Friend's Wedding and a Visit to San Diego

On October 9th our friends Mike and Amanda were married in a very sweet ceremony. Our roommate composed the song that she walked down the aisle to and I think most everyone was crying. It was so lovely. The reception was in a friend's backyard and they had a huge bonfire and everything. It was a dessert reception so I was on a sugar high within minutes of arriving.

These are the popcorn balls that Jamie and I made instead of pie pops...they were very chewy.

The beautiful Mike and Amanda Odmark

At the Rehearsal Dinner

Then Jamie left the next day to go home to San Diego and I was able to come visit a week later. It was so nice to visit with his family and we had such a great time! It was my fall break, so I was able to relax and drink lots of coffee and eat SO much great food. Jamie's mama, Loraine, is an amazing cook and so sweet and welcoming. We visited with his Gammie and got to play some cards with his Dad and friends. I really couldn't have asked for a more refreshing weekend.

Jamie and I took a long walk on the beach and came across a bunch of cool marine life. We weren't able to catch it on film, but these little guys kept popping their heads up and then sticking out a very long brown tongue. It was neat, yet kind of creepy too.

There were SO many shells of lobsters and crabs strewn along the beach. This one was particularly large and interesting.

It wasn't typical October weather, but it was still nice to get our toes wet.

He is so adorable!

This is the Hartzell Family. The guy in the back is Jay and he and Jamie have been friends since they were really young. We went out to lunch at a French Deli and had such a great time.

We came back to FALL weather and it is so beautiful. All the leaves are changing and our front yard it covered with yellow sugar maple leaves.

I love the fall.

Granny's 80th Surprise Birthday Party!

This past Saturday my Mom, Dad, Iliana, Verena and I all went to my Granny's Surprise 80th birthday party in Memphis. We had a great time and she was especially happy to see the little girls.

On the way to the restaurant we passed by the crafts store where Granny's friend was supposed to be stalling her and so Verena hid herself behind a book just in case she saw us.

Then we went to the restaurant and waited for her to arrive. She was so surprised!

Surprising Granny! from Mary Pate on Vimeo.

Iliana and Verena both prepared a performance for Granny.
Iliana (age 7) played Happy Birthday on the recorder. And just in case you were wondering...she doesn't mess up. That is just the way she thinks it should be played. (That is my Dad's youngest sibling, John, introducing her)

Iliana's Performance from Mary Pate on Vimeo.

AND Verena (age 5) recited the Pirate Story by Robert Louis Stevenson!!! (the link to the poem is: http://rinabeana.com/poemoftheday/index.php/2004/10/16/pirate-story-by-robert-louis-stevenson/)

It was so amazing to hear her. I stood next to her because we thought she was going to be nervous, and told her to speak real clearly and loud enough for people to her. I love how she composes herself right before it by brushing the hair out her face! She was AMAZING!!!

Verena's Performance from Mary Pate on Vimeo.

We were SOOOO proud of her!

For our gifts to Granny we all wrote out notes or shared memories we had with her. Below is the present given by Elowyn ( via Christina). (You can zoom in by clicking on the pictures)

Happy Birthday Granny!!

My life in Photos

I wanted to show what I have been up to and some things happening in the near future.

It's going to be a crazy semester with Lots of Studying and Lots of Traveling... got to visit some grad schools, potential internships, the Northeast, the West Coast and East TN. Lots O' Fun.
Here are some Photos from the last couple of months:

Jamie and I went to the TN State Fair on Monday...Funnel Cakes and Cotton Candy and Ferris Wheels and African Gymnasts and Carousels, oh my!

(p.s I could have eaten a whole funnel cake by myself! And probably one more! So good!)

Have any of you actually ridden a Ferris Wheel in awhile? It has been over 15 years for me and it was one of the more frightening experiences of my life. Can you see the fear in my eyes?!

Jamie was so funny when we were watching the gymnasts. He kept squealing and laughing when they would contort themselves into these positions. Just seeing their show was worth our admission ticket. They were so good!

We are in the process of moving out of our little apartment and in with two boys. It will be much cheaper, but lots more testosterone. They are laid back and very nice guys though. So I'm not too worried.

My phone broke, so I had to get a new one. I was eligible for an upgrade and this one was the cheapest...or so they say. The keys are so close together, so if you get a text from me and it is all jumbled...it's because I have man hands. It's so thin and I am afraid I am going to break it, so I made a little case for it from leftover fabric and batting from my soon-to-be quilt. Jamie keeps saying that it looks like a case that his Gammie uses for her glasses. That goes right up there with the compliment he made that I look like a Mom Model from the 90's with my work uniform on. Such a Cutie.

LOTS of STUDYING this semester. Good stuff though. I am finally getting into the nitty gritty of nutrition and I love it! Some of the classes are very challenging, but I know that it will help me get a grasp on things, especially if I am going to grad school. My Medical Nutrition Therapy class is very neat and we are getting to look at case studies of Patients and their lab values and what not. Super Fun!

I really love to knit, but it has been SO hot this summer and I just couldn't get into it. So I have started to SEW! I am hoping to get a cheap sewing machine one of these days, but I also really enjoy hand sewing things. I am making a quilt and it is a good distraction from school sometimes. To tell you the truth, I was quite proud of myself until my 7 year old niece, Iliana, told me that she is making one too...with applique and everything. Applique you ask? Well, I had to look it up, so don't worry if you are confused. From Wikipedia: "applique refers to a needlework technique in which pieces of fabric, embroidery, or other materials are sewn onto another piece of fabric to create designs, patterns or pictures." Well, I don't have any applique on mine, but I am still excited about it. I think working on it will help keep me warm during the winter in our new, no-central heat house!

Jamie and I are going to Boston in November! Yay! I am attending a Nutrition conference and we are going to visit some friends and Family of his. I think it will be pretty cold. But who cares...it's Boston Baby!!

Our friends Mike and Amanda are getting married on October 9th and they are having a dessert reception made by friends. I have been assigned these little pies on a stick and I think it is a great idea! I hope mine look similar!

I love weddings. They are just so happy! We are also going out to visit Jamie's family in San Diego over my Fall Break in October and I can't wait! It has been over a year since I have been there and it is a much needed visit.
I just need to get through 8 tests before then!
ciao bellas...

P.S. Sorry if the font is all crazy. It was acting up and I couldn't figure out how to change it!