Easter - Beaches - Weddings

Basil.  Seth and I both have a strange obsession with it.

During our first summer in Utah - when we were living it up in Aggie Village with a half sized oven and like 700 sq feet of space - we decided we would get some herb plants.  We decided to grow cilantro, basil, and rosemary.  Our basil and cilantro plants did not thrive like the rosemary - we were disappointed.

The next summer we found out we were our basil's problem.  We were chopping the basil up in all sorts of ways that were incorrect - the poor plant couldn't grow back :).  Now that we know the proper way to cut basil - it is our FAVORITE plant to have around in the summer.

Seth and I making sushi - just look at that easy bake oven there!

I've also began a small obsession with teacups.  It is a treat on mornings where we don't have rush around to enjoy our coffee out of these teacups.  Surprisingly, Seth enjoys drinking his coffee out of them too.  This morning we were able to enjoy our coffee in teacups.

So - what's been going on with our little Cook lives?  

We are still house searching - working - and enjoying life.  We are finally settling pretty well into Flo - town life and making friends.

We've joined a kickball league - we definitely have enjoyed this!  Our team is pretty competitive - which is good for Seth and I b/c we are a competitive couple.  Next weekend we have the 'play-offs'.

Our kickball team Ballin'

Working at FMU has been awesome - during the summer we have every Friday off.  I have loved having these Friday's off - it is my day to clean/bake/run errands/have lunch dates with Seth and catch up on things that need to be done.

Cinnamon Bread

We got to spend Easter in Union with my family.

Little Sineath family on Easter

Mackay and Uncle Seth.

Auntie E and Uncle Seth w/ Mackay.

Gammaw and Pops with little man.

Uncle Seth educating Mackay on animals and farm life.

When Mackay was younger - he loved his Momma, Gammaw, and Auntie E - mainly women.  Since he's gotten a little bit older he still loves his Momma but has begun to love being around men -  he adores his Pops and likes Uncle Seth more than he used too.  He LOVES to be outside.

Seth and Steve w/ Henley during Easter. Steve was being 'tough'.

Mackay with his Daddy

He enjoyed watching the animals with Seth.  I think he's the cutest in this outfit.

We had a great time celebrating Jay and Stephanie's wedding at the end of April.

Some of The fellas.

Some of the ladies.

Jay and Seth - 

These two have been best buds for a while - College Roomies for four years - and now we are neighbors with the Bishop's. 

I'm pretty sure I've told this story plenty of times before - but when Seth and I were first married he would look at me with this little serious/thinking face - almost pouty - and tell me sometimes he missed living with Jay.  He just wanted to trade me in for a day and have Jay as his roomie again :).  Luckily for us - he doesn't say that much anymore.

The Bishop's first dance :).

Seth and I with his parents.

The Greenwood crew - Three married off - one to go!

Seth and his dad - they say they look alike - I don't see it :).

Julia and I.

Florence has had a Live after Five event the last Friday of each month.  Thus far we've been out of town for these events.  They've recently started a first Friday each month too - we were able to go to the first one in May.

PS - Catherine gave me this jacket and I have obviously fallen in love with it.  I wear it all the time when it is cooler :).  Thanks girl!

With my stud of a man.

Since we are so close to the beach and I guess are suppose to be 'grown' now - we decided it was time to purchase our own umbrella and beach chairs.  We have already gotten plenty of use out of them!

Seth with our new beach goodies.

Always got to have a Cook selfie.

Florence has recently opened a local brewery - Seminar Brewery.  So we tried it out with a few buddies.

The newly - wed Bishops.

Seth and I.

Another beach Day Trip.

A few of the guys.

A little Swedish Dart fun.

In May - Seth and I took the motto we learned from a father and son in Utah -

And that was - 

'Money is made for one thing and one thing only.....

Sppppeeennnndin'

So we went to spending in May - since this whole house buying process is going a bit slower than we expected we decided it was time to start making our apt a bit more comfy/homey.  So, we bought a couch.  It took about 5 weeks for the couch to come in.  Seth had Jay help him pick it up and bring it to our apt - I was very surprised when I got in from work and saw this!

Finally got everything situated!  

After having a futon for a couch for the past four years - we are in love with this bad boy.  It is so comfy to sit on and I love the pillows!

Seth and I went on vacation with his family to Kiawah during Memorial Day weekend.  We don't often get all us Cook's together at the same time - so this was a real treat!

Uncle Seth and Julian.

Brothers

Cook siblings w/ Julian.

Mrs. Cynthia - Em - Julian.

Karla and  Zach.

Watching the sunset.

It was such a pretty sunset.

This was our first trip to Kiawah (Seth and I that is).  We loved it.  It was such a pretty place and the development around the natural setting was amazing.

Karla and I

Auntie E with Julian.

Cook ladies

Some of the crew.

With our cute nephew. Isn't he adorable in his shades.

Cook kids Group Pic.

The original Cook clan - with a newbie Cutsinger :)

Inconspicuous selfie.

We packed so much in while at Kiawah - we went kayaking, watched the sun set, cooked lots of food, and went bike riding on the beach.  Seth and I had such a great time with his family and hanging out with our laid back/easy going/all smiles nephew.

My first bike beach ride.

He's such a looker - love this man.

So peaceful to kayak out in this body of water.

