Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Brett, Hillary and Nico Neal

My clinical group!!!

This is a picture of my clinical group from school!! There are only 7 of us in each group and we have become pretty fast friends. Some days it definitely takes more then one of us to help care for our patients, so we are on big team and work together!! The guy is our med nurse from the second floor, and he was very helpful and also took great concern in finding things he thought we would like to see and do!! Today was my worst day yet and I must say, if it were not for these girls and my instructor Mrs. VanMullen, I do not know how I would have done anything.

This picture was taken our second week on the second floor, and the patients here are short-term care. We have now moved to the three floor and these are long-term care patients. The medical needs are greater here and more difficult...

We listen to the other groups talk and I must say I do believe we are the best at working as a team and so far have seen really cool things, in comparison to the other 8 groups!!! Our instructor wants us to see everything and try everything there is at our facility, she gets us in there, from row, hands on!!! It is Great!!!

He is so precious!!!!

Keaton is growing so fast, he is on the move now!! It will not be long before he is walking either, he is already getting up to his feet (unsteady), but he is working his way there. Last week Brittany was on Spring Break so she came on Friday and brought Keaton to come have lunch with his Aunt Hillary and Aunt Brittany!!! I do believe he was worn out by the end of the week. Aunt Brittany kept him for Rach, so he was a busy guy hanging out with Aunt Brittany!

These are a few pictures of time with Keaton!! One is of me and him at the fish tank, he loves fish!!! There is a video that my dad took of us two and I will try to add it here, it is so cute!!! He really gets excited when the fish swim in front of him!!!

Clinicals!!!!

Hello!!!! So life has been the busiest I think it could ever possible be!!! I started clinicals three weeks ago and have not stopped yet. Between clinicals ALL of the paperwork that goes along with it and then studying for Fundamentals, Pharmacology, and Dosage (Math for Nursing) and then life, I have had a lot going on. I love clinicals and really like my facility, West Meade Place in Bellevue, an assisted living/ Rehab facility. In my three weeks there I have cared for three patients and must say I have had the best patients for my first time being Nurse! Being “Nurse” is what or instructors call our role! Every morning our instructors come in and say “Good morning Nurses!!”, then we pray as a group for our fellow Nurses that are there with us! It is just some so in encouraging.
Each week I have a patients, starting Mondays I go in meet my patient and learn about what is going on with them. What I can do to assist in their daily lives there at WMP! Tuesday and Wednesday are the days that we do all of the care for each patient. There are seven of us in our group and we work closely with one another, so really I get to see six other patients for three days!

I have had a great experience during my clinicals and have been able to do very interesting procedures! When you first learn something out of a book, it seems just ok, but when you really get to see and do thing up close and personal, WOW!!! I am going to love my job as a Nurse. I know I have sure picked the PERFECT job for me!!!

My picture is of my first clinical day at West Meade Place!

The Band!!!!

These are picture my sister took of Cross Canadian Ragweed playing!!! OH and one of Brett and Brittany and JM!!!!

Cross Canadian Ragweed!!!!

This past weekend Brett and I went to the Cross Canadian Ragweed concert with my sister Brittany and her boyfriend John Michael, Marshall and his girlfriend Miranda, and her best friend from home (Ohio) Mandy!!! We had a blast, one of the best concerts I have been to in a long while. We went to see CCR, but we also really loved their opening band, Cowboy mouth!! The both put on a great show and Rocked out!!!!

I know the pictures look like it was a crazy night and I look like I was gone in a few pictures. Really I was the DD so I did not drink, LOL!!! Man, I sure would hate to see what I would have looked like if I had been drinking. I thought the pictures of me were too funny.



We had a BLAST!!!!

He is growing like a Weed....

Our nephew Keaton is growing so fast! These are some picture my sister took while we were at my Grandparents the other night for a family dinner. He is 8 months old this month and that boy is on the move!!! A few weeks ago Keaton came over to stay at my parent’s house and boy we were so busy “talking” and laughing, and Poppa working with him to move those legs. He was pulling himself, he had not gotten the idea yet of crawling. Just a few weeks later he is crawling like he has been doing this all a long!! Not to be to bias, but I think he is just one of the cutest little boy’s I have ever seen. Boy Brett and I are blessed with the most handsome nephews one could have!!!!

Keaton might be a football player, like his dad. Christopher said he likes to put his head up to his and push really hard against his!!! It was so cute. Let’s just hope he does not learn how to head-butt people. My little sister Bri learned that when she was little at day-care and man she could really hurt you. The other pictures are of Keaton on the move and one with his Lolly. Keaton just loves his Lolly and Poppa so much.

Before we know it Keaton will be turn 1….Connor just turn 1 in December and now Keaton. They are just growing, growing, growing. Before long they will be starting school.

Well, I hope everyone enjoys the pictures as much as we do!!!

Busy little bee!!!

Hello!!! It has been awhile since our last post, so I wanted to update. Everything is really busy these days, between school, work and the remaining plans that we have for the Wedding!!! Mostly school is what keeps me busy these days; there is a ton of work and studying to do daily. Most days I lose track of what day of the week it is, and mostly I continue to lose track of the time. There is never enough time in the day to complete everything that needs to be done. Nursing school is very exciting and I love every bit of it, even being stressed out!! I tell myself; December 2009 you will be a nurse, so just keep on going. School will be getting even more exciting in a few weeks, I start clinicals February 26th!!!!! I will actually have pt's to care for two days out of the week, and help in all of their basic needs!!! And I mean basic needs, baths, oral care, intake of all fluids and food, and much much more that I will not describe for everyone. This is going to be so awesome!!! My clinical facility will be in Bellevue, West Meade Place! This is a Nursing home on the west side of Nashville, but it is close to school. I will only be in this facility a couple of months; we will be going back to our skills lab to learn how to administer medications for the remainder of the semester.

