May 2009

What a wonderful busy month! Let's get started....

May started off with Austins graduation from MSU. Everybody was there for the celebration except Ashton, she was on a choir trip to Destin, Fl.

Austin changed before we went out to eat into his Ole Miss shirt! He sure let go of his bulldogs quickly!

The next weekend was Ashton's class day. It was held in the gym ( hard bleachers) and lasted THREE HOURS! Nana and Tom endured the whole thing, leaving a little early to save us seats at P.F. Changs for lunch. Mark and I surprised Ashton with a John Hardy ring. I had it wrapped in a vintage acrylic rhinestone studded purse!

That Sunday was Mother's Day. We decided since Austin had to work and couldn't come home that we would go to Starkville. Mark had a box of donuts for me for the ride there...YUM! Austin had planned a picnic on campus but it was raining so he set all the food up on his coffee table and had a movie ready to watch while we ate. For dessert he had a cookie cake with "Happy Birthday Ashton" on it, since he wasn't going to be able to be home for her Birthday! It was wonderful! After the rain, we walked around campus so that Ashton would be familiar with it in the fall. I rang a HUGE cow bell on campus! Kudzu was able to go with us and visit with Beau....

Wednesday, the 13th, was Ashton's 18th Birthday. We celebrated it at Fat Tuesday with her friend Betsey and Nana and Tom. She opened presents and had a cake! She got dressed the next day and wore her birthday earrings! Doesn't she look beautiful and all grown up!

The following weekend was Ashton's graduation. Sister came on Friday to be here for all of the festivities! Friday night, Nana and Tom threw Ashton a "Pretty in Pink" graduation party. Everything was PINK including most every one's outfits. Wes and Debbie, Reid and Tyler were there; along with Ellen and her parents Bubba and Carol and of course, Nana, Tom, Me and Mark, Mi Mi and Paw Paw and Austin.

Towards the end of the evening Austin surprised most everybody with a toast, with pink champagne in pink champagne glasses. The toast began with congrats to Ashton on her accomplishment and then he talked about the fact that it was his and Ellen's six year anniversary that night as well and it ended with him on one knee proposing to Ellen! It was so sweet and had us all in tears! And yes, Ellen said "YES"!

I know this is the longest post EVER, but there's MORE! haha.

Saturday was graduation day for Ashton. It went so smoothly thanks to Sister being here to calm my nerves and take all the pictures! It was wonderful having her here. We held up letters so Ashton could see where we were seated and to show her how much we love her! After graduation we went out for lunch!

What an exciting month this has been! Mark and I are so blessed to have such wonderful children and such a loving family. Austin is engaged to a wonderful girl and headed to law school in Oxford, MS. Ashton is 18 years old ( can't believe it) and headed to Mississippi State in the fall. I'm going to be sooooooo lonely come September!