1st Wedding Anniversary

Alex and I celebrated our first anniversary a week ago!  We started the day in Sandy Ridge at the bed and breakfast we stayed at for Erica's wedding.  We made our way down to Southern Pines for a 4th of July party at Matt and Shilpa's.  It was fun to see family we had not seen for a long time!  After the party, Alex surprised me with a fancy dinner at the Fearrington (an anniversary present from my parents!)  The dinner was amazing and it was super fun to spend time at the place we were married.  After dinner, we went home to try the year old wedding cake.  It was not in the best condition after being in a box for a year, but it tasted pretty good!!  The Fearrington, understanding that year old cakes may not be the tastiest treat, sent us home with some yummy chocolates.

Beautiful flowers from Alex's parents that were made to look like the ones we had at our wedding!!

First kiss of the new year in the place we had the original first kiss!

Tasted a lot better than it looks!!

Fearrington chocolates

Anniversary cards

No longer newlyweds

Erica and Chris' Wedding Day

Erica and Chris got married on July 2nd with perfect weather!  The big day they have been waiting so long for went perfectly.  Erica looked amazing in her dress and only cried a few times :)  Alex and I were able to spend time with old friends Zach, Stephanie, Mike, and Sarah and made a few new ones.  The wedding weekend in Sandy Ridge was a great way to spend our first anniversary!!

Rebekah getting her hair fixed!

Our blue and orange present!

The place card board with portraits from the weddings of Chris and Erica's parents and grandparents. 

Erica getting ready

The barn behind the farmhouse

Me and the bride

Our flowers

Bridesmaids

Erica walking down the aisle with her dad

First dance

Sweetheart table

Boogie

Almost married a year!

Our table

Jared, Alex, and Elizabeth

Wedding hay bales!!!!

Erica and Chris' Wedding Rehearsal

After the bridal luncheon, another bridesmaid and I went with our significant others to Hanging Rock!  It was a two mile hike, but the view up top was worth it.  Bridal party duties called and we had to book it back to the Steele Crest farmhouse for the wedding rehearsal.  Steele Crest, a former working tobacco farm, is now is a bed and breakfast in Sandy Ridge and is owned by Erica's relative.  It was the location of the wedding and reception so Alex and I decided to stay there for the weekend.  It was beautiful and a great place to spend our anniversary weekend as well :)  After the rehearsal we went to Autumn Creek Vineyards for the rehearsal dinner.  It was a tailgate themed party complete with shades of UNC blue and Florida orange!  Alex and I had a blast!!

Alex, Jared, and Elizabeth

Jared and Elizabeth on top of Sandy Ridge!

Sky high!

So close to the edge!!

Steele Crest

Autumn Creek Vineyards tailgate rehearsal dinner

Cups for the keg

Erica and Chris set up several tailgating games.  We played cornhole and red neck golf all night!

Me and Elizabeth with the bride

The gator groom's cake!

We were supposed to dress in the colors of the school we went to.  Alex wore his NC State tie and I wore a navy blue dress and some bright yellow four inch heels for Drexel!  The heels had to go after about two hours :)

     

Sandy Ridge on Dwellable

Erica's Bridal Luncheon

For Erica's bridal luncheon, we went to a cute little tea house in Sandy Ridge.  We had an amazing lunch with the bride, the bridesmaids, and several of Erica and Chris' family members.  Erica gave us our bridesmaid gifts: a beach towel and an earring, necklace, and bracelet set to wear at the wedding!  It was a fun way to kick off the wedding weekend!

Some of the bridesmaids and Erica

All of the ladies out for tea!

The Great Cross Country Adventure

Alex's dad recently took a new job in Portland, Oregon.  Instead of flying out there, buying all new things, and being car-less, Dave and Alex decided to drive across the country with a car full of loot!!!  They left on a Wednesday and got to Portland on Sunday 3,000 miles later!  It was a long drive, but they were able to see a few friends, stand in both the Mississippi River and the Great Salt Lake, visit Antelope Island, and hit up Wendy's drive-throughs across the country :)

Let the journey begin!

The Gateway Arch of St. Louis

Giving the arch a good kick

The tiny elevator they rode to the top of the arch!

In the elevator!

Looking out over St. Louis! 

Being the arch!  They were the only ones at the top besides the security people.

Standing in the Mississippi River as it was flooding over onto the street.  In the background, just under the bridge, you can see the top of a Louis and Clark statue submerged underwater!

Storm clouds over Kansas

 

Tornado weather!!

Alex and Dave stopped in Denver, CO to see the Prommersbergers.  They went to the park and rode a four person bike.

Janet, Ellen, and Bruce!

Being a buffalo at Antelope Island

Antelope Island

The buffalo was super close to the car!

The buffalo were attacking the ranch!  It made for a good photo op!

Can't resist jumping off things

Standing in the Great Salt Lake!

Alex and Dave took a three hour detour to go see Stewart, official geologist in the park!  He is spending the summer at Craters of the Moon mapping out the park. 

Volcanic Cone

Craters of the Moon

Dew Drop Cave

Indian Tunnel

Really neat volcanic rock!

Awesome landscape

Finally made it!