For a Look back in Time.....

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Pandemic, 5 years ago!

CRAZY to think this was 5 years ago!

March of 2020 turned into the most confusing, scary, hard, straight down in the History books time that is just unbelievable that we went through.

The Pandemic STILL, 5 years later, has an affect on me.

I still get anxious when I am in close areas with groups of people. I still want to social distance as I hug someone or even talk to them.

I still use hand sanitizer like its going extinct!

So, April of 2020.....this was the world we lived in!

I went back and looked, and this was what I put from back in April of 2020: Our Life:

Tyler: Missing in action! You can find him...at work...or turkey hunting!....or golfing...lets not forget golfing too! :) {Though...he did take this picture of us!} haha! :)
Alexis: 10,000 questions....'Can I......do this .....do that...eat this...have this snack....this...that....that...this???' {Her questions mainly consist of... Can I have a mid-morning snack?, Can I eat lunch?, Can I have a dessert?, Can I have another snack?, Can I have a Popsicle?, Can I have another Popsicle?... ..Can I ride around the neighborhood?, Can I go to someone's house?, Why cant I go to someone's house?, Can I go to.... you get the idea}
Lily: Living life! Riding her bike nonstop, jumping on the trampoline, playing anything outside, drawing with sidewalk chalk and still wanting to do her school work too!
Me: Well....you get the idea! :)

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

National Honor Society!

Super proud moment for Alexis today!

We were cordially invited to the induction of the National Honor Society!

Us parents got to attend the ceremony and then the reception afterwards to honor the Juniors that were inducted.

I have to say, seeing the small amount of students, made me so extra proud of Alexis because knowing how much extra circular activities she does, she still puts grades and school as a big priority.

So, on the April Fool's day, no jokes here.........she is a smartie! :)

So proud!

Cant believe her Junior year is winding down!

Monday, March 31, 2025

The rest of our week and Spring break weekend!

We ended our Spring break with keeping it REAL low-key!

We caught up on rest and laundry.....and relaxing!

We enjoyed supporting Cassell in her little business and a girl's lunch too!

Tyler and I enjoyed biking.......................and watching Auburn the whole time to make it to the Final Four for basketball!

We soaked up Spring break nicely!

Then and Now, Cali style!

May of 2021, same beach, same girls............just younger and now with Tyler!

Gosh how they have grown!

Same beach, and this sassy thing showing off!

LOOK how little Lily was! Ah!

And now.......my gracious they have grown!

Friday, March 28, 2025

Heading home and reflecting!

We had such a great trip and it was so good for my soul to see Blake and his cute little family and how well they are doing in California. I know it is tough for Lana, etc...and Nannie just does not like that they are so far away but to see how they are thriving and how well and happy they are, I am so glad that they are living the life they want and making the most of it!

Now, I sure did....I told both Goldie and Hank that I was packing them up in my suitcase and bringing them to Alabama with me. But, hey, Im thankful that we got the opportunity to see into their cute little life and enjoy time with them! We will, for sure, be back and cant wait to see them again!

We had brunch with Goldie and Margie before we headed to the airport! It was SO good! Blake was at work and Hank at school. It was good to eat/hang with them since we had a later flight. It worked out perfectly for us to head to fly home and back to our real world!

These three girls loved being with each other! Goldie LOVED Alexis' hair. She kept running her little fingers through it and just staring at it! ha!

And...she LOVED me! This girl would not want anyone else but me most of the time and I SOAKED it up! OH, it was the best! ha!

We had the best Spring break! Loved that we had the opportunity to go!

Day 4!

Our day 4 consisted of our road trip adventure!

We got up early, and hit the road to LA!

Now....here's my problem.

I usually drive. What I mean by this, we take my car alot of places and Tyler doesnt like driving my car because it is 'small' for him. Well, I put the rental car in my name because I did the rental.

Well, when we got to the Hertz counter, the lady told us that all cars, suv's were not available and that we were going to have to wait (an indefinite time) (like hours) for a car. We had already heard the people in front of us, in line, get really..........really mad, so we were prepared to not have something.

Well..............

we get to an agent.....

she tells us there isnt anything available. (despite me already paying and picking out a vehicle) but then out of nowhere.................she goes, but I do have a jeep.

Tyler is like...we cant do a jeep, we wont fit (he was thinking like a two door, small (normal) jeep)

She goes, no, I have a four door.

We took it!

It changed our lives!

Forever!

We all want a jeep now! :)

It was the BEST part of our trip. Crazy to say, but it was! :)

So, the problem is.....

Tyler would not let me drive it. He LOVED it. Which meant, the agenda I had for the road trip, went right out the window..................literally.

We were 10 MINUTES from the Hollywood sign.......but we did NOT go see it............ he drove me right to Rodeo Drive............then turned away..............

