She's Sun and Rain

I didn't post on Sunday because I was so exhausted from Saturday night! Yep, you can still have fun while on bed rest. :) We threw a party for our wonderful friends Scott and Kristi Brooks. Adam of course did ALL the work! He was a great host and I just sat there and got to hang out with our friends. Scott and Kristi have been an amazing part of my life for the last 6 or so years. I met them at Team Church in 2006 when I started attending and volunteering with student ministry. Kristi and I led a high school girls hometeam (small group) for the next 3+ years and became the best of friends. We went on vacations together, had a women's bible study together, she was there every time I needed a friend, she helped me with every single aspect of planning my wedding, too! Since Adam wasn't here in Charlotte she went with me to pick out a dress, to the cake tasting, to the florist, to the venues, and of course a bridesmaid...she was just pretty much the best friend a girl could ask...

 I am no expert and I know several reports have a list out about the best time of the year to purchase specific items. What I do know....Memorial day and the week after Christmas have the best sales so far that I have seen. Really. Adam and I have held off on buying anything new for a year and a half while trying to pay off debt and get caught up from last year. Now that we are doing Dave Ramsey's financial peace university we actually have an envelope for clothing and it is high time that we replace some old things that need replacing. I also "had a growth spurt" after we got married, so shorts were in drastic need. You can find the best times to buy items at Kiplinger's , Lifehacker.com , or Real Simple . And next Memorial Day I suggest you hit the mall for some really great deals! Here are a few pictures from our Memorial Day. I hope yours was fabulous! Colin and Katelyn having a blast! Where there are guys, there are games. Me, Quinn, and Mama...

So, (sometimes I just really like starting sentences with that word)...our dear friends Nick and Meg invited us over for dinner one evening and asked us to bring the Guacamole! I had not really made guacamole yet and succeeded so I thought I would give it a try. I texted a few friends, the first being my friend Josalynn who is an incredible cook and she immediately responded with her recipe! It was very fun to make - as a couple too! Adam pitched in and helped. He really likes chopping things and using gadgets and electronics so a food processor was just up his alley (yea yea, pun intended). Here are a few photos from our guacamole experiment. I highly recommend trying it!

We are surely blessed with great friends. Adam and I both have some really special friendships. Some have formed recently and some formed many years ago in our childhoods. Last weekend we went to Charlotte for the weekend and spent some time with my family and some friends from Team Church. They were God's answer to prayer for me, and they welcome Adam with open arms :) When we got there it started to snow... and we actually got to see it fall from the sky! The back yard :) I have waited so long to have snow! It was picture worthy, even if in Pajamas! Greg, Brandi, Me and Adam @ Moms Saturday night we had a Valentine's Dinner at the Petko's. It consisted of Fondu, Salad, Spaghetti and Meatballs and Bananas Foster! AMAZING to say the least! Scott, Kristi and Baby Brooks Brad and Margaret (Soon to be Saab's)  Josalynn and Michael Petko Adam and I And the whole gang! Such a great weekend!

Or something like that. 2009 was a whirlwind. Great in 08, Time to Shine in 09, and in 2010...well, we will see. We started out the New Year in Charlotte with great friends and fellowship. We went over to Scott and Kristi Brooks' home (new house, they have so cutely decorated!) and Scott's family was in town for the holidays. We had a great dinner and talked and watched the Red Bull guy jump over the water in his car and then watched the ball drop - about eight times. Scott enjoyed replaying poor Dick Clark messing up the count down. Ahhh...New Years Eve :) Katie was going to a party down the street and stopped by to say hi, was great to see her as always before they headed back to AZ. Who knows where they will be headed to next?! Thus, the new year is here and new beginnings and thus far...it's been hard. My fun spirited self has dwindled over these first 8 days of the year and been all about what Dave says...you see, Dave is trying to get us out of debt (Thank you s...

I have spent the last couple of days at the coast getting 'organized'. Haha. I've finally gotten all my photos downloaded and stalked all my friends for theirs, leaving with me with nothing left except to print photos, post them to facebook, and blog. What a world we live in, so much technology to keep up with! Here are some from summer to get started... Summer Camp with Team Church June/July . Looking glass falls The whole group in Hendersonville. Our historic Sonic runs. A yearly tradition. Rainbow Falls, so pretty Margaret and I on one of our many hikes down to Turtleback Falls. 4th of July @ Lake Tillery Greg and Brandi going for a ride on the Jet Ski Greg learning how to take the fish off the hook. Hangin out at the lake... At the Braves game in Atlanta with Abilene and Adam's family Adam and Ava At Joe's Crab Shack in Myrtle Beach with Abilene's Jr/Sr Retreat At Jeff and Jen Salisbury's wedding  More F...

Braves vs Diamondbacks in Hotlanta, we had random annoying guy sitting behind us. Several attempts at elbow length shots led to a nice lady taking this one. Thanks nice lady. My first trip to the Varsity. I had a great tour guide! My soon to be brother in law, sister in law, and NIECE! It was her 1st Birthday party. This is her saying "What are you looking at?" Adam and Ava. She loves her uncle :) Me and Colin at a fundraiser for CF at McAllister's. Teran and I at her Bridal Luncheon at Cafe Luna in Raleigh. Some of the ladies at the Rehearsal dinner at Bogarts. Great fun! Shae, Jay and I at Teran's Wedding at TPC Wakefield. Amazing ladies, Ashley, Courtney and Paige at the wedding. The only pic I got of the bride and groom was of a funny face she'd hate me for if I posted. :) It's been a great start to summer! More coming soon...

This past weekend I was in Hilton Head, SC for my good friend Teran's bachelorette weekend. It was an adventurous, fun filled weekend with lots of sun, sand, laughs and nature. I was amazed by God's beauty all around me. We went for runs, walked on the beach looking for sand dollars and other creatures, and went on bike rides. We also went out to dinner, listened to live music and sang some ridiculous karaoke. All in all, a marvelous time! This picture is from Harbour Town in Sea Pines Resort where Ashley works. We went there the last night for dinner. This sailboat was making its way into the marina. We found two starfish on day 1, then on day 2 we went on a starfish hunt and found this one, we were so excited! This is the first whole, not living sand dollar I've ever found. I'd feel guilty taking a live one :) This was also at Harbour Town. This pelican was sitting on the dock. The sky was so beautiful. I could watch sunsets at the beach every day and still be in awe...