Quick update...

This will be the shortest update ever...but that's because not much is going on in the lives of Kelly and Matt...

Kelly's update: School, and lots of it! Last Thursday I was at school for 10 hours straight - that just is not right...I've also got a lot of papers coming up - so that only spells LAW LIBRARY! This past weekend was spent with my mom and dad in g-rock. 

Matt's update: Work, and lots of it! Matt's been working hardcore this past week and weekend.  His overtime is through the roof!!! Basically, he had to get ready for this past weekend - 6 recruits on their official visit...needless to say, I don't even know what that all entails, but I know it is a lot of hard work and a lot of long days!

You might be wondering, what's on tap for this week...well, unfortunately more of the same.  Kelly at school and Matt at work.

I know, this is possibly the most exciting blog yet right?!?!? Ha! Hope everyone has a great week!

(Sidenote: Thanks to Meredith for giving our blog it's latest update! She did it while Matt and I were in Charlottesville together, and we LOVE it!! Thanks Mere!)

Happy Birthday...

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday dear Matt!

Happy Birthday to you!

That's right...Matt turned the big 2-4 this morning!!!

And I was there, bright and early, in his face at 3 am ET to be the first one to tell him 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Whirlwind Weekend

This weekend flew by - literally, a whirlwind!  I started my drive up to Charlottesville Thursday late afternoon after classes.  My first pit-stop was Gadsden to drop my dad's sunglasses off (I'm in his truck because my car is in the shop).  Then my second pit stop was at Virginia Tech to visit Matt's sister Katharine!  Katharine is a senior at Virginia Tech and today, yes, today is turned 21!!! So I stopped in at her apartment, met her roomates, dropped off her birthday gift (a decorated wine glass, that i call her "pimp cup" and $21 dollars to get a tasty beverage or two!), hung out for a bit, and then got back on the road.  I arrived at my destination, Matt's apartment, at 1:00 am on Friday.  It was a long drive, and I was exhausted - I went straight to bed.  Friday was a very important day - Matt had to go to work - at the crack of dawn (out of the apartment by 4:30 am) to watch the team run and I had to sleep-in! Ha! Seriously, I had to get my hair cut, eyebrows waxed, a manicure, and a pedicure - I know, my life's hard.  I was getting this all done because bright and early Saturday morning we had ENGAGEMENT PICTURES.  Friday night, Matt and I stayed home, cooked our famous "Mexican meal" and watched Baylor almost beat UConn (SIC'EM BEARS)!!!

Saturday morning we were up early, well, at least I was! I let Matt sleep in.  We had picked out or clothes the night before, so I figured for him to get ready it wouldn't take long, so he had plenty of time to sleep-in some.  We left the apartment around 9:10 and headed to UVA grounds.  We parked in the parking deck and walked around grounds.  We ended up on the lawn, by the tree that Matt proposed at waiting for Bill, the Photosmith.  Bill and Matt have known each other since Matt started working for UVA Women's basketball.  Bill takes the pictures of the kiddos at the basketball camps in UVA original jerseys with head coach Debbie Ryan by their side.  Bill was generous to offer to take our engagement photos, and on Matt's recommendation, we graciously accepted. I had heard about Bill, but was very excited to meet him on Saturday.  Bill did not disappoint.  He was a delight to work with - and I knew this the minute we met, when he hugged me.  You know, we Southern girls are huggers! Bill was hilarious, flattering, and understanding (aka he's going to photoshop out my huge zit that appeared above my lip Sat. morning...ha! ha!)!  We did several different poses on the lawn and in  the areas around it at UVA.  Matt and I are waiting to see the photos - Bill is going to be emailing me with a link to see them online.  I'm not sure how many we will share unti

l that zit has been photoshopped! Ha! Ha!

After that, Matt and I walked from the lawn to the corner.  The corner is like the hot-spot right off of UVA's campus.  There are shops, bars/restaurants, Arch's (best yogurt ever), and more.  After browsing through Mincer's - a UVA shop, where I picked myself up a UVA v. Texas Tech long-sleeve football game shirt (on sale).  Then on to lunch at the College Inn.  I've never eaten there before, but Matt ate there with his family after he graduated from UVA.  It was tasty, although all I got was a salad.  Matt and I were eating early and light because we had dinner reservations at THE MELTING POT - our favorite restaurant.

