happy turkey weekend!

What made my long weekend great?!?!

Good food, great family, quality time with my husband and dogs during our driving time, a little break from work, black friday shopping and this........

Our black Friday gift to ourselves. The newest member of the Simpson household is welcomed with loving arms. Too bad we had no idea how filthy our life had been until this bad boy made an appearance. Hopefully it will help my asthma and allergies and encourage justin to become motivated to vacuum!

Happy holiday cleaning!

New things!

Justin and I have been looking for a chair that we loved for the past 2 months! We looked EVERYWHERE in Memphis and LR. The hardest part was finding something we both agreed on. Finally..... we have a sneak peak of what it will look like. We ordered it, which makes me nervous because we havent seen it in person. OH WELL too late to get worried now. We should get to see our beautiful new chair in 3 weeks.

I also got a little crafty today and made pillows. I got the fabirc at Hobby Lobby and it was 30 % off. Then I had a coupon and got another 40% off. I was thrilled. I now have some fabric left over and I am deciding if I should do anything else with it?!?!

One!!!

My nephew is turing One!! I can't believe it! I need help. What do you get a one year old for his birthday?? A cardboard box???

Perfect Day-cation!

I got the best birthday present ever! I got a Day of everything I wanted to do... Which started out with a trip to the dog park and to his grandparents for breakfast. Then we spent Hours chair shopping.... (we still have no chair). We arent picky we just cant find anything we love or agree on. Were going shopping all day Saturday in LR until we find one... we shall see.

ANYWHO... Justin got us tickets to the Orpheum in Memphis to see Wicked on Halloween Eve! I was sooo excited. I felt like it was christmas. I am pretty sure at one point he told me he would never take me on a date again if I acted that excited again! We went to eat at The Majestic for dinner thanks to a recommendation from a good friend. It was wonderful. then we walked around downtown Memphis (which we never do). We went to the Peabody and Beale Street.

Wicked was wonderful as I am sure anyone who has seen it will agree. We had wonderful seats on the inside 7th row with no one in front of us. And yes I did cry when it was over!!!! I told him we need to have more Day-Cations that are all about me!!!

Projects!!

I have been wanting to paint our front door for a long time, but couldn't decide on what to do. I went back and forth, but it all came down to I wanted a new wood door!! Well that wasn't in the budget, but paint was!!! I did a little research on ehow and youtube on how to become a pro faux wood grain painter! I am a far cry from that, but here is how it turned out!

I first painted a base coat that was suppose to be a golden wood undertone and then let it dry for 24 hours.

I then got a sample jar of darker paint and mixed it with a glaze (5 parts glaze to one part paint). I applied it with a paint brush and then went over it with a rocking wood grain tool.

I was pretty impressed with how it turned out and it was far better than our old white door. it is so inviting and I just love it.

I told Justin the garage door is next!!!

Woo Pig Sooie!

We were able to go visit our good friends Ryan and Sarah in Fayetteville last weekend! We went and tailgaited at the Arkansas Alabama game and watched the game. We got to hang out with old friends and make new ones too.

It was so good to hang out with you girls!

Love this cute mom!

Sweet baby Payne!!! I love this boy!

We made new friends and hung out their tailgate. Makes for an interesting time!

We were so glad the trip happened even though we had to head back early Sunday so Justin could work! Thanks to the Greens for having us!! and we cant wait to see Payne soon!

CPA!!

Justin is a CPA!!!

We had our good friend Meredith staying

at our house so when she checked the mail around 11:00 she let me know the letter had arrived!!! It was so hard to stay the rest of the day at work wondering and worried about what the letter said. We I got home and opened the letter I screamed!

We decided to just plan a surprise dinner for Justin and surprise him with the news as well. Justin was thrilled, but I think it took a while to sink in. Our good friends Andy and Meredith were able to celebrate with us.

This morning Justin was singing in the shower, that means I have a happy husband!!! He also took the afternoon off work to celebrate. That included taking me to lunch and then sitting on our couch to play playstation.

I am so proud of Justin and all his hard work!!! (Miles is too)

Gettin around!!

Miles has a new love for the remote and is willing to work with to get it. He really wants to crawl... he just cant figure it out. i love this boy!!!

According To Jim - Season 6 Moments

My husband as a movie star??? Everyone who watches "According to Jim" says that Justin is JUST like Jim. We have started watching the show sometimes and its true!!! Justin has the same attitude, view points and even mannerisms. It is so hilarious! I wonder if the show is about him!?!?! This is just some of the funny clips from one of the seasons. ENJOY!

