After arriving back in the 'Ham Friday night following our vacation in S.C., we basically crashed. We spent Saturday unpacking and whacking away at the brush and weeds in our yard. You can tell the yard has been cared for in the past, just not recently, so we had to clean out some flower beds and get rid of this crazy vine growing over our fence in the backyard that was about to take over the nice ivy we have growing there too.
Robert trimmed up some shrubbery in the front and back and managed to dig up an incredibly long root system from a sweet gum tree that was cut down but whose roots have still set up residence in our lawn. I think he was able to uproot them with special vigor since once of them was the culprit for tearing up one of his lawn mower blades.
We've discovered the mosquitoes around our house are especially vicious. I was working in jeans and a long sleeve shirt to avoid bites. We're hoping to rid ourselves of them once we get rid of all the old stuff in our flower beds. (If any of you were bitten an abnormally high number of times at our 4th of July cookout, please forgive us!)
After our yard work on Saturday we went to Kyle and Megan Manley's for dinner. We had a blast hanging out with them and especially getting to know Megan better. I'm so glad they're in Bham and look forward to having some fun couple times with them.
We kept the nursery at church today and had to jointly manage NINE 2-year-olds!!! Talk about crazy. I think that's about the best form of birth control we can get. The children were good, but still, that's a lot of kids and craziness all at once. We were both so tired afterwards. I think we've been sleepy all day. After a week with Tallon and then this nursery experience I have a much greater respect for parents and their strength, patience, and stamina.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
UAB Bound
We found out this week that Robert was accepted into UAB's MBA program. He'll start classes August 22, and can no longer joke with me about being a Blazer because he'll be one too now. He'll likely just take two classes two nights each week.
We're both really excited about this opportunity. Everyone we've talked too and everything we've read tout the engineering/MBA combo as really the way to go.
I'm also planning on grad school and will likely start a master's degree in public administration in January once I've been a UAB employee for 6 months and they'll foot the bill for my education. Hopefully we'll end up with classes on the same nights.
We're both excited about this phase and especially the opportunity to continue our educations, but it's really tough to think about going back to school. It's crazy how quickly you get out of the swing of things. But it will be neat to meet new people in classes and learn new things. It also helps that our new house is all of 10 minutes from UAB.
We're both really excited about this opportunity. Everyone we've talked too and everything we've read tout the engineering/MBA combo as really the way to go.
I'm also planning on grad school and will likely start a master's degree in public administration in January once I've been a UAB employee for 6 months and they'll foot the bill for my education. Hopefully we'll end up with classes on the same nights.
We're both excited about this phase and especially the opportunity to continue our educations, but it's really tough to think about going back to school. It's crazy how quickly you get out of the swing of things. But it will be neat to meet new people in classes and learn new things. It also helps that our new house is all of 10 minutes from UAB.
Vacation
Robert and I just returned from a great, week-long vacation at his family's lake house in South Carolina. We really enjoyed relaxing by the lake and spending time with his parents, his Nana and Papa, his older sister Rebecca and her husband Reeves and their little boy Tallon, and his younger sister Liz and her husband Mike. Tallon was especially fun and already LOVES the water, boat, jet skies, and everything wet. He's not even 2 yet but has definitely graduated to the big boy toys.
My sister-in-law took some great pics that are posted on her blog, along with some cute videos. Be sure and check them out.
Some highlights of the trip:
My sister-in-law took some great pics that are posted on her blog, along with some cute videos. Be sure and check them out.
Some highlights of the trip:
- Actually getting up on one ski, albeit not for very long.
- Realizing I'm finally getting the hang of the Adams family's famous Shanghai card game.
- Nice, long boat rides cruising Lake Marion.
- Fun with our little nephew.
- Mimi's and Nana's wonderful cooking and Papa's fried fish.
- Listening to Seabiscuit on tape and having the 6.5-hour drive up and down fly by.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
If Only the Cameras Worked...
Both of our cameras broke this past week, so it's been a little hard to blog about the new house and the different events we've hosted since we moved it. After Robert's camera kept giving us the memory card error message I decided to dig out mine only to discover the screen went out. Luckily, I "purchased" a 3-year warranty that expires next month from the Sears sales associate back in college. This young guy definitely finagled the whole deal to "get me a good deal" and then wrote his name and number on the receit "in case the camera broke." So I guess it sometimes pays off to have guys flirt with you in college because now we get to get the camera fixed for free. It was a mess though trying to take the camera back to the retail store only to be told to call Sears and then getting the runaround on several phone calls before realizing we just have to drop it off at the repair store - conveniently a quarter mile away. :)
After moving in the new place, we hosted a 4th of July party for friends and family who had to bring their own lawn chairs because we don't have any outdoor furniture yet! Thanks to everyone who brought food and helped us have a great time. My parents brought their grill so we grilled out hamburgers and really had way too much food. But were were all happy and full by the time we made our way to downtown Homewood to watch the fireworks over Vulcan. Jake let us park in his driveway and then we set up lawn chairs in the street and watched the show with the rest of the block party. I'll try to see if anyonce took any pics and post what I can dig up. I do know Dad took a lot of video. (Most of it embarrassing stuff of us standing in front of the house while he's yelling to the neighbors walking their dog that we're "First Time Home Owners!") I'm sure it's pretty funny. The lady was actually cool about a potentially awkward moment and yelled back a "Welcome to the Neighborhood."
