Our New Neighbors

Recently our good friends Robyn and Brendon (who welcomed baby Grace back in May) moved from their house in Colorado to his parents basement in Roswell! After living out west for five years, Brendon's job transferred him to Atlanta- where his entire family lives! Last week they packed up all their things and drove cross country with the tiny newborn! They were so lucky to sell their house in Colorado very quickly and came to Georgia ready to buy again. Living in the basement with a seven week old baby and an Australian Shepherd was not the most ideal arrangement so my fabulous mother (who happens to be a real estate agent) took Robyn out right away to look for a new house. I was able to tag along on a few occasions and we showed her houses that were both new construction and older resales.

The area where my husband and I live is really growing and very close to some of the major highways. It also happened to be the area that Robyn liked best! We focused on some of the newer neighborhoods with amazing amenities and while Linc and I were away for the weekend, they decided on a house...a house that happened to be in our neighborhood!! On Monday night they met with the agent, made their offer, and within minutes it was accepted!

They are moving in on July 9th and we could not be more excited to have such good friends right around the corner! The neat thing is that my parents have been best friends with Brendon's parents since we were babies and we have grown up together. I think of him and his two sisters as my cousins and love spending time with them. Both of our families moved from Long Island to Atlanta within a few years of each other, we went to the same college, our parents have houses on the same lake, and we spend holidays together! How exciting that this next generation of friends will continue to grow up only one street away! I can only hope that little Grace will have a playmate to keep her company soon but in the meantime I promised Brendon and Robyn free babysitting! ;) Congrats you guys! xoxo

Kiawah Vacation

This past weekend Linc and I traveled to Kiawah Island, SC to visit my best friend and her husband. What started as a girl's only getaway weekend with just me and Candace turned into a family affair and we ended up staying with my in laws! BIL Cole and his new fiance Leslie were also there so we had a fun weekend getting to know each other and hanging out.

Thursday night we had a mini engagement party for Cole and Leslie and enjoyed a cookout at my mother in law's best friend's house. They have three Jack Russells who are a bit older than ours and it's nice to see they eventually slow down! Candace and Jeremiah arrived a bit later and we all went to sleep pretty early.

Friday we woke up early and went to The Beach Club. We stopped at East Beach Village for sandwiches and spent the day lounging on the sand. The boys played bocee ball almost the entire time and Candace and I caught up on our girl talk! We went to a jazz concert in Freshfields around dinner time and ordered take out from one of the local restaurants.

Saturday morning my MIL, Candace, and I went to water aerobics at Cassique. It was a tough class but lots of fun and we were surprisingly sore the next day! After putting on some lotion and collecting the boys we headed out to Rhett's Bluff to launch my in laws boat for a cruise down the Kiawah River. We docked at the Charleston Crab House for lunch and filled up on fresh caught fish and hush puppies.

After taking a tour around Charleston Harbor we were "pulled over" by the DNR because my BIL, who was riding in the front of the boat, had his leg hanging off the side. They checked our boat for a fire extinguisher and life jackets and unfortunately we came up two jackets short!! They issued my FIL a hefty ticket, gave us some life jackets to borrow, and we headed back home. We always joke that wherever Cole is trouble is sure to follow-- even out on the water!

Once we got back from the boat launch, we went swimming in my MIL's pool to wash off all the salt and watched as a storm came rolling in. That night Cole and Leslie made us three kinds of delicious pizza and we watched a movie since it was raining out. We went to sleep early again since all that fresh air and excitement had worn us out!

On Sunday we were a bit lazy and didn't really get moving until noon. We drove back out to The Beach Club and ate right by the water. Cole's friend Fonzi (who worked as a translator in the US Army) had just arrived from Iran and had his first taste of American cuisine! He liked the potatoes (french fries) the best but I think he was a bit overwhelmed by the whole experience! We took one "family" photo and then it was time to say goodbye.

