First Dates :)

Do you remember your favorite first date? Do you remember the nerves? The excitement? Getting ready? My first date with John was far from all the normal jitters ;) We were in high school. John didn't have his license. It was more friends going out, than a real date. But it was our first time going out alone, no friends, no parents. Guess what we did? You're right, movies. We went to the opening night of Spiderman. I picked John up, yes you read that right. I picked him up, he had bought tickets earlier that day with his mom. We arrived to a big crowd and got in line. I don't remember much during the movie, just liking it. We didn't go out to eat or anything afterwards, because it was a school night. I took him home, then drove the 30mins to my house. We saw each other in school the next day, I think we had volleyball practice.

We had so many "dates" like that one. Friends headed out, one with more intentions ;) Our first date when we decided to become more than friends was in college. John had recently broke up with his girlfriend in Chicago. We hadn't talked much in the last few months, but I hadn't given up. I called him and we decided to hang out over spring break. So on April 8th 2007, we went out in Burlington. Ate some wings and then went to the park to just hang out. I love how our dates have changed :) We still try to have date night every once in a while. Now we like to go to The Eddy, or a Japanese restaurant for sushi. I like that our dates now end with us cuddling up in bed.

How was your first favorite date? I hope it was as memorable as mine...

Birthday Weekend :)

I turned 26 this past weekend. 26. Growing up, getting all mature...so we went to Boone. I love Boone. Only this weekend it was 35 degrees, foggy, and rainy. Oh well, we still had a great time. My parents got to come up with us to the house for the first time. We went shopping of course, and laid around the house, played Apples to Apples and Just dance. I got some lovely new clothes from Lucky Penny from my family and friends. I will try to post some pictures of them later.









Last weekend John and I went to The Eddy Pub in Saxapahaw. It was a beautiful evening. The sunset was perfect. We went for a short walk by the river afterwards until I saw a snake. I screamed "kill it, kill it, kill it" and ran!! Can you believe it? Snakes in early March? Other than the snake it was a good evening. We ate fried oysters, some yummy pork on mashers, and beef stew. So so yummy in a good atmosphere in good company.

So here are some pictures of our adventures...

Picture post...

Hanging out at the grandparents :) We seem to do this a lot!

Baby Addison LOVES tractors. She just doesn't wanna go near them. Look at them, talk about them, but not go near them. Too cute!




Star flower, no clue of the real name. Memaw calls them star flowers.




Ashley is very very cute picking flowers with her hair in pigtails. Supporting her team of UNC.




The girls helped me decorate Brittany's birthday cookie.




My new flowers on our balcony. Let's hope these get enough sun to make it!




Everyone hanging out outside at Memaw's. Addison was seeing who would give her the most attention!















If you can't tell I love my family. I hate missing Sunday lunches. I feel like if I miss a couple I miss my cousins growing up. The oldest grandchild is my brother and he is 29...the youngest is baby Addison. She is 1 1/2. There is lots of growing up to be watched! Hope you enjoy the photo bliss!

Not much new...

Isn't it nice to have a peaceful, calm, non-eventful few weeks? I say YES! I have worked my normal schedule, and work has been busy, but my days off have been nice and relaxing. I have done my normal chores, ran a few errands, but have had a lot of down time. I have re-read some Harry Potter books :) Watched a lot of TV. Visited family. But mainly just relaxed. It's been nice. I like not having to worry about crazy schedules, crazy meetings, and crazy work.

John and I are looking forward to a relaxing weekend. Just a few chores and some small errands. John sold a painting this week. He is taking it to his friend right now, as I type. I believe I will try again to plant our pots. It's hard not having a place to bring them indoors if it freezes one night, I have lost many a flower to frost. I have lots of cousins and friends pregnant right now. I was thinking back and there will be two spanking new babies on my moms side of the family this year. There is one on John's side who will deliver any day now. I know a few people at church who are delivering soon too. Must be something in the water.

Completely off topic, Has anyone noticed the pretty orange colors in the stores this year? Who new orange was coming back? I usually don't play into trends right when they come out, but I'm trying to have some color in my waredrobe. I have too much black/gray/browns. So I got me some pretty oranges, pinks, and blues yesterday. Old Navy is great for basics, they usually have some pretty good sales. In fact a dress I bought yesterday for $16 on sale, is have a one day only sale price today of $9. So needless to say I'm going back to get my better deal! Everyone needs a play cotton sun dress!!

One thing I hate about the location of our apartments is the proximity to the interstate. I can't open my windows w/o worrying about the emissions, and having to yell over the noise. I am so ready for a house. Unfortunately our mortgage people say John REALLY needs to have been at his job for exactly 2 years to qualify us for a joint mortgage. It sucks, how do people with horrible credit end up with houses. We have amazing credit, and John is short a few months... No fair. I'm going to try another mortgage company, recommended to me by a friend before I loose hope. Our lease is up in August, but John will not have been at his job for two years until July. One month is not enough time!!!

Well I'm going to run to Lowe's to find my plants!! I'll post pictures soon.

Just Dance!!