We've been able to meet both neighbors and then a couple across the street. Everyone is so nice. It really is like Americana with people out running and walking their dogs and saying hey to you in Publix. We even had a neighbor bring us cookies. I've enjoyed jogging through different parts of Edgewood and looking at how people have landscaped as we think about ways to fix up the yard. Robert's wants to cut the grass every three days or so because he loves the lawn mover so much. We've actually had a lot of rain lately so he hasn't been able to cut it a second time, but I think he's planning to get to it tonight.
We've really enjoyed entertaining. We had Parker and Ashley over for dinner this week and then hosted our small group last night. It's nice to have room for everyone, especially with the three children in our small group getting bigger and louder, and share what the Lord has blessed us with.
After moving in the new place, we hosted a 4th of July party for friends and family who had to bring their own lawn chairs because we don't have any outdoor furniture yet! Thanks to everyone who brought food and helped us have a great time. My parents brought their grill so we grilled out hamburgers and really had way too much food. But were were all happy and full by the time we made our way to downtown Homewood to watch the fireworks over Vulcan. Jake let us park in his driveway and then we set up lawn chairs in the street and watched the show with the rest of the block party. I'll try to see if anyonce took any pics and post what I can dig up. I do know Dad took a lot of video. (Most of it embarrassing stuff of us standing in front of the house while he's yelling to the neighbors walking their dog that we're "First Time Home Owners!") I'm sure it's pretty funny. The lady was actually cool about a potentially awkward moment and yelled back a "Welcome to the Neighborhood."
We've been able to meet both neighbors and then a couple across the street. Everyone is so nice. It really is like Americana with people out running and walking their dogs and saying hey to you in Publix. We even had a neighbor bring us cookies. I've enjoyed jogging through different parts of Edgewood and looking at how people have landscaped as we think about ways to fix up the yard. Robert's wants to cut the grass every three days or so because he loves the lawn mover so much. We've actually had a lot of rain lately so he hasn't been able to cut it a second time, but I think he's planning to get to it tonight.
We've really enjoyed entertaining. We had Parker and Ashley over for dinner this week and then hosted our small group last night. It's nice to have room for everyone, especially with the three children in our small group getting bigger and louder, and share what the Lord has blessed us with.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
The Move ... is Complete!
We've officially moved to our first house! I wish I could share all the great pics I took this weekend of all our wonderful friends and family members who helped us paint, pack boxes, move boxes, unload boxes, stock cabinets, and every else! (For some reason, the memory card in our camera decided to get error happy.) Robert and I were truly blessed to have so much support from everyone. You guys made our move easy and fun. Thanks so much for being there when we needed you!
A special thanks to:
Robert's mom and dad - we couldn't have done it without you both. Thanks for packing, unpacking, working in the yard, organizing the kitchen, fighting the couch, cooking lunch, bringing cookies and brownies, and being there when we needed you.
My dear brother, Kyle - the painter extraordinaire and ultimate handyman.
My mom and dad - for packing up the kichen and boxing a ton of dishes in only a couple of hours that would have taken Robert and me forever to do.
Kristi, Clay, and Victoria - for putting up with us until we found the right house (Number 22!) and being the best cousin/realtor ever.
Aden Holasek - for all her company, trimming skills, and help in the kitchen - on a Friday night!
Parker Johnson - for getting up early to move our junk and then making room in his car to haul it to his place - all when he could have been at the lake
Austin and Megan Dalgo - for unpacking us just weeks after unpacking themselves after a move from St. Louis and for discovering I had three sets of China that are the wrong pattern.
Kyle Manley - for leaving his new bride to put boxes in our attic.
Elizabeth Taylor - for dropping by after work on Saturday to unpack boxes.
Leigh Prickett - for bringing by some of my favorite chicken salad from Iz Too along with Wheat Thins and chocoate chip cookies (Old Roomie, you know my eating habits all too well!)
Matt Chapman - for moving all our empty boxes to the shed right before the rain.
Sam Hill - for affirming our choice of Homewood for a place to live and reminding us that we were "grown up."
Keith, Jennifer, and Jackson Cooke - for use of their plethora of paint supplies. (You guys should open a store!)
The McElroy and Potts families from church - for bringing us two wonderful meals this week!
Our new neighbors - for bringing by chocolate chip cookies.
Eleanor and Brad Oser - getting married Saturday night and forcing us to take a break and have a blast at your wedding and reception!
Additionally thanks to Uhaul, Corona Extra, Johnny Rays BBQ, Home Depot, Behr, and additional sponsors.
Here's our new address:
211 Sterrett Avenue
Homewood, AL 35209
I'll post pics as soon as I can get the camera to work!
A special thanks to:
Robert's mom and dad - we couldn't have done it without you both. Thanks for packing, unpacking, working in the yard, organizing the kitchen, fighting the couch, cooking lunch, bringing cookies and brownies, and being there when we needed you.
My dear brother, Kyle - the painter extraordinaire and ultimate handyman.
My mom and dad - for packing up the kichen and boxing a ton of dishes in only a couple of hours that would have taken Robert and me forever to do.
Kristi, Clay, and Victoria - for putting up with us until we found the right house (Number 22!) and being the best cousin/realtor ever.
Aden Holasek - for all her company, trimming skills, and help in the kitchen - on a Friday night!
Parker Johnson - for getting up early to move our junk and then making room in his car to haul it to his place - all when he could have been at the lake
Austin and Megan Dalgo - for unpacking us just weeks after unpacking themselves after a move from St. Louis and for discovering I had three sets of China that are the wrong pattern.
Kyle Manley - for leaving his new bride to put boxes in our attic.
Elizabeth Taylor - for dropping by after work on Saturday to unpack boxes.
Leigh Prickett - for bringing by some of my favorite chicken salad from Iz Too along with Wheat Thins and chocoate chip cookies (Old Roomie, you know my eating habits all too well!)
Matt Chapman - for moving all our empty boxes to the shed right before the rain.
Sam Hill - for affirming our choice of Homewood for a place to live and reminding us that we were "grown up."
Keith, Jennifer, and Jackson Cooke - for use of their plethora of paint supplies. (You guys should open a store!)
The McElroy and Potts families from church - for bringing us two wonderful meals this week!
Our new neighbors - for bringing by chocolate chip cookies.
Eleanor and Brad Oser - getting married Saturday night and forcing us to take a break and have a blast at your wedding and reception!
Additionally thanks to Uhaul, Corona Extra, Johnny Rays BBQ, Home Depot, Behr, and additional sponsors.
Here's our new address:
211 Sterrett Avenue
Homewood, AL 35209
I'll post pics as soon as I can get the camera to work!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
At the Lake
After a few great two days in Charleston, we spent last weekend with Robert's family at their lake house in South Carolina. We had a blast and really enjoyed seeing Robert's mom (Mimi) and dad (Pop), grandparents Nana and Papa, sister Rebecca, brother-in-law Reeves, and nephew Tallon. Thanks for having us!
Pop in his new boat
Mimi and Tallon checking out the water.
Papa and Nana relaxing by the lake.
Reeves slaloming!
Robert and his second love in life - the jet ski!
Pop and Reeves
Tallon and Mimi in the boat.
Reeves found the cane pole that a fish drug off the pier and out into the lake overnight.
Tallon liked fishing too.
Tallon and his mommy.
Papa - the best fisher fryer in the world.
Pop in his new boat
Mimi and Tallon checking out the water.
Papa and Nana relaxing by the lake.
Reeves slaloming!
Robert and his second love in life - the jet ski!
Pop and Reeves
Tallon and Mimi in the boat.
Reeves found the cane pole that a fish drug off the pier and out into the lake overnight.
Tallon liked fishing too.
Tallon and his mommy.
Papa - the best fisher fryer in the world.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Charleston
This past week Robert and I took a mini vacation to Charleston, South Carolina. We actually went for a donor relations conference I attended for work, but we also had time for some sightseeing, good seafood, and shopping.
This is the view from out hotel room. We stayed at the Francis Marion, a historic hotel on King Street. The pinkish building was the original location of The Citidel before it moved uptown. My conference sessions were actually at The Citidel and the College of Charleston, both gorgeous campuses.
Charleston's Custom House at Night
Robert and I really enjoyed the Shrimp and Grits at Hymans - a great seafood Restaurant on Meeting Street that's been praised by Southern Living.
Hymans from the outside
I found a friend . . . aarghh!
On Friday, Robert's mom and dad met us in Charleston for the afternoon and we perused the vendors at The Market and also visited some fudge and candy shops. I'm not sure why there is only half a photo, but you get the idea of how much the Adams love their chocolate!
I picked out a circus peanut for my dad for Father's Day.
And I just had to show this pic. Talk about the crazy things you see on the interstate for 7.5 hours. I hope this guy didn't have a wreck because all his watermelons would have been all over the highway.
This is the view from out hotel room. We stayed at the Francis Marion, a historic hotel on King Street. The pinkish building was the original location of The Citidel before it moved uptown. My conference sessions were actually at The Citidel and the College of Charleston, both gorgeous campuses.
Charleston's Custom House at Night
Robert and I really enjoyed the Shrimp and Grits at Hymans - a great seafood Restaurant on Meeting Street that's been praised by Southern Living.
Hymans from the outside
I found a friend . . . aarghh!
On Friday, Robert's mom and dad met us in Charleston for the afternoon and we perused the vendors at The Market and also visited some fudge and candy shops. I'm not sure why there is only half a photo, but you get the idea of how much the Adams love their chocolate!
I picked out a circus peanut for my dad for Father's Day.
And I just had to show this pic. Talk about the crazy things you see on the interstate for 7.5 hours. I hope this guy didn't have a wreck because all his watermelons would have been all over the highway.
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