Philadelphia Home

Words cannot describe how awesome our Philadelphia trip was last weekend. I prepped Keith ahead of time and let him know that I was going to be super nostalgic and sappy the whole time, but instead of feeling nostalgic about all the people and the sights it just felt like we had never left. Taking the train to Manayunk felt like we were going home... Sitting in traffic on 76 felt totally normal and walking up the hill past our old apartment felt like we were just retracing steps. We have been gone an entire year but if you had given me a key to that apartment it would have been like nothing had ever changed... like we had never moved at all. It was very surreal but definitely in a good way. I can say that I have a whole new appreciation and love for that city, and even though the "grass is always greener on the other side" it was great to be back in the city where we got our start. Thankfully when Keith booked our trip he gave us Monday as an extra day so that we wouldn't feel rushed just being there for the weekend. It was SO nice to feel like we could explore where ever we wanted and not have to worry about "missing" anything. I wanted to make the most of every second we got to spend there, but I also secretly knew that I was never going to have enough time to take in everything I wanted to do and see. As much as I love Nashville and I know that it is the right home for us right now, it was strange knowing that we don't like in Philadelphia anymore and any time that we spend there from now on will be limited. I guess that means we just need to take more trips...

Here are some photos from our time in our favorite city:

Henry: my favorite 30 lb cat :)

City Hall! 

Ordering up some Wawa hoagies.. sometime we SEVERELY miss 

Eating said hoagies

Our awesome hosts Tim and Gill

Market East Train Station

Headed to Manayunk

Main Street <3

Football at Meg and Mikes

Creepily sitting on our old stoop... looks the same.

Headed down the hill to take a walk on the tow path

Always love main street at night

Manayunk train station

Henry cuddles!

Monday lunch at Reading Terminal Market... why can't we have this in Nashville!!

The most amazing Heath Bar cookies ever!

The Ben Franklin Bridge

At the end of the Race Street Pier

Our view of the skyline from the Delaware river

Local brews

Sunset skyline

hahahahaha

Our favorite burgers in Philly... SKETCH!

Cannot get enough. 

All I can say is that I can't wait to go back and visit again and again and again. It may be a smelly old city, but it's my favorite and so full of amazing memories :)

Dan & Aly

Our great Philly friends Dan and Aly got married last weekend and we had an incredibly good time at their wedding. I think that it's safe to say that it was by far the fanciest friend wedding that we've ever been too (uh, black tie optional! we felt under dressed haha). Even though we didn't know many people there, we had our friends we stayed with Tim and Gillian by our sides; that along with an awesome open bar, we ate more food than we should have and danced the night away. Here are some of my favorites from the night:

We got there like, 20 minutes late so we were at each others throats for a bit there... thankfully the ceremony was running late too and we missed nothing :)

Aly's gorgeous train!

Under the chuppah.

Tim and Keith

Gillian and I

The couple's first dance... look at that DRESS!

Making their rounds at dinner.

Bouquet toss.

Gathering the garter under all that ruffle haha

Getting ready for the hora.

I would be terrified...

Dancing it up!

We miss them SO much!

Temple grad school buddies :) 

Steven Bradley

Last Thursday Keith's band played their first show at a little bar down in Murfreesboro, and it was such a success! I played the role of mamarazzi and constantly snapped photos and videos (sometimes at the same time! professional...) Even though the boys weren't completely satisfied, and wanted to tweek a few things, it was definitely a great first show with the hopes of many more to come. Here are some photos from the night:

Oh and for his first show as a drummer... Keith sounded awesome :) I'm a little biased though...

Lake

HELLO BLOG WORLD! I promise we aren't dead over here, even though it feels like it's been a century since I've gotten a chance to sit down and write anything. This past week has been absolutely nuts and hasn't left us with very much time to relax. Thankfully the wedding we're at this weekend doesn't require very much activity from me, since Keith is a groomsman and otherwise occupied at all times. I've had a chance to read my book, watch tv, go for leisurely strolls and teach myself how to crochet... THIS is what a vacation is supposed to be like! While the boys are out golfing this afternoon I'm uploading all the hundreds of photos that I've taken this past week, and I'm going to catch up on some blog posts...

Oh, and could Jonathan and Erin have picked a more beautiful spot to get married at??! Check out these beautiful photos I snapped of Lake Junaluska last night as the sun was setting. It was FREEZING cold out, but thankfully the view made up for all that :)

Birthday Love

This weekend last year Keith and I made a surprise trip to Florida to wish my favorite aunt a very happy birthday. This year it was obvious we wouldn't be able to do the same because of our great friends getting married in Philadelphia at the same time, but I would still like to wish Kathleen a happy birthday from far far away :)

Dear Kathleen: we love you and miss you and wish so badly that would could have made a tradition out of surprising you on your birthday! Never fear though, in just a little more than a month we'll be in Florida with you to celebrate Christmas and it will be awesome. Just know that today we are drinking many beers in your honor! Happy happy birthday to you!

Travel

This morning I woke up in Nashville, and tonight I will be falling asleep in Philadelphia! I cannot even describe to you how STINKIN excited I am to head back to our old hometown even if it's just for the weekend. We're traveling north to see these kids get married, and we couldn't be happier to share this day with them. It's also a great excuse to spend time with friends we haven't seen in a year, and eat at all of our favorite places.... it's going to be awesome, especially after the extremely emotional week we've had. 

So here is my hope Philly... please let your weather be as nice as the forecasts are predicting:

When we get back look forward to a full recap of Keith's first show with his band, Aly and Dan's wedding, our Philly trip and some AWESOME news (that does not include me being pregnant).

Outfitted

This Halloween I decided to dress up for the first time in years because I knew I would be volunteering at my old job for their fall festival. It had to be something easy that I could make with things from around the house which led me to channel my inner Amanda McCleod and go for a dinosaur hoodie. Here was my example:

She used felt, but because I didn't have any of that I just used some old curtain fabric I got from work last year and started sewing.

Measuring out my spikes.

Goofy dino face.

Finished!

With zombie Elijah..

Overall I would count this one as a success... thanks for letting me rip off your idea Amanda, I'll probably wear this for the next 10 Halloweens haha.