Lately...What we've been up to

As I wrote before, we did a lot over the holidays. Here's a funny pic of Bax over the holidays - he loved Ben's new chair too.

This was at Christmas. I think Bax was tuckered out from all the traveling!

 And here are a few pics from our New Year's trip to the beach....

Even during all the traveling, we found time at the beach to enjoy a picnic with these two...

And head to the movies to see this.

 And a few from what we did over this past weekend...


We spent Friday night seeing this movie with our friends....
(I now realize this says THE MOTHERSHIP RETURNS which is clearly not the name of the movie. My apologies to Mr. Cruise)



....after we enjoyed some sushi.

 On Saturday, David and I cleaned out our basement....purging feels so good! We organized, threw away, and took what could be re-used to Potter's House. Later, our friends Colby and Jamie came over before the party we were all headed to. After the party, we had the late-night at our house!

On Saturday night, we enjoyed the JayCees award ceremony where Jamie got this super cool award.....

......and Brian got this one.

 After our dance party in the living room until 3am, we slept in a bit on Sunday.

On Sunday, David and I headed to help Amanda with putting up Ben's new basketball goal from Santa. I supervised from the truck with this little cutie pie!

As you can see, it was raining outside and we were keeping dry!

We've been a little lazy since the holidays...recuperating from all of the activities, and attempting to get my house in order. Hopefully, that'll happen soon. After all, I just took down the tree a few days ago.

Happy 2012 from a muggy, wet Wednesday in Gainesville!

Ringing in 2012

For the past few years, my family has rung in the New Year from the coast. Its fun to spend this quality time with them, and this year we had the most gorgeous weather. We were all disappointed that we didn't bring our swimsuits! But we had a ball in the sand anyway!

It was the most perfect day on Friday. We arrived before lunch, so we packed a picnic with Mom and Dad, and Brince and Laura Lyn. We all played cornhole all afternoon in the 70 degree weather. Ah-maze-ing.

B is really good already at corn hole.

This was Dad's first time at the game, and he caught on fast!

I mean, how gorgeous is this?

Laura Lyn seems to be aces at just about everything.

And my David's really good too.

Cheers!

After our beach day, we went to see The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. David and I have read all of the books, so we knew what to expect. Its pretty graphic, and heavy at times...but tooootttttallllly worth it. When the movie was done, we met Asa and Sydney at BoneFish Grill for dinner!

On Saturday, Mom and I scooted to Destin to hit Smith's Antiques, and a few outlets. Successful trip I might add. :)

Since it was New Year's Eve, we met the group back at the condo, got dolled up, and had NYE dinner at George's in Alys Beach.

Pretty Sydney and cutie pie Asa

My husband David, me, my brother's girlfriend Laura Lyn, my brother Brince, my mom Joni, and my dad Randy

B&LL

On the porch at George's

Mom, Sydney, and me on the way home to watch the ball drop!!!

On Sunday, we went to see War Horse and My Week With Marilyn! I recommend them both!

Happy New Year!!!

Our Mimi

Do you remember when we attended this wonderful lady's 90th birthday party last June?

Sadly, over the holidays, Mimi passed away. She lived the most amazing life, had 3 children and 7 grandchildren who all adored her. David and I always enjoyed visiting Mimi at her house when she still lived alone, stopping by Kingsford, and popping in at SummerHill to give her a hug and get a tender kiss.

Her service was held in Greenwood, South Carolina last Thursday. It was a beautiful, brisk day to celebrate the lady we all loved. I wanted to share the lovely words that David's cousin Wesley wrote in honor of their Mimi....it truly defines the smart, fun woman that loved her family so very much.

