New Pictures

Here are some recent pictures of the holidays and our trip to Texas.

We went to Coolridge Park in Chatanooga. Joel, Kim, and Lily Kate moved there recently.
Derric did the bike portion of the Nashville City Triathalon.
Derric went to Greece with a team from Grace Community and ran sound for missionaries.
We went to the park as a family.
Team Fartlick triathalon team and their boys.
We went to Will Langmack's 1st Birthday party in Atlanta GA.

Life has been crazy and it takes too much time to load pictures to blog spot so I've been loading them to facebook instead. The Rankins family is doing well. Caedmon is 17 months old and officially a toddler. He is loads of fun. I'm getting my Masters in Legal Studies and have made it through my first class with flying colors. It has been difficult juggling life, family, work, and school but it has been fun. I'll try not to take as long to update the blog next time.

BLUE BELL ICE CREAM!

This was Caedmon's first time eating Blue Bell Ice Cream.  Needless to say he loved it!  If you haven't tried it, Banana Pudding Ice Cream is the way to go.  Mmm good.

I threw this picture in for fun.  He is smiling in this picture.  You can't really tell if he is happy or sad, take my word; this is a happy face. :-)

JOEL SMELLEY GRADUATES WITH A MASTERS

Joel doesn't update his blog often.  Actually I think he has only updated it once so... I'll do the blogging about his most recent accomplishment.  He graduated from Southeaster Seminary this weekend with a Masters in Christian Studies.  Kimberly also gradutated with Joel and received a Certificate in Women's Studies. I think Joel has been in school for about 10 years, just kidding but seriously, starting with his High School Diploma this was the fourth diploma he has recevied.  My parents, Derric, Caedmon and I all made the journey to Wakeforest, NC.  It was a 8.5 hour trip and it took us about 12 hours but Caedmon only had one melt down on the way and we chose not to travel at night.  Maybe next time we will rethink that idea.  Anyway, I'm so proud of Joel.  He already has a job with a church in Chatanooga, TN and starts Sunday June 7th.  He will be working as a youth minister.  My little brother is growing up.  After the graduation we drove to LifeWay's conference center, Ridgecrest and stayed two days.  Ridgcrest has trails and hotels and because I'm a LifeWay employee I get cheap rates. :-)

The Smelley, Rankins', and Collins' families.

Can you tell these are both "Smelley" babies?  Lily Kate and Caedmon, they look like they are brother and sister.

We had a picnic on the top of one of the trails.  It was beautiful.  Derric, Joel, Caedmon and I hiked up it and got rained on but we had a blast.

Beautiful family!

Winne's Wedding... JUDSON GIRLS!

Winne married Richmond on April 18, 2009.  That is how far behind I am on blogging.  Derric and I left Caedmon with my parents and we traveled by ourselves to Dothan, AL for the wedding.  It was a nice break from parenthood. Winnie's wedding was beautiful!  We had fun and I enjoyed seeing my Judson friends.  For those who do not know Winne was my roommate at Judson and oddly enough, we were roommates again in Nashville before Derric and I got married.

Aren't they a cute couple!

Left to right: Me, my big sister, Amanda, Emily, and Drey.

Right before her walk down the isle.

These were all the girls who attended or were a part of Winnie's wedding.

HAPPY EASTER!

My Nana bought me my first Easter outfit.  Daddy picked it out and put me in his favorite chair to take my picture.

Daddy doesn't know it yet but this is my chair now.

When we went to Caboose park Daddy put me in a swing and I loved it.  It was my first time in a real swing.

Mommy, Daddy and me at Caboose Park in Nashville.  It was cold.

I found a piece of chocolate in one of my Easter Eggs and tried to feed it to Daddy.  

I finally got the hang of Egg hunting.  Mommy forgot to get me a basket so she improvised and used my lunch box instead.  It worked just like a basket.

It took me a while to figure out what I was suppose to do but Daddy helped me out.  I had fun picking up eggs.

We went to the park with Ms. Tara, Mr. Jeff, Caleb and Luke.  Mr. Jeff was taking our picture.

Mommy likes taking pictures of me when I smile.