~ THE RUNNELS ~

February 28, 2011

New Blog!!!!!!

Since I am sooooooooooooooo behind on this blog, I decided to start another blog to document the next chapter of our lives, my pregnancy. Once I get caught up on the baby blog (yes, I am already behind :/), I will start updating this blog again. My goal is to combine the two blogs in the future so I can have the blog books made. Please just bear with me...it will be completed one day!

Until then.....

Please check out my new blog:

www.runnelsbaby.blogspot.com

December 6, 2010

Shutterfly!

Shutterfly is having a 2010 Holiday Card Collection promotion. Don't miss out on this awesome deal! All you have to do is blog about the promotion, show the photo cards you like the best, & you get 50 FREE photo cards! You can learn about it by clicking here: http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/

Shutterfly has a huge selection of the cutest Christmas cards. I have found so many that I like, it is going to be so hard to chose.

Here are a few of my favorite Christmas photo cards:

*Merry Memories Chartreuse*

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*Peppermint Bliss*

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*Peppermint Dots*

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*Seasonal Chic*

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*Splendid Tree*

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*Dotted Collage*

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December 5, 2010

Ashley's Wedding

~ May 28, 2010 ~

My friend Ashley married the man of her dreams at Aldridge Gardens. I had the honor of being a Honorary Bridesmaid as well as the Wedding Director. This was my first wedding to direct & I had a really fun and challenging experience (due to the weather).

The wedding party met at Aldridge Gardens at 9:00am for a quick rehearsal by the waterfall where Jeremy proposed to Ashley. Later that afternoon it started pouring rain & didn't stop until right as the ceremony started. So, we had to make last minute changes for the ceremony to take place under the Arbor...it ended up being a beautiful & perfect ceremony!

{Collage: The Beautiful Bride, the Bride & Bridesmaids(top right), the Bride & Honorary Bridesmaids(bottom right)}

Mr. & Mrs. Jeremy Kimbrel

The reception was an absolute BLAST!

We danced the night away with DJ Spencer with Feel the Beat Entertainment.

Congrats Ashley & Jeremy!

November 14, 2010

Amanda's Bridal Tea

~ May 23, 2010 ~

We had Amanda's Bridal Tea at the Ross Bridge Town Hall. My mom did a great job decorating, we even used the wreaths that were on the church doors at my wedding for the glass doors at this shower, that was special to me :)

Granny, Mom, Amanda & I

The Bride getting ready to open gifts!

Bradley & I gave Blake & Amanda these flutes to use at their wedding, they had their initials & wedding date on them, exactly what she wanted :)

Amanda got wonderful gifts...and of course gift cards, her favorite!

November 13, 2010

Blake's Tools & Gadgets Party

~ May 8, 2010 ~

My in-laws, Jim & Aimee Runnels, hosted this party for Blake & Amanda. The party was the day before Mother's Day so most people were out of town but there were a good number of friends there & we all had a great time :)

We had coolers of "beverages," yummy appetizers & TONS of food.

Time to open gifts...

Blake got a lot of really good gifts so he was happy!

Bradley, myself & my parents went in together & got Blake the refridgerator he wanted for his office.

Thanks Jim & Aimee (and Annie too), everything was wonderful!

September 30, 2010

BFRS Graduation

~ May 7, 2010 ~

I attended my little brother's graduation ceremony from the Birmingham Fire & Rescue Service Department. Brandon completed Recruit School with all A's & is now a FIREFIGHTER with the Birmingham Fire Department.

We are so proud you Brandon!

I cannot believe my little brother is all grown up :(

They showed this slideshow & I think every eye in room shed a tear!

It was just a small glimpse of what these firemen do on a daily basis. I think it really hit every person (especially the parents) as to how dangerous this profession can be...but how rewarding it can be also.

Brandon with his Certificate of Achievement :)

I LOVE this picture...Brandon is so proud of his badge!

Since the ceremony was at 9:30am on a school day, Blake & Amanda couldn't attend, and Bradley already had a big appointment scheduled so he wasn't able to attend either...but mom, dad, papaw Buck, grandaddy & his wife, Uncle Eddie & Aunt Patty, and myself were there.

This is one of my favorite pictures of the day!

September 23, 2010

Mini-Baby Shower

~ May 4, 2010 ~

A few years ago I was lucky enough to become a part of this wonderful group of ladies!

We try to get together at least once a month for dinner and to just catch up. For the month of May we decided to throw Ashley a mini-shower for baby Westin (her second child).

{Our little group (minus Ashley D and her daughter Kearstyn)...and in case anyone notices, my shirt was really big & flared out after running to get in the picture...just wanted to clear that up since it looks like Im preggo but Im NOT}

I absolutely LOVE this picture of Ava Reese touching her mommy's tummy!

Lauren cooked this yummy Lasagna with Texas Toast.

And Jami made these delicious brownies.

After dinner, it was time to open presents. Ava Reese had so much fun with the tissue paper...she was making us all laugh so hard!

We all went in together and got the precious "Little Hoot" Pack 'n Play she wanted and then we individually brought a little something extra for baby Westin! {I got him the green and brown outfit with a matching bib and hat}

Ava Reese putting Brantley Rae's paci in her mouth...she is going to be a great big sister!

Brantley Rae is just precious & was so good the entire night!

Ava Reese was definitely the "life of the party" and entertained us all night. Her daddy taught her to say Roll Tide (yuck!)...which was hilarious because she would say ROLL really loud then say TIDE in a quiet whisper-like voice.

We had so much fun and I look forward to the next get together! Love you girls!!!

September 9, 2010

Pirates and Ninjas vs. Ovarian Cancer

~May 1, 2010~

Laura Crandall Brown was a dear friend to so many, she was so much fun to be around & her smile would light up the room!

Just weeks before her wedding {Nov. 8, 2008} they found out that the results from a tumor {11cm x 13cm} she previously had removed (along with her right ovary) was malignant. Just 13 months after she was married, Laura passed away from ovarian cancer.

The Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation was created in Laura's honor by her family & friends to carry out her legacy to provide funding in support of research in the early detection & treatment of this "silent killer".

Please take time to read Laura's story {under "About Us"} then click on "About Ovarian Cancer" for information on causes, risk factors, symptoms, etc.

For centuries the rule of the dark underworlds has been disputed in a fierce war between Pirates and Ninjas. Now an even darker evil threatens each group’s very existence and after so many years of malice for one another the two sides are compelled to join forces to combat Ovarian Cancer in the name of Laura Crandall Brown in the 1st annual costume party.

Bradley & I dusted off the old costumes we wore to the Pirates vs Ninjas Party we had every year in Auburn.

Great entertainment by The Vegabonds and DJ Rafa

The stand-off for the best in costume...

Laura made the cover of the Birmingham Bombshells "A Picture of Health" 2010 Calendar.

When the clock struck midnight, officially making it May 2nd, Roy made a toast to Laura for her 26th Birthday!

We had so much fun!

This 1st Annual event raised $14,000 ... it was a huge success!

Joining the pursuit for early detection ~ the chance to fight it, to beat it, to live.

Follow Laura's story through her Caringbridge site:

www.caringbridge.org/visit/laurabrown

September 5, 2010

Joint Baby Shower

~April 25, 2010~

My friend Ashley & her sister, Sarah, are both pregnant at the same time so their Mom & Grandmother threw them a Joint Baby Shower. Ashley's baby boy (Westin) will be here in July & Sarah's baby girl (Maggie) will be here in May. I thought their shower invitation was precious & so creative {the address & phone number is blurred for privacy}.