She's a cutie.

My heart is heavy.....still, and I don't have the time or energy to put together my road trip post yet...soo instead I am going to share a few of my favorite shots from my nieces first birthday shoot. My friend Kelly (Kellyjeck.com) did a wonderful job, and all of them were amazing these were just a few of my favorite..something to cheer me up while I am feeling down!

30 Day Challenge; Day 27- A picture of yourself and a family memeber

My aunt and I, in San Francisco. I want to be her when I grow up (okay  know I'm 25...totally grown-up). But really this is my aunt and I on one of our many fantastic adventures.

Sunday Smiles

spending the day by the pool with my favorite neice!

30 Day Challenge: Day 19 - A Picture & A Letter

So for this challenge I decided to post the letter my grandfather wrote me befor he died and a photo of the two of us. My Grandaddy who died March 15, 2005 meant the world to me. He was the one persons whose opinion truly mattered and was someone whose respect I craved, and earned. He died my Freshman year of college and because of the cancer he had he realized his time was going to be short. Luckily for my brother and I my Grandaddy wrote a letter to my brother and I to be opened on the day of my College Graduation. Well I got my letter on May 23, 2008 (though technically I graduated in December 07 - I walked in 08).

This letter is something I cherish and love, and never fails to bring a tear to my eye. I knew this was going to be the letter I was going to share, I just had to get aound to doing it. I know I said it was in my attic - which is a lie. I keep it in a children't book my mother gave me for my college graduation which includes a letter from her. The book is "On the Night You Were Born." Anyways, I just can only look at the letter so often, and while my memories are fond the fact that he isn't here to see what I've accomplished and the life I'm leading still hurts.

So here it is...my picture and letter.....Sorry that I didn't share the contents of the letter it's about three pages long and very personal.

30 Day Challenge: Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

My brother Johnny (an old pic) he's amazing, and my best friend. I don't know what i'd do without him in my life!

30 Day Challenge : Day 08 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

Okay, so I cheated and did people. But, between multiple surgeries (including a brain surgery!), my parent's divorce, my career, and my just every day lfe. Each one of these people have been essential to my wellbeing. I honestly don't know where I would be without them!

My mom & I,as much as she drivesme crazy I don't know what I'd do without her

COry & Michele

My Dad, the greatest man i know.

The Fab 4 (Sarah,Mel& Linz)

M y Aunt Lisa

CAROLYNNNNN

My awesome brother johnny

Shannon

My Brother's Engaged!

My brother (who is in my Day 02- Photo Challenge Picture!) is engaged!

I'm so excited to welcome Jen to the family and to celebrate this exciting time of life with my brother!

Congrats Johnny & Jen!

Btw- Didn't he do good? The ring is beautiful!

Perfect Night

My Dad and I went to the Orlando Magic Game on Sunday Night! Of course my Dad not only represented the Magic with his tshirt and sweatshirt but he also repped our love for the Pittsburg Steelers!

Not only did we cheer on the Magic at the gorgeous new Amyway Arena, but, before the game we had a few beer at Mojo's and at Captain Jack's Gentleman's Lounge.

It was seriously a perfect day with the best Dad a girl could ask for!

Sunday Smiles

My neice Cambre -our Lil' Gamecock! She'S also totally into her
carrots! Love that little one!

The Ugly, The Bad, The Good....2010 Style

I'vew been thinking about the past year a lot lately. With 2011 quickly approaching it's no wonder 2010 has been on my mind and what a 2010 it was...for that matter what a 2009 it was!

:
The Ugly:
1. On December 28th, 2009 I had brain surgery to remove a tumor on my pituitary. The tumor while fortunately benign was secreting growth hormone giving me the title of Giant...haha just kidding...giving me the disease acromegaly. What is acromegaly you may ask? Well it's Giantism, and while I  was stoked to be tumor free before 2010 began I rang in New Years in ICU at Celebration Hospital accompanied by my ICU nurse and former Coach (who was on the phone) because I had celebrated New Year's Eve around 10:30 before passing out! I truly found out how lucky I was while in ICU. I was constantly surrounded by friends and family ad upon returning home in January I was catered to loved and taken care of. While I still struggle constantly with the implications of my disease I feel better every day and am trying to better myself and my quality of life now that things are a bit easier.

Ringing in New Year's Eve with some of my favoite people at 10:00pm (Not Pictured: My Mom & Step Dad).

2, Also in 2010 I fractured both my wrists, one of my elbows and dislocated my knee cap! Ouch! This happened in a freak flag football sideline accident and is totally hilarious. I had just been cleared for activity and I had a blast. It was painful and ridiculous and happened mostly in part due to the tumor I had just had removed, but nevertheless it was an experince that makes me extra glad that 2010 is on its way out the door!

Worst picture ever....

3. My brother was unable to come home for Christmas :(

Johnny, Dad, Susan and I Christmas 2009

The Bad:
1. I had to give up my awesome apartment in Hunter's Creek because with the surgery I could no longer afford living on my own if I wanted to do the things (like traveling) that I insist on doing!

At the pool of the old apartment w/two brothers and friend?

2. Two of my best friends moved away :(.

Michele & I circa 2005.

Jessie & I @ TheSocial Phone Booth!

The Good:
1.The best thing about 2010 so far? My family. I was blessed with a beautiful neice Cambre London Coffey on July 16th, 2010 and she is a constant source of enjoyment in my life. I love how she is starting to recognize me and how she smiles and loves and gives the biggest hug while she buries her face in your neck or shoulder. She is constantly singing and smiling and is such a pure source of love. Besides that in 2010 my family has stood beside me a lot. They've helped me financially when it came to my health issues and have even given me a lot of emotional support as I struggle with my health and self-esteem and try to figure out what I want to do with my life. My family extended and blood is amazing. While I hate having my brother so far away I have never felt closer to the people in my life. They are my rock.




