Sunday, November 28, 2010

Wildlights Date Night

On Saturday night, Matt and I started the first of hopefully many Christmas-themed date nights! Saturday night we headed to the St. Louis Zoo (who is celebrating 100 years this year) for their annual Wildlights! You get to walk through parts of the zoo and they are completely decorated with Christmas lights, and the penguin exhibit is open! It was so much fun - we had a great time! It was Matt's first time at the zoo, and my second...both of us can't wait to go back! It was definitely a good start to the Christmas holiday season!


Our First Thanksgiving!

Our First Thanksgiving together was phenomenal! We started the morning by cooking - Matt was doing the turkey and it took 8 hours in the slow cooker, so he got to work on that! I started just with prepping the other dishes and making sure we had all the necessary ingredients! Then we made some cinnamon rolls and muffins (sidenote: I also made my mothers famous and delicious pecan rolls - however, it was an epic fail!)....and sat down to watch the parade! During the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade we also put up our ornaments on the tree! Then it was time for football and relaxing before dinner! Dinner was delicious and then we relaxed some more! Matt and I both had to work on Black Friday - so no crazy shopping for us! We did attempting Best Buy that afternoon/early evening, but nothing too fantastic! Here are some pictures from our first Thanksgiving - again, we are so very thankful!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving Love, The Marlow's



Happy Thanksgiving to all of our friends and family! Matt and I are so thankful for each and everyone! We are especially thankful to spend today together - this is our FIRST THANKSGIVING together! In the past, Matt has been away with UVA women's basketball...so today has been so very special! May each and every one of you have a special day shared with your loved ones!

Love,

Kelly and Matt

2 weeks on the JOB...



Just thought I'd let everyone know...I'm EMPLOYED!
I came home after my first day to a beautiful flower arrangement from Matt and after my first week a treat from my parents! I'll be handling unemployment cases - for the employers. Matt and I are really excited about this opportunity for me, and we just wanted to thank everyone who has been so supportive in my job hunt!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Matt meets his newest nieces...

Yesterday, Wednesday Nov. 11th, my sister Barbara and her three kiddos Abby, Reagan, and Blaire drove from their home in Enterprise, Alabama to Destin, Florida to pick up some Christmas clothes at Carter's Outlet and The Children's Place Outlet...After some shopping I headed with Barbara and the girls to a local restaurant on the beach - The Crab Trap. Matt was swamped with work and was unable to meet us earlier in the day, but was able to get away for about 30 minutes to meet his newest nieces. It was really exciting to see how Matt interacted with the babies - he was GREAT! It was a good time all around!


Wednesday, November 3, 2010

It's ONLY been 1 month?!?!?

Ok, so it has ONLY been 1 month since I've posted on our blog, but wholly mcguiver...what a month it's been! So great ready, this is going to be a long post!

MATT'S DAD'S VISIT - October 7-10: Matt's dad Frank came to visit us! He spent the beginning of that week at Scott AFB located right outside of St. Louis and then headed over to our house on Thursday afternoon! We had a great time visiting with him. He and I ran a few errands while Matt worked, but then we all went a tried out a German restaurant Thursday night (see picture below) and Ted Drewes. Friday was more working for Matt, the gym and errands for me, and relaxing for Frank with westerns! Then Friday night we headed out again. Saturday was spent with my Baylor Bears playing Frank's Texas Tech Red Raiders...Matt grilled hamburgers and brauts and we just watched the game! Even though my Bears lost, it was a good time! Frank headed off to the airport Sunday. Matt's mom Doris popped in to visit for a day a month or two before Frank came, so it was great for Matt and I to be able to visit with both of them so close after we moved to St. Louis!




ROBYN AND JOHN'S WEDDING - October 14-18: Matt and I headed on Thursday night to Denver, Colorado for the weekend wedding festivities of my twin sister Robyn and her fiance John! Our flight was a little delayed, but was excellent! We arrived around 9:15 pm and I headed to pick up the rental car, before they closed at 10, while Matt picked up the luggage! We ended up getting a free upgrade - thanks Enterprise - to a Chevy Tahoe! With Tahoe and luggage we headed to Robyn and John's house in Thornton. Then hung out and slept. Friday morning was spent between the girls and the boys...after Matt made a few work phone calls, he, my dad, and John headed out for a boys morning, while myself, my mom, and the Bride headed out and met up with Kasey (Bridesmaid)...then that afternoon Matt and I in the Tahoe, with my parents following in their rented convertible headed up to the Estes Park, Colorado. After dropping off Robyn and John's welcome bags at the hotels, the four of us headed in the Tahoe through Rocky Mountain National Park - AMAZING! Then it was a pizza party at the Holiday Inn pool! Saturday was a very early morning with Robyn, John, my mom, and my dad watching the sunrise from 13,000+ feet! SO COOL! Then it was wandering around the town with Matt until time to set up for the Rehearsal lunch. We had a blast walking around Estes - not to mention delicious homemade ice cream! Then it was time to celebrate with the rehearsal lunch, the rehearsal, the family dinner, bowling party, brewery and then bed. The next morning was WEDDING DAY!!! Matt and my dad ran to starbucks for us girls (all 14 drinks)...and then Matt spent the day doing everything and anything that was needed! A totally awesome extra hand at the wedding - including doing an amazing job video-ing the wedding and other festivities/memorable events! I spent the day with the Bride and her maids - loving every minute of the day! The wedding was absolutely stunning! Then the reception was great! The next day was the post-wedding brunch and then heading back to Thornton. Matt and I helped Robyn and John unpack at their house and then headed out to dinner with the newlyweds before heading back to St. Louis that night! We are so happy for Robyn and John! Congrats again to the newlyweds MR. AND MRS. JOHN AKINS!! We love you both so much and are so thankful to have been a part of your special weekend!




