Anniversary

This time last year, we were at the Courthouse in Florida getting our marriage license!

Today is our 1 year wedding anniversary, and after our wonderful trip to Atlantis a few weeks ago, Morgan has surprised me with a getaway to Tunica! So once I finish working on a few last minute things, I will head down there. Morgan is golfing this morning in Tunica with a few of our wedding guests, who happen to be in town, so that is going to be fun!

I can't wait to celebrate tonight! I have the top of our cake, a bottle of champagne and some other wonderful things to share with my amazing husband! I hope the cake is still as delicious! Morgan and I were talking about the cake the other day, and he actually asked if the baker could overnight a cake to us... it was that delicious!
Of course we'll have to save some for Amber when she comes home on Sunday, because she loved the cake soo much too!

Atlantis

We had a wedding trip last year, since we got married on the beach; but we were with our families, so we never counted it as our "honeymoon". So for our 1 year anniversary, my 30th birthday and our delayed honeymoon we headed down to Atlantis over Memorial Day weekend.

Of course, travel in the Pile household is never without chaos... Originally, Amber was going to go with us but due to some issues with passports and borders, we had to schedule the trip around when she would be gone, which she was NOT happy about... as we had been planning the trip with her for a while. Of course, our 5:55 am flight, we missed... as my plan to stay up all night cleaning the house and packing was thwarted by falling asleep around 2 am, and the alarm not going off at 330.... so we woke up at 5:05... got to the airport at 5:40 (THANK GOODNESS we'd packed and put all luggage by the door) and were told there were no more flights going out with seats available. "you aren't going there TODAY" is what they actually said to me.... bed head and no make up and all.... but after some sweet talking, we found out that there was a flight leaving out of memphis in about 3.5 hours, and the sweet guy upgraded us to First Class, all for no charge, not even a change fee! so Morgan had to go get the car out of long term parking, and off we go! Get to Memphis, and realize that our return flights are still coming into Little Rock, but there is no time to do anything about it, as we only had about 30 minutes till departure. Luckily the guy in Little Rock changed everything for us, but we had no way of knowing that till it was time to leave... only to find out that instead of arriving in Little Rock at 5 pm, we were now supposed to land in Memphis at 7 pm. (still with a 3 hour drive to go)..... except due to wonderful weather delays, we sat in the plane, on the tarmac for about 2 hours, waiting for the rain to pass so we could take off, landing us in Memphis around 9 pm! wow..... so that was the chaos sandwhich around serenity.


Atlantis was a blast, I think the best thing about it was that Morgan and I got to turn off our phones, no email access, no interruptions from work, and just have fun together! I think I will implement a no phone policy on all vacations!
we played, ate and generally relaxed and had a great time! I didn't get burned, actually got a pretty decent start to a tan... we went on some great excursions AND - I got to swim with dolphins! for those who know about my obsession with these animals... you know I was in HEAVEN!

a few photos:


The view from our balcony of the grounds and the ocean



Blue Lagoon - where we laid on Hammocks and sipped frozen drinks... great afternoon of fun!



We just arrived at Atlantis - walking on the beach by the Grand Towers

Morgan even got to get in a full 18 holes! This golf course was on the very TIP of paradise island, so we were surrounded by the beautiful ocean the whole time!

Amber's Birthday

Wow. What a mess! Amber had a pool party, and invited 50 of her friends from school, camp, and even friends from when she was only a year old (we still get together from time to time). We closed the pool for a private party, which Amber was VERY into... (I think we are turning her into a VIP monster.) At a few points in the party, we had some crashers, unknowing neighbors who didn't realize it was a party...(really? you didn't notice the tower of cupcakes, the decorations or the table full of gifts when you walked in?) but Amber was QUICK to point out to me that she didn't know the kids, and asked me to have them leave.... yeah, she's not spoiled.

I think we had about 40 or more kids, plus their parents... Amber made out like a bandit, and I truly believe that pool parties just might be more exhausting than weddings!

Before the party started, I picked up a selected group of girls from school. The car was decorated, we had Amber's Ipod hooked up to the stereo, and each girl got a lei. Amber loves being a car rider, and showing off the new car, so I think she was super excited to see it said "AMBER"S POOL PARTY" and all that jazz in front of the entire school!

The girls had to walk to the pool, as we had 2 large beach balls that would not fit in my car (4 foot!), but they had a blast walking alongside the car, and striking a pose now and then:

Dirty Thirty!

Well, the Dirty Thirty came and hit me! Along with it is a month's worth of rain, apparently... it rained NON STOP all day on my birthday, but it was still a great day, even if I kept getting soaked every time we moved on to the next surprise.

Day started with a trip to the spa... Mo set up a facial and massage for me...which I fell asleep and had to be woken from a drool enhanced snooze 20 minutes after the massage was over! Must have been all that rain.... then we went on to Copelands for lunch, and throughout the day I got sweet, funny and loving cards from my sweet husband and daughter at every stop. After lunch, on to the golf store... thinking we are picking up balls for Morgan... he's playing in a tournament next week.... NOPE! I get fitted for my very first set of clubs! Taylor Made R7 Draw Iron Set, a Ping 12 degree Rhapsody driver and a pretty nice 5 iron too! And shoes that look a lot like Morgans Golf shoes, but match my clubs! Woo hoo. He promises that we'll go golfing soon... but I swear the rain is NEVER going to stop!

