Answered Prayers.

Police made an arrest last night for the murder of my friend, A*nne.

You can read the latest here or here.

He's charged with capital murder & police say their case is solid.

Finally.

Justice for A*nne.

Thank you, God.

Happy Anniversary!

Our wedding day: May 25th, 2002

Matt & I were married SIX AND A HALF YEARS ago today!

Wow.

60 years wouldn't be enough for me, though.

I still remember my sister telling me I was the calmest bride she'd ever seen.

And, she's right.

I was VERY CALM.

Until it was time to walk down the aisle.

I started getting really nervous...but, only because I was scared I'd have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the ceremony. (Thankfully, that did NOT happen!).

I also remember telling my dad to walk slowly down the aisle because I wanted to look at all the guests & ingrain (is that a word?) their faces into my memory.

It was my wedding day after all, I wanted to remember EVERYTHING about it.

However.

When the music started & the chapel doors opened, I practically RAN down the aisle to get to Matt...I was so excited!

When it was time to say our vows, my heart literally melted when Matt leaned over to me & whispered, "You're beautiful!".

I also remember my dad's face when he saw me in my wedding dress for the first time.

That was probably THE SWEETEST moment the 2 of us have ever shared. I almost wish the photographer had been there then to capture that special time.

Happy 6 & a half year anniversary, Matt. My life wouldn't be nearly as fun, entertaining or full without you in it. I love you!

Las Vegas, Nevada: December 2005

Panama City Beach, Florida: May 2006

Nashville, Tennessee: August 2006

South Padre Island, Texas: September 2007

Dallas, Texas: September 2007

Dallas, Texas: September 2007

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: August 2008

Columbia, South Carolina: November 2008

Dallas, Texas: November 2008

And, just because I thought this one was cute...

My 5th Blogging Award. Yay!

Kelli at "Writing" the waves of motherhood gave me this award almost a month ago & I can't believe I'm just now getting around to posting about it.

Here's what she wrote about me on her blog:

Robin @ A Day In The Life - This gal loves life. She has a great smile, loads of talent, and is one tough cookie. She's been through some crazy ordeals lately such as enduring a burst appendix for THREE months and she didn't even know it! Talk about "Grin and Bear it!" She loves her nieces and nephew to bits and has a mother's heart. I know she and her husband Matt will be wonderful parents, hopefully soon!

Kelli: Thank you for the "Smile" award! It definitely made me "smile" when I read this on your blog...(almost a month ago...ha, ha!). I'm a huge fan of your blog & I love reading about the latest happenings in your world (as well as what's going on with your gorgeous kiddos!).

So, the rules say I am supposed to award 5 bloggers...but, because all the blogs I read make me smile...I can't pick just 5. If you read my blog, feel free to post this award on YOUR blog!

Um? Busy Day, eh? **UPDATED**

While I was driving home from work last night, I realized my stomach was growling like crazy.

Like the kind of growl that if you don't eat something RIGHT THEN, your stomach must just jump out of your body & just start eating stuff.

Do you know that growl?

I was searching my car for ANYTHING I could eat to take the edge off & I found one of those bite size Kit-Kat bars in my purse, that I believe I put in there on Friday.

Whatever.

I ate it.

And, it was THE BEST Kit-Kat I've EVER eaten.

Ever.

It managed to calm my crazy beast of a stomach until I got home a few minutes later.

Then, I started wondering WHY I was so hungry. I'm one of those people who eat like 6 small meals a day. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack. Right?

I remember eating breakfast...a bagel with cream cheese.

And, I remember THINKING about a morning snack...

And, I remember THINKING about lunch...

Then, it hit me.

I never ate ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE REST OF THE DAY...with the exception of 3 Goldfish crackers.

And, I know I my stomach MUST have growled at some point during the day, because let me tell you...it HATES missing a meal or snack. I am a person who HAS to eat....or else.

But, I guess I just got so busy that I must have ignored it. Or, just didn't notice it.

I made up for it when I got home, though, by eating enough to feed a family of 5.

Seriously.

But, today?

Oh, today was equally as busy at work, but I knew I had to eat...something.

My lunch?

6 mini chocolate donuts from the vending machine.

And, yes, I could bring my lunch, but I'm always in such a rush in the mornings, that I forget or just don't have time to make something.

However, tonight I vowed to turn over a new leaf & FORCE myself to get up 5 minutes earlier to allow myself time to fix something for lunch.

But, if I know myself, & I do, getting up 5 minutes earlier will probably last for 2 or 3 days, before I realize that those few minutes are better spent wrapped up under the covers in bed.

