February SC Trip

A few fun Things for You to know...

-Seth's favorite candy apparently is Peanut M&M's (I never knew it in all our years together.  I just recently found this out!)-

-When purchasing a home Seth and I have decided that we will be picky regarding two things 1. The kitchen (it has to be large and spacious, lots of storage, loads of counter space, and an inviting atmosphere) and 2. The Master Bathroom with His and Her sinks-

-I like to brush my teeth with warm water.  Seth likes cool water.  We somehow seem to ALWAYS brush our teeth at the same time; therefore we are always turning the water and getting slightly frustrated with the other for turning that said water to the preferable cool/warm.-

-Oddly enough, Seth and I are more of a breakfast or lunch date type of couple.- 

-Our next fun purchase in life will be a dehydrator :).  Man oh man I can't wait!-

Now moving along to the remainder of our trip to South Carolina!

Which mainly involved This little guy...

His mom totally told him to smile for Auntie E and she got a chuckle out of him because he was so excited to send me a picture :).

I may have just made that story up, but isn't he precious??

After spending the weekend with Seth's family, we traveled back to my parents to enjoy an afternoon with my whole family.

Sweet Mackay with his Aunt Macka.

The Parentals of sweet Mackay.

Mackay and Gammaw

It appears in my previous post I had the wrong name for what Mackay will call my Momma.  I may or may not prefer Ganma.  Just as I may or may not prefer Auntie E.  Either way it doesn't matter, we will allow sweet Mackay to call us whatever he wishes :).

My cousins JohnThomas and Carsyn hanging out and chit chatting about life.

Pops with Mackay.

My cousin Olivia and I.

It was so great to see all my family that we haven't seen in 7 months!  Everyone was looking good and we had a wonderful time catching up and cooing over Mackay.

During the week we were able to visit my grandparents in Union as well as Seth's Nana & Grandmother in Camden.

Nanny meeting and Holding Mackay for the first time.

During our trip my Nanny was participating in Rehab after breaking her leg.  She looked great and appeared to be working hard with Rehab and recovering. She is now back at home!

My Pop Hanging out.

 My Grandparents.

After visiting with my Nanny, we headed out for lunch with my Pops to a local Southern BBQ joint in Union.  Man o Man was it divine.  I got a BBQ Chicken plate with fried okra, baked beans, Mashed potatoes/gravy, Cornbread, and Peach Cobbler.  I  got pretty full pretty quick, but I tell you what I ate that WHOLE ENTIRE plate.  I wasn't letting any of that yumminess go to waste.

Now, I love okra.  Love Okra.  LOOOOOVE okra. love OKKKKra.  It is on my top list of missed items from South Carolina.  That joint in Union was just delightful and I'd recommend it to anyone.  I do very much plan to eat there again.

Now our trip to Camden to visit with Seth's Nana & Grandmother.

Seth w/ his Nana 

Nana, Mrs. Cynthia, Zach, and Seth

Seth with his Bro and Grandmother.

Seth & Zach.

Now with this Zach kid.  He is now twice the size of Seth (not literally, I'm exaggerating a tad).  He has grown up so much and we are all pretty impressed with this fella.  While in Camden we were able to see Zach's crib and his not to shabby work truck. 

Zach in his truck pulling out of his crib.

While in South Carolina, Seth and I attempted to make a few things we love for my parents.  We tried pizza, biscuits, blueberry pie, and cookies this trip.  Nothing compared to what we make back home :(.  Seth and I were pretty disappointed with all that we made, but we've come to the conclusion that we cook better in our own home-with our own pots/pans/utensils and ingredients.

My semi-annual Troupe picture.  

As many of you can see this dog just continues to get fatter and fatter in between each visit :).  My daddy gives him WAY to many treats!

One day my parents took me shopping in Greenville.  It was a beautiful warm sunny day.  We shopped, ate good, and I finally got to see what the big hype was regarding Trader Joe's!  After purchasing a few things to ship back to Utah, we realized (once we had gotten back to Utah) that Salt Lake City just opened a Trader Joe's.  If only we'd known prior we wouldn't have purchased anything to ship to us, we would've gotten it in SLC!

It has become somewhat of a tradition every time Seth and I visit SC, that on our last evening in Joanna, my family from Irmo will travel to Clinton and we'll eat dinner at Dempsey's Pizza (where my brother works).  I very much enjoy this last evening with them and at such a yummy place to eat.

The Sinclair's, Greer, and Sineath's at Dempsey's :).

My Brother and I.

 My Parentals :).

Brittany and I.

Me and My Parents.

After two years of not having family pictures taken with my family, we FINALLY updated our family photos!

Mom & Dad with their kiddo's and GBaby.

Look-a-likes ;).

The Sineath Clan :).

We had such a great visit to SC!  We got to visit with most of our buddies.  I got to see Beth and meet her little Abagail, visit with my good ol bud Laurie, and have a Valentine Date with my fav Sarah.  Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of those visits :(.  We got to see most our families, which was much needed!  And meet our little joy of a nephew Mackay.

Very much miss this little Stud.

What a cutie he is.

Even though we hated to leave everyone, it was such a nice sight to come over the hill and see our Valley.

Absolutely Beautiful.

Well that concludes our recent SC Trip!  Hope y'all enjoy the pictures and Have a great week :)!

The Cook's :)--Plus a little Sineath :).

Meet Mackay: I

Soooo....How long has it been??  Hmmmm...Let's just look over that issue and start with the good stuff :)!

Meet Mackay Nicolas.
Our Nephew.
A Bundle of Sweetness.
I Adore this Kid.  Even from 2,000 Miles Away
He Melts My Heart.

Isn't he just the cutest little fella you've ever set eyes on?  Well I obviously think so.  He'll have a pretty interesting story to tell as he grows up :).

Remember this picture?

Many of you already know the whole story, but basically it all boils down to this.  For most of the pregnancy Eason and Brittany thought they'd be having a little girl to love on and raise. Seth and I thought we would have a sweet, sassy, dramatic, but lovable little niece to spoil.  The grandparents were ready to dress her up in smocks and cute monogrammed dresses.  

Then January 14th arrived and Brittany delivered a very shocking but exciting surprise :).  In the delivery room the doctor shouted out "It's a BOY".  Eason did some jumping up and down, fist pumps, and shouting for the first little bit.  Then he had to figure out how to tell the families.  Shortly after they found out the news Mom called Seth and I to share with us.  It was hard to believe the exciting news, but after seeing a picture and the evidence we knew we had a precious little nephew!

In February, Seth and I, were able to take a direct flight (amazing-I think all flights should of course be direct! and I hope all flights I take in the future will be direct!) to the Carolina's for a belated Christmas and a meet Mackay trip.  I tried to be a photo-phan-atic while on this trip, so I'll share our trip with pictures.

Our first time meeting Mackay.

An Uncle & Auntie Picture :).

My hunchback Self with Ganma, Mackay, and Brittany.

After visiting with Brittany and Mackay most of the day, Seth and I headed out to Greenwood to spend the weekend with our Cook family.  While in Greenwood we got to see some of our Buddies.

Due to my camera being a bit outdated, I didn't get a good one of the whole group :(, but I did get a few odd and end ones.

Seth's Buddies.

Jay & Cute Stephanie

The Greenwood Boys.

 Catherine & I.

Saturday we hung out with Seth's family.  The guys went and played golf while us girls went out moseying around and shopping in Abbeville.  It was a crisp, beautiful, sunny day.

Karla & Mrs. Cynthia.

Emily & I.

That evening we took family pictures.

A bearded one.

Facial Hair is kinda a big deal in this family.  Mr. Jimmy's had one for a few months-but has had a mustache since I've known him.  Seth's had one since November of 2009 (He grew it out after Emily & Trevor's wedding), Zach's one of the original bearded ones-coming back from New Mexico with a pretty thick Amish looking beard.  Trevor's always had a beard on and off since I've met him.  So, it was only a logical idea for us all to have beards in a family picture :).

