Introducing...

Lulu Huffman

Born: May 29, 2009

Color: Silver

Over last weekend Travis and I travelled to Missouri for his Ten Year High School Reunion! Long road trip but we had a blast! Much to our surprise, we came home with an addition to our little family! Her name is Lulu! We both have fallen head over heels for her!!!! She is a lover and cuddler and sleeps through the night!!!! Potty training is starting to take its toll on us but we still lover her! Here are a few pics!

Update...

It has been too long since I have posted. In the last few months we have been super busy. Travis finished the baseball season in mid-May, with a record of 22-27. Since then he has been keeping busy working on camps at school and picking up extra shifts at the YMCA. I survived another college graduation, in the rain nontheless. We both have turned a year older not sure if wiser applies. I spent another great beach week with the ladies of the family. We have a few trips planned in late July and ready to spend some quality time on the road together. Here are some pics from beach week! We hope everyone has a great 4th of July and I will hopefully take some updated pictures of Travis and I!

The funniest picture ever!!!! Are you sure we are at the beach and not Alaska?

Me and my Giggy!

3 Generations of Strength

I love being an AUNT!!!

So I am still updating from my trip to Florida to surprise my grandmother. I got to spend some quality time with my TOO cute niece Mia. She is hilarious and sweet and I miss her tons...Enjoy some photos from the trip!

Mia and her lovely aunt at Chili's before I came home!

She loves to play horsie and almost gets thrown off...

I am ready for church!!!!

Oh no you didn't!!!!!

Surprise!!!!

Today is my grandmother's 81st birthday. The fam celebrated it this last weekend and I flew in for the weekend to surprise her...as you can tell she was!!!!

We went and got our piggies pretty...had to take a picture of the fun times at the salon!!!

81 never looked so great!!!! I hope I am as beautiful as her when I am in my 80's!!!!

It was a great weekend!!!! Love you Giggy!!!!

We interupt this family...

Yes baseball season is definitely here!!!! The monarchs had a tough weekend against Rutgers at home...but the weather was fantastic. Hard to believe we had a snow day on Monday and then 80 degree weather and wearing shorts! Gotta love VA weather.
The team travelled to South Carolina yesterday and will be playing the Gamecocks tonight and then traveling to North Carolina to play UNC-Greensboro. So 3 whole days without a husband...what will I do? NOTHING!!! :) I will keep you updated on how these games turn out...Hope all is well...(Oh and a thank you to Momma Jill for this Too True plaque we have in our family room)

SNOW DAY!!!

For the 1st time in 3 years...I had a Snow Day and they actually cancelled classes for the day! It wasn't too bad but Travis said the roads weren't the greatest...Yes I stayed in my pjs all day long. Loved it!!!! Here is a pic from our balcony. See this this nothing compared to KC!!!! But I will take a snow day anyday!!!!



Due to inclimate weather the team hasn't been playing all of their games...Right now they are 3-4 for the season. They travel to ECU tomorrow since it is too cold today for them to play and then home games this weekend! Hope all is well!!!!

We are underway...

Well after a good weekend at Wake Forest the Old Dominion Monarchs are now 2-2. They split with Marshall, lost against Wake Forest and beat Akron. It was a good way to start the season and now the road trips begin. The team left this morning for an afternoon game against Virginia Military Institute and then on the road again tomorrow against Longwood University in our old town of Farmville!!!! I bet it hasn't changed too much! I will let you know how these games go!

Also, please think of Landon, Travis' brother. He flew out this morning to be deployed to Germany for about 6 months. Katie and Nolan stayed in South Carolina. Please keep them in your prayers.

Let the Games Begin!!!

Hello all! Welcome to the 2009 Old Dominion University Baseball Season!!!!! The Monarchs are travelling to Wake Forest today for the first games of the season. They will open with playing Marshall at 2:30 on Friday afternoon. They will again play Marshall on Saturday at 11am and then face off with Wake Forest at 6pm Saturday evening. For the last game of the weekend they will face Akron at 11am. So it will be a busy weekend of games, unfortunatley I will be unable to attend so I will try to keep everyone updated. If you would like more information on the team and stats go to their website at http://odusports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/oldd-m-basebl-body.html

Things are getting busy around here! With Travis coaching until 7 or 8 at night and me trying to accomodate late evenings and working crazy at CNU, it will be a quick Spring. We will keep you all updated on how this weekend tourney goes! Hope all are healthy and safe!

New Furniture!!!!

As much as I have loved having hand-me-downs, I think I was ready to get a new sofa and loveseat. We have had a couch that had been in my family for about 15 years and it was lovely but old! Travis was surprised when I told him that I had found furniture over Christmas Break with mom and that we would have it by the end of January. When it came through the door of our apt yesterday, Travis was impressed with my decision making skills! However, we are both torn to what to do with the old furniture. We wanted to donate it, however, since the couch is so broke in, we are wanting to keep it for a bigger apartment/house for the spare room. So we are torn. Here are our new additions to our lovely apartment! More pics to come of the rest of the place!