Ever play Just Dance on Wii? It...is...AWESOME!! It is most fun to play with a group of people. I have recently started playing the "just sweat" version as exercise. I hope it motivates me to work out more. I know, back in the day, when I was in shape...I looked forward to working out. Felt good. Now, being out of shape, gaining weight DAILY, it's not as much fun. Exercise hurts my knees! John and I have our favorites, IE the ones we score highest on. Like this one...


http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/image/article/112/1128808/just-dance-2-20101019033948716-000.jpg&imgrefurl=http://wii.ign.com/articles/112/1128808p1.html&usg=__rNL9nwIyL_GaeVOGzC_2VBZy3K4=&h=263&w=468&sz=62&hl=en&start=0&sig2=h2U1R9Qfll_TwlQXpFxjhQ&zoom=1&tbnid=Qqn9H4hqmXCvrM:&tbnh=126&tbnw=194&ei=4xdlTcvUFc-1tgeK8LWPBg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djust%2Bdance%2B2%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1264%26bih%3D578%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C69&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=410&vpy=319&dur=1124&hovh=168&hovw=300&tx=145&ty=99&oei=yRdlTZKzA8ehtweT2sSJBg&page=1&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:16,s:0&biw=1264&bih=578


...but we also enjoy playing new ones and laughing at each other. One think I look forward to in a house is a family room. I hope we can set up a TV with the gaming consoles and have plenty of room to dance, play, dance some more.

I highly recommend Just Dance :) We might also get the Kinect (when they work out all the kinks and come out with Kinect 2). I've heard Dance Central is harder and more fun. Opinions?

My little Ashley...

Recently my little cousin Ashley had another flare up of her Sturg Weber Syndrome. She started having headaches and getting sick on her stomach. Knowing her history well, her parent's took her to the hospital. She started seizing later that day. She seized for about 4 days before she was stable enough to come home. We played at my grandmothers' on Sunday, and she was back to her normal, fun, quiet, sweet self. Ashley is one great kid! I know I'm biased because she is my cousin, but truthfully I can't remember a child with the patience she has. She has a little sister who is around 17mths old. Ashley lets her little sister follow her around, tackle her, take her toys, and basically watches over her. Ashley will walk up to Addison and ask her if she wants to play. Addison will drop whatever she is doing to play with her big sister. I love that relationship. They are sweet kids, I can't wait to go outside this summer and play!




On to talking about coffee again...

John and I went to Costco last week and picked up a new coffee. I have decided to go half and half with caffeine now, so the other half is just decaf Kirkland store brand. We tried Don Pablo, family owned and operated. I like it, a lot! It is a medium roast, very robust with flavor. I love it black. I can drink most coffee black, but it doesn't always mean I love it. Don Pablo is so good, I don't want to put anything in it at all. The taste is hard to place, it doesn't have a nutty or chocolate flavor. It is pure coffee. If you haven't tried it before, I recommend it. Pour you a cup or five and let me know what you think!



John and I don't have a lot going on this week. We are hoping to meet up with Sheena and Andrew later this week for dinner. I work the weekend. I think I have a lot of days coming up where I work 2-3 days and only have 2 off, work 2-3 and have 2 off. I prefer having more off in a row, at least 3, so I can get more done and feel rested. John has stayed steady at work, thank you Jesus! Last year during the winter, their work slacked off and he only worked 3-4 days a week. This winter he had to ask for time off! I wish he could find more of a 9-5 type job. I know he still wants to teach. I'm just happy God has blessed us both with steady work. I'm ready for a house, and new furniture. I wanna paint and make a home. It will come, I know it will. I need to learn some patience!

Thanks to everyone who prayed for Ashley. God made one special little girl! Hopefully she will keep healthy, no more seizures, and no more worries...

Sentimental

Lately I have felt very sentimental. I have cried more, laughed more, and looked at John with more love and understanding. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I look at him and I am so mad, for no reason. Got to love hormones, but I know even when I am mad I love him. I don't know why I have been crying more. Commercials have always been able to tear me up, but it's been more active over the last few weeks. The sentimental feeling comes when with family, wanting to be with family, at work, with friends. I have thought more. Really thought. I play the what if game. I'm quiet more..I know me quiet :) God puts things in our lives for reasons, or allows things to happen. So I know there is a reason for my change in demeanor. Maybe there will be a family at work that needs a more emotional nurse. Who knows?



We have had fun this year. We went to the mountains in January where there was a BUNCH of snow. A couple feet to be exact. We always have fun in Boone, hiking, and laying around the house. This time we went to Cone Manor and walked some trails we haven't before. Found one I want to try out sometime that goes by a pasture. People were sledding down the hills in the pasture, it was a beautiful sight.



















I have also been trying to play with my wardrobe more, by putting together outfits I normally wouldn't. Trying to pull pieces out that I have always had trouble matching tops to, or shoes, or skirts. Hopefully I don't look like a fool.







This first one is a black skirt I got at Old Navy a couple years back. The front has about 8 buttons that are kinda hard to pair with certain shirts. I think this outfit worked out well though. I love the shoes John got them for me from Lucky Penny!


The second outfit pairs some very nice Gianni Binni leggings with my absolutely favorite boots from Target. I can almost walk all day in those boots, almost.















































John and I are still looking at house. We really have enough for a decent down payment now, we just need to keep saving for closing costs and all the extras. John has been at his job for almost 2 years now as well so that will help with a loan. We are slowing paying off our cars, I hope to have John's paid off by this time next year. Mine by this time the following year. We will see. It would be nice to only have a mortgage and my student loans as our debt! Goal setting, one day at a time. John has hung his photos and one painting in an art gallery. I think he has a chance to sell something. I know that would boost his confidence a bunch. So keep him in your prayers. Until next time...