giving the TCAP test to my students, I noticed two pictures of Sam and I side by side and we looked SO different! You see, I had plenty of time to really get a good look at these things because I wasn't allowed to do ANYTHING while the students were taking their test....NOTHING!! Anyways, back to the point, I realized that the pictures were taken exactly a year apart because Sam and I always take a picture together when we go down to the river to watch fireworks for the 4th of July.

Sam and I decided at the end of 2010 to start getting our act together and get into better shape. The proof of the need to do that is below in this picture from the 4th of July 2010.
In January of 2011, Sam and I got right to it and started working out and watching what we ate. There is a pretty clear difference in our appearance and it was only a year. Here we are July 4th, 2011.
 Granted these pictures aren't taken exactly the same, but you get the point I am trying to make. We have been working so hard and to be able to see the results and change is pretty awesome! Here's the most recent picture from this year. (Side note..I really wish I had my long hair like last year but that's what happens when you kill it with hair color and straightener. :( Also I look so pasty compared the picture above...oh well.)
 I am so glad to reach a goal and enjoy doing it! It's more of a habit that we both want to do instead of having to do it. We enjoy working out now..which is something that I didn't think we would ever say.

July 4th with Friends

 For the past 4 years, Sam and I along with friends have set up a space down in Nashville, grilled out, and watched fireworks. Each year, the number of people that come down grows either by the addition of kids or more friends. This year was no different. It was the biggest group we have had yet! We set up our canopy tents, got the grill going, and played some cornhole. The kids this year were an entertainment in and of themselves. Finally, the fireworks were in full force and they did not disappoint. Sam and I think that this year the fireworks were the best they have been in a while. Here are some pictures from the night.

My nephew Boone was having a blast walking around everywhere with a walk behind toy. He was actually running more than walking to be honest.

 Some of the girls

 Don't be fooled..we are not in sand, that's just really dead grass.

 Kellie, Josh, and Caleb

 Our yearly 4th picture

 The sisters


Notice all the cars waiting to leave in the background. We stick around and keep eating and playing cornhole while they just sit and watch us. An hour later we are ready to go and don't have to sit in traffic! It's really a genius plan if you ask me! This year I made homemade chocolate chip cookies and then cake mix cookies, but did not want to take any home. I decided to walk to cars and give the cookies out to people while they were waiting to leave. I ended up getting rid of all of them! Next year, I am going to charge! :)