Home sweet home. Although I am glad to be home, I am sad that vacation is over. Napa and San Fran were better than I ever could have hoped or imaged. I know that the company that we had greatly contributed to the trip. I do have several thank you to extend...First, thank you to Michael and Brittany (and their families)for hosting and organizing such an amazing wedding and weekend. Thanks to the Saliba's for the rental car - that was awesome and really was so nice of yall to do. Thanks to Ashley and Brett for organizing and for traveling with us - it was absolutely perfect and of course all of the laughing was major fun. Lastly, thanks to Justin for such a fun and special trip.

We're now back home safely after an amazing vacation. We got back this afternoon and immediately jumped into responding to emails and catching up with work. Dad brought home Doc and Brinkley and it is good to see them and have them home with us. After a week at the lake full of running, swimming and rolling in the sand they desperately needed a bath.

On a different note, my tomato plants are huge and doing really good. My beef-steak tomato is finally producing some tiny fruit. My cherry tomato plant is covered and one was actually ripe and so Justin and I ate it...YUMMMMMMMMMY. It was so tasty and sweet, it made my mouth water after I had eaten it. I can't wait to have more! I also have several different pepper plants, but none have produced anything quite yet.

Back to work tomorrow, I'm not sure that I will know what to do being back to work. I miss California and especially Napa.

Winery Visits

Here are some pictures from our winery visits. Wow, if you notice my eyes are very glazed by the end of the pictures. Del Dotto pushed me over the edge - they served straight from the barrels and the wine was flowing quickly and smoothly. It was awesome. Brittany and Michael joined us at the first one, Schramsberg, which is sparkling wine. This was one of the most beautiful grounds that I saw- they were also the first hill side cave to be built in Napa. Very cool. Enjoy the pix.

San Francisco Day

We had a wonderful day in San Francisco. We wish that we had more time, but our one day was a good one. We started off at Fisherman's Worf with a sourdough breadbowl of clam chowder - it was delicious! Then we walked through the market area and went to visit the seals, who are all very noisy and huge to say the least. We then went to Ghirardelli square - yummy chocoate and can you believe that neither Justin or I purchased anything. Yes the chocoholic's refrained from purchasing any chocolate, although we did get a little sampler when we walked in. We then jumped on a cable car - literally hanging off the side of the car and went into china town. China town here is differnet from the one in NY, this was cleaner, but sort of the same concept.
We then walked about 10 blocks back the the hotel to get ready for dinner. We ate at Scoma's seafood restaurant. This meal was delicious and very filling. Everything was so tasty and yummilicious. We then stopped off at the Fiddlers Green for a quick drink.
We're headed home tomorrow. I wish that we had one more day. This has been a fun trip and we have made memories of a lifetime on this trip. It is wonderful to travel with special and fun friends. I have laughed so hard that at times my stomach hurts. It has been such a dream vacation.
More pix to come.

Wedding and Croquet

Sunday was wedding day and it was perfect. The weather was perfect (Saturday and Monday were overcast and cold - so it was awesome that it was sunny and beautiful). The wedding looked like something out of a movie or a jcrew catalog - everyone dressed in white and khaki, there were even little umbrellas for everyone to carry to keep out of the sun. The ceremony was just beautiful and so very sweet - Brittany and Mike are a wonderful match, it has been fabulous to be a part of this special weekend with them. After the ceremony we had wine and appetizers before the luncheon started. The lunch was of course delicious and full of trash talking about who would beat who at croquet. Then onto croquet - way tooo much fun. We played in teams of two and groups of four. It was so much fun and I think that Justin could have played all day if they would have let him. Ashley and Brett have already talked about setting a set up in their backyard - it was really that much fun. After the wedding we went to a small tasting with a big group of people from the wedding.

Sunday night for dinner Ashley and Brett and Justin and I all came back into the Napa area (the wedding is in St. Helena at Meadowood Resort) and ate at the most glamorous and delicious restaurant, Cuvee. Wow, it was an amazing meal with amazing wine and fabulous and special friends. Certainly memories are being made that will last our life time. Traveling with Ashley and Brett has been a blast. We've spend most nights enjoying a drink in the jacuzzi before we crash.

Yesterday was a full day of wineary tours and tastings. We visited 4 different winaries and by the time we were done, I was almost toast! Lots and lots of wine. They were all very different experiences which is really cool!