A new member of the family!

For many years Justin has had something special in his life. Her name was Samantha and she could do no wrong.... She would rattle at drive-thru windows (extremely, embarrassingly loud), the back seat seatbelts no longer locked, the cruise control button hung down, the fog lights had fallen out months ago while driving down the interstate, the dash lights had gone out, if you open the rear glass it would fall, and you never knew what speed you were really going or how much gas you had. But Justin loved his car. He could handle all of her flaws and if I ever spoke of her in an ill manner he would say "she only acts up for you because you talk bad about her". The day came when her Air conditioning went out... probably the only thing Justin could not handle. He would get home from work in June and early July without a shirt and his shoes/socks thrown throughout his car. It was going to be FAR to expensive to get her fixed (over twice what she was worth). So we began looking.

Justin was upset, but I was thrilled!!!! After weeks of informally searching Justin had a day off and while I was at work he just brought home a car. YEAH!!!!! Justin was near tears when we had to leave Samantha with her new owners, which may have lead to a parts shop and then a dumpster (but we dont talk about where she ended up).

With no further ado I introduce to you "DINK". The best thing that has happened to me (since my job)!!!

Welcome to the family.

California Dreamin!!!!

We have returned from our summer vacationing/wedding attending/friend needing/break from reality!!! We got to see all the sights we wanted. Spend more money than needed. Eat more good food than anticipated. And returned to the wonderful state of Arkansas needing more sleep and more time... but we had a blast. It was a lot for Four days!

We shopped on Rodeo drive and got this!!!

Got to go to the beach and do this!!!

(me and Julie laid out while the boys swam and goofed off)

What wonderful friends we have that let us sleep on their floor and occupy their lives for a week!!!

We got to go to the Hollywood Hills and do this!!!

We saw them!!!

And Justin got to be a part of this!!!

It was a beautiful wedding and we feel so blessed to have been a part of it!!!

Hooray California!

This Is It!!!!

Today is the day that I will finally graduate!! It seems crazy. I have been in school forever and that has been my occupation! i am slightly nervous to not be a student anymore, it has become my identity. I had to fill out insurance papers the other day and when I came to the occupation line I paused... what do I put?? I am a student... but soon to be a speech-language pathologist!!!! Amidst the anxiousness, I am soooo excited!!!! I have no more papers or tests to study for. No more tedious projects or busy work for EVER. (people say I should quit saying that because I may get my Ph D. but I am going to say it all I want now until I change my mind, which will more than likely be never!).

This is my family at my graduation reception. thank you so much for coming!!!

While my friends and husband all went through finding jobs and interviews a couple years ago, I have been doing it for the past month. Interviewing was a learning experience. I definetly learned where I didn't want to work and who didn't want me to work with them (Imagine that someone not wanting to hire me!?!?!). I also learned what population I wanted to work with and that is special needs kids. After a few interviews, I got a couple offers and after long discussions and not wanting to have to tell someone no (Justin said it would be hard to take 2 jobs :) I now have a job!! I am working at Arkansas Pediatric Facility and I could not be more thrilled!!! I have been there as a graduate assistant for the past 2 years a couple days a week and love it. I start Monday ahh!!! I will be a full time working woman.

I am going to miss seeing Katelyn every week. She kept me sane and helped me remember when I was supposed to complete everything!!

Today is graduation and my last weekend of unemployed freedom. My family is having a party and I am excited to celebrate with family and friends! I have already gotten a pair or gorgeous earrings from my in-laws and a camera from Justin!!! Woo hoo I am supper pumped!

Congrats SLP ladies!!!!!

My precious nephew

Here is my precious nephew! He gets a kiss from an unexpected guest. Don't you just love him.

(Dogs mouths are very clean!!!!!!).

Favorite Things

I have recently decided I have a lot of favorite things!!! I will make it short with my top Ten rather than boring you with my whole list!!!

Here they are in no particular order I love them all!

1. George W Bush... mainly because I think he cute and love the way he talks

2. Mail cars

3. Happy hour at Sonic (specifically Peach Sweet Teas)

4. burnt CDs!!

5. Car washes!!!! like the drive through ones where it does all the work for you

6. White chocolate mochas from Starbucks

7. Flowers

8. Target

9. DVR

10. My husband of course he is my favorite

These make me smile! It would be perfect if I had them all at one time!! Ha

Justin comes home tomorrow and is home for a while yeah!!!!! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!!

