Friday, November 9, 2012

13th anniversary: part 2

I promised you more pics. 
   So here you go. 

Us gettin in touch with nature... we had never walked a trail on any of our many trips to the Smokies
Hikin' and stuff... Anthony found a stick that made a good makeshift hiking stick thing... can you tell I don't hike? lol 

Anthony loved this little bridge we had to walk over on the trail -  

happy little trees & big mossy rocks, oh yes

This weird looking tree had a little spot stickin out that served as a perfect tripod for the pic of us in the woods in my last post. Thank you little tree! Even though you're kinda creepy lookin.

tree huggin 

We stopped off a few spots driving up the mountain to take some pics and take in the beautiful canvas God painted... 
    notice the snow on the farthest mountains


We kept driving 
up 
    up 
        up.... 
   and found this!!! 

We decided to walk around Gatlinburg a bit and rode the Sky Lift for the first time. 
   Niiiice!


up we go! 

This is such a cute pic of Anthony in my opinion you have my permission to ignore the terribleness and non-flattering part of the pic known as me

the view from the top of the Sky Lift


and meanwhile on the Gatlinburg strip...
If you've never had caramel corn while it's still warm out of this little machine, you ain't livin! 

Sunday we met up with Clint, Kyla and Avery and did some shopping. That night we went to dinner at Park Grill on the strip in Gatlinburg. The place was nice, the food was delish and the fellowship with friends was great.

But the little one - he's at that age ya know - he wasn't a fan of dinner out. Cuz see, he hadn't had a nap that day with all our shopping. So he kinda cried and was a typical 18 month old. 
After we finished our meal, he took up with these folks at the next table who loved on him and apparently cast a spell on him. An angel he was. It was like he turned into a different kid. 
We walked the strip and took in the scenery after dinner.

and shared a funnel cake YUM! 
just love his nutty side

And remember little Avery? 
 yeah, he slept

The 411 on the restaurants we checked out ~~~ 
 ~ We tried out Bullfish Grill our first night. I had grilled pork chops and Anthony did the grilled chicken sandwich. I loved mine; Anthony didn't enjoy his too much. We both loved the corn chowder and their bread was to die for though.
 ~ Night two was pizza night at Mellow Mushroom. DELISH! Go. NOW! There's one in Murfreesboro and Nashville.
  ~ Apparently if you wanna eat at the Apple Barn you gotta pitch a tent in the parking lot overnight. I'm just sayin. Bump that. We went to the Barrel. They serve breakfast all day. And it's yummy. 
 ~ We indulged in junk food, too. I won't list it all here. But there was probably a fried Twinkie in there somewhere. And ice cream. And warm, fresh baked cookies.

Before we headed home Monday, we did a little more shopping. Anthony always needs a new hat or two from Lids ya know. And really...how many jeans is enough? American Eagle was havin a sale and I had a coupon. C'mon!

And of course my man can't be near a beef jerky outlet without getting some... 

Can't leave without a visit to the Scrapbook Clearance Store
ahhh retail therapy

I'm so thankful 
 for my husband, 
 for beautiful mountains so nearby that we get to enjoy, 
 for good food 
AND 
 for friends that are super cool to hang out with.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

13 isn't such an unlucky number...

Happy anniversary to US! 
hootie hoo 

Today is our 13th anniversary 
so we snapped this before running out for dinner at Texas Roadhouse because I'm obsessed with pics and we always take a pic on our anniversary.

We went to Gatlinburg for the weekend to kinda celebrate our anniversary like we do most years.

Here are a few pics of us from that, cuz I know that's what you're dyin to see. 
Check back for more pics of us doin stuff and not just posin for cute pics.  
somebody carved us a pretty little heart in a tree on the trail we hiked but they forgot our initials

a funky tree made for a good tripod so we could take this here pic

 Believe it or not, we had never ever ridden up the sky lift to the heights of Gatlinburg... 
but we did that Saturday so there ya have it.... and it was neat! 

Another thing we had never done is stop at the Karmelkorn store and get some of the yummy stuff fresh out the hopper...
...and I'm smiling here because I love my hubby AND that Karmelkorn I'm holding... 
I shared but only because I felt like I had to
This spot looked perfect for caramel corn eating!

But I know you LOVE seeing the throwback pics, so I'll indulge your insatiable desire for making fun of bad hair and outfits... 

Here we are at football homecoming in our senior year of high school (newly dating)

This was also taken during our senior year. . . circa 1995 

I knew after our first date in September 1994 there'd be a bunch more... and pretty soon after that I felt like I would marry him. Sounds crazy I know, but ya see I prayed for God to send me a Christian guy to date and marry for a long time. And this one - he fit the bill! It just clicked. Nobody has to tell ya these things... 

Anyway, I'm so thankful for this fella. I think we're a pretty darn good pair. Even if I say so myself.

I always say it. . . but I'll say it again... TIME FLIES! 13 years. . .geez!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Kerlandy's birthday - something worth celebrating

On Christmas Day 2011 my oldest brother and his wife brought home Kerby and Kerlandy - a brother & sister duo from Haiti - to join our family in a permanent wayChristmas 2011

Their mom died in a tap tap accident (Haiti taxi bus) and their dad struggled to balance work and raising the kids. So they ended up in an orphanage. Their older brother is still in Haiti. They actually still talk to him regularly on the phone. Haitians are pretty big on cell phones. Odd, I know. Seeing as how it's the poorest country in the world. But anywho. 

A couple weeks ago Kerlandy celebrated her 9th birthday here in the good ole U S of A. It was her first birthday with our family. And her first birthday party EVER
She had a blast. 
Kerlandy 
9 year old diva
hot dog roasting over an open campfire - oh yeah!

The kiddos painted pumpkins
it was a boys vs girls thing

 serious competition here

As it turned out, the impartial judge chose Kerlandy's pumpkin as the winner for the girls. It really wasn't rigged. She jumped for joy... literally
We laughed when Kerlandy was tying the balloon around her waist and told her she looked like she had grown a tail 

My dad (to the gkids "Pa Pa") was in revival in Georgia so he didn't get to be there for the party. Actually, Michelle's parents were also out of town. :-( 
But we partied on. 
Be careful Phil - 
my twin greatsomethings/your kids are inside your wife's tummy! 

The birthday girl had a banner and a sorta stage for her gift opening up on the porch


When Kerlandy opened this Barbie, Kerby yelled out That's Tiana (the Barbie's name). And we all laughed.  

Caleb participated via Face Time... since he's away doing his Army thang


Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Kerlandy...

Happy birthday to youuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's to many many more birthday celebrations with this sweet little girl! xoxo