the doggies

Lately we have been bringing our 2 dogs to the retriever pond near our house. We don't have the biggest yard so we like to let them run around and play! Much to our surprise, they both retrieved tennis balls from the pond quite well! We have almost tried to force Liza to like the water but it wasn't until Ruger came along (a little competition) that she willingly gets in the water and swims like a champ! Here's a few pics of our fun at the park!

They slept well after a fun day swimming and playing!

Weddings Galore

I'm 25 and it wasn't until recently that I've felt old enough to have a job, own a home, and be married, but the truth is, I've been in that phase of my life for 4 years now! I was a young bride, a baby, still in school...I've heard them all (and still do). But as one of my dear college friends said in the midst of all the stares and comments behind my back, "He knows what he wants and he's sure of it." (obviously about Elliott proposing to me my junior year of college) The plus to being engaged in college is that I got to have a candle passing at my sorority house! I'll never forget it. I had only told a very few friends and sworn them to secrecy. I was standing next to a friend of mine who was a senior and had been dating a guy since high school so everyone was convinced it was for her! We sang in the courtyard around the fountain and the whole chapter passed the candle around 3 times (it took quite awhile) and when it stopped on me you could see the shock on quite a few faces.  My friends were all so excited for me and within the next few months another good friend (Frannie, who we went skiing with) got engaged and had a candle passing too...as a side note, being in the greek community at LSU is a lot like being in high school again and word spreads VERY fast. So, with Frannie and Rudy's engagement, it seemed like we weren't so crazy after all. Or that they were just as crazy as us!?!?
Besides Frannie and Rudy, we didn't have any of our close friends get married for about two years.  Then there was a rush of parties, rehearsals, bachelor/bachelorette trips, and WEDDINGS. And so it is upon us again! Now that all the non crazies have caught up with us, I again find myself in a year of weddings.

First of all is my best friend from high school, Jennifer.  Jennifer and John started dating our sophomore year of college and got engaged this past Thanksgiving.  We've known for quite a while they would get married, just not sure when. When I saw her calling me on Thanksgiving, I knew she was calling to tell me he had proposed.  I am incredibly happy for them! I know Jenn has been patiently waiting and will be a beautiful bride!

Elliott's brother Evan got engaged to Claire (previous post) and had their wedding in Jackson where she is from.  It was a busy weekend full of luncheons, brunches, and great company.  Elliott and I were both in the wedding so it was extra special.

(we all wondered why we were taking pictures without the groom!!)

Claire was a beautiful bride and we had a wonderful time dancing to our favorite band United We Jam from the Baton Rouge area and going out afterwards! The newlyweds honeymooned in Vail and are settling into their new home in Baton Rouge.


My dear friend from college, Carolyn, is marrying Tyler in August.  For the past 2 years Carolyn and Tyler have lived in one of my favorite cities, Charleston, SC (where Elliott and I honeymooned). Carolyn is finishing up PA school at MUSC and Tyler is an ICU Nurse.  He was recently accepted to LSU's Nurse Anesthetist program and they will be moving to New Orleans this summer!! While we are all thrilled they are moving closer to home, I hate that I haven't taken advantage of visiting them!

We missed their engagement party because I was out of town that weekend but I was able to make a wonderful bridal shower hosted by great friends! 

 While celebrating weddings is WONDERFUL, they are exhausting! There are a few other weddings this year that we will happily be in attendance at, but not participants in!
 At every wedding, I love listening to the vows and charges and being reminded of the commitment Elliott and I made to one another.  I am also thankful that I can fully enjoy weddings and never have to do it myself again!

Ski Trip

I believe I started this post in January and haven't gotten around to finishing it so now that it's wayyyy past due, here goes.
Back in October, our sweet friends Rudy and Frannie called to see if we were interested in going snow skiing after Christmas. Elliott and I had been talking about wanting to go snow skiing for about a year now so this call was in perfect timing.  Frannie is quite the planner and within a few days she sent me a spreadsheet of the trip timeline, activities, and expected costs. After about a week of "thinking about it" we couldn't come up with any reasons not to go especially since I was able to get off work! We had the best time and decided that we have very similar vacation ideals and expectations as the Comeaux's.  We hope to have many more ski trips and vacations with them as our families grow!