Then it was home to change clothes and exchange birthday presents.  Man, I absolutely LOVE birthdays!!!!  I love growing up and I love presents - put those two things together - FANTASTIC!  I was totally shocked by Matt's gift - he did a frame - technically a shadow box.  He decorated it with stuff from a hobby store and added pictures from our trip to Washington, D.C.  It was so thoughtful, creative and very touching!  Matt opened up my parents birthday present to him first - playstation 2 game NCCA '09 (a game that he absolutely loves, and plays all the time) and then my gift, a 16GB Apple Itouch (which I now lovingly call his toy and he hasn't put down since he opened it).  After presents it was time to head out for a very special appointment....

We got to our appointment at Men's Warehouse 1 hour early - I know, I'm way to punctual...it's a curse!  However, it worked out absolutely perfectly - because within an hour we had tuxes picked out for Matt, groomsmen, ringbearers, and fathers! We also had Matt measured so he's ready to go and for his tux to be shipped down to Pensacola (closest MW to Sandestin) for the wedding next year!!! Woo-hoo!!!

Then it was back to Matt's apartment for a littler R & R from our busy morning before heading out to dinner.  We got showered and dressed for dinner and then it was off to the Melting Pot.  The had a new menu out that we tried and loved.  We actually even chipped in the extra $5 for the lobster, and it was delicious!!! So yummy! And, I had the most fantastic glass, ok 2 glasses (Matt was driving) of white wine - so tasty! Hence the above picture, it is from our private booth at the Melting Pot.  That's right Matt requested a special very private booth, and we had our waitress take our picture.  It was a awesome end to an amazing and busy day! 

When we got home last night we made a birthday call to Matt's sister Katharine and then hit the hay after a long and exhausting day!  Thankfully today has been a laid back and relaxing afternoon - where Matt has been laying in bed watching Redskins kick some Cardinal (not my Cards) butt and me watching some NCIS on my computer and catching up with some emails. Good stuff.  So, off to do more relaxing before my 10 hour drive tomorrow and the beginning of another week of law school when Matt begins another week of work!

Apple Picking

Ok, so you may or may not know, but this weekend was 

another 10 hour trip up to Charlottesville, VA for 

me and another fantastic weekend together for

Matt and I.  This time it was pretty special because

I am able to stay in Charlottesville ALL DAY today

(Sunday)!!!  Normally I am driving back to 

Birmingham on Sunday, but with only 1 of my 2 

classes schedule for tomorrow, I'm skipping

Juvenile Justice (sorry Professor Smolin) 

and waiting to drive until then! [And that gets

a big AMEN when Matt's upstairs neighbors had

me wide-awake this morning at 3 am!!!! 

That's 2 am...my regular time...even early for 

me!!!] Woo-hoo!!

This weekend was PACKED full of activities, 

mostly for the wedding, which will be another post

....later on...but this morning was the best part 

of the weekend - to me!!!!! Matt suggested a fun

outing - APPLE PICKING!!!! I've never been

before and it was a blast!

It started with a quick trip up the mountain - 

and I do mean mountain, not like those little 

hills in Alabama we call mountains!!! The views 

were breath-taking, the apples were ripe for the

pickin', the wine made by the orchard was free for

tasting, and it was a BEAUTIFUL day! Matt and I 

spent about and hour and 1/2 up there and enjoyed

every minute of it!!!  So I thought I would share

some pictures with everyone our Sunday adventure!!!!

Here's hoping your Sunday is as lovely as ours!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

Well, 26 years ago today the best thing in my life happened...my TWIN SISTER was born, uh duh and of course me too!!! Woo-hoo!!! To answer your question - yes, growing up we had a special language that nobody else knew and yes, we are able to sense when the other is in danger....ha ha! Just kidding! Seriously, Robyn is my twin sister and best friend - 26 years together is a really long time....so I thought I'd share some of my most favorite memories followed by fantastic characteristics that we share (basically b/c this day is all about us!! ha! ha!)...Enjoy!

1) When we ripped our brand new wallpaper down in our bedroom as our Mother's Day gift to our mom when we were younger.  Is that not the best gift a mother could get? I mean she loved it enough to put it on the wall just days before?!?! Robyn and I are very caring!

2) When Robyn and I were leaving Baylor University in a red crappy Ford Escort Enterprise Rental Car (long story short - I didn't have my car yet, and some drunk jackass totaled Robyn's)...well, we found out that the red Escort could top out at a little over 115 on I-20 East!  Robyn and I are very good and safe drivers (we had seatbelts on....the pictures we took prove that)

3) When it finally snowed in Gadsden one year (Barbara and Kimberly no longer lived at home)...Robyn and I got out the plastic sleds to go outside and have some fun...Here's some background, when I say snow, I mean ice with a little snow on top...when I say driveway, I mean the one at my parents old house - big hill straight down with van at bottom....when I say van, I mean one with a trailer hitch on back of it...So we got out the plastic sleds and took them to the top of the driveway - down we went...didn't go to fast - so we went inside and got Pam spray and coated the bottom of the sleds to go again...we ZOOMED down that driveway...and Robyn's back went straight into the trailer hitch! Robyn and I are fun-loving and adventurous!

