Happy Birthday, Mr. Deese

A few weeks ago, we celebrated the 29th birthday of Mr. Deese!! We ate outside at one of his favorite places & went dancing...all with great pals. So fun! Yes, he's 29 but he still wanted to see Toy Story 3 in 3D so, that's exactly what we did. Fantastic movie! Happy Birthday, Mr. D!

Summer Camp...Nothing Like It!

We love our job. I mean really. It's such a privilege to say be able to say that. A few weeks ago we had the amazing opportunity to work with the high school students of FBC Woodstock, GA at their summer camp in Cocoa Beach, FL. It goes down in the books as my favorite summer camp in the 7 years we've been on the road. The students were unbelievable and the leadership team rocked it out! We left Cocoa Beach refreshed with a renewed passion for students and new relationships! I'm always humbled that my Savior would choose to use us. It's an honor to serve Him!

My days were spent like this...

My Man with the #1 student pastor, Matt

Baptism in the Holiday Inn pool! :)

Doing what he does...

Lucky #7

Happy 7th Anniversary, Mr. Deese!! You make me very happy & you have my heart!

A note to Simon

Simon Cowell, I'm sad to say goodbye. I will miss your wonderfully sarcastic comments said in that perfect British accent, the cute little wink you give on occasion & how adorable you look in a crisp white dress shirt. Thanks for the entertainment you've provided Jan-May for 9 years! It surely will not be the same without you & I hope you grace my living room again in the near future. You made us love you...we didn't wanna do it!

My favorite place...sand & sea

What's the best way to spend a birthday? At the beach with a bunch of girlfriends! So, since this is the fact, that's exactly what we did for my friend Casie. Some super fun girls piled up with our suits & sunscreen for a few days in Destin. I've never...laughed so much, eaten so yummy or danced so hard!! LOVE making memories like this!!

Casie, Me, Linds & Sarah

At my favorite restaurant (I seriously dream about this place)

Best sushi ever

THE most amazing salad. I know what you're thinking...it's just a salad but it's SO not!

How do you eat this thing?!?!

We ran into a fun group of girls from Texas & the friend who couldn't make their trip packed herself in their suitcase. Clever!

Good times in Walmart & yes, I'm fully clothed under that thing!

The one & only: RED BAR

Me & the birthday girl

Celebrating Baby Nease

Our sweet friends, the Nease's, will welcome a baby boy into their world very soon! There's no better way to celebrate than with a bunch of friends, good food & all things blue! Can't wait to meet this precious boy! The funniest thing that happened...to save the soon to be mommy some time, our friend Hillary composed the thank you note to go with her gift! Good one! :)

Doctor's Note

Seeing as I've been out of commission for a while, I thought it best to present a doctor's note or, rather, a "doctor's" photo. I know it's blurry but it's the best I could do. I suppose some would refer to me as "super" nanny but I think of myself as the little old lady who lives in her Yukon. Just in case you wondered where I've been...

Where to begin?

Easter

VL volunteer hoedown!

So it's been entirely too long & there is entirely too much to update you on so let's just say we will start anew. Here's what's up...

Ministry:

Cody's trip to Haiti was life changing & we are in the process of planning another trip so I can go! There is still much to be done. We are in the process of booking another speaking tour for FTF called "Love in Motion". I love watching Cody follow after the vision God gives him. We are still madly in love with our amazing church, VL, & we are thrilled to see God's plan unfold there.

Personal:

My job is super busy but is such a blessing. When I accepted the job a year ago I had no idea all it would hold but I'm trusting God's plan. Our house is for sale simply for the fact that we are NEVER home & it's just a little much for 2 people. Hopefully the perfect family will fall in love with it soon! I just finished an awesome Bible study, "One in a Million", with a few great friends. I loved it!

Missed you guys! See ya soon!

PS: In case you haven't noticed...it's SPRING!! I'm totally head over heels in love with it. Sandals, shorts, tan, long days & heat makes for a very happy Katie!

Hope for Haiti

Please join me in praying for good health, strength & safety for Cody, my Dad & 25 dear friends who will be spending the next week-2 weeks in Haiti for disaster relief. My prayer has been that God will be with the Haitian people...comfort them, give them peace & meet their needs through HIS body. Thanks friends!

Kermit, a Zombie & the moonwalk

There are really no words!

Welcome to twenty-ten!

New Year's Eve just wouldn't be New Year's Eve without a little play time in Gatlinburg. Hey, it's a tradition & a good one at that! Nothing can beat walking the streets & seeing the sites! Seriously, NYC doesn't hold a candle to the things you see in G-burg!

We had an amazing NYEve dinner at the Peddler! It was our first visit & we highly recommend!

I found a cute date!

Cody & the cutie girls in front of the Rockerfeller equivalent!

A light saber & pink glasses...need I say more?

Yes, they battled.

We road a "really scary" earthquake ride. I didn't know if we would make it. Cody had to have a farewell kiss!

I have NEVER eaten a hotdog. Let me repeat...NEVER. Never...until New Year's Eve 2009. Let's call it peer pressure. I took a small (very small) bite of this & the thought still makes me cringe. That being said...my husband & a few of our friends devoured these "tasty" treats. Wow! So began 2000thin (via the Lee's)!

Cody loves nothing more than being at Hopie's service!

Happy New Year, friends!! May God richly bless your 2010!

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Christmas is always wonderful at our house because we don't travel & we spend lots of time with all the people we love while eating lots of yummy food & enjoying extra hours of sleep! This year was no exception! Cody surprised me with tickets to see John Mayer in concert & he also purchased our BFF's tickets to join us. Good man. Santa brought us shades for our house & since I'm so late posting this, you must know they've already been delivered/installed & they look amazing. Santa also brought me Uggs. I have a confession; I was an "ugg hater" but with the slip of my foot I went from hater to love affair. I feel like I'm in a relationship where I must always preface..."he's not very cute but he has a GREAT personality". Ugg, please forgive me for my distain of you in the past, you've officially won my heart.

I love to decorate for the season & regardless of how many times I sweep or vacuum, I'm cleaning up glitter until June ;)!

My sweet parents & their baby, Lucky

Christmas with Cody's family. 2 new additions this year which makes everything a little more fun (Caleb, who didn't want to be photographed, & Caleigh)!

Christmas always means I get to spend a little time with my best Brittany girl!

Couldn't resist posting our Christmas Eve "cheese" photo!

Happy Birthday my dearest Hollie Jolly!

Amidst all the Christmas festivities, we took a pause to celebrate our dear friend, Hollie. No better way to celebrate than with a surprise karaoke party! Good times!

So glad to say there are very few recordings of our amazing vocals! :)

Pete, Mark & Cody after they finished cutting their upcoming record ;)

"We are the World"...

"Delta Dawn" Hollie apparently plays the drum (singular)...

You can stand under my umbrella, ella, ella..eh...eh...eh

The birthday girl

NYC, baby!

I got the biggest shock of my life when I was invited to go to NYC at the very last minute (my favorite place in the world)! My most amazing husband took over my job as nanny for FOUR children so I could go! Now that, my friends, is true love. I had the best time with some of the best girls! NYC, you steal my heart EVERY time!

Brunettes & Blonde's segregate unintentionally.

Well, there was an "incident" with a limo driver. He thought he had a car full of southern, blond pushovers that he could pull one over on but he found out quickly that we were a little too feisty!

Nothing like the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular!