Why Oh Why Do Weekends Fly By?

It's Sunday evening, and another great weekend that has flown by once again is coming to an end. Boo! Our weekend started out with adventures in babysitting. Yep folks, Michael and I successfully made it through our first babysitting gig. We technically babysat for an hour, but it was our own little adventure with a very very cute little boy named Eli.



Eli is almost 6 months old, and I cannot believe how this little guy's life has already flown by. Jamie and Eric went out to eat while we hung out with him and took him on a walk. I love this picture of he and Michael. It's too bad that my camera didn't catch the sweet potatoes that Eli spit up on Michael just after I snapped this. 10 minutes in, and Michael was already gagging and changing into his second shirt!



Eli is so sweet! He was perfect the entire 60 minutes! Scarlett loved him too, and he had a lot of fun with her. She of course loved to get in his face, and he laughed every time she came close.
She snuck a kiss while I was taking their picture.



We got up early on Saturday and drove to Atlanta to spend the night. Michael had the weekend off, and we thought it would be fun to take a little roadtrip. First things first, we went to Ikea for some shopping. My mission was to get a new mirror for our dining room, but I came up empty handed. Instead, we left with a new colander and silverware. Very exciting, huh? We left Ikea, checked into our hotel in Midtown and walked to Tin Lizzy's Cantina, which is where the University of Tennessee Alumni meet to watch UT football games. I can't tell you how great it was to see all that orange in one place! We met some really nice UT fans who let us sit with them, and although we lost, we had an amazing time!



This morning, Michael took me to Atlantic Station so I could do some more shopping at H&M. I scored some really cute fall clothes for cheap, and even better, I used my Visa gift card I won last week at our company picnic. I only paid $3.16 for 5 tops!

We ended our little trip with brunch at The Silver Skillet. Michael and I have made it our mission to find dive restaurants that have been featured on the Food Network's Triple D. The Silver Skillet was delish!!! It's a tiny diner with some major soul food, and no one can go to this place expecting to stick with a diet!

After eating, we headed home to see our little baby in Birmingham, and we have been chilling out at home ever since. It's 12 hours until work tomorrow, and I just can't help but wonder why weekends have to fly by so dang quickly!

It's GAME DAY!

It's finally that time of year that we all look forward to! The 2011 College Football Season has officially started! I would give anything to be in Neyland Stadium tonight cheering on the VOLS, but it looks more like I am going to be sitting in front of the tv tonight instead. Michael kicks off his season at Samford against Georgia Southern today. I don't see him too much these days, and there is no chance of that changing until the season is over.

It doesn't matter if I'm laid up on the couch watching football or yelling my face off in the stadium, I love this time of year! The VOLS are who I cheer for first, but I will always love the Razorbacks. The Hogs have a chance to play a winning season again, and I can't wait to see what both teams can do this year!

I'm just happy to decorate my front door with a little team spirit!



It's nothing special, but I think it's cute! Just wait 'til I pull out next year's wreath when I have a year of crafting under my belt :)!

Cheers to a fun and exciting football season! I hope this year proves to be exciting as always!

It's Never Too Late

To Walk the Kokoda Track

For two years Michael has been walking his own Kokoda Track by pursuing his master's degree among many other exciting responsibilities he has taken on with his graduate assistantship and of course by being married to me. For two years, he worked hard doing something he loved, and I am so proud of him for not only making the decision to go back to school to pursue his passion but for finishing and being able to begin a career in a field that will make him happy.

He finished his journey and graduated last Thursday! Here are some pictures we took during his graduation celebration.

Me and Michael

Michael, Adam, Max, and Marcus

Michael, The Magic Man, and Max

One more pic in front of Neyland Stadium!

Michael and his brother Sean

Dinner at Litton's-So YUMMY!

Michael's Mom Betty, Caroline, and Sean

Cheers to Tall Boys and presents!

Michael's VOL Orange Tailgating Shorts from Caroline!

It's Never Too Late to Walk the Kokoda Track... Whether literally or figuratively, everyone must walk their own Kokoda Track. It's a physical and mental challenge- mostly mental. It pushes you past your boundaries It shows they are illusions. It makes you reassess the important things in your life. It teaches you mental toughness. And humility. And compassion. It builds your confidence.

It's Never Too Late...

To Dance This weekend, I had two awesome opportunities to shake my booty! On Saturday night, my friend Elizabeth and I saw Mama Mia at the Tennessee Theatre. What an amazing show! Nothing I say could ever do this musical justice, but the music is so good you can't help dancing and singing the whole time and the actors are so dang funny! If you ever have the chance to see this show, GO!

My sweet husband made us dinner before the show. We had homemade eggplant parmesan!

On our way to the show! I know I wasn't supposed to, but I snuck a picture of the cast at the end.

On Sunday, Elizabeth and I got together again for the first-ever YMCA Zumbathon in Knoxville. I first started doing Zumba when we lived in Hot Springs, Ar and Elizabeth has been doing it as long as I have known her. Though we haven't taken classes in a while, we signed up for the Zumbathon because it was a great way to have fun, work out, and raise money for charity. So on Sunday from 2-4 pm we danced 'til we dropped with two straight ours of Zumba and helped raise money for the YMCA Change A Life Charity. It was a lot of fun, and I was so happy this morning when I wasn't as sore as I expected!

Elizabeth and I are looking pretty good after sweating for two hours!

