Mrs. Russell's Room: End of Summer Fun!

Well, friends...the summer is officially over for me! ;) I just got back from my week long tour of the Southern US! :)

We drove all the way...in our OWN CAR!!

Um...yeah...so...Chris was focused on driving at this time! LOL! :)

It was a blast hanging out with my old friends! :)

I went to a wedding in Greenville, SC. It was beautiful! :) The reception had four different flavors of cake and an ice cream bar! I drank enough peach tea to float away on! It was delicious! Jason and Abbye were wonderful and I am so glad that I got to see them on their big day! :)

I also got to see two of my dearest friends...since ELEMENTARY SCHOOL! Elias & Debi...ya'll are too much fun! :) Oh my goodness...what a privilege to be able to keep those relationships for so long! :) The 'trifecta' continues! :)

Debi threw a party for my visit! It was TACOS! :)

We've been together since we were...8, 9 and 10 years old! :) Went through all of elementary, middle, high school and college together! Even worked at the same school when we all graduated! :)

Yeah...we're like family! :)

On Sunday, I went to church with my buddies John and Beth. Beth rushed me for our sorority in college and we've been friends ever since. John and I performed in several plays together. Great memories! Loved that Irish pub we went to for lunch! :)

I like playing chess with my students...and was totally down for playing with Calvin!
Lucky for me...lunch was served before he totally took me to the woodshed for this game!! :)

After we left Greenville...we headed over to Nashville for my bestie Ashley's birthday! :) We got mani-pedis and had a special dinner made by the best brother-in-law ever! :) Thank you, Derrick! It was so good to see my little brother, Andrew...(I have stolen him from Ashley...but I can assure you...she does not mind!) He goes to Afghanistan in February...so, it was so cool to hang before he leaves. His babies are ADORBS!

On Tuesday, our last day....We had lunch at a hibachi place!

They played a drum and asked the birthday girl to dance....so...of course...I got roped into the dancing as well...this would not be the last bit of dancing for the day! :)

Later that day, we went to the Wildhorse Saloon and sat front row for a concert by David Oakleaf & the Open Road! They were AWESOME! :) Here we are with the band! :) They were so sweet and excited to take a picture with US! Can you imagine!!! :)

It would not be Nashville without line dancing. So...

Here is the proof that I got out there and shook what my momma gave me...well...as much as you 'shake stuff' when you line dance! It was so cool to get to dance with the LIVE BAND singing! :) So much fun! :)

We finished the night with this birthday confection! :)