Ava's Christmas Pose

This holiday we discovered that my youngest niece, Ava, has a talent for modeling. In the middle of opening gifts she got up in the center of the room and started dancing and striking a pose. It was too funny not to share. I swear we are laughing with her, not at her...

Much Needed Update

Let's see...I thought my life would slow down when I finished school, but I have quickly discovered that is not the case. Life always flies by no matter what you are doing apparently. Needless to say, life has kept me from chronicling my stories so this is my attempt to go back and recap the last couple of months.



Chase and I went to Fort Worth, TX for our good friend Robert and Bethany Farr's wedding. It was a great weekend visiting with old friends and making new ones. We went to a grocery store that apparently had one of the largest cheese collections. They certainly did not disappoint. Neither did the HUGE bar of chocolate I saw. We also took a quick trip to see the new Dallas Cowboys stadium which was ginormous.

Chase's grandmother, "Supergram," had her 90th birthday. To celebrate we did what any 90 year old would do...we threw a party! Except she was the life of this party. She is an amazing organist/pianist so she put together a concert for 300 of her closest friends. We can't wait for her 100th!

We have continued to take Emerson down to some Southern Miss football games which he absolutely loves. I'm not sure if he actually really enjoys it or if he just thinks they are cool because his super cool Uncle Chase loves going. Either way, you'd think he is their #1 fan. He also thinks the full name of the school is 'Southern Miss To The Top.' It's too cute and we haven't exactly corrected him on that yet. One day we will..

Josh, my brother, is gearing up for his big move to Los Angeles, CA on January 1st. For his farewell show, the Josh Hailey Studio hosted the I Love Mississippi: Jackson Retrospective which was a farewell compilation of all art pieces he's done over the past 5 years plus some new art. The show was held at the Art Center of Mississippi Museum downtown and the whole museum held his work for a month. It was simply amazing and over 1,500 people came to the big show on December 2nd. It was all Josh Hailey art, 9 local bands performed, and 11 local restaurants catered the event. If you weren't feeling the Jackson love, then you missed the point entirely.

Did I mention he also formed a band, Jtran, where he and his friend Tre write, sing, and play all the music? This picture above is from their performance at the Retrospective show. They recorded their first album which came out the week before the show.

Amazing video of Josh and his work leading up to the show: http://vimeo.com/17444677

Write up about the event: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/index.php/site/comments/editors_note_will_the_next_josh_hailey_stand_up/

Then Chase and I went to New York for a quick 48 hours. Though it was quick, we got to do everything we wanted to do. We ate lots of food, saw great friends, went Christmas shopping, and saw a Broadway show. What more could you want? Even though the weather was bitter cold and 15 degrees most of Friday, we wouldn't have traded it for a thing. My favorite part was seeing all my old co-workers and getting to meet Kathren's new baby Will. Wish I could see them more often. (hint hint...trip to Mississippi soon?)

We stopped by our old apartment

Ate our favorite Thai food at Cafe Sage

Ate cart guy

Chase eating cart guy on the side of the street in Soho. Yes, that's how much we wanted it...we actually sat on the side of a store to eat it...

This past week I planned our annual high school alumni soccer game and we had a great time playing. I am slightly...actually extremely out of shape, but it was fun to see and play again with all my old high school buddies.

Now it's the day after Christmas and we're settling in from a long weekend of Christmas festivities. Chase and I are happy with all our happies from family and friends.

My attempt to put Christmas lights outside our house

Our Christmas tree and our new sofa table

One of our favorite gifts was from my brother which was the NY panoramic print to compliment our Jackson print. They hang in our hallway and are a great reminder of our two homes.

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Happy Halloween

These past few weeks have been crazy been with work and other activities. This weekend Chase and I decided not to go down to Hattiesburg for the football game, but instead stayed in town and went to our old high school's last home football game. It was definitely an adjustment going back to high school when we are used to college and NFL football. Nonetheless, it was perfect football weather to get a chair, a blanket, and a nice warm cup of hot chocolate.


Saturday we did a few things around the house and then went over to Marcy's house for trick-or-treating. I was really bad about bringing a camera or even remembering to take pictures of the kids, but I got these from Chase's mom. Caroline was a ghost (i think), Emerson was Indiana Jones, and Ava was an angel. This year instead of walking (since that was so last year...) we had two 4-wheelers pulling trailers filled with hay (aka a hay ride). It was nice because the kids would get on and off at each house and the adults had a nice, comfortable place to kick back, relax, and enjoy a nice cold (adult...) beverage.

This morning we went to Cracker Barrel to eat breakfast and then Chase headed to New Orleans for the Saints game. I came home to cook a few things and then headed over to a friends house for a Halloween party and cookout.

10 Years Ago...

Proof that I have the greatest husband ever... he sent me flowers to work today!

As mentioned previously, last Thursday (Oct. 7th) was 10 years from our 1st date...Homecoming Dance in 2000. He was a Senior. I was a Sophomore. That was it. For a good laugh, here is a picture of that fateful day...(he even asked what color my dress was so he could find a matching shirt!)

Homecoming Weekend

To start, I though I'd recap my weekend schedule. Friday was pretty low key because Chase and I were saving energy to tackle Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday: woke up early to coach soccer (we had two games in a jamboree, (we won both); left soccer to attend dedication ceremony for one of my professors at Millsaps; went to Millsaps business school tailgate party to visit shortly; left Millsaps to attend end of the year soccer party at Marcy and Kevin's house; left straight from soccer party to go to Hattiesburg for Southern Miss's homecoming (we lost 44-43...boo. It was a conference game...extra boo.).

Sunday: woke up early to drive back from Hattiesburg in time to make it to the Blue Grass Mass at my church, St. Philips. It's was our annual Goat Roast and Blue Grass Mass, so we couldn't miss that. Then on from church and the Goat Roast, we met up with Ashley, Adrienne, Hunter, Kierstan, Courtney, and Emily to go to the State Fair (Yes, I went again...). Now I'm home, it's 8pm and I am getting in bed. I'm pooped.

Caroline getting her trophy and medal

All the girls posing

Southern Miss vs. East Carolina

This year's logo for the Goat Roast

Everyone enjoying the bluegrass music, food, and weather

Oh, and we managed to go pumpkin hunting. We bought 2, so I'll update once we figure out what we're doing on the carving thing.

I just had to upload this picture for all the inappropriate reasons you can imagine. Courtney got a chocolate dipped banana. Sounded yummy and tasted yummy, but a little foul.

And if you weren't convinced by my "Donut Burger" picture, this should help. This was a stand at the fair where they sold deep fried everything I'm pretty sure. They had deep fried oreos, twinkies, snickers, and cheesecake. Yes, as if those things were fatty enough, we went ahead and deep fried it for you too. We also apparently specialize in putting anything on a stick. They have chicken-on-a-stick, beef-on-a-stick, and even pork-chop-on-a-stick. They also give away free biscuits filled with honey at the Fair. Quality.

Mississippi State Fair

Last night Lee and Brittany came up to Jackson for the 151st Mississippi State Fair. If anyone ever wants to see the great people of Mississippi, the State fair is the place to go. We met up with them along with Maggio, Jason, and Lauren to walk around, eat food, and people watch. I had chicken-on-a-stick and Chase had some fried catfish.

It was a lovely evening not only because we had great food and company, but it was also 10 years ago to the day that Chase and I had our first date...Homecoming dance in 2000. Clearly, it was true love and if I can get my hands on a picture of that date, I will definitely upload that for all to see / laugh.



I just had to take a picture of this above because it just seemed ridiculous...It's a burger with the buns being Krispy Cream donuts. People wonder why we lead the nation in obesity? Really??

St. Andrews Gala

Last night Chase and I attended a campaign kickoff gala for our high school, St. Andrews Episcopal School. It marked the public kickoff campaign for a new, $6 million state of the art science center. So far they have raised over 60% of that and now it is our turn to help fund raise. I'm the co-chair for my grade, so I have the pleasure of calling all my old classmates asking for donations. Get excited class of 2003!

Check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4kqn5c5mSY

Football Weekend

This weekend was filled with activity left and right. Friday night after work, Chase and I went over to our friend Marty and Matt's house for dinner. They cooked hamburgers and hot dogs and had a feast of appetizers. Then Saturday morning we got up and went to Caroline's soccer game (tied 5-5) and then we went over to the Chapel of the Cross's Day in the Country which is their big event they have the first weekend in October. It was filled with music, food, vendors, games, and more.

Caroline and Ava enjoying some smoked corn on the cob

After Day in the Country, Chase and I drove down to Hattiesburg for the Southern Miss game versus Marshall. Final score was 41-16, Go Eagles!! Emerson came again with Nana and had a great time with his foam finger. Then as if we hadn't had enough football, we headed out straight from the Southern game and drove to New Orleans to meet up with his sister and then go to the Saints game on Sunday. We started the morning out right eating breakfast outside on the terrace overlooking the Mississippi River. Then we headed to Bourbon street where they have 3 for 1 drinks. After filling sufficiently ready for the game, we headed over to the Superdome for the game.

Michael and Tracy at the game

Viking Classic

Yesterday while I worked, my dear husband had a tough time attending the PGA Viking Tournament that is going on in the Annandale neighborhood next to ours. His sister was nice to give him two tickets to sit under the Bank Plus tent where he was pampered with free food and drinks all day long and got to watch the action on the 18th hole. It was so tough he had to come home and take a nap from a long, hard day of work. I'm not bitter, I swear.

Exposed

Last night Josh invited Chase and I to attend a fundraiser event for the Mississippi Craft Center.
Unfortunately we ended up getting their a little late, so we missed his grand entrance down the stairway, but he was still the highlight of everyone's night I think. In a sense, he was the photographer for their calendar where he took pictures of artists posing with their "craft" if you will. And only their craft. (i.e. butt naked) It was a fun night and everyone walked around trying to get Josh's autograph. I felt like he had a mini paparazzi crew around him all night. As you can see from the picture below why he had a following.

Quick Trip

Yesterday afternoon me, my dad, and Chase packed up for a quick trip to Troy, TN which is where he is from. Being a last minute trip to see my grandmother, we didn't have many of the plans figured out. As a result, we didn't even start our 5 hour journey until roughly 7pm. Either way, we made the most of it. Since we weren't going to get there until after midnight anyway, we decided to make the most of the trip. So we decided to take a pit stop in Memphis and eat dinner at Rendezvous which is a famous BBQ place in downtown Memphis. We didn't get there until about 9:30, so we were able to sit quickly and enjoy their famous ribs without any wait at all.



This morning we woke up and enjoyed breakfast at the lovely Hospitality House hotel and then went to visit with my grandmother. It's been 3 years since I've seen her, so it was really nice to visit. Her health has been failing, so I cherish any time I have with her. Even though it was a quick trip and I'm not sure she completely understood everything we said, it was well worth it.


On the way back we went to visit with my aunt and uncle and then went by my uncle's radio station. My uncle is not only mayor of Union City, TN, but he owns a couple of radio stations. It was interesting to see behind the scenes on how all that technology works.

Then on the way out, we took Chase on a tour of Troy since he had never been up that way. Clearly the Hailey family is famous because part of Highway 51 is named after my grandfather.

This is the old Hailey's Hardware store that sits on the downtown square in Troy.
Then luckily on our way back we stopped at a rest area and I caught a picture of this lovely sign. Now, I'm not sure how many people have been to the great state of Mississippi, but we just rolled out this new welcome sign in the last year or so. Needless to say, we got bold. If you were not aware, we are apparently the "birthplace of America's music." That's right, "America's music." Jealous? Our signs used to say something along the lines of "Mississippi, It's like Coming Home" which was nice and quaint. Now we have entered into a whole new ballgame here. It makes me laugh every time I see one, so I was excited to take a picture.
Now we're home and Chase is off to New Orleans for the Saints game tomorrow and I'm heading to Ashley's house for dinner with the girls. It was a nice trip, but I'm happy to be home.

Fall is Here

This past weekend Chase and I took Maggio and Amanda out on his boat for probably one of the last weekends we'll be able to do that. (note, you will not see a picture of the "Monkey Business" on here because the boat is simply a joke) Nonetheless, we had a great time hanging out on the Reservoir (Ross Barnett Reservoir that is).


Then Monday I was off to Austin, TX for a few days for work. I wish I could report more exciting things that I did in Austin, but to be honest I saw the inside of a hotel and a conference room most of the time. I did have a great time and met a lot of great people. I know one place we ate was called Vino Vino and the other night we went to the 6th Street area which is apparently where the college kids hang out. I did manage to take one picture from the inside of my hotel room on a rainy day. Other than that, I got this picture from the internet of our hotel, the Omni Downtown.