2008 Jenkins Family Reunion

We had our 2nd Annual Jenkins Family Reunion in October. We kind of had a lock in at the Homestead in Lakeland and spent the weekend together. Eating and drinking and having a ton of fun. We spent Friday night cooking a huge Mexican dinner and waiting for Ben and Emily's flight to get in. Saturday, after a late night arrival of the DC'ers, Belle woke them up with a loud and slightly off key version of " Rise and Shine" to which you heard an muffled..." oh my goodness"...We spent the day hanging out and cooking and eating and just spending time together. Saturday afternoon we had a Pumpkin Carving Contest. Although there was not really a contest, I would have to say that The Bork Pumpkin would have won for traditional pumpkin carving rules. the Jenkins Pumpkin would get the most ridiculous pumpkin...since Ben tried to woodglue the ears onto the side of the pumpkin...HILARIOUS....the Pirtle Pumpkin would have won scariest pumpkin in halloween history. Hudson wouldn't have anything to do with it..I think his words were " Belle Pumpkin Scary." We cooked out steaks later that night and just spent the night and evening together. It was a wonderful evening with many amusing points throughout the night. Sunday we got up and had breakfast and took the 2008 Family Picture. Belle and I went fishing and spent some quiet time together...having a blast and we wish that it could have never ended...it was a WONDERFUL weekend and we love our family and cannot wait until next year. God Bless us for such a wonderful family that is full of love and support, kindness and acceptance, patience and faith

University of Memphis Football

One of the most important things to us in the fall is spending time with Dad and Carolyn at the football games. Belle cheers so hard and loves going to the games. I love spending time with Dad and CJ and watching the game with them. Belle spends time with the other kids that sit with us also. Here is a picture of Belle and I at one of the games. This game was on ESPN and the minute we got to our seats they did a sweep of our section. Belle thought she was SO cool because she was on TV!

Our House

Belle and I moved into our house in June. I know that these pics are a little over due, but here they are. We love the house and the neighborhood. Belle has lots of friends that she plays with and loves riding her bike all the time.

I have a horse themed kitchen, a Memphis themed living room, a family themed dining room and entryhall and a New York Themed bedroom. Belle's room is going to be horses.

Rader Family Reunion - Fish Fry

On Saturday, Belle and I loaded up the car and headed to Missouri. We were to Grandma's house for a fish fry/reunion with the Rader Family. We were excited to see everybody and to hang out. We got there around 6 or so and had dinner and just kinda hung around and visited. Belle on the other hand, as you can see from the pictures, was teaching her cousin's how to play poker. At one time I believe Hudson got in on the deal and was getting ready to raise Belle's ante. LOL. We all went to bed late and got up early the next morning. Some of us, yours truly to be exact, earlier than others be cause those airbeds are tricky. I believe that CJ told me that I fell out of it twice and then I just gave up and woke up and gave Belle my covers. LOL. Belle and the kids went to the neighborhood park and played and then we had the fish fry. WONDERFUL!!! Lots of hard work went into that. As you can see, Wayne and Uncle Bob worked real hard to cook that fish and Joe( not pictured) supervised. Chris was the official taste tester.

After dinner and the requisite naps....thank god they are NOT posted....Wayne took me out on his Harley. My first ride in 6 years... it was AWESOME. Belle got a little scared and was very mad at me when I got back, but I let Wayne take her out to show her how safe it was. Of course they were in the parking lot.

Whitney and I got to spend some time together, which was awesome and CJ, Cher and I posed for photo sessions.

New York Sunday May 25, 2008

Sunday was the most awesome day of all. We went to Rockefeller Center, F. A. O. Schwarts and then to the Yankees Game. Which was AWESOME!!!!! We had so much fun. Our seats were behind the Yankees dugout and just incredible. We cheered and yelled and did the wave. It was so awesome seeing my boys win the game. How cool that our FIRST Yankees game and they win? It was just incredible. I was so excited seeing them all play and let me tell you, You will see in the pictures, Belle is wearing a Yankees Jersey that has Derek Jeters name on the back. Everytime he came up to bat or did something awesome in the field she yelled her little heart out. I have given birth to another Yankees Monster. LOL. We left the game and went walking through Central Park. We then went back to the hotel and had a little rest... we were quite tired and then went o dinner and this wonderful place called Playwrites that was around the corner from the Hotel. It was great. We had a good time and then we went home and crashed to rest up for out last day in New York before we caught the plane. Needless to say, we had a WONDERFUL time. Just wonderful. Something that we will all remember and treasure for the rest of our lives.

A big thanks to Dad and CJ for making this most awesome thing possible. And for making my 30th Birthday the best I have ever had. Thank you both and we love you so much.

New York - May 24, 2008

Hey Everyone!! As you know, Belle and I went to New York over the Memorial Day Weekend. We had so much fun. On Friday we kinda just got settled in and had dinner with my frien Neely and got an early night. Saturday Ben and Emily joined us and we spend the day perusing New York. We saw the statue of Liberty, Battery Park, Wall Street, Fifth AVenue and many more things... Here are just afew pictures of the stuff we saw and did on Saturday. This picture is Belle's first subway ride. She tied herself to the bar so that she wouldn't fall. The girl has smarts I tell ya. Smarts...

Ben and Emily's Wedding Events

As many of you know, my best friend in the world, my little brother Ben, got married this summer to the most awesome chica I know. Cher and I decided that we wanted to throw a Bridal Shower for Ben and Emily. Cher graciously opened her house to all of Ben's family and friends and we had a great time. We made a special drink, called a Bemily, for Ben and Emily and we just gathered around and enjoyed the evening. Ben came home the weekend before the wedding to spend some time with us. We surprised Dad. CJ and I had gone shoppping for some last minute stuff for the wedding. We preteneded that I had bought some shoes for Belle and needed CJ to check them out, so we came over to the house around 9. Having picked Ben up from the airport about thirty minutes before. He sat in the car while Belle and I went in the house and showed Dad the shoes we had picked up. About five minutes later, Ben walks in the door and taps Dad on the shoulder and said "Hey, you guys got plans for the weekend?" Dad was so surprised he couldn't get up off the couch fast enough. It was awesome seeing Dad be so happy. It was a terrific weekend. We just hung out and had a cookout the next day. It was a wonderful time to spend with Ben just before he was a married man. Ben and Emily had a wonderful wedding and it was a great and special weekend. I cannot express how terrific her family is and it was such a great meshing of the two families. The rehearsal dinner was so much fun and I am so honored to have been granted the responsibilty of getting everything together, with the help of my wonderful step-mother, Carolyn. Brad, Emily's brother, nad I had been e-mailing bac and forth for months and decided that we wanted to do something for Ben and Emily from thier brother and sister, so we wrote a song, to the tun of Tupelo Honey by Van Morrison. Great song by the way, one of my faves. But, I digress, We wrote this great song, about them and the things they did as kids and do now. It was hilarious. Then I had made a slide show, with lots of editing help and donations of photos from Emily's family and friends and Ben's friends. It was great. Everyone enjoyed it. The wedding itself was held at a beautiful place called Congress Lake. It was set overlooking a lake and it was bright and sunny and serene. You could feel all of God's love and the love from those who were not able to be there with us shining down among us. The service was beautiful, and I must admit, I cried. even Ben's best man said he couldn't look at me because he was afraid that I would make him cry. Ben and Emily were surrounded by all those that love them and we had such a great time. I am so thankful that Emily is part of our life and she has become one of my best friends. The little sister that I always wanted. Belle was the flower girl and it was just a splendid weekend. I cannot descrive it any other way.