Catching Up On Brittany

Well Hello!

It has been way too long. 

Let's catch up!

Today is all about Brittany.

     Brittany - is turning 26 on Friday! For those who do not know, she is a graduate of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and is a NICU nurse. She had been commuting almost an hour and a half to work to a hospital in another town for a year, but thank goodness, she was offered a position at a hospital here in Raleigh. She started orientation last week and will be in the NICU unit in a few weeks. I am so thankful that she is no longer having to drive so far to work, especially after working twelve hour night shifts. I worried about her constantly.

   I thought after Barrett (18) went to college in August, life around the house would be sad and lonely. I was not looking forward to being an empty nester. I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to do with myself.  Well, I have a confession to make: I am not an empty nester just yet. When Brittany's lease to her apartment was up in August, she moved back home to save money.

     So there is life and activity still going on here in our house! In fact a lot of activity and planning is going on because Brittany is engaged! 

     

     After almost nine years of dating...on September 11....in Nashville...Mr. B proposed! 

(Mr. B was formally know as BF1, but he no longer a BoyFriend.)

first date: Homecoming Dance 2006

summer 2015

Sept. 11 2015

Mr. B is temporarily working in Nashville - he'll be back in Raleigh in March.  Brittany went to visit him that weekend.

That night after he proposed, our family spent a lot of time face timing.

 facetiming Brooke in DC



This is the picture that Brittany and Brandon Snapchatted their group of friends.
They wanted to see who would be first to notice the ring.
I am guessing the girls noticed first!

When Brittany got home from Nashville it was time for show and tell and some picture taking! 

Lola approved!   

  

She couldn't stop smiling or looking at her ring. She has been waiting a long time for this!

      The date has been set for October 29, 2016 - so we have almost an entire year to plan. 

We already have the venue, band, photographer and dress. We are working on our guest list and on the florist right now. With so much time, we are tackling one thing at a time. More on these things and the process in the upcoming Wednesdays (Wedding Wednesdays)! Woohoo, I have something to blog about!!!!

Exciting times around here folks!

Stay tuned! 

Graduation 15

Will I ever catch up here?

We finally have slowed down and are getting into the summer groove.  We have Senior Sunset, Graduation and Barrett's Senior Trip to Europe behind us.

Before leaving for graduation, we took some pictures in the front yard.

My aunt, my mom's sister came.

Graduation was held in the school's high school gym.

Me? No tears!   Sisters? Tears!  My girls are a mess!

Afterwards we came home and let Barrett open her graduation presents and then just hung out together....Family Time is my Favorite Time!

 Brooke painted her a ram (UNC Chapel Hill's mascot) and also painted Barrett in her prom dress.
Brooke is very talented and I am hoping  trying to persuade her to open an Etsy store!

The next day we hung out by the pool. It was so much fun having everyone together. I love how my girls and their guys choose to spend a lot of their time together.

 Giant Jenga has been a great investment!

This is how the Odoms snack!

That night we took Barrett to the Angus Barn for her graduation dinner. Such a great way to end the graduation weekend. 

My Last Prom (2015)

I am back!  

I took an unexpected and unplanned blog break. No real reason except for the fact that life has been really busy here and also full of some unexpected surprises.

I couldn't decide if I should start where I left off - or start where I am now and then spend the next few weeks catching up on birthdays, snow days, remodeling, road trips, college decisions and a trip to Italy.  

I have decided to start where I am now and then go backwards and catch up.  

This weekend was prom weekend for Barrett.  This is my eighth and last prom with my girls! 

Barrett's school has three events on prom night.  Her school hosts a banquet where dinner is served. I love that everyone gets to have dinner together and the hassle of making dinner reservations at restaurants for large groups isn't a part of prom night.  Second, a parent committee hosts the dance in second location. Third, there is a breakfast hosted for the junior class and one for the senior class at a student's house.  Art and I hosted the senior breakfast this year. 

Since Christmas, I don't think I have thought of (or worked on) anything else.  It was a bit overwhelming at times. There are 150 students in Barrett's senior class and planning the after prom party at our home for this many people was at time a full time job.  I was so nervous planning the menu and the amount of food to serve. 

So glad it is over. 

Barrett ordered several dresses on line in February. She went back and forth on which one to keep and wear and in the end made a fabulous choice.  

Brittany and Brooke made sure their work schedules worked out so they could be here to help Barrett get ready and help me prepare for the Senior Breakfast.

(The two boyfriends were here too!)

The big sisters took their roles very seriously. 

(You gotta love these shoes!) 

Barrett's friend group met and took pictures at the NC State Arboretum. 

(soccer girls)

The Odom Family

(xoxo)

(These two were voted Best Dressed in the senior class 

and this is the picture that is going to be used on the senior superlatives page in the annual.)

Limo time!

**************

About 75 prom goers showed up at our house just after midnight.

The Senior Breakfast was officially held from midnight until 2:30AM.

We were so busy making pancakes, I didn't get a lot of pictures.

We served biscuits, sausage and gravy, chicken strips, hash brown casseroles, fresh fruit, homemade cinnamon rolls and two kinds of pancakes.  There was also a coffee bar, punch (fresh fruit), and chocolate milk. 

We had heaters set up outside because it was chilly and set out baskets of blankets. 

Giant Jenga was also out on the patio. 

(Not sure what this guy changed into - it was some kind of camouflage/feathered set of overalls.)

Around 2:30 I took this picture of our den full of kids - still eating and having the best time talking. 

After everyone left and we did a little cleaning, we got to bed around 4:00AM.

I am still recovering from lack of sleep, but feeling so good that the weekend is over!!!

Barrett's senior year is almost over!