Spring Break...Catch Up!

After an embarrassingly long blog hiatus I am back and promise to try to be better about keeping up with this. I really don't know what hit me, I guess just the busyness of life, but that is a lame excuse I know. Before I catch you up on what we have most recently been up to, I thought I would do my best to summarize what happened this spring:

My 29th Birthday

I celebrated my last birthday in my twenties with Alan at one of our favorite restaurants, Foothills Milling Company. If you haven't been there before, I would highly recommend it! My family celebrated my birthday and my dad's together since they're only 5 days apart. I must say that some pretty wonderful things have happened in my twenties but I'm really not that apprehensive about my thirties... I say that now while that still seems a long way off!

UT Young Alumni Orange and White Game Event

Alan and I attended this year's Orange and White game with the UT Young Alumni. We had so much fun visiting the locker room before the game and then hearing some of the football players speak about the upcoming season. We then got to watch the game from the skybox which was a fun experience.

Proud Wife Comment: Alan was actually selected this spring to be part of the UT Young Alumni Council which is a two year commitment where he will work with others to execute and promote the University of Tennessee through young alumni events!

Junior League Rose Gala

At the end of each Junior League year we have our annual gala on the eve of the Kentucky Derby and the theme is "Big Hats, Bigger Hearts". Alan and I dressed in our derby attire and made a night of it! It's really fun coming together with women I've worked alongside all year and just have a night of fun and festivities. I also may or may not really enjoy getting to dress up!

Memorial Day

This year my mom's sister Claire and her husband Peter came in town from Connecticut. It was so great spending this holiday with them and the rest of our families.

Learn Something New Everyday Moment: I have always wanted to know how to steam live lobsters and then shell them so for the holiday, we got our lobsters and then Claire taught everyone the entire process start to finish. It wasn't as hard as I thought and did I mention delicious?!

Brittany & Paul's Wedding
In June, Alan's family congregated at a lodge on the Nantahala River for his cousin Brittany's wedding. Brittany and Paul met in college at Furman and truly make each other so happy. Despite ALL the rain we've gotten this spring, it was a beautiful day with much celebration!

4th of July

We started our holiday with lunch at Frussie's Deli in south Knoxville which was a real treat! Definitely one of the best sandwiches in Knoxville. Alan's parents had a neighborhood party which we went to that afternoon with some friends of ours which was so much fun! Also, two of my mom's brother's and their families came in town from Florida, North Carolina, Alabama, and Colorado. It was so much fun spending time with everyone which is something that unfortunately doesn't happen as often as we'd like with so many people trying to coordinate schedules. We had a great time hanging out together, eating wonderful food, and shooting off tons of fireworks! 

Cardinals vs. Braves Game

While we didn't make it to St. Louis this year, we did just recently go to a Cardinals game when they played the Braves in Atlanta. We've enjoyed this little post-season rivalry between these two teams and getting to see the Cardinals play is always a good time. Hopefully, we'll make it to St. Louis next year!

Stay tuned for our anniversary trip to Kiawah! 

5 Years

Wow! Where has the time gone? Yesterday, Alan and I had our 5 year anniversary! We celebrated all weekend long starting out on Friday night with our traditional anniversary dinner at...

 We got the "Big Night Out" dinner for two and it was perfect!

Saturday (our actual anniversary) we enjoyed a relaxing day together.  We slept in (yes 8 o'clock is sleeping in for us) ate breakfast and went to the farmer's market.  We did a little shopping and then ate lunch at Chick-fil-A (all I will say on this blog is that we will continue to support this company) and then spent the afternoon watching the Olympics. Go Team USA! We dropped by a baby shower for Kristy & Jay who are having a precious little girl in September and then went to...

which will "officially" open in Bearden on Monday! Our sweet friend, Jean, works in marketing there and invited us to the grand opening shindig.  It was packed! We had a great time and bumped into a few friends while we were there :)

On a more sentimental note: I am so blessed.  The past 5 years have flown by and we have had a blast. Sure- let's be honest, there have been some tough times, hard decisions to make, and a few big fights, but there have also been times where I have never in my life felt more loved and times when loving someone else has brought me more joy than I ever thought possible.  So may the next 50+ years be just as special as these first sweet years and bring us even closer to each other and to our Lord. Cheers!

We have been surrounded by family and friends from the beginning

 My favorite day...without a doubt!

2008: Knoxville half-marathon

2009: Europe Trip

 Spring 2010: Alan graduates from UT law school...

 ...and passes the Bar Exam!

 Fall: 2010 We move to St. Louis

 2011: We move back to Knoxville

Spring 2012: Colorado Ski Trip

Where will the Lord take us next?! I can't wait to find out!

Living Well

Last weekend Alan and I went to our favorite Bearden restaurant Echo with Elizabeth & Patrick and Maggie & Ben.  E&P came in town to celebrate Annie's birthday with the family so we decided to all go out and use some gift certificates that my parents gave us all for Christmas.  We are terrible about remembering to use gift certificates but this was one we were very excited about using.  I.T. W.A.S. F.A.N.T.A.S.T.I.C.

