6th Wedding Anniversary

Today marks our 6th Wedding Anniversary. How time flies. It seems like just the other day we were dating and planning our wedding. What a blessing marriage is and for the temple covenants we made to each other. The last 6 years have delivered learning experiences, challenges, fun times, humbling times, etc. but most importantly love. I am so grateful to spend eternity with you, my love.

When I hear our first dance song, I still feel the same things and still get choked up, just as I did 6 years ago.

"When you say nothing at all" by Alison Krauss

It's amazing
How you can speak
Right to my heart
Without saying a word,
You can light up the dark
Try as I may
I could never explain
What I hear when
You don't say a thing

[CHORUS:]
The smile on your face
Lets me know
That you need me
There's a truth
In your eyes
Saying you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says
You'll catch me
Whenever I fall
You say it best
When you say
Nothing at all

Cruisin'

Tom and I set off on our 3rd annual cruise. It is by far the best vacation EVER for us. No phones, internet, sense of time... Only relaxation, sun, fun, whatever food we want, whenever, entertainment and just about whatever we want. Two of our stops were to Cozumel and Grand Caymen.

We decided to get a couple's spa pass. This was one of NCL's best kept secrets! It was a private pool, spa, lounge chairs looking out the back of the boat, quiet rooms, steam rooms, etc. So glad we got a pass. It was right underneath the gym which we hit everyday. I'm being serious.


In the private pool.


Taking a tender to the Caymen Islands.




This guys would pose as a statue and then scare people as they walked by. He was fun to watch.


Snorkeling in Cozumel, Mexico.




At dinner one night.

Halloween & Kennie's 2nd Birthday

Happy Halloween! Our sweet Kennie baby is two years old. It's hard to believe, she is growing up so fast. We're so blessed to have her in our life and to be her "God" parents.

Blowing out the candles


Trick or treating at Cam and Jenny's. Mandy and I are proud to say we made Kennie's costume again this year. Little bumblebee.


I wore cat ears to be festive. Mandy had on wings for a little while.

Sandrock Camping Trip

This was the 3rd annual (I believe) Sandrock, AL camping trip. Some of our friends organized it and we've been every year. It is so much fun! We go after work on Friday and stay through Saturday. Here are some pics from the weekend.

Our set-up as well as a friend's


Our Dutch oven Beef Stew...YUM


Night climbing


Night climbing with a pink headlamp :) Thanks for getting that for me, Tom!


Dutch oven Breakfast casserole


Enjoying the day


Climbing the beast. It was awesome.


Pro

The BIG 3-0!!!

The day arrived...Tom is now in his thirties! To celebrate, we had a black light- casino night. It was so fun! Tom and I made graffiti art and hung them on the walls, we had black lights, games, friends and food. What a night! Here are a couple pictures captured throughout the evening (there are too many to post).

Sister Laura Schneider

On Sunday we had an open house for Laura. It was so great to have so many people come out to wish her well on her mission. We're blessed to have wonderful people in our lives. She got set apart today as Sister Schneider for the next 18 months. It was a really special experience for our family to all be there together for that. She reports directly to Sao Paulo, Brazil to the MTC. She is there for a couple months and then will go to her field which is Belem, Brazil. We are so proud of her. Coming from a family of all girls, it wasn't assumed that any of us would go on a mission. My mom served in Norway and we loved hearing her stories. When Laura decided that is what she wanted to do, we were so excited for her. Belem is in Northern Brazil by the Amazon. HOT, HOT, HOT.

The spread...YUM


The family.


Mom and I. She decided to sit on my lap for a change!


Laura and I.


Sisters hug.

Sainsbury's in Starkville, MS

Tom and I decided to go visit the Sainsbury's this weekend. We forgot how much energy the boys have! We loved it! They are one of our favorite families to be with. We miss them! We went to Mississippi State on Saturday and checked out the tailgating scene and everything going on before the football game. They are serious tailgaters there!



Tom and I with the boys. They are getting so big!

Green Day Concert

We went to go see Green Day at the Gwinnett Center. It was AMAZING as usual. We don't expect anything less. We saw the American Idiot tour 3 times. Twice in Atlanta and once in Orlando (yes, we took a rode trip to see them and have some fun). So, with their new album out we had to see them again. We were on the floor pretty close to the stage. Billie Joe and the band as a whole have such an incredible stage presence. They usually have crowd interaction but had way more this time around. Billie Joe went into the audience a few times, brought a number of people up on stage at different times and even had a couple kids come up and play with them. Dreams came true for those kids that night! I've always wanted Tom to be able to get up there, but no such luck. Either way, their show is quite the experience. I recommend it!





Hitchin' a ride is one of my favorites. I tried to upload a video but it didn't work. I'll try again later.

Schneider Family Reunion

The Schneider's, my dad's side of the family, had a family reunion in Virginia. So glad we went! I hadn't seen some of these family members since I was a little girl and some I hadn't even met. It also gave Tom an opportunity to meet more of my family.


My Grandpa in the camouflaged suspenders with his 3 sons and niece. My dad is on the far right. My dad and his brother, Kirk, on the far left were so alike at times. I joked around that they were twins. They had such similar mannerisms, it was crazy!


The family, minus Tom. He was taking the picture. Yes, the girls are wearing matching shirts in different colors. Per request of my mom. She bought them for us :)


Some of us went to Kirk's property to shoot guns and rifles. Here are the girls. The picture is kind of blurry but I wanted to post it anyway.


The guys.


Target practice...


And again...

50 Mile A.T. Hike

Tom went with the Scouts on a 50 mile hike on the Appalachian Trail. They started in North Carolina. Here are a few pictures from their adventure. Tom will update with the details and stories, but this is a start.

Getting dropped off on the side of the road.


Sleeping set- up.




The crew.

Master classes with Sabra

Sabra (SYTYCD season 3 winner) came to the Boots Ward Rec Center in Power Springs, GA for a couple contemporary master classes. She did an intermediate class and an advanced class. I took both classes and had a really good time. I was by far the oldest duckling there, haha, but I'm so glad that I went. I think that it's important for dancers to work in multiple forms of dance and not just one style. You can learn and push yourself individually in any class you take and that's what I did. Good times.

Nationals...watch out here we come

This is the 4th year the KSU Dance Team has competed Nationally. This year's theme was "Watch out here we come." Our routine music was the 80's version of "You spin me right round" with some funk mixed in. Flo-Rida's version came out AFTER our music was complete. What are the odds?!? Here is the team/coach's for our traditional picture after prelims.


Cat (assistant coach) and I after prelims.


I always wanted to take dance pictures on the beach! Here's one of them.