Cambre & I on the day she was born! July 16, 2010



With the Family @ the UCF vs. ECU Game!

2. My career is going AWESOME and my girl's team won the OBC Championship for the first time since 2002! This is especially exciting if you add the fact that I was named the Osceola County Girls Swim Coach of the Year. I also love teaching and have a pretty great group of kids....I love the way things are.

My girls! 2010 OBC Swim Champs!

3. My Friends! I know I constantly brag about my friends and their amazingness but seriously, I have the best friends. I always know someone to call or count on or rely on. I am constantly told by my siblings who haven't always been so lucky in the friend department that they are envious of my group of friends. Well, I have no idea how I have earned such an all-star cast of friends, but I am not going to jinx it and just be greatful and hope that I can do as much for them as they do for me!

Carolyn & I

Some of the best friends a girl can ask for!

Epcot withs

friends @ Bar Louie!

but a goodie with some of the best!

4. My travelling experinces! I've been to Charleston and Breckenridge and I am about to take off to London, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam! I love to travel and I can't wait to share my adventures with you!

Breckenridge

Charleston Harbor

5. I accomplished my New Year's Resolution by learning to eat fish and tomatos (okay so only tomatos sometimes and only Tuna......but yay!)

6. My Puppy Buster..he's just always good!

How Stinkin' Cute...

How cute is my niece? Like seriously, cutest thing ever.

Lights, Cameras, TRAVEL!

Every morning I get to my classroom about 70 minutes before the day begins. Usually, I am set-up for the next day and all I do is just sit in my room and collect myself. I check out a few of my fellow bloggers, catch up on emails from the afternoon before and click around my MSN homepage or Lonely Planet emails to see what may intrigue me. Today was no different and I stumbled across this link (http://www.bing.com/travel/content/search?q=Sparkling+Holiday+Lights%3a+Leavenworth%2c+Wash.&cid=msn1116032&form=TRVCON&gt1=41000) and it brought me to a countdown of the sparkliest, most beautiful holiday lights in the world. This of course excited me as not only did the headline catch my attention but the picture as well!

That's PARIS! I'm going there!

I have always been a sucker for Christmas lights (who isn't?!) and I guess it shouldn't have shocked me that Paris made the list but it did!!! I can't wait to stroll through Paris and take in the twinkly Christmas lights. Granted, it won't be like it was when I was a kid riding around in the car with my parents oohing and ahhing over every house! But, I also never came across Champs-Elysses!!!

According to the information I read during the holidays they illuminate more than 400 trees with 1 million energy-saving lights and it alls adds up to the Champs-Elysses (which is where everyone says is the place to be in Paris when the clock strikes midnight!). The little tidbit goes on to explain that window-shopping in Paris during the holidays is a must-see for locals and visitors. Lord knows this girl will have to window shop because she won't be able to afford to do any other kind!

Anyways, another surprise that made the list is BRUSSELS!

I did not even entertain the though that Brussels would make the list! But look at the photo it's beautiful! This is a photo of the Gothic Brussels Town Hall which was built in the early 1400s. Apparently each holiday season  they light it up for all to see. Apparently each night the area in front of the Town Hall, known as the Grand Palace or town square is filled with people because there is a evening sounds-and-light show that illuminates the whole building. Umm, hello, an awesome light show that happens to take place for FREE while we're in Brussels. I am crossing my fingers that it will still be going on January 2nd when we arrive! I'm dying, dying, dying to see this!

Until I leave for Europe I'll be trolling around Kissimmee/Orlando looking for beautiful holiday lights to kind of curb my craving for these! Anyone have any awesome holiday light secrets? Care to share?

A difficult Christmas.

So this Christmas will mark the first Christmas that I will ever spend apart from my brother. Now this may seem silly, but he is literally the only person I've spent ALL of Christmas with, every year. I used to always spend Christmas with my whole family, but following my parents divorce it was Johnny and I who shuffled from house to house. It was Johnny who I truly spent the Holidays with.

Unfortunately, for my heart and for my stomach (did I mention my brother just graduated with Honors from Le Cordon Bleu in Scottsdale, AZ and is a Sous Chef for an amazing resturant?), Johnny won't be able to come home from Arizona for Christmas this year. I'm completely devestated and bummed. Things could be worse, but the fact that I dont' know when I'll see him again is definietly weighing heavy on my heart!

See, my brother and I are super close. We're 18 months apart and share a bunch of the same friends. Johnny is someone I can always turn to and who tends to be there for me. As frustrated as I get with him it all comes down to the fact that he's always been there for me, by my side, supporting me in almost whatever I do (as long as I don't talk about swimming toooo much).


Johnny  & I, one of the people I've always been able to count on to be by my side!



New Traditions...

I am a very blessed girl, who is lucky enough to have an extended family and a step-family that is absolutely amazing. This year will be the fourth Christmas my Dad has been married to Susan and will mark our 4th Christmas as a family. Every year we have gotten together drank hot cocoa, eaten Christmas cookies and decorated the tree that goes inside and the family tree with homemade ornaments that goes outside. This year of course was no different, however, this year we were missing Johnny and Mandie! None the less it was a beautiful Sunday, that I enjoyed spending with my family.

Yummy Christmas Cookies!



The ornament Casey made in Kindergarten....not much has changed...



delicious hot cocoa with marshmallows!

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If you look you can see the Ornaments Cambre made!



Johnny's J Ornament. We always used to fight over whose ornament would be on top of the tree! Well since he will be in Arizona for Christmas, I made sure his was at the very bottom!