Brett is doing wonderful too!!! He is working and working out! Hunting is over for him and baseball has not started yet. In this down time from these two he loves working out and keeping a healthy diet, which I so admire in him!! He is really well balanced and really stays strong to what he plans! We just went after church on Sunday and picked out tuxedos for the Wedding! He made great chooses and I think he is going to look very handsome!!! I do think he is getting excited that it is so close, you know when you can just tell in someone’s tone of voice and expressions, well I see it!!! It makes me get even more excited when I see him get excited about the Wedding!! He is super excited about the Honeymoon too, he just keeps saying, "I can not wait until we get to the beach!!!" He missed going to the beach last year, so he is overly excited to get there this year!!

I hope all is well for everyone! Hopefully it will not be to long before the next post, I am trying to get Brett to post a few and add some pictures for me! We got a lot of pictures to add!!


May the Lord bless you and keep you,
Hillary

I can not believe it....

Today, while I was at work, I read on the Breaking News that Heath Ledger had died.
I was so shocked, that he had died at 28 years old. I thought what in the world could have caused that, shortly after I refreshed my internet and see Drug-related. I am so disappointed to find this out. I thought he was such a great actor and I never would have seen him as a drug user. Here I am going on like he was my best friend or something. I just had a different picture painted in my mind. What a tragic thing to happen. The really sad part is that he has a two year old daughter. Well, I have gone on and on, but I was total shocked to read about this guy. I just wanted to share my disappointment. That seems to be all Hollywood is about anymore. We never see the good things.

Word Scramble

Hello!!! Sorry, I just noticed that my words looked scrambled... When I previewed it did not look like that. Hope this looks better!!!

Keaton and his family!!!!

#1 Keaton and his mommy!!!
#2 Keaton with mommy and daddy!!!
#3 Keaton with his Granddaddy!!!
#4 Keaton and Aunt Brittany
#5 Look at that face!!

Keaton during Christmas...

#2 Keaton really liked the Grapefruit!!!!
#3 Keaton and his Aunt's!!!
#4 Reindeer butt!!!!
#5 Our little present!!!

Family

#1 My Nanny with her four childern, Uncle Ben, Aunt Vikki, Nanny, Uncle David and My dad Gary.
#2 My cousins and I, Hillary Alisa, Amy Katherin, Deshawna Marie, Sarah Nicole. We were all born in the same year, I was the last of the year.
#3 My Nanny with her eleven grandchildern and three great grandchildern

My family in Memphis....

#1 The Anderson's. Uncle Bob, Aunt Vikki, Sarah, Autumn(Eric's wife), Eric, Caleb, Forest
#2 The Allen's. Amy, Uncle Ben, Aunt Gale, Laura.
#3 The Allen's. Brandon(Deshawna's fiance) Deshawna, Heather (Chad's wife), Aunt Des, Uncle David, Cody, Grace(Cody's girlfriend), Chad and Kaylee.

Christmas in Memphis

Brianne, Chelsea, Brittany, Me, and My Dad.






















#2 The "Girls"
#3 After we opened gifts at my Dad's house!
#4 Funny faces!!!!

Merry Chrismas to me!!!!

I know it is not Christmas yet, but I did get my present early… Brett got me tickets to see the Nutcracker Ballet!!!!! I absolutely adore the Nutcracker and always enjoy going to see it!! Brett got us Orchestra level sets in the middle row and middle section. It was so amazing and I had just the most wonderful time. I got a new Nutcracker doll; new mini Pointe shoes (ornament) and a ballerina in a Piqué turn (also an ornament). I have several Nutcracker dolls and ornaments that I have gotten each year that I attend the ballet and added new ones to my collection.

I love ballet; it is my favorite style of dance. I really believe that I will never be able to give this up. I have tried a few times to not take classes, but I just feel like I am going crazy if I don’t. It lets out so much stress and helps me calm down; dance is defiantly my outlet for stress and tension. What will I do when school is back in session and I do not have the time? I for one will have to find a studio that is closer to Brett’s house once we get married and I move to Old Hickory.

Our friends Richie and Sara also had tickets and we made it a double date!! We meet and went to eat at the Old Spaghetti Factory and then the ballet. While we were there for intermission we meet up (we had different sets) and were talking. Then the most incredible thing happened to us!! This couple came up and asked if we would take their picture. So Sara took the camera for the pictures. While Sara took the first picture which was very nice he turns and looks at her and is talking and trying to kiss her. She is trying to get him to look at the camera and smile. “I overheard her say what you are doing?” and then all of a sudden he reaches into his coat breast pocket and pulls out her engagement ring. Right there in front of us he asked her to marry him!!!! I was so incredible. Brett, Richie and I figured it out when we saw him reach into his coat, but Sara already knew. He had leaned into her and told her what he was up to. We all just thought he was showing her how to work the camera. She knew so she keep taking pictures of the while thing. It was so awsome and such a treat to see!!! Oh yeah and she said “YES!!!”

Hey, nice rack!!!!

