We're Back!

Or at least barring and unforeseen circumstance we should be back in a couple short hours!  Stay tuned for tons of posts about our trip! I can't wait to share it with you all!

Missed you guys!

Did you miss me?  We come back tomorrow!!

Bring on the balloons and confetti! Just Kidding but can't wait to catch up with everyone!


Missed you!
Stephanie

Happy Birthday to my sometime-to-be sister-in-law Michelle!!

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Steven's 25 Things

A long while back a "note" was going around Facebook asking you to tag 25 people in your note and tell them 25 things they might not know about you.  I found a copy of my brother's list when I was cleaning out my desk at work.  Some of them are so surprising and I still have trouble reading a few of them without getting a little emotional.

Just wanted to share.

Nerd Alert

So I'm about to show my inner dork.  While going through things to pack boxes I stumble upon this list.  During Senior year of high school I was in an AP Physics class with just 5 other students.  The other AP Physics was significant larger but not nearly as funny.

Most of this list will not make sense to most people and honestly some things don't make sense to me at all either, but it was a really good reminder of a really fun high school class.  I might not have passed the AP Physics exam but I can never think of Boy Meets World or a Multimeter without thinking of Eugene which then subsequently makes me think of Gaurav, Lindsay, Jenny and Ford! Memories, fond memories!

 

Sad :(

This is a post from my friend Jayna's blog.  Her blog is set to private since it contains a lot of family info on it but I wanted to share with you all how much it touched my heart.  Looking back we became friends so quickly, within days of me starting at CHS and I'm gonna miss this lady and her family, a lot!

My friend and co-worker, Stephanie, started working at CHS a little over three years ago.  I had just started my new position and actually had an office with walls. (!!!)

I knew we hired a new Financial Analyst and that she would be sitting next to me in our semi-private office - a roommate, of sorts.

What I didn't know was that we would become such good friends.  =)

She's smart.  She's funny.  She's logical.  She's cool.  She's practical.  She's a planner.  She makes lists.  She travels.  She does genealogy.  She's a scrapbooker. (Hell-o-o!!)  And she always lends a listening ear. (Always)

And she helps me with my fashion sense - which is seriously lacking.

Ummm.  Could I have been more blessed to have her sitting next to me??

But this week, this is what greeted me.

Her empty office.

Stephanie is moving to Indianapolis to be closer to Darren as he completes his fellowship.

Stupid Indianapolis!

But I wish her all the luck in the world and hope that her life adventures lead her back this way soon!!  Really soon!!

(And I'm seriously thanking God for Gchat and Facebook so that I can keep up with her busy, busy life!!)

Missing all my blog readers! Can't wait to share details from the trip upon our return!!

Spending some of this crazy cool looking Asian currancy!  The ten dollar bills from Hong Kong are actually made of plastic!

Misc Austin

While driving around Austin, we saw this mini Eiffel Tower!

Based on a third separate recommendation, we went for a walk in the botanical gardens of Zilker Park.  Amongst all the flowers which were sadly not in bloom was what they called a "Prehistoric Park". Apparently dinosaur bones were found in the park and this model of what looked to be a Velociraptor was its memorial.

A nearby waterfall.

Our last stop of the day was at Lake Travis and the Oasis.  We heard the views were beautiful and if it were sunny and warmer than 60 degrees with 15 mph winds I might have thought so as well.  But I did snap a few pictures and can see that during an uncloudy sunset, the views would be amazing. 

LBJ Library

After the capital building, we ventured on to the campus of the University of Texas, the "other" UT! As we approached the Texas Stadium, Darren commented that it was smaller than he thought it would be.... Until we got right on top of it and realized that besides being built at the bottom of a hill, the field is actually significantly below "ground" level similar to the Big House at Michigan.  

Literally across the street from the stadium is the LBJ Presidential Library.  Also something we might not have done on our own that was a recommendation from Jenny.  The front of the library looked out on the huge fountain with a view of downtown Austin beyond.

LBJ's Presidential limousine.

 
Looking up from the main floor the four floors that make up the Presidential Archives!  It was literally volumes and volumes of recorded history from LBJ's Presidency.

This is hard to see, but it was a 4 story engraved Presidential Seal.

Texas Capital Building

Since neither Darren nor I had been to Austin we planned an extra day after the wedding to see some of the sites and eat some of the food!  Darren thought it was a fairly successful trip since we ate BBQ 4 out of 5 meals we were in Austin! I think he got a temporary fill of it. :)

We asked for advice on what to see in Austin and were told to check out the Capital building.  It was not something we typically would have done but it was a pretty interesting site.  The capital pays homage to the 6 countries whose flags have flown over Texas.

The neatest part of the building was the dome.  At the top of the dome is the star of Texas that is eight feet in diameter over 220 ft above.

Chad & Erin's Wedding

Couple weekends ago Darren and I both made our first trip to Austin.... This is somewhat momentous because it is one of the few major cities in the US that I have not been to.  The reason for our trip was the wedding of one of my oldest Vanderbilt friends, Chad.

The ceremony took place at this cute country church.

The cake might have been the best red velvet cake and the most moist stacked wedding cake I've ever had!

The reception was at a place called Kindred Oaks.  It was a quasi outdoor wedding venue with an old barn/Texas feel.  They had paper lanterns and twinkles lights.  It was perfect for a casual southern wedding!  Oh and the buffet was bbq beef and pork and all the "fixin's"!  Darren was in food heaven and soon experienced a major food coma!

And they were off to their Thai honeymoon.  They will actually be leaving Bangkok just three days before we arrive.  I know they are sad and really wanted to spend their honeymoon hanging out with Darren and me!

Barcelona

Yay, I have finally finished scrapbooking Paris!!  It feels like it too forever!  Can't believe I haven't finished scrapbooking Europe before we venture off to Asia. :) At least I'll have plenty to keep me occupied when I have no friends in Indianapolis and Darren is working incessantly.

The first couple of pages from Barcelona is from our day of just walking around the city enjoying the weather and the views. 

Some pictures from Bryan and Carolyn's reception.

The cake.

First Dance.

 

Carolyn & Bryan Say "I Do"

Or is it "I will" now?  Whichever, Bryan and Carolyn took care of business!  I'm just so happy for Bryan knowing how happy Carolyn makes him!  He's a great guy and deserves to get his happily ever after!

Their wedding was at the sunken gardens of Centennial Park most famous for the replica of the Parthenon.

Carolyn and her dad.

Looking all serious.

With this ring.

And this kiss.

Mr & Mrs Bryan Moore.

Mother's Day

For my momma.  I love you and I'm sure I'm missing your right about now since I'm 1/2 way around the world.  See you soon!

Love,
Stephaine

Prewedding Festivities

The night before Bryan and Carolyn tied the knot, we all went out for a prewedding libations.  Our first stop was Robert's Western Room.

Carolyn showing her mad bottle stacking skills.  This picture was taken right before she knocked the top bottle off and Bryan caught it in mid air.  Teamwork already!

Bryan and Carolyn.

Our second stop that evening was the Stage. Sadly Brice wasn't playing but Todd Sansom and his band were as good as always!

After the Stage, Carolyn decided she needed some beauty rest before the big day so Darren and I met up with Adam for a couple drinks at Legends before calling it a night.