Chattanooga

This weekend was incredible! Ben and I went to Chattanooga for our 3rd anniversary trip. He planned most of it since I am a cheapskate and can't handle how much things cost!

We didn't realize that this weekend was the first weekend of a 10-day festival and things would be VERY crowded. Fortunately though we did touristy things instead of the festival and avoided the crowds, for the most part.

Friday he planned for us to go on a river boat sunset dinner cruise and let me tell you, if you ever go to Chattanooga, this should be first on your list! It was so much fun!

The food was delicious and the company was very entertaining. I was a little worried when we sat down because it was at a 4-top table with another couple's name at the other two seats. THIS is not my ideal eating situation. I don't really like eating with strangers. I have to admit I did say a quick prayer before they got there that they wouldn't be crazy! Well, they were a fun, entertaining older couple and things went just fine. The group sitting next to us on the other side happened to be from Birmingham too.


Saturday we visited Lookout Mountain and Rock City. Both were so much fun! We started Lookout Mountain by riding the Incline Railway which is apparently the steepest railway in the nation. It was HOT, HUMID and way too close to the other people for me. The panic started to set in at one point where I thought if I don't get off this train in 3 seconds I was jumping and sliding back down the mountain. Thankfully, Ben switched places with me and we arrived at the top quickly.
I can't get over the houses that are perched atop this mountain. There was a whole neighborhood! This one below was right next to the railway up and it was just gorgeous! I can't even imagine how much they cost!

Everything was just beautiful! Apparently you can see 5 states or something like that from the top, but I never found any signs of where to look and which was which, so I just accepted that it was gorgeous and far!

After that we went to Rock City which is a garden of rocks and caverns at the top of the mountain. It was so much fun!

Thankfully because we were walking among rocks most of the time it wasn't real hot until we finished. I did have my moments though where I thought I would have to go the 'short-way out' to avoid walking through places called Fat Man Squeeze. Here is Ben heading down through it:

But a sweet little grandmother made me go down (Here Ben was trying to coax me down, but I made him see if he could fit first... he was supposed to come back and get me but people kept coming through), she walked with me until I made it through the other side telling me about the rocks and other funny things so I wouldn't freak out!

We also ate at a very good pizza place called Lupi's Pizza (SOOO good!) and the Moon Pie General Store! Ben LOVES moon pies and we had to have a moon pie sundae!

We made it home today and both had such a great time. It was definitely worth spending the money! Ben was a little more carefree about the money than I would have been, but hopefully soon we'll have that other income to replenish the savings account!

Tercer Aniversario

Three years ago today I was standing next to my soon-to-be wonderful husband about to become a wife! Granted, it wasn't instant that we took on the 'great husband and wife' roles, but I am so glad to be here today. Three years just doesn't sound like its been that long in terms of marriage, but when I look back at my school career for the past 3 years it feels L.O.N.G.... Comparable to 10 years! I guess that is a good thing that the marriage part has flown by easily.


Ben and I just got back from a fabulous dinner at Village Tavern. The manager even gave us a discount on a few things! They are always so nice there! It was delicious and calorie overload, exactly what you are supposed to do on anniversaries right?! I did order a 'sliver' of iceberg for my meal to make up for the homemade potato chip appetizer and chocolate torte cake dessert.

Well, I was looking through our wedding pictures again for this wedding album that Ben is getting me and had to post some on here. They are just such great pictures! We had a wonderful photographer, Focus Photo Art. It was such a fun day and beautiful weather (if you ask anyone about my wedding though you'll usually hear something like, "I remember when you got married... man it was HOT that day...").

I just love weddings though! So much fun!

Now I am really looking forward to our trip to Chattanooga! If you have any suggestions of particular things we should do there please let me know!!

Moving right along & 3-year anniversary!

I had an 'interview' yesterday. It was more of a meet and greet in which a wonderful person at a board of education told me a lot about her and her school system and told me that she's on my side. She also told me who to call for a position that just opened (that I was planning on going by today). I'm very grateful to have her name and recommendation!

Today I am going to go to 3 other schools and have 1 more interview!

It's also Ben and I's 3rd anniversary!!!

We're going to go out to eat at one of our favorite restaurants, Village Tavern, because I happen to have a gift card and a free dessert there!

Ben also so wonderfully fulfilled one of the things on my list from last year (that rolled over to this year). He got me a leather bound wedding album!!! He was too cute about it. Since apparently these sort of things take many weeks, he had to wrap up someone else's album that looks like the one he got. HAH! I opened it and was like, that's not us... but the funny thing is that they did get married on the same day as us and he didn't even plan it. (Apparently they weren't 3 years behind on getting their album). But I love it and am so excited to see the finished product!

My gift to him was a leather wallet (he's obsessed with Fossil wallets and although he didn't NEED another one, he likes to have one waiting in reserve should his ever fall apart) and inside I put a check for VACATION! He loved it! And we are going to Chattanooga, TN this weekend! So I'd have to say I will conquer two more things on the list - Let go of some money once in awhile and go to a touristy place near us that I haven't been!

I'm very excited! I looked at their CVB website and there are so many things to do there, yet its only 3 hours from our house! Perfect. We'll be home in time to have dinner with my dad for Father's Day.

Happy Anniversary Ben

About 4 months ago I found the best present ever for Ben for our second anniversary. Ben has always told me he wants to get his pilots license one day, so I found a place where he could actually fly a plane. I even bought him a "cotton" blindfold so I could drive him to the airport w/o him knowing where we were going and also covering the 2nd year's anniversary present of cotton. (First was paper). Well... it rained and poured the morning of his surprise, so I cried and was so disappointed and had to tell him what his surprise was. He was surprised and a little anxious about it, but it still did not live up to the 3 month hype of it being the best surprise yet.

So... this past weekend we finally were able to go to the airport (pell city) and complete his 1st flying lesson. I think I was more scared than he was! Ben asked the pilot, "Well you will be taking off and landing right?" The pilot's response, "Hell no... I want you to do it all, I'll be here in case you screw it up." Seriously... after a brief lesson, he let Ben taxi, take off, do like 10 turns (scariest thing ever) and practically land the plane (not sure who was doing most the effort since Ben told me later he REALLY wished the pilot would have officially taken over to land it).

Here he is finishing up his short on the ground lesson and finishing inspecting the plane.
My spot was in the back, where surprise! they gave me my own headset. This was right after I told Ben I was pretty sure I wanted to stay on the ground. (Yikes!)
Here we go.....!
View to the front.... going up!
As the trees got smaller and smaller and I hyperventilated a little more...
This was when I began to think about how small the plane really was and that there was only ONE engine... no backup.... no parachute... no way to get out the window and 2500 feet to the ground....
Ben succeeding to turn 90 degrees to the left and also making my stomach do a complete flip. Look out the window and the wing is pointed straight to the ground to do the turn! Blech.
Trying to take a picture of how sideways we were.
I calmed down for a sec, to take a picture of the Talladega Speedway.
And..... we made it!!!!! WHEW!
I did not take an after picture because my face was a little pale. Ben had a blast though, I think still a great anniversary present and probably a blessing it wasn't a surprise. I think Ben needed mental preparation that he was going to actually fly a plane before doing so.