This is Brett’s first buck since he has taken up hunting. A few weekends ago he got his first deer ever and it was a doe. She had a lot of meat on her and was a great size. This buck was his second deer for the season and it was a really good size buck. As you can tell it is an 8 point buck and had a great form. Brett shot this buck from about 200 yards away with a 30-06 rifle. He took it that afternoon to have the head mounted. Brett cuts up all of his meat himself and I must say it is a long process. Though it is long and time consuming he really enjoys cutting his own deer so he can get the meat his way. Brett is really, really enjoying his new sport and that is all he seems to be able to talk about. That same weekend Brett went to Arkansas with one of his best friends Marshall and his father Tommy Fuson to their duck lease. The weather was to nice so they did not get any ducks. How funny is that, the weather was too nice which means that it was to warm for the duck and they did not get any. I am sure they will be making another trip soon to get ducks. Brett has no preferences on what he hunts; just that he gets to hunt altogether!!! His freezer is packed full with deer meat and that seems to be all he eats these days. He is always on the look for a new recipe on how to cook deer meat, along with always on the look out for a great place to hunt. I also should tell you, Brett is really enjoying his hunting for more reasons then just the kill. He is such an outdoors man, so he is really enjoying the nature and its beauty that surrounds him while he is out there. He takes so many pictures of the wildlife and the forest that surrounds him. One exciting animal that he has seen are bald eagles and their nest. Which I think is so cool. Hunting has really relaxed Brett and is very calming for him. After a hard week at work it is very soothing for him to be out there and taking all there is to see in.

More post will come along after Brett’s next kill. And for those of you wondering, we are still discussing where his new deer head will be mounted in the house!!!! I will let you know of the outcome….

Our Pumpkin carving!

These are the pumpkins we carved for Halloween!! My pumpkin is the cute little one with the happy face. Brett made the scary one and Brett's friend Jennifer carved the other one. Our friends Richie and Sara also came over to helped hand out all of the candy.

Bzzzzzzzzzz.......

I did, I did!!! I did download my pictures onto Brett's computer!! The only ones I did not get were from my friends’ husbands’ birthday party... These are pictures from Halloween, me as a Bumble Bee!!! I thought it was too cute and some of the kids that it was cool too.

Something Special

This was our Youth Benediction when I was in the Youth group. I have always loved this prayer and wanted to share it!!

May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious onto you.
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Amen.

After youth was over we would circle up and across your right arm over your left arm and hold the hands of the people next to you in the circle. After we said our praises and prayers we would said our benediction. After we finished we would still hold hands and the whole circle would turn to the right and as a whole circle we would turn all the way around and still be holding hands and face the outside. Ready for a new week!!!

Oh how much I loved youth group and going. I have been hearing many people saying "May God Bless you and keep you" lately and it just keeps reminding me of Youth and I just wanted to share!!

This is so nice!!

My Aunt sent me this in an email the other day. I just got around to opening the email and this is what I found!!! A link that connects you to Xerox online and you can send tons of FREE cards to the troops everywhere!!!! All of the cards are made my school children and then there are pre-written messages or you can write your own!!! I just thought this was so nice and very thoughtful... You can also read messages left from soldiers who have received the cards. You can not pick a name or a place, so it makes it even better to make sure almost everyone will get snail mail (love snail mail) when their away from home, especially during this hard time.

I just wanted to share this with everyone and give out the link so if anyone else would enjoy sending a card they could!!


Here is the link if you want to vist:
http://www.letssaythanks.com

Hello All!!!!

Hello All!!! I know it has been a long time since our last blog and I am sorry about that. Life in all of its wonders and adventures has kept me very busy and left me little time to do ALL of the things I enjoy... Lacy I will try to get my Bumble bee outfit on from Halloween if I can. I had it on my camera and have no clue as to how, but I erased all of my 300 something pictures off. So, I hope that I have loaded them all on to Brett's computer before I did that, but I have not checked yet. What a nice surprise it will be if I did get them on his computer. I hope so because I really liked my Bee outfit and a couple of the kids that came trick-or-treating did too!!!!


Well, all is very well with us!! Just busy, busy, busy....School will be starting soon and I could not be more excited about that. I am so ready to get back to classes. For anyone who does not know, I have had to set out this semester because I have no other classes to take. I drug my feet about applying to Nursing school that I took all of my classes and then some, so no more classes. I think that could be nice but I love school and hated sitting out.

Needless to say I am so looking forward to school, not only because I am ready for more learning, but I will be learning about NURSING!!!!!! That is the most exciting part possible, LOL!!!!

The wedding plans are coming along wonderfully. I have picked everything but a Florist and I find that to be the hardest part yet. Now that school is starting I am handing all of the planning over to my mom and wedding coordinator Sarah!!! They know what I like and what I want so they are going to finish making the arrangements for me!!! Now, how great is that going to be? I am so excited for this day to come; it could not be anymore perfect. No matter what does or does not happen I know this is going to be the best day of my life so far!!!

I hope all are well and are having Wonderful Holidays with your families and loved ones!!! All are in my thoughts and prayers over these next couple of weeks and I pray everyone has safe travels!!!


God Bless!

Sunday School Christmas Party!!!

These are pictures from our Sunday school party this past weekend!!! We went Ice Skating and then to dinner at Kobe's Japanese restaurant!!! It was so wonderful and so much fun... Brett and I love our Sunday school class and love getting together with everyone... Actually we just started this class only a couple of months ago. There were classes but not anything for our ago group. Everyone is always welcome in all of the other Sunday school classes of course, but nothing for our ago group. So a few months ago we formed a class and here we are…

I did not get pictures of everyone and I am so sorry about that. I was trying to get pictures and trying to Ice Skate, which was very hard... I am not the best, but I did get off of the wall and I did skate a little bit fast with Brett (he was holding my hand so I would not fall), LOL!!! It was very sweet of him for helping me!!!

In the pictures are, Brett and I, Charlie Dean our teacher and Brett, Megan and Brian Hutto, Me and Laura, and Charlie and Jennifer Dean.

There are many more people in our class and many more that came. I just did not get all of the pictures. Next outing we are on I will get more of everyone!!!