**Day One of "Bringing My Own Lunch To Work": DIDN'T HAPPEN!!! Yeah, I know. But, thank goodness I work with my WONDERFUL husband...he brought me Chick-Fil-A!!!**

A Wedding In The Big D.

We were so excited to find out back in August, that my cousin Alice was engaged & was planning a wedding for the 3rd weekend in November...in Dallas.

A weekend of parties, family, friends, shopping & 2 nights in a hotel (if I haven't told you by now...I LOVE staying in hotels...weird, I know...but, it's so much fun to me)...we didn't have to think too hard about whether or not to go...so, we started planning!

The trip was made even sweeter when I found out Laura from My Name is Boom was also coming to the wedding & we would get to meet each other (Laura & Alice went to college together & Alice introduced us a little over a year ago).

My sister, dad & step mom drove to Dallas Friday morning to attend the bridal luncheon...followed by Matt, my BIL, Matt & my niece & nephew around noon.

I couldn't have the day off because we're short producers (we have one on maternity leave), so in order for me to be there for the rehearsal dinner, I caught the 6:30pm Southwest flight to Dallas. Matt picked me up from the airport & we met the rest of my family at the dinner.

The rehearsal dinner was fabulous...we all had a great time. But, I was so tired & was ready to get to our hotel to go to sleep. I knew Saturday would be a crazy long day.

On Saturday, we went to the Galleria to eat, shop & ice skate (more on the ice skating later). We shopped too long & RUSHED back to the hotel to get ready for the wedding. We had about 20 minutes to iron clothes, fix our hair & get dressed. But, we made it.

The wedding was about 25 miles away in Sunnyvale. It was at the groom's parents house & it was BEAUTIFUL, but very COLD...because it was at 5pm, in November, on a lake.

The reception was equally as beautiful...and, thankfully INSIDE the house!

We ate, danced & just had a really great time. And, I got a chance to talk to Laura (well, I actually meet her at the rehearsal, but we didn't have much time to chat).

After the reception, we all went back to our hotel for the nightly cookies & milk "party" (as well as some pizza & fries) & talked until about 10:40pm...and, then it was time for bed.

Sunday (this morning) we went to a brunch at Alice's mom's house for a few minutes before Matt & I left to meet my childhood friend, Lauren & her husband for lunch in downtown Dallas.

We got on the road around 1pm & made it home this evening (after picking up Maisy from my MIL's house...where we learned that Maisy's new favorite food is marshmallows!).

As always, I have tons of pictures to share...so, here you go!

Matt & me at the rehearsal dinner.

My sister & me at the rehearsal dinner. Do we look alike?

My sister, Riley & Jackson ice skating.

Riley HATED ice skating (or roller skating as she called it). My sister had to lift her up over the rail so I could grab her & take her skates off. As soon as I got her in my arms, she says "I don't want to roller skate today!".



Riley & her Mop (or Moppie as she called him all weekend) watching my sister & Jack skate.

I love this picture!

My cousin, Alice & her dad walking down the aisle.

The bride & groom.

The vows.

The rings.

The first kiss as husband & wife.

My sister & me at the reception.

My sister, step mom & me.

My sister, Alice & me. Doesn't my cousin look so pretty?

Me & Laura. You guys, this girl is AWESOME! Love her! We had a really good conversation about all kinds of things. It was so great to meet her. And, don't worry, Laura, we'll keep in touch for sure! We have to come stay in the room with the crooked TV!!!!

(Sidenote: Am I really that white in person? And, why must I always look like I'm 16 years old? Yeah, a 16 year old with crow's feet. Lovely.)

Matt & me at the reception. I like this picture.

Riley being cute while we ate pizza, fries & cookies.

My friend, Lauren & me after lunch today. It was great to see her again (I hadn't seen her since her wedding in Dallas in September 2007). It was a perfect end to a wonderful weekend!

1,400 Miles, 7 States, 3 Days. Wow, I'm Exhausted & I Really Didn't Do Anything!

Part of Matt's job at work is operating our satellite truck on the road...whether it's breaking news, severe weather, sports or just regular everyday news.

Our sister news station makes a lot of the sports assignments & a few months ago, asked us to send our truck to the Arkansas Razorback games in Kentucky & South Carolina.

When Matt told me he was going to Columbia, South Carolina, I immediately e-mailed Kim (because she lives about 2 or 3 hours away from Columbia), told her the date of the game & asked if she & her husband, Andy, could meet us there for the game.

She replied with a "YES!".

So, we made our plans & we were so excited to get to see each other again THIS YEAR!

