In Honor of Our Anniversary...

*Warning: picture heavy post* 

Today makes 3 years that Preston and I have been married.... 3!  It truly amazes me how quickly these 3 years have went.  So let's have a flash back of our wedding and an over view of the past years.

Preston and I were married at Coal Run Church of Christ on May 14, 2011 .

We had our reception at the East KY Expo Center, which I think was a blast!

We had a wonderful honeymoon on a Carnival cruise to Grand Cayman, Belize, Isla Roatan, and Cozumel. 

Our first home was in Grayson, KY.  We then moved from there to Tennessee where I finished my schooling and earned my Master's degree in social work.  We liked TN, but knew it wasn't the right place for us.  After living there a year and a half, we moved to VA.  We moved into one home and within a few months, moved again to another home still in the same area, thanks to Preston's job.  It is such a blessing that we both have jobs in our career field here! 

Also since being married, we landed an awesome deal on another cruise and went in Spring 2013. 

We also went with our friends to the Outer Banks in North Carolina... 

So 3 years, 3 fun vacations, 3 different states, 4 different homes, 3 college degrees, 5 different jobs, and a ton of fun later, we are here today... I have so enjoyed these past 3 years and I am looking forward to many more.  I am thankful for the one that God created for me and I am excited to see what the future holds for us! 

Wonderful Weekends: Pigeon Forge

Hello there, readers! I'm glad you have stopped back by my little spot in the blog world. This past weekend was the much awaited trip to Pigeon Forge, TN. While it was a quick trip, it was still wonderful and was some much needed time spent with friends.
On Friday, after work, Preston and I put our bags in the car and we were on the road to Pigeon Forge.  We had about a 3 hour drive, not too bad.  We met our friends, Adam and Renee at Mel's Diner for a quick dinner.  Being a diner, we all insisted on trying their delicious looking desserts, I had a chocolate malt and it was so good.  After dinner it was getting late (we didn't even arrive until around 9) so then we headed to our hotel.  We went to sleep around midnight and we had a full day planned for the next day.
On Saturday, we woke up early to get the day started.  We didn't want to waste our day asleep when we aren't in PF often and we don't get to see each other much.  After getting ready, we all headed to a place called Mama's Farmhouse for breakfast. If you can imagine endless pancakes, biscuits and gravy, eggs, bacon, sausage, breaded chicken, cheesy grits, cooked apples, and fruit coming in large bowls and served family style and constantly being replenished, you can get an idea of what this place was like.  It was a delicious breakfast and we had the sweetest waitress ever.  After breakfast we headed to the Dixie Stampede box office to pick up or pre ordered tickets so that we wouldn't have to wait in line later in the day.  At Dixie, there was a huge Christmas tree outside that I knew about so I took my SLR camera so that Preston and I could take pictures for our Christmas cards.  After multiple shots, we got some pictures that I loved and then we were back in the car.  We headed to Tanger outlets for a little bit of shopping.  We purchased a few Christmas gifts as well as P some new tennis shoes.  We stopped for some Starbucks and Dunkin' for drinks and then shopped a bit more at another location.  We finished up our shopping and headed to Dixie Stampede for our dinner and Christmas show.  We were early but didn't really have anything else we wanted to do, so we went by the horse stalls and looked at/talked to some of the beautiful horses that were out before getting ready for the show.  We also took advantage of the gift shop being empty because I wanted some of the soup mix, I loved being able to get what I wanted without having to fight a crowd (we'll save that for black Friday).
When 6:00 hit, it was time for the show to start.  The pre show was good, like usual, but I was ready for the much anticipated Christmas show... and the soup that I love.  We got to our seats, which were great might I add, and met our wonderful server/elf, Danielle. The battle was between the north and the south poles, we were on the south.  From the soup, to the Cornish hen, potato, pork, corn, and apple turn over, the dinner was fantastic.  The show had the stunt horse riding and competition races like normal, which is always entertaining....but I loved the nativity scene, it was just amazing.  I am not sure why, but those camels were just so awesome to me.  I don't want to share too much in case there are readers who haven't been to the show, I don't want to spoil it.  But, I will say, if you ever get the chance to go to the Dixie Stampede Christmas show, go... I believe it is totally worth it!
After the show we headed to the car and then dropped Renee and Adam off at the hotel so that we could get on the road back home.  We got home at midnight and went straight to bed.
After church Sunday morning, we went to get Chloe, she had been staying at our friends' house who were so kind to watch and take care of her. We did some laundry and made a grocery trip and that wrapped up our weekend.
Now, for a few pictures:

