Independence Day 2008

2 new pictures because Brian noticed that in the one of us together, he was inadvertently flipping the bird...so here are 2 different ones.

We hosted 4th of July festivities at our house this year and had the Nealon crew over to celebrate. Everyone was able to make it except for Chris and Cari because Chris had a late baseball game. Anyway, I think everyone had a good time and we certainly enjoyed having everyone at our house. Brian spent all afternoon babysitting his ribs on the grill and we had quite a feast....and got to enjoy our new patio furniture too! The kitties joined us outside for a little while and Toonce got to dance....see video below. I know we are obnoxious...the kid is on the way. :)

Our new neighborhood is always looking for an excuse to have a party. So, in addition to our little gathering, there were big parties on each side of us too. Although I have no pictures of those, the fireworks presentations were beyond impressive for a neighborhood party! I am happy to report that the "Emerald City" fireworks that Mary brought added to the celebration just fine and we were able to hang with the big boys. ;) Fun times. (Just watch the first 20 seconds or so....it gets boring at the end, but I'm too lazy/not knowledgeable enough to edit.)

Panter/Trotter Festivities — June 7, 2008

Ok, I'm adding this after the fact, but is it not the cutest picture ever?! Sums up the fun of the entire event's festivities!

SATURDAY — June 7, 2008

First thing Saturday morning, Carrie arranged for the bridal party to have our hair and makeup professionally done. Ivey picked up me and Michelle from the hotel and we met Carrie at the church where we dropped off our dresses and other stuff for later. I was happy mine was barely long enough to be put "up" so I didn't have to mess with it all day. Ivey brought a tray of Chicken Minis and mimosas to enjoy during the pampering. Of course I had champagne-less mimosas (aka OJ). :) We got our makeup done in shifts so we could all be fit in. Carrie's hair and makeup turned out absolutely beautifully! I've never seen a more stunning bride!

While the girls were getting pampered, Grant arranged for a bunch of guys to go skeet shooting. He'd only done it a few times and several of the guys had never shot skeet before (Brian and Christian included). Although I wasn't there to witness the event, my mom was there to capture the experience with a few snapshots. I believe everyone had a good time and Christian's freakishly good skeet shooting abilities were revealed. All the guys were sporting some lovely bruises from the shot-guns the following day.

Susan Panter was gracious enough to drop me off at Scott's Walk-Up Bar-b-que there in Cartersville. Carrie's dad is Scott and they opened the place last year. Lots of family met up there for lunch, after all the skeet shooting...yum.



My mom and dad bought tickets to the Boothe Western Art Museum for anyone that was interested. The museum itself is a very extensive collection of western art and artifacts. The only odd part to me was that it is all about the west and yet it is in Cartersville, Georgia. Regardless, it was a great place to cool down since it was over 95ºF and we learned a little in the process too. There was an outstanding interactive area for little kids that was a big hit with the Allen kids as well as the Brad Haralson bunch....horses, puppet shows, a western dress-up trunk and lots more.

I made it back to the church to meet up with the girls and continue getting ready in the bridal suite. Panter pictures were scheduled for around 3:00, followed by bridesmaids pictures, then Trotter pictures around 4:00. Grant and Carrie did not want to see one another before the ceremony, so all of the couple pictures were taken as husband and wife.

At this point in the evening my camera was officially out of batteries...pooh. Thankfully, mom's was still loaded and she was able to capture some great memories at the reception. The main bummer here is that neither of us were able to get any newly-married pictures of the beautiful couple. And obviously since I was in the wedding I wasn't able to get any of the ceremony itself. I'm sure the photographer did a fantastic job and can't wait to see the pics!

The reception was held at the Brookstone Country Club in Acworth, Georgia. The setting was beautiful and I can't wait to see our "jumping" pictures taken by the fountain at the entrance to the club. The wedding party was introduced and Grant and Carrie followed with their first dance as husband and wife to James Taylor's "Your Smiling Face". The food was all outside on the patio and there were tons of tables and chairs both inside and out. The little kids were able to play around on the golf course (hopefully there wasn't too much damage to the green!) and everyone had a fun time drinking and dancing.

