Milestone Birthdays

So, I'm going a little out of order....but I thought I'd do one big post for the milestones we've been fortunate to be a part of the past few months!

First, on May 19th Lance's Dad Garry turned 75!!!  Some yard fairies visited during the night...and here is what he woke up to!  Happy Birthday, Garry!

 

Our next "Big" birthday was my Gran's birthday!  Gran turned 90 on July 5th, but we celebrated on the 3rd with almost the whole family.  (Unfortunately, Lance wasn't able to come)

 Love how Gran has her hand on Grandaddy!  :)

 Me and my Grandparents!

 Gran, Grandaddy and their "kids": Mary Ann, Nancy (Mom), Jimmy and Chuck.

The whole family that was present at the birthday!

Our final MILESTONE was my Grandaddy Napier turned 101!!!!  No, that was not a typo....he's 101.  He didn't play golf this year on his birthday (it's been WAY too hot!), but he enjoyed an entire weekend of celebrations.

 First party: at my parents house with our entire family!

Michael and Grandaddy

 Our next celebration: the Cloisters, his condo association, had a celebration.  It was very nice...here is Grandaddy conducting the "happy birthday" song! 

 101---and cutting his own cake!

 What a handsome man!

 The woman behind him---Caroline.  Thanks Caroline for keeping Grandaddy young!  You are a great team!

 :)

 The four Don's: Don I (Juan), Don II, Don III, and Don IV.  AWESOME.

Catching Up...

It's been a while since I've posted...and there has been LOTS of fun in our lives!!!
Attached are a few pictures from some fun times...
Mom and I took my nephew, Donald, to the zoo back in March.  We had a blast, and he loved seeing the monkeys, giraffes and loved the petting zoo.  Donald does not like to stand still....but here is a quick shot I got!

 Feeding the giraffes, this is right before he announced: "I scared!  I scared!!!".  :)  I'm glad he is articulate and can express himself!

 A few weeks later, the Cupit "Men" had a Church camp out to attend, so the ladies came over for dinner and some fun out back!  Here is Laurel with a marshmallow we were about to roast. 

 And Laney, a happy camper with smores all over her precious face!

 Above: Laurel very serious about roasting marshmallows!

We also took a trip out to Pappy's Strawberry patch where we met up with our friends Suzanne and Joey and their little tyke, Tyler.  The strawberries were AWESOME!  I had fun making pies and we enjoyed eating all of the pickings.

 When Lance does something....he does it with a purpose.  Picking strawberries was no different.  Let's put it this way...if there was a race, Lance would win hands down. :)

More on the Hicklin happenings soon!

The Giving Trees

It's 3:00am, and naturally, I am wide awake.  I've been thinking hard about a friend that has recently gone through something that I had to endure a few months back.  There are a lot of things that have brought me peace in this time: my faith, friends and family.  But, I'd like to point out a few things in nature that have somehow come to represent the love, faith and strength that Lance and I have found since we've met.  And of course, it has to do with trees!!!

As you know if you've read the blog previously, Lance has done MAJOR renovations in our yard.  It is beautiful, absolutely stunning.  We have a modest home (which I have come to LOVE) and this AMAZING yard.  What I love about the yard is how it has come together over time...throughout the course of our relationship. It's not like he put together a plan, and voila a few weeks later it was completed.  He thought this out for years, and slowly everything has fallen into place.  Let me tell you about the four "Giving Trees" in our yard.

In our front yard is a young Oak Tree.  When we began dating, it was very small...I'd say about 15 feet, pretty whimpy, which did not really serve much purpose that I thought an Oak Tree should serve (providing shade, something for children to climb in, etc).  In the four years since we've met, it has become the center piece in our yard---tripled in size.  When I look at that tree, I think about how far Lance and I have come, from dating to a wonderful marriage where we rely on each other for support.  The tree has come to symbolize our life together for me.

 On a trip down to Longboat Key, after we hadn't been dating more than a year, I pointed out a Bismarkia Palm tree to Lance and mentioned that I thought it was so beautiful and unique.  At some point, this tree happened to show up in our backyard!!  (It suffered some through this winter, but is still beautiful)

The Bird of Paradise: this is Lance's "Bizmarkia".  There's a background story on our current Bird of Paradise.  Lance had a particular tree that was at his rental house that he was grooming for our backyard.  The big day came to move the tree, but unfortunately, he choose the wrong people to move it and the tree was ruined.  I know it broke his heart to see this tree he had known so long become so damaged.  Lance let it go and sought out a new one.  Finally, he found a beautiful Bird of Paradise down the road, purchased it and had it moved.  On arrival, I really didn't find the beauty of this tree! (Honestly).  It was HUGE and overgrown.  Naturally, Lance took time, many hours, and groomed this new tree.  I look at that tree now and think of what a hard worker my husband is and how proud I am of him.

Finally, there is a new "special tree", I refer to it as the "baby tree".  When Lance and I lost our first baby back in November, we wanted desperately to do something to remember our baby for years to come.  When you lose a child, it stays with you (even at 9.5 weeks).  I told Lance of my idea, and he started scouring his brain for the perfect tree.  Naturally, he thought of a few trees that bloomed in the Fall (so every year we could think of our baby), and came up with a few choices.  I was to choice "the tree".  We settled on a Silk Floss Tree.  This is a unique tree whose trunk is full of spikes, but that blooms beautifully.   When Lance brought in the tree....I saw it go past my office window and I thought..."THAT is our Baby Tree?!?"  It was a trunk, with a few branches..no leaves, nothing.  It has since begun budding leaves and has brought me a new since of hope and peace that our little one is with us and will always be!