The LoveSeat

The Couch

Christmas 2008

Yes I know it has been a long time since I have written!!!! It has been a very busy Holiday Season for us!!!! Travis and I traveled to South Carolina to visit his brother, sis-n-law and nephew for 2 days before we drove to FL to see my family. We went to the Festival of Lights and of course the Adam Sandler song comes to mind. It was a great visit and that is the first few pics.

Travis says that he is blinded by my beauty...I think not. But I love it that he is so happy to be in a picture!!! LOL

Nolan ready to go see the lights for the 2nd time!

Once we arrived to my mom's house it was a whirlwind of a visit! With this being the first Christmas without my grandfather I knew it would be a tough one, however we knew he was spending it watching over us!

The Annual Christmas Eve Picture...Me Momma Jill Travis and BubbyI remember when we were growing up and on Christmas Eve we would go to Christmas Eve Service, then out to dinner and then home. We had to get our family pictures taken, have Perry Como on the radio singing Christmas songs, batteries in the camcorder and the cameras....then we could open the gifts. As much as I hated it growing up...I am glad we did it that way...except for the cheesy Christmas singers...they were really annoying...Sorry mom!!!!

3 Generations...Love this picture!!!

Me and sis-n-law Valerie...She is a hoot and I miss her already!

Now that we are back in VA where the weather is cooler than I enjoy, we are gearing up for baseball season!!!! Yes its that time of year where I lose my hubby for about 4-5 months! But at least I have some things to look forward to...1> New Family Room Furniture!!!! 2> Re-Vamping Dining Room Table and Chairs 3> Visits from Momma Jill, Dad/Debbie and maybe my bro!!!!

We will keep you updated better...part of a New Year's Resolution that I never do!!!!! Happy New Year and I hope you had a safe and blessed Holiday Season like us!!!!

Thanksgiving

Well, Thanksgiving was odd this year. Travis traveled to MO with his bro, sis-n-law and nephew and I traveled to KC with my bro, sis-n-law and niece. It was our first trips back home in over 3 years so it was a nice time for the both of us. I miss the snow from KC but not the ice. Travis enjoyed spending time with his parents and his brother all in the same place! I can understand that!!! Here are a few pics from our trips...

Travis, Landon, Nolan, Katie, Jeanne, Tim, Tony and Katie

Josh, Dad and Mia enjoying push-ups
Mia seeing all of her B-day Presents

Amber, Me and Jeska out on the town

The Holidays are Coming!!!

Well...it's been a long time since my last post...Next week is Turkey Day (not my favorite food day) and Travis and I will be spending it apart for the first time since we go married. He is going home to Missouri with his brother and sister-in-law and nephew, and I will be going back to Kansas to visit my dad, bro, sis-in-law and neice!!!! We both haven't been back in over 3 years so it will be a nice visit! Back to why I am not a BIG Thanksgiving Day fan...I love the parade and the family gatherings but not a huge turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes and all that kind of food. Growing up I was a VERY picky eater and on Thanksgiving I would only have a plate of: carrots, brocoli, ranch dip, pickles and rolls. That was my Thanksgiving meal. After my mother would slave and sweat in the wee hours of the morning cooking this HUGE meal, that was my thanks to her for making this awesome meal...now I am still leary on the turkey, stuffing etc...But my fam is nice enough to have a small ham on hand just for me. ( OR I like to think its only for me).

There will be more pictures to come after we all meet and enjoy family. I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and safe travels!!!

Introducing...

Introducing Mr and Mrs Marlatt!!!!!

Well, over Labor Day Weekend Travis and I traveled to Ohio for my cousin's wedding! It was such a busy weekend but so much fun!!!! I was the Matron of Honor and was very honored to be next to her...sobbing!!!! It was a beautiful ceremony in the back yard of their house...needless to say I am sniffling as I type thinking of all the allergies!!!! Anyways...Here are few pics from our fun weekend...

Monica and I at the Bridal Shower (she was nice enough to let us stay at her house)

Me and Giggy

Whitney, Me, Kait, and Monica

I could not forget me and my BEST FRIEND Alyvia! I miss her so much!!!!

Don't know when the next time we will be able to get together...hopefully soon! Congrats again Whit!!!!

WEDDING!!!

I am so excited!!!! Tomorrow Travis and I are flying up to Ohio for my cousin's wedding this weekend!!!! I am so happy for Whitney and Chad and honored to be her Matron of Honor!!!!

School has now started so it has been more hectic than ever and I am loving it! The baseball boys are back so Travis is starting back with the workouts and training, so he is getting busier by the day!

We are trying to move to a new apartment by the end of Sept, still waiting about the paperwork but if we get the one we want it will be in Hampton, VA. This will be more centralized for both of our jobs and a MUCH bigger living space with CENTRAL AIR and DISHWASHER. Oh the finer things in life!

