Our 1 Year Anniversary!

Yesterday, July 17, 2011 was our very first anniversary!  1. I can't believe it's already been a year, 2. It was nice being able to celebrate a true anniversary - not a "month-iversary", and 3. I just love the idea of such a significant first!!

I want to start out with a trip back in time to remember our big day!  I got this idea from a good friend Anna who did this on her blog for her 3 year anniversary with her husband (Congrats again!!).  One year ago we said, "I do," and here is a little re-cap:

Getting my makeup done! 

Mothers will always love dressing up their daughters

Thanks for coming to see me :)

Getting ready!

Daddy walking me down the aisle!

Tyler's Reaction  :)

Lighting the unity candle.

Close up of the unity candle.  Special candles from a store in Blowing Rock.  There are these cute little shops close to "my second home" - so special for me :)

First kiss

First dance

Kiss for "Cinderella" after father-daughter dance to "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman

mother-son dance

centerpiece floral arrangement

toasting - Tyler held up my sister's speech because her hands wouldn't stop shaking.  So sweet and hilarious! 

Best Man speech.

Couldn't believe Tyler's dad remembered the day I stomped the boys playing a pinball game at his house.  Guess I left an impression ;)  What a wonderful speech from the father-of-the-groom

How many people can say they weren't the first to cut their wedding cake?  This woman's hands were shaking terribly while explaining how she'd never done this before - obviously!  Haha.  Flukes then make for funny memories later :)

Our turn!  The cake was dark chocolate with a raspberry filling... and it was actually VERY delicious after being frozen for a year!

Yes, this was the name of our sweetheart table.  Other tables were named after important places or things of our relationship (Example: Sanderson = our high school where we met, Aladdin = our favorite Disney movie, Wolfpack = obvious, etc.)

Mom will always take care of her daughter!

So - there were people on the driving range at the country club where we had the reception.  One nice golfer let us borrow his driver and shoot a few golf balls.  So much fun!

My favorite picture of the day

Wolfpack table guests showing their pride!  (Michelle and I are showing some spring break pride... haha)

Sigma Alpha Omega sisters at the wedding.  Those in black dresses with corsages were guestbook attendants :)

Bubbles for farewell!

I don't think I'd ever seen a down pour like that day in my life - I hope that's good luck and/or good fortune =)

One year later, we decided to celebrate by driving to Cincinnati, OH to go to King's Island theme park.  I hadn't been to a theme park in about 4 years, so it was definitely a ton of fun.  In addition, we hadn't been to an amusement park together - good time for another first!  Here are some pictures from the trip.

In front of the tower at the entrance to the park.  We didn't have time to go inside - too many rides to ride (and at a park we didn't know!)

Our favorite ride that we ended up riding twice was Diamondback.  It went up 230 ft and dropped 215 ft and had a speed of 80 mph!  Here's a picture from standing below the first big drop!  It was awesome and we ended up riding it twice.  We would've gotten a picture if I didn't look funny in the first one and the woman's hand in front of me didn't cover the second one - oh well.  

On Saturday night when we got to our hotel in Cincinnati, we went to a nice sushi restaurant down the street that we could walk to (Mr. Sushi).  Then we walked to some more places downtown and got some drinks.   We were at the park for 9 hours on Sunday.  I would like to go back some day because since we didn't know the park too well, we didn't go at it very efficiently.  In addition, one ride was down for a while due to some problems, and some of the rides were down throughout the day for various reasons.  So needless to say, we walked a TON and didn't even get to ride everything we wanted to!  When we got home from the park, we ordered room service for dinner and enjoyed our anniversary cake that had been frozen for a year.  Surprising enough, the cake was delicious!  We still have a lot more that we can enjoy throughout the week.

On the drive back to Memphis, we stopped in Nashville for a late lunch at Bojangles'.  Whenever we get a chance to stop there, we do.  For some odd reason, Memphis does not seem to enjoy Bojangles' as much as Popeye's and Church's chicken - so unfortunately, it's never Bo time.  I drove most of the way home because Tyler had class at 6.

Wow, one year down.  Cannot wait to see what the many years before us bring.  =)

Card Making

So I picked up an old hobby that I had (embossing), and starting it again, but this time in full force.  I am using the skill to make fun cards and it's made for some fun craft nights and mother-daughter days over the summer.  I will share pictures of some of my creations :)

Birthday card I made for my friend, Keri

Part of a set I made for Molly's birthday

Part of a set I made for Molly's birthday.  One of my favorites

I need to go buy more of that background paper!  I LOVE it!

The rose reminds me of the one in beauty and the beast! 

Butterfly

I ADORE that paper.  Silhouettes are my favorite thing!

Another one from the set for Molly with my favorite paper

simply adorable

The set of cards I made for Molly's birthday.  Blank inside.  I like to call the set, "Daisy in Distress."  Trying to use the creative side of brain that doesn't get much work out. 

Anniversary card I made for Tyler

Fun congratulations card for a good friend who's going to vet school.  

 

 

Engagement card for Tina and Bryan! 

I LOVE these cards!!!  I made two of them, and can't wait to thank people for things :)

It's been so much fun!  I'm thinking of making more sets that are blank inside and starting an Etsy site (maybe not until professional school is done).  I would like to coordinate with Sigma Alpha Omega and have a portion of the proceeds go to ovarian cancer awareness (our national philanthropy), and maybe also do something similar for SVOSH trips or something.  Right now, it's just a past time of mine, but in the future, I would like it to be something that I can actually do some good with and continue for a long time!  I hope you enjoy them! 

Last summer break - surreal feeling

Well it's official!  I am enjoying summer vacation!  It's my last summer vacation at that, but still exciting!  Tuesday morning I took my last final in EBM.  All of my finals went well, and I ended up making a B+ and 3 A's  :-D.

We celebrated at Zinnie's on Madison Ave. to cheers to finally being done!!!

Some of the girls from class - interviewed with the girl in the blue shirt :)  still good friends!

Gym buddies on the right.  Having fun at Zinnie's.  They had drink specials for SCO students!

Since it's officially summer, here are our plans!!

We will be driving to Cincinnati, OH to enjoy King's Island theme park!  I haven't been to a theme park in about 4 years, so this will be a ton of fun!  In addition, my aunt got us a deal on a nice hotel.  So we'll be able to stay somewhere decent for an affordable price!

We're going to Florida for my grandmother's 90th birthday celebration! That will be a great time to see my family and get everyone together for a milestone birthday!!

Unfortunately, Tyler has night classes for is auto mechanic school from 6-9pm M-Th, and starts his long-term sub position August 8th, so he won't be able to come home to NC with me when I come home in August.  Hopefully, some of our friends will be able to take trips our direction, since I will be really busy studying once school starts back up at the end of August for me.

Tyler's long-term sub position will run from August to October, so if anyone want to come visit, October would be a good time!

Finally - good news. I got the North Carolina Health Science and Math loan again!!!  I'm so thankful for God's provision.  I will have to practice in NC to pay back my money, but I LOVE North Carolina, and cannot wait to practice in my wonderful home state!  The forgivable loan/scholarship is $13,900 a year towards my funding!  It's very, very helpful!  Now I need to make a trip to SCO's financial aid office to pay back some of the loan money I already accepted before NC knew whether or not they would have funding for this loan.

Until next time, I will be reading (Harry Potter thanks to my friend Keri for letting me borrow the books), relaxing by the pool, and enjoying doing things for myself!

God is so good!  I have so much to thank Him for - a wonderful husband, great friends, forgivable loan money, supportive family, and success beyond measure :)