Baby What a Big Surprise

Last Friday the General returned from the Gulf Coast - yay!!  When he got home just before lunch he suggested that we go to Gatlinburg to celebrate our anniversary.  The catch was that we were leaving just after lunch.  Hmmmm....how to make it happen.  So for the next couple of hours we were frantically packing and getting everything ready and I was trying to tie up loose ends at work.  Then we officially started our vacation.

We started by heading to see the in-laws.  Turns out they were also going Gatlinburg for their anniversary which is about two weeks before ours.  So we stayed there for the weekend and then headed up to Gatlinburg on Sunday morning.  We were able to stop and meet my brother and his family for lunch.

My nieces

We had an awesome time in Gatlinburg.  It was tough for me since there was so much walking and I'm still recovering from foot surgery but it was great!  They have a really nice aquarium and we love to go there.  Even though it rained a little every day we couldn't have asked for better weather. 

The top of our wedding cake

This picture makes me giggle every time - the shark is headed right for him!

One of my favorite pictures of all time - the shark teeth going right through his head!

Playing around at the aquarium - I was talking to the fish

Safety Dog

I have one smart dog!  He knows how to get himself into the seat belt.  We noticed it a few months ago and couldn't figure out how he was doing it but now we know.  Because he weighs so much, he sets off the passenger airbag warning whenever he gets in the front seat.  To keep the beeping off, we have to buckle the seat belt.  So, when he gets into the front seat, he works his way under the shoulder belt.  It's amazing.  I'm really going to work harder to get it on video since no one believes us!

Almost Doesn't Count...

But in this case it does.  The General and I were married in August 2009.  Technically today is our wedding anniversary.  However we didn't actually get married until August 29th.  The preacher put the wrong date on our marriage license!  He put the 8th instead of the 29th...big oops.

In any case...Happy Anniversary to me

Best Breakfast in Mississippi

I got to enjoy the "Best Breakfast in Mississippi" this morning.  And it was super yummy!!  There's a place in Gulfport called Triplett Day Drug.  But it's not your ordinary drug store.  Hidden away in the back of this old time drug store is a small cafe with the best beignets.  If you've never eaten beignets you are truly missing out on a wonderful treat!  They're also called French doughnuts - very similar to funnel cake. If you are in the area, you definitely need to stop by and try them. But you can only get them Monday through Friday from 8 to 11!

This Better Work

 
Breaking News

BP finishes pumping cement into blown-out well

BP says engineers have finished plugging the blown-out Gulf of Mexico well with cement in their effort to permanently seal it. More>>

I really need this to work out well so I can have The General home.  It's been 65 days since he left home to work in the Gulf of Mexico.  Lucky for us I have been able to visit a few times.  That's made it bearable, but I really want him to come home.  There's talk of a deployment in his future and I would really like to be able to spend the next few months with him until then.  I am super proud of him for all his hard work during this time.  It's going to be a change for him coming home and going back to work essentially 7-4 every day.