Keeping up with the Grays

Saturday, October 24, 2009

CHICAGO- Day 1

For our 2 year anniversary Ryan and I knew we wanted to take a trip. We hadn't been on vacation just the two of us since our honeymoon and wanted to get out of town together for a bit. So we decided to go to CHICAGO! We had the most amazing time! Chicago is such a fun city! I didn't realize before we went that it's the 3rd largest city in the U.S., next to NY and LA. Well anyway, when we landed Thursday morning we took the train downtown to the Loop to our hotel. We LOVED our hotel! It's called The Wit and it's a boutique hotel, which are sometimes described as intimate, usually luxurious or quirky hotel environments. It was decorated beautifully and was close to EVERYTHING. It had 3 restaurants, one being a rooftop bar where we went to stare at the beautiful city views and have a cocktail each night before we went out . The first day we just walked around exploring and of course ate pizza! We didn't even check in to our hotel yet before we sat down at Giordano's to have a slice of famous Chicago deep dish pizza. It was sooooo good! That night we went to see the Blue Man Group and sat front row!! We were in the poncho section :)! It was so fun and probably one of my many favorite parts to our trip.

Here are some photos from Day 1:

Arriving in Chicago

Just around the corner from our hotel

Our first taste of a Chicago pizzeria

YUUUUM

All I could eat of mine

Ryan was determined to finish...

And this is how he felt afterwards

Our hotel - The Wit

Our room!

Sitting area

Our AMAZING view from our hotel room!

What we woke up to every morning

The pretty but unused tub... too much to do to take a bath!

Ryan was very happy about this 42"

Did I mention the hotel held up our check in? How could we complain when they give us 4 $25 vouchers to use at any of the three restaurants in the hotel! Oh yeah, and the bell boy slipped Ryan a little bottle of whiskey too :)

Yummy french fry snack with ketchup and basil aioli and a delightful martini

Loving Chicago already

At the show with our ponchos on!

Loved The Blue Man Group!

Monday, October 19, 2009

2 Happy Years

Today is a special day to Ryan and me... it's our TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

Unfortunately Ryan is in Atlanta all week and next week for training for his new job, so we're unable to be together today. But that's ok, because we celebrated all last weekend in Chicago! We had a blast! It was the perfect trip in an amazing city! We LOVE Chicago! I'll post pics soon... Ryan has the laptop, so it might be awhile!

Along with the laptop are all our wedding photos too, but if you want to reminisce with me about our big day, here's a slide show...

http://www.allisonjansenphotography.com/showit/Redick/

That day was truly one of the best days of my life! Thank you to all our family and friends who helped make it so perfect!

cWg

Thursday, Oct 8th was a very exciting day for our friends Amy and Robert... they had their baby!!! Before she went into labor, Ryan and I had plans to watch that Sunday's Titan's game with them, and when I got the text she was in the hospital Thursday I just assumed we'd take a rain check. Well these two crazy new parents wanted to still have us over even though they had only gotten home from the hospital the day before. We even had to insist on bringing them dinner! Too funny. Ryan and I were just thrilled to still be able to come and see that precious baby!

And oh that baby. I have never seen a baby so young... only 3 days old. It was the most beautiful baby I've ever seen. She was peacefully asleep almost the entire time we were there. She looks like a little doll. I even got to feed her! And her room, oh her room! It's the cutest shabby chic baby room I've ever seen... complete with a chandelier and all! I just love that the crib is in the center for the room. That baby is just precious and she will have the best parents ever! I cannot wait see little Clara Grace grow up!

Beautiful Mommy and baby... just home from the hospital the day before!

Baby Daddy :)

Look at this precious little baby

Ut-oh ;)

Soooo cute

Fit for a princess!

We are so happy for you guys!!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Clay and Susanna's Wedding Weekend

Oct. 10- Clay and Susanna's wedding was at the neatest venue. It was at Double Head Resort in Town Creek, AL. We all stayed in cabins that lined the lake and all the festivities were at a pretty, rustic lodge. It really fit them perfectly since Clay is an avid hunter and they just wanted everything to be casual and loads of fun. And that it was!

Ryan and I stayed in a three bedroom cabin with Blake, Mrs. Debbie and Joe and had so much fun! We even got to bring Sadie and she was so good. She just loved everyone… and everyone just loved her right back! Even Ryan’s mom, who let’s just say isn’t exactly a dog lover, enjoyed having Sadie around too!

We arrived Friday night and chatted for a bit before we got ready for the fish fry dinner. It was delicious and so fun to catch up with family. It was so cute to see Clay and Susanna so happy and excited for their big day! Of course the after party consisted of lots of beer pong and corn hole. A late night was had by all!

Saturday was very relaxing. Everyone just visited, hung out in the cabins, and watched football of course! Auburn had a disappointing lose :(! Then, it was wedding time! And although the forecast was predicting otherwise, the rain held off! Yay! The ceremony was so sweet and I’m so excited for the Hall’s! The reception was a blast! The band was great and kept everyone entertained and dancing the whole night.

The next morning the majority was dragging, but we all met for lunch at the lodge. What a fun wedding! Can’t wait to do it all over again for Meg :)… good think we have a few years to prepare ourselves!

Arriving at the Lodge