I am honored to speak to all of you today as we celebrate 90 wonderful years of our Mimi who we all loved as a friend, sister, mother, and as a grandmother which was how I knew Mimi. Mimi’s life was dedicated to, and defined by, her love of family. As one of Mimi’s 7 grandchildren, I want to honor Mimi today with 7 thank yous.
#1 - Thank you, Mimi, for your tremendous, unmatched, and unwavering commitment to your family, and especially for raising our parents, Noel, Pammy, and Chris the way you did. As the matriarch of our family, you successfully instilled the values of unselfishness, giving, and hard work in all of us, not to mention the importance of always maintaining a good sense of humor along the way.
#2 - Thank you, Mimi, for the many “competitive”, games of Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, and Scrabble – and I’ll deliberately repeat the use of the word “competitive” because we all knew how much Mimi wanted to win, how much Mimi loved to win, and how much Mimi did win against all of us. Your 7 grandchildren promise to carry on your competitive spirit each and every day, and to never give an inch in a competitive family game!
#3 – Coffee cake and sweetness in the morning, but DISCIPLINARIAN by day and night. Thank you, Mimi, for always managing to catch me in acts of mischief. For most of the year, I could easily get away with taunting my brother, teasing my sister, egging on my cousins, and misbehaving towards my parents...but this came to a screeching halt when you were around. From preschool to grade school and even well into high school which is hard to believe, you had an uncanny ability to rightly call me out for misbehaving. I’m glad you and I could laugh about these times together later in life, although I’m confident I never worked my way out of the last place ranking in terms of your favorite grandchildren.
#4 - Thank you, Mimi, for the beautiful melodies you sang and whistled to your family and friends around you for so many years…YOUR sounds of joy were reflective of not only YOUR INNER JOY, but of the joy you gave to all of those around you. We are comforted in knowing that you whistled and sang your way straight to heaven, and we can all envision you now singing and whistling among angels who are undoubtedly mesmerized and delighted by those same melodies you shared with us all over the years.
#5 - Thank you, Mimi, for staying with us for so long – your strong will to stay alive and live life was, is, and will always be an inspiration to us all.
#6 - Thank you, Mimi, for celebrating life’s great moments with vigor, including that martini you drank and that cigar you smoked on your 75th birthday at Benji and Pammy’s lake house while you were surrounded by your family. I’m pretty sure that martinis and cigars ran contrary to doctor’s orders, but the sight of you drinking and smoking at 75 years young was and is a reminder to us all that it’s important to celebrate life’s accomplishments.
#7 - Thank you, Mimi, most of all for all of the laughs you gave us, of which there were so many, and all of the love you gave us, which can only be described as boundless.
I’ll close by saying that today is truly a celebration of Mimi’s life -- a life that was characterized by love for, and dedication to, family.

The grandchildren led the service. It was so precious. Kimberly gave the welcome address, and Amanda beautifully sang The Spirit Song.
In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.


There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.


In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

David read a lovely story about Mothers, Wesley and Lange both gave eulogies, and Pamela led us in prayer. I know Mimi's heart would have been so full of pride.


After we all drove back to Atlanta from Greenwood, David's uncle Chris had us all over before dinner in Dunwoody. Since everyone was all together, we took the opportunity to snap a few pics of the Curth family after our day of celebrating Mimi.

We're lucky to have such a great legacy of life and laughter from Mimi!

A few Christmas Highlights

David and I drove home on the Friday before Christmas to get settled in for the holiday. After the Christmas Eve service on Saturday night, we tucked in at Mom and Dad's...anxious for Santa to come! When we awoke on Sunday morning, the gifts were all in the den - Santa must've been tired! We loved being there on Christmas morning with my parents, brothers and sister.

This is my parent's tree. Santa came to see us! And still leaves each of us our "piles." :)

What could be in the box?

Brince and David each got a set of corn hole boards...score! I got some really awesome stuff too...a few surprises, and several that I already knew about! Thank you so much Santa!

After opening gifts, we gathered for breakfast. My grandfather and Aunt D joined us for biscuits, egg frittata, grits casserole, ambrosia, sausage, and bacon wrapped tater tots - shown above. Everything was wonderful!

Our Christmas morning table!

Mom's narcissus are beginning to bloom!

Two of the cutest helpers ever!

After finishing up at Mom and Dad's, we moved over to my in-law's house to meet them, Amanda, and our nephew Ben.
 We had an amazing dinner of filet's with baked potatoes, layered salad, squash casserole, and coffee ice cream for dessert. Pammy and Pop really outdid themselves - the house looked beautiful, and we received wonderfully generous prezzies from Santa. ;)

Baxter was excited too!

Little Ben with his Big Box!

Pammy and Pop's tree

Ben and I in his new game chair from me and David

On Monday morning, we awoke and had breakfast there too....grits and coffee cake! Yum!

That night, we headed out to the Coody Cabin to celebrate Brince's 27th birthday. He was born the day after Christmas, and we always gather together again to enjoy cake and singing Happy Birthday over the holidays. My parents, Abbye, Gongaman, Jill, Asa, Sydney, Brince and Laura Lyn all joined for a dinner of steaks, peas, mashed potatoes, wild rice casserole, crescent rolls, and DELISH red velvet cake for dessert.

Happy Happy 27th Brince-O!

Merry Christmas From Home!

And a few more of our faves!

Merry Christmas!