North Carolina

Tyler and Geoff



So as you know, Charlie was a groomsman in Geoff and Tyler's wedding this past weekend. It was in North Carolina, where we had never been before. It was so green and beautiful, but with such beauty comes humidity and giant bugs like I have never seen. I kept comparing it to a jungle. Literally, so many trees, grass, flowers, bushes, and vines so high, I didn't know what to call them. We spent alot of time outside because everyone kept saying how nice it was, but seriously, give me air conditioning and dry heat any day!! Poor Charlie wore a wool tux outside for several hours on the wedding day while I got to wear a sundress.


The Thirsty Beaver Bar (for the bachelor/ette party)


Waiting before the wedding



But about the wedding, it was very nice. The ceremony was beside a mansion and a lake, and we walked over to yet another mansion for the reception. The reception house was apparently the site of a Penzoil commercial recently. I will have to look that up. I tried to take pictures of the inside of these mansions without seeming like the creepy guest, but my quick, covert shots are not that great.

The lovely mansion





We managed to do some other fun things when we weren't hanging out with Geoff and Tyler and their friends and family. We saw the Charlotte Museum of History, which is the site of this very old (1774) house. We also went to downtown Charlotte to see an IMAX movie, which was inside a cool science center. I don't know how this is possible, but every time I see an IMAX movie, it seems like it's bigger than the last. I absolutely love it and I wish I could see one every day. It just overwhelms me and calms me at the same time. Probably because the movies are always about some cool nature element, in this case, Tahiti.

Museum


Tomorrow I leave for Kris's Camp as part of my internship. The camp is for kids with special needs, their siblings, and parents. It's a week long in the mountains in California. I can't wait!

Groomsman Charlie

Yeah, the Men's Wearhouse employees that measured Charlie must have made a mistake, don't you think?? Or else he has grown half a foot since our flight to North Carolina yesterday. I didn't even notice the woman laughing in the background until I looked at this picture again.

Geoff's wedding is Saturday and I can't wait! It's going to be gorgeous and we are "just guests" = no responsibility!

Casey's Graduation

Last weekend my mom's side of the family met up in San Antonio for my cousin Casey's high school graduation. Casey is a soccer star and super smart, and he is going to UT Dallas on scholarship in the Fall! He is a funny, polite, loving guy, and I can't believe how fast he grew up. When I think about all the 18-year-old boys I have known, Casey is pretty special - and not just because he is my cousin. :-)



Of course we had to take a family picture!!



Grandkids and great-grandkids


P.S. In other news, we got the house!!!! We close sometime before the middle of July. It makes me so happy to imagine us living there, now that it's "safe" to imagine and not worry about getting my hopes too high. I find myself daydreaming of how we will paint or arrange furniture or decorate. SO EXCITED.

House Hunting

As soon as we could, Charlie and I got approved for a home loan, called our realtor (Tiffany's mom Kim Holmes for those of you who know her is amazing!) and started house hunting!

Now we have put an offer in on a house and we are holding our breath to hear what they say on Tuesday ... I am so excited and nervous and don't want to show the whole house yet obviously, but here's the kitchen!

Moving Rewind

Notice to anyone: Graduating, packing one's house, and moving 900 miles in the span of 4 days is very difficult, exhausting, and trying on one's nerves. Do not attempt unless a minimum of 10 family members comes to help, haha!


Charlie loved driving this beast!



our church gave us a lovely send-off and a very appropriately decorated cake!



Charlie mourning the loss of his bathroom at the condo.



me on my cherished kitchen countertops



Donna displaying the fridge she meticulously cleaned



Robert on the washer and dryer (can you tell I was having fun?)



us in our house for the last time! sniff, sniff



The beast was almost home! Robert cleaning the windows in Holbrook I think.

Graduation Rewind

May 14, 2010 was a special day for me and Charlie! Charlie became a DVM at 8 am and I became an MM at 3pm. Lots of events surrounded the days before and after graduation... too many to recount. I didn't even get very good pictures because everything was just happening way too fast for both of us. Thankfully my mom was taking pictures too, so I will post some good ones later.


Charlie leaves for his ceremony!





Charlie and his best bud Andy after the ceremony - you can see the awesome outfits they got to wear.


My mom, aunt Angie, and my dad!!! He made it all the way from Afghanistan on his leave time!!!


our friend Jen and me



my cousin Haley was so patient during the ceremony



Charlie, me, and our friend Trevor at Serious Texas BBQ. We will miss him so much!


We went to the park and I found out Haley is a world class tree-climber at 6!


The Salemis and aunt Bonnie outside Bluebird Cafe for the last time.


Had to make sure I got at least one picture of my Uncle Roger and Aunt Maria in this picture! Maria helped pack and Roger brilliantly helped load stuff in the moving truck from our balcony! I wish I had a picture of it.


Maria, Haley and me

We're Baaack!

After a 19 hour drive through Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, we're finally here. I have so many pictures to post from hooding, graduation weekend and the trip, but they will have to wait until we get the computers set up better. We have been so busy trying to get organized and settled before I start my internship this Saturday. I am excited and nervous. I will have to drive to Phoenix every day - and I am definitely out of the habit of driving on freeways!

Charlie starts working in 3 weeks or so, and until then he is going to relax and also start the home-buying process!!