Hope all is well!!!! OHHH My super adorable neice Mia said 'Mama' for the first time over the weekend!!! 8 months old with tons of teeth and talking and almost walking!!!! She is a sweetie!!! Can't wait till she is talking our ears off!!!

Soon to come more pics I promise!!!! Hope everyone has a safe but fun Labor Day Weekend!

HMMMM

So lately Travis and I have been enjoying ourselves...He has been working hard at the YMCA and working on the field in his spare time, waiting for camps and I have been helping with transfer students and orientations. Very interesting stuff!!!!

Mia started crawling last week and is getting 3 more teeth!!!! At only 6 months she is an early bloomer!!! I think she will be very smart! :) She is the most content little one I have ever seen and I am not just saying that because she is my beautiful neice!!! Josh and Valerie are doing great and getting ready to move...only if we lived closer!!!!

That's pretty much all that's going on...we'll keep you informed!

BEACH WEEK!!!

We have been going to Kitty Hawk, NC for over 50 years!!! It was a bittersweet vacation. It was our first time going without Gompy but also our first vacation with Little Miss Mia. We had a wonderful time of laughing, crying, and relaxation! I had a great birthday party with hats and a Mexican Fiesta! Who could ask for more? We are already planning for next summer!!!!

Me and Giggy...notice the resemblence?

Miss Mia ready to go to the beach, showing off her cute swimsuit!!! Mom and I at dinner, beautiful view!

Bad News

So just got the text from Travis and they lost both games in the tourney. So ODU's baseball season is now over. They lost yesterday to James Madison 6-1 and then again today to Towson. I don't know today's score, but a loss is a loss. So they will be heading home tonight and I finally get my hubby back!

Baseball camps start up the second week of June and some special days are coming too. At least we have something to look forward to! Our 2nd wedding anniversary is right around the corner and it seems like our 10th!!!! :) We are both turning 27 and that is a step closer to 30! WOW!!!

Only 15 more days until GIRLS WEEK @ the Beach! So excited, wished it was tomorrow!!!! We will keep you posted from mid 70's Sunny Portsmouth, VA!!!!

Tourney Time!!!!

Hey all!!!! Today the ODU Monarchs open the CAA Tournament playing the 2nd seed James Madison University at noon in Wilmington, N.C. Travis said that they beat JMU 2 out of 3 games during the season so it should be a good game. I will keep you updated on how they do in the tournament!!!! Have a great Wednesday!!!!

Season Almost Over

Hey all!!!! I know it has been a long time since I have last blogged. It has been a busy 2 months!!! In the last 2 months Marty and Jim, Tim and Jeanne and Harold and Debbie have visited, Mia has been dedicated, had a losing streak, broke a losing streak, witnessed a ODU baseball record and survived registration week! Needless to say we have been busy!!!!

Travis is just coming off a week of NO BASEBALL!!! Yes he hasn't had a game in 8 days! It has been pretty strange with him around the apartment in the evening!!! It was ODU's week of finals so there wasn't too much practice. The next 3 weeks are going to be very hectic with season is getting closer to the end. ODU will be home the next week and a half and then away for a weekend and then off to the CAA Tournament in Wilmington, N.C.

I am gearing up for Graduation here at CNU and it is crazy seeing students trying anything to graduate on time!!! So I am proofreading diplomas and helping with different projects around the office to keep me busy.

I am counting down the days until my 2nd wedding anniversary, my 27th birthday and Travis' 27th birthday! Only 33 days until my mom, Giggy, Aunt Julie, Megan and Jeana come into town to go to Nags Head for a week at the beach! I can hardly wait! It will be a much needed girls week and a vacation. It will be the first Girls week at the beach so it will be special and sad. Everyone in the family is doing well. Mia is over 4 months old and laughing hysterically "from her toes" from what I am told. I miss her so much and all of our family around the U.S.

I hope everyone has a great week and I will try to keep blogging at more of a regular basis. Thought this picture of Travis (on the right) and the Head Coach Jerry was pretty good!!!

A Hard Goodbye

How do I start? On Friday Feb 29, 2008 the best grandfather anyone could ask for passed away and went to the place he has been studying, teaching and preaching about all of his life. Gompy, as us grandkids called him, was a strong man in God. He never preached to us for doing wrong, but always had the faith in us to do the right thing. I know that I can speak for my family in saying that he was an amazing person. He was married to his high school sweetheart for over 60 years!!! They were so precious together and I hope and pray that I have a marriage like them. They were so in tune with each others feelings and goals in life and I will treasure those traits. I had the the best gift from him on Travis and my wedding day, his blessing and also him presiding over the ceremony. I feel so blessed knowing that he was so happy Travis and I were getting married and wanted to bring our lives together as one. Even more of a treat was that he used the same wedding vows as he did on his wedding day to my grandmother. With this I am so blessed and thankful and will cherish it always.

He is greatly missed even in the last few days, but we all know that he is happy now and not in any more pain. He has touched so many lives in his 80 years here and it was very apparent at the calling hours and his memorial service.

We love you Gompy and thank you for being such a great grandfather!!!!