Happy Anniversary!

Happy 32nd Anniversary to my Mommy and Daddy! Love these two!

They're pretty cute, don't you think? I have been so blessed to have them as my parents. 

Congrats, you two! You've managed to produce three of the most beautiful, talented and gracious (also humble...) people on earth! ;)

It's Raining!

I am so, completely, ecstatic. It's RAINING! I have lived here four months now and I think it's rained once. I am not joking. It's so dry. This morning when I left for work, this was pretty much me:

When I was a kid, we used to play in the rain. Mama would let us run around (when there was no lightening, of course) in the yard and wash our hair in the water pouring off the roof. Or we would go for walks in the rain and splash in puddles. If there was thunder and lightening, we would drag a mattress onto our front porch and all cuddle together in blankets and watch the storm. Once, Katie and I went horseback riding in the rain just for fun. Sleeping when it rains is blissful.

I just love the rain.

Mama & I playing in the rain

Rain storm blowing in over the Grand Canyon.

Don't get me wrong- I don't like rain constantly. It can get depressing. But it's wonderful how everything is washed clean and smells fresh after it rains, like the whole world is cleansed.

Let the rain kiss you.  Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops.  Let the rain sing you a lullaby.  ~Langston Hughes

Wish I Was Here Wednesday

Happy Birthday Mommy!!!

I wish I was home today with my fam! It's my sweet Mommy's birthday and I want to be playing with her and relaxing on the beach and drinking wine and laughing!!

More Mommy Pics:

Aren't my parental units adorable?

How did someone so short give birth to people so tall?

Hehehehehehehe

Please check out her jeggings and boots

Christmas concert with Paw Paw

This just makes me laugh.

Happy Mirthday to the most wonderful mother a girl could ask for!

Yes I'm Am!

Nathan says, "Yes I'm am," all the time. As in, "Yes I'm am a robot, Auntie." Or, "Yes, I'm AM your nephew!!" I think it's just so damn cute.

I decided I'm make a Yes I'm Am list today.

Yes I'm Am...

An Auntie! This seems like a logical place to start seeing as I stole the topic of this post from the 3 year old nephew. And I can prove this by my membership at SavvyAuntie.com!

A dog spoiler. I can't help it- look at that face! I was scolding myself for my lack of will power against Van's pleas last night. I almost always lose. And Katie has already submitted a list of no-nos for when I keep June Bug (It may be my fault she sleeps on furniture...)

A wine drinker! If you're reading this blog, I doubt I need to explain this.

An LSU Football fan! I'm also of the crazy, over the top variety.

A horseback rider! I grew up doing it and have not done much since I lost my horse a few years ago. But I want to get back into it. And I live in the land of the cowboys now, so surely this can't be too hard.

A pirate... three hundred years too late...

If you missed the Jimmy Buffet reference here you are fired from reading my blog. Also, I'm not really a pirate. I am just playing one in this picture because AC is a pirate.

A fisherwoman. I freaking love fishing! And I will kick your ass any day.

A sister! There's no better job.

A Mama's girl

Still a child. I sleep with my rabbit every night.

Also a major Daddy's girl!

Refer back to dog spoiler...

A reader! I always have a book with me. If there's no book in my bag, it's probably not me.

A new resident of The Woodlands, Texas and loving it!

A lover of all things margarita!

A massive T Swift fan

And a Jennifer Nettles (but no so much Rhianna) stalker.

Quite possibly certifiable insane. At the very least completely crazy!

OK, that was fun! what "am" you??

A Shabby-Chic Christmas

Christmas at the Hamlin household was unexpectedly calm and nice! The Hamlin Zoo is not exactly known for its peaceful, undramatic holidays. But with two of the three Hamlin girls away this year, I was unable to create a commotion on my own. Aside from a few minutes of rough tears over my Gran, we sailed through unscathed this year!

My Paw Paw and Uncle Lar came in to be with Mama, Daddy, Van, Pixie and I and Sal rode over for a great Christmas dinner- I made homemade dinner rolls, oyster dressing and sweet potatoes.

And we had tons of presents! I dubbed myself the "Princess of Christmas" this year and wore a pink tiara for the entire two days.

I went around Mama's house and snapped some pictures of her cutie decor. My Mama is the queen of shabby-chic decorating and our house was filled with her arrangements of vintage ornaments, a rustic manger scene, poinsettia pillows, and vintage napkins for mimosa drinking.

Last Christmas and New Year was so traumatic, I think we were all appreciative of our peaceful two days filled with family, friends and the fire place.

If you're wondering what that is on my head... Kimmie sent me this ridiculous snow hat for a gift. So I wore it, naturally!

And, of course, it's not a Hamlin Family holiday without or pets.

Vannie G tucked in and waiting on Santa

Pixie Dust trying not to freeze

Merry Christmas!

Mama & Pixie enjoying the fire (please note Mama's ribbon-decorated sweat shirt)

Mama dividing her attention between her dog and grand-dog

Goodbye' til next year, Christmas!

This Christmas I'll Be...

Missing this...

Crying for this...

Adoring this...

Doing lots of this!

Cuddling with this...

Laughing with this...

Hugging this a million times...

Seeing this again...

Entertaining this...

Looking forward to this...

An definitely this...

And sitting by this!

Most of all, I will be grateful for this...

Because it means that no matter what I am missing, pining for or hurting from- the best is yet to come!!

Please, please have a blessed Christmas!