a lovely week of vacation.

blakey & i had a wonderful wonderful vacation last week!  we went to aspen with his family & i am so excited to tell you & show you about it.  it was gorgeous & fun & full of delicious food.  so blog posts abound this week!  {i even have one more post about our trip to nashville.  a busy couple we have been!}

{picking tanky up as soon as we got back!}

you know how you always feel like you need a vacation after your vacation?  we have started a tradition of coming back a day or two early, so we can relax before heading back to work.  it really is a huge to have just a day or two to unwind, unpack, & sleep.  so that is what we did this weekend.  & it was marvelous.

 {an afternoon at the park with our little guy!}

our favorite bbq restaurant in birmy, saw's bbq, just opened a new spot in one of the new up & coming areas of birmy.  so we had to enjoy some good ole alabama bbq as soon as we got back.

 {pulled pork baker.  yummmm.}

 {pbr art.  love it.}

& then we were off to our favorite patio at moe's bbq to watch some march madness on the beautiful spring day!  

after church on sunday, we picked up some delicious picnic food at our local gourmet grocer, v richards, & headed back to the park for an afternoon with the t guy!  we have a feeling this is going to become our favorite sunday afternoon activity.

 {tanky hiding out in the shade from that 78 degree sun}

 {seven days of doggie day care & two play dates at the park made one tired tanky.

no idea how this was comfortable.

but he was so happy.}

{the gorgeous alabama sunset from our loft window}

i do hope your week & weekend was wonderful too.  

love love,

kjp.

happy match day, 4th year med students!!

{2010 match day!}

to all of our 4th year med student friends out there, happy match day!!  congratulations on making it through i-really-don't-want-to-open-this-email monday & not going crazy in anticipation every other day this week.  have fun celebrating today & be so proud of all you've accomplished.

& no matter where you end up, remember it is exactly where God wants you to be.

love love,
kjp.

thankful thursday - the best 6 years.

{my birthday 2006.

we weren't "boyfriend/girlfriend" yet.

he just drove 12 hours to celebrate my birthday with me.}

today is blakey & my 6-year boyfriend/girlfriend anniversary!  happy anniversary to us!

{my senior spring break trip to depauw.

by the end of the trip, 

we finally conceded the "boyfriend/girlfriend" title.}

six years.  that is unbelievable.

but it absolutely has been the best six years of my life.

{conway, arkansas 2005.

where i finally realized i was in love.}

happy anniversary, byrds!  i love you, boyfriend.

love love,
kjp.

now you play pretty good fiddle, boy.

the grand ole opry!!!  if you haven't had the opportunity to go, put it on your list, friends.  this was such an awesome experience, in the true sense of the word.  amazing musical artists, a gorgeous theater, & good wholesome entertainment.

this grand ole opry house isn't the original but it makes you feel like you are back in the good ole days.  the show is two hours long & is split up into four 30-minute segments.  there is an announcer for the entire show that makes you feel like you are listening to a radio show from years ago.  each segment has a different host to announce the musical acts & entertain you as well.  my favorite host was an adorable 91-year old cowboy that played guitar & told a funny joke or two:

there were numerous musical groups to enjoy.  one of the first was an up-&-coming artist named canaan smith who was doing his second performance at the opry.  the smile on his face & awe in his eyes reminded you what a magical opportunity this was.

alison krauss performed as well.  every girl knows & loves alison krauss... "when you say nothin' at all..."

brad paisley had a fun performance too:

of course, alison krauss & brad paisley joined together for their "whiskey lullaby" duet:

& the absolute star of the show: charlie daniels & his fiddle.  oh my gosh, you've got to see this live.  it is absolutely phenomenal.

we had a marvelous time:

{you don't stand up at the opry.

unless you are blake & elyse.

they stand.  & love it.

thank God we were on the back row of our section.}

i am so grateful we got to enjoy this awesome experience with our friends.

love love,

kjp.

there's nothin' like nashville.

nashville is a wonderful city!  there is so much culture, rooted in great entertainment & music & history.  so on saturday we did it all.  up first, entertainment, of course:

in the morning, we walked downtown to the flying saucer in the old union station.  the building is gorgeous!  & the fabulous beer selection & pub good are quite nice too.

up next, we made our way to music row!  we stopped in at tootsie's to listen to some awesome country tunes & experience one of the spots where legends played.

{it's a very young george strait!}

{now this girl can play a fiddle}

to kick off our evening out in nashville, we had to begin at the patterson house.  this speakeasy is true to it's name - it is hidden from the street with no signs to distinguish itself.  upon entering, you only see a library & a host's table.  the bar is hidden behind curtains that you must be invited into.  once inside, the ambiance is dark & so delightful.  & the drinks... so wonderfully unique.  

we could've stayed all night...

{my juliet & romeo and blake's bacon old fashioned}

but we had to be off to the opry!!  which i will tell you all about tomorrow.  charlie daniels, brad paisley, alison krauss.... it was a night to remember.

love love,
kjp.

fun in nashville!

nashville was an absolute blast.  we had an amazing weekend with an amazing group of friends.  so much good food & beverage, wonderful music, & a few days away with fabulous people.  you could not ask for more!

love love,

kjp.