This tree was SO tall

friend time!

during pre show of DS, sorry for bad quality

during pre show of DS, sorry for bad quality

loved these Christmas lights

How things can change in a year

Have you ever thought about where you were in your life this time last year? Since last August, lots of things have changed for us. I have decided to do a flashback comparison month by month to show a difference between then and now... so, I am rewinding the past year just to remember what has happened over the past 365 days, warning: This post is very long and has some an overload of pictures!

August 2012: We were living in Elizabethton, TN. I was a full time student working towards my Master's degree at ETSU, I was working at my internship placement part time, and I was working at a shoe store part time.... Preston was working on his Master's degree through KCU, and was working at Best Buy. Preston and I also celebrated 4 years of being together since we started dating, we went to a Tenth Avenue North concert

September 2012 Last September was a lot like August, consumed in school, work, internship, etc. In September I also made my first deco mesh wreath so that it would be ready for October, it turned out like this:

In September I also made chicken and dumplins' for the first time!

October 2012 In October, we continue with the working/school routine... I made this wreath for halloween.

In October I went to my friend Deanna's baby shower and got to see some friends from high school!

November 2012 In November, my mom and I did our annual Black Friday shopping (we LOVE it) and my sister got to join for the first time.... after that, we were on the road and Florida bound for Emily's baby shower!

December 2012: In December, we enjoyed Christmas, the Biltmore estate, and a short break from school!

January 2013 January came and we continued school, but I was excited for it to be my last semester. Towards the end of January, for the first time, I interviewed for a full time social work job position for after graduating school. In January I picked up a new hobby and began crocheting sashay scarves

In January I also got a picture of Chloe sleeping like she normally does, on her back, on a pillow, covered up, with her tongue out... spoiled?

February/March 2013: In Feb and March, not much changed... the same school/work routine. We must have been either boring or busy because I didn't even take any good pictures.
April 2013: In April, Preston and I found an amazing deal on a cruise (thanks to my brother who told me about it)and we booked a cruise on the spur of the moment and we were ready to set sail in just 2.5 weeks. If you know me, I'm a huge planner, so going on a trip like this without planning it was crazy to me, but it was so much fun!

At the end of this cruise, I got a voice mail which led me to talking to someone from the company I interviewed for back in January, I ended up being offered and accepting the job!
May 2013: In May, we had already planned to go on vacation with our friends Adam and Renee to the Outer Banks in North Carolina so we went on another vacation. Also in May, I graduated from graduate school with my Master's of Social Work degree!

June 2013: In June, we moved to Virginia and began to get things situated in our new home. I planted my first rose bushes, which I was extremely excited about. My family had planned a beach trip.... so I was blessed with another vacation, this time to Myrtle Beach, SC.

In June I was also honored with being a bridesmaid in my dear friend, Jade's wedding... it was such a fun wedding!

Also in June, I started my job as a social worker doing what I love and working with children every day. It's great to go from having a crazy schedule to only working 8:30-4:30 Monday through Friday, I love my schedule!
July 2013 July continued work, but my 3 month streak of vacations came to an end! I did enjoy visiting the church camp a lot in the evenings after work, though!
And that brings us to where we are now, August... I'm enjoying the changes that have made, our move, and my job, I'm excited to see what the next year brings. What's been going on in your lives lately?