I'm not sure if the pictures are actually loading. Just in case they are not, here is the link so that you can connect and see them. Hopefully the slide shows will load eventually. More to come later.

http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn85/shicks-blog/?action=view&current=da7692c1.pbw

Napa - Part 1

We made it to napa and it is fabulous to say the least. We are traveling with Ashley and Brett Saliba (Justin and Brett were childhood friends) The house is awesome and the view is just amazing - actually words can not describe how beautiful it is. We are all so glad to be here. Last night Mike's parents hosted a little party that was great fun. It was good to see everyone and meet so many new people. After the party we came back home and got in the hot tub. The weather was pretty cool last night, so the hot tub was the perfect ending to a wonderful and exciting day. We didn't head to bed until around 3am (CA time).

This morning, we slept in and then headed to Cakebread winery. Absolutely so much fun. It was such a fun experience and the wines were yumilicious! Here are a few pictures from yesterday and this morning. I'm off to nap now before the rehearsal dinner. Enjoy and check back because I'm sure I'll post more as the week continues. It has already been fabulous and we've only been here one day! Simply amazing.

Prayer

I received this email from my mom today. I know that I have read it several times, but it is such a great prayer and reminder of what we need daily! I hope that you will sit and say this prayer today. I love you and I do pray that whoever reads this will find God in their heart forever. Love you all!

Dear Lord,
I thank You for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness. Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You. Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things. Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. And it is the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak... Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those that don't believe. I thank you that I believe. I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers, and for each an d every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes, that they are out of debt and all their needs are met. I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees it. In Christ Jesus' Name. Amen!

God Bless!!! Just repeat this phrase and see how God moves!!
God,I love you and I need you, come into my heart, please.

Cookoff

This weekend Justin, Chris, Ryan, Dad(my dad) and Kevin Poe (Possum) were on a cooking team at the wiregrass cook off in Dothan. Their team is the OPossum Trots. Justin's Dad has a team, "High Rollers", as well and they are always next to each other at the event. Well the bottom line is that the rivalry is actually between the two of them and the rest of the competitors are bonus if they beat them. They unfortunately didn't win any awards, but they did beat the "High Rollers" over all. The guys take this very seriously and they actually work on it all year as they practice to perfect the perfect recipe. It was a beautiful and fun day and they all worked really hard. I don't know how they didn't win the chicken and the boston butt categories because they were both yummilicious! Ms. Ashlyn was there to cheer her Daddy on and was able to enjoy a few taste of some sugar from the funnel cake that we HAD to have! Isn't she just the cutest thing you have ever seen!!! (I know I'm a little bias - but look at her!) and she was such a sport all day long. Fun times.

Singing In The Rain and Croquet

It was a very rainy and yucky day today. Since Justin is out of town, I came home for lunch to let the pups out and well Brinkley refused to come back in, apparently she loves the rain. She kept walking around with her head in the air - as if she could smell the rain - at one point it started raining really really hard and she just stood there staring at me, as I held the door open calling her inside. Nope she had different plans to stand in the rain and become soaked to the bone. You would think that she had just gotten a bath.

Now to explain the Croquet. At the wedding that we are going to in Napa we are playing croquet after the wedding (how fun is that!), therefore you must come dressed in croquet attire if you plan on playing. Of course, we're not miss this experience. Well....did you know that the official attire for croquet is all white or khaki - no blue, pink, yellow - either white or khaki with flat, soft soles shoes. No big deal, right? Well no color - white or khaki. I did find a really cute white dress to wear (it took an entire Saturday) and now onto the shoes. We did get approval on wearing flip flops - which thrills us both - AND today I found out that wedge flip flops would be fine too.....I'm thrilled. I just have to find them. I'm not a huge fan on flats (shoes), so the wedge is fabulous. I'm sure that I'll find some. As I begin to think about packing for our trip I am reminded that I am a nervous packer...especially when going to new and different places. I always worry about wearing what is appropriate for what we are doing, it is going to be hot or cold, will it be cooler at night, it is going to rain, what shoes, how much walking will we be doing, etc. I had to email Brittany (the bride) to get confirmation that the wedge shoes would be ok to play croquet and thankfully they are! OK. enough rambling about my packing anxiety. I'm sure I'll over pack as always and Justin will ask why in the world I need to take so many bags! Regardless of the packing, clothes and shoes - the trip itself is going to be a blast. I'll be posting pix as I can, so be sure to check back over the next couple of weeks.

Later!

What a weekend! I hope that all of you Mom's had a special and amazing Mother's Day. We went to the lake for the weekend with Mom and Dad and Chris, Amanda and Ashlyