I love you, Athens

I've yet to blog about my trip to Athens last weekend. It's no secret that I wish I was living there but I will just have to settle for frequent trips to stay with my sister! Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? That's always been my motto. I was lucky enough to visit two weekends in a row so this upcoming weekend is bound to pale in comparison! 

Two weekends ago I finally got to see my sweet girlfriends from college! I'm still shocked we settled on a date and everyone could come in to town. Thanks to Liezl and Kellie for having us over and for letting me over stay my welcome as usual. Let me say, my girlfriends can cook, y'all! I love that we all bring food instead of going out - we get to spend much more time together catching up and have yummy food at the same time. It is so wonderful to hear about the big changes happening in everyone's lives. I am so blessed by these ladies. Love you girls so much!

Oldie, but goodie! I don't have one with everyone - missing you Liezl!

This past weekend I headed to Athens on Friday to spend the weekend with Haley. Chris was working so I headed out around lunch on Friday to try and beat the traffic. I got into town before Haley got off work so I couldn't resist stopping by Goodwill before I headed to the house. Actually, I stopped at both Goodwill's now that there is one on the Eastside! Just another reason I need to move back! I can't believe we don't have one here in Dalton. 

I didn't score anything ridiculously awesome, but I am so excited about what I did find. I've been searching for something to use as a utensil crock but am really picky about what I want. I found this gorgeous blue ceramic vase and I knew I had to have it! I bought this American flag tray and I can use it in several ways - in a classroom, on the wall, for July 4th decoration, or as a tray on my coffee table (where it is currently sitting). I can't turn down anything with a flag on it, y'all. Just call me Aunt Sam. Lastly, I found a stack of twelve almost new dry erase boards for get this, only five dollars. I couldn't leave without it and I'm glad I didn't. I knew it was a good score when a teacher in line behind me bragged about what a great find it was! Now, I just need a classroom to use them in...

Saturday we headed to Atlanta to a baby shower for one of Haley's friends. Is there anything better than a baby shower? Seriously! There are babies everywhere and I am loving it! I can't wait to buy more sweet baby things for my honorary sister, Beth, in the coming weeks before her baby boy arrives. Saturday night we stopped in at my cousin's house to visit with them. Matt spoiled us with a delicious dinner as usual and I got to hang out with my favorite girl!

Sunday morning was spent lounging around the house until time to head to the UGA Women's basketball game. Dad has been wanting to go for a while so Haley bought us tickets for the game against Texas A & M. The girls have been doing well but unfortunately they didn't pull out a win on Sunday. Of course we love them anyway!

Elaine, this one is for you! That hair is looking crazy! 

I love my people. Here's to another great weekend! Stay warm, safe, and have a great one, y'all!

This Christmas

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Chris had to work until Sunday evening so we drove home to Habersham on Christmas Eve morning. We started the festivities by spending Christmas Eve with Chris's extended family. This is probably my favorite of our holiday get togethers. I'm no stranger to a big family, seeing as I have more first cousins than I can count. However, the difference with Chris's family is that they get together all the time. It's always a blast!

There's so many of us that we do several of our get togethers in the fellowship hall at the church. My favorite part of Christmas Eve (minus the thirty foot food table obviously) is the present game! I guess it's a version of the White Elephant game - where everyone gets a number and you can steal a present from anyone who went before you. Every year there are a couple of hot ticket items that get stolen (and then hidden) several times. This years hot gifts were a BB gun, a knife, a Hunger Games board game, and a pair of binoculars. I've yet to steal anything from anyone, but maybe next year! We ended up with a crock pot and a bird feeder. Yep, that sounds about right!

After the get together we headed back to my parents house where I received one of the best gifts ever from my sweet dad. I've told you all before that I'm a bit of a hoarder. That includes keeping old things and adding other old things to my collection. Basically, if it's old, I want it. I've been looking for the perfect church pew for a couple of years now. I have seen them occasionally but either they were too big, in too bad of shape, or too much money! I mentioned it to my dad and asked him to keep an eye out for one and to let me know if he ever saw one. So, Christmas Eve night he and Chris had to go "unload something" at dad's shop. A few minutes later I hear them stomping through the house and this is what they brought in:

Sorry for the iPhone picture, y'all. Yes, again. 

