Nash-Vegas Fun!

This weekend I went to Nashville with a sweet friend, Jan. For those of you who know me well.. you know that I am a HUGE Carrie Underwood fan. I fell in love with her on American Idol and I have loved her since. So, when I heard she was coming to the Grand Ole Opry, I just had to go. I got online to get tickets and when I typed in best available, 4th row seats popped up. So, I guess it was meant to be.. a road trip was coming! My friend Jan is a country music lover too so I knew she would be up for the fun. We had a blast too!

Us at the Ryman

Our first stop was the Cool Springs mall. Of course, you can't have a road trip without shopping. I was on the lookout for a pair of cowgirl boots and I figured Nashville was the place to get them... and what would you know, I found me some! I'm trying to venture out and wear new things, so we'll see how much I wear them. I am not a boot person, but I am learning how to be.. =) While we were shopping, we noticed an Orange Julius place.. and I was so surprised. I loved those things when I was a kid and we always got them everytime we went to the mall, so when I saw them I just had to have one and yes.. they were just as good as I remembered. Yummy!

After we shopped, we checked in to the hotel..which was so nice by the way and a great location! It was a a rainy nasty night and we didn't take our umbrellas so needless to say we ate at the first place we could find, Rippy's. I've eaten there before and knew it was good food and it was. The fried pickles were delish.

Us at Rippy's

After dinner, we went to the Ryman Auditorium to see Carrie, Vince Gill and Dierks Bentley. That place was awesome.. it was like an old church building. The seats were old pews and it was the neatest place! The auditorium is kinda small too, so when we found our seats and realized how close we really were.. it was like a dream come true. We were soo close to the stage I could have touched it. It was an experience I will never forget!

The outside of the Ryman

The inside of the ryman

Us with Minnie Pearl

Can you see how close we were..

Then, we realized Gywneth Paltrow was sitting in front of us it was so surreal. For a while, we were trying to figure out if it really was her and at the end we had decided we would ask her if she would mind taking a picture with us but we never got our chance. About 5 minutes before the show was over, security came down and got her and her friend and escorted them out. We went to the back and asked if there was any way we could get our picture with her, but they said she had already gone backstage. Sad..

It really was her..

The concert was so fun.. Carrie rocked the house and Dierks did too. I'm not a big Vince Gill fan but he was good too. I wish they would have gotten to sing more songs but there was a lot of other people there too.. Emmie Lou Harris, and a bunch of people I didn't know.. but they were all entertaining and the experience of the Opry house was amazing.. too fun!

Dierks Bentley

Vince Gill

Carrie Underwood

She is soo pretty and tiny!

When we were leaving, it was pouring down rain.. and yes, we didn't have an umbrella.. so needless to say we were drenched but by then we didn't care. We walked around to the back alley and met these 2 girls who were telling us that Carrie was about to come out and leave. So, we waited and sure enough she came out the back and got in her getaway car. So fun and we didn't even care that we looked like drowned rats! Thanks, Carrie for making my dreams come true! You are awesome and I'm so glad I got to see you in person!

The back of the Ryman

Carrie coming out the side door.


Carrie leaving the ryman


We look like drowned rats..


Fun times..

We ended the trip with breakfast at the Pancake Pantry. The wait wasn't so bad and the food was soo worth it. The chocolate chip pancakes were amazing.. oh my!! Then, a trip to the Opry Mills Mall and we were headed home. We had a blast and I am so thankful for fun friends. Jan.. thanks for the memories, the laughs, Samantha, and for being such a good friend. I love you girl and I can't wait to do it again in March. Look out Rascal Flatts.. here we come!

Pancake Pantry.. there is always a line!

Yep.. it rained the whole weekend!

Our yummy food..

Happy 2010!

I can't believe it is 2010! Wow! I can remember back to Y2K when everyone thought the world was gonna end..ha! That sure was a long time ago. 2009 was a good year for us.. We celebrated our first anniversary, bought our first house together, survived moving, another Burkhardt baby was born in the family... Carter Henry Burkhardt, shared a lot of laughs with friends and family, took a few trips, and enjoyed life to the fullest. So, I am anxious and excited to see what God has in store for us in 2010. I'm praying that we will be blessed with a little bundle of joy this year. A new baby to fill our hearts with love and laughter. I know God has awesome things in store for us and I am excited to see what they are. Please keep our family in your prayers.

Hope you all had a great New Year's Eve ringing in the new year. We enjoyed a date night to Fox Valley.. yum! The best restaurant in town. If you have not been, you MUST go. They have the most delicious crab cakes and dessert in the world.. hands down! Then, we came home to relax and watch the ball drop. I was actually surprised that I stayed up till midnight.. I usually can't do that, but I did. Jamie fell asleep.. he was just exhausted from working all week. But, we still had a great night!

We celebrated on Saturday night with friends and family. We went to eat downtown at Ocean. Oh my!! That place was awesome. Yummy drinks, great salads... with fried feta cheese! Can you say yum? It was delicious, yummy bread, yummy appetizers, awesome grouper and cheese grits and creme brulee. All of it was amazing. We were stuffed and we enjoyed some great company!

I'm still thinking about my new year's resolutions...but, I know one of them is to exercise and run more. I need to get back in shape! Hope you all had a good one and here's to making 2010 the best year yet!

Erin, me and Melissa

The hubby's.. Jay, Jamie, and Shane

A yummy drink.. I think it was a Sunrise?

Grilled Grouper with cheese grits and onion straws!

A fun night.. leaving Ocean!

Hannah's new outfit... and a new room!