4) When in high school Robyn and I decided to skip our first period class one day...we went to our dad's office after it was over to get a doctor's excuse from him.  Well, when he wrote it out, we then took it home and made about 100 copies (using white-out on the dates).  Then we used them all the time (a lot), well, until our mother found them months later!  Robyn and I are intelligent and crafty!

5) When Robyn decided on day to cook a pizza for dinner in the oven and the pan she put it on in the oven was made out of paper (although in credit to Robyn it had a cover that made it look decorative and oven safe)...when the tray caught on fire Robyn took it out of the oven and was just screaming it's on fire and waving it in the air! She had no idea what to do - and ran outside holding it.  Outside she was still holding it and waving it in the air (now you know Oxygen fuels fires).  So I followed her outside and told her to drop it.  Robyn and I are always looking out for each other.

6)  When Robyn and I borrowed my dad's Chevy Blazor and coming up a huge hill to get to our parents house the Blazor caught on fire.  (Not kidding).  I was driving and told Robyn to get out of the truck and we ran the rest of the way to our parent's house.  Robyn and I are both very good on our feet (running - well, Robyn's better) and we laugh at fear!

So, here's to Robyn and I....a fantastic 26 years and here's to many more!!!!

You only turn 26 once...

I headed back to Gadsden this weekend after classes Thursday afternoon to celebrate....After all, you only turn 26 once....right?  At least that is what I said to the Wal-Mart cashier today when my parents and I were checking out with my awesome TRANSFORMERS birthday party decorations and groceries.....I know, my birthday isn't technically until 3:05(ish) am tomorrow morning (lucky 13), but tonight was my family birthday party!!!! It was absolutely fantastic!!!! I couldn't have asked for a better party!!!

So, just to let you know, Wallace family tradition is that on birthdays you have a family birthday party and everyone in the family is invited over for dinner, cake and presents...now the thing about dinner is that the birthday girl (in this case...ME) gets to chose what's for dinner and dessert.  Now I'm turning 26, so nothing to get to scared about - but ask a 6 year old what they want - anything - for dinner..and well, I shudder to think of the possibilities...they are endless...Guess that leaves you guessing what a 26 year old choses?!?! Well, I chose my fathers famous special family recipe BBQ chicken and my mothers famous special family recipe potato salad...and for dessert, dirt cake.  

So my mom got to cooking in the kitchen, Dad got to grilling, Molly and I worked some magic decorating the kitchen table and surrounding area Transformer style - and next thing you know...it was time for my family birthday party to officially begin!!! Woo-hoo! Dinner was delicious! An hour or two after dinner, it was time for dirt cake and presents!!! The desert was just like I remembered if from growing up - super yummy! I got lots of special birthday cards from lots of people in my life...a beautiful arrangement of flowers from my fiancee with a card that made my heart smile....a beautiful peal bracelet from my soon-to-be mother-in-law and sister-in-law, and a King bed and Wii Fit from my parents....let's face it....you're jealous!!! Don't worry, I would be too if it wasn't me I was talking about! Ha! Ha! :-) 

So thanks to everyone that made my birthday party so special - whether it be in person, spirit or heart! 

FANTASTIC weekend!

This weekend has been fantastic - I mean it, it has surpassed all expectations.  

Let's start with Matt's weekend....it started out with his good friend, and one of his best men arriving at his apartment late Thursday night (possibly Friday morning).  Then after working Friday, he had the opportunity to play some Tiger Woods playstation with Jeff and watch Harlod and Kumar 2.  Then, Friday night it was off to meet some other fraternity brothers/groomsmen at the bars.  Saturday, was the big game!!! If you haven't had the pleasure of attending a UVA game - it begins with the tailgating sponsored by a fraternity brothers parents and then it is time to enter Scott Stadium.  Yesterday, UVA Cavaliers took on the Richmond Spiders, and although parts of the tradition were cancelled due to weather (thanks Hanna) the game commenced and ended with a SHUT-OUT!!! Virginia 16 - Richmond 0!  It was also the game in which the team wore the retro orange jerseys (aren't they fantastic - the picture is from virginia sports)!   After the game - everyone got a chance to clean up and headed out to Baja Bean (fantastic mexican restaurant) and in true Viriginia tradition partying on the Corner in celebration.  I think the night ended for Matt sometime after 1 am! Sounds like fun to me!! So today he'll get to see the guys off at lunch somewhere and then probably take a nap!! 

