Christina's Cajun Country Adventure

Hi Everyone!!!

I'm so sorry I have been MIA over the past few months, I didn't even realize it! I'm so glad Adair started this blog BC its a great way to keep in touch and I miss all of you girls soooo much!! So Thank You Adair you are always thinking ;) Well there really isn't a whole lot that has been going on, but I'll start at the beginning... James and I had the time of our lives on our honeymoon (pics on facebook), but when we came back reality just had to show its ugly face, so James went back to work and I just pretty much tried to get comfortable in my new cajun skin. ha ha I have since found my way to the grocery, tj maxx & marshalls, the mall, the gym (which I need to go), and a few other vital places in my everyday living needs. I now feel as if I have made monumental steps towards being a independent women in the sense that I have learned to be comfortable being alone. It is so great when James is home and I miss him when he isn't, but the reality of it is he just is not able to be home 3/4 of the time. Don't get me wrong though I have enjoyed being here in Lafayette, it has all of the culture of Nola and none of the crime. Plus the food is AMAZING! Which by the way I totally felt like that episode of sex in the city where Carrie learns how to go to lunch alone with not even a book...I know you girls know what I'm talking about LOL But on the upside I have meet a group of fun girls, not as fun as y'all! and we get together usually once a month for book club which should be named wine club! I was also excepted into a Mardi Gras Krewe, which is so so so much fun. It reminds me of a sorority for after college, minus the drama, plus more drinking. I have even meet all the alumni AOII's in the area, which they are so nice! It seems like its been one holiday after another and mardi gras around here is as big as Christmas, so I have been immersed in preparations for everything. FYI I do not know why I did this but I signed up and am dancing in the mardi gras ball show...girls I'm freaking out ha ha its going to be in front of over 2500 people and I'm going to be up there just a shaking it to tina turner! Crazy I know. Plus on top of all of that I am finally finishing up my degree at Univ of LA Lafayette and will be done by may... so keep your fingers crossed for me...I only need 3 hrs! Oh Ya I almost forgot, we move down here, I learn to make gumbo from scratch, eat crawfish that burn your lips off, and trying still to lose my southern accent that screams Hi not from these parts.. and we are probably moving in the fall. Which I guess its not all for nothing but james has decided that he wants to pursue his PhD in geophysics, which I totally support and am supper proud of him, so we sent off all the applications back in Dec and now are just waiting and waiting... We should start hearing back in the spring around aprilish. Please keep us in your prayers to make the right decision where to go or even if to go. He does have the option to go to UL, so we are just waiting to hear what are options are for now. As for me I can not wait to get a job!! Again I probably sound crazy but I know for sure that staying home is just not for me. At least not now anyway. Its just not as fun to have time to do things when there really isn't anyone to do them with. So that's what I'll be doing when he goes back to school. Other than that there really isn't alot going on, just the everyday stuff like school and trying to keep busy. Which if anyone wants to come visit my doors are always open!! :) I might even make ya some gumbo, ha ha who knows! On a completely different note: James and I are planning a vacation this summer in June or early July to go to Mexico! There are a few couples that might be joining us and I wanted to invite anyone that is interested to jump on board! I have all the details if anyone would like me to email them, and just to put this out there it is an amazing location and a great price... and when I say great price I mean alot of bang for the buck! Hope y'all will consider it. Plus when are we having a girls weekend???? I can't wait to hear everything that is going on in everyone lives right now! I miss you girls so much and I promise my next entry will not be this long. ;)
xoxo
Christina Crane

student teacher

here is the link to my student teacher's blog- I got her wanting to start blogging again! She is so cute- that is not her baby in the pic- it is her husband's nephew. She is a really sweet girl and a great teacher!!!

http://sproulefamily14.blogspot.com/

Love ya'll
Adair

Recipe: Chicken Breast Supreme

I took this recipe from a fellow blogger- Kelly's Korner (Harper's mom)

I tried it last night using turkey bacon and low fat ingrediants- it was SO good!!