Fonzi, MIL Sherry, BIL Cole, Candace, Miah, Me, and Linc

I wish Kiawah wasn't so far away because it is definitely my favorite place to vacation. We had such a great time catching up with Candace and Jeremiah and spending time with family. Can't wait to do it again soon! C- we're still going to Maine one of these days...and we'll see if it really snows on the ocean! hahahahah

Father's Day Weekend

This weekend we celebrated Father's Day with all of my family! Friday night Kristin, Ryan, and Jax arrived from Orlando and we spent the evening hanging out and relaxing. The pups had a great time romping around the yard and playing with each other! On Saturday Linc and Dad played in the City Championships for T-2 Tennis and won!! It was a blistering 101 degrees but they managed to beat a team they had previously lost too. It was a lot of fun to watch and I'm glad they pulled it off! That night Kris and Ryan met up with some of her high school friends and Linc and I headed over to my parent's house for dinner. We had delicious grilled chicken, salad, and pasta salad and the evening ended in a "cake off" in which the Publix Double Chocolate cake won out over the Whole Foods yellow cake with chocolate icing!

Sunday we had a yummy breakfast at my house with scrambled eggs, muffins, sausage, bagels, and fruit salad. Kris and Ryan had to shove off soon after and Linc left for a business trip to California. My mom, dad, and sister Alex came to watch my tennis match and even though I lost (6-0, 6-3) I feel like it was a great game and I had a lot of fun...despite the blazing heat!! I am glad I had my mini cheering section too- they kept me focused on playing and not on the fact that I was sweating to death!

It was nice that we could all be together on Father's Day and I think my dad had a good time! We got him a new golf glove, gift certificate to get golf shoes, and a tiny wooden golf cart complete with clubs for his desk. Can you tell what his favorite sport is? I love my dad so much and am very grateful to have him in my life. He is such a great example and is always there for me when I need him. He is always encouraging us and offers support and guidance in all aspects of life. Happy Father's Day Dad-- you are amazing and the greatest father I could ever hope for! xoxo

Summer GIVEAWAY!

You may have noticed a new button if you scroll along down my sidebar...an up and coming etsy store called Peaches & Palm Trees! My very talented sister has finally opened her own shop after years of designing hand painted baby clothes for friends and family.

In honor of the grand opening, our good friend A is hosting a Super Summer Giveaway Extravaganza over on her site! If you have never been to Monkeys on the Bed before, head on over and check out what you could win! Kristin will be hand painting two custom onesies for you or someone you know! There are tons of ways to earn entries and the contest is running until June 30th.

Go check it out-- you will be impressed!

Here are just a few examples of the awesome work she does!

Ladies Round Robin

The neighborhood where I play tennis hosted its annual Ladies Round Robin Tournament this evening. A bunch of us from all different levels met up for an exciting night of non stop tennis. I was able to compete with and against players that are on much higher ranked teams and it was an absolute blast (not to mention an amazing workout in the 90 degree heat)! Scoring was individual and after nearly 3 hours of playing the results were in...I placed 3rd!!! Yay! I was very happy because the girls who got first and second place play on a B-2 team which is WAY higher than me! It was a great evening and I met a lot of new people. I was also able to practice a few new shots before my match on Sunday. Here is a picture of me in my cute new tennis outfit. The best part is, it was only $26!

A Baby Shower

Saturday morning I attended a baby shower in honor of my best friend Courtney and her daughter Leighton who is scheduled to arrive in August. It was hosted by a few ladies from my old church and another friend Amy. We had a delicious breakfast with some amazing homemade grits and enjoyed watching Court open all her gifts. It was a great day to celebrate the upcoming arrival of little Miss Mayfield and catch up with people I haven't seen in a long time!! I was so glad to see my sweet friend and even though we never get enough time together I am so happy for her and husband Kyle! It still doesn't seem real though and I swear she just has a beach ball under her dress!! Here are a few pictures from today!

The diaper cake made by Amy and her husband Ryan!

Mrs. Mitchell, Courtney, and Lauren

The mommy to be opening some presents for Leighton.

Handmade onesies painted by my sister and an
"I Love Dachsunds" bib from mom in honor of big "sister" Ginger!

Amy and Courtney opening the diaper cake. There were 152 diapers!

My beautiful friend! Has it really been 13 years?!

I love you Court and I am so excited for you guys.
Can't wait to celebrate with you in July
and get some much needed girl time!!

