Monday, April 15, 2013

M+J Wedding

On 4/13/13, my cousin Marissa married Joseph Thetford at the Sacred Hart Chapel in Point Clear, AL. It was a beautiful day, blue skies, sunny, cool breeze, and a beautiful view of the Mobile Bay in the background. It was so wonderful to have the whole extended family together. Cousins, aunts, and uncles drove from all over the country to be there for Marissa.

Friday night we went to the Rehearsal dinner at Oak Hollow Farms in Fairhope, AL. It was an  amazing night full of yummy food, good music, and visiting with family and friends.

With my cousins Bianca, Kerrie, and Kristen

With my dad

With Bianca







On Saturday after the wedding, the reception was held at the Point Clear Tennis Club. It was also very beautiful, delicious food, and an awesome Motown band entertained us. We danced all night and celebrated their wonderful union.
My cousin Karen and I waiting for the wedding to begin






Standing around outside the Chapel after the wedding!

My Tia Allie & Uncle Jim

My SIL & niece Allie

The view from the chapel

Tia Maudi and Uncle Tito

Marissa & Joe

The Winberg Family


The Reception Hall

MJ 1st dance


Cousins!

Hanging out at the reception

Cousins Kristen & Bianca with my Tia Millie

Awkward Cousin photo, LOL! We are pro's at this! Done them since childhood!

Left to Right: Cousins Katrina, MJ, Karen, Rolo, Stephen, Marilyn, & Uncle Tito

Me with my cousins Kerrie and Karen

Eric and I with my cousin Kerrie dancing! :)




Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Conference on the Beach

Yep! That's right! Eric and I spent Sunday listening the General Conference on the beach! Don't worry…we didn't swim. There were red and purple flags flying so it wasn't really safe to swim anyway. We left the house early in the morning and headed to Gulf Shores. It was cool when we first arrived to the beach, but by the time conference started it was close to 80 degrees, sunny blue skies, and a nice breeze was blowing. We walked up and down the beach looking for seashells, took naps, and suntanned. Love quality time with the hubby, love the beach, warm weather, and listening to Conference!!!! Not really loving the sunburns!








Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Promotion

Eric got a promotion at work to Supervisor! We are very excited for him to advance within the company and for the pay raise :) I am a little sad because I know this means he will be gone even more than he is already with work, but it is a much needed blessing, and I couldn't be more proud!

Other good news:
1) I am in the top 15% of my class at the University and have been asked to be in the University Honor Society.
2) Eric's parents are coming to visit us for my graduation in July.
3) Eric has a new calling at church. In addition to being the 11 yr old boy scout leader, he is now the newest Gospel Principles teacher.
4) 2 weeks until I finish my Adult 2 Class/Clinical!!!! You have no idea how excited I am for this class to be over! No more 3 hr nights of sleep, 4 am wake up calls, 72 hrs worth of paperwork a week, or papers and test every weekend.
5) Spring has sprung and today it was 81 degrees here and sunny! SO ready to breakout my swimsuit and hit the beach! I have never needed a tan so badly!

Monday, April 1, 2013

Easter in Dixie


Eric and I are finally home with my family for Easter. This is the first time that we have been able to celebrate with them since we met 6 years ago. Easter weekend started a little bit earlier for me than expected due to some unexpected events at school. Thursday morning at 9:30 I was headed back home from Mobile instead of staying at the hospital and I also had friday off of school. With all this extra time I know I should have utilized it wisely and got a lot of work done and instead I just enjoyed my long weekend off of school :) Oh well!

Saturday morning I went with my mom to her bootcamp workout class. Mind you I have not had an intense work out for quite some time due to my crazy school schedule and I must admit a lack of motivation on my part. The class was held in downtown Cathedral Square in Mobile. After a brutal hour of running and every lunge and squat you can think of, we made our way over to the Spot of Tea for breakfast. Yummy! I got the Monte Cristo and it was divine. Following this we went home showered and went to lunch with my mom's friend at the Olive Garden, followed by shopping for easter clothes and easter dinner. Then we made our way over to my brother's house and visited with them until dinner time. We all went to Champy's, a really good fried chicken joint here in Daphne. It was also very good. Eric finally got off work and tried to meet us there for dinner, but unfortunately he is still learning his way around, and I guess he misunderstood me when I told him the name of the restaurant, so he ended up eating his meal take out at home :(

Sunday morning was lovely. We all donned our Easter Sunday outfits and headed off to church for a beautiful 3 hour long service. Afterwards, we rushed home to take pictures, cook easter dinner, and hide 100 easter eggs in the yard for the grandkids. We had a blast enjoying a very yummy dinner, the egg hunt, and watching the Duke/Louisville basketball game. My sister-in-law's parents were in town and were over at out house for easter. They are from Kentucky and are huge Louisville fans. We were a little upset because in our household we are all huge KU (Kansas Jayhawk) fans and they lost in overtime this weekend. So even though we are bummed out our team was out of the tournament we enjoyed watching the other games this weekend.

Eric and I have enjoyed many Easters together over the years. Since Easter 2009 he has surprised me with Easter baskets, candy, flowers, jewelry boxes, love notes, even a Kindle, but this year we kept it simple. We exchanged easter baskets of course. He knows me well and included a few of my favorite candies…Godiva Dark chocolate truffles, Reese's, Starburst jellybeans, but my favorite of all gifts came in a little tin egg. Inside the egg he had written the most beautiful of all letters I have ever received. He handed me the letter before we left for church but I had no time to open it until I was sitting in church. When I read the letter, a stream of tears quickly began to flow and I was overcome with emotion. I love my husband so much and I am so blessed to be sealed to him in the temple for time and all eternity. He is my best friend, and the love of my life. We have been so blessed this Easter season and are so grateful for our Savior who gave everything,  even his life, so that we could all return to our Heavenly Father someday. He suffered for me individually and knows my heartaches, my sorrows, my burdens, my pain, and can lift these from me though the power of the atonement. I am so very very blessed!

Here are a few Easter pictures we took yesterday. Enjoy and God bless!

After Church


Us with my mom


With my Dad


Easter baskets


Group shot minus the photographer


Daddy's girl


My brothers with my mom


Eric rocking on the front porch


Thomas egg hunting with his daddy's help


Allie even found a few eggs


Thomas's big Easter egg from the Easter bunny


Walking around outside the house


Allie wasn't that into it…maybe next year :) 

Thomas has enough candy to last him till Halloween!