He highjacked the road trip. We did not do or see anything I had planned................

(I do have to say, for the record........I am still a little bitter about it...like 10 minutes from the Hollywood sign, and he couldnt take the jeep there...............)

but......

OH WOW!

We did things that we would not have gotten to do and see if he didnt do his own agenda and us have the jeep!

We took off up the Beverly Hills mountains...................took off through Topanga mountains (that we deemed it the new name of 'Hippy Hills') and ended in Malibu!

The views were just unbelievable!

We had the best day cruising down the coastline with views that pictures just cant show!

We got back to their house in time for dinner and then crashing!

It was a good day!

So, the start of the trip, I still had control...

we started out, in Laguna Beach! The view!

So, learned something...

I have been to California a lot, now, and always wondered why it was always so foggy and cooler...even in like the middle of the heat part of the day. (not just the morning time) Well, I asked the question...this time, and got the answer of the 'Marine layer!'

So, that now explains...the fog and the coolness. Hince, the picture....with the marine layer!

Very rocky and dense!

To keep our road trip going, we hit a McDonalds (because we had been eating all places not like we have at home) Well...I found REAL sweet tea! Everywhere else, it was NOT so this McDonalds.......was fabulous! ha!

Hince, palm trees...and a sweet tea picture because it made my day! (and is a rare sighting!)

We went down the whole coastal highway which was incredible! All the beaches, Huntington beach, Zuma beach, Long beach, etc.

Here, we went right through the Formala One rack track! It is in April so they were busy setting everything up. That was super cool to see! This is some of the stands ..........and still the marine layer.

So, this picture.....

is the start of where I lost control of the agenda!

We were literally looking at all the amazing and HUGE homes in Beverly Hills of who knows the rich people/actors live....

to this.

He took off to a HUGE mountain. We were making turns....turning on roads that barely fit our jeep. Missed turns and had to back up and go a different way. It was crazy!

Well, we come to a part where I kept seeing all of these cute free little librarys that I finally told Tyler I wanted to stop at one and get a book. I found this one, I thought it was the cutest, so Tyler pulled over (mind you, it was a tight space to pull over to) and I got out. I left the door opened because I was just going to run down and get a book and be right back. Well, when I got out, I heard a womans voice say 'hey'....I didnt see her but I said hello back. Went to the little library. Next thing I know...I see the jeep reversing backwards...with the door still open...coming down to me. Then, Lily rolls the window down and says..'Momma, get in quick!' I grab a book....and jump in as they are all telling me that a women is mad at me and is probably calling the police. Im like, no...I said hello to her....she is fine. They were like...no she isnt...

well, as we are pulling off...I see her peek out from behind a bush...so I roll my window down (as the girls are like...nooooooo....and I tell her hello (again) and that I was just getting a book. She just stared at me. Sooo....yeah, that was an experience! ha! BUT, no police came and got us........ me. :)

This is the only view I got of Beverly Hills....the Hollywood sign.............

but, it was worth it!

Then, we ended around where the fires had broke out about 3 weeks before. It was hard to see. Just insane how massive. How one home would be standing but the others around it, gone. We saw where it was just sad. We couldnt go on some roads because the National Guard, with their huge guns, stopped us and would not let us through. It was heartbreaking. Now, granted most of the homes were INSANE...like some movie stars 30th home they own...but still, sad to see all the damage.

We came up on this horse trailer just all burned up. I didnt take any pictures of the homes, out of respect.

The views were insane!

A guy and his dream!

No marine layer here...for sure! Nothing but blue skies, warmth and those views!

Love this picture!

Then, once we were on the other side, we hit Malibu! Back to the marine layer and cooler! I cant believe the girls and I were there a couple of years ago...and now Tyler got to check out the Pacific Ocean. It for sure is not the same as what we have around us!

We got back to the Murphys in time to have dinner and crash. A fabulous last day!

Day 3!

Our day 3 was so fun!

We got to check out Hank's little daycare! See his friends and then we hit the park with Goldie to enjoy the morning!

Then, Tyler and I had a date lunch and Margie, Lily, Alexis and Goldie enjoyed their own mini morning of girl's time that included Margie shopping with them and them learning all things makeup, etc from her! :)

Then, we all met up, Blake got off work and we hit the San Diego Zoo Safari!

So cool!

Rounded out the day with dinner and soaked up more time with everyone!

Up first, just him and me............

and the jeep!

We had the best time!

See how much I loved the jeep.

Two things I do not care about....

Beach hair, dont care

Jeep hair, dont care

Tyler and I cruised around and saw the most incredible views of the California Orange groves! There are just no words for our fun morning! Wind in our hair, music blasting and taking curves and views that were crazy! :)