Birthday Surprise Weekend!! (Part 2) SKYDIVING

So early Saturday morning the 3 girls loaded into the car and drove to Chester for our skydiving adventure. I think we all had a freak out moment when we drove up! But shortly after we arrived we got to watch a group of jumpers land and I think we were all calmed by discovering that people do this ALL the time and rarely do you ever hear of anything bad happening.

After, literally, a 10 minute training session we were suited up and got ready to fly at 14,000 feet!

Our tandem partners. My partner was at about 3700 jumps and Neely's had 4800...just to give you an idea of how often these people jump!

The boys got there a little later than expected and didn't realize we were in the air until we landed. Here is one of us just as we all touched down. Notice I'm still wearing the cool hat, and Neely is still in the 'slide' position on the ground.

"I'M ALIVE" - what I'm saying in this pic

Ansley and I watching the jumpers who went up after us.

This was truly and amazing experience that I hope to have the opportunity to do again before I die. It was one of those things that had so much anticipation leading up to it, it was over way too soon. So, if anyone reading this would like to go skydiving, I HIGHLY recommend it and would love to go back with you!!

Birthday Surprise Weekend! (Part 1)

Troy told me we were having dinner with his parents Friday night. But when we walked into The Bistro, to my surprise...

He had actually arranged a surprise Birthday dinner for me with great friends!!

This is the amazing gift Neely made me (Ansley)!

MMMMmmm, Strawberry Cheesecake!

Here, Troy is demonstrating Ansley's new dance move for the table!

At dinner I was informed that Neely, Kristen and I would be going skydiving the next day (Saturday)! I mentioned to Troy about a month ago that I would LOVE the opportunity to go skydiving. My only stipulation was that I didn't want to go by myself. Troy was a definite no go, so Kristen and Neely were troopers and went with me!

Like Mama, Like Daughter...

She makes me so proud!!

Nashville!!

Heading to the pool for the first time...

Ansley's first time swimming...she LOVED IT!

Monday we ate lunch at the Aquarium Restaurant. It was the neatest place with this HUGE tank that took up the whole middle of the restaurant and all Ansley wanted to do the whole lunch was look at the fish.

Just testing out some possible birthday present ideas from Grandpa!

Preparing to ride the Carousel that was in the middle of the mall...

...she hated it!

...so did Troy...

Another restaurant with fish!

Getting ready for our nightly swim trip!

Just look at that face to get her opinion on the big horses...

Downtown Nashville!

We went to the Nashville Zoo on Tuesday and had the best time. There was a lot of walking but Ansley loved every minute!

We had such a good trip with Troy's parents. I had concerns about how Ansley would handle being in the car for 8 hours but it turns out that when she's got company in the backseat she's totally fine! We appreciate the opportunity to have taken such a neat trip very much!!

Front page of Sunday's paper...

The Rock Hill Herald did a front page story on our church in yesterday's paper...and Troy's face graced the cover! Enjoy...

http://www.heraldonline.com/2010/02/21/1961120/north-rock-hill-church-expands.html

Girl's & Boy's Weekend!

We had the opportunity this past weekend to spend some quality time with great friends! Kristen and Brent came up Thursday night and the boys took Friday night to go camping. Then, the girls went to ADPi's 30th anniversary semi-formal dinner (or dance as Kristen liked to refer to it as) Saturday night! Here's a picture of the car packed up and the boys ready to hit the road (minus Jason who had to work a little bit later that day).

They went to Kings Mountain and definitely proved their manliness by sleeping in a tent in 30 degree weather...

Saturday night the ladies went to the dinner and stayed with Neely. Side note, the next time I say I'm going to pay $30 to go to a semi-formal dinner...remind me that I'll have way more fun hanging out with those same ladies in the comfort of my pjs at someone's house for free!

Troy was nice enough to be our chauffeur for the night. None of the boys were interested in paying to hang out with 250 sorority girls.

Unfortunately, the Reeves family and Asher all ended the weekend sick :( Ansley caught a cold at the end of last week and then gave it to me (and then Asher). We took her to the doctor this morning and found out she also has a double ear infection. I'm feeling better but she's still pretty pitiful. Troy also went to the doctor this morning to find out he has a "2nd degree lung infection" and a sinus infection. Apparently the lung infection was caused by inhaling too much campfire smoke. We're a mess!!

PS...let me take this time to also let the world know how awesome I think Brent is! After Troy left for church yesterday morning (and before Kristen and I got home from Neely's) he cleaned our kitchen. I don't think I've seen our microwave this clean in a long time! We are truly blessed to have such wonderful friends!!

We have Snow...AGAIN!!

And this time it's the fun kind, that isn't covered in ice!!

She's wearing socks, tights, and a pair of thermal pants under those overalls!!

Ansley's only concern was eating the 'no'

Everything was going well until this happened...

Then she was totally over it and wanted to be held! Notice Troy is covered in the snow that came off of Ansley from her face plant!

Troy's snow angel

This stuff was way too powdery (is that a word?) for snowman building...so I did what I could and made a snow turtle!