Off to the Keys

We are off to the Florida Keys! Actually, we are leaving Monday but we are heading to Huntsville for the weekend so it feels like vacation is already starting - wahoo!!

Yay for Long Weekends!

Our 4th of July weekend was wonderful! Our friends, Andrew and Lisa, came down for the long weekend. They got here Thursday just in time for dinner and for a quick monsoon (as soon as they pulled in the driveway, a huge downpour came down). I don’t think I have ever seen it so rainy and windy. We enjoyed dinner at a local pizza place, Cousin Vinny’s.

Side note - I think Daphne is all about some pizza. Cousin Vinny’s is one of the 4 local pizza places, plus there is one in Fairhope and then you have your normal Dominos, Papa Johns and Pizza Hut. I like pizza, so it works for me.

Friday, Lisa and I hit the outlet mall in Foley. We shopped until we dropped, literally. We had a great time just walking around and catching up. While we were shopping, Brad and Andrew hit the links. The high for the day was 97 so a dip in the pool was in order for the guys.

Dinner Friday night, California Dreaming. As the waiter took our picture he said it was "facebook bound". Don't worry, Lisa has already posted it on her facebook page.

After dinner fun - the "sorority pose"

Tree Huggers

Saturday we relaxed by the pool. Some days I love the pool and others, not so much. Saturday was a love day. It was so nice just to float and relax all day long. That night we went to Orange Beach. We thought there would be a terrible wait but, there was no wait whatsoever. It could be that we chose an Italian restaurant on the 4th of July. Before the fireworks we spent some time on the beach taking pictures and just having fun. It was my first time on a public beach. We did our normal thing and left our shoes on the boardwalk. Lisa was a little apprehensive, but I said no one had ever taken our shoes before, why would they start now. I was wrong – someone took Brad’s shoes! Luckily we found them up by the shower, but I definitely learned my lesson and will be keeping my shoes with me.

Cafe Grazie Saturday Night

Andrew and Lisa at the beach

Andrew, Lisa, me and Brad at the beach

Sweet Summertime

One of the things we like most about where we live is its proximity to the beach. This is our first summer and we figured we would have lots of opportunities to go to the beach and have houseguests who are on their way to the beach. This past weekend we got to have our first summer guests. Matt, Emily, and Ben were on their way to Orange Beach for a pharmacy conference and stayed with us 2 nights before heading to the beach. As always, we had a great time visiting with them!

We spent Saturday hanging out by our pool and just relaxing. Then Sunday it was off to the beach. We all headed for the beach once arrived at Matt and Emily's hotel. Then Brad and Matt went to their conference while me, Emily and Ben headed for the pool.

I don't know if you remember, but last time I saw Ben at the beach he was not a fan of sand. It is amazing how a few months can change that. He now loves the sand and water.

Ben modeling his hat at dinner (The Crab Trap - yum!!)

We love having visitors - anyone else want to come?!?

Barbalina

I am way behind on my posting, but this weekend was too fun to not write about. Saturday, June 13th, we were able to celebrate Ella's 3rd birthday. That Saturday morning was her birthday party with her friends. The party was at one of those places with all the blow-up/inflatable things. The kids had so much fun running around and sliding down the big slides.

Ella blowing out the candles on her cupcake.

Brad with Grayson - Grayson's momma is Mischa, Mischa is Jamie's sister, Jamie and Mischa are Brad's cousins (I hope all of that makes sense!). Mischa and her husband, Ron, could not be there because Mischa was getting ready to deliver their 2nd baby, Sawyer.

After the party we went down to Susie and Jim's house and went out their boat and had dinner. Brad and Matt were the only brave ones to try tubing.

Ella modeling one of her birthday presents - Barbalina dress-up. Isn't she cute!

Wedding Bells are Ringing

Actually, the wedding bells rang over a week ago on June 20th for Justin and Christina. I am a little late in my posting but wanted to write about the wonderful week we had with the wedding festivities.