We came home and I took a nap... a much needed nap, as the first one wasn't long enough... yes, I'm old... and rain means nap time!

Then we got dressed and went to dinner.... surprise! there's my friends! Morgan gave me this silly hospital IV cane thing with a lot of funny old lady stuff on it... and a birthday princess hat, my friend's mother made a delicious cake, and we all had a fabulous time!

Turning 30 wasn't that bad... but Elena brought her baby.... and warned me that she was fussy around other people.... it wouldn't be my fault if she freaked out.... but she didn't.... bc I'm Supposed to hold a baby! I'm a mommy... and I'm really really ready for the next one! COME ON NOVEMBER!


I'm ready for the next leg of the celebration! Atlantis at the end of the month! SOOO excited about some beach time with my baby!

Easter Weekend

Lets see, where to start! This has been an eventful weekend, to say the least! I have been suffering from a mad case of insomnia, giving up and just getting out of bed at 4 am, after watching the clock tick away.... No I'm not overloaded with Caffeine... no I'm not overthinking things... I am literally laying in bed zoned out completely on black space...

Anyways, that disclaimer was just in case I get out of order!

OH - and the storms that came through town... funny thing. Thor, our dog, who is named after the God of Thunder... Get this - HATES THUNDER. Not in a hide under the bed and wait for it to be over kind of way.... but like "How DARE YOU try to invade my space, I'll hunt you down and give you the most vicious barkfest I've got in my little 12 pound frame!" kind of way!


Saturday, we had quite the eventful day! Thor started things off with a dog-gone Easter Egg Hunt at Reservoir. What Fun this was! There were people and dogs dressed up in kooky outfits, which I did not expect... At least Thor wore his yankees! So it was a bit unorganized... which, being a planner drove me a little nuts, but we waited patiently as we could and then it began! Thor didn't seem to care much for the eggs, but you would think they were filled with money the way Amber went to town. FINALLY we got her to understand we only wanted the GOLD egg... which we found, and won a portrait of Thor! woo hoo add to the art collection!

Then we came home and ended up going to Pinnacle Mountain for Saddle Creek's Egg Hunt. Lots of fun, ran into Leah from Amber's class... came home and finished getting ready for Sunday.

Sunday we started the day with the presentation of the Baskets! Amber could barely wait for Morgan to wake up.

Thor Didn't know what to think - except that everything smelt good!

Then it was time to start prepping. We had a brunch for a group of friends, and it was delish! Test Drove a new creation made by my loving husband, and inspired by our trip to Dallas. We now have a Greek Pile, with delish gyro and taziki, eggs, potatoes and garlic biscuit! yum yumm!
It rained ALL day, so we told the kids to go upstairs and all the adults hid eggs. I think we had as much fun hiding them as they did finding them!


Our new Easter Tradition, as Amber was not that interested in Dying eggs this year: We are goign to start painting wooden eggs to keep year after year. We all three sat down and painted eggs Sunday after everyone went home!

Spring

It is officially spring here! Some days are absolutely gorgeous, others are rainy. Every once in a while its 32, welcome to arkansas!

The last weekend of March was eventful! I got a new car - Toyota Sequoia - on Thursday and we took it on a road trip to Dallas. When we left arkansas it was 74 degrees and gorgeous, which is what we packed for... only to arrive in Dallas 4 hours later and find that it was 38 degrees, and the newsmen were warning of possible snow! in Dallas! Weather aside, we found an amazing breakfast place that we ate at every morning, and will now be our regular breakfast place (sorry Word of Mouth.... this is better AND closer!) www.breadwinnerscafe.com. Of course we also had our delicious Chow Thai the first night, and Nobu the second night... what amazing tuna and Kobe beef! Great shopping- Morgan found some great jeans, I got an awesome top... waiting on the completion of the workout before I do any serious shopping. Only 3 weeks to go! It was nice to get out of town and connect with each other after the hectic few weeks we'd had!

This week also marked my final week as a board member for the PTA at Amber's school. It could not have come at a better time, as I am getting more and more busy with my event planning. I have a huge proposal I am working on that could very well guarantee me a hefty commission every year! I am also working on designing my very first website from scratch. Its not cooperating 100% yet, so for now you can see it at www.allindetails.com/heather I don't know why it won't put the information on the FRONT page, but I'll be consulting people who know what they are doing soon!

Last Friday it was so gorgeous, Morgan and I went to the driving range to hit some golf balls. I think I'm going to get my first set of clubs for my birthday, and apparently, I'm pretty good at hitting the ball straight. I just need to work on going further than 50 yards! Today, I hope the weather holds up, as we were supposed to go play put put with Amber.

We have talked about starting a monthly brunch at the house, inviting friends over for my attempt at making BreadWinner's food... we shall see how THAT works out!