My sweet friend, Colleen has started her own business making kids clothes. You'll have to check out her blog,www.bournetolove.blogspot.com to see all her cute stuff. She is doing so good and staying busy too. Her outfits are precious and she can pretty much do anything. I love all her things. So, of course, she had to make one for Hannah Rose. Hannah looked so cute in it and loved it! She would tell us all that Aunt Katy's friend made her outfit.. it was too cute. She even posed for some pics in it. Thanks, Colleen you are the best! Love you!

Also, the kids got a new room at Mimi and Pop's house. My mom made them their own room when they come to visit and it is so cute. They have their own twin beds with pottery barn's precious bedding. The kids were so excited and they even took some pics in their new beds!

Isn't it cute??

Silly girl..

Me and my three babies.. I love them!

She loves her new bed!

In Chase's new bed...

Christmas Fun

The sweet family...


Such a sweet picture.

We loved this game!

My sweet babies.. aren't they cute?

Carter man having fun!

Chase loves his I Spy book.

My two nephews.. the best in the world!

My wonderful sis in law, Heather.

Carter got a elmo toy but I think he

liked Chase's dinosaur toy better.

He loved that silly dino.


He liked his blow up globe too.

Hannah Rose trying to skate.

We were dressing up while she was giving us a

concert with her new microphone.

This picture cracks me up.. what a mess!!

Chase and the dino..

Hannah girl singing for us.

Christmas morning!

Carter had fun with the tissue paper..

We had a great Christmas! It's hard to believe it's already come and gone. My brother, sister in law, and the kiddos came down this year and it made Christmas even more special. Our newest nephew is 10 months old now and he is such a good and sweet baby. I loved getting to hold him and snuggle with him. Cause, they sure don't stay little for long. The other two are 5 and 3 and it seems like yesterday they were babies. Where does the time go?

Santa was definitly good to all this year. He left Chase a big remote control dinosaur that roars, lights up and moves. That thing was soo cool and a favorite for even the adults. We all took turns playing with it. One of Hannah's favorite things was a real microphone on a stand. It was so fun to watch her grab that thing, play the music and start singing. We all had a good time watching her put on a concert. They got lots of small things too.. dress up clothes, bubble gum machines, Hungry Hungry Hippos, lots of games, their own cd players with cd's that have their names in the songs, they got their first skates.. (too funny to watch),the world famous zhu zhu pets.. and the list goes on. It was fun to see their faces light up when they opened their presents.

Christmas is just more fun with kiddos.. and I'm soo glad we were able to spend it with them.
Jamie got a kindle.. it's a book reader if you don't know. He is a big reader and now he won't have to buy books anymore.. just download them. He loved it! He got a new blue ray player, clothes, shoes.

I got a new camera! Yeah.. I've been wanting one for a while.. a canon rebel XS. I don't know what I am doing but I am going to learn. I love taking pictures and I can't wait till we have our own kiddos that I can experiment with. =) I also got a new jacket, a hobo wallet, Paula Deen cookware.. and I love it by the way!, some cute serving pieces, jewlery, pj's and money!
I think we all had a great christmas and I hope you did too. The true meaning is of course about Jesus' b'day. Happy b'day Jesus.. you are the reason for the season!

Helena Christmas Parade

On Saturday, we went to the Helena Christmas parade. It was fun.. but FREEZING! We were all bundled up with our hot chocolate, and our toes were still numb. Our sweet friends, Colleen and Eric came over to our house and we drove to the back of our neighborhood where we have a trail to the elementary school and we walked down to the school. WOW! I really didn't realize how close my neighborhood is to the school and if I had me a golf cart.. I sure could walk/drive to school every day! ha! Now, wouldn't that be funny.. Santa.. did you hear that?? =)

But, we had a fun time.. didn't stay for the whole parade cause it was sooo long and cold. After an hour that was about all we could take but it was fun to see many of my former students dancing/walking/riding on the floats. Sad we didn't stay to see Santa at the end, but we did see Bo Bice! Of course, he helped make Helena famous.. ha! But, it put me in the christmas spirit and it was actually kind of nice that it was cold and not hot this year. I always love the Helena parade and look forward to it every year. Happy Holidays everyone!

Me and the hubby

Me and my bestie, Colleen

Me and my sweet friend, Jan

Me, my sis in law,and sweet Daisy.

Colleen and her sweet boys

Eric and Whit

The boys and their hot chocolate!

Sweet Daisy girl!


Some of the HES 1st gr. cheerleaders

And, who else.. Bo Bice of course!

Sweet Brittany with the cheerleaders

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..

I can't believe Thanksgiving has come and gone.. and yes, I didn't take any pictures. Sad! Jamie and I hosted thanksgiving dinner at our house for the first time and we had lots of yummy food. I think the reason I didn't take any pics was beause it looked more like the first Christmas than Thanksgiving. I couldn't help it but I was all decorated for Christmas before Thanksgivng. ha! It is my favorite time of the year and I wanted our new house to be all decorate so everyone could see it! We had a fun time with the family and we have lots to be thankful for! I think about that each day.. we are so blessed!
So, I'll leave you with some pics of our house all decorated for Christmas and I love it! I am ready for it to be here.. ready to see my niece and nephews, ready for a break from work and ready to spend time with the fam! I can't believe it is almost here! I am almost done with my shopping and I am so excited! This is the first year that I have been done so early! I've wrapped a lot of the presents too.. these pics were taken before I wrapped..Can't wait to just enjoy them under the tree! Don't you just love this time of the year.. I sure do! Hope you all have a blessed holiday season!