Happy New Year!

Did you ring in the New Year in style? Brad and I, along with Heather, Alex, and Amber partied like rock country stars on New Year's Eve. We bundled up, decked ourselves in festive hats, and spent the evening with 50,000 other party animals on Lower Broadway in downtown Nashville.

 

The girls getting ready for the evening

 

Brad and me on the bus heading downtown.

 

We found our way to the front of the crowd near the concert stage!

Heather and I huddled together to keep warm!

Bradley and Alex sporting their fancy hats.

In Music City, naturally it's a music note that drops during the countdown.

Kissing (in the cold rain) at midnight to welcome 2013!

What a way to ring in the New Year! I think it's so fun sharing experiences with tons of other people, and it's even better to share them with people I love. We had a blast listening to the bands all night and then joining in the raucous of the crowd by blaring our noisemakers through the streets of the city. Some day, we're going to go to New York City and watch the real ball drop in Times Square with millions of other people. It'll be the ultimate party, and it is going to happen, eventually.

Pirate Paaarrrrrty!

Yo, ho, ho! Hill Ridge loves it some themed Halloween parties! This year, the Jordans hosted a pirate party for all of our scallywag friends and foes!

Since Kris was in charge, legit invitations were created and distributed in prep for the event.

Once Halloween was upon us, his house was transformed into a blimey tavern for us buckos, complete with hand painted signs, creepy skulls, fish nets, and cobwebs covering every surface.

No party is complete without some yummy grub! We feasted on soups and chili before we indulged in some buccaneer treats - pirate, mummy, and pumpkin cake pops, cannonballs (buckeyes), gold nuggets (cheese cubes), and fish of the sea (goldfish) were some of the biggest hits.

Of course, we all had to take turns at the photo booth.

Kris, Emily, and Layla

Charles, Emily, Charlie and Liv (in Emmy's tummy)

Wes and Stacey (He's a Samali pirate.)

Bret and Jessica

Walt, Cristin, and Harper

Steve and Zoia

Aaron and Tara (He was another Samali pirate.)

And shiver me timbers! Look at these sweet little pirate lasses!

We couldn't end the evening without a giant group shot in front of the house amidst the spooky fog machine and giant skull & crossbones.

I love dressing up and being silly with best friends! Halloween is even more fun as an adult than it is as a kid. It's not all about trick-or-treating and swapping candy with your brothers. Who knew? ...not to imply that there wasn't trunk-or-treating or swapping candy with friends, though, even as a grownup!

What'd you dress up as this year? Did you go to a party and/or trick or treating? Enjoy the candy!

[Complete Pirate Party photo album]

They said, "I Do."

Jeremy and Madison are married! The last Mehaffey son has officially acquired the last Mrs. Mehaffey of our generation. They tied the knot on June 4, 2011 at Camp Dixie near Chattanooga. Everything was absolutely wonderful.

The wedding jumped right out of a storybook and took place in the shade of a giant tree overlooking the lake. It was truly breathtaking.

Thanks to their awesome and super speedy photographer, we already have access to all of their professional wedding pictures! Each of the photos featured in this post are courtesy of Justin Wright Photography.

The whole bridal party

Heather and I were honored to be two of her bridesmaids. (Or would we technically be considered bridematrons?) Even though it was pretty hot outside, the pictures on the dock were totally worth it. (BTW, aren't the dresses awesome? They are from Target, and I've totally already warn mine again! A bridesmaid's dream come true!)

Brad and Matthew were also included among Jeremy's groomsmen. Aren't they all so handsome? (Likewise, Jeremy chose the purchase of suits rather than the rental of tuxes, so the guys could keep and wear them again in the future. Such a considerate bride and groom!)

The Mehaffey men and the Mehaffey women.

All of the Mehaffey siblings and the whole Mehaffey family, finally complete. (Well, pre-children-complete, anyway.)

Their wedding cake was literally a piece of art. We stared at it forever, trying to take in every little detail. And the groom's cake perfectly represented Jeremy's nerdiness as a personalized computer replica, complete with binary code for "4 Ever." So clever! (And delicious!)

They decorated with gorgeous flower arrangements and provided the wedding programs in the form of fans to help cool off their guests while sitting in the warm weather during the ceremony. They also gifted everyone with some of Madison's world family famous homemade jam with an inscription saying "Love will get you out of a jam!" (I may have stolen a couple jars. Shh...)

No Mehaffey wedding reception is complete without fools on the dance floor, and this one was no exception. After eating a wonderful meal and drinking sweet tea out of mason jars, we all got jiggy wit it, old skool and had the time of our lives with those we love the most.

At the end of the evening, the newlyweds exited through a shower of sparkles...

...and they made their romantic departure upon a boat, crossing the lake on their way to Cancun into their new, blessed lives together.

We are so excited to welcome Madison into our family. She is perfect for our brother, and I know their love for each other will only grow over the years. God's blessings never cease.

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Mehaffey!

Kickball Wars

Brad and I participated in a pretty brutal game of kickball on Memorial Day. The teams were definitely hard core.

My team dubbed ourselves The Cicadas, since we were everywhere and unstoppable. Baby Harper was our secret weapon.

The temperature was literally 100 degrees, and we were all roasting in the midday sun. It felt like the game lasted roughly 3 years and consisted of approximately 75 innings, but I think it was actually only 11 innings by the end of it. We called it a truce with a tied score of  2 to 2. (The minimal runs simply demonstrate the extreme  pro-ness of our defenses.)

Take a minute to enjoy our totally legit basekickball cards.

Yeah, I told you we were pretty hard core.

We had a really great time playing and goofing around with our friends, and the constant consumption of watermelon helped us survive the blazing sun. Also, I'm proud to notify you all that I never Charlie Browned the ball, and I even made it safely to base, twice! (Once, even to second!) You better believe I did a mighty fine victory dance to celebrate.

However, if you're wondering, yes, I am very sore after such athletic activities. This ole body just ain't used to all that running and kicking. And furthermore, yes, Brad and I are both sunburnt. I at least put on some sunscreen. Brad, on the other hand, decided to be macho and declined the protective lotion. (Read: is lobster red.)

I'm anxious to hear about your Memorial Day festivities. Did you have a great extended weekend? Enjoy some time outside? Increase your watermelon consumption by 100%? Or other things even more awesome?