Indiana Jones

Look it is Indiana Jones to save the day!!!!

Rockwood First United Methodist Church Youth Reunion!

A few weekends back the chrch were Brett grew-up had it's Homecoming!! Now this post is almost two months old, sorry for not keeping up with the blogging... Well, anyways we had a great time visiting and I got to meet new people that were instrumental to Brett and his childhood! We rode up to Rockwood with Brett's mom and dad and I also got to meet some of thier old friends that they do not get to see as much now that they live here in Lebanon.

After the morning service we had a wonderful pot-luck lunch provided by all of the members and a great gathering to sit and talk with everyone. After lunch several of the Youth members from when Brett was in youth meet in thier old youth class room and had a reminisce session on wonderful memories everyone had from their youth days!!

It was so great to see everyone and visit, it was also great to go to the church Brett grew-up in.

Guitar Hero

Friday night Richie and his girlfriend Sarah came over to Brett and Ronnie's house for a "date" night!! So Richie made Gumbo and the 5 of us had a great dinner!! After dinner Ronnie made us some hot chocolate and we all jammed out to Brett and Ronnie's new Guitar Hero!!! The guys went out and bought it with two new guitars the day Guitar hero III came out!!! At first I hate this game maybe because I was the worst player ever, but I decided to jump back in and try it agin!! I am still the worst player, but this time I did not get Boooooed off of the stage, LOL so it was pretty fun!!!! With the two Guitars you can play against each other which is alot of fun. I did win once, but I think that is because Sarah let me win, so Thank you Sarah!! I played Brett and of course he won!!! If you ever get the chance to play you should, it brings out your inner Rock Star!!!!

Hunting!!!

Brett's hunting gear...

I DID IT!!

I am shouting it from the roof tops, I GOT ACCEPTED!!! This pass Friday I received my letter from Aquinas College that I was accepted into their Spring Nursing class!!!! I have been so stressed because I submitted my application two months ago and had heard not one thing about it. Then, Friday October 26th, I got my letter in the mail!!! I am so excited about this and feel like I can contour the world now, LOL!!!

I have worked so hard to get ready to apply and have put off for sending in my application for consideration for sometime. At the end of the semester last spring, my parents and Brett were giving me the big push, that this was the time. I was ready and to just do it. I was so unsure that I was ready. I had all of my classes taken, more than enough but still I was so scared of rejection. It is really hard to get in to all Nursing schools and it is very competitive. Hundreds of people apply for Nursing schools everywhere and many do not get accepted their first time or at all, so I am on top of the world right now!!!

I start school in January and will finish my first semester in May!!! I can not believe it, my time has finally come, and I am going to be a Nurse!!! Thank you to all of my family and many friends who have prayed with me and for me! Thank you for all of the support also from my family and friends!!! Please keep the prayers up, because this is going to be HARD!!! That is why it is so tough to get in... I will keep everyone updated on how school is and all of the new cool things I will be learning!!!!

I wish I could have gotten a picture of my school, but I could not seem to get one to copy. I will try to remember to take some pictures in a few weeks, when I go for Orientation. Our campus is beautiful and with fall here, it will be amazing!!!

It has been awhile.....

Hello!! Sorry that it has been so long since my last blog. Life has been very busy lately and we have had a lot to do. We are doing great and we are enjoying life right now with our family and friends... I promise to post some new blog really soon. The most important blog will be of Brett and his new hobby, HUNTING!!!! He is very entertaining about hunting, he is overly excited and egar to hunt when ever he can!! Photo's and new blogs are coming!!!

Hope all is well!

We love our Connor!!!

I know most everyone has seen these pictures of Connor on The Thompson blog, but I wanted to post a couple of Connor for anyone who has not seen it. As most know this is Connor, Tara and Brad's son. Uncle Brett and Aunt Hillary just love Connor so much and never gets enough of him. I hate being in Lebanon so far from him, but I should consider myself luck. Connor's Grannie, Poppa, and An Am live in Rockwood, which is East Tennessee, so it is not just a small trip for them to see Connor.


Anywho, I just wanted to post some of the pictures Tara took of Connor over the weekend. He is just so adorable in his froggy robe I got him! He is just so full of life and excitment!! The other picutres of Connor in his Braves jump suit his dad got for him at a game that Brad, Brett, and Andy went to a few weekends ago... Connor is starting early with his baseball, he is even wearing the mit his Great Grandma Hill brought him from New York!!

Conor is just growing so fast, he will be 1 year old this December 18th!!! For anyone who wants to check The Thompson blog the address is: http://connorthompson.blogspot.com


We love you Connor!!!!

I LOVE YOU!

I so enjoy our time we spend together! Brett and I always have so much fun together even if there is not alot going on! Friday night we played UNO for like an hour and had so much fun and Saturday we worked on the garage. Those pictures will follow when we get finished. We are just so content with each other, and that is so Amazing!
I love you Brett and I can not wait until we get married!
Only 9 months and 10 days to go!!!!!

Fun, Fun, Fun at the Lake!

