proud aunt!!

I've clearly been on a blog hiatus for unknown reasons.
but I'm back and with a collection of pictures of my sweet Jelly Bean.
Dane, Jean & Hallee Jae came over for lunch today after church.
we had a good time eating & spending time together.
of course, we had to take some pictures of our sweet girl.
so here are a few of them.

you could say that I'm one proud aunt :)

life as a college graduate

graduation.
yes, as you may have heard, I am now officially a college graduate.
as of May 5th, I have my Bachelor of Science in Visual Communications Design from the University of Evansville.
it's so crazy, but exciting all at the same time.
and I know your next question... "So, what are you going to do now?"
well, I don't have any plans at this very moment.
I am enjoying my time off from school and real responsibility.
I plan on putting applications in at lots of places in lots of cities.
and I'm putting the rest in God's hands.
only He knows what's going to happen.

my favorite college professor, Larmann [he taught me everything I know about painting]

getting my diploma from President Kazee

delicious cupcakes for the mustache bash

my awesome mustached friends

4 out of 5 roomies

UE graduate

graduation was wonderful.
so many of my awesome family and friends were able to be there to celebrate this milestone in my life.
it felt so good knowing I have so many people who will always support me no matter what.
we had a "mustache bash"/shrimp boil at my campus house afterwards.
it was delicious and so much fun.


22.
since graduation, I've celebrated my 22nd birthday.
I had a wonderful lunch with my momma.
got to go out for dinner and a movie with my awesome friends.
and then I went out the next night for dinner at Red Lobster with my parents.
overall, nothing too special.


my momma.
lastly, I know I've almost missed the boat, but I want to mention my momma.
I know Mother's Day was yesterday and I should have done this then, but I didn't, so I'm doing it now.
everyone likes to say that they have the best mom, but I'm pretty sure they are all wrong.
my mom is the best.
she's always been there for me, no matter what.
even when we don't see eye to eye, she's always there supporting me through it all.
she loves me unconditionally.
I have been blessed with Christian parents who have set a Godly example for how I should live my life.
there are so many people who don't have that, including some of my best friends.
I'm so glad I have parents who are able to step up and be parents to those who don't have an example at home.
I've also been lucky enough to have lots of "mommas" in my life who have had a positive impact on my life.
Mama Mel, Aunt Marsha, Grandma Freda, Grandma Linda, Gigi, Mrs. Small, Aunt Denise, April, Leslie, BO.
the list really could go on and on.
I'm so thankful for the people God has placed in my life, especially my family.

my momma, the new 'grammy'

17 days

there are 17 days left until graduation.
wow, I can hardly believe how fast this semester has flown by.
it feels like just yesterday it was starting.
my classes are going well, but it's getting to that point in the semester when things are piling up and I have a million and one things to do.
today, I spent the day in Louisville, KY on a field trip for class.
we went to Power Creative, a graphic design firm.
it was so awesome.
they are on a huge campus with so many designers.
my favorite part was the huge in-house photography studio.
plus a giant prop room full of awesomeness.
I think I would pick that to do if anything.
however, I don't think I'm qualified to work there.
their main photography guy used to work for National Geographic.
and their photography intern is from SCAD (really awesome art school).
so I don't think I stand a chance.
but I would like to be taking pictures all day every day.

also, new in my life, I'M AN AUNT!
my brother and his wife had their baby girl yesterday morning at 12:19AM.
her name is Hallee Jae Whitlock.
she weighed 9lbs 2oz, and was 22in long.
there were a few issues right after birth, so she's been in the NICU.
but things are looking better.
she has already won me over and stolen my heart.
I already know that she will be super spoiled, especially by me.
now that I know her name, I can start buying her things with her name on it.