To say that I was excited is a gross understatement. I was in shock and totally surprised. And let me be honest with y'all, that doesn't happen very often! Just ask Chris how hard it is to keep a secret from me. I can't believe he knew and didn't spill the beans! That's a first! The pew is absolutely perfect. It's the perfect size and it is in great shape! Of course carpenter Pete took it apart and put it back together to make sure it is nice and sturdy. For now I love the look but when we have a house I may paint it a bright color or stain it darker depending on it's permanent home. Maybe something like this: 

Via My Old Country House

My Old Country House has some great decor ideas so you should check it out. This is similar to my style. I love the photo wall above the pew. For now, I will make room for it in our little condo but I can't wait until we have a home to decorate! I really will be blowing up this blog then! I have big ideas, y'all. 

Anyway, back to Christmas! We woke up before sunrise Christmas morning to head to Chris's house to do Christmas with his family. We always open presents together and have a big breakfast. We gave a copy of our wedding videos to his parents so we watched it with everyone. Since his grandparents weren't able to make the trip it was fun getting to watch the video with them! Chris's parents gave us a freezer so we are excited to have some extra space at our house. Cue the Sam's trip!

After Christmas with Chris's family we headed back to celebrate at my house. This year we had more surprises than we usually do so that was fun! There seem to be less surprises as you get older! Of course there were many wedding related gifts given all around. We gave my parents a matted and framed family portrait to hang at their house and I can't wait to get it up! I'll post a picture as soon as we get around to it. It's amazing how as you get older you get excited over different types of things. Who knew you could be so excited for a freezer, vacuum, steam mop, and silver ware?

Chris had to go into work at six on Christmas night so he had to head back to Dalton. I stayed here and headed to the Dillard House to eat with my family. Yesterday Mom, Haley, and I shopped around town for some after Christmas deals. I bought some clearance decorations, wrapping paper, labels, and storage containers. Now, I just hate having to wait until next year to use it all! I'm about to get ready to head to my best friend's rehearsal dinner! The wedding is tomorrow and I'm so excited! Can't wait to tell you all about it!

Love,

My favorite person

Okay, y'all know I'm super sappy and this post will be no exception. I want to dedicate a post to my favorite person... and no this post isn't about Chris (a loud gasp comes from all the newlyweds out there...) That post will come about a month from now so be on the look out if you're a fellow sap :)

I want to tell you about my favorite person: My sister. A few weeks ago a sweet friend wrote the best thing about sisters on Facebook. It's been on my mind ever since and is partially what led to this post. That, and the fact that my sister got an awesome new job working in the Terry College of Business at UGA! I know, I'm jealous too! I couldn't be more proud of her! She'd been looking for a job for a while and I have no doubt that God picked this job especially for her. His plans never cease to amaze me. The only thing that would make it better would be if I could be in Athens with her! Who doesn't want to work in the heart of the greatest campus on Earth? Okay, back to the point. 

Haley and I are almost six years apart and I cannot thank my mother enough for planning it out that way! Every family dynamic is different but ours couldn't have worked out more perfectly. I definitely want my kids spaced a few years apart too. We each had our time to shine and got all the attention we could ask for. It's so nice knowing that we both are "the favorite." I absolutely love watching home videos and looking at old family photos from when we were little. It seems like Haley was my mother because she was always dragging me around like a doll baby and taking the best care of me! Thanks for twenty two years of chicken nuggets and mac and cheese, Hal!

As we got older we gradually started to like each other less and less... to be expected I suppose. We were always in totally different seasons of life but I was always thankful to have someone around who went through everything before I did. When I hit high school and Haley was in college was when we began to get so close. I could call her to ask about what teacher to take for Math, how to tell mom and dad I hit something in my car (several times), or ask for advice about friendships. I'll never know if it's nature or nurture, but the older we got, the more alike we became in almost every way. Even our parents get us confused sometimes because we are so similar.

In the midst of all our silly scuffles growing up dad always said, "You two will be so thankful for each other one day," and he couldn't have been more right. I don't know what I would do without my sister. She has a place in my life and my heart that no one else could ever fulfill. She's my best friend, my biggest fan, and my rock in this crazy world. When something great happens she's the first person I call, and when my world feels like it's crashing down around me she's the one person I want beside me through it all. She has the kindest heart of any one I've ever known and would do anything in the world for me. I've gained friends and lost friends but through it all she has been the best friend I've ever had. I wouldn't have made it through these last two years without her to calm me and bring me back down to Earth.