 It snowed the first 3 days we were there and stayed around -15 degrees!!!

 Elliott in skier position

The snow was magical! This reminded me of the white woods from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Although we had the best time, it wasn't hard to leave the frigid temps to come home to a Louisiana winter of 40-50 degrees!!

Pinterest

A few weeks ago, I got an invitation to join Pinterest from my sister-in-law Meredith. She is always into the "cool" and "trendy" websites and I usually get sucked into most things she sends me. She has also introduced me to HauteLook, Rue La La, and Rent the Runway.  I should have known this was the hot new thing but unlike a discount fashion site, Pinterest has given me an outlet to store (and share) all those things I tear out or dog ear in magazines! Needless to say, my whole afternoon has been consumed with Pinterest. It is AMAZING! I'm sure everyone has heard of it but I hadn't "pinned" anything or even gone to the site since I got an "invitation" to join a few weeks ago...I actually laughed because I had 3 followers before I had really logged in...and then I followed them. and saw what they pinned. and became addicted.  My first pins were things I've seen in catalogues and want to buy or things I think that Elliott or I can make ourselves...we'll see how that goes! Next, I'll be going through these stacks of magazines!

I don't like to think of myself as a hoarder because I really find joy in cleaning out closests and giving things away, but for whatever reason, I have the hardest time getting rid of magazines! It cannot be explained but it makes me happy that they are organized by title and month and I love the way they look on my shelf!

1-6 = January-June
7-12= July-December
Have I mentioned I'm type A and a bit neurotic?
You can't deny that it's quite satisfying to have that messy stack end up looking like those organized shelves :)

And incase you're wondering, the magazine holders are IKEA and thanks to fabulous sister, I have 12 instead of 10!

Now, go join Pinterest!
holly

Shout out to December birthdays. (even though it's January)

I have a special place in my heart for all those with December birthdays. I don't care what anyone says, it's just NOT fair to have to share your birthday with the GREATEST holiday of the YEAR.  My whole life I've heard "Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas" followed by the giving of one gift. I know this sounds completely selfish but all I've ever wanted is the acknowledgement of my birthday apart from Christmas. It's not about the size or amount spent on the gift, just that the giver understands that I, too, have a birthday. My husband learned this the hard way.  In preparation for our first holiday as a married couple, he asked me if I wanted a present on my birthday.  I responded by asking him if he wanted a present on his birthday. He said, "well yea but my birthday is in February."  Since then, he has made much progress in making my birthdays wonderful! I'm not afraid to be the one to verbalize this. The fact is, if you have a loved one who has a December birthday, make it special. Make it seperate. Make it memoriable.  Don't let it be lost in all the hustle and bustle of the season.
So, that was my introduction to the next part of this post. My one and only sibling, sister Ashley (also the one I refer to as fabulous sister. Because she is just that. Fabulous) also has a December birthday. Not only does she share her birthday with the Christmas season, but it's also on another holiday with high expectations, none other than New Year's Eve.  This birthday has the potential to be EXCITING. I mean everyone is partying on your birthday anyway...not so fast.  Until recently, New Year's has been overrated in my experience.  There are always these expectations of a great time, perfect kiss, staying up until weel hours of the night/morning, the best way to end one year and start the next, Right? In college, I learned to get over those expectations real fast! It wasn't until recently that it came to me.  Why do I feel like New Year's has to be this crazy fun time. That's not me! Now, we just get together with friends, eat great food, have a few drinks, and many times we don't even end up staying up until 12!! I can't believe I'm saying this. I'm only 25 and I sound about 40!!!! not that there's anything wrong with 40. I look forward to it. one day :)

All this to say, a very special (and unfortunately late) HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my beautiful older, wiser, TALLER sister! (you know you got the GREAT legs)
 

What? It's 2011?