Ingredients:

4 chicken breasts

4-8 strips of bacon

16 oz sour cream

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

1 can of sliced mushrooms1 jar of dried beef (this is found near tuna or spam)

Wrap the chicken in bacon and put in a greased pan

Mix up all the other ingredients. Tear up the dried beef into small pieces (this is what gives the meal the real flavor)

Pour mixture over chicken and bake at 350 for 1 and 1/2 hours

Serve with brown rice and pour extra mixture over the rice- I also served this with grilled green beans and feta. It was YUMMO!!!!

Much love! Adair

I'm here...Finally!

Hello my lovely ladies! I miss you all and pray for each and every one of you! Nicci - I def have to think about my bucket list but will post it soon! I have some news and I know each one of you will support me on my decison. I am moving home to FL and working for the TPA base of Air-Tran Airways. Bryan and I have been doing a lot of talking and watching shows about traveling to Europe. We both hope to travel there in a few years and the only way I'll be able to is if I get out of debt and start saving. I feel if I moving home and live with the 'rents I can save $900 a month. I will still be able to travel for free and see you all and Bryan. Adair - I know this puts us farther apart but SouthWest flies out of TPA and should be able to get to Bham. I thought about moving to Memphis but that just doesn't help me save/pay off Credit Cards.

Anyway, I'm doing good other than that lil bit of news. Bryan and I are finally starting to really understand each other and move forward in our relationship. We went to church with his family last week and decided to keep it up as much as can. Please pray for him, he's trying to get into grad school at Harvard, Yale, Columbia or Chicago. He wont know anything until Feb 18 at the earliest. I know he will get into one but I know the waiting is killing him.

My father is having surgury on the 3rd of Feb to remove his prostate cancer so please pray for him on that day.

Ok, enough about me.....I wanna know what's going on with everyone else. I would love to get to Memphis so let's start planning something. Love you all and bye for now....

~Min-Min~

Oh and Adair, I will post the pics from my visit soon. Today is the first day I've had to just chill!

My Bucket List

Good morning Monkeys! I will add to this list as I think of things!! It is no particular order! I have a lot of work to do but I look forward to the challenge called "life"! Hugs!

1. Be a servant to my Lord daily

2. Meet my prince charming and fall in love 

3. Be a loving and faithful wife and spend the rest of my days making my husband and children happy. 

4. Be an amazing friend to all who need one 

5. Have 4 children that I can love unconditionally forever

6. Go to Europe again

7. Win "Teacher of the Year"

8. Learn how to officially play tennis (I am guessing the Wii does not count)

9. Attend Wimbledon and the U.S. and French Open at least once

10. Ride barrel horses again

11. Adopt a baby 

12. Go on a Mediterranean cruise

13. Visit the 7 Wonders of the World 

14. Go to the Kentucky Derby and wear a big, fancy, Southern hat 

15. Travel with my parents 

16. Take many girl's trips to NYC 

17. Travel with my mom to Europe 

18. Go on an African safari

19. Write and illustrate a children's book

20. Visit the Greek islands 

21. Take singing lessons

22. Own a vacation home 

23. Learn something new everyday 

24. Give to someone everyday 

25. Graduate with my specialist degree 

26. Become an administrator or curriculum coordinator

27. Learn to surf

28. Go on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic 

29. Always remain close to my dear friends 

30. Work on and grow my faith every single day 

31. Attend the Olympic games- both summer and winter 

32. Go dog sledding in Alaska

33. Be debt free 

34. Go to every Ole Miss football game as long as I am able 

35. Be a stay at home mom even if it is only for one year 

36. Build my dream home 

37. Buy a house on Lamar in Oxford 

38. Visit Australia 

39. Leave a mark 

40. Grow a garden 

All my love, Nicci 

P.S. Legally Blonde is coming to the Orpheum in early March and I really want to go! let me know if you would be interested!

Adair's Bucket List

Good Morning Ladies:
I just want to start off by saying how truly blessed I feel to have each and every one of you in my life. You have each made a mark on my life that I cannot even begin to expain. We have been through so much together and I know that there are many more memories still in the making. I want to start my bucket list off with several praises- things that were always on my list- but have since been answered by God's Holy power.

