Celebrations!

This weekend there was a lot to celebrate so we were busy as usual! On Friday night was my Coldwell Banker work party. I had just started in the business last year about a month before last years party but I was too scared to go  :)  I didn't really know anybody yet and can get nervous in those situations sometimes. Over the course of this year I have gotten to know people much better in my office so it wasn't even a question if we were going or not. The office treated us well this year. The party was at the Preston Country Club. They had a cash bar and absolutely delicious food. I was excited to show Derrick off and have him meet all of the people that I come home talking about. I just have this one picture and it's blurry so you'll just have to close your eyes and imagine.

On Saturday we had a wedding to attend! Our friends Mitch and Tabitha were tying the knot and Derrick and I felt so honored to be there. We were two of a very small group of frisbee friends who were there and we were so excited to be included. We were also excited that we really like those few frisbee people that did come so we were able to hang out and chat all night.

Mitch played on wHagonweel with us two years ago and on Raleighwood with us this past year. He is a police officer and met his wife at the police academy. She would come to the tournaments and cheer us on and is so sweet. Their wedding was awesome. Instead of describing it all I'll let you use your imagination by telling you that the wedding started with THIS clip of the wedding scene from the Princess Bride... Maawedge!

Here's a picture of the whole frisbee group!

 And a repeat of our picture from the office Christmas party.

 We're both wearing the exact same thing....don't judge.

Then, yesterday we celebrated Alexander's birthday. He just moved in to his new Durham apartment so we helped him get a couple of his big furniture pieces set up and grabbed a small lunch in order to save room for Buffalo Wild Wings and the Panther's game that night. We stuffed ourselves silly. Here's the birthday boy enjoying a very rich piece of chocolate cake. He and Derrick both got one but I could barely moved so I opted out.

Now time to tackle the week!

Celebrating the Turkey p.3 - Beach Weekend

After waking up bright and early on Friday to get the Christmas tree with my side of the family, Derrick and I hit the road for Myrtle Beach to spend the weekend with Derrick's side of the family. This is a new tradition that was started last year and everyone really seems to enjoy it. Unfortunately my camera was low on battery and we were too busy having fun for me to remember to charge it. I do have some phone pics though. Saturday morning we hit the beach for some baseball time with the kids. I'm not as good as I remember...apparently a 15 year hiatus translates to lost batter form. Oh well...I had fun drawing in the sand with the girls instead.

Cassie and Riley both wrote sweet notes in the sand for Derrick and I. I didn't even have to tell either one of them how to spell our names!

That afternoon we were introduced to this crazy new thing called Magi-Quest. I didn't know that this was even a thing. Basically the kids had wands from another time that they went that they were able to re-use. Their wands get charged up when they get there and then you're released into this huge room. I don't even know how to describe it. It's kind of a medieval scavenger hunt and you use your wand at each of the stops to record that you've been there. Anyways...you won't understand unless you go there but the kids had a blast. Leanna and I stayed with the girls and Derrick and Kevin went with Trey.

Then that night was the Pirates Voyage dinner show. It's very similar to Medieval Times if you've ever eaten there. You get divided into two teams and you are cheering for your pirates to win the competition. This show was Christmas themed. I'm not going to lie...it got pretty weird. When the pirates all stop and start singing hymns while Mary and Joseph ride in on a real donkey and lay Jesus in a manger in the middle of the pirate ship, it just feels weird. Not to mention the wise men riding in on real camels. Yeah....sorry Pirates Voyage, I'm not buying it. The rest of the show was great though!

It was so nice to have so much time to hang out and catch up. We're excited to get together again for Christmas in a few weeks!

Celebrating the Turkey p. 2 : A Williams/Marcey Christmas Vacation

Ok..so this post is a little more Christmas themed than Thanksgiving themed but it happened over Thanksgiving break. We have a tradition of driving up into the Mountains to Sam's tree farm and cutting down our Christmas tree. Typically we stuff 6-7 people and 2 dogs into one car and make the nauseating drive up those curvy roads. This year we had 8 people and 2 dogs so we had to get a little Griswald.

Yep, we rented a 15 passenger van so we could all be together on the drive up.  I think we all agreed it was a little bit weird. Mom and Dad up front had a hard time talking to anyone in the back. I was glad we did it though...I think the memory was worth it and I enjoyed the togetherness.

Bear and Crosby sat in the first row with me and were the best they've ever been on this trip. Usually Bear is really anxious and Crosby is on high alert. I think being up front and in the same seat as me calmed them down and they just slept the whole way. Plus Bear was still exhausted from our round of disc golf the day before.

