A City Life For Me

When my family was in town for Thanksgiving, we took advantage of the opportunity to get a family portrait done.  My friend Cheryl from church is an excellent photographer, and she was gracious enough to come to the park and work with our family.  She captured nearly 200 amazing pictures.  Here are my favorites.  Thank you Cheryl! The Wally Godby Family: Becky & Kenny, Mom & Dad, Wesley, Andrea & Nolan, Ben & Elaine Everyone, plus Gramsie (Dad’s Mom) {My Parents} married 30 years! This is one of my favorite shots!  And in case you were wondering before…Nolan takes after my side of the family!  (But he does have more hair than Grandpa!) What a tease… I love the light in this picture… Elaine definitely enjoyed the attention of her uncles during the visit, but she really liked Wesley.  {The Ben Hamilton Family} Ben, Elaine, Andrea, Nolan My kiddos My Ben My brot...

We travelled to Massachusetts last weekend to be with Ben’s family.  His sister is home from her first semester of college at BJU, and his brother was off work for a week.  We had a great time together! There were a couple of special treats in this trip for me.  First, I finally got to meet Amber Jones.  Amber’s parents are Pastor & Mrs. Neiner – from the church where Ben grew up and his parents are members.  I went to college with Amber’s brother Doug, and I know her brother John and his wife Erin pretty well.  But I had never met Amber.  Amber and I have been stalking each other on Pinterest for a while.  I was so glad that she was in town when I was, so that we could hook up.  It was a quick visit, but it felt like I had known her for a long time.  We have many of the same interests.  Amber is the first “internet” friend that I have been able to meet in person too! My second treat was hitting the thrift stores. ...

Nolan was nice enough to model a new cloth diaper for my diaper blog.  He also just started sitting up.  I thought some of you might like these pictures too.  The Albert diaper by bumGenius in honor of Albert Einstein I guess I should have combed his hair.  Oh well.  Now he REALLY looks like Grandpa Godby now!  (JJJKJT, Dad). Elaine saw the camera and the backdrop, and started saying, “Ewaine.  Pitchers.  Fwirst.”  So…she wanted me to take her picture too.  She donned a new outfit (from Erin Neiner) and gave me a few smiles!

We have been privileged to spend both Thanksgiving and Christmas with our extended family this year.  We took advantage of the opportunity to get some family pictures! Cheryl took these pictures of the Godbys – more of them to come later! Becky, Kenny, Wally/Dad, Sherry/Mom, Wesley, Andrea, Nolan, Ben, Elaine The Hamiltons Ben, Evan, Elaine, Meredith, Sissy/Mom, Jim/Dad, Andrea, Nolan We are blessed to have both come from Christian homes, and we enjoyed the times of visiting that we were able to share this year!

Today I am thankful for two things.  Recently we have successfully {so far} tackled two big steps as parents: potty training Elaine, and moving Nolan into Elaine’s room.  Maybe they’re not really such big steps.  But they are two things that I was particularly scared to do. I was already nervous about potty training.  Everyone has a different method, a different timeline, and a different kid.  I didn’t know which one would be best for us.  We tried twice and failed…Elaine wasn’t ready.  I thought she was, but she wasn’t.  It didn’t help me any when my mother-in-law told me that the two hardest things she ever did were potty training and teaching the kids to read.  I was going to wait and do the potty training thing after the holidays.  Elaine turned 2 at the beginning of November.  She is talking much more, and we have been “practicing” getting her pants/skirt down and up by herself.  I knew she could understand now. But t...

My best friend from college just got married!  I was privileged to be able to fly down to Orlando, FL for her wedding.  I took Nolan with me, and left Elaine at home with Ben.  It has been over a year since Danielle and I have seen each other, but we picked right up where we had left off.  I arrived on Saturday in time for one of Danielle’s bridal showers.  We decorated the reception hall on Sunday afternoon in between church services.  The wedding was on Monday, December 19th at 2 pm.  I was a bridesmaid! The reception hall and table décor Best friends – last picture together before she got married!   Beautiful bride….with her flower girl (one of her 3rd grade students) The DeVane family – Scotty, Danielle, Mom, and Dad Danielle and I both love purple.  What color would you expect her wedding to be?  Purple of course!  It was beautiful! Getting the veil on before the wedding.  (Sara, Danie...