Puppy Love

My sweet Dally

Aw, Denver lets Dally drink with him!

Reluctantly going down the steps

It seems fitting that Dally is so extraordinarily lovable today...it being just days before Valentine's Day and all. She is the sweetest, cutest puppy I know...and I am NOT being bias whatsoever! :-)

Spring has Sprung!

I was so excited when I saw sunshine yesterday, the first official day of Spring! Brooks and I took Denver & Dally to a pond/lake that Kyle (Melanie's soon-to-be husband) recommended we use b/c he knows the owner. The pond is situated way back in the woods and far from any roads so it was the perfect place to take the dogs. When Denver realized he was around water he did not hesitate at all. He dove right in before we even threw a stick or ball out for him to fetch. Then, Dally dove right in, too! Yay, she can swim! I know she's a Golden but I was worried that she wouldn't be able to swim since Dallas couldn't. I was so relieved that she wasn't scared and just took the plunge! Brooks tried to fish but the dogs would not cooperate. They would swim and get tangled in the fishing line. Denver actually broke his line once and he also decided to retrieve the bobber on the fishing line! Hi-larious! I went walking with Denver & Dally down in the woods and I discovered a cute little creek with a deep swimming hole and just beyond the swimming hole...a waterfall! How neat! Denver loved the swimming hole. I would throw his stick into the swimming hole and then across the swimming hole where the waterfall was at. Once he discovered the waterfall, he loved it! What a fun way to start Spring! Oh yeah, no pics...sorry!

Double The Birthday Fun!

Everyone got in on the birthday fun!

Me, Kayla, Melanie & Hazel
(we all played tennis together at EC)

Melissa (birthday gal #1), Me & Hazel

Melanie's baby, Hudson

Meredith, eating b-day cookie cake!

Melanie & Melissa's birthday was this past week. To celebrate, we all went to a great place called, The Last Resort Grill in downtown Athens. We all enjoyed a great meal and good friendship. After that, some of us went back to Melissa's house for cookie cake which was very good as well.

Meatloaf Sunday...

That's what Michelle & Kayla invited mom and I to this past Sunday at the Cracker Barrel and I have to admit that I did not order the meatloaf but my meal was fantastic anyway. The most important part about the visit however, was that we got to see baby Elizabeth. Christmas was the last time I had saw her and I was so anxious to see how she'd grown. She is such a great baby and so ADORABLE with those blue eyes. Do you know she sat at the table close to an hour and a half and did not even fidget or whimper at all. I was amazed! It was so good to catch up and see Michelle, Kayla, and baby Elizabeth.

True Friendship is Hard to Find...

Yanna & I

Yanna & Stam

Brooks & I

Yanna's attempt to flag a taxi...

My attempt to flag a taxi...

And that, my friends, is how it's done...even if the one on the other side of the street doesn't stop...it is likely one will stop right behind you! Too funny!

Yanna's pool is visible from her balcony

The roof top view

but, ironically, I've found true friendship over the years with Yanna, a Greek gal that I would never dream we could have so many differences, yet so much in common, too. During our visit with her and Stam this past weekend, Stam asked how long Yanna and I been friends. As I started to count back to the very first time I met her in Sunday school at Hull Baptist and we instantly "hit it off", so to speak, I realized that we had been friends for over ten years now. Over those ten years, Yanna has always been there with encouraging words for me and I for her. We have celebrated each others birthdays, high school graduations, college graduations, new job endeavors and my wedding...not to mention MANY other good times and precious memories. Yanna is a "true" friend I can always count on and that is hard to find in this flawed world we live in. No matter how hard life gets or how busy we both are, we find time to talk and spend time together. No excuses. That, to me, is what a true friend is and I am so thankful I've found that in Yanna. Love u, Ma'am!

Now, off the sappy stuff and on to our weekend. When we first arrived, we must have sat and talked for three hours. Finally, Stam and his cousin (who is also from Greece and a doctor) came over and we all went to a swanky little Mexican Restaurant about two blocks from Yanna's house. We actually walked to it. In case I've not said already, Yanna lives in midtown where almost anything is accessible by foot. After several hours of food and fun, we headed back to Yanna's house to hang out before Stam and his cousin had to head back to their place. Stam had to make his rounds at the hospital on Sunday morning so he did not want to stay out too late! I sure am glad we have dedicated docs like him :-) !!!! To top that off, Brooks was really tired and sleepy so he decided to hang at Yanna's while she and I headed out to one of the most popular Karaoke establishments in the big ATL. When we arrived, by taxi that is, we we not allowed in due to the maximum number had been reached to stay in regulation with fire code standards. So, I was thinking we may have to stand in the FREEZING cold for ten minutes and wait for the next taxi; Thank goodness the manager came to the door and gave us the all clear. The karaoke music was rock and light rock and was all the popular songs of the past and present day. It was, in one word, AMAZING! What a way to de-stress and let it all go. No, I did not sing karaoke on stage, but maybe one day! HA!

I woke up on Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m. and could not go back to sleep! UGH!! Brooks was still sound asleep and so was Yanna. Frustrating. So, I got up and snacked on some chocolates Yanna brought from Greece...my definition of the perfect way to start the day! Finally, Brooks woke up and he and I headed across the street for some yummy Starbucks breakfast. Soon after that Yanna woke up and we all got ready and headed out to this quaint little restaurant that has a beautiful view of Piedmont Park. After a filling lunch, we headed to Atlantic Station to view the Bodies Exhibit. It way way neat to see all these bodies that have been preserved for medical research.

What an all around awesome weekend! Thanks, Yanna for being such a wonderful host! You're the best! Oh yeah, and enjoy those towels and washcloths...and you don't have an excuse for not bathing anymore...HAHA