Ashtyn Grace is 1 already!

Uncle Scotty hangin out with the birthday girl

Sweet girl opening her birthday clothes

Our sweet niece, Ashtyn turned 1 on July 10th! Unfortunately we missed her birthday party on the 4th of July because we were at Fairfield Bay, but the day before her birthday Clay and Hope brought her over to play and eat dinner. Ashtyn was excited about her new clothes and little push toy Aunt Amy and Uncle Scotty got her. Actually, I don't think she has a clue about what's going on, but we were excited. :)



When the Burn's all left our house there were traces of Ashtyn all throughout the house. It made me laugh and wonder how anyone with children can keep their house clean. Then, I realized, who cares if the house is clean, kids are so much fun! There were finger prints all over the glass coffee table and the windows in the living room. I stepped on a spoon in the guest bedroom. I found a candle in the middle of our bedroom. A cutting board and plastic bowl drug out of the cabinet in the kitchen. Ashtyn is a MESS and I love it!!! She is just too cute for words and I love chasing her around. She's just a complete doll!

Fairfield Bay

WOW! We have been going to Fairfield Bay, Arkansas now for 16 years! My parents have a time share with Fairfield Resorts which are located all over the US but we have always chosen to go to the Natural state every year. Mom and Dad don't like traveling a far distance which I can definately understand considering us 4 kids were not always the most pleasant on long car rides. Especially me, I must admit. Paul was always breathing too heavy or Doc stunk or Dad was picking his nose, it was always something driving me crazy!!! But, looking back, I'm glad we always had Fairfield Bay.. we have had the best time up there and have made a million memories and continue to every year. It is beautiful and very relaxing there. I miss getting to go for the whole week and just veg out by the pool and EAT whatever I want ALL day long!



This year, Grandma Betty, Aunt Martha, Uncle Dave, Lara and Jessie went with us! The Boswell's actually went with us when Luke was 2, so about 14 years ago. The girls of course were too young to remember anything. I know they had a great time all week. The girls enjoyed hanging out with Luke and Paul all week by the pool, playing putt putt, bowling, playing games and I'm sure eating some yummy meals prepared by Aunt Martha and Mom.



Scott and I only got to go for a three day weekend, but we soaked it up while we were there. Hopefully, next year we can go and stay for longer. Can't complain when we just got back from a lovely vacation in Mexico, though!

home sweet home and ready to hit the road again

We made it home from Cancun Saturday afternoon and had an absolute blast but couldn't be happier to be back home! Why is that? I was dying to get out of town and needing a vacation so bad but there's just no place like home! We relaxed a whole lot and were pretty lazy.. it was great! The resort was wonderful, the beach was beautiful and we really felt relaxed and refreshed at the end of our week.

We went to Hard Rock, Pat O'Brien's, Carlos and Charlie's, Senor Frogs, Planet Hollywood, Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville and a couple other yummy seafood and mexican restaurants. Eating is always top of my list on vacation! We decided Carlos and Charlie's, Jimmy Buffet's and a seafood restaurant called Lorenzillo's were our favorites! Lorenzillo's was on the water on the lagoon side, we sat outside and the sunset there was beautiful.

Our resort was in a great location! There was a big shopping center/mall and resturants in either direction within just a 15-20 minute walk or a quick .75 cent bus ride. We shopped alot, just roaming around looking at all the junk like we love to do! We took the bus down to Market 28 one day where there is a big market that was better than the ones down by where we were and had several authentic mexican restaurants and a wal-mart that we went to to get snacks and some drinks.. it was kinda hard shopping in wal-mart in Mexico! I felt very lost! I tried to get some moouse but I couldn't figure out which one of the products it could be. Very confusing!

Only in Mexico can you:
Jump on stage at Senor Frogs and dance without feeling stupid about it the next day
Go to the "mall" in your bikini top (not that I did!!)
Go to the "mall" with no shirt at all (for the men of course)
Dance in restaurants while people are eating around you
Get offered a shot of tequilla as soon as you walk into a store to shop
Go to a drug store for medicine and walk out with medicine and an open beer for the ride back

Yep, we STILL LOVE MEXICO!

We had a very exciting day Monday, too! Our sweet Molly Jane Mentzel finally came! We cannot wait to meet her! She is just precious in the pictures I have seen. She is absolutely perfect. I know Erik and Katie are completely in love with her and are going to be the best parents! I love y'all SO much and couldn't be happier for you! Y'all are going to have the most loving, happy little Mentzel family! :) Now.. I can't wait to plan a trip to see them! Already ready to go again!

I Love Mexico!

Well, we are going to Cancun, Mexico in 7 days!! This time next week we will be headed to Shreveport to fly out for a nice relaxing week long vacation! Hopefully filled with good food, good drinks and lots of sunshine :) This will probably be my last post before leaving for vacation because the week ahead is going to be crazy. I have vacation bible school starting Sunday through Thursday every afternoon after work so, I'm packing this weekend and trying to get stuff together before Saturday gets here because I feel like next week is already gone and it's not even here yet! Maybe I'm just a little anxious about leaving for vacation, though!

I will be sad if Katie has Molly while we are gone, but I will be happy if she's a June baby so we can share the same birthday month! :)

On our honeymoon, a year and 1/2 ago, we took an amazing cruise to Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Montego Bay. We had the time of our lives but my absolute favorite part of the trip was Cozumel. I LOVED everything about Mexico! I could walk around and check out the shops for days and the beaches are beautiful! The people are so nice and friendly and everyone is just having a great time. Maybe it's the tequilla shots??? Well, anyway, it's gonne be FUN!

Peer Pressure

Hey ya'll!! Well, I finally gave in. Yep, Amy has a blog! I can't guarantee that you will hear from me on a regular basis, but I'm going to try my best. I may actually surprise myself. More posts and pictures to come!