Atlanta Botanical Gardens and Brasstown Bald

It's the start of another work week. Last week was a great week off though. It was definitely a busy one, but there was a lot of fun involved too!

Monday night our small group wrapped up for the semester. We really enjoyed hosting and making some new friends!

Tuesday, I spent the day with my mom. We finished up some Christmas shopping, had lunch, and went through some of Nana and Papa's Christmas ornaments. 

Wednesday was a beautiful day, so the pups and I enjoyed the sunshine with a nice, long walk through our neighborhood. Wednesday night Jason and I had date night in Atlanta. We had a delicious dinner at Mary Mac's Tea Room. Then we went the Atlanta Botanical Gardens to see the Christmas lights. We had never been before, and it was really cool!

Outside Mary Mac's, shrubbery sculpture of a woman with lights for hair, poinsettia tree, butterfly lights.

Thursday was a chill day. I did take the pups on another walk since the sun was out again. Jason had Christmas dinner with some friends. Our local Chili's was doing free dessert for father-daughter date night, so I had dinner with my parents and got a free chocolate molten cake. Yum!

Jason was able to take Friday off, so we went for a hike at Brasstown Bald where we got engaged four years ago. We saw some beautiful views of God's amazing creation.

Beautiful views, a picture in the same spot Jason asked me to marry him, and the Brasstown Bald sign.

Saturday night we went to a Christmas party at a friend's house. It's hard to believe Christmas is less than two weeks away!

Sunday, we went to church and had lunch with friends. We relaxed at the house this afternoon before taking the pups to Petsmart for new treats and a trip to get groceries for the week. 

That sums up our week. Here's to the start of a new week!

Thanksgiving 2013

Jason and I had a very busy Thanksgiving week!
Our friends from North Carolina were supposed to come down on Wednesday but bad weather in the forecast forced them to come down a little early. Ramsey arrived on Tuesday afternoon and was able to have dinner with us that night. Brandon and Jenny and the kids didn't arrive until late Tuesday night. On Wednesday we split up- the boys went to do their own thing and the girls did some shopping. We came back together for a lasagna dinner. 

This was our first Thanksgiving in our house, so we hosted Jason's family on Thanksgiving this year. Everyone came over around lunch time. We had all kinds of delicious food! We were all stuffed. Jason set up a hayride in our backyard for the kids which was a lot of fun. After a full day of family and friends, we got comfy and watched a movie. 

Snuggling pups!

On Friday we all did some shopping. We didn't get up really early or anything though. We got to Bass Pro Shops around 8 or 8:30. Then the boys and the girls split up again! The boys went to Harbor Freight and Northern Tool while the girls were at Target and Petsmart. We met back up for a pizza lunch. After lunch the girls headed back home to do cooking for the Kinamon Thanksgiving. Around four we all headed over to my parent's house to have Thanksgiving number two! We had more delicious food and ended up stuffed again. After dinner we all headed back to our house to make this year's family portrait. It took a few tries. We added two dogs and a baby since last year!

Family photo 2013

Saturday morning Brandon and Jenny and the kids headed home. That afternoon Jason, Ramsey, David, and I went to Atlanta for the the Georgia vs. Georgia Tech game. We tailgated with some friends before the game started and some of the band stopped by to play a song.

Ga Tech band

It was interesting to be back at my old stomping grounds and see how much the campus has changed in the last few years! The game was at 3:30, so we were able to see the sunset over Atlanta from our seats.

Sunset sky at half time

It ended up being a close game and going into overtime, but Georgia finally took the win!

Sunday morning we took Ramsey to Passion City Church in Atlanta. Jason's mom went with us too! Then after lunch we celebrated our niece's 14th birthday with cookie cake.

Batman cookie cake

And that was our Thanksgiving week. It was busy but fun. We are thankful to have spent so much time with our family and friends.

Our New Nephew!

The same Saturday that Jason and I were in Tennessee my nephew was born! 

We weren't able to go see him that day, but my parent's kept us updated with lots of pictures.

My dad with baby C

My mom and baby C

Sweet Baby

As soon as we got back on Sunday, we went to the hospital to visit Charles and MC and meet our brand new nephew!

He was a sleepy boy!

Father and son

Close up!

Our family is so thankful for this little one, and we love him so much already!