Panter/Trotter Festivities — June 6, 2008

What an amazingly fun, beautiful, special weekend. It is now Tuesday and I am just getting a chance to write and post a few pictures from the festivities.

FRIDAY — June, 6, 2008
My mom and I headed up to Atlanta to pick Elisa Beth up at her mom & dad's house and then headed to the bridesmaid's luncheon. It was at a beautiful location at a restaurant called "Canoe". The food was plentiful and delicious and it was a great chance for a bunch of girls to get together. Carrie also gave her bridesmaids our gifts and let me tell you, she went above and beyond. She and her mom thought of everything and the presentation was beautiful. I will treasure all the goodies in my basket for years to come.

While the girls were enjoying lunch, Brian, Christian, Grant, Spencer, John & Brac went out on Spencer's boat and wake boarded. I think they all had a good time, but Brian got a little fried in the process (despite the fact that I put sunscreen on him in the morning). He is now peeling like crazy. (no pictures because I wasn't there...Christian, if you want to send me a video file, I'd love to upload it!)

Carrie and I got manicures and pedicures on Friday afternoon before the rehearsal & dinner so that was one less thing to do on the big day. It was fun to be pampered and my feet really needed some extra treatment! Thanks Carrie! :)

The rehearsal itself went quite well. Short and sweet and we all felt like we knew what we were supposed to do the next day. I knew I'd probably be especially "pooly" on the actual wedding day because I found myself getting all choked up just during the rehearsal. Although I think I kept it together pretty well, this was certainly foreshadowing to emotions I would express on Saturday.

Mom and Dad hosted the rehearsal dinner at the Governor's House in Kingston, Georgia. It was a little bit out of the way, but what a beautiful place. The food was great and it was a treat to spend some extra time with lots of out-of-towners in addition to members of the wedding party. Mom created a looped slide-show of pictures of Carrie and Grant from baby to present that lots of people were able to enjoy. Some also shared stories and passed on well-wishes to the couple.



Most of the out-of-towners (including all of the Trotter family) stayed at the Hampton Inn in Cartersville on Friday and Saturday nights. Although the pool was supposed to close at 10:00, I think the staff preferred us to have our late night conversations out there instead of bothering other guests by gathering in the lobby. I don't know that anyone swam, but it was fun to gather, talk and drink (nothing alcoholic for me) out by the pool....despite the sweltering heat.

Ok, I'm tired now....I'll do Saturday and Sunday later. :)

Wofford Women II (WW2)

This is the second time that all of the women on my mom's side of the family have gotten together. Once again, the party has been held at my aunt & uncle's (Judy "Nanny" & Hal), lakehouse in Kingsland, Texas--outside Austin. Of course there are many representatives missing, but we all stem from my mom's maternal grandparents: married in or blood, we are all a part of the group (Carrie is close enough to go ahead and call her family!).

On Thursday, April 3, I flew from Richmond to Atlanta and met up with my mom and Carrie in Atlanta and flew to Houston. There, we met up with Elisa Beth and jumped on another plane to Austin. We got to spend the night at my aunt and uncle's wonderful house the top of a big hill in the middle of Texas hill country. The property is full of character with Mesquite and Cedar trees all over the grounds, a "little house" that Nanny continues to see clients, a "little chapel", a barn and a wonderful home with lots of full size window seats you can sleep on, beautiful stacked stone and stone floors (from before it became popular) and breathtaking views of the Austin skyline from almost every room in the house.
Friday morning, we slept in and then headed to Kingsland....making a pit-stop in Marble Falls to eat at the Blue Bonnet Cafe to have great homestyle food and wonderful pie. Jill joined us to eat and then we came to the lakehouse. My first cousin, Brad, dropped off his wife, Rachel and youngest son, 8 month old Max then headed with 2 older sons, Matthew and Weston to stay with my uncle Hal at the house. It was great to get to see them, if only for a very short time. Of course we have had a wonderful time with the baby! With both me and my sister-in-law, Elisa being pregnant (due at the end of October!), there was lots of pregnancy talk too.