Ouch!

Yesterday I noticed Wes was limping around the back yard when we were playing ball. He had caught his dew claw on something and had a bit of a hang nail. It wasn't bleeding and it didn't seem like he was in a lot of pain so we went inside for dinner and I made a mental note to cut his nails when they were done eating. Fast forward to today (oops!!! I am a terrible mommy and completely forgot to cut his nails) when Wes jumped in my lap and got blood all over my pants. I realized his hang nail was a little worse than I had originally thought and called the vet.

After bringing him and Tessa in to get their nails drilled, they came out and told me they had to wrap Westin's paw up!! Now he has a little doggy cast on his foot so his nail doesn't get infected. I feel bad but it kind of looks like there is a tennis ball attached to his leg! Ha! I learned my lesson though and I will definitely be a bit more diligent keeping their nails trimmed since that little visit to the vet set us back a bit more than I would have liked to spend. Oh well, you live and you learn! Wes already forgot about the whole thing and is enjoying a nice nap under my feet!

Summer Projects

One of the benefits to being a teacher is having the summer off. I am very thankful to be able to stay home during these two months to get my house in order after a school year of neglect! Projects that need finishing are usually ignored while I work so now I have plenty of time to catch up and mark things off my list.

The most recent project I undertook was painting my foyer. Luckily my mother is a skilled painter and offered up her services to help me. We chose a color called "Golden Fleece" and got to work. It was a small space and did not take us much time but the transformation was amazing! It is so much more fun walking in the front door now and really makes me feel at home. The paint we chose matches perfectly with the dining room curtains we got from PB a while back and the mossy green paint.

Before we painted dining room -------- After we painted dining room and foyer

There are quite a few other rooms that need painting around the house (most we can do ourselves) and some other small projects I hope to finish up before August.

• Paint bedroom, office, and spare room
  
• Paint main level bathroom and master bathroom
  
• Hire pros to paint remaining downstairs, living room, and kitchen (we don't have a tall enough ladder to reach up the two story staircase!)
• Clean out garage and install metal shelving
• Finish back yard landscaping
• Sew curtains for living room

It's going to be a busy summer but hopefully we'll be able to cross most of these off before I head back to school in two months. Anybody willing to do some free labor?! No, really...hahaha

In other news, I had to share a few more photos of the gorgeous garden I planted back in November. I cannot believe the flowers are still in bloom and unfortunately it probably won't be long before the summer heat kills them off. For now though, I am enjoying the burst of color as I walk past and the occasional butterfly I spot floating nearby!

Anniversary in Chicago

After the wedding, Linc and I decided to stay a few extra days to celebrate our third anniversary and take in the sights. I had never been to Chi-town before so I was excited to play tourist! There were some amazing exhibits at the nearby museums and we spent three days walking, biking, and driving around the city taking it all in. I was so proud of us because we're not normally so efficient (or touristy for that matter) but we got to see everything we had planned except having cocktails in the John Hancock building. Oh well, all the more reason to go back and visit! Our aunt Jan and uncle Frank who live just outside the city loaned us their car for a few days and here is the breakdown of what we did:

Sunday Highlights
Brunch at Frank and Jan's, Bike Tour of Navy Pier, Pizzeria Due, and
an exciting train ride to Lincoln Square Bowling with George and Cassie!
We brought a backpack filled with a blanket, cups, and some wine and enjoyed a glass
sitting outside near the museums. We could not have asked for better weather!

Monday Highlights
Lunch at Portillo's, Adler Planetarium, Museum of Science and Industry
and the Harry Potter Exhibit, Buckingham Fountain, Dinner at Frank and Jan's

Tuesday Highlights
Massages at Kohler Water Spa, Lunch at Frontera Grille,
Field Museum to see the Pirates and Dinosaurs, fondue dinner at Geja's

On Wednesday we woke up early, checked out of our hotel, and then hung out at Frank and Jan's house for a few hours. We went out to lunch with Jan and the girls and then headed to the airport. We had such a fun trip and I am glad we ended up staying a few extra days to tour the city. Thanks for a great anniversary Linc, I love you so much!

