Happy First Anniversary!!!

It is hard to believe that one year ago today we were in Las Vegas getting ready to get married. This year we spent our anniversary day with the boys and Glenn's family at our house for Thanksgiving, visiting his grandparents in their retirement homes, eating a bite of our cake's top layer and then sleeping in the recliners in front of the TV! It was not the romantic first anniversary one would expect, but it turned out to be perfect.

Being my traditional self, I decided that we should follow the "traditional" list for gifts each year. First being paper. After weeks of trying to figure out paper gifts for each other we decided on artwork! This would be the start to our personal art collection.

Glenn's gift: Alicia Leeke's "Rocket Man"

My gift: Jo Dean Bauknight's "Garden Path"

Better Late Than Never

While we were at the Grand Canyon we walked out on the Sky Walk...a glass floored, u-shaped walkway that goes out over the canyon. It is absolutely amazing and incredibly scary (especially for people like us who don't like heights!). You can't take purses, cameras, cell phones or anything out there with you. You even have to wear special booties. We didn't buy our picture that day because the line was super long and we wanted to see as much as possible and not waste time. Well, I finally paid the $30 (yes, $30) for the rights to download our picture for 10 days. Here it is.....our proof that we conquered and walked the Grand Canyon Skywalk!

USC Festival of Dance

Glenn is on USC's Dance Board and I'm on Columbia Classical Ballet board. So, last Friday when USC hosted a "Festival of Dance" and CCB was one of the performing groups we dressed up, enjoyed a date dinner at Miyo's and then met up with our friends, Hiram and Jeri Katherine for the show and afterparty. It was a wonderful display of dance groups from all over SC and really showed the diversity in dance. Some were ballet, some were modern, some were strange, some were interesting, but they all entertained.

Almost Like Christmas!!

The first day of the Gamecock season is one of our favorites. We always look forward to wearing our Gamecock gear, tailgating and cheering on the team. This year's first game was on Saturday against ECU at Panther Stadium in Charlotte. After a not so good start to the morning (a rock hit and cracked the windshield to start!) we arrived, stopped at a great restaraunt, Vivace, for a quick lunch and then got a little lost. But it worked out beautifully because as we sat at a Dilworth stop light we saw my mother in law, Gwen and another friend of their's waiting to cross the street! Talk about timing!

Once we got in the right direction, we headed to a warehouse lot on Mint Street to tailgate with one of Glenn's vendors. It was a LOT of fun! One of his pest control buddies from Aiken, Scott (aka...DJ Sizzle) played tunes all afternoon and Mark, from Forshaw grilled up chicken, brats and more. The only downside is that the RV was supposed to be there and the guy in charge of it lost the keys! (He found them in the trash on Sunday morning!)

At the stadium, we waited for kick off and sat with friends, Judah and Connie. The first half was not so good....we were pretty sure ECU was going to win. I guess its proof that if we leave things turn around. Our friends were hungry and wanted to leave during half time so we did and went to Epicenter to watch the rest of the game and eat sushi. I'm glad we did....the Cocks staged quite a comeback and won!

my mother in law, Vickie, Gwen and us
first tailgate of the year!

the grill is fired up and check out the spread!

first "2001' of the 2011 season!

Happy Birthday, Glenn!

On August 17th, Glenn celebrated his 35th birthday! Friends and family joined us for dinner at MoMo's Bistro and the evening was topped by his favorite cake, Yaya's from Zoe's. I think it was a fun evening for him and he was surrounded by some of his very favorite people.

Glenn and his mom waiting on our table
Ben and "Ms." Peggy

balloons from Ruben...that is Justin Beiber

birthday cake

Seattle - Tuesday Sightseeing

Our Tuesday in Seattle started early because we were too excited about seeing the city to sleep! First stop was BOKA, the hotel restaurant, for breakfast. Then, we walked (quite a few miles!) to Lake Washington for our sea plane ride and Argosy boat tour. The Sea plane was the best thing we did on the trip and worth every penny it cost. Glenn and I both LOVED it. The views were beautiful and we felt totally safe since the plane was also a boat and for the majority of the ride we were over water! (Next trip out here, we're going to take one of these into Canada.) Unfortunately, our plane was running a little late and we missed our Argosy boat. Since the next boat leaving time would conflict with our lunch reservations, they graciously booked us for the following day. (As you will see though, Glenn didn't check his schedule and he needed to be in a meeting at the same time as the boat, so Gina and I ended up going.)

Since, we had some to kill we walked from there to City Center (a few more miles) the location of the infamous Space Needle, EMP (Jimi Hendrix Museum called Experiencing Music Project) and more. We walked around and toured EMP which had a few fabulous exhibits --- Battlestar Galactica, Avatar --including real suits from the movie and computerized simulations and Nirvana --- which had their MTV Music Award and Kurt Cobain's famous green sweater on display! Finally, it was time for lunch.....at the Space Needle's Sky City rotating restaurant. We really figured the view was going to be the best part and were superbly surprised by the gourmet food. Following lunch we went up to the observation deck to see the city.