We had a fabulous night with great company and delicious food!

It was wonderful getting together since we are all so busy and that can be a bit of a challenge at times :)

Saturday night we went over to my parents for Annie's birthday festivities.  I cannot believe she turned 13 this year, she is growing up so fast!  The only ones who weren't able to be there were Rachel & Colin but we know they were there in spirit.  All said, fun-filled weekend with the fam!

Savelli's, WVR, and Rowland Farm

After work on Friday, Alan and I met up with sweet friends for Date Night! The kiddos (not ours, duh) were left at home, and we got to enjoy a fun-filled night with yummy Italian, vino, and great friends. Even with a reservation we had to wait a bit at the ever-popular Savelli's (which reminds me of The Hill in STL) but it was worth it as always, and we were able to squeeze in lots of good conversation. 

Can we please do this every weekend?!

Saturday mid-morning, Alan and I drove through Townsend on to Wears Valley Ranch to celebrate Clayton's birthday!  Clayton's parents started WVR years ago as a shelter for children in crisis situations. It has since grown into a school, a summer camp, and so much more.  We had fun enjoying the great outdoors with lots of sweet friends. Danielle went above and beyond hosting, making delicious food, and homemade ice-cream too!

Saturday night we witnessed our friends, Amanda and Jonathan, say "I DO!" Amanda worked at Stone & Hinds with Alan but will now be moving to Florida to be with Jonathan, we will miss them! Their wedding was ahh-mazing! Everything from A&J reciting their vows from memory at the alter, to a mid-summer's night dream of a reception on the Rowland's farm afterwards, it was beautiful (right out of Southern Living) and we had a wonderful time!

Heart Day

Yes... Alan and I celebrate Valentine's Day. I know it's one of those cheesy hallmark holidays but we decide every year it's a fun chance to get out for no other reason than to enjoy our time together. This year we are back in Knoxville and went to dinner at the Northshore Brasserie.

It was delicious!

Alan surprised me with a rose (he said he didn't want to get a whole bouquet because we are going out of town tomorrow)

...and we both got cards that neither of us had a chance to write in yet, ha! I guess that's one of those things that happens after being married for a while, can I argue it the thought that counts?! Happy Valentine's Day friends, we are hitting the slopes tomorrow!!!

Bijou, Basketball, and Birthday

Alan and I began our weekend Friday night at our favorite restaurant downtown: Downtown Grill & Brewery. We love this place! Everything from the atmosphere, the food, and the locally made beer- it's a fabulous place to unwind after a long day or go out for a good time!

After dinner, we walked down the street to the Bijou Theatre to see Donna the Buffalo.

Donna the Buffalo follows no playlist and has an eclectic variety of songs with roots in old time fiddle music, we loved it!

Alan and I got box seats which was a fun place to enjoy the show :)

We had just as much fun watching the crowd as we did listening to the band

Saturday was the UT vs UCONN basketball game and Alan went with my dad. My parents are from Connecticut and both went to UCONN so of course my dad shows up sporting his UCONN apparel. Alan didn't mind it though, and then of course was happy the Vols managed to pull off the W!

Sunday afternoon, Alan and I went to Wyatt's 1st Birthday Party! Wyatt's parents, Danielle and Clayton, are in our Wednesday night Bible Study and we have loved getting to know their sweet family since moving back to Knoxville. Danielle made delicious cupcakes!

At first Wyatt wasn't sure what to think of the cupcakes and everyone singing to him...

...then he decided he liked it!

Our friends, Amy and Jared, came with their precious 10 day old beautiful baby girl, Elliot "Ellie" Faith. We loved seeing her for the first time and getting to catch up with them!

We're now watching the playoffs and getting ready for Monday. All said... fantastic weekend!

Sunday Funday

Yesterday was a super fun and super busy Sunday! Alan and I went to church bright and early and then went over to my parents' house for lunch to see my wonderful aunt Claire and uncle Peter who were in town for the weekend. Claire and Peter live in Connecticut and we have missed them like crazy!

That afternoon we went to the Knoxville Convention Center for me to help with Tinsel and Treasure, which is my committee this year for Junior League. We had some GREAT vendors and it definitely got the wheels in my head spinning with Christmas ideas! I told Alan that he was lucky we don't have a house yet, or our credit card might have gotten a little bit of a workout!

That night we went to...

to celebrate Will's 29th birthday! It was so much fun going out with them and several other couples from our small group. They are just the greatest friends and we are so blessed to know them. Happy Birthday Will!

4 Years

Happy Anniversary to us! 4 years ago today Alan and I shared the most special day with each other, our family, and friends. We have done so much between now and then but in some ways it also feels like no time has gone by at all.

traditional dinner at The Melting Pot

We got the Latin American Fusion Feast, here is our dinner right before cooking.

The dessert is always my favorite part! :)