We joke about our mom being best friends with God and "choosing" to have two daughters. I'm not sure which one I should thank more - I thank God everyday for my sister and I hope my parents know just how grateful I am for the life and love they have given us both. We wouldn't love each other so much if our family unit wasn't so abnormally close. I can only hope that my kids feel the same love from me and for each other that we have experienced during our lifetime.

I love you, Hal!

Thankful Thursday!

I posted yesterday about getting our Engagement Film but I never thought our Wedding Film would come the very next day! I substitute taught all day today so I missed Artworks posting the film on Facebook earlier today. As I was looking through their Vimeo page tonight I saw our silhouettes and almost screamed! Okay, confession: I did scream! I screamed a "Meme scream!" My family knows what I'm talking about! I'm so excited for you all to watch it!

I posted the video to Facebook, but for the few of you who don't have Facebook here's the link:

Our phenomenal Wedding Film!

We couldn't be happier! I am SO thankful to have our day on film to watch for years and years to come! Artworks absolutely blew us away and we can't wait to see more! I am so thankful for their unique talent. I am thankful for my wonderful husband who works so hard to support us and who paid to have our beautiful day caught on film just for me. We are so thankful for our sweet friends and family who traveled to celebrate with us. We are especially grateful to our parents for supporting us and giving us this special day! Blessed!

Love, 

Jasper vs. the ocean

In case you haven't noticed, we are totally and completely obsessed with this dog! He is without a doubt the sweetest animal that has ever lived :) I do not believe in breeding or buying bred animals but I'm pretty thankful he was born because he makes our life so much happier! To whoever the irresponsible person was that bought him and lost him - your loss! If you think you want a specific breed then watch the shelters and check out Petfinder because I promise you can find an animal who desperately needs a loving home! There are too many homeless and suffering animals in this world to purposely breed more. Do your part! Don't breed or buy while shelter pets die. I'll save my soapbox for another time and let you enjoy some pictures of Jasper's first time (that we know of) on the beach: 

Loving walking on the sand

"I'm ready, y'all! Let me in!"

One of the hubby and me for good measure

Jasper's play toy

Waiting patiently for us to get our cameras and phones ready

Getting out a little energy first 

And they're off!

Hilarious!

Not so sure about it...

Loving it!

I don't like this salt in my fur!

OR in my mouth! Yuck!

Not so sure how he feels about it?

WILD

Sweetest boy

Drying my fur - I think I'm done

Wolf prints in the sand

Happy boy

I think I like this beach thing

Alright people, let's ride!

Love love love this sweet boy!

Beachy Bliss

A week and a half? It really doesn't seem like it's been that long since I logged on! I think I've been MIA for the longest since I started blogging again a couple of months ago. We just got home a couple of hours ago from a week at the beach and it was wonderful. Y'all, let me tell you... September is the time to go! It was the best time I've had in a long time at the beach. We visited the same place in Myrtle Beach that my family has been going to for almost my whole life. We have always gone in June or July because of school, but since this was the first year no one had school we thought it'd be nice to try September. It was so calm and less crowded! We had wonderful weather minus the little bit of rain. It was plenty warm enough to hit the beach but not smothering like it is in the summer. The evenings were cool and perfect for riding the golf cart around the campground! Jasper loved his first trip to the beach and everyone had a great time! Enjoy my iPhone dump:

Jasper's first ride on the golf cart! He loved it!

He camped out on the couch all week = I sat on the floor a lot...

Perfection

Night riders

There was a fire in one of the houses early in the week - so much excitement

Not so pretty but it felt so nice on the beach!

Hubby & me headed out to our favorite place!

Giant Crab - AKA "Big Crab" to the Watts family!

Crab legs! YUM!

We love our Big Crab tradition!

After turning in our golf cart - not enough room!

Such a cutie!

FYI - I LOVE scrabble! My family, not so much...

This is what a sun allergy looks like. Ouch. :(

Once I dig out my camera and upload my pictures I'll add some of Jasper's first time on the beach! Happy Sunday everyone! It's a beautiful night to watch the Emmy's!