Weekend in the Mountains

When our friends invited us to their cabin in North Carolina for the weekend I was originally going to say no (sorry Becky) because we had literally just gotten home from Chicago the day before (yeah, yeah...that post is coming soon!). In the end I figured since we were already packed, why not! I am so glad we went because it was a great weekend!

We left after work on Thursday after having been home only 24 hours! The drive up to the mountains was a bit scary since it was monsoon-ing on us the entire three hour drive but we finally arrived, had a few drinks, and relaxed for the evening. We didn't do a whole lot on Friday and somehow I managed a record three naps before we even left for lunch! We drove into the little town of Dillsboro, had lunch, and went food shopping to get some dinner. Mark and Jane cooked us some delicious chili and we spent the evening in the hot tub.

On Saturday we woke up and headed to one of the parks to go tubing in the river. There was a road side stand to rent tubes and all we had to do was drop our money in a box, write our license plate number on a yellow legal pad, and make sure to return the tubes by 6pm! People are very trusting in the mountains! We had an awesome time and despite some bumps and bruises it was the highlight of the trip! Linc and I grilled out burgers and hot dogs that night and we took it easy.

We had to leave bright and early on Sunday morning to get back in time for my tennis match at noon so other than toasting a few bagels we did not have very much time. I am happy to say though that I began this summer season with a win! I played second singles and won 6-3, 6-0. It was a great match and the perfect way to cap off a fun filled weekend. Linc and Dad also played tonight and won too!

Thanks again Matt and Becky! We had a great
time and can't wait to do it again soon!

PS- I forgot my camera so I borrowed these photos from Becky and Google! =)

A (very) Windy City Wedding

This past weekend Linc and I headed to up Chicago for his cousin Sara's wedding and to celebrate our third anniversary! We got to the airport fairly early in Atlanta and met up with his family for a quick bite before our flight. We landed on Friday afternoon and got ready for the rehearsal dinner. It was a very Lilly weekend for me wearing all my new fabulous dresses that my my mom found on clearance! Thankfully I had been warned about the weather in Chicago, but it was still pretty chilly for June!

Sara and Davo met at college and a few years later got engaged at the same place in New Hampshire (Rockywald Camp) where Linc and I had gotten engaged five years earlier! They are such an amazing example of a Christian couple who puts God first above everything else and their wedding was very special. Since I don't want to bore you with every single detail of the whole trip, here are the highlights of the wedding part of the trip with some of my favorite pics included!

Friday Highlights
Rehearsal Dinner at Tuscany Grille
For some reason no one did a great job of taking
photos on Friday! These are the only ones I have!

Saturday Highlights
Wedding Ceremony and Reception

Sara and Davo are spending a week in Costa Rica before returning to their new home in Chicago. We wish you guys all the best!!

Weddings Wednesday IV

Greetings from Chicago!! Three years ago today we were actually on our way to Maui after a sixteen hour trek across the country! We drove from Charleston to Atlanta, flew from Atlanta to San Jose (where we lived at the time), slept for a few hours, and then flew from San Jose to Maui. Needless to say we were ready for our honeymoon!!

In the last installment of Weddings Wednesday I will be sharing our favorite reception photos. You can see other wedding pictures here, here, here, or here! Enjoy!

Our first dance as husband and wife!

Our good family friend, John Harvey, said the blessing.

The best salad in the world! And so colorful!

The cake got its own post, so I had to share the other food as well!

After cutting the cake!

Maid of Honor Kristin giving her toast!

Dancing with my Daddy!

My whole family dancing up a storm!

Bouquet toss- right into cousin Molly's arms!
This was actually the second toss of the night because on the first try
I chucked across it the entire ballroom and no one was able to catch it! hahaha

After a quick change we left the reception in a sea of bubbles!

Three years of marriage and I am amazed at how quickly it goes by! Even though Linc and I have been together for over nine years I still love him more each and every single day. That's not to say our marriage is a piece of cake, but he is an amazing husband and friend and I am so lucky to have him in my life! I hope you have enjoyed looking back at our wedding as much as I have over these past four weeks. It brings back such great memories and I cannot wait to see what kind of new memories we make in the next few years!