So far...

I have not hit anyone in the back....

Most of you know my history with softball. Its not pretty. For those of you that don't--during a intramural softball game between Chi O and Phi Mu back in the college days (forget when it actually occurred) someone allowed me to be on the Chi O softball team. What were they thinking? Im not quite sure. Well at first I played outfield but then soon became catcher which soon led to me playing no more games. So I wasn't too familiar with the rules of softball at the time...so I had the ball (while was in the catcher position) and thought it would be faster to tag the girl by throwing the ball at her rather than....well I didnt really think of any other option at the time, I guess. So thats what happened. I thought--I can get her out, so I threw the ball...

YIKES! Tagged the poor girl right in the back. WOW! I soon realized thats NOT how the game of softball is played. The whole thing was caught on video, thanks to Mrs Katie Hinson....perhaps you should dig that out???

Well why do I tell the story--well because my sunday school class as LET me be on their co-ed team. Yes, they let me (they didnt know the story at the time otherwise they may of had to rethink their decision). Im not quite the softball player. I had been playing with Andrew's plastic Texas Rangers softball glove that was the size of my pinky. But he went and got me a new one (i was completely happy with my 3rd grade size glove and really didn't want to waste money on a new glove..bc I hardly play). I like to sit on the bench, cheer, and take pictures. I have my batting times (only bc Ill be next in line and have to bat) and then Ill have my ONE inning where I cant say no anymore so I have to go play. I will play right outfield, I think. I pray and pray and keep praying that NO balls will fly my way and that the other team gets 3 outs FAST!

I really do LOVE my team and Im thankful they don't make me play more than I have to (or otherwise we might be on a bag losing streak). I love all the people on it and I look forward to every Thursday night. I love cheering. I love my friends. I love the social aspect of the game. I love getting WhatABurger after the game. Im scared of the softballs.

Newlyweds: 4-0-1

Packing...More Packing...Moving!!

We started the heavy-duty packing today. I am already to be done packing and moved it. We close Friday at 830am and then...the moving starts. We have a moving truck for 5/1/10 so we will move little things in during the next week but wait for all the big stuff.

Right now we are living in disarray, unorganized, messy, boxed up apartment. As you can tell:

Soon to be all organized here:

We cant wait to settle in the house. We went by yesterday and talked with the owners, who actually graduated in the same class as andrew from HP. Small weird! They are so sweet and would have loved to be friends with the wife but they are moving to Australia for 2 years. They were sweet to show us the quirks of the house. We also met a hardwood floor guy and a granite person out there as there is a possibility we might do one of those before we move in later after closing. We also discovered a beautiful hot pink rose bush in the front yard (the one to the left of the driveway) which is now fully in bloom and so pretty. Guess Ill be learning some yard stuff along the way. We are excited for the upcoming closing date and a fun celebration dinner at Bob's on Friday!

The Big Apple

We had an absolute fabulous time in NYC. We did everything: walk, eat fancy meals, eat NY style pizza, drink some cocktails, walk more, went on a search for the best red velvet cupcake, eat more, shopped, went to the MoMA, eat some more, and finally...walked and ate some more! It was wonderful and we were exhausted. We got to see some of Andrew's friends, one who happened to be in NYC from Germany just visiting the east coast with his friend and another one that lives in NYC. We also got to see my good friend Brittany. It was so great to catch up with her since her move to the Big Apple about a year ago.

Here is the picture story of The Search for the Best Red Velvet Cupcake:

Question:

Does anything compare to Sprinkles Red Velvet Cupcake??

First cupcake place I came across:

Little tiny cupcakes, baked by who other than....Melissa. It was a given, I had to try them!

They were very good little cupcakes, loved them!

Second on the list....

The one and only, famous, Magnolia Bakery

Good but didn't live up to my expectations of the most talked about Magnolia Bakery.

Third....

Crumbs Bakery

The biggest red velvet cupcake I have ever seen! Andrew believes Crumbs wins for the best in NYC (that we have tasted to date).

It definitely won the best one I tasted in NYC but...Sprinkles definitely out-tastes all of them, agreed upon by both tasters, Missy and Andrew!

Glad to know that I have the best red velvet cupcake at my finger tips (D.A.N.G.E.R.O.U.S)

What did we do in between eating cupcakes....haha, lots!!!

When we first arrived on Friday, we checked into our hotel, not to mention we got a nice little upgrade in our room to a suite, so great and a fabulous surprise (always say you are on an anniversary trip)! We then walked down to SoHo area and just wandered and wandered. We stopped for a little happy hour drink....

at this little "Manhattan Bar." Cute and quaint, and small. Fun for our first little stop. We had reservations at a spectacular italian restaurant an hour later so we didn't want to ruin our appetite so we just had a drink and moved on to dinner. Il Mulino. WOW! A very italian experience. Andrew had some fabulous steak and I had, well...a whole fish served to me on a silver platter. Literally. Then then filled it but, wow! I guess I didn't quite understand their Italian/English language and I ordered a whole fish! It was definitely a fun experience and quite the fancy dinner.

Later that night we met up with Andrew's friend Clayton for some drinks and watched the Vols win over Ohio State, I was a proud southern in the north, one of the only!

