Monday, January 17, 2011

Paint Me a Birmingham

Andrew was off of school today for MLK Day.  So his Daddy and I packed up and headed to Birmingham, AL to spend the long-weekend with him.


It was COLD in B-Ham, thank goodness I had my own personal heater!
Andrew's not the easiest person to sleep with.  He wants to be either on top of you or underneath you, has to have his arm around your neck, and I have to check his teeth in the morning to make sure he has some left because he grinds them ALL NIGHT LONG...just like I do.  Drew says it's just his luck to end up with two people who grind their teeth like we do, sorry my love but you're stuck with us and the ERRRGRRR sounds we make. ;)

Yes, the waterfall at our hotel was frozen...told ya it was COLD!

 My first SNOW of the winter!

Of course I had to eat some...it tasted a little like cedar thanks to the mulch. 
Ha!

It's a Bird....It's a Plane....It's Super Day!

Saturday our first stop was the Southern Museum of Flight.  It's on a lot smaller scale than the Naval Flight Museum in Pensacola, but my boys still enjoyed themselves.

Link Trainer
Think "flight simulator"...wow I know right? 
 We've come a long way!


"I can do it Daddy...ok maybe you should stand right here."








Our little pilot flying...himself. ;)

 Pete's Famous Hot Dogs

If there is a hot dog joint worth going to within a 100 mile radius, Drew can sniff it out.  For lunch we headed to Pete's.

 
Welcome to the "Hot Dog Time Machine."
No sitting!  Standing room only!

Meet Gus.  Gus has been slinging hot dogs from this 7-foot wide slot since 1948.  His uncle Pete Koutroulakis, bought the place in 1939 for $600...which he won in a Pinochle game!  Drew and I ordered two "Specials, all the way" and Andrew ordered a "Regular, only red & yellow."  
Sides:  Golden Flake Chips 
Drinks: Coke/Pepsi in a glass bottle or Grapico

That's right Dad, Grapico.  Wish I could have mailed you one! :)


Wild Ocean!

After Pete's we headed down the street to the science center to catch the IMax movie, Wild Ocean.

Drew had never been to an IMax movie...Andrew and I were shocked!  (Andrew and I had also seen Sea Monster's at the IMax in BR. Plus the countless movies I've seen in NO at the Aquarium)  IMax is pretty amazing, the "screen" is a 5-story tall dome, so it pretty much feels like you're surrounded by whatever you're watching.  In our case we were in a feeding frenzy with sharks, dolphins, and sea lions in the oceans of South Africa.

The Summit

After our movie we headed back towards our hotel and made a pit stop at The Summit for some shopping.  It's a pretty spread out shopping center that reminds me of Perkins Rowe or Town Center here in BR.  Except for the fact that the Summit has a Vera Bradley...one word, Irresistible.  Since my pattern has been retired I picked out a new pattern: Baroque


While window shopping we saw this sign:
Between Drew and I it would be pretty much impossible not to notice a sign with the words "Burger Boutique" on it.  We unanimously decided this was our destination for supper.  
We headed back to the hotel for a Mario tournament and to relax before heading to Flip.
 
Flip
As it turns out (thanks to Google) we found out that Flip's chef is none other than Richard Blais...one of the chefs on Top Chef All-Stars.  I can honestly admit that this burger was the best burger I have EVER had.  The patties are made of a combination of grass-fed beef, short rib meat, and flank steak. 

Ceiling in Flip

Finally, Andrew and I just HAD to split the Krispy Kreme milkshake!
Yes...they blend up real, live Krispy Kreme donuts!  Talk about a sugar rush!

Sunday was a short day for me with my boys.  Since I just started in my new position I didn't want to take a day off just yet, so I flew back to LA Sunday night.  We slept in and barely made it downstairs in time for Continental breakfast, then we got dressed and goofed off around town.

Love this chair.
Really love this little boy!