So- here goes my list:

1. To have the most amazing friends a girl could ask for, friends that I can go through life with and know that they will always support me, love me, and pray for me as I will them! (check) :)

2. To marry an amazing man that puts me 2nd only to the Lord, that is the christian leader of our home and makes sure that I know I am a blessing in his life. (check) :) 3. To own a yorkie! Little did I know that I would own the sweetest yorkie in the world! :) (check)4. Become a teacher! (check) :)

5. Travel to Italy again (especially Florence and Tuscany)

6. Travel to Australia

7. Become a mother. 8. Learn how to ballroom dance9. Go skiing!!!

10. Learn how to fly a plane (I know how to take off and land- but I want to really learn how to fly)10. Learn to play tennis better!11. Own and train a horse

12. Learn how to sew and monnogram!! 13. Be a wine connoisseur

14. Be just like Donna Reed!!! :)

15. Dress just like Jackie O.!!!

16. Have someone do my laundry and cleaning.

17. Give back to society and friends daily!

18. collect every piece of McCarty's pottery!

19. Have a white house surrounded by trees draped in spanish moss!!! I think I might have to keep thinking and add more to this later! Now- ya'll have to make sure that I do all of this! haha!

Love ya'll!!!!

Adair

A Challenge

I have a challenge! I want us each to create a Bucket List! Anything and everything you want to do before you kick the bucket. I have not seen the movie but I think this will be fun! Don't worry about order- just for the next several days, brainstorm things that you want to do before it's too late and compile a list! Then, put it on here so we can all see! 

By: Nicci (sorry)

The Daily Grind

Hello my sweet friends! Oh how I miss you! It has been way too long since we had a get together! Can we plan one soon!?!? I am in dire need! 

Life has been extremely busy for me right now and so if you have called and I have not called you back, don't take it personal please. Please!!!!

Michelle moved out this weekend which was very emotional for both of us! I am not sure yet what the status of my house is ... but she went ahead and got an apartment.  Her apartment is precious but I don't like staying/living alone! You all know I love to be surrounded by people I love so spending my evenings alone is a different pace for me!

Luckily, I start school tomorrow and I will have class 2 night a week! I am so overwhelmed with getting everything together to begin grad school! I start tomorrow! Please say a prayer! 

Other than that, there is not a whole lot going on! I have been reading about Harper Brown Stamps and it is such a precious story! Her mother, Kelly, is someone I have never met but wow, do I admire her. I went back and read her blogs from years past and her wisdom and faithfulness is so admirable. She posted a blog about waiting for Mr. Right and it was absolutely incredible! It really gave me hope for what I am waiting on! We shall see. Please continue lifting their family up in prayer! They need us! 

Love you all! I will attach a few random pictures soon! Just for fun! -NooNoo

Pray for Harper--

I put up a little stamp up at the top to click on- (click on the stamp to read their blog) I do not know this family- but always read her blog for recipes and ideas- her dad has the devotional blog that I sent ya'll a while back. She also started a blog that is nation wide with a list of names of women that are trying to concieve a child. It is a prayer blog that is prayed over daily by many women around the world included me (my name is actually on the list). This girl (Kelly) is truly an inspiration with her unfailing faith and trust in God. They tried for over 2 years to get pregnant with Harper and now that she is here- she came into the world with a bit of a heart trouble and had pneumonia. She is still in VERY critical condition and really needs our prayers. Pray for them often!

love you!
Adair

Get this Ball rolling!!!

OK- - guys- waiting on everybody to start posting!!!

Cal's computer is down- so our pictures from the holiday are all on his computer- ugh- so i can't put up any yet.

Cal and I are celebrating 5 years "officially" together today! We have been dating on and off for 6 1/2 years now- wow- time flies when you are having fun. We had a dinner and movie date on Friday night- we went to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- it was really good- I would reccomend it!!!

Mindy is coming to visit next Friday night- so excited about that!!! I'll have to find a way to post pics of her visit!

