NEW ORLEANS....NAWLINS....NOLA!

Ever since moving to Birmingham, G and I have had a list of places that we've wanted to hit up in the South.  Lately, we've been making that happen! Prior to the existence of our blog, we have been to the beach in Destin, our friend's home in Hattiesburg, to visit family in Atlanta multiple times and for Gordy's birthday weekend (here), and to Orlando with some of G's family! We love living so close to so many different places, and traveling is really important to both of us.  We are constantly dreaming about trips that we want to take!  There is something to be said for experiencing different cultures and places.  I feel like each time we travel, we grow personally and together.  There is so much out there to learn, even if it's 10 minutes away from your house! 

We spent Thanksgiving at G's Aunt and Uncle's home in Atlanta! It was a beautiful holiday and we really had such a great time with them! We love having family so close.  Sadly, we didn't take any pictures, but the food was amazing and the company even better! The few days following Thanksgiving, we ventured down yonder to New Orleans which was a blast! Sometimes it is so much fun to travel just the two of us.  Our trip consisted of waaaay too much delicious food (is there even such a thing?!), a colorful city, and a great break from school and work.  We loved New Orleans!

^^ On our drive down we passed this car going to the Iron Bowl....

ROLL TIDE! ^^

^^ The architecture was beautiful! I loved the iron on the homes and all the windows and plants! ^^

^^ Lines of card readers, psychics, voodoo people, etc. ^^

^^ Jackson Square! ^^

^^ Po' boys....delicious! We tried the fried shrimp with lobster bisque...

and now my mouth is watering! ^^

We went to Mardi Gras World! We got some beads (no, we didn't have to earn them..thank goodness!), ate some King Cake, dressed up and took pictures with past Mardi Gras props, watched a movie about the history of Mardi Gras, and took a tour of this huge warehouse where they make all of the floats for the parades! We loved it! It was neat to see it all in the making, and crazy to think that we saw like 1/17 of all the props that they have!  Also fun fact: all of the Chick-fil-a billboard cows are made here! As well as many things for Disney and other businesses.

^^ This is my favorite picture of the whole trip! hahahaha the casual

 "I have a pet tiger. What up?" look is too good. I love my husband! ^^

^^ King and Queen of Mardi Gras! ^^

^^ Muffulettas at Central Grocery. Divine! ^^

^^ Literally the best corn I've ever had found at the French Market! G was in heaven! ^^

^^ Biking around the French Quarter. ^^

We went to see the Christmas lights at City Park! 

^^ Caterpillar lights on drugs. Jk I accidentally bumped the camera

but I think it looks cool!

 ^^

^^ We are total kids at heart and I hope that we never grow out of it! ^^

^^  It took us a while to figure out that this wasn't a weird looking snowman, 

but a snow cone man! haha. And G made me pose like him... ^^

^^ How Santa gets around in the South! ^^

^^ We rode the trolley cars to the Garden District where we walked

 through the beautiful Lafayette Cemetery and saw some of the most gorgeous homes. ^^

^^ Notice the beads...and I love the Spanish Moss in the trees too! ^^

^^ We got beignets a few times, don't even worry! ^^

^^ The National World War II Museum was amazing!! The video was incredible, the submarine experience way fun, and the information great.  Plus they had such amazing artifacts! ^^

Thanks New Orleans for such a good time!

And thank you husband for loving to travel as much as me! 

WELCOME TO THE SOUTH!

We had such a fun weekend with family in town!!!!!!! I don't think I can overstate that! We loved every second that Tom and Katie were here.  We had a blast showing them around the city we love and showing them all the things that we love about Alabama.  Also, family is the best. We love having big families with lots of fun siblings.  It was so so great to spend some quality time with them...thanks for such a fun visit T & K!!!! We love you lots! (And Alabama misses you so you should come back soon!) ;) We did so many things while they were here that there is not enough time to elaborate on it all BUT here are some of the pictures that we took during their visit!

First stop: Bass Pro Shop (duh!) and guess who was there.....SANTA!!!! (I KNOW HIM!!)  And the best part? Free pics! He was a quality Santa too! He looked at G and exclaimed, "Well I haven't seen you since you were 5! You didn't get the truck you wanted that year because you were naughty!" And when we asked for a picture, he insisted we sit on his lap.  haha. Then Santa told me to tell G that he needs to be extra good and listen to his wife or he won't get any presents this year! What a good Santa! :) 

^^ Santa specifically told Katie to stand up so he could take this pic with Tom.  hahaha ^^

We went to the Civil Rights Institute which was really great! I encourage everyone to go to it.  It is especially interesting because Birmingham was so involved in this part of our Nation's history. This is the 16th Street Baptist Church pictured above and below.  History sometimes breaks my heart but it's so important that we learn about it.  

^^ People didn't think they were brothers and I'm like

 are you kidding me, they look like twins! ^^

^^ The view of Birmingham from the Vulcan! 