Then off to the airport we went, Andrew was pretty bummed I had to go home...I think he thought the party was over because I was leaving. :( I had just checked in and got my boarding pass when my phone started buzzing....
"I just wanted to tell you that I miss you already and I wanted to know how your flight was going.  What color is your plane?" 

My sweet little man managed to call me 3 more times before I could board the plane! 

My cup runneth over.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

What A Week!

Man has it been a busy week!

This was my first week as Production Specialist and I really think I'm going to enjoy it.  There's never a dull moment and every day is unpredictable and ever changing.  Which means I definitely won't get bored any time soon!

Drew started the foundation for his cousin Andy's house in the CCLA.  Andy and Amber were so excited they took us out for dinner at Ruth's Chris.  Y-U-M!  And commercially he's building out a warehouse for a lumber company...so he's been a busy bee this week also.  We're really looking forward to getting away next weekend and loving on our favorite little man in Birmingham, AL. :)

But I wasn't so busy as to not notice God's gifts:
 Beautiful Sunset


Friday night we cheered on our Tigers and gobbled down some of Drew's famous seafood pasta at DD2.
How 'bout them Tigahs?!

 Family!

Saturday Drew cooked me breakfast in bed before heading to Bay St. Louis for some fishing.  Then I had the most amazing day- I laid on the couch and read on my Kindle, in my pj's all day until it was time to get ready for dinner with the girls.  We went to Geisha for some sushi and sangria, another delicious dinner!  And it was great to catch up and to look back on how far we've all come. 

Me, Emily, Lacey & Nikki
What's new with my girls: 
Em- Is taking classes to be a school counselor and is waiting on her boo Drew to pop the BIG question! (Anyday now Drew, seriously!) ;)
Lace- Lacey also got married this year!  Friday she took her board exams for dentistry and is awaiting results and her hubs is working on the set of Breaking Dawn!
Nik- Just decided on her OT job, out of 3 offers might I add, AND she is planning her wedding this year!

Update on my New Year's Resolutions:
-Operation: Super Club is under way.  Our first dinner is Jan. 29th at our house and our theme is "Stuffed Foods." ie) stuffed jalapenos, stuffed tenderloin, stuffed shrimp...you get the idea.  It's going to be GREAT!
-We've been to church every Sunday so far this month and we have received tremendous blessings!  If you are looking for a church home for not only a New Year but a new you, I definitely suggest you visit our church and "take the Journey":  http://journeychurchcentral.com/main/ 
-Some of the ladies from work and I and getting a team together for Race for a Cure.  The race in BR is Feb. 19th, which is the weekend of President's Day.  We're planning on going to see Bud since he'll be out of school, so I may not be able to be at the Race but at least I can be apart of the fund-raising and events at our plant.  A friend of Drew's helped design our team's shirts:




Saturday, January 1, 2011

A Few Resolutions

This year I actually have a few resolutions and goals I would like to accomplish this year.
  • Start a neighborhood Supper Club
  • Get our butts to church more
  • Participate in Susan G. Komen's Race for a Cure
We will open the book.  Its pages are blank.  We are going to put words on them ourselves.  The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.  ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Ringing in the New Year

2010 has been a BIG year for our family.
  • We built our home
  • Visited Chicago
  • Andrew started kindergarten 
  • Sold our boat
  • We got married
  • Drew became a pilot
  • Drew (and Tony) opened a new business, Anytime Flooring
  • I received a promotion
  • I wrecked my car (Boo!)
  • Bought a plane
And all along the way we have made & captured countless memories with so many that we love so dearly!  

We are looking forward to what 2011 has in store for us!

Last night we rang in the New Year with good food at our favorite place with two of our favorite people:  At home with Matt & Brittany!  It was low key and so nice not to be running the roads in the bad weather.

 Mexican Fiesta!
 
Welcome to 2011!


 Kisses at Midnight XOXO



I hope everyone has a terrific year in 2011!
 

Bye Bye CathyVal

A little sweet goodbye from my CathyVal co-workers.