Saturday and Sunday during the day we explored:

I only thought of one person when I saw this Starry Night, Van Gogh....Rachel Shaub! It was amazing to see some of the original works by Van Gogh, Picasso, Andy Warhol, and Jackson Pollock. We definitely did not spend enough time at the MoMA (Modern Museum of Art) to appreciate everything. We did it at the end of the day when we were so so very tired.

This is what we looked like before the MoMa:

Dont judge us, you would look like us too!

Exhausted!

We also went to Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Financial District and Ground Zero, 5th Ave and all those fun fancy stores! The fun stores also included a visit to Dylans Candy Bar, the flagship. YUM. Wow! Candy overload. I got Tyler and Ellie some fun candy so hopefully they will enjoy! We had a blast!

We happen to be passing St. Patricks Cathedral when they were starting their Palm Sunday Service.

The empire state building

Saturday night we went to Blue Fin where Brittany works and she waited on us which was great! We loved seeing her and catching up!

We received great service: free champagne and an anniversary dessert! We had a blast! Loved the Big Apple!

We are back and I think still recovering from a fun fun vacation!

Next up: Looking forward to 4/23 which looks like it will include a house, 4/15 which might include Sadie's graduation, 5/30 which might include a fun cruise with the Morgan clan, 6/10 which might include a fun Chicago trip with my favorite girls.....wow spring is full!!! We are excited for all that the spring holds, busy busy!

Round 2 and NYC Here We Come

Round 2 status:

Contract pending on house number two.

Its precious (minus one bathroom that needs to be updated).

I love it more than the last.

Im keeping my fingers crossed.

Inspection on monday.

Home owners.......status: pending!

NYC:

Count down: 4 days!

We are so excited!

We cant wait to eat great food and experience the city together.

I have so much on the list of things we want to do.

Cant wait!

The next week holds (hopeful) good news about a house and a fun trip. I can handle this surprising 38 degree weather if it means a trip to NYC and a cute house in the next week.

Happy Soon to be 28th Hub!

3.9.10

Happy 28th

Birthday!

I love YOU!!

Andrew's sweet mom always made a carrot cake for him on his bday.

I thought I would try to carry the tradition on.

So today was my first attempt.

We cut into it 5 hours early.

YUM!

Besides a very fun birthday week: great dinners with family and friends;

We just celebrated our 1 year anniversary last weekend with a great sushi dinner.

It was fun to reflect on the past year-wow! Big year!

I cant wait to celebrate so more years to come with my hub.

A fun celebration comes in about 2 weeks:

NYC!

Cant wait to celebrate and have a great vacation.

Yes, the house fell through so its to the Big Apple we go!

{We terminated our contract and feel very at peace with it.

We continue to hunt for our sweet, perfect first house}

Trip Home!

Our trip to Nashville was so great. I loved seeing everyone, especially the kids. Funny how they are growing up so much. Ellie's personality is shining through (much of the sassiness from her mom, of course) and Tyler is such a big boy--saying things like "Ellie we need to have a talk." Haha, i loved seeing them. Ellie didnt have much to do with me during our trip to WaterColor for thanksgiving but this trip home, she loved us! It was great. Made me so happy.

Friday night we had a little double bday party for both of them, 2 and 4 years old. They loved their cute little cake. It was great to just hang out with them, see the whole family-g'parents, uncle, dad/libby, mary parr, and my sister. I loved it. Andrew and the girls went out for a drink after dinner which was fun. Fun to have us all together in the same place--rarely happens, I feel like.

Andrew kinda looks like he is doing a Step Sing pose...

Ellie and Tyler with their yummy cake!

My two favorites!

They loved it.

(And so did I, of course)

Saturday we did girl stuff--my sister went shopping around green hills, which can always be a disaster but for some reason I still love doing it. We had lunch with my mom and stayed out in the sun the rest of the day, minus rest time--definitely not ready to be a mom! I was exhausted. That night for dinner we thought it would be fun to take them to a japanese hibatchi grill, which they have been to but I had never been with them and wanted to see them entertained. They loved it. Ellie hated the fire--just covered her eyes and said BAD FIRE! But surprisingly, they loved all their food. We had a blast with them!

Sunday we got a little "nature-esk." We put on our rain boots and hit the pond (well, deedee, ellie, and tyler got in the creek and pond, i opted out--no rain boots with me this go around). Tyler saw his first real live snake and loved it. We just skipped rocks, had a little splash contest to see how wet tyler could get missy, and then just played by the little lake. It was great.

Mommie and tyler by the creek.

Deedee with her two favorite muchkins

Such a great weekend to be home!

Two Birthdays and Two Nuggets

Next weekend I get to celebrate birthday 2 and birthday 4 with these 2 nuggets:

Oh I cant wait to squeeze the heck out of them!

Andrew and I are headed home next Friday.

Im so thrilled to go home and see the family.

Believe it or not, this was the last weekend I was home:

Crazy that it's been almost a year since Ive been home.

Coming up on a fabulous one year!

2.28.10

It either holds a fun trip to NYC or the cutest little house that's now status: contract pending.

Im happy with either..just ready to have a yes or no on the house.

We shall see what the next few weeks hold.

Until then...

Happy Valentine's Day