American Idol

So from the very beginnging, American Idol has been my favorite! I get so excited when it premieres, I even write it in my planner so I don't forget (right along with the Bachelor)! Our whole family watches it and gets really pumped. We'll call one another when we like or dislike a song or when one of our favorites gets sent home. You'd think that as much as I enjoy the show and singing that I would actually be able to sing well, but unfortunately, that's not the case!! I like to pretend though, so I just sing right along, out of tune and all!! Dad and I have this thing now where we say that I ruined my vocal cords and that I could sing well if it wasn't for that...haha!! Anyways, so I have a couple favorites this season! I really like Danny and Kris and Allison! And I LOVED Megan, but she got sent home :( But I am hoping she comes back with a wild card! I really think she would have gotten through had they not created this weird group system where only 3 people get in from each group. The group this past week was really really good!

In 3 more weeks...

In 3 more weeks weeks, Adam and I will be taking a vacation to Hilton Head Island. We are so excited and cannot wait! Bless his heart, Adam needs a vacation! We have many exciting activities planned, more like I have the activities planned. I am such a planner and Adam is very "go with the flow!" We thought about going some place we had never been like Washington D.C., Adam even mentioned Colorado, but we just decided to go some place we love and know really well. We can really relax at HH and not get stressed about directions or what to visit. We have made many memories in HH, and I look forward to making many more there together. I have been going there with his family since we started dated. I had really never vacationed there. I had been there a few times, but my family and I always spent time at Beaufort because my grandmother had a place there, which isn't very far away, but we never really went there much. But I love it! It is not very commercial and there are not any high rises, but there are still things to do and much fun to be had. I especially love the outlets right before you get on the island! We have traditions there now, too, and I can't wait to share them with our children someday. We always eat at this little italian place called Guiseppe's (usually more than once if we are with Dad), we have to eat frozen custard (with colored sprinkles...yumm) and shop at Coligny, eat at The Wreck and listen to the guy sing and play the guitar at Sea Pines. We have always wanted to take our bikes and ride along the island, so hopefully we will do that when we go in a few weeks! I also want to go crabbing (something I always did spending summers in beaufort), visit Daufuskie Island, rent a sail boat, and spend a day in Savannah! I have wanted to go to Savannah and eat at Paula Deen's restuarant for about 2 years now, and I am so excited about it!! Adam's Aunt Florence and Uncle Eddie recently went, and they brought be back a menu! Wasn't that sweet? They are so cute! I can't wait for visit to HH! I know we are going to have a great relaxing fun time!

Our Valentine's

Adam and I had a real sweet Valentine's this year! Friday night we went out to dinner with mom and dad because every where is so crowded on Valentine's. We went to Rhinehart's, a seafood resturant, and we had a really fun time. We were there forever it seemed but we all enjoyed one another's company. I also totally and completely fell in love with a little boy named Beckham. He had blond hair and blue eyes, just the cutest little thing ever! We played pick-a-boo and I wanted to just take him home with me...hee hee! On Saturday, I had to work but Adam had the day off, so when I got up I found a card, a dozen pink roses, and my favorite candy (dove dark chocolate with almonds) on the breakfast bar! I was so excited, and I have to admit that I have the sweetest most thoughtful VALENTINE!! So I also layed his gifts on the breakfast bar so when he woke up, he would find his gifts, too! I got him a Wii!! He called me at work when he found it and was so happy! He played all morning...haha! When I got home from work, I had yet another gift from my sweet Valentine, a 75 minute massage at a Spa...ahhh...I can't wait for that! That night Adam's cousin, Erica, and I cooked for her boyfriend, Phillip, and Adam. We had such a fun time together! The girls cooked while the guys played the Wii, and we wouldn't have wanted it any other way. The boys did offer their services which was sweet but Erica and I enjoyed our girl time! We had a nice romanic dinner together and all played the Wii afterwards. I will have to post pictures later!

Just thinking...

As I was driving home today (a 45 minute drive might I add), I was thinking about all the uncertainty in the world right now. It's kind of depressing. It seems that everytime you turn on the t.v. or pick up a newspaper another corporation in cutting jobs, the stock market has gone down once again or some big shot of a company has taken money from its investors. I feel so sad for those people and their famililies. Its times like now that help you to look at the big picture and realize what's really important. Sometimes, I feel like I am going to lose it in the car riding to work through all the construction along the interstate, and sometimes I even think "ahh, if only I worked closer I could sleep in a little longer," but I feel so fortunate to have a job in the state our economy is in and to have one I like is icing on the cake! When I was younger, I never thought of the possibility of not having a job or being able to find a job. I just assumed that I would get one, but now I realize jobs aren't so easy to come by these days. Sometimes, it takes different situations in life (ones that may even seem like the pits) to realize ALL of life's little blessings in disguise, jobs included!

Congrats Kim and Sam

~WELCOME DAVIS BRENNAN KIRKENDOHL~

JANUARY 16, 2009

4:21 PM

8 LBS 6 OZ

21 1/2 IN LONG

A very special couple in my life, Kim and Sam, have a new bundle of joy! He is so beautiful and absolutely perfect! They cannot have children and have been looking to adopt a baby for quite some time. God finally blessed them with a beautiful baby boy, Davis Brennan. Kim and Sam are going to be wonderful parents! Kim and Sam are like second parents to me (We tell people I am their surrogate daughter). Kim and my mom were very good friends, and when my mom passed away, Kim stepped in and filled the mother role. She and Sam both have been there for me throughout the past 11 years! They have there for me through so much: pageants, proms, ring ceremony, birthdays, graduations, my wedding, and much more. We have shared many laughs and tears. Davis is so blessed to have such loving parents. And I am equally blessed to have them be a part of my life! I love you and am so happy for you guys! YAH...I am big sister!