On Saturday we were joined by my other cousin, David's wife, Annette and more of my mom's female first cousins: Kathy, Molly, and Sarah. Hannah and Anna joined us and wonderful representatives of Generation 5. John (another first cousin) blessed us with his presence for several hours around dinner.

Hannah and Anna have a priceless friendship and fit in perfectly. They entertained themselves most of the time and graced us with a fashion show on Saturday night! Themes ranged from "Sweet & Sassy" to "Swimwear". It was great!


It is now Sunday morning and we are all packing up and getting ready to head out. Nanny has been the most wonderful hostess and I'm glad she has planned for/allowed herself and extra night here at the lake by herself to wind down.

A great time has been had by all and I am so thankful to be related to so many wonderful women. Those that were absent were truly missed and hopefully we'll be able to get together (with the boys too) in the near future.

Now I must pack the computer too. :)

Trotter Mom & Dad in Williamsburg

24 days until next ultrasound!

We had a great visit with my mom and dad over my mom's spring break! It was my dad's first time to Williamsburg and my mom hadn't been here in 40 years. Brian and I also enjoyed going through the sites again (Yorktown for the first time), and seem to always learn something new.
____________________

Saturday, after my mom and dad rested from driving all night (got in around 3:00 am), we toured around regular Williamsburg and went to the Yankee Candle Experience...it is way more than a store. One huge room is Christmas year-round and it snows periodically.


We ate at the King's Arms Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg by candlelight on Saturday night (no electricity back in the day). The colonial-style food was actually quite good.


COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG — March 23, 2008

We slept in on Sunday and then headed to tour Colonial Williamsburg. Brian and I have "Good Neighbor" passes and can get discounts, so everyone needs to come visit if they have never been before! This is my favorite group picture taken in the backyard of the Governor's Palace (Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson lived here...as well as 9 British Royal Governors).

Yes, real chicken! We actually live next to a woman that is a re-enactor. We ran into her early one morning when I was headed to the airport. It is times like those that make me smile to live in Williamsburg!

Monte and Jan in the entryway of the Governor's Palace. It is decorated in the style of the last British Royal Governor that lived there....thus all the swords, guns, etc...






A panorama of the front of the Governor's Palace. This is actually a rebuild after a fire toasted the whole place. They were able to build it exactly because fortunately Thomas Jefferson drew detailed blueprints of everywhere he ever lived...how fortunate for us!

Fife and Drum core marching down Duke of Gloucester Street. (This was actually simulating their march to Yorktown to celebrate the victory...gotta love reenactments!)



JAMESTOWN — March 25, 2008 (Brian had to work.)

Jamestown celebrated its 400th birthday in 2007! Brian and I came for the first time in early 2006 (when we were living in Maryland) and I could definitely see a lot of improvements/additions that were made in 2 years, I'm sure a lot of that had to do with the BIG birthday celebration!

Mom & Dad in the Jamestown Fort (protected from the French and Powhatan Indian tribes).





Me and Mom with the three ships in the background: Susan Constant, Discovery & Godspeed.




Dad and me on the Godspeed. They actually built this ship on site and together with National Geographic actually sailed it from England to its current location on the exact same route as in 1607.


A panorama of the Powhatan Indian village at Jamestown.


YORKTOWN — March 26, 2008

Soldier's camp at Yorktown, the last battle of the American Revolution and where the British surrendered.




Brian standing near the camp kitchen. There is an area dug out in front of the stacks of firewood where the soldiers could sit on the ledge and easily feed the fire to cook.


A farm immediately following the American Revolution was set up on the grounds. It was interesting to see how far the settlers had come since Jamestown. Picturesque rooster and a big turkey!

There was a state flag and marker at the exit of the Yorktown Settlement to honor each of the 13 original colonies. The Georgia folks.