These are pictures of us wake boarding on Sunday!! I am so excited, because that was my first time to do it. I first learned to ski in high school, I am not a pro, but I can do it. So, Sunday I thought I would try and wake board. It took me about two tries to get out of the water, but it took a few more before I could stand up all of the way. It was pretty cool!!!! I can not wait to try again! The top picture is of Brett (he is in the top left corner) about to jump onto the rainbow puff! This was so funny, because this thing looks so soft, like a hugh pillow. Ummm it was NOT, and Brett looked like a rag doll when he hit this thing. Needless to say, we all saw what he looked like and did not try it ourselves! Instead "Indiana Brett" saw this swinging thing and connected a rope for us to swing on into the water. We called him Indiana Brett, because well he loves Indiana Jones, and you should have seen him jumping out there like him to get this rope that was out of reach. He jumped out grabbed the rope and swang back to the platform!!! LOL!!! It was so cool!!! The second picture is of me jumping off of the cliffs. I jumped from the highest one this time and let me tell you, it was scary! It kind-of hurt too when I hit the water, and as you can see I held my nose so I could stop water from going up my nose, but I hit that water so hard it jerked my arm up and well, water went right up my nose. I hate that when that happens. But, it was fun and exited after about five minutes of talking myself into it!!! The last three picutres are of Brett skiing almost, he has almost got it, me wake boarding and Marshall wake boarding!!

We had a Blast at the Lake!!! Again Thank you Marshall!!!

The Lake!

Brett and I enjoyed a nice Sunday on the Lake this past weekend with some of our friends! Marshall, Brett's college friends, co-worker, and one of his best buds, invited us out on his boat for the afternoon! We skiied, wake boarded, swam, and just had a great time! I made sure I took pictures on this trip, last time I again forgot to take any pictures. The first picture is some of
Auto-Owners finet Brett, Sherry (thier boss), and Marshall. The second picture is of Brett and Marsahll, Brett is sure going to miss him when he leaves Auto-Owners. Marshall's father owns is on family insurance company in Dickson, so Marshall will be leaving
Auto-Owners in October to start working for his dad, along with his sister who already works there! The third picutre, well we had a lot of fun on the boat!!! This picture was taken after I wake boarded!! The last picture is of the group that went to the lake Sunday, well minus me: Brett, Sherry, Marshall, and Trey! We had a Great time, Thank you Marshall for inviting us!!!

Keaton and Aunt Hillary

These are pictures of Keaton and me taken during our family get together this past weekend for Brittany's home coming. As you can tell Brett ad I love being Aunts and Uncles!!! We love our little guys so much and just can not get enough of them!!


Keaton is two months old this month, and I can barely believe it. He is still suppose to be a newborn. They just grow so fast. Before we know it Connor is going to be a year old, well in four months. Now, that is really hard to believe....

Excited to see Brittany!

Aunt Brittany got to meet Keaton for the first time this past weekend! This was their first meeting, because Keaton was born in June, after Brittany had left for Yellowstone! He really liked his Aunt Brittany and she really likes him too!


Keaton was not the only one glad she was home! My cat Socks and my dad's dog, Spartacus we're sooo glad Brittany was home. Sparty will not come in the house because he is scared my dad will give him his ear medicine(he has bad allergies), but he forgot all about that once he saw Brittany and came right in to her! All of our other animals, Sahara, Tiger, and Shamu Brittany's little dog missed Brittany very much too! She is their Best Friend, well except for each other.


The last picture I added, becasue I thought it was so cute! Spartacus giving Socks a kiss!It was just to cute not to post! We love our Manimals sooo much!! I sure do not know what I will do when I move out, without my friends.

Welcome Home Brittany!!!

Brittany my sister has made it home from Yellowstone! She and her friend Jessica, who are roommates and Kappa Delta's together at TN Tech, made it home this past Friday! They took summer jobs there, just for the fun of going out West to work! After a long drive home Brett and I meet her and Jessica at Jessica's Grandmothers to unload all of Brittany's things and take her home. I do think they were glad to be back in Tennessee!


They had a great time while at Yellowstone, but I do not know if Yellowstone will be the same, after these two left. For anyone who does not know my sister Brittany, she thinks ONLY with the left side of her brain! She loves everyone and everything, like the Big Ol' "Buffy's" (Buffalo)that are pictured above. My mother had to keep reminding her that those animals are wild and "YES, Brittany they do bite!!!"


I have included a few of the MANY pictures that she took while at Yellowstone. Oh and I forgot to mention she loves, loves, loves to take pictures. The top picture is one of her many pictures from her "Photo Shoot" her and Jessica had at Yellowstone! She even had postcards made with a few of these pictures and sent them out! The other one is of her and her Best Friend Shanoa, who flew out to she Brittany for a week! The others I thought were just so beautiful so I shared those as well!


We are go glad to have Brittany back home, we sure did miss her!!!

Connor's Rockin Worm!

These pictures are so cute!! This is Connor's new rockin worm that Brett and I got for him!! I think Connor really liked his worm! These are pictures his mommy, Tara took of him and us! I always seem to forget my camera, so I took and few of her pictures!! He has a little more growing to do to stay up there on his own, but he was working on it!! Connor has grown-up so fast, it won't be to long until he starts walking! I know Uncle Brett and Aunt Hillary will be so excited when that happens, but I am not so sure his mom will with all of the moving and such that she has ahead of her.


Connor tell your mom if she needs Uncle Brett and Aunt Hillary to keep you while she does some moving we will be soooooo Happy to!!!

Keaton and his Mommy!!

This is Keaton and his Mommy Rachel!! I wanted to post a blog for Rachel, since it is her first week back to work since Keaton was born. She is having a rough week being away from her little boy and she misses him very much!!! I will almost bet that the afternoons are the most exciting part of her day when she gets to leave for the day and go home to her baby!!! Keaton will be 2 months old this month on the 21st! He is growing so fast.


Rach it will get easier, just hang in there!

More pictures from Casey's Birthday!!

These are more pictures from Casey's birthday dinner! The top picture is Casey with her mom Ms. Sandi, her grandmother Ms. Glenda, her grandfather/Poppaw Mr. Jimmy, my brother Chris and Keaton our nephew. The next picture is of my Granny and Granddaddy, and the next is of Chris, Keaton and Rachel! Last but not least Heather, my cousin is in the bottom picture!