A Wonderful Weekend

My last weekend off Jason and I took a quick trip up to the Great Smoky Mountains.

We left around lunch time on Friday and took the scenic route through North Carolina. We stopped in Cherokee for some ice cream and fudge at a little shop Jason had been to before. It was delicious! We stopped one more time before arriving in Gatlinburg at the Tennessee/North Carolina line. The leaves were changing, and it was absolutely gorgeous!

After arriving in Gatlinburg, we walked around downtown for a little bit before having a delicious dinner at Calhoun's and dessert at Gigi's Cupcakes. We walked through a few more shops after dinner before going to our hotel.

Saturday morning our first stop was the Applewood Farmhouse for breakfast. We also picked up some more apple butter while we were there! After breakfast we went to a new area of Pigeon Forge called the Island. It's still developing, but they have some shops and restaurants and a huge ferris wheel. I had never ridden on a ferris wheel before, but we had a good time!

The view from the top:

We saw a lot of fall decorations! I really liked these turkeys.

Next, we did a little bit of shopping at the outlet mall. We didn't stay long because it was so crowded! After grabbing a quick bite for lunch, we rode the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster. I was nervous about it, but you get to control your own speed and it turned out to be a lot of fun! 

Since Jason went to the outlet mall for me, we stopped at one of the tool outlets for him. He didn't find any tools, but we did find a really cool Ford tractor sign with his tractor on it! A great addition to his collection of Ford signs.

Our next stop of the day was Jayell Ranch for some horseback riding. We took a four mile ride through their beautiful property and got to see even more great views of the Smoky Mountains. Our horses were Troy and Handsome. The ride was so peaceful, and we had a great time!

After dinner, we just relaxed in our room. I had Jason take a picture of me with a BIG smile on my face. Here's why:

1. We got the great news that our nephew Baby C was born!

2. Tennessee got the win over South Carolina! Go Vols!

3. I had a wonderful day spending quality time with Jason.

On Sunday morning, we had a pancake breakfast and headed back home to meet our nephew!

It was a great trip. Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg is definitely one of our favorite places to visit.

An October Wedding

A couple of weekends ago Jason officiated the wedding of one of his cousins. 

It was a gorgeous fall day, and the venue was a beautiful farm.

The ceremony took place under this huge tree. I really loved the birdcages and purple flowers.

The reception was in this building. It was like a big screened in porch!

The flower girl dresses were so cute. I love the big skirt and the purple!

Jason with the bride and groom

They held cocktail hour next to this lake. It was especially beautiful as the sun was setting.
Congratulations to the newlyweds!

An Update

Well, it's been awhile. Unfortunately, being busy and having construction workers on our street knock out our cable/internet three times over the last couple of weeks have kept me from blogging.

My last off week we had a lot happening! 

It started off with a great small group on Monday night.

Tuesday, Jason and I took the pups on a long walk. We found a really nice trail near our house that follows a river.

Taking a break by the water

Tuesday night the family went out to dinner to celebrate Charles's birthday. We had a delicious dinner at Olive Garden and even got free dessert!

Singing "Happy Birthday"!

Wednesday was an around the house day. The bug man and the cable man both came by, so I had to be  at the house. I did get out for dinner with Jason and some of our friends at Outback.

Thursday was a really fun day. I got to have lunch with my dad and do a little shopping. I bought a few new fall things at the Loft and got some decorations for the house at Hobby Lobby. That evening after dinner, Jason and I went to a nearby fair. It was free admission night! We didn't ride any of the rides, but we did check out the horse show, petting zoo, tractor display, and have a funnel cake!

Friday was a chill day which was good. Saturday, we headed up to Chattanooga to meet some of my aunts and uncles and cousins for a surprise baby shower for MC. She was definitely surprised, and we all had a good time. 

Diaper Cake

Opening gifts- My aunt made this blanket for Baby C

My aunt also made this cake! It was delicious! All the baby shapes are pieces of chocolate.

Since we were already so close, Jason and I went with Mom and Dad up to their new property. We wanted to check it out! It was pretty grown up so we came prepared with boots, machetes, and a chainsaw attachment for Jason's weed eater. I'm glad we got to see where Mom and Dad will be building their house. It's definitely a nice piece of property in a nice area.

Daddy and I with our tools!

Sunday, we went to church and did our grocery shopping. Then we had some of our friends over for dinner. It was good to catch up with them! 