Christmas has come and gone

Last time I blogged, it was fall. Now, here it is winter, and Christmas has come has come and gone. Although, it doesn't feel much like winter here in SC. I don't know what happened, we had the coldest November in history and then in December, we made history again but with 83 degrees weather! I guess that's the south for ya! I enjoy the cold, though. I am glad to see it come but I am always ready for it to go. Despite, the inconsistent weather, it's one of my most favorite times of year! I enjoy the music, the lights, the smells, all the happenings, the shopping (none of the last minute stuff), the food, and celebrating all of our many blessings! Adam and I went to see the lights at Hopeland Gardens last week with Nicholas and his girlfriend, Megan (who we love!!!), and it was so nice and was extremely cold! It really got me in the spirit! We sipped on hot chocolate and walked around and looked at the beautiful Christmas lights. And ofcourse the boys had to be rebels and not stay on the lighted path...typical! Adam had to work on Christmas eve until 5:30 pm but we were able to still go to Church and to mom and dad's party afterwards so that was nice! We had a great time at the party! We had both of our families there and Megan's family came. I stayed up until 2:30 am baking my goodies the night before! I grew up helping my grandmother make goodies every year during the holidays. Me and Tiff would always help and loved licking the bowls, what kid doesn't love that part? She would have these huge Christmas eve parties at her house and she would spend the whole month preparing for it. She would put all the goodies in tin cans, and whenever she would have company, she would make them a plate of her famous fudge, pralines, rum balls, fruit cake cookies, cheese straws, sausage balls, chewies, and more! I think I inherited her love for cooking and baking. I took the goodies I made to mom's office party and the Christmas eve party. Someday, I want to bake with my children, especially at Christmas! Hopefully they will enjoy it as much as I do. Adam also had to work Christmas day but we made the best of it. He said that this will be the first and last Christmas he ever works, so needless to say, he is in the process of job hunting! Hopefully, the new year will bring him a new job, a 9-5 desk job! That's what he needs. We hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas and we hope you have a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

This past weekend was quite eventful! On Saturday, Adam and I went to mom's office party. Each year mom treats her and her employees to a nice dinner and afterwards, we go back to their house for fun and games! This year, it was at Woodside Country Club. It was really nice. It was decorated beautifully and the food was great! Nicholas and Phillip plated the piano for us, which was a treat. They are so talented! All the "kids" sat at a table together, and we had the best time! I ofcourse had to take pictures! Thanks, Mom, for a wonderful night! We really enjoyed it!

On Sunday, I gave Adam a birthday party. It was kind of a surprise. It was a GI JOE theme...hee hee! I baked him his favorite cake, red velvet. His family came and we had a fun time! His birthday isn't until tomorrow, but he has to work...bummer! But we celebrated enough for today and tomorrow!

Happy Birthday, Ad! I love you!

Fall!

I just love Fall! Fall means so many great things...cool weather, fairs, carnivals, Halloween, decorating, our annual Halloween party, carving pumpkins, pumpkin pie (well anything pumpkin), football, Thanksgiving, changing of leaves, the smells! It all makes me excited! I have always loved Fall. It brings back great memories, too! Adam and I planned our 2nd annual Halloween party, but had to cancel due to his Uncle's hospitalization (we are praying for his full recovery), but we hope to have it next weekend! We decided to have a Halloween party for our closest family last year and it turned out great! Just a time for us to eat and enjoy eachother's company. We also dress up in costumes, but eachother's costume is kept a secret until the night of the party! We just love our family so much! We are so blessed by each and every one of them. They all add special meaning to our life in their own way! Adam's mom and dad, Diana and Erine, are the absolute best! They are always there for us whether it be by treating us to icecream or calling just to see how we are doing! I love them as if they were my own parents! And just where would we be without our grandparents? Memere and Pepere Lambert always sends us cards on EVERY holiday, Mem Claire and Pep Ray cook for us EVERY Wednesday night, Mama always buys us little things for our house and little things for ourselves and I talk to her EVERY day! We have so much love and support from our aunts and uncles, too! And it seems our cousins are our best friends! And can't forget our brother...Nicholas! He is the best brother Adam could ask for. Who else would he quote movies with and talk ALL Boston sports with? He is my shopping buddy and we make the best team! He is a real comedian, too! We love our Nicholas! No matter how loud or crazy our family can get, we love them and are so thankful for them! Wow...I should have saved this blog for Thanksgiving...haha!

Time

Where has the time gone? This is year has flown by so quickly. I cannot believe that we have already been married for one year! It seems the older I get, the faster time flies. There's just not enough hours in the day to do all the things I need or want to do, and it's difficult at times to keep in touch with the people I'd like to most. We are still adjusting to married life and trying to find a balance of work, spending time with one another and our family, and the everyday tasks that need to be completed. So before too much time gets away from me, I want to take this "blogging" opportunity to keep our family and friends updated on everything that's going on in our life. I was born and rasied a "carolina girl" so all of my family lives here, but Adam was born in Rhode Island so most of his family lives there. So I am "blogging" in hopes of staying better connected with the people we love most!