Happy 25th Birthday Casey!!

Tuesday August 7th was my oldr sister Casey's birthday!! She turned 25 years old that day! Casey wanted for everyone to go out to dinner for her birthday and so we did. We went and ate at Chili's and had a great time visiting with the family! Casey got great gifts for her birthday, she got a braclet that has blue topazes stones from my mom and dad, Brett and I gave her a lavender cardigan ( she loves prurple like me!!), and she got MONEY MONEY MONEY from her Poppaw, Mom, Grandmother, our Aunt and Uncle and our Granny and Granddaddy!! She was going to go to get her hair styled the next day, so she already has plans for her money!!

Happy Birthday Casey!!!!! We love you!!

Our White Water Group!

This is everyone that went on our White Water trip with us. Richie his girlfreind Sarah, Tricia, and Marshall!!

More White Water pictures!!

Sorry that it took so long to get these pictures up, they came from Sarah's water camera so I had to wait until I saw Brett again to get the disk. Anyways, these pictures are of our group at different spots on the river during our trip!In the top group picture everyone is as follows, Sarah, Richie, Marshall, Hillary, Brett and Tricia. Our guide Milfred is in the third picture on the left next to Marshall.Milfred was a great guide and I know I have said it so many times, but we had such a great trip!!!!

More pictures from Rafting!

White Water Rafting!!!

This weekend Brett and I went White water rafting with a couple of friends, Richie, his girlfriend Sarah, and Marshall and Tricia,they wrok with Brett! We had a blast, the whole weekend! We even camped in tents the whole weekend. We went down the Ocoee River and camped at Thunder Rock in Ducktown, TN. Well, Ducktown was the closets town my navigational system could find. We went down the whole river, starting at the Upper Portion, moving down through the Olympic Portion, and then down to midlle and lower portions!!! We spent like 5 hours on the water and we were worn plum out!!! Brett and Tricia were thrown from the front of the raft when we went into a rapped. All we saw were thier feet in the air and then them swimming up!! We had a great guide too,Milford and he made our trip! He keep us safe and still showed up the best time!!

Our Fireworks for the Fourth!

I bought fireworks for Justin (my cousin), Heather, Brett and I to play with during the day light. I am a sucker for the little ones, the tanks and such! Brett, Justin and I raced our tanks and I WON!!! The funny thing is Brett got his lite first and then Justin. I was having trouble, but my little tank made it through and WON!!!I have the yellow tank, the one up front!! Brett's little tanks starting shooting things out, it was so funny because we did not expect it to!!We had so much fun!!!

More 4th of July!

More of our celebration for the Fourth of July!These pictures are of Kynn, my Aunt and Keaton(his great Aunt, my dad(poppa's) sister), Brett again, Aunt Casey and Keaton, Heather my cousin (Kynn's daughter), and last Brett and I at the picnic pavilion in my Grandparents backyard!

Happy 4th of July!

This July 4th my family got together at my Grandparents house to celebrate! We went swimming and ate and shot firworks!! We had a great time! I love family gathers and spending time with my family!!

The first picture is my dad, Poppa and Keaton! Next is Brett,Rachel (Keaton's mom), Chris (Keaton's dad) and then my mom, Lolly!

Trip to the Beach

My last trip with my dad, Gary and sisters to the beach! Well, not really just as a single women! Next year it will be after Brett and I get married so we'll both go! It was a nice trip with my dad and sisters Brianne and Chelsea. Brittany could not make it this year because she is at Yellowstone working for the Summer! She is having a blast! We went to the beach and spent everyday,but one in the sand. The other day went to the waterpark, Shipwreck Island! That too was a blast!

We ate Great seafood and a ton of Oysters. Bri loves her oysters so we had to make sure she had enough before we went home! You can tell by her appetite that she is my sister. Bri will try anything once and if she loves it she will just keep eating!

We also parasailed once, which I was not the biggest fan of. Just a little scary to me, being suspended in harness over that GREAT BIG ocean. It was something to try. We also boggie boarded alot! The weather was a little cloudy and windy a few days so we had great waves and could really move! We had a really nice time!

Keaton Alan Bain

This is our newest family member, Keaton Alan Bain. Keaton was born June 21st and today he is (2) weeks old!! He weight 7 lbs, 3 oz. He is the son of my brother Chris and his girlfriends Rachel. This name is pasted down from my dad and brother. My dad's name is Richard Alan Bain and my brothers name is Christopher Alan Bain. So, now we have a Keaton Alan!!

So far he just eats and sleeps, but he is doing great!! The pictures of him in the yellow crib, is actually a "Glider". This is the coolest thing I think she got. We found it at Target when my mother, Rachel and I went to help her register for everything. It glides back and forth, fast or slow and plays soft music for Keaton!

Keaton is the first Grandchild for my parents, Poppa(my dad) and Lolly(my mom), and Aunt Casey, Aunt Hillary and Aunt Brittany! Keaton is also the first great grandchild for my Granny and Granddaddy!We were so excited for him to come,my mom and I have been so in love with Connor, Brett and my nephew, Brad and Tara's son. We could barely wait for Keaton to get here too!!!I love them both so so much.

I never knew I could love these little guys as much as I do. I now am beginning to understand how a mothers love is. I am not their mothers and I feel such a Great love for them! I always knew how great it was, but now I am getting another veiw of what it is like.A mothers love is just an amazing gift!!!

Let the planning begin!!!

Yesterday my mother and I went to our First Bridal Show! We had so much fun looking at all of the things we get to plan! Oh, but by the end of the day we were a little overwhelmed at all of the ideas. My mother keep mental notes of what I really liked and what I kind-of liked, so she has been getting our schedules ready to start planning. I have two Planners to keep me organized!