We sure do love this city. ^^

^^ We somehow didn't take a pic of the Vulcan,

 but here is its foot in comparison to these guys! ^^

^^ A truly Southern meal at Niki's West. This place is amazing!!!Pictured: catfish (with the best tartar sauce ever!), fried green tomatoes, greens, sweet potatoes and cornbread. GET IN MA BELLY!!! Oh and don't forget to try some banana pudding...it's the best that I've had in Alabama yet!  ^^

^^ We went and explored Sloss Furnaces.  It's an awesome place! 

It would have been cool to see this in full swing back in the day! ^^

^^ Bye bye Tom.... parts of it were kind of eerie...

but of course the boys wanted to go exploring! ^^

^^ Gordy made us walk down into this huge tunnel that was dripping with water and super scary!! And when he jumped at us, you bet that Katie and I screamed and clung to each other! haha^^

^^We went to Tom's first parade! They do Christmas parades here and I absolutely love it!! 

My favorite part is when they throw ice cream sandwiches off of the fire trucks. We are not ashamed to jump up and down for some candy, that's for sure! ^^

^^ Beignets!!!! So good! ^^

And then this happened and the boys left. They had a fun day despite not shooting anything! Katie and I took a tour of the Arlington Antebellum Home and Gardens.  This house is from pre-civil war era and was beautiful! My favorite was the square piano! We did some window shopping and had some quality girl time.  I loved having a sister around!!

^^ We also felt like kids ringing the bell! haha. People thought we were sisters and I was like I'm toooootally okay with that because Katie's the cutest! ^^

It was such a fabulous weekend...one for the books! We can't wait for more visits in the future from T and K (and their soonish to arrive little baby)! We love you guys mucho! Can't wait CAN'T WAIT for Christmas when we will see even more of our families!!!

TWO YEARS

On November 17th, Gordy and I celebrated two years of marriage!!!  It's a little hard to believe that we have already been married two years! Time seriously flies when you are with the one you love. Our anniversary was on a Monday, and we both had work and school, so we decided to celebrate simply.  It was such a good day.  I honestly was beaming all day just thinking about the man that I get to call my husband.  He is so wonderful! 

The Saturday prior, we went to the temple and participated in some sealings.  We were able to reminisce on our special day when we were sealed for eternity.  So many memories and feelings came back to me in the temple which made this experience all the sweeter! I cannot express enough gratitude and love for our Heavenly Father who allows us to be connected to our loved ones in the life to come.  Our temple sealing is one of our greatest blessings! 

After a fancy dinner of quesadillas and red pepper and tomato soup (it's not pathetic if that's what you both feel like right???), we reminisced.  We reminisced over the slide show that Gordy proposed with.  It was so cute to re-read some of the texts we sent each other while dating!  We looked at all of our wedding pictures and watched our wedding video which brought back even more memories.  I looked over at G while watching the video and realized that we both had the biggest smiles on our faces! November 17, 2012 was seriously the perfect day! Then we talked about love and life and dreams and goals and marriage and each other.  Sometimes I think my heart will burst because I feel so much love for this man of mine.  

I believe in marriage.  I believe in celebrating it!  I love that Gordy and I get to work together each day and that we share everything--our good, bad, hard, happy, and funny moments.  I have had a few friends ask me over the past few years what the best part about marriage is.  I have tried to explain to them how I have never known more happiness or felt more complete.  The feelings that come when Gordy and I set goals together, see our dreams come true together, and work through hard situations together are unparalleled by anything I've experienced before.  I have never found as great of joy and completeness by myself.  I truly believe that God ordained marriage for our happiness and benefit.  I love how President Eyring put it when talking about his wife...

"Most remarkable to me has been the fulfillment of the hope I felt the day I met my wife.  I have become a better person as I have loved and lived with her.  We have been complementary beyond anything I could have imagined.  Her capacity to nurture others grew in me as we became one.  My capacity to plan, direct, and lead in our family grew in her as we became united in marriage.  I realize now that we grew together into one--slowly lifting and shaping each other, year by year.  As we absorbed strength from each other, it did not diminish our personal gifts.

Our differences combined as if they were designed to create a better whole.  Rather than dividing us, our differences bound us together.  Above all, our unique abilities allowed us to become partners with God in creating human life.  The happiness that came from our becoming one build faith in our children and grandchildren that marriage could be a continuing source of satisfaction for them and their families."

I love that we get to celebrate our marriage close to the Thanksgiving holiday when we are extra mindful of the blessings that we have.  Without a doubt, Gordy is one of my greatest blessings! I feel so incredibly honored and lucky to be with this man forever.  He makes every day wonderful!!!

Thank you, Gordy, for making these two years the happiest years of my life yet! Thank you for choosing me, complimenting me, and working together each day with me.  I love you!

Love, your darling

Here are some links that articulate my beliefs about marriage and that have inspired me lately...enjoy THIS (which is where the quote above is from), THIS, and THIS.