After dinner we headed over to do a physical assessment with our new personal trainer. She is a very close friend of ours who trains out of her basement. We're going to try to have sessions with her twice a week. I love working out, and I'm excited to be able to make it something Jason and I can do together. Our first official session was Monday afternoon, and it went really well. 

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

I'm looking forward to the start of another off week, and hopefully finding some time to post about our Disney trip and the wedding we went to this weekend.

Weekend Recap

Our busy weekend has come to an end.

Friday morning I made pancakes for breakfast before Ramsey headed back to North Carolina.

After Ramsey left, Jason and I took Daisy and Scarlett to the vet to get their nails clipped. Jason took our picture before we left. Daisy was in my lap, and Scarlett decided she wanted to be in my lap too!

Jason and I ran some more errands in the afternoon, then we got ready for dinner. I made corn casserole and another blackberry cobbler (my fourth of the summer!). We had dinner at my parents' house with Charles, MC, Aunt Pat, and Uncle Wayne. 

Saturday morning we had MC's baby shower. I didn't get many pictures, but fortunately one of MC's friends is a photographer and she took lots of photos for us!

MC and baby C got all kinds of goodies!

I had to get a picture of these petit fours also. They were so cute with the blue booties on top!

Aunt Pat and Uncle Wayne headed back home Saturday afternoon, but we were able to spend some time with them after the shower. After a little break we headed to baby shower number 2 of the day. My friend, April (who I have known since preschool!), is having a baby girl. She and her baby also got lots of goodies! I have to say, baby girl things are just so cute! I was definitely exhausted by the time a got home.

Sunday morning, Jason and I went to church then had lunch together. It was a gorgeous day, not super hot and with a nice breeze, so we decided to go out on the lake. We also took the pups with us. Daisy loves going out on the boat, but this was Scarlett's first trip. She did really well riding in the boat, but she did not want to go swimming. When we tried to put her in the water she would immediately try to climb back out. She was terrified! Daisy did a little swimming though. She will swim to Jason and then swim back to the boat.

Scarlett hanging out on the boat.

There were lots of sail boats out today!

Sunday evening, Jason's cousin and his fiancé came over for dinner. Jason is marrying them in October, so we worked on their ceremony order and also did a little budgeting exercise.

Monday is here, so it's back to work for both of us. It was really nice having Jason off last week while I was off! Hope y'all have a great week!

A Busy Week

This off week was certainly a busy one.

We had something going on every single day!

Monday night we had an iServe meeting. We were able to talk about what's been going on and what is coming up. Our backpack ministry will be ramping back up in a couple of weeks when school starts back!

Tuesday Scarlett got spayed. I dropped her off early in the morning. While she was gone, I took the opportunity to get some cleaning done around the house. I was able to pick her up at 3:30. She was so pitiful when she got home. She could barely keep her eyes open!

Pitiful pup

On Wednesday I had a doctor's appointment and then spent most of the afternoon at the pool. While I was gone, Scarlett was licking at her incision site. When we checked it before going to bed we noticed the top of it was open! I freaked out, of course. It wasn't bleeding or anything, so we decided I would take her in to the vet the next morning.

Thursday morning Scarlett got a staple and a special collar to keep her from continuing to mess with her incision. They didn't have the usual "cone of shame" in her size, so she got an inflatable one more like a neck pillow! She's not a big fan of it, but it does seem more comfortable than the alternative.

Scarlett's special collar

Friday I got to have lunch with my parents. Then, Mom and I worked on the invitations for the baby shower we are throwing for MC next month. After I came back home, I made a blackberry cobbler. Jason and I took dessert to dinner at his cousin's house. We had a delicious dinner and lots of good talk!

Saturday morning we had breakfast with Jason's parents at Golden Corral. In the afternoon we went to the lake for a friend's birthday. It was overcast most of the day, but the sun finally came out after we had our dinner and birthday cake! We did get to see an amazingly beautiful sunset on the way back in. Jason stopped twice for us to take pictures!

Sunday morning we went to church. Then we had lunch and dinner plans with friends. We did take some time in the afternoon just to chill at the house with our pups. It was much needed after going so much this week.

It's back to work this week.

Hope y'all have a great week!