Now on to my weekend...Spending time with family and friends (see below posts) but also (drum roll) Molly is all BETTER!!! Finally yesterday mid-morning she got some uhh, well relief, and she even wanted to play! It was the first time she has wanted to play in a long time.  We took a long walk which brought us to the dog park.  There she actually ran around with other dogs and chased after a ball! Just two days ago we went there, and instead of playing with the dogs she just sat down next to my legs! It's so good to see her back to being Molly - which also means laying out on the deck and barking!! Love it! Additionally, I have been able to get loads of homework done thanks to USA's House marathon.  So - all in all- for a weekend spent staying in Birmingham, it was more than I expected it to be..and I've still got all day today (it's only 8:30 am)!  Also, we are on Day 2 of no air conditioner and windows open.  It is another beautiful (dare I say FALL) day this morning.  

So, here's to today - the beginning of a new week...may it be as surprisingly pleasant as the weekend was - for everyone!

Wednesday and Saturday....

So this past Wednesday and yesterday, I had the opportunity to hang out with my niece, Abby and my older sister Barbara (didn't want to blog until had pictures).  Wednesday was a quick trip that involved me driving to Gadsden after my classes.  When I got there, my Mom (aka Gramecy) and Abby were playing in the pool while Barbara was outside the water watching and taking pictures.  The pool has little windows and Abby and I got a chance to play peek-a-boo! Ha! Abby is actually a really good swimmer - for a 1 1/2 year old! She love love loved the deep end of the pool (the pool is on a hill so one side gets deeper).  Then it was time for dinner @ Logan's with Gramercy, PapaDoc, Abby, Barbara, and I  after I dried my clothes because Abby was all about getting Aunt Kelly with the hose - and of course getting Mommy (Barbara) and Gramercy.  Dinner was fantastic and we took a group picture after - the only picture that had both Barbara and I in it...however, both Barbara and I agree that we don't so much love that picture and perhaps the web is better off without it being posted - on either blog!!! Ha! Ha! After dinner we went back to my parents house to watch a little Word World before bedtime.  (Now here I must state - Word World and Super Why are two different tv shows - just in case you didn't know! Ha! Ha! A mistake I made!) Then, I drove back to Birmingham for Thursday's PAD Pizza Tasting and Sea, Ocean, and Coastal law.  I thought I'd be able to make it back to visit while they were in Gadsden, but Molly was just too sick and there was nobody to watch her like Wednesday night.  So it was a nice surprise to be able to have lunch yesterday with just us girls at Red Robin in Trussville.  Barbara and I got to talk a lot about wedding stuff, while Abby enjoyed the balloon and football.  Yes, Abby noticed that football was on the television above the bar at Red Robin before either Barbara or I knew.  She looked, pointed and said "football" and well, she was right!  However, it was Auburn and not Abby's favorite team Alabama.  At lunch Abby went over the parts of her face that she knows, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and working on tounge...she also went over the sounds that animals make, cow (moo), horse (nah), frog (ribit), cat (meow), dog (woof) and of course Elephant, to which she replies ROLL TIDE!!! That's just freaking adorable and I'm not even an Alabama fan - you know my loyalties are Balyor (even though they are horrible) and Virginia.  It was a great visit!

To a/c or not to a/c...

So I've already posted about my love of cool, or in Matt's words, freezing rooms - aka blasting the air conditioner.  Everytime I begin the trip to Charlottesville Matt makes sure to turn the a/c on.  It's cute really - all bundled up together under the fleece blanket! Ha! Well, anyways, this weekend is full of surprises because today I decided to turn OFF the a/c.  That's right, no need to re-read that sentence...I turned the a/c off when I woke up around 2 am.  (Yes, I am waking up ridiculously early for no reason...and yes, it sucks)...I opened up the balcony door and my bedroom window...and then prayed for a breeze!!! Ha! Ha! Well, I got more than that - I got an overcast sky which led to rain and wind! Now it's beautiful outside, but the breezed stayed here and the a/c stayed off.  Crazy, isn't it.

I'll tell you my secret as to why I turned off the a/c, because it is time.  I'm sick of all this heat and humidity.  It is time for my most favorite season - FALL! A friend from college recently blogged about her love of fall, and she is completely right.  I love it when Iwake up and there is that chilly breeze.  I love wearing long sleeve t-shirts.  I love when the leaves turn beautiful colors, and where weekends are filled with hikes in Oak Mountain State Park with Molly. It's official, I love fall. 

So while everyone is enjoying this weekend - I hope they are able to get a glimpse of fall like I am...with the a/c off and the windows open!