Happy Birthday yesterday Leigh Anne!!!! Hope you had an amazing birthday- what did you do?

I'll do a little vent- since this is the beauty of the blog! Those of you that are teachers will be able to relate to this really well- Averee (a team-mate) has 12 kids in her classroom and I had 14 kids- well on Wed. a little boy enrolled and naturally the little boy would go to Averee since she has the lowest number in her room- well the administration decided the little boy should come to me instead because he "has a past" and is an "inner city" kid and I "have dealt with that before- so I would be the best canidate for the job". Well...I take the compliment and the challenge graciously- BUT it just doesn't seem fair. So now- I have 15 kids and this little boy who throws fits, and has already scratched and pushed me in the 2 days time, and Averee still has 12 kids- because "she has never dealt with children with a past like I have". UGH!!! I am just so frustrated with this- if I wanted to deal with inner city issues- I would've applied in Birmingham public! Oh well- now I will just try to love him past all of his issues. I will say that this little boy has seen and been through more in his 5 years on this earth than I have been through in my 28 years here. Ya'll just keep me in your prayers that I show this little boy God's love through me.

I love ya'll!
Have a great week!
Adair

Video!

this video made me cry and think of you all the whole time watching!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_4qwVLqt9Q

Love: Adair

Pictures to follow!!!

Nick and Boothe in Durant! They are buddies and Nick loved playing Boothe's patient!

Nick, LB and I  in the boomin town of Durant, OK

Nick and I with Chancellor Khayat... so sad he is leaving Ole Miss!

The Pep Rally!

That is only a small portion of the Rebel fans at the Pep rally! 

Me with Shep!

The Crew before the game!

Barrett(Colonel Reb), Nick, Andrea, and me at the game! 

Hotty Toddy, Go Rebels!!!!

Julie and I with Brandon Bolden after the game! He made a touchdown catch at the game! 

Love you all! Nicci

sites

check out these recipes...easy and quick and she updates all of the time!- I think I am going to make the beef enchiladas tonight! yum!
http://kellyskornerrecipes.blogspot.com/

Also- I LOVE reading these devotions everyday- I have saved both of these sites to my favorites!
http://pastorscmartin.blogspot.com/

Adair

Hump day- YAY!

Good Morning Ladies!
Leah- post pics of New York! Have you gotten to go alot? How is it? Do you have friends to hang out with?
Nicci- hurry up and put up pics from the game- do you have pics of Boothe from your last visit? I hope Laura Beth will be on board with this blog- I emailed her all of the info!
Love ya'll! Happy Wednesday!!!

posted by: Adair

YAY FOR THE BLOG!!

I am so totally excited about this! Thank You Adair! Now we have a way to keep in touch since we all live on the internet more than the phone these days.

I am so glad about your news Adair! Everything will be wonderful, I just know it!

I am in New Jersey of all the terrible cold places for an entire month..I know. The good thing is that we are about 45 minutes from New York City so that means lots of shopping on the weekends. Hopefully Tyler will be able to come see me for one weekend. I'll pretty much be in class every day, and everything will be pretty uneventful at night so I'll definitely be on here alot. I'm really homesick so this helps me! I love ya'll! MUAH!

Leah

YAY!! Glad ya'll are on board!

If there is anybody I didn't email that you think would want to be involved with this- please email them the instructions!

O.K.- so here is some news for us:

If I've already told you all of this bear with me: I had my dye test ran on New Years Eve and all of my tubes were OPEN! yay! The test is supposed to make you 30% more fertile for the next 3-4 months... so that is a good thing.
Also, Cal had a sperm analysis done (Thank God this blog is private haha) I won't bore you with all of the numbers...but to put it nicely he has "super sperm" hahaha! The nurse was even giggling at the numbers and their percent of strength. haha!

So- please keep us in your prayers that God does His will in this situation in our lives...I am so relieved and relaxed now...letting go and letting God!

I love all of your stories about the game Nicci...wish we could've been there! I know it was a blast! How are your kids?

Everybody post something soon! Dying to hear from everyone!!!

Much Love!!!

Posted by: Adair

Love it!

I love this idea so much!!! I think it is such a clever way to keep up with our dailies! 

Well, Nick and I just got back from the Cotton Bowl on Saturday and it was amazing! We left last Monday and went to see Laura Beth and Boothe in Durant. It was great to see them but it was not near long enough! Her new house is precious and Boothe is growing up to be such a ham! He is adorable and when I arrived he said, "I'm so glad you are here, Kiki!" It was the sweetest, most precious thing I have ever heard, especially from a 3 yr. old!

We drove over to Dallas on Wednesday. We stayed at the Hyatt and we were right in the middle of everything which I absolutely loved. Julie did, too! She got her picture made with so many big-wigs (Houston Nutt, Jevan Snead, Duece McAlister, etc. etc. etc)  and I am still jealous. :) So, we spent NYE  with some of the Ole Miss crew! I sure would have loved for you all to be there! The Lexington Brothers played and they were decent. Their songs about Ole Miss are funny! On Thursday, we went to Dick's Last Resort. EVERY Ole Miss fan in Dallas was there, so, needless to say, we had to wait for two hours! Nick gets insanely testy if he doesn't eat so I was not sure if I was going to leave there alive. He claims he can't help it!  Luckily, we got to eat and I got to live!!! Food was decent but the peanut butter pie was the best thing I have ever put in my mouth (and I am not a  Peanut butter fan) and they played Dixie 10 times or more while we were there! The atmosphere was unbelievable!

After we ate, we went right outside to see the Parade. Unfortunately, it was pretty lame! But the pep rally was amazing! Julie cried when they played slow Dixie and I got major chills to see the thousands of fans in that one spot cheering for our team! It was a very special part of the trip for me! (Probably to all of us! It is crazy that you can have so much pride in a football team but it's more than that)

On Friday, Chuck woke us up at 7am to get ready to head to the game. THERE was just NO way! So, they went ahead without Nick, Andrea and me! We got there a couple of hours later and had time to tailgate for a bit before the game. As we headed to the game, there was an Ole Miss fan handing out free drinks to Ole Miss fans only! This was pretty awesome! As you all know, the game was absolutely incredible! I don't think I have ever been to one that fun! The Texas Tech fans were ok! Although, they threw tortillas at us and one hit my leg. It didn't matter when that final score was read aloud! I can't even begin to describe the feeling in words! 

I am going to try to insert pictures later! I can't figure it out right now! But I promise they are coming! Other than that, I am back into the swing with work! Thank you for your continued prayers for me as I decide what to do with my house. Also, thank you for your prayers for our sweet Nick! He received a Christmas miracle and he is in remission! Praise God!!!! Please continue to pray for him! Melanoma is a crazy disease and he sure doesn't want to battle it again! 

Lastly, I am going back to school at Ole Miss starting at the end of this month! This is huge as I have been out of school for 4 years now! I am very eager and excited and I can't wait to see where this will lead me. 

I love you all so very much and I think of you often! Let's plan a weekend soon! Maybe McCarty sale in Early March! Any takers?

Love y'all!

Posted by: Nicci

Do you think we're excited to be back??

so much fun!!!

WOW- we are energetic!!!





posted by: Adair

**after you post something write a posted by****

1st post- What do you think???

Hello My friends!!!
This is a simple way for us to keep in touch- I know I talked to a few of you about this the other day. My cousin does this with her friends that are scattered all over the place and she said it is just really neat to get on everyday and see what the others are up to. We can stick up pictures and talk about the everyday things that we did during the day- they way we were able to sit on each other's couches and talk about everything in college!!! From- "Where do you think I should hang this picture?" to- "guess what my husband or boyfriend did today!" We can just keep up with all of the small everyday things in each of our lives. I hope that this is something you would want to do- not a crazy commitment- just something a little more than facebook or a phone call once every two weeks would give us!
Love you all and miss you like CRAZY!!!!

posted by: Adair