The Parkers

Memorial Day Weekend

I love Memorial Day. It's the start of summer! This year, we spent it in Charlotte, where we stayed with the most recent newlywed couple, the Day's! Ginna and and Jeff met up with us there for the weekend. Brian and Jeff were groomsmen in their college roommate, Jimmy's wedding. This was the first time we had all hung out since everyone has been married! So fun! Carrie and Andrew were fabulous hosts, welcoming us into their home after only 3 weeks of being married! It was a great weekend. Rockband, Yoforia, slumber party with the girls and Andrew (B&J had groomsmen duties), wedding cake, mimosas, Carrie's famous waffles, lunch at Cowfish (go there! it is so good!), wedding video viewing, fabric shopping, Little Big Planet, walking around Crate & Barrel discussing kitchen gadgets... It was great. Next year, let's go to the BEACH!

The newlyweds!

The beautiful wedding at the Orchard House in Concord

Waiting for our husbands to be finished with bridal party pictures. This is the only half decent picture of us because we became progressively hotter and sweatier... Not photo worthy.

Congratulations to Jimmy & Christen!! The wedding was beautiful!

sweetwater!

This weekend was so fun. My brother and his wife came to stay with us for a few days! We got to hang out all day on Saturday and spent some of the afternoon at the Sweetwater Brewery. Brian and I had wanted to go ever since we moved to Atlanta, but it didn't work out until now. It was a lot of fun! It was wonderful to hang out with John and Tiffany, and really made me wish that we lived closer!

Warrior Dash

This weekend was quite eventful. Several months ago, my good friend Ashley had the great idea to run the Warrior Dash.. She didn't even have to convince me to do it with her! I jumped on the idea and was very excited about it! My sister was supposed to join our group, but that didn't work out. Sad. I realize how out of character this is for me when I tell people what I did, and they say, "That just doesn't sound like you." Well we did it! Ashley loved it. I didn't hate it. :) I have never been so dirty in my life. Swimming through muddy water, climbing over cars and trucks, pulling ourselves over hurdles and under walls sliding through mud, army crawling through muddy water under barbed wire, climbing over a wall with a rope... And then running 3 miles through a muddy trail... It was hard! I'm glad we did it.. We laughed a lot maybe I'll do it again...? I know you will, Ashley!!

Here we are! Ready to go!!

Ashley's mom and aunt came with us- first aid kits in hand as they cheered us along! Look how cute they are!

Climbing over this wall was probably the scariest for me.. We made it though!

Made it over the fire with no burns. Success!

We finished! Completely soaked and covered in mud!

Carrie & Andrew's Wedding!!

Carrie and Andrew got married on Saturday! We drove up Saturday morning, in time for the bridesmaids brunch! Here we are with the flowers and pearls that Carrie gave us to wear for the wedding.

All of the Hamilton Lakes girls at the rehearsal dinner! I am so thankful for these ladies. I have known them my whole life and can't imagine life without them. I'm thankful we're so close!

Dorothy made this wedding topper for Carrie & Andrew. Very cute!

Here they are!! The bride & groom!!!!

Keeping the tradition alive.

Carrie sent a memo to all of the males attending the wedding, asking them to wear a bow tie in Andrew's honor. It was so fun!

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Day!! Have a wonderful honeymoon!!!

one year ago today...

We came home with THIS little guy!

Brian and I had been dying to get a dog ever since we got married. We spent countless hours on petfinder searching for the perfect pup to adopt. We would go to Piedmont Park and hang outside of the dog park, envious of all the dog owners. After 10 months of marriage, we couldn't take it any more. It was time. We woke up early on Saturday morning and headed to two different shelters before finding the one. We had found Toby's ad on petfinder, but there was a chance he wouldn't be at the pet adoption, so we almost didn't go.. But we did. And it was love at first sight. He snuggled up between my feet and fell asleep as I was filling out the adoption application. We couldn't stop smiling. People stopped us on the sidewalk asking if we were "first time parents." It was obvious that we were smitten!

This is what we texted friends and family.. We didn't tell anyone before we got him. Thanks Carrie, for still having this text saved one year later. I knew I could count on you!

This was his add on petfinder:

"I am one of five boys and 2 girls who were left in a box at Henry County Animal Control. I am around 8 weeks old. I really like to play with balls and am also very snuggly. I have beautiful black and white markings, and a white tip on my tail. I am microchipped too."

Toby's first night in his new home

I realize this sounds like a "birth story." But we don't have kids. Toby is our practice kid and we love him more than anything else. He is still snuggly and is playing with a ball right now. :)

Easter Weekend

We took a break from unpacking boxes and painting walls at the new house to spend Easter at the cabin with Brian's parents! (Did I mention we moved two weeks ago?) We love going to the cabin. Brian grew up going when he was a little boy, and we took weekend trips with friends in college with different groups of friends. I love that there are memories there. Brian's parents retired last spring and live there during the summer and fall. It was great to be in the mountains again!

Joy Lynne & I arranging cupcakes!

carrot cake & strawberry lemon cupcakes!

everyone except for Lloyd at Easter dinner

Me & Brian before church. We went to the same church that I met Brian at 10 years ago, a couple months after we met that summer in Jamaica in 2001. It had been 10 years since since I had been back to the church!

it was a full house!

Thanks Lloyd for the pictures!

Jeff & Ginna get MARRIED!!!!

Where do I even begin with this post? I feel like the past 5 days flew by so quickly. I am so thankful that Ginna's wedding happened to be over my spring break, so I could come up and help out with everything! I flew into Raleigh Tuesday night and stayed with Ginna at their new apartment. It was so fun. Just like we were roommates again. Carrie and Lucy joined us on Wednesday in Oak Ridge for flower arranging, pompom making, cupcake baking, decorating, and finalizing all the last minute details. We had lots of quality time together just relaxing and enjoying the last few moments of Ginna being a Clement!

Ginna was such a wonderful bride- so organized and not stressed at all! The wedding was absolutely beautiful. It was obvious that so much time and effort was put into making everything so special.

Here they are!! the BEAUTIFUL bride and goom!!