We got to Huntsville late Tuesday and were ready and raring to go on Wednesday. The next few days were filled with errands – wedding and non-wedding alike. We got to visit with a few friends and family along the way as well. The actual wedding festivities actually began Thursday night. They started with manicures and pedicures. It was Christina, her sisters and me. It was really sweet of her to include me in this “family” affair. Then it was off to dance practice. Yes, I said dance practice. Justin and Christina had a “surprise” dance at the reception. The dance started off with a slow song, then moved to “You’re the One that I Want” from Grease (just the 2 of them dancing), and then moved to “We Go Together” with the wedding party joining in (that would 14 other couples!). It was a simple dance but it took a little bit of time for 28 people to learn. After dance class a few bridesmaids came over to the Wright’s to finish up some last minute details.

Justin and Christina practicing their part of the dance. Yes, she got on the ground in her wedding dress!

Me, Christina and our wonderful mother-in-law

Friday was jammed packed as well. My day started with the Bridesmaids’ Luncheon at Victoria’s. Brad, Justin, their dad and one of the groomsman hit the links for a round of golf (in the 100 degree weather!). Next we all went to the Space and Rocket Center to set up for the rehearsal dinner. Rehearsal started at 6 and while we were there the power went out. Turned out the power was out all over SE Huntsville so it was a good thing the rehearsal dinner was at the Space and Rocket Center. The rehearsal dinner was fabulous with great food and great speeches.

The big day arrived and it was actually somewhat relaxing. I got my hair done, had lunch with my mom, and it was off to the church. The wedding ceremony was beautiful and the reception was a ton of fun; Brad and I danced the night away!

The beautiful bride before the wedding. The headpiece she is wearing is the same one I wore for our wedding. We both borrowed it from Brad's cousin, Jamie.

All of the Zetas at the wedding. Christina and I were both Zetas at Auburn - one of the many things we have in common!

Justin and Christina cutting the cake.

No Wright wedding would be complete without an Auburn groom's cake. War Eagle!

Justin dancing with his mom.

Double Duty

Please say a prayer for me! Last week I started working my regular job and a temporary assignment as a team leader. Brad would describe this time as my "tryout" for the permanent team leader position.

Here's the background - we have 2 team leader positions on my side of the office. One of them was recently promoted. That leaves his position open. Instead of filling it immediately my boss has decided to do a rotational assignment for those who were eligble and interested. I am all about a promotion so when the opportunity was presented I jumped right on it. This may have been a mistake - I am the first in the rotation!

Needless to say, work has picked up and I feel like I am going non-stop. I think I would like this job once it really became available, but I am not sure if I would get it (office politics). Please say a prayer for me as I try to juggle 2 jobs, one of which I am muddling through.

Angels and Demons

Have you seen this movie? Brad and I saw this Friday night. I thought it would be fun to write a little movie review, so here we go. We were interested in seeing it because it is based on a book written by the same guy who wrote, “The Da Vinci Code”.

I would give this movie an A-. I think I liked “The Da Vinci Code” better, but this one was still good. Tom Hanks is the main character, Robert Langdon, and he plays a symboltologist (I think I may have just made that word up – he looks for symbols and interprets them). The story comes out of Rome when the Pope dies. Four of the cardinals are captured and Tom Hanks must find them before they die. You are taken on a scavenger hunt as clues are revealed to find the next cardinal in an attempt to save them before they are murdered. Also, to make it a little more interesting, they are searching for antimatter before it combusts and causes catastrophe.

This movie is a little violent. I don’t want to give anything away, but let’s just say people die and it is not pretty. If you are interested in following clues and trying to figure what is going to happen next, then this movie is for you. I was actually very surprised when I learned who the real “villain” was.

As a side note, Brad and I were the only ones in the theater at first. We didn’t get there too early, maybe 10 to 15 minutes early. It was rather comical to be the only ones in there when the previews began. By the time they were over another couple had joined us. This was a special couple; they started smoking towards the end of the movie. Anyway, we decided the reason we were the only ones there was that we were seeing a late showing (9:40 pm – look at us staying out late – ha!), the movie has been out almost a month, and we live in a small community where there are 2 movie theaters. So, if you decide to go to this movie and you are the only one in the theater, don’t worry, you did not choose a bad movie (or at least I don’t think so).

The reason I give this an A-:
*Good story line
*Kept me interested for most of the 2 hours and 20 minutes
*Could probably wait for it to come out on video