Birthdays, Apples, Cone Head & Grilled Cheese

Bobby's 32nd Birthday was last Sunday...we had a great weekend celebrating!! I had everyone over Saturday for grilled 'dogs and chili & it was so great to have a full house!! Bobby's mom & dad came by as well, so it was a great time to catch up & have our parents get to know each other better...I loved it! I made Bobby a carrot cake to celebrate (it's his favorite) and I have to say I am in love with the recipe I found on CookingLight.com....it's awesome! Sunday, on his actual bday, we went to church and then drove up to Ellijay for some leaf-viewing & apple fritter eating!! It was beautiful up there :) The day was finished with some yummmmmy P.F. Changs!!

pretty trees

showing off the apples he picked!

Happy Birthday Bobby!

...just along for the ride!

My poor pup has to wear this terrible headgear these days. I feel so bad, but he has some mystery gash on one of his hind legs, and he will not stop licking!! ....speaking of, I need to give him some more 'cone time' today. Hopefully it will be better soon :)

awwwww...

Not much else going on these days, but I did think my dinner at Souper Jenny was worth mentioning. The first time I went there I was not impressed at all, but Beckster & Rebecca talked me into trying Thursday's Grilled Cheese night last night....and I am glad I did :) We ended our meal with make your own s'mores, which made me feel like a kid & made me a very happy girl...haha.

This weekend is Halloween...if all goes well & we attend a party we will be dressing up as a funny pair...let's just say Bobby would be cutting me off all night to tell me that someone else is the greatest of the year ;)

Happy Fall Y'all

WOW, can't believe it's the middle of September! I made it to the ripe age of 26 at the beginning of the month and enjoyed celebrating with friends and family. Just a few years ago, I had a lonely birthday month in our immediate family, but now I am so blessed to share the month with a sister-in-law, a brother-in-law and an adorable niece! I loved having a birthday dinner with all of us celebrating together. Anyone who has been around our family long knows we like more people around for any and EVERYthing....it just makes it more fun :)

birthday princess Natalie

loving her new shades...hahaha :)

dinner with friends!

bowling with the fam!

I think at this point it's safe to say we're headed for the end of September. I put out a few 'autumn' decorations last night & thought about how this is just one step closer to my favorite time of the year.....CHRISTMAS!!! I will try my best to not say that word again until at least November, but no promises :)

Our family is making plans to go to the North Georgia State Fair in a week and I am super excited! I remember when I was a little kid, mom & dad would pick a concert for all of us to go to, and we would bundle up & head to west cobb for the fair....corn on the cobb, funnel cake, mullets, what more could you ask for?!?! It should be a good ol' time with everyone :)

In other news, I have had a minor (ahem, not really so minor) water damage problem in my living room. Seems my washer has a [very pricey] leak and it flooded my bathroom, which then caused water damage to my living room ceiling. So now not only do I need a new washer, I also need a new ceiling, or at least ceiling paint :( Bobby & I tried the DIY route, but it's not really working. On a positive note, Gus loved having the living room covered in drop cloths - he had beds everywhere!!!

THE END......for now.

Hopefully I will have some pretty ceiling pictures to show in the near future!

It's been too long....

I can't believe that is has been so long since I have been in the blog world! I assure you, I have still been reading, just have not written any myself. SO...welcome back, to me!

So much has happened in the last ten months...

I am settled into my house & loving every single minute of it!! The picture below is from my first snow in my new home...what fun!!

I have a wonderful man in my life, and I feel so blessed to have someone like Bobby to share life with!! He is a really fun guy, and he brings so much joy into my life :)

I have been to the beach three times since my last blog....

1. One was the most amazing trip of my life with my parents and BFF Lindsay "Faber" over Christmas. We went to a different island every day...man, am I ready to get back on that boat!! I got to zipline thru the rainforest, swim with sea turtles, and relax on some of the most beautiful beaches on the planet. Seriously, can I go back now?!

2. Second trip took me to a new favorite place - MAUI, HAWAII!! As is I needed to be reminded how beautiful the planet is, I got to see more fabulous beaches, and shoreline! This trip also allowed for ziplining, although this time it was from the top of the island - what a view!! I went to my first luau, and saw beautiful sunsets!! I am very blessed to work for a company who would treat the employees with such a trip!

3. The most chill beach vacation was the most recent with my family. It was so great to be in a house right off of the beach with my family...we just missed Andrew, Tonya & the kiddos!

I have taken on a new position at work in the last 10 months as well!! I am now an account manager on our Hartford account. I love my new position and the new challenges it brings. It's exciting to take a new step forward in my carreer, and I am looking forward to many more big steps ahead!

WHEW! That was a lot to catch up on, and I merely scratched the surface. Let's see if I can get back into the swing of the blog world & update more often (more often than every 10 months is an easy task, I suppose...)!

Until next time :)

Happy Birthday, Jr!

Sweet baby boy Jr is ONE today! Can't even believe that this year has passed so quickly, and I am sure my sweet sister would agree! Last night I watched him walk across the kitchen at his Gigi's house, and was just amazed at what a talented, happy & special little guy he is!

I LOVE YOU JR! HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY :)

leaving on a jet plane, don't know when i'll be back again...

So this journey I have been on is now about to come to a close as I head out this evening for my long 30 hour trek home. It's hard to believe that the Olympics have come and gone and now I am headed back to America to grow older (eek!) and buy a house. I am thrilled at what the next few weeks will hold for me, but I am so sad to close this chapter. Yes, I have more Olympics to look forward to, and yes, I have other fun things with work, but this has been an unforgettable experience that I can't wait to share with you all! The people of China have surprised me in every way. I have enjoyed the funny signs, nasty and yummy food, having to translate something on yahoo and point to the screen just to get some lunch in the office, watching the world's best athletes compete, making new friends, and strengthening old friendships. I can truly say that this trip has blessed me in more ways than I could have imagined, and although I am beyond thrilled to go home, I am also so sad I have to leave.

Just 30 minutes ago I got a phone call from the front desk saying I had a visitor waiting in the lobby. I walked down and it was one of my local staff who had taken a 45 minute bus ride this morning just to sit in the lobby and wait for me to get there so she could give me a gift she had made...a pretty star necklace because it was "sparkly" and she knew I would love it. The people I have met have given me such an appreciation for hard work and really giving of yourself for others. Even though most of the things they did held us back (more stories on that later) they never stopped putting forth 110% effort to help however they could. Tracy (the gift giver) in particular.

So, I will go now and pack my bags trying to shove it all in, and get on the road soon. I am looking forward to seeing each of you so very soon! Thanks for the emails, thoughts, prayers and Skype messages...all are so appreciated!

Love!!
Chrissi