We have our church booked and a reception hall, but no photographer or catering. My mother and I have this one place in mind, they are wonderful so Brett and I have to decide if we want to use them. I am not getting my hope up for them, because who knows what could happen.

There are just so many things to plan for and so many small details! I am so thankful for my mother, sisters, and Sarah our Wedding Planner. They will keep me from getting so dizzy. There are just so many great ideas out there, I just have a hard time deciding.

Dress shopping is the next big thing!! I can not wait, it will be so much fun! I have one in mind, but I have only seen it on the website. Now, it is time to try on!!!

I will keep postings of how the planning is going, but not to many pictures. I want it to be a Suprise.
I hope all are doing well and God Bless!

Suprise!!! Happy Birthday Brett!!!

For Brett's 25th Birthday we celebrated all week!! Monday at our cook out, Tuesday at my Grandparents house, Thursday (the actually day) at his parents house, and SATURDAY a Suprise party for Brett!!!

I worked so hard to keep it a secert. Brett was so suprised when we got to the party. He thought my Granny and Granddaddy were having a party and they wanted us to come! I thought for sure that Brett had caught on a couple of times, but he had no idea!

Matt Ewing got to come down for the party and I think Brett was really suprised and excited to see him! Brett had a really good time!

HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY BRETT!!!!

Memorial Day Cookout!

Memorial Day we had a cook out and Celebrated Brett's 25th birthday! My parents and my sister Casey came over and Brett's family too! Brett grilled out hamburgers and we had a blast! Brett got a few of his birthday presents that day too! Brad, Tara, Connor, and Copper gave Brett a power drill and all of these drill bites to go with it. The big blue box Brett has ALL of the bites in it!! WOW, its alot!!! Brett's Aunt Linda and Uncle Ron also gave Brett a gift card to Home Depot, something he really loves!!! He used his gift card and bought a Shop Vac!!!

Brett and I had a great time hosting a cookout for our fmailies!! There will be many more to come!!

Yellowstone!

These are SOME pictures (they took alot of pictures) of my sister, Brittany. She and her friend Jessica, both took jobs working at Yellowstone National Park over the summer, FUN FUN!!!! Life with these two girls is a ZOO, they always have so much fun!

They took five days and drive the whole way to Yellowstone, with the help fom "IAN", their navigational system, of course. These are some of the places they stopped on the way. The first picture is a river in Yellwostone.


I can not wait to see how their summer at Yellowstone, plays out. We have to worry and hope that Brittany can hold back and stay away from all of the cute little animals! LOL!!! For those of you who do not know Brittany, she loves animals so much. My mom had to tell her "if you see a baby bear, THERE WILL BE a momma bear, somewhere around too!" I am sure she will entertain everyone there that she meets!
I will put up more pictures that she sends. She said it is BEAUTIFUL there!I am very proud of her for packing up and going on such a Great adventure!

ONE down TWO to go!!!!

Personal Achievement!


This past Saturday, May 5th I graduated from Volunteer State Community College, with my Associates of Science!


I actually finished my Associates this past December, but the Ceremony was held this past Saturday. I am currently enrolled at Aquinas College in Nashville and will apply for the Nursing program this September! So everyone start praying now. For anyone that does not know it is a hard program to get into, with 100's applying that have just as good of grades and just as good NET (Nursing Entrance Test) scores. I just have to show them I am better, so they want me! With this degree, I hope that it makes me stand out a little bit more!! So, please Prayers!!!!


Our pictures turned out better then I thought. I was raining so hard that morning and I thought it was going to flood (LOL!!) So many people came in with their gowns on that were totally wet, hair too! The ceremony was inside in the gym, so each graduate could only have five guest. My mom, dad, sister Brittany, and Brett!


Next I hope for my Associates of Nursing then one year laster my Bachelor of Nursing! Aquinas's Nursing school requires you receive your Associates first, then right into the Bachelor degree program! I am so EXCITED!!!!


I have taken my sweet time to get here but I am almost there!!! It will be here before I know it!

Our Engagment Party in Lebanon!

Hello Everyone! Sorry that it has been a while since I put up the last post. It has been busy. Finals are starting this week!!!! So, I am almost out for the Summer break.


These are pictures from our Engagement party that my family had for Brett and I. We had it at my parents house, way out in the country! Almost all of my family and almost all of Brett's family got to meet, for the first time! I again forgot pictures of the party. My mom took the ones we have.


I just get so excited and forget!


These are some of the gifts we received from friends and family. We got books that are must reads. From Katie (The Five Love Languages), Tara, Brad, and Connor(The Power of a Praying Wife and The Power of a Praying Husband)! Tara said the books she got us were really good, that she got one and thought it was Great!! I can not wait to start reading them. We also received a Willow Creek statue, "Promise" from Mrs Kim, Mr. Buddy and Hunter Williams! I was just telling mom the other day how I wanted to start collecting them.


In my post about our engagement party in Memphis I told about the champagne glasses my Aunt Gale got for Brett and I, but I did not have a picture so they are in these pictures. I wanted to make sure everyone could see them, because they are so lovely! Also, the poster my Aunt Gale started for us at that engagement party and my sister brought it home for this party. Everyone wrote us messages there! What a cool idea!


Thank you to all of our loved ones and friends for your support and love!


We are having such a Wonderful time with our engagement, we are going to have such a Blessed year!!

GO YANKEES!!!!

Easter Sunday!

