FIVE YEARS!

Clay and I celebrated our five year wedding anniversary on Thursday. This blog has documented the last three years of our marriage (and growing family) quite well. I thought I would recount some of our courtship. There are parts we definitely don't need to relive but here are some good highlights!

First official date: Fernbank Museum Black Tie Fundraiser

June 2003

It was a Roarin 20s/Swing theme. Clay says I asked him. I had the tickets through work. He offered to be my date. I think that means he asked me. Anyway, it was a fabulous night! I learned that Clay was a great dancer and since that was at the top of my list in husband qualities we were off to a good start! The jacket was his grandfather's!

My sister's wedding- November 2003
Our relationship was still "undefined" at this point but I knew he had to come with me. He agreed and the weekend was a blast! Clay fit right in with my family and I loved having him by my side!

New Year's 2004

Country Club in Franklin- It was a great start to what would be a great year for us!

These might be my favorite of Clay's pants!

Valentine's Day 2004

Clay planned a trip for us to Savannah

80s Prom party- Never a dull moment with Clay!

March 2004

Clay asked me if I wanted to hike the Grand Canyon- hike down, camp overnight and then hike back out. "Sure, I would love to!" It was the biggest lie I have ever told him. I hate to camp and I don't really like to hike. But I was out to impress and since we were in the middle of marathon training I knew I could do it. The GC gets an average of FOUR days of rain a year. Guess who was there for TWO of them? It was pretty miserable but I survived. A good test for our relationship!

And then we celebrated by driving to Vegas! Hot showers and warm beds- we couldn't drive there fast enough!

April 2004- Nashville

The second biggest lie I ever told Clay was that I liked to run. He wanted to do the Country Music Marathon. I signed up for the Half Marathon. It turned out to be quite addicting as I have since run three. It was also great to train together!

After the race, we got to meet Brad Paisley!

July 2004

Clay kidnapped me on a Monday morning and drove me to Charleston (my favorite city ever). He proposed on the Battery. It was perfect!

I came back to Atlanta late that night to find my room decorated by my roomie, Emily!

We enjoyed being engaged for about three days before the planning began! We decided to get married in Costa Rica- just the two of us- but come back and have a big party in Knoxville with all of our friends and family...

Costa with the Mosta

November 26, 2004

We hopped a plane the day after Thanksgiving to Costa Rica. It was just the two of us and we had a day out of the storybooks. Clay planned everything (he speaks Spanish) from the hotel, to the flowers, to my hair appt. We arrived just before lunchtime and had a delicious lunch of fish tacos out on the veranda at the hotel. We parted ways after that and I got my hair and make-up done which was the only glitch of the whole week. The ladies did not speak English and I do not speak Spanish so needless to say I did not come out looking like I wanted. Oh well- I was getting married to the love of my life!

We took lots of pictures at the hotel and then headed off to get married! A beautiful night!

We spent the rest of the week at the beach in Quepos at two different resorts- Macanda and La Mariposa. One was small and intimate and the other busy with lots of people- a great mix. It was the perfect week. Clay did an amazing job planning it all!

Knoxville

We came home to the States and headed straight for Knoxville where we had a wonderful weekend of celebrations! A rehearsal dinner (which we called a Roast and Toast since there was nothing to rehearse) with lots of fun stories told and memories made! Highlights were the grits bar (a hit amongst our Northern relatives) and the Rice Krispie Treat cake (Clay's favorite).

The next day we split up and the guys went to a sports bar for a friendly pool tournament complete with brackets and the ladies had a lovely luncheon at the Donaldsons.

That night we had a reception complete with dinner and dancing at Gettysvue. I got my hair and makeup done by people who spoke English and it turned out much better! It was a wonderful evening celebrating with friends and family! We were relaxed, tan and had nowhere to be but present with our favorite people!

Some of my favorite pics:

I got to wear my grandmother Madeline's earrings- very special!

Clay and his brothers- this is very typical Councill

The Connor Family

Crazy that we have added four kids and Julia (almost) to our family since then!

It has been an amazing, adventure-filled five years and I cannot wait for many, many more!

I love you Clay!

Where is Madeline?

Madeline is a girl on the go and we have pretty much baby proofed the house so I let her roam as she likes. The other day I was making dinner and I could hear her but couldn't see her. I sent Jack to look behind the curtain and there she was! She thought she was so funny! That is her new favorite spot to go. She loves looking outside.

Jack and I baked cookies for some friends and Madeline was very interested in taste testing!

If you look closely at this picture, you can see some hair on her head!!

"Seriously, can I just get a cookie??"

Thanksgiving in Franklin

We got up bright and early to drive to Franklin on Thursday. Clay ran a 5K at the Y and came in third! We had a yummy meal which Madeline enjoyed immensly!

She also had fun playing with her cousin Owen. They are three weeks apart. Owen is such a chill kid. He doesn't crawl yet so Madeline kept him entertained and also stayed busy stealing his puffs!

Meanwhile, Jack, Greyson and Win were tooling the farm around in their Gator. Watch out!

We came home Thursday evening b/c Clay had to work on Friday. A quick trip but fun time!

Happy Turkeys

We have so much to be thankful for! Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving weekend!

Susy's 80s Party

In honor of Susy's 30th bday, we threw an 80s party! We hoped people would come in costume and boy, did they ever! I think everyone loves the 80s and it is very easy to find the clothes these days!

The Pac Man cake- I was going to attempt a rubiks cube but with two aspiring bakers at my feet constantly, Pac Man was way easier!

Clay and I were a Double Dare team!! We were ready for any physical challenge that came our way!
Barb, Emily, me and Jen

Full length Double Dare

Barb made Bret these Hammer pants Saturday afternoon! She is so talented!

The Disco Ball

Zach Ellet (Best costume!) and Sam Dickson

John and Robyn Callahan

Jacob (Richard Simmons)

The dance floor

Emily, Susy, me and EmilyBirthday girl blowing out her candles

It was a great party!! Clay was a sport to go to someone else's party on his birthday but I do think he enjoyed peg rolling his jeans! Happy 30th Susy!!

Nine Months

Madeline was nine months on Monday. Time is flying by! And speaking of flying, I wouldn't be surprised if this girl starts to do that soon! She is a girl on the go! She started crawling on October 21st and hasn't slowed down. She loves to follow Jack wherever he goes and explore the cabinets in the kitchen. She can pull herself up on most pieces of furniture but cannot figure out how to get down! She has 8 teeth and loves to eat! She eats all table food now- never really liked the baby food. She is not a fan of the bottle so I am still nursing but since she eats three meals a day, I am not needed that much! Her stats at her checkup: 29 inches (75%), 19.5 lbs (50%) and head circumference was not on the chart!!! She finally has more hair on her head than I do on my arm so we are hopeful that bows are in our future! Madeline has the greatest personality and is a very happy baby.

Jack also went for his check-up and at 3 years is 40 inches tall and 35 lbs. He is super tall for his age but we already knew that! He is pretty good with Madeline although now that she is mobile we hear "No, Madeline, that is mine!" very often. She still laughs and thinks he is funny!

Durham Museum

We went to the Durham Life Science Museum with our new friends Abigail and Blythe Lavin. Abigail came into Clay's store a few weeks ago and he recognized her from UVA. Turns out the Lavins just moved here from Nashville and Jack and Blythe are around the same age. Let the playdates commence! We also put together that Abigail's husband is good friends with my college roommate and her hubby - Chase and Katie Beene Whitmire! Such a small world! Friday, we headed over to Durham to the Life Science museum. Jack loved all the bugs and animals and even got to hold a butterfly!

It was a chilly day so Madeline modeled her new cozy coat from Mimi!

Knoxville Girl

We may be North Carolinians now but we are Knoxville girls at heart! Thanks for the shirt Mimi!

Welcome Home Jay!!

Clay's brother Jay came home Tuesday from Iraq after a year deployment. We drove to Fayetteville Tuesday night to meet Jay, Jen, Keller, Chandlyr and Bayli for dinner. We are so excited to have Jay home safe and sound!!

Cael Nicholas Schupp

How precious is he??

Cael Nicholas Schupp

9:21am

7lbs, 8 oz, 19.5 inches

Jack and Madeline are so excited to have a new cousin! My sister is doing well and Maeve is excited to be a big sister!

Happy Birthday Jack!!

Jack has been so excited for his birthday. This is the first year he really "gets it." He has asked every day for weeks "is today my birthday?" Well yesterday we finally got to tell him "YES!" He came downstairs- bright and early at 6am - to find...

Handy Manny waiting for him!
Jack loves Handy Manny (a bilingual fix-it guy for those of you without toddlers) and had been eyeing this toolbench.

He got right to work building a race car before he even touched the other presents.

The airplane from Aunt Julia was a big hit!

Madeline wanted to get in on the action too!

She has a look like "Is Jack watching? I think I will play with his toys!"

We had the Smiths and the Starritts over for dinner , cupcakes and pumpkin pie. This is the adult table.

McKenna turned 8 on Friday so she and Jack shared candle blowing duty!

Today I took cupcakes to Jack's class at school. He was very excited to have me there and his teacher made him a birthday crown!

I can't believe my little boy is THREE! Jack, you are a sweet, sweet spirit that blesses our lives every day! Clay and I never thought we could ever love someone so much as we do you and Madeline!

Standing

Caught Madgirl in the act yesterday. She has started pulling herself up on most everything. But we can find her doing this on the stairs when Jack is going up. She wants so much to follow right behind him!

We love Etsy!

I got a couple of these super cute hats for Madeline off Etsy, which I spend way too much time perusing. The flowers are interchangeable with different colors. Having about as much hair as I have on my arm, she needed something to keep her head warm this winter!