A Silly Cook Photo.

Finally a Normal One :)!

Wheewww, and we've only gone through the weekend!  It was a loaded trip, but very fun and much needed. Soooo, I'll conclude this post at that.  I'll finish up our week and the rest of the photos SOON!  I Promise!

The Cook's :).

New Year's Goals.

I'd like to start this blog off by first stating:

--Go Clemson Tigers:  Whoop Whoop!--

Now, moving along...

Happy 2013 Everyone :)!

I'm not sure if many of you have made New Year's Resolutions or not.  I usually try not to make Resolutions (or so, I'd like to think) but I do like to try and set goals (it's not the same thing, right?).  This year I was a little ambitious and decided to set several.  

When Seth and I got married he thoughtfully gave me a journal.  My word, we were moving 2,000 miles away, and this girl talks to her Mom about everything.  I guess he didn't want me to talk to him as much as I talk to Mom, so he gave me a journal to write it all down (kidding of course).  We were starting a new adventure in Utah, and I wouldn't have my Mom right down the street to catch up with Daily.  He gave me a journal to pen down what's going on in the Cook home or what's hanging out in my head.  It's been fun to record, check back in with later, and see how things played out. 

Anywho, on New Year's Eve I thought of all the possibilities for us Cook's in 2013.  Man what a year we May or May not have!  Careers, Moving, Staying, possible Kiddo, No possible Kiddo, Precious New Niece-watching her grow, New Cousins, Looking for a Home?, Possible purchase of a home?, Marriages/Weddings, New Sis-In-Law, Possible engagements?, and the list can continue on and on.  It was a lot of fun to consider all the possibilities that God may have in store of us in 2013 :). 

After contemplating all these fun possibilities, I decided on a handful of goals:

1) I LOVE receiving cards and letters in the mail.  They make me happy.  To know that someone purchased a card-thought of us-wrote in said card-and mailed it to us only days before is just plain fun.  Unfortunately, I think of people without the follow through :(-sorry folks.  I go through stages of doing well with sending cards/gifts, and then get ridiculously lazy.  So, I would like to first apologize to all those that have not received letters, b-day cards, gifts, etc.  We certainly can't blame my cute Man, b/c I have to remind him when it's his own birthday :).  My first goal is to be intentional.  Mail cards: birthday, encouraging, thank you, anniversary, Just because etc.  Also, Remember gifts for those that are in the gift category, and send them on time!

One of my very good friends, Ashley W. Height :), Always sends me fun little cards for many occasions.  Birthday, Christmas, Just Because.  Thank you!  Getting a card from you always brightens my day.

2) Memorize Bible Verses.  I am going to memorize at least one verse per week. Hopefully, I'm not being unrealistic, but that is my goal.

3) It is cold.  Extremely, miserably, unbearably cold.  As many of you know, we've been living in negative degree weather for the past week or more.  We've tried to do the bear minimal in leaving our apartment.  The cold and I don't function well together.  So, due to the beyond freezing weather along with me being under the weather for a bit, I haven't been working out.  Part of me can't bear the idea of walking out of the gym sweaty and that sweat immediately freezing on my skin...Yikes!  Anyways, another one of my friends-Laurie-has decided to start a workout blog for a few of us.  We work out and then blog about our workouts and what they entail.  If one of us doesn't update our status on the blog all the other girls know and that individual immediately becomes embarrassed and feels called out :).  That is my next goal.  To get back into my workouts regularly and not be 'called out' by my blog workout friends.

That concludes the goals I have set for myself in 2013.  

Fun News for 2013:

Seth and I will be heading to South Carolina SOOON to see our families and meet our Niece!  Tickets have been purchased :). Whoop Whoop.  Can't wait to see everyone!

Hope you all have a great week and such a wonderful 2013! 

The Cook's :).