Easter Sunday we were in Memphis with my dad's family. This was the first holiday Brett and I have spent together! It was very nice spending time with Brett and my family! These pictures were taken at my Nanny's house in front of her flowers that she said she killed. It was so cold outside, and her sprinklers came on to water the flowers. Oh NO.. So, she thought they had died but I think they looked good. I could not tell, but I am just learning about this kind of thing. I have always "help" my mom, but like my dad says I do not have a green thumb!!! LOL!! Oh, Brett is in for a experience!!!

Brett is the Real Estate KING!!!!

Brett and I played Monoply with my sisters Chelsea and Bri and Brett beat all of us. He started out slow, but came back in the end. He was so thrilled. I think Chel and Brett were more excited that they finshed a whole Monoply game! They said they never had before. We had a blast visting with my family over the weekend!!!

Our Engagment Party in Memphis!

Hello everyone!! Sorry, that it has taken me a couple of days to get new blogs up, I had a busy weekend and also had a paper to write for my Ethics class on Thursday. I can not wait for the Summer break. Any who, this past weekend Brett, my sister Brittany and I went to Memphis for the Easter Holiday and for an engagment party given for Brett and I, by my Aunt Gale, Uncle Ben, and cousins Amy and Laura. The engagment party was so beautiful, I thought it was amazing! They did a fantasic job and I just can not thank them enough. I do not have to many pictures of the party, I will work on getting some from Amy. I was to excited and overwhelmed to remember pictures. Brett got to meet all of my family except cousins that live in Virgina. Most of my family had a chance to meet Brett last Spring Break when we went down, but others had not. My Aunt Gale and Uncle Ben, Amy and Laura got Brett and I crystal champagne glasses with our names engraved in them! They were absolutely amazing! We will use them for the Wedding reception. Also, my Nanny, Uncle Ben, Aunt Gale, Aunt Vikki, Uncle Bob, Uncle David, and Aunt Des bought me eight pearls for my "add-a-pearl" necklace that my Nanny started when I was born. I get a pearl each birthday, so now I will have 31 pearls and one more for my 24th birthday!!!! I am going to wear them for the Wedding too!!!Let me tell you who everyone in the pictures are: from the top of course Brett and I, then my sisters Brittany, Chelsea, and Brianna. All girls for my dad, he has NOOOO BOYS!! LOL!!! The third picture is my sisters and I with my Aunt Gale, and the last one is my dad and I. I know I look nothing like my dad, my sisters do , especially Brittany. I look like my mom, and I hear that more and more these days. I did get my height from my dad, and he is even the shortest of his two brothers!

A Regular Paul Bunion!!!

I am trying to spruce up the yard for this spring and summer, so I got up early this morning to get caught up on a little bit of tree pruning. I have to make a statement this year since I am the new kid in the neighborhood. I really think that I am the youngest person on my street. I felt like I ended up taking down about half of my tree, but I had to do something to keep it from growing into my house. The ladder wouldn't reach all of the branches, so I had to climb the tree to get to them. That was the scariest part of the job. The work never stops at the Neal house. There is always something to improve. I enjoy every bit of it. I just wish I had more time to do it all. Don't I look mean with my axe!?

Go Preds!!!

Hillary and I went to our first NHL Hockey game today. Nashville Predators vs Dallas Stars. On the way to the game we passed the Griswald's on the way to their spring vacation trip. I just had to take a picure of that! Although we lost, the game was a blast! We had great seats. I found it hard to concentrate on the hockey game because the NCAA elite eight was going on. Fortunately, the guy we sat next to was keeping up with the scores on his phone. Hillary and I did a great job at acting like we knew what was going on. We really enjoyed the game. Hopefully, we will win it all this year.

Hello!!!

Hello everyone!!! So, not a whole lot going on this week. I am just still SOOOOOO Excited!! Oh, and I am still so amazed at my beautiful ring!!! It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!

School is back in session from Spring Break, so it has been a busy week. Only a few more weeks until Summer Break!!! YEAH!!!!!! I am so ready. Nursing school is right around the corner. I can not wait.

Next weekend we will be busy. Brett and I are going to visit my dad and my family in Memphis for Easter and we are having an engagment party. My sister Brittany and family are hosting it at Aunt Gale's beautiful home!

Brett and I have never spent a hoilday together, so this will be OUR FIRST ONE! I am so excited, we get to spend that time together and we get to visit with my family and friends!

The week after Easter I will have more news for all and more pictures!!!

Hope everyone has a Great Weekend, and a Wonderful Easter!!!

The Question

I'm not one for magical fantasies and mushy love stories, but here is how it went down...

I picked up the ring on my lunch break on Tuesday, March 20th. I had plans to meet Hillary that evening, but I didn't intend on giving the ring to her. I thought that I would be able to wait for a while until a more planned out scenario. I didn't even make it through 12 hours with the ring. It was burning a whole in my pocket once I had possession of it and I just had to give it to her, so I did it in my own little way.

We were hanging out at my house when I got up and covertly got the ring out of its box right in front of her without her knowing. Once I had the ring in my hand, I went over to her and starting kissing her. Don't worry, this wont get any more graphic than that. As I kissed her, I checked her eyes to make sure they were closed and I placed the ring in her had. I could tell that she was starting to realize what was happening, so I kept kissing her just to make it hard on her. Ha ha!

She didn't quite have the reaction that I expected. I thought that she might get emotional, but instead, I shocked her so much that she started feeling sick to her stomach. Thank God she didn't throw up. Then, of course, I didn't talk to her for about an hour because she was calling everybody she had ever known.

There was nothing fancy or extravagant about this proposal, but to us, it was PERFECT!

The RING!!!!

Hello everyone! Here is my beautiful engagement ring! I love it and think it is the most beautiful ring ever. I just can not stop gazing at it!!!! Brett did an amazing job!!!

We are engaged!!!!