2011 Highlights

 

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Y 'all!

Here is a rundown of our 2011...

The Jan. Plan

Engaged & can’t get enough of wedding planning. Just kidding…

February : Love &Showers

Lyndel throws us a couples shower in Atlanta.  Ellen, blindfolded, picks Andre out of a crowd. It’s meant to be!

The Wedding (March)

The big wedding day (finally) arrives & it couldn’t be more perfect!  Next up— honeymoon cruise with stops at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the Bahamas.

April: New Beginnings

We move into our new apartment in Atlanta & join the Abamontes for fun in Cape San Blas, FL. Easter finds us in AL with the Bryans. Andre gets the treat of searching for hidden camouflaged eggs. We adopt an American Bulldog named Tripper. The Abamontes throw us a beautiful GA wedding reception.

May: Whirlwind Travelers

Ellen looks for a job & reads by the pool. Andre brings home the bacon.  We fly to Seattle for a wedding (McArthurs) and then off to Chattanooga for another wedding (Adcoxs). Finally, we enjoy our time in OH at the Bryan family reunion.

June: Chile, not Chilly

We try our hand at camping at Amicalola Falls, GA & then say a sad goodbye to Evan, off to Chile on his mission.

July: On Fire

Andre performs the Haka, Fire, & Slap dances and Ellen performs a hula at the church luau. We set off fireworks for the 4th with minimal injuries—success!

August: Competitions

Andre plays soccer on his company soccer team. We “Shoot the Hooch” (Southern for tubing down the Chattahoochee River, y’all) & nearly freeze. We jaunt over to Columbia, Charleston and Hilton Head SC, and Savannah, GA all in one weekend. Ellen starts her new job at Turner Broadcasting as a Research Analyst.

September: Annuals

Andre initiates the first annual Father & Son Harley Ride from Scottsdale, AZ to Puerto Penasco, Mexico. Ellen visits with the Andersons in Mesa, AZ. Ellen sings in a musical performance and records songs on her first ever (and only ) CD. We buy a motorcycle. Vroom!

October: Comings & Goings

We fly to UT to see friends, attend Ellen’s mission reunions, & listen to General Conference. Ellen throws Andre a rockin’ surprise 25th birthday party. We visit the Ellijay, GA Apple festival with both families to pick pumpkins & apples.   We excitedly meet Jonathan at the Atlanta airport, where Andre meets his brother-in-law for the first time. We say a tearful goodbye to Ariel, headed to Germany on her mission. Happy birthday to Andre, we go to the Atlanta Falcons vs. Green Bay Packers NFL game. We lose.

November: Firsts

Ellen attends her first UGA football game. Andre shoots his first dove and attempts to cook and eat it to the disgust of his mother-in-law and admiration of brother-in-laws. Watcheds as Gladys Knight directs the Saints Unified Voices Choir. Andre runs his first half marathon and Ellen her first 5k. Thanksgiving in Atlanta with both families.

December: Up & Coming

Andre sings in a quartet at our church Christmas Party. Ellen experiences the Morehouse & Spellman Christmas Concert for the first time. We have a fabulous Christmas in Ohio with the Bryans and soon after drive to Nashvhille for a Zac Brown Band concert.  Ellen celebrates her 26th birthday at the Jack Daniels Distillery...no worries, it's a dry county!