Our Thanksgiving

e had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year that actually went on for several meals throughout several days (well, doesn't it always? that's the best kind!)  Thursday morning, Ben and I went to Mobile and had Thanksgiving breakfast at Will & Amy's house with Ben's grandparents.  We had a huge spread (breakfast food is my favorite!) and were so glad that they are in town and we are able to spend time with them for holidays now (they used to live further north in Athens, AL). 

Then we headed back over the bay to the Roe's cabin at Steelwood for the Setzler-Roe family Thanksgiving gathering.  We had all the traditional Thanksgiving trimmings & of course great company with these families together.

Uncle Awesome & B

That evening we headed up to the hunting camp where our family was spending the rest of the weekend.  Friday was the annual "House Divided Day" (AKA Auburn vs. Alabama game) and even though I didn't expect Auburn to win, they did an awesome job and gave Alabama quite a run for their money!  Ben and I have learned how to get along with no problem when this day of the year comes! "Hey! It's just football!"  Harper even represented our House Divided with his red AND blue collars :)

Saturday was when we decided to have another Thanksgiving meal with just our family (Stephen was missed), complete with frying our own turkeys for the 1st time.  Ben was in charge of this (& Hollis was his co-captain) and they turned out SO delicious!  We had a completely different set of side dishes from our Thursday meal and once again, we were stuffed & happy!

While we cooked the turkeys outside & prepared the meal, Rachel & I raked a HUGE pile of leaves for Bennett to play in, and he absolutely LOVED it... I think Hollis was the one who taught him to say "WHOOPIE" every time he threw leaves in the air & it was so funny to watch him play...

he wanted Rach & I to hop in with him!

(i did a great job focusing on the tree, haha)

That afternoon, we all went hunting.  I went with momma & we saw 10 DOE!!!  It was really fun to watch them all, until a bobcat scared them all away back into the woods.  All in all, it was a fantastic long holiday weekend.  I know that we are so blessed and we have alot to be thankful for.  Family is so important to us and there were many family members that we missed this Thanksgiving & can't wait to see them soon!  Christmas will be here before we know it...

love him...

Thank you so much for all the sweet & funny comments on my last post.  Those pants in the 1st picture crack me up, too (they are kinda like feaux leather pants... a mistake is what they are, but apparently they didn't scare Ben away, so that's OK).  For our anniversary evening, Ben told me to be ready to go to dinner at 6:30, and the rest was a surprise, so this got me excited.  I LOVE surprises and am not one to try and figure them out, I just needed to know what to wear! 

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So, when Ben got home from work, we exchanged gifts!  He had been paying attention after I went shopping on Saturday and said I found a coat I wanted for Christmas, and he went back and bought it (just from memory of what I had said in passing) for our anniversary and I wore it to dinner!  Ben scheduled a TAXI to come pick us up at 6:30 (no drinking & driving, smart boy) and take us to dinner at the Wash House in Fairhope.  Neither of us had ever been but had heard great things about it.  We enjoyed a bottle of wine and pretty much a 4 course meal (appetizer, soup, salad, entrees of filet and lamb).  It was really fun to reflect on the past 2 years & keep the romance alive.

Wednesday night, I had my monthly BUNKO group with friends, so we weren't home all night.  So Thursday night I was swamped with work stuff on the computer to catch up on from not being home 2 evenings in a row.  I was stressed and felt bad about not cooking dinner for us, so Ben took over the dinner-fixin role and said he would make a salad for us.  I didn't think anything of it, but then he served me this fantasticly delicious masterpiece..

let me tell you, the little things make a big difference sometimes.... he impresses me... and i love him :)

2 fantastic years

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BEN!   

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I can't believe we have actually been married for 2 years already.  Time has flown by & we have had so much fun!  In a way it seems like our wedding was just yesterday, but then to think of all our travels, the changes in jobs, and all the adventures we have had, it's easier to remember all that we have packed into the past 2 years.  

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Here are the first 2 pictures Ben & I EVER took together.  These were back in 2000.  Hard to believe... over 9 years ago (then again it's easy to believe because we definitely don't look that young or skinny anymore) :)  
September 22, 2000

December 28, 2000

And then, of course, a couple of wedding pictures from November 17, 2007:

I love you Ben, and look forward to each year's anniversary with you!  

AL vs. LSU

Last weekend Ben took off work early on Friday and we headed up to Tuscaloosa for the weekend.  This was the first weekend we had ever had Harper boarded at the vet too, but I don't think he really minded.  We met Katie & Jody at Chuck's Fish for an earlyish dinner.  This place has some of the best sushi so we didn't even order 'regular food.'  We noticed that Kenny "The Snake" Stabler was at the restaurant too and waiting for a table, so when we were about the leave, the boys asked us if we would take a picture with him.  No, I'm not a big fan, but the boys thought it would be funny, so we obliged.  When we walked up to him, Jody said "hey we're from Orange Beach." But I don't think he thought that was too funny.  

After dinner, we headed out to the bars of Tuscaloosa, and spent our evening at Innisfree.  Ben's brother Adam joined us up there too.  

Saturday was the big game, and we tailgated all day before the 2:30 game.  I didn't take any pictures on my real camera, but had a few from my phone.  The LSU vs. Alabama game was extremely eventful and nerve racking, but I have to admit I was pulling for Alabama (hey, I like going to the SEC Championship games with Ben & for him to be happy)!  

In the end, he got his wish and Alabama pulled out a great win.  

We went back to the tailgate after the game before actually going to bed early so we could get up and head home early on Sunday.  This was the last game we will be going to this year, and now we will look forward to hunting season and the HOLIDAYS whilst watching the rest of the season from home. :)

October...

....just flew by SO fast!

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I barely got my Spring daisy wreath down just 5 days before Halloween and finally got my fall/Halloween wreath put up!  I didn't really get any other Halloween decorations up, so I'm thinking I'm just going to wait and skip right on over to Christmas :)  

Halloween weekend we ate Mexican and had margaritas at our favorite place on Friday night with Austin & Stephanie.  Then Saturday we came to Mobile to visit with both sides of our family and saw Bennett playing at a Halloween party dressed up before he went trick'or'treating!  Isn't he the cutest little pumpkin you've ever seen?

Then we went over to Katie & Jody's house for some Chili & football watching!  We appreciated that they let us spend the night and then we all went to church together the next morning.  

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-October was also a special month because it was Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  I think that this year the recognition and awareness seemed to be stronger, with the pink ribbons everywhere, the NFL players & coaches wearing pink shoes, gloves, armbands, etc, and all the efforts to raise money through things like twitter.  There are so many people struggling with Breast Cancer, fighting and beating it, and I think that it is so important that we remember them not only just during Breast Cancer Awareness Month but throughout the year.  :)  

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And I'll leave you with this happy boy's face: