EuROpE!!

It's been a dream of mine to travel to Europe someday, preferably before I had a family. I didn't want to be that person who always said they wanted to go but have never gone because life just got in the way. Darin isn't able to go since we'll be opening the Barbados store and he can't be gone for 2 weeks, so I thought my dream was shot and i'd be the person that life got in the way and I won't be going to Europe after all. Out of the blue a couple months ago Laura told me she wanted to go to Europe with me if I still wanted to go.....dream is back on!! I couldn't believe it! Laura was 100% in for Europe. So after getting her work and my works approval for the time off, i'm VERY VERY happy to say WE'RE GOING TO EUROPE!!!!!!" We got our tickets the other day so now in 98 days, we'll be traveling to London, Amsterdam and Paris. I'm so lucky to have my sister as one of my best friends, she's a sight seer and a fast walker and likes to eat and try different foods....she's the perfect traveling partner! In Amsterdam we're staying with some of our extended extended family, and meeting many more. This trip is going to be the most amazing time and definitely make some of the best memories!! Laura's time off was approved first, so we were waiting to hear about my time off....this is how I told Laura that I could go.....and her response, lol!

FatTHeRs DaY

Today is Father's Day, and just like Mother's Day.....we aren't able to make it to Orlando. I know you're probably looking at the picture below thinking something is missing.....well Craig and my dad don't have any pictures together!! My mission next time i'm in Orlando is to take pictures of just them. If we were home today we'd probably be spending the Sunday at church and then home for some good old yard work. My dad's favorite things to do besides anything related to cars is yard work. He likes to have the best looking yard on the street, he has a secret to mowing his yard and I think that's helped him get the "best yard in the neighborhood" award a few times....I can't share his secret though. I miss my dad so much, he so laid back and carefree. He's been a great listener my whole life and tries hard to show his kids how living with Jesus in your heart, how hard work and having financial responsibility in life goes a long way. He's one of the most honest, kindest man I know, and it's quite obvious he's a role model to any man, guy, boy or son who knows him. He's the type of guy you want to be more like, and who you then strive to be (or want in a husband). I'm very blessed to have parents like mine, and my kids will be very lucky to have them as grandparents one day. Love you daddy, to the moon and back!! xoxo

2 YeARs!

Last Monday we celebrated our 2yr wedding anniversary with a little outing to our favorite indian restaurant.  I think every wife thinks of that day they were a bride. I ran through the whole thing all day, looked at pictures, read my blog and just remembered how amazing that day ways. It's been a pretty easy 2yrs, we definitely have our moments but we have WAY more awesome moments than anything else. We keep learning about each other and what works in a marriage and what doesn't. We communicate with each other very well because we only have each other here on these islands. I think living here has made us a stronger, solid couple. We need each other and we have to rely on each other. We have a house of love and couldn't be happier with where our life is going and having each other in it. 


We're headed to Abaco in a week for our birthday's and anniversary. Can't wait to get away for 4 days, we love Abaco!! Pictures coming soon :)

GraTeFuL

Lately for for some reason, i've had this feeling of gratefulness...maybe it's because I had a rough plane ride a few weeks ago, I don't know. But i've realized how much i'm in love with my life. I thank God every time I pray, for this amazing life, this opportunity and can't wait to see what else he has in store for my life. Not really sure if I ever did anything to deserve it but i'm very very thankful that this was my plan. My mom's favorite bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11, the more my life continues to be amazing, I think of that verse and how much it really relates to everything. Nothing was planned by me, although I did hope to have a great future with someone I loved and to live on an island someday, lol....guess someone was listening :)

And a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my daddy!! Love you to the moon and back! xoxo

PaiLe WeddINg

The week of Mother's day I flew to Orlando for one of my oldest, dearest, bestest friends wedding. Just so happened Darin had been asked to go to a leadership conference in Orlando 2 days before I got there. He wasn't supposed to even be in town that week or get to go to the wedding so it was really nice to have him there that week. He also got to surprise his mom on Mother's day too, which she loved. Our long weekend was pretty relaxing, we didn't do to much which was nice and we didn't really have plans since Darin wasn't supposed to be there, so it was a pretty uneventful week....oh my sister did get a new car, and it did take ALL day to make the purchase but now she has a "new" Honda CRV, and she's very excited to fold down the back seats so Remie can roam around instead of walk on the seats in her car :) My parents also purchased additions to the fence so Remie has the whole back yard to play in now, which she loves being outside so hopefully it will be a little easier on my parents to let her out and not worry if she'll take off or not. 


Marissa & Ben's wedding.....i've been waiting for this day since the summer before 6th grade. Marissa and I met and we were instantly best friends. We had the same initials, same skinny little bodies, hadn't hit puberty yet, and both had dark hair and dark eye with some tan skin. People have said we looked like sisters, even twins....we always thought that was cool. We did everything together!! If I told you some of the stuff we did, you'd think we were lunatics, so I won't go there, but man those were the good old days!! So the day finally came when Marissa said she got engaged!!! I could hardly wait to see her walk down the isle. What made it even better is that she deserved someone awesome, just down to earth awesome.....and she found just that in Ben, he's great to her, I think you'd call them a perfect match. On May 19th I finally got to watch Marissa marry her bff. It was a perfect day and the ceremony, dress, reception, music and every detail that day screamed Marissa.....instead of blankets on our heads walking down the stairs in her house pretending it was our weddings......it was exactly everything I pictured how it would be, beautiful. I got a chance to video the day for her, so look for the link below...even though i'm a beginner I always do the best I can. Here's some pictures of Marissa & Ben's big day....enjoy!!


Paille Wedding video:   http://youtu.be/-jHvLWs_BvY

We also got to sneak a few family photos in since we all looked nice....minus the sun in our eyes, it's a nice family photo!  :)