Some people find peace in music, art, and some in nature.  Nature and plants have become to mean more to me because of my husband.  Will we "outgrow" our trees like in The Giving Tree book by Shel Silverstein?  I would think and hope, No.  I just hope I don't take too much from them! 
Back to bed!  Good night Moon, good night Cow jumping over the moon, good night tree with the big scary spikes!!!   :)

A Year in Review

I started this blog on Dec 30---I couldn't find some pictures, but I finally found them...so here goes..only a month and a half later!

Well, the new year is almost upon us!!!  Looking back on this year, we have LOTS to talk about!  We visited MANY places, wonderful events, time with family, etc.  There were a few setback/scares, but we've made it through 2010 and are looking forward to whatever may come in 2011.
I'll start with a post that was actually part of 2009---but I just HAVE to include it!  Our Hawaiian Honeymoon!  We had the TIME OF OUR LIFE!  Nothing like being in paradise with the love of your life.  Here are a few peeks:

 Helicopter Tour on Kauai

 On the Beach in Kauai.
January continued with the usual: Elizabeth traveling for work, and Lance working hard on his business.  In February, Elizabeth's job changed slightly and she started working from home and only traveling "once a month" (or so!).  Wow!  What a change...going from living on our own, owning our own homes, Elizabeth always traveling, to Elizabeth working FROM HOME, being married and living together.  =)
 March threw us a curveball when we found out Lance had melanoma on his back.  Thanks to the wonderful Dr. Lara who found it!!!  Lance had surgery and was back to himself and cancer free in just a few weeks.  We Thank God that it hadn't spread and nothing else had to be done.  On with our fun life!
 We didn't waste time and the next week we took a trip to the Bahamas.  Elizabeth's work took us there and it was well worth it!  We spent the weekend in Abaco.  Thanks to the wonderful pharmacist and his wife who made us feel like we were at home and helped us navigate the area.  It was like a second honeymoon!

 On the Water ferry.

 Relaxing after a fun bike ride around one of the Islands.

 The beautiful beach, we took a walk: it was deserted and beautiful!

A few months later we headed up north to Cousin Stacy's wedding in Milwaukee!  We had so much fun and it was great spending time with family.

 Lance walking Aunt Stephanie down the aisle at the rehearsal.

 Lance and Cousin Stacy.

 Elizabeth and Cousin Stacy

 Lance and Elizabeth

Mr. and Mrs. Justin Bauman!!!

On July 4th, we changed a long time tradition of Elizabeth's.  For years (at my old house), I had a Fourth of July party.  This year, we decided to change things up and flew up to Louisville for the fourth.  We spent the day and weekend with family...renting an awesome Pontoon boat!

A few weeks later, we had a HUGE milestone in our family.  Our Grandaddy turned 100!!!!  We had a big family celebration!   I like to note that Grandaddy played 9 holes of golf on his 100th birthday!

That same weekend, we headed to Longboat Key with family and friends for a few days.  Michael and Renee brought Mia and James down...and Jodi and Allen also came with Timmy for a few days.  We had a blast!

 Big Al, Mike and Lance

 James riding the waves.  Mia looking cute!

 Mia and Timmy...true love???
  Or just too cute??

 Mia loses her FIRST TOOTH in Longboat Key!!!!  (Pay no attention to the messy face from dessert!)

 Mia after she caught a fish---wanted NOTHING to do with it!  "I'm not touching that!"
Oh and favorite Mia quote:  (Speaking to Lance regarding the rocks under the bridge that had coral growing on them)  "Hey Uncle Wance, Wook at the Coworful wocks!"

 James fishing off the same pier that Daddy and Aunt Cissy used to fish off with Grandaddy!

 My redneck twin brother.  He lives in Kentucky, can't you tell????


Next, we took a quick trip up to Iowa for the Knoxville Nationals...sprint car races.  We had a blast spending time with Lance's side of the family!  We stayed at his Uncle Donnie and Aunt Kay's house.  Aunt Kay kept our stomachs FULL with her wonderful cooking!  The first night the weather was too nasty to go to the races, but on the second night we all went! (Ladies too!)  I'm very glad that I brought ear plugs and promptly took a shower as soon as I got home.  Enough said.  =)  The last day we were there, Uncle Donnie and Aunt Kay took us to the Iowa State Fair.  We had a great day.

 Which one of the three is the "Big Boar"????

Sky ride, wind mills and the American Flag.  A great American scene!

A few months later we had very exciting news---our family of two was to become a family of three!  We were so excited, but God had other plans and decided it wasn't quite our time yet (10 weeks along).  So, we have a little Angel in heaven and will be planting a tree in the backyard for our little one. 

Only a few weeks later, Elizabeth's work took her to Fresno, California the week after Thanksgiving.  So, we decided to take a quick trip to San Francisco and Napa Valley to celebrate our first anniversary (wow, that went by fast!).  We had an incredible day in San Fran and also got to see cousins Stacy and Justin!  The next day, we drove out to Napa Valley and had a wonderful time!  And since Elizabeth was no longer pregnant---we were both able to taste wines!   (bitter sweet)

 On our way to Alactraz

 Lance in jail at Alcatraz...this how the inmates had visitation.

 We were in town for the tree lighting!!!  Unfortunately, we didn't see it lit at night.

 Crooked street!  Pretty hydrandeas were everywhere!!!  (They were also in our wedding!)

 At the Chappellet winery.

 Bouchon Bakery----YUMMMMMM.

 Traveling Teddy in front of the Golden Gate Bridge.

 Some of the vines---the vines were just changing colors....beautiful!

 Someone missed a few----I guess these could be used for the "late harvest" wine!  hehehe.

 Lance, Elizabeth, Stacy and Justin with Flat Jaylie!

A wonderful trip!

Looking forward to another fun year!!!  Stay tuned for more!
Hoping the next 50 years together are as good as the first year!