GUY HUMBLY DOES GOOD WORKS WITH 22 UT STUDENTS

CHARLESTON, SC – Michael McGreevey known as “the guy” amongst blog followers has recently concluded his Alternative Spring Break career with the 2010 edition in Charleston, SC. It was an amazing trip as usual that was filled with powerful moments of service with a group of Tennessee’s finest student leaders. This group of 22 students, who all interview for a spot on the team to give up their spring break to serve others, had a group dynamic that was downright scary at times. For instance, at the conclusion of the trip when students usually can’t wait to get home, this group waited until they hugged every team member before they would go home. We worked with a wide range of non-for-profit agencies including Crisis Ministries, the Low Country Foodbank, the Cannon Street YMCA, the Community Outreach Center at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, and even the National Park Service, who cares for Fort Sumter in Charleston. All of the agencies had wonderful projects to work on that hopefully benefited the people of Charleston. We served over 170 meals to the homeless at Crisis Ministries, we helped supervise and tutor around 30 Gullah children at the YMCA, and we learned and helped preserve some of our nation’s history at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie. The students were able to discuss and reflect on the service experiences with each other so that eventually those of us who are able to address our nation’s social issues will have some knowledge of what is actually going on. I have a great deal of respect for our team of students and it is more than an honor to help make these trips possible. Please visit the agencies web sites to learn more about them and check out below for a group shot from our hour long visit to Folly Beach.

And the Gluttony Continued on...

Last night, a group of us (well 5 guys and myself) drove to Oak Ridge to chow down on some Big Ed's Pizza! Can you say "DELICIOUS!" A pizza with sauce does exist close to home! Not one piece of pizza was left on our table, and I do believe we ordered 3 mediums, 1 large, and a small! It was that good... It lived up to it's name by offering a no fuss, no muss menu and atmosphere. All they serve is pizza, no breadsticks, wings, or salads. Their menu is printed on two tiny business cards that make a cute little menu book, and you eat off paper dessert plates and use plastic forks. The joint is ecclectic to say the least, filled with a collection of hisorical memorabilia sprayed all over every surface but grounded by traditional white and red checkered table cloths. Sodas are served in paper cups and beer is served in goblets. Michael used the term "Pimp Cup" and Max preferred "Chalice." Call it what you will, Big Ed's is the perfect pizza place that is worth the longer drive to Oak Ridge (just outside of Knoxville). Anyone who lives here should try it, and anyone who visits Knoxville should make it a part of their trip if they can.

A Great (and Gluttonous) Weekend!

Despite another gray and cold weekend, Michael and I spent a great couple of days together celebrating a few of Knoxville's bests, including one of the yummiest meals I've had in a long time!

We headed to Thompson-Boling Arena Saturday morning to watch UT vs. #2 Kentucky. What an awesome game! I consider myself more of a football fan, but I have never experienced such an electric atmosphere as I did on Saturday when the Vols beat the Wildcats. That game was the most fun I have had at any UT game I've gone too so far! There really is nothing like UT sports, and if we ever move away from Knoxville, I am really going to miss them. I shouldn't worry though because Michael has already been scouting out RV's for making roadtrips back to Knoxville every football season. Yes...an RV and generator are the top things on Michael's all time wish list!

After the game, Michael and I and our friends Marcus and Adam headed to Litton's Market and Restaurant for a late lunch. Trust me, it was worth the hour wait (which is relatively short for Litton's) to eat here. Litton's is probably Knoxville's most well-known restaurant. It's been around since 1946, and it's known for having the best burgers and desserts. Many of you may have seen it featured on ESPN's game day show Todd's Taste of the Town. Everything from the buns to the french fries and their famous cakes and pies are made fresh daily. All of us ordered their famous hamburgers with a side of fries, except for Michael who ordered the best onion rings I have ever eaten! We all ordered dessert to go. Their Italian Cream Cake was to die for!

On Sunday, Michael and I took a drive along the lake in West Knoxville and ended at Fort Loudon Dam. When we got home, we took Scarlett to Cherokee Park for a long walk. Of course we were hungry when we got home, so Michael made a big pot of sausage and shrimp gumbo, and I finished off my cake from Litton's. Tonight, a group of us are going to try out Big Ed's Pizza. Pizza could possibly be in the running for mine and Michael's favorite meal, and everyone has been telling us to try Big Ed's. From what I've been told, it's a classic pizza joint where you eat off styrofoam plates and use plastic forks. Oh yeah...they don't take anything but cash. Sounds like our kind of place! I'll let you know how it is!

A Walk to Remember

Last night, Knoxville got a Whopping 1" inch of snow. You would have thought the world was coming to an end! For some of us, it kinda did...especially those of us who aren't equipped to walk through snow and ice in 3" inch spiked heels! 1" inch of snow doesn't sound bad at all, right? But snow plus 6 days of below freezing temperatures in the South makes for a highly panicked, drop everything and go get bread situation! And of course, Michael and I headed home at the same time that all the frantic Knoxvillians did. Both of us thought we beat the worst of it; however, we weren't prepared for what awaited us just two blocks away from our apartment...a giant hill covered in ice and flanked with car after abandoned car. What were we going to do...there was no way to get down the hill in a car, but we knew we had to get home. There's a dog in there for Pete's sake!!!! Well...we did what we had to do. We jumped ship (car) and took a nice leisurely walk through the snow, taking up a nice space at the mall and neighborhood nursing home only to be forced to trek through our unknown neighbors' backyards and the giant field that all of us refer to as the dog poop patch. I'm glad I avoided getting pooh on my shoe! We made it safely home, but it was definitely a walk to remember. We made the hike this morning as well, but I am happy to say that the road home had thawed enough this afternoon, which made it possible for us to both get our cars home. YAY!!! Just lovely!

Almost there! Early morning trek! Thanks for the snow boots mom! The cars still stuck on the hill this morning