Mom and Pop Griswald

All the brothers and Crosby. I love each one of them!

We were the first ones at the farm that morning and almost had the mountain to ourselves. They take you on a hayride up the mountain and let you loose.

 

This was Nabeel's first tree hunting experience. I'm pretty sure we made the first one count for him. He'll have high standards from now on.

Crosby LOVED it. I think she would have lived on the mountain if they let her. The people there are awesome and don't mind if we let the dogs off leash so she was running everywhere and rolling in the snow. She loves snow. She would disappear for a while and pop back up randomly.

Bear was not pleased being left out of the family photo.

So we let him in. He'll always be part of my family.

This picture shows Crosby in her true form on the mountain.

And finally, the whole Griswald Gang!

You couldn't even see our tree on top of the van!

True to form we stopped in Valdese on the way home to eat lunch at Myras. We always do this. It's a little burger joint with milkshakes and fashioned decor. Ricky Martin is staring at you when you go to the bathroom.

 They had a penny scale so we all weighed ourselves. We all agreed it was a little high. I hope so, otherwise I need to get back to the gym!

 And then Dad topped us all off with milkshakes that came in the gigantic styrofoam cooler.

Next stop, Myrtle Beach with the Marceys!

Date Night

Derrick and I have decided to create a dedicated date night once a week on Tuesdays. We get really busy with other things throughout the week and I'm excited to have one night a week carved out that we both count on to be just for us.  Last week was the first one and we went to Lime  for dinner and then saw the second Hunger Games movie.  Tonight we're going to grab dinner somewhere, get to-go cups of hot chocolate and take Crosby on a walk. Sounds perfect to me :)

Celebrating the Turkey p.1

This year was a repeat of last year in many ways. Derrick and I packed up and headed to Hickory on Wednesday before Thanksgiving to spend a little time with my side of the family. Mom, Dad, Jay, Jack, Adnan and Nabeel (my families two adopted brothers)* were all in town. I love when my family gets together. It's loud and boisterous and always a ton of fun.  We had a great family dinner and then Derrick and I broke out the game Logos. We picked this one to bring home especially for Jay, the brand manager! I was on a team with Jay, Jack, and Dad. The other team was Mom, Adnan, Nabeel, and Derrick. There was a bit of a fight over Derrick when it came to picking teams so we had to go the draw out of the hat route. It was a close game that ultimately ended in Derrick's team winning.....duh.

Mom made delicious chili for dinner on Wednesday night

 
The next day was Thanksgiving! Mom created a delicious brunch for us and then Jack, Nabeel, Derrick, and I took the dogs to play disc golf. Nabeel had never played so we played captains choice with Jack and I on a team and Derrick and Nabeel on a team.  Jack and I should have won. Didn't happen though.

That afternoon the whole family came for dinner! We had 22 people there for dinner and Mom and Dad arranged the dining room table so everybody would be able to sit together.

Second Thanksgiving together as the Marceys!

 Poor Jake came to Thanksgiving with a broken arm so we all signed his cast. I don't think I've signed a cast since middle school.

Nabeel and Jack are really similar. I can't believe this was the first time I got to meet Nabeel and he was so fun to get to know. One of my favorite conversations with him was when he was describing to us the difference in the way you flirt in the US compared to Kuwait. Hilarious.

It was great to see Adnan. We hadn't seen him since the wedding and Adnan had only met Derrick at the wedding so it really wasn't a great chance to get to know one another. Adnan came up to me on Thursday after he had a chance to spend a little more time with Derrick and complimented my taste and told me that I had found a good one. That means a lot to me coming from Adnan because he is a truly stand-up guy.

 

 Told you they were adopted.

 At this point I am realizing that I only have pictures of the eight of us and NO pictures of any of my other family. Other family...if your'e reading this...I'm sorry! I was just spending time catching up and I guess I forgot to pick up my camera!! I do have a picture of my little cousin Evelyn though! She is almost two and was born 3 months early. Look at her now! She was making an incredible mess so I wrapped the table cloth around her.

Love this picture of me and my Dad. Only took 5 shots to get :)

Part 2 and 3 to come!! Christmas tree hunting and time with Derrick's family!

*Adnan attended Virginia Tech at the same time Jay did. They met there and formed a very strong friendship. Adnan is from Kuwait and his family still lives there so he would come home during the holidays with Jay and spend time with our family. Since then his other two brothers have moved to the states as well and also spent time with our family. Adeeb is the middle brother and wasn't able to come to Thanksgiving and Nabeel is the youngest and lives with Adnan in Tennessee. They really are part of our family and fit in seamlessly! Adnan was even a scripture reader in our wedding!