However, a week or so before the game, she told me her dad had accidentally booked their company's annual fly fishing trip for the same weekend. It couldn't be changed or they would lose their deposit & understandably, Kim felt obligated to go because it's a family-owned company.

Even though I wasn't going to get to see Kim (or so we thought), I still went with Matt because on our way back from SC we were going to stop in Atlanta, Georgia so Chris & I could meet.

The 2 of us had been planning this meeting for a month or so & I was super excited about it!

So, last Thursday, we took Maisy to her 2nd home (Matt's mom's house) & hit the road...in our station's big, huge satellite truck...that had NO cup holders & NO reading light...but, that's okay.

We drove from Arkansas to Nashville, Tennessee, where we stopped for the night. We got to the hotel around midnight & were up again at 6:30am Friday morning to drive the rest of the way.

We drove from Nashville to Knoxville...



to Asheville, North Carolina...



and, finally, to South Carolina.



We got to Columbia around 4:45pm (Eastern time).



On our way, we got to enjoy some really pretty scenery. We didn't have time to stop & take pictures, so I had to take them through the truck windshield.





Once we got to Columbia, we drove straight to Williams-Brice Stadium.

That's where the rest of our sports team was waiting to edit the video & interviews to send back to our station & do live shots for our 6pm & 10pm shows.



This might just be the greatest idea EVER. There's a railroad track that runs alongside one side of the stadium. Someone came up with the idea to buy the track & the cars & turned it into the coolest tailgate area I've ever seen. Whoever it was, decorated the cars to match & then rents them out for $200,000 a piece. There's like a 10-year waiting list to rent one of them!



Aaron, Pat & Jason doing live shots for our local newscast on top of one of the cars.



Game Day: Razorbacks v. USC Gamecocks! This is a view of the stadium from inside the press box. I used my wide-angle camera lens.



Me & Keith Jackson. He's the commentator for the Hogs on the radio. I am a HUGE fan of his.(Back in his day, he played ball at Oklahoma & then went on to play in the NFL).

His son, Keith Jackson, Jr. was a defensive lineman for the Hogs from 2002 to 2006 (I think I have those years right).



Me on the VERY TOP of the stadium...(Can you just see the crows feet around my eyes? Seriously! I guess that's what turning 30 does to you!).



Matt & me on the VERY TOP of the stadium...of course, Matt blinked!



I love this picture!

My press pass allowed me to also get on the field...which I did before the game to get pictures of the team practicing. I realized after the game that I didn't go back on the field during the game! Duh! I don't know why I didn't.



I call this picture the "Heisman pose"!



Casey Dick...the Starting QB...practicing & getting evaluated by the QB coach.

A backside shot of Casey!



The whole team.



The game...from the press box.



You can't see him, but Matt is standing on the roof, right above the "O" in "Carolina".



And, YES...KIM ENDED UP COMING TO THE GAME!!!!!! They got on the boat at 5am for fly fishing, only to have the captain cancel the trip because the waves were too high.

I got a text from her at 6:04am saying she & Andy were on their way to Columbia!!



The game from where Kim, Andy & I sat.



Kim & me after the game...before she & Andy left to go home. It was SO GOOD to hug her & see her for a few hours! As soon as they left, I instantly missed her. I love you, Kim!!!!



Kim realized that we have the EXACT SAME WEDDING BAND! Seriously. I had to take a picture so people would believe us. Our center diamonds are different, but the band is the same.

After the game, our sports team put their stories together & did live shots for our TV station. Then, we all went out to dinner. We should have been celebrating another "W" for the Hogs...too bad we lost to USC! (That was for you, Andy!).

Matt & I got up at 6:30am Sunday morning & began our 14 hour drive back home.

On our way, we stopped in Atlanta,



...where we met Chris, her husband & her new baby girl for breakfast/brunch. Her 2 year old daughter was with her aunt...but, I will get to meet her next time! Anyway, it was so good to finally meet Chris. She's been through a lot lately, health-wise, but she's a fighter & an inspiration to me & many other people. She's still working through all of it, so if you remember tonight or in the next few days, say a little prayer for her!





Me & Miss Brooke.



Chris, me & baby Brooke.



Matt, me, Mike, Chris & Brooke after our yummy breakfast!



Slowly, but surely, we made our way back home...driving through Alabama...



...where we drove past Talledega Super Speedway (Ricky Bobby, are you there?)...

...through Mississippi & Tennessee...

...and, FINALLY, into Arkansas & HOME!!!

The trip was a blast! It was AWESOME to get to see Kim & meet Chris. Plus, I got to see the Hogs play, get to know the other part of our sports team from NW Arkansas & spend some quality time with my husband.