Boys Weekend vs. Girls Weekend

The weekend is here - technically, it's friday morning at 8:30, so it's here for me, but it is only almost here for Matt coming at 5 pm today!  This weekend is special though, for both Matt and I. Normal weekends for myself include leaving the Birmingham area (I don't care where I go, I just get out, and get out fast) and during football season, Matt's weekends include recruits, basketball players, tail-gates, a big white van, a UVA football game - basically lots of work!  However, this weekend is distinctly different for both of us! Ready for the shock? 

I'M STAYING IN BIRMINGHAM and MATT DOESN'T HAVE TO WORK!

So, we'll start with Matt's weekend because honestly, it is going to be much more fun than mine! Matt is having a "Boys Weekend."  (That is just my self-proclaimed title for it).  Anyways, a lot of his fraternity brothers (some who are groomsmen) are coming to Charlottesville to watch the big game...

          

UVA Cavaliers              vs.    Richmond Spiders 

Hopefully Tropical Storm Hannah (potentially Hurricane Category 1 Hannah) won't drop too much rain and wind in C'ville and the guys will be able to enjoy tail-gating, the game, and the Corner afterwards!  I know what it is like with college friends living all over the place and no longer being able to see them on a daily basis - so I'm so excited for Matt to get to hang out with his friends this weekend, especially with no work!  Woo-hoo!!! So I hope you guys have fun!  

My weekend isn't nearly as fun (yeah, I can admit that - easily).  I will be staying in Birmingham and working on school project for one of my classes and papers for all my other classes.  Molly has been sick this week.  She hasn't puked since Wednesday - thank goodness, but her food also doesn't seem to be working its way through her as normal either (aka she's not pooping - sorry if that is too much for the blog).  So I take her out for really long walks and then she pretty much spends the rest of her time sleeping on the bed right next to me.  Currently her head has been resting on my right leg for the past 20 minutes (she likes to hear a heartbeat when she sleeps, isn't she adorable).  I'm fine with it because I want her to be able to get her rest - an upset tummy is no fun for anyone, human or puppy dog.  So other than a dinner out with the boys (two of my really good friends here in Birmingham, Robby and James - which was Chili's Thurday night) I'll be inside working hard and taking care of Molly.  (I've got a picture of Molly on the bed, but I can't get it loaded, so I'll put it up later)

I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend, whether it be a boys weekend full of football and fun or a girls weekend full of an adorable puppy and homework!

Officially a genius - or at least really good at Admiralty!

   

Ok, so I'd just like to say, I have the best parents known to man...I mean really, they are great!!! This past weekend I've been their patient/house-guest, but tonight they totally surprised me with something that dealt with neither being a patient or house-guest, but rather a student.

Here's some background information for you first...This summer I was clerking at a law firm for 40+ hours a week in Gadsden, Alabama and also taking 2 Cumberland law school courses.  The courses were offered online, which I found out means a lot of reading, a lot of writing, the same 3 hour horrible finals and the only plus being that there is  not actual classroom you must sit in like a typical class.  The two classes I took were Professional Responsibility and Admiralty.  

Admiralty assignments were due every Sunday night by midnight and the Professional Responsibility assignments were due every Monday night by midnight...for 9 weeks! It was a lot of hard work, but at least it paid off!!! I did well in both classes which was great for me, but then I found out even better news for my admiralty class.

I BOOKED ADMIRALTY!!!!!  If you aren't familiar with that term, it means that I made the highest grade in the Admiralty class - out of all the students taking the class.  Now I found out this information in an instant message from a guy who is in the top 10% of our class (sidenote: I am not in top 10%)...and, seeing as how he was in that class, I thought he was kidding.  I was laughing and told him thank you for that laugh, well, he sent me an instant message to the "SCHOLARS OF MERIT" page for Cumberland Law School - and sure enough there I was in the number 1 spot (number 1 spot because admiralty is first class alphabetically)!

Anyways, my point here is that I decided to automatically share this news with the people who knew how much ass I had busted all summer - my parents and Matt.  Well tonight at dinner (Villa Fiesta - woo-hoo for eating solid foods), my parents surprised me with my golden admiralty book!!  I absolutely loved it, and it is sitting on my table in my apartment - proudly showing it off, as the table is the first thing you see upon entering my place.

So with that being said, I just want to take a moment to thank my parents for always supporting me 110% in all I do - being there for me when I'm down or fallen and picking me up and reminding me to always TRY and to do the best you can! Thanks mom and dad for supporting me this summer in so many ways - the words thank you are no where near enough! 

Here's to parents everywhere - It's not an easy job and to those of you that do it well, know that you are loved no matter how old your children get!