Too cute

These dogs really love going to the beach....

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thanksgiving.  I have a lot to be thankful for.   I have an amazing family-both sides-inlaws and everything, my health, my wonderful husband, and two amazing puppies.  I have a great job at a beautiful resort and a wonderful roof over my head.  I have friends who love me and the Hokes are going to the ACC Championship.  What an amazing life!  :)

I hope you are spending your turkey day with those you love full of great food.  One of these days I'll get used to a Southern Thanksgiving....until then.....Happy Turkey Day!

Virginia's Wedding

I realized I never blogged on my girlfriend Virginia's wedding.  She had a gorgeous wedding on November 13th at Magnolia Plantation.  Her wedding was absolutely beautiful.  She and Kyle wed underneath the Oak trees at the plantation on the river and then had a killer reception at the Carriage House.  Amazing food, great beverages, and a killer band.  Plus add a few great friends and a good time was had by all!

A fun beach day

We had such a fun beach day on Sunday.  The dogs wore themselves out chasing the ball and sniffing up and down the beach.  I couldn't get one picture of Savannah holding still the entire morning.  She literally paced the beach sniffing the entire time. 

Cooper had fun chasing the ball into the water and just laying down, allowing the surf to crash over him.  He really loves the water. 

I couldn't have asked for a nicer day with Chad.  It was about 75 and absolutely gorgeous on the beach.  Just a few fluffy clouds in the sky and hardly anyone at the beach.  Perfect beach day. 

Hope you had a great Sunday!

Thankful Thursday part III

This week's thankful Thursday.....Drumroll please......

I am thankful that it is the holiday season! I love this time of year. And today is Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving! I love it!

Snoopy and I have something in common. If we were responsible for Thanksgiving Day dinner we'd make the following: Toast, Pretzels, Jellybeans, and Popcorn! So I guess everyone better be THANKFUL that I am not responsible for any type of cooking.

On a serious note-I am thankful that my Grandpa Bender had a successful surgery on Monday. He was released from the Cleveland Clinic yesterday. After three weeks of a lot of pain from bad back discs and bone spurs, he's recovering nicely at home. How cute is this guy?

Speaking of Grandparents. I am lucky to have my Grandma & Papa on my mom's side. I talk to them almost everyday. Gram turns 85 next week and Papa turns 92 in March. That amazes me. I love them so much....I am a lucky girl. In addition to them I have an "adopted" grandpa too. Papa Dunch. He's so sweet...

Picture taken by a four year old.  :)

That's it for this week's thankful Thursday. Have you been doing a thankful Thursday?? One more week til THE official Thanksgiving. Does your family celebration include going around the table saying what you are most thankful for?

Love Bug

How adorable is this little ladybug?  I love little Amanda.  She's a sweetheart and I could have eatten her up on Halloween.  (My favorite holiday of all time)



Thankful Thursday Part II

Thankful Thursday is harder than I thought it would be.  Don't get me wrong. I have PLENTY to be thankful for.  But narrowing them down is hard.  There isn't one that is more important than another.  Heck, I could do a blog on its own for all I am thankful for.  But back to this week. 

This week I am thankful for:

1-My health.  My grandma has always said, "If you have your health, you have everything."  She's so right.  Never doubt your grandma.  Especially when she's this darn cute.

Her 80th surprise bday 2005



2-My friends.  I have a great group of friends.  There isn't one type of person that I am friends with.  Each one of my friends has their own unique thing/personality that they bring to our friendship.  And how lucky am I that I have friends all over the country?  California, Arizona, Colorado, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, South Carolina, Florida, Nevada, New York, etc.  I am blessed.

3-I have a roof over my head.  And I have owned two of them in the last 6.5 years.   I read an article recently on people in Las Vegas who live in the underground tunnel/water system below the strip.   Most of them are homeless b/c of the economy and that makes me sad.  We were lucky that after Chad lost his job; we were able to hang on until things took a turn. 

Our first home

4-I live near the beach.  How cool is that?  I grew up being 2 and a half hours from the beach which meant beach trips were few and far between.  (Especially b/c my mom hates the beach-sorry mom to call you out-but you do)  Now it is practically in my back yard.  Funny thing though about things being that close-you tend to take them for granted.  I am going to try and not do that from now on.

5-Last but certainly not least.  My cousin Tara.  She's a mom of four, my nurse, advice go to woman, my "sister" the person I talk to on my way into work most mornings and she knows waaaaaay more intimitate details of my life than probably anyone else.  I don't know if that's "lucky her or unlucky her"  ha ha.  She's given me the four most beautiful babies to love and if I had only one wish, it was that she lived down here.  (B/c it is way too cold up in PA for me to ever live there!)  Love you Tara!

Baby #4 was to make her appearance a month later!

Jan 2009-Quick trip to PA

Five star vacation!

Christmas 2009



Scooby Doo.....Caught!

This is one determined dog.  He WANTS that bacon on the countertop.  Perhaps he is thinking he can make it levitate off the plate into his mouth.....Love this dog.

"I do believe I smell....."

"B-A-C-O-N!!!!"

"Oh-Hi Mom....Um, can I have some bacon? Please?"



House Divided

Let me first start off by saying that the likelihood of this happening is like a snowball surviving in hell.......but......
If by some freak of nature Clemson pulls out a win next weekend, VT wins its game and Maryland loses, the Hammonds might be headed toward divorce the ACC Championship.



So everyone, pray to the football gods that this happens.  I'd love to have another showdown between the HOKIES and the TIGERS.  And yes, I'd be outnumbered by most of Chad's friends, but I am sure I could find some of my college friends who would travel to Charlotte.  (AHEM-JEN CHEN & RACHEL CHIEPPA)  Something tells me that this kid would be there too-only dressed in HOKIE garb and not Clemson Tiger gear.