While on the observation deck the strangest story of Seattle emerged. Walking around I saw a girl that looked familiar. She pointed at me and then I recognized the girl with her. But they were out of place and I was totally confused for a moment. It was my teaching partner, Jan's daughters!! We had no idea we would all be there, much less run into each other! They were visiting with their dad who was also in town for a convention.

Taking off!

Bill Gates' house from the air

great view from the sky

Avatar head at EMP

Nirvana artifacts...there is the famous sweater!

such a gorgeous day

lunch at Sky City....yes, that is the real city behind us :)

observation deck

such a surprise to run into Mallory and Leah!

Seattle - Tuesday Night Baseball

On Tuesday night the Association had arranged for everyone to go to SafeCo Field for a cookout behind the bull pen, followed by a Mariners game. After all of our walking earlier in the day, Glenn and I felt pretty good so we walked from the hotel there, too. We met up with Gina and Adam and met a lot of people from all over. We stayed to see Justin Smoak (former Gamecock) up to bat and then walked back and enjoyed a sushi late night snack with Gina and Adam.

Smoak up at bat

see that blue light in the back left? that sushi was on fire! It was very cool and yummmmmy!

Seattle - Wednesday

Glenn's meetings actually started on Wednesday after lunch so we got up early and headed to the famous Pike's Market for breakfast and to walk around. We saw the "flying fish" and couldn't believe the gorgeous flowers. I walked him back to the hotel and met up with Gina so we could walk to Lake Washington for our Argosy boat ride. Being in Seattle I expected all gray clouds and rain, but it was a beautiful, warm day. I got my worst sunburn of the summer!

On our boat we saw gorgeous views of the city, homes, the floating homes, Bill Gates' house, Dale Chihuly's studio and so much more. Being that this was Sea Fare week (Navy) we caught a glimpse of the Blue Angels flying in the distance. After our ride we walked to a nearby hamburger place for lunch and then to the flagship Nordstrom store. Exciting!!! :) Gina decided she was ready to go back and rest so I ventured on to Nordstrom Rack where I found a cute teeshirt to wear on Thursday and a Tory Burch top that I fell in love with.

That evening was the convention banquet and we were well surpised by how great the food turned out to be. I had salmon over couscous and it was delicious. I very much enjoyed meeting a lot of Glenn's industry buddies that I had heard so much about.

flying fish

too cute

floating houses...no they aren't boat houses, they literally float

Gates Manor

Chihuly's studio

Gina, Adam, me and Glenn before the banquet

yum!

Seattle is Winding Down - Thursday Night and Friday

After our day whale watching, Gina and I were tired, but after showering we ready to join the guys for dinner at Purple Care. It was yet again, oh so yummy food. I had a four cheese (think GOOD cheeses, not cheddar and parmesean!) pizza that was deliciously perfect. The restaurant had this floor to ceiling tower in the dead center that held thousands of bottles of wine. I have never seen anything like it. After dinner, our waiter took us up the winding staircase (and through the tiny crawl hole) and inside of it which happened to be the sommelier's office. It was definitely neat to see.

For the first time since we got there, we slept in on Friday. Then, packed and took our suitcases to Gina and Adam's room for storage until time to leave for our 11:30 flight. Glenn was having lunch at Ivar's (should I say another great place to eat) with a rep and another friend and they invited me and Gina to go along since Adam was at a business lunch. From lunch she and I stopped at a local running shop to pick up some fantastically crazy neon tennis shoes I saw in the window and then planned to do a tour. However, we missed the last time we could do it and still be on time for dinner so instead we stopped in Diva Dollz, a local shop in Pioneer Square to look at some shoes. Well, this place was awesome. They make their own clothes and they are all in vintage print and style. And, the shoes....well, let's just say unique and definitly not something I can get in Columbia. Gina and I both left there with new outifts to wear to dinner and I came out with a second pair of shoes that match my ladybug purse from whale watching! Good time shopping there for sure.

After we put on our fabulous new dress and shoes, we met the guys at the closing social and then went to The Pink Door for our last Seattle meal. It was outside with a waterview and absolutely divine food. By the time Glenn and I changed clothes, it was time to head to the airport and our all night flight! Seattle was so awesome of a trip that it was hard to leave. We definitely hope to go back some time in the future.

Purple Cafe

Our ducks...Gina and I got "special" ducks from the front desk!

our new outfits

dinner at The Pink Door

last looks at Seattle

Saturday - We're In Costa Rica!!!

We arrived in Costa Rica mid afternoon following a direct flight (because our connecting flight was cancelled) from Charlotte. We were like kids checking out the beautiful scenery on the way to Occidental Grand Papagayo, the all inclusive resort we chose for our honeymoon.

Once there we checked in, met with guest services to get the 4-1-1 on our stay, began to familiarize ourselves with the property/wildlife/breathtaking views, watched a Gamecock baseball game, had calamari spaghetti for a late lunch, enjoyed dinner in the Buffet, and began to relax! We were finally on our honeymoon vacation in a beautful (if hot and humid) location.

Liberia airport

Costa Rica

riding in the open air truck taxi to our room

gorgeous pool area

view from our room

the Pacific Ocean off of Costa Rica

watching the Gamecocks play!

a quatrafoil fountain in the main lobby