One of my best buds from High School recently got married - we had a great time celebrating with them.

Laurie - Liz - Me - Saza - Sarah - Liza

A little groupie.

My cute date - 

It was such a beautiful day on the lake for Sarah Beth and Pat!

We sent them off with sparklers.

Brandon and Seth.

We had to leave my parent's place early Sunday to get back for a work event for Seth.  It was a gorgeous day - the property we were at was absolutely amazing.  We had a great time!

Always have to end it with a Cook selfie!

The Cook's :)

Cheers to One Year!

Cheers to a Year back in South Carolina.

One Year Ago Today we traveled across the Georgia line and become Carolinian's once again.  

I can easily recall the crazy chaotic trip we had venturing back to SC from Utah.  We had MANY issues arise throughout our route, but were blessed every bit of chaos was fixable.

Our broken down Penske - just one of the adventures.

Being back in the South has been nice, but we still miss Utah more than we ever could have imagined.  It has definitely been a much harder transition coming back to SC from Utah than it was going to Utah from SC.  Ahhhh, reminiscing.

I've been hoping that my next blog post would bring exciting news of Seth and I becoming homeowners!  It doesn't.  We have been looking for quite a while now for a home.  Of course, it isn't anything like what we expected.  It is not fun.  It is hard.  I want to walk into 'THE' home and have streamers everywhere, champagne popped and ready, The Cook's welcome sign blazing with blinking lights.  Of course, things aren't happening that way :).  We both are so ready to get out of apartment living.  To own our OWN place.  We want all the plus' and minus' of having a home.  We want to cut grass, work outside in the garden, fix up broken equipment that is OUR responsibility, paint the wall colors that WE choose, a lovely and comfy couch that suits our new home (rather than this lovely futon we still own).

We recently made an offer on a home that needed a few updates, but had every single nitpicking thing that Seth and I both wanted.  It was perfect.  It had a yard, a workshop, a garage, three bed, two bath, formal dining room, fireplace, decent sized kitchen, utility room that was an actual room.  We had to of course back out (definitely unhappily) due to some issues not being fixed by the sellers.  So, we are currently still living up the apartment life and eagerly on the look out for our first Cook home.

Since our last catch up - I've started a new job at Francis Marion.  I am now an Accountant in the Accounting Office and am certainly loving it.  On April 1, Seth will be celebrating a year with the Land Trust, which he continues to enjoy.  On the 2nd of April we will be celebrating Seth's proposal to me four years prior (and when I say 'we' - I certainly mean I will bring it up at breakfast and Seth will tell me that that is not something to celebrate - so basically 'I' will celebrate :))!  

We are an Auntie and Uncle to TWO handsome nephews!  Our second nephew made his appearance in January.

Seth with our newest nephew.

Mackay celebrated his first birthday!

Mackay definitely did not enjoy all the attention he received at his first birthday.

Wasn't having it.

In February - some friends from high school got together for a Paint and Pour to celebrate Saza's engagement!

Liza and I.

Saza, Lizzie, and Me

Sarah and Laurie.

 My finished product.

Us girls.

I thought the Paint and Pour was a lot of fun.  It was pretty neat to see how each of our pictures turned out the same, yet so different.

We had a few snow days off from work (in Utah there is no such thing as a snow day off of work).  So, I got to enjoy some time with my man.

Playing a game.  

On Valentine's day we decided we would stay in and make gnocchi.  It was a several hour project, but it made loads and was fun.  We were able to freeze some, so I let my parents try it when they came to visit.

I doubt they will be eating it again - but Seth and I love it! :).

In February we enjoyed a trip to Georgetown for an event that Seth's work held.  We toured Hobcaw Barony during the morning and chowed down on Oysters that afternoon.

On the tour.

Taking a walk at Pawley's

Pawley's

This was part of the view from the Oyster Roast.  It was such a gorgeous day!

I love this picture.

Any Nephew Pictures that I get of either of my little men makes for a happy day.  Mom sent me this picture of Pop trying to teach Mackay how to snap his figures.  It makes me smile.

March has been a crazy month.  I had a girl's weekend, Seth had a guy's weekend, and then I had another girl's weekend.  We enjoyed our time with our friend's but are looking forward to spending the last weekend in March together!

I've gotten a bit slack with my picture taking lately.  I only got a few pictures from Julianne's weekend.

Old Roomies

Beautiful Sunday Morning Garden City Sunrise.

The weekend Seth was gone - my parents came to visit.  They always make for a good time.  While they were here we visited the beach and ate some AMAZING seafood.

The Parentals

Mom and I.

All you can eat crab legs.

Dad and I were in heaven at this place.  We inhaled crab legs like we'd never see another.  Divine.  Each bite soaked in butter brought a grunt of pleasure.  Yummm!

I got some lovely plates that I was just plain ecstatic over.  My mother - not as much.

Seth and I have eaten off of these things any meal we can.  It makes eating more fun :). 

I adore beautiful plates. 

For Stephanie's weekend we were in Charleston.

A few of the girls.

The group.

At the Lost Dog on Folly.  Delicious.

The group at our fancy dinner.

So there you have it.  A quick run down of life.  Apartment living - no house. SC loving - Utah missing.  Cook Life.  Hopefully there will soon be a lovely blog update regarding a Home purchase :)!

Have a great week.

The Cook's :)