Ihfe Invasion

Karl, Kaley, Gabe and Hallie Ihfe came for a visit the week after July 4th. We met them in Austin and we became great friends. Karl and I spend several hours a week encouraging and challenging each other over the phone.

As always, we had a great time with them. Karl and Kaley are the type of people who you can spend 4 hours together and it feels like 4 minutes. When living in Austin, Cayce and I would regularly end our visits with the Ihfes at midnight or later. It was much more of the same during the visit here.

Cayce and I were amazed at how old Gabe and Hallie are getting. Gabe has started school this fall and Hallie is a very precocious 3 year old. During the trip we were audience to Halie's unique personality and showmanship. At dinner one night, Hallie did her best impression of a waitress by standing at the head of our table and taking all of our orders. Gabe has grown into quite a young man. He is smart, a strong swimmer and is very talented video game player.

During the weekend, we spent some time at the pool, ate pizza at the famous Davenport's Pizza in Mountain Brook, took walks, Karl and I ran, skipped rocks in the river, took a roller coaster ride in the rain, and laughed a lot.

It was such a treat to share our home with the Ihfe's. They are such a sweet family. We miss them tremendously and look forward to seeing them again soon.

Celebrating July 4th at the beach!

Well, it's been too long since we've posted, but we wanted to share our summer with you. Back in July, we were asked to go to the beach with Brad, Lindsey, and Preston. Brad and Lindsey go with some of their friends each year, and this year they asked if we wanted to come along. It was a gorgeous weekend. Jason had never been to the Gulf. I think he was pleasantly impressed. The water was beautiful, the sand was beautiful, the sun was pretty but hot, and the experience was a blast.

We arrived in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach on July 3rd and made it out to the beach for a couple of hours in the afternoon. We found some shade underneath a pier, and Preston was pumped! As we looked around, we realized we might be the only ones who didn't come prepared for our July 4th day in the sun. So, Jason and I left for Walmart. We picked up a pop up tent and headed back out to the beach.

It was EXTREMELY hot on July 4th. Preston had enough of the heat and feel asleep in this chair under our tent for about 3 hours in the afternoon. We took turns watching over him. Jason and Brad setup Ladderball and played for hours with other beachgoers. Lindsey and I caught up, read, and enjoyed being together.

Later that night, we watched the fireworks from our condo balcony. We also got our own private concert with an up and coming artist, Brad Garth Brooks.

Thanks so much, Brad and Lindsey! We loved the trip!

Folla me to Lake Eufaula

The weekend of June 27, Brad and Lindsey invited us to Brad's family's lakehouse on Lake Eufaula in southeastern Alabama. It was a gorgeous weekend, and we had so much fun together. Brad was so patient when trying to pull us up out of the water on the wakeboard, skis, and a failed attempt at slalom skiing. At the end of the day, Brad took us out on his tube which "seated" three people, literally. When we took spills on this thing, they were nasty. Cayce got whiplash, and Jason thought he tore his retina.

All of our lake pictures didn't quite make it off the camera...frustrating!

Preston was pooped after a long day on the boat. He looks so cute in his little lifejacket (it hardly allows him to move), but of course we don't have any pictures on the computer.

The Yankees are coming!

In June, my parents came to visit from New York. It was their first trip to Birmingham and coincided with Birmingham's largest music festival, City Stages (which has now gone bankrupt and will never again take place).

After arriving at lunch time on Friday, we headed downtown to see 38 Special, Styx and REO Speedwagon. Although it was in the low 90s with high humidity it was a really enjoyable night.

On Saturday, my Dad and I played golf while the heat index was between 105-110 degrees and there was very little breeze. Cayce and my mom shopped and ate at O'Carr's restaurant. My parents then treated us to PF Chang's for our (belated) anniversary dinner.

Sunday we had Cayce's family over to our house after church for the first gathering of both sides of the family since our wedding. It was a fun and special day. Sunday night we went back downtown for some good music and fantastic people watching. The Doobie Brothers opened up for Lynyrd Skynyrd (Wooo Free Bird!) Both bands rocked and we had a great time.

We capped off the long weekend on Monday night with dinner at home with Brad, Lindsey and Preston. It was a memorable visit and I think that they may actually come back to the Dirty South again.

Congrats Garth and Kalli!!

Weddings are always a great time, and when one of your best friends from growing up gets married it is a very special day.

Kalli and Cayce met when they were in cradle roll at church in Birmingham. From day one, Kalli has been creating laughs and stories in Cayce's life. If you ever get a chance to meet Kalli you will never again think of her without a smile appearing on your face. I have known Kalli for only six years or so, but wow what an impact she has. I may have only spent a dozen hours in her presence, but when she and Cayce are together, it is magic. They click like friends who spend everyday together, even when they have been apart for months.

Garth is the lucky man who has captured this woman's heart. He has a shy confidence about him that works very well with Kalli's dominant personality. Garth is an adventurous traveler who will have his hands full.

Today, as I write this Kalli and Garth have been in Africa for three weeks. Garth's job has taken them across the Atlantic for the next two years and we will miss them. Cayce and I plan on trying to get over and see them during the next two years but will have Kalli and Garth in our prayers either way.

Trip To Austin...Yea Karey and Kent

During the middle of June, Cayce and I made our first trek back to Austin. We saw old friends, ate great food, experienced a little bit of Austin and saw our friends Karey and Kent get married. Karey and Cayce became friends as Community Bible Study small group leaders. She was so impressed with Cayce's choice of a red-headed husband that Karey decided to find her own...this is where Kent comes in.

Karey and Kent had their wedding at a mock old Texas town

The ceremony was OUTSIDE in near 100 DEGREE heat surrounded by a beautiful grove of Pecan trees. The surroundings were only surpassed in beauty by the bride and we had a great time at the reception getting to know a fun couple who was sitting at our table.

As always Austin was scenic. Our hotel was on the Texas campus, next door to our old church.

I was able to catch up with quite a few of my co-workers and was able to get a tour of the finished north end zone of DKR Texas Memorial Stadium.

So after a weekend of Tex-Mex, Rudy's, friends and celebration we head back to B-ham. Adios Tejas, we will visit again soon.

The Arrival of Brooklyn Williams and Visit to NY

I am proud to present the newest member of the Williams Clan: Brooklyn Ann Williams. As you can see Grandma Williams is beaming! Brooklyn was born on 05/07 and she and her Mom, Bethany, are doing well.

Big brother Dylan (3 years old) seems to be making a good adjustment and is treating his little sister well. She has red hair like her daddy and is a big girl.

Dylan was sweet before Brooklyn was born and created this bear for her at Build-a-Bear.

Unfortunately for me, I planned a trip to NY based on Bethany's due date which was May 1st. I returned home on Cinco de Mayo without seeing my niece, but Ihe had a great time. I was able to spend a lot of time with Dylan, my parents and grandparents. There was even a trip to rough and tumble (an inflatable fun house). The weather was nice and cool, there was great food (pizza, half moon cookies, and Irish Nachos), and lots of laughs.


I was also able to catch up with a few friends. This picture of Mike Mierek with his oldest boy is priceless. Mike (who is 6'4") is standing next to his 13 month old. He is the biggest toddler that we have ever seen.