The only thing I find more annoying than going through mail

is cleaning my coffee mugs at the end of each week.  And I only do that more often than I go through mail because it smells otherwise.  It is like the mail - if I would just do it every day, it wouldn't be so annoying.  That's a lesson I never learn.  Happy Friday!

Proof that 20 hours in the car with three babies was worth it

The beach was great.  If we could figure out a way to teleport ourselves (and all the stuff we had to take) down there, it would be even better.

cousins

With Bubba Grump

 I really did not take many pictures, despite what you may believe based on this post.  Most of these are from my phone.  Pretty sure AR took enough for both of us though.

Oh Hospital Tree, Oh Hospital Tree

Remember when I was SO BORED on bedrest in the hospital that I literally started counting how many leaves turned brown each day on the tree outside my window?  That post was appropriately named "Things I Don't Understand".  How prophetic.

Anyway, yesterday we took Anna to Memphis for a follow up Dr. appt.  We were at the hospital where I resided before the girls arrived.  As we drove in I realized that I was looking at MY tree, all full and green.  Weird to think there is someone else in that room looking out at that tree now.  We also got to visit some of the people who took care of me in the hospital and a few of the NICU nurses.  One of the nurses we visited took care of Anna a lot, especially at the end of her stay, so it was really great to see her.

My lovely tree.  I was the second floor window at the end.  Memories.

A few other pics from our day in Memphis

The future Dr. Anna Nichols

Fun lunch with the Beckhams

 My little drama queen LOVED having all of our attention to herself all day.

Top Burger Chef

Today Jack made me eat Handy Andy for lunch.  Which meant I had to get a hamburger (b/c IMHO I think they make the best in town), which meant french fries, which meant honey mustard for dipping, which meant a coke.  I did show some restraint skipped banana pudding.

Why am I telling you this?  Because it reminded me that 10 days ago I made seriously the best burger EVER.  I would have won a competition for sure.

garlic and cilantro patty (grilled by Jack)
gruyere melted on top
avocado on top AND bottom
fresh tomato
roasted garlic aioli
caramelized onions

It was unreal.

A Pasty Ballad

Thanks to Kelley and Nora (who wrote and sung a song to our interns yesterday:  ), I was inspired at 3 AM to write my own song.

To the tune of American Pie:

Ah-hem.

A long long time ago

I can still remember how

That UV used to make me smile

And I knew if I had my chance

That I could make my skin color enhance

And maybe I’d be tan for a while

But July came and made me shiver

From the burn the sun delivered

Bad news for my pale skin

I couldn’t even touch my shin

I can’t remember if I cried

When I finally realized

But something hit me deep inside

The day my tan dreams died…

SO

Bye, bye to the goddess of the sky

I’m the color of a cloud I can no longer deny

The rest of the girls put oil on their thigh

But I say this will be the day I don’t fry

This will be the day I don’t fry

Did you visit the tanning bed

In hopes that it wouldn’t make you red

Because your friend told you so

Now when you pass the tan skin test

Is it really a spray tan you confess

But at least it lets you wear that strapless dress

Well I thought we had a pale girl trend

When Edward Cullen did ascend

We all broke out in grins

And bared that pasty white skin

I was freckled, middle-aged, and on the shore

With my SPF 70 put on an hour before

And I knew I would not be sore

The day my tan dreams died….
I started singin'

Bye, bye to the goddess of the sky

I’m the color of a cloud I can no longer deny

The rest of the girls put oil on their thigh

But I say this will be the day I don’t fry

This will be the day I don’t fry

Now, for several years I’ve known my place

The bronze glow I cannot even chase

And that’s just the way it is

When I went to Costa Rica on a plane

I came back to comments all the same

“Oh sad, I see it must have rained”

No but while I basked in the sun

I had a hat, umbrella, and lot of rum

The vacation was adjourned

And still pale I returned

While we all know the certain facts

Still proud and boastful you do act

When we put our arms back to back

The day my tan dreams died….

We were singin’

Bye, bye to the goddess of the sky

I’m the color of a cloud I can no longer deny

The rest of the girls put oil on their thigh

But I say this will be the day I don’t fry

This will be the day I don’t fry

AND in case you don't believe me, this is after 7 DAYS in Costa Rica in 2010......

babies to the left

grown ups to the right

Baptism and Memorial Day Weekend

The girls were Baptized on Pentecost Sunday at St. Peters in Oxford.  It was a beautiful day.  Despite all my worries everything went very smoothly.  The girls made it through the whole service and did great.  I have poured water on their heads during baths since they were tiny so it actually barely phased them.  We had a brunch at our house afterwards with friends and family.  My mom and sisters did the food, which was wonderful.  The whole fam did so much to prepare for the day, help during the service and brunch, and clean up afterwards -  I am so grateful.  

One of the highlights of the weekend was that my brother, Richard, was the guest organist for the church service.  The music was absolutely beautiful. 

I meant to get a pic of each child with their godparents and totally failed.  Here are all the godparents listed below.  We are very thankful that they are part of the girls' lives.

Anna - Christina Cafiero, Anna Ruth & Will McCalley

Irene - Melanie & John Beckham, Matthew Nichols

Brooks - Carolyn & Nathan Smith, Richard Byrd

The poor Beckhams came down with the stomach virus and were unable to join us.  We really missed them. 

Family pic just after the service.  Anna left, Brooks middle, Irene right.

Elizabeth Brooks Nichols (her godparents Richard, Carolyn, Nathan looking on)

Anna Carolyn Nichols

Irene Margaret Nichols

This is what getting three babies dressed for a Baptism looks like.  It was nothing short of a miracle that we were in the church on time.

The grandmothers getting Irene (I think?) dressed

Anna Ruth getting Anna dressed

Brooks getting ready.  The bonnet lasted 2 minutes.

Meme and Irene

Anna Ruth and Anna

Carolyn is a pro at everything

Gangsta Brooks.  In all seriousness, a beautiful necklace given to her by her godparents, Carolyn and Nathan.

Fran, Will, Kat

Great food prepared by my mom and sisters

Friends at the post Baptism brunch

We had a wonderful weekend all around.  It was so fun to have grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in town.  A few more pics....

This is what lunchtime looked like 

Sweet sisters

All the cousins - Lyndy holding Frances, Brooks, Irene, Kat holding Anna.

Fran the entertainer

This pic just about sums up their personalities.

We celebrated Matthew's 36th birthday on Saturday night.  Here he is with his goddaughter, Irene. 

Thanks to everyone that was part of the weekend.  Love to all.