October 23: Drove to Sandestin, Florida...Me, Matt, and Molly in the sweet sweet 'rolla for 12 hours...where Molly only likes it if the interior of the car is so cold it could snow...enough said! Ha! Ha! Ha! Seriously though, my parents are headed across the pond to tour around Barcelona, Spain for 5 days and then hop on another Royal Caribbean cruise for 14 days around other parts of Europe...so Matt and I are house/cat sitting while they are gone!




October 27: Although Matt had to work, I was able to drive from Sandestin to Enterprise, Alabama where my sister Barbara and her family live. I was with Barbara in May when her water broke (way too early) and drove her to the ER. When I left and went pack to Charlottesville, she was laying in a hospital bed in Pensacola Florida and neither baby was born yet. Shortly thereafter, the babies were born (micro-preemies) and although they came home while Matt and I were in Florida over July 4th - Matt and I both had fevers at one point in time during that trip, and we did not want to be responsible for getting those kiddos sick. I was absolutely thrilled that I was able met my nieces Blaire Elizabeth and Reagan Nichole for the very first time since they were born on May 14th!!! I got there an immediately started loving on those babies! Matt and I got the babies a book and we got Abby a Tinkerbell activity/coloring book! Both seemed to be great successes! It was a good day hanging out with the Wade ladies!





October 28-November 1: The BESTEST arrived in Panama City Beach, Florida and was in town for 4 1/2 days! We had not seen each other since Matt and I got married down here! It was so great to hang out with her. We had a blast! It was sad to see her go home, but we are hoping to see her again soon - possibly in December at Baylor's bowl game! SIC'EM BEARS! (Sidenote: this weekend that the bestest was in town, the Baylor Bears beat Texas in Austin!!! SWEET)




November 2: Matt had to work again, but I headed back to Alabama (10 am - 11 pm) to go to my very first Peanut Festival - it was also Reagan and Blaire's very first one too! It was myself, Barbara, Abby, Reagan and Blaire - a total girls night at the fair! Abby is completely fearless when it comes to the rides - and I of course was not! Ha! Ha! So Barbara and I alternated between riding rides with her while hanging out with Blaire and Reagan!



November 5-7: Matt and I drove on Friday Nov. 4th from Destin, Florida to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida – about 6 hours east for Diana and Kory’s wedding weekend! We had an absolute blast! When we arrived on Friday, Matt stayed in the hotel room to get some work done while I headed to meet the girls at the reception site to help set up for the reception. After that it was time to get dressed and ready for the rehearsal. The church was absolutely stunning and the rehearsal was definitely a great practice for the big day! Then we headed with the wedding party to Aqua Grill for the rehearsal dinner…oh my gosh, so yummy and such a good time chatting with new friends and the bride and groom who sat at our table! SWEET! Then it was off to Diana’s parents house to party the night away with all the out-of-town guests! It was great to hang out with people I haven’t seen from college and to meet new people who have already become friends! With a good night’s sleep we were off to Diana’s house in the morning – well, I was off. Matt was dropping me off – then we checked the bride and groom into their hotel room and dropped their car at the hotel…Then it was back to Diana’s house for me to get started on my hair and makeup and Matt was off to get the Polaroid camera working for the guest book, watching football, taking a nap, and meeting me at the church! We girls had a blast at Diana’s house! One of her sorority sisters from college (KXA) did my hair and my eyes – oh my gosh – AMAZING work! Truly a talented individual! Then before we knew it, it was off to the church for the girls – all 5 bridesmaids, the bride, the mother of the bride, and the grandmother of the bride! The boys were already there! Then after getting the dress on the bride and the veil in – it was time for Diana and Kory to have their precious moment! Then pictures began – and soon the wedding itself – it was time!!!!! The wedding was beautiful and definitely in the spirit of Diana and Kory! After a few more pictures it was time to PARTY!!!! The reception was tons of fun! Matt and I got to chat with Kristyna and Shari (we went to Kristyna’s wedding in Chicago earlier in the year) and even got to hang out with them after the Bride and Groom made their grand exit in bubbles! The next morning Matt and I hit the road back to Destin….it was a great weekend and we are so thankful to Diana and Kory for letting us celebrate their amazing day with them! CONGRATS TO MR. AND MRS. KORY MERTZ!!!






Alright, I think that sums up the past month....and seriously, it's only been a month?!?!?! CRAZY!