Memorial Day Weekend

Our Memorial Day weekend started on Friday afternoon. We headed out on the lake for a friend's birthday. It was a gorgeous day, but a little breezy. It made for some rough waters and a little bit of a chilly ride. It was still fun though! We rode in the boat to a local restaurant for dinner and caught the sunset as we headed back to the dock.

Saturday was another gorgeous day. We went to a graduation party and enjoyed the weather. Jason and I are starting to feel old because kids we met when they were in middle school are graduating high school and going off to college! 

After the party, we loaded up Daisy and headed to The River to camp with Jason's parents. Saturday night we had s'mores by the camp fire before heading to bed. Sunday morning I went fishing with Jason and his dad. Daisy decided to come along too. She loves riding in the boat! Unfortunately the fish were not really biting. Jason and his dad each caught one fish. Daisy wasn't too sure what to think about the fish flapping around!

We spent the rest of our time at The River riding four wheelers, grilling, and hanging out together. It was good family time. 

Monday night we had my parents over for hamburgers and watermelon. I am thankful that we were able to spend time with both of our families and thankful to all of those who have sacrificed to make our freedom possible. 

A Little Update

I haven't been posting much lately. We have been busy with work and life happenings.

Here's a little update on what's been going on with us lately:

1. Jason and I are already an uncle and an aunt in his family, but we found out we soon will be in my family too! Charles and MC are expecting their first baby in November!

We don't know if it's a boy or a girl, but if it's a boy I'm going to buy him this onesie Mom and I saw at Old Navy... It's so cute!

Online Here

2. Jason went on a fishing trip with his dad, two of his friends, and one of their dads. They went back to the same place Jason went in October. This time they caught mostly trout, and Jason brought a bunch home. He grilled some for me, and it was pretty good!

3. While Jason was fishing, I did some shopping. I got a lot of great stuff for spring. Banana Republic was having a 40% off sale!

4. This week Jason spent a lot of time getting Big Red ready for the lake. He changed the oil and washed/cleaned the outside and inside. After all of his hard work, we took Big Red down and put her in the water. It was nice to be back on the lake, something about it is just peaceful. We are looking forward to spending more time on the lake over the summer!

Looking good!

Calm water

5. Over the weekend, Jason and I went to Knoxville with my parents to the spring game at University of Tennessee. The Orange (defense) played the White (offense). We had a good time having lunch in Turkey Creek and checking out the bookstore and watching some football.

The Field

I loved the gorgeous orange flowers!

Close up, showing off our new hats!

That's what we have been up to!

Hope y'all have a great week!

Thirty

Today is Jason's thirtieth birthday!

We did some celebrating over the weekend. Two of Jason's good friends from North Carolina came down on Friday to spend the weekend with us. Friday night, we had a delicious dinner at the house. Jason cooked the steaks, and I took care of the rest. It wasn't a very nice weekend, so Saturday we headed over to the mall. We walked around, had some lunch, and did a little shopping. At Brookstone, the guys found the massage chairs. Needless to say, we were in Brookstone for awhile...

Boys in the massage chairs

Later Saturday afternoon, we headed to my parent's house for Jason's surprise party! Jason knew I had something planned for his birthday, but he didn't know what it was. He said he was surprised! We had a great time at the party with lots of family and close friends. I did a Ford truck theme for the party since Jason is a big fan. I didn't even think to take a picture of the decor, but I did get a picture of Jason's cake. I had Elaine, who made our wedding cake, make Jason a strawberry cake in the shape of a truck. It looked great and was delicious!

Strawberry truck cake!

Here are more pictures from the party:

The "Ogres"

Jason and I

Opening gifts and reading cards...

Sunday morning we went to Northpoint Community Church. Jason's friends wanted to check out Andy Stanley's church because they listen to his podcasts a lot. It was a great service. After a quick lunch, it was time for them to head back to North Carolina.

I snapped a quick picture before they left.

Sunday afternoon we spent some time with Jason's family. Then last night we had Jason's birthday dinner with my family. Charles and MC were in town this weekend so they were able to come too. We also got to spend time with our dachshund niece, Ruth! She's still a cutie, and Daisy was being a little nicer to her last night.

Jason is the dog whisperer

Dear Jason, 

Happy birthday sweet husband!

I hope you have a fabulous 30th birthday. I love you and am so blessed to call you my best friend and my husband. Thirty will be a great year!