What are your middle names?

Joy Abigail and Justin Douglas~

How long have you been together?

5 years on Feb. 27th crazy!!!

How long did you know each other before you started dating?

We knew of each other and hung out in groups a couple months before in the Fall of our freshman semester, but did actually start talking until the following spring.

Who asked whom out?

He asked me out! Of course! I did not want to go at first.

How old are each of you?

I am 23 and Justin is 24

Whose siblings do/did you see the most?

Mine! We have lunch with them every Sunday.

Do you have any children together?

Not children of the human kind!

What about pets?

We have two Australian Shepards, Brooks and Presley.

Did you go to the same school?

We went to Harding together in Searcy and that is where we met!

Who is more sensitive?

Abby!

Where do you eat out most as a couple?

I would say Cheers in Maumelle.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?

We have been blessed to be in Europe together.

Who has the worst temper?

Abby. justin doesn't get worked up about anything! It can be pretty annoying!

Who does the cooking?

Cook?? Um neither! On occasion Abby does!

Who is more social?

We both love being around people, especially our friends, but Justin loves talking to new people!

Who is the neat-freak?

Abby for sure! I decide to clean at 2 am and it drives justin nuts!

Who is more stubborn?

Both of us, but J typically gives in first!

Who hogs the bed?

We both argue the other one does!

Who wakes up earlier?

Justin. He's a morning person and Abby stays in bed as long as possible!

Where was your first date?

We went on a double date to Colton's and then to see the movie Hide and Seek!

Who has the bigger family?

Abby

Do you get flowers often?

Never! Justin says they just die! And apparently that is not how he feels about his love for me ha!! It's just an excuse. I did get them for Valentines Day last year.

How do you spend the holidays?

We try to see everyone or rotate. Christmas is J's family the couple days before xmas and then we head to my family on xmas eve!

Who is more jealous?

Neither one of us get jealous, but if I had to pick one it would probably be me.

How long did it take to get serious?

Justin wanted to be serious before I did, but I am glad he was persistent!

Who eats more?

Thats debatable. Probably Abby on a daily basis, but Justin skips meals and so he eats a huge dinner! I know he is not healthy!

Who does/did the laundry?

Abby. But Justin helps fold it.

Who’s better with the computer?

Justin! I can't work my own computer sometimes. He's a technology dork.

Who drives when you are together?

Justin. I hate driving.

Have a happy Saturday

Got brave and tried to change the blog!!

I haven't touched my blog since my good friend Sarah set up my blog for me. For some reason I decided to change it and now i can't get my picture back!! Just shows how much I know! Any time I load one they are huge, so my blog will be picture free until I figure out what I am doing!

Happy Thursday!

Making the best of the little bit of snow!

When we woke up this morning we had another inch of snow! nothing compared to what people have in Northern Arkansas but we decided to make the best of it! My parents live about 5 miles from us and they have better sledding hills. Since the roads were impassable... wecouldn't even get out of our driveway and we had seen others try... we decided to walk. We got our dogs and a backpack with Justin's computer (so he could work some), water, and candy ha just incase we got stranded I guess! Well needless to say about an hour and a little over 3 miles, slipping and sliding the whole way, my dad decided he could come get us!!! Here's us in the middle of our journey having fun!!

The pit stop where dad picked us up.

We went to the place we got married to go sledding. We knew no one would be there or have messed up the hill and we were right. We had a blast!

We talked Katherine into coming too!!

I hope everyone had a good Saturday!!

Snow Day (or Ice)

Todays a snow day so no school for me!!! Justin went in to work this morning and after 15 minutes he headed back home. No one was in the office so he brought work home for the day! The pups were happy to have him here even though there is really no snow! They keep begging to go out and eat the ice and then beg to come back in, in about 5 minutes when they are too cold! I want snow though! And would be perfectly fine with being snowed in all weekend!!! Too bad that doesn't happen in Little Rock.

A lot of things have happened since my last blog! We have a new nephew!!

Miles Lee Wilson! He is so precious. He is about 5 weeks old already.

Here's the fam at Christmas! We all got to be together on christmas day this year!!

Here's Justin's surprise that I made! It is a t-shirt quilt out of all our club t-shirts!

The girls took a day to go to Oaklawn on opening weekend a couple weekends ago! I of course did not win anything, But Adrianne did!!! We had fun even though we knew nothing! We learned a lot though and by the end of the day we at least knew what bid we were making!

Here's one last picture of precious Miles! He loves me! I need a good name for him to call me now!