WOW, have I been hibernating all winter? Quite the opposite. I feel like I woke up and it was January. The holidays are a whirlwind to us and we don't even have children yet! Oh my. Let's recap- since my last update we have had more birthdays, Christmas parties, vacation, hurt dog, New Year's, missing dog, found dog(all the same dog), new vehicle, oh and let's fit work into that equation also.  I celebrated my 25th birthday on the 19th. That weekend was the prefect way to celebrate. On Friday night we had our annual get together with our friends from home. This year we decided to make it TACKY. Who knew we had this in us??

Wait, who am I kidding??

Saturday, my Dad took me and Elliott to breakfast at our favorite breakfast place, LaLou (formerly Another Broken Egg) and since it was my "birthday weekend" I was able to convince Elliott to do some Christmas shopping and make Christmas cookies!! That night, I had my girls' Christmas Party with friends from college AND I made it out until MIDNIGHT (which was officially my bday) Sunday, I have decided, is officially the best day to have a birthday. What better way to celebrate another year of life than to worship the One who GAVE His life so that I may LIVE! (and I LOVE Christmas hymns). I woke up to leftover crab cakes benedict which was still wonderful the second time around. We went to church, had brunch at The Chimes, and relaxed. Another plus of the birthday is that I was able to get Elliott to watch my favorite holiday movie, Love Actually.

On Wednesday, fabulous sister, Ashley and family came to stay with us for the first time! We were so excited to have them, especially adorable niece Mary Stewart. 

(apologies for the picture, I am so upset with myself for not taking pics of her during Christmas)

We had a wonderful time hanging out with sister, Matthew, and niece and Elliott got lots of practice for future fatherhood as he rocked Mary Stewart to bed every night and for naps!

Christmas Eve was spent with sister and family and ended with one of my favorite Christmas traditions, the Christmas Eve service at church.  Afterwards, we spent the night at Elliott's parents house and always look forward to waking up on Christmas morning with his siblings and spouses/fiance!

Christmas Cards are a favorite of mine! I love sending them and I love getting them! They make me smile and I keep them up well into the new year! This year, since we had an addition to the family (Ruger, the new dog who is also the hurt dog, missing dog, and found dog I was referring to earlier) I thought we needed a picture of the four of us. Well, that didn't quite work out. Not only is it hard coordinating two very energetic dogs, but also having someone come take the picture, not to mention the rainy weather and the fact that it gets dark at 4:30. So, needless to say, we weren't able to get a family photo so we used this one from our dear friends Brian and Rachel's wedding in August.

...and I just have to add a few of the dogs in my vain attempt to have the perfect Christmas Card this year...HA

Does it look like we drugged them??

Ruger was NOT a fan of the Reindeer ears!

and my favorite...they LOVE each other :)

So, here's to a PEACEFUL and Happy New Year!

Engagements and Birthdays, Oh My!

This past weekend, my brother in law got engaged! We are so excited for Evan and Claire. I knew from the moment I met Claire we would be instant friends and by the end of dinner she was on a nickname basis with Elliott (aka EARS). On the way home from our trip to visit Evan in Boone, NC, Elliott and I talked about how much we knew Claire would fit in the family and how we couldn't wait for them to get married! Last year, they moved to Louisiana but Evan proposed in North Carolina where they are visiting friends and also celebrating Claire's birthday today. Besides being a fellow December birthday (and being 11 days apart) Claire adores children, loves to cook, and is a fabulous dresser! Last summer we showed up to Meredith and Todd's (Sister-in-law) rehearsal dinner wearing the same top and there have been numerous occasions in which we have said "I have that shirt/shorts/shoes"

(same shirt, different colors)

She will make a wonderful wife to Evan and we cannot wait until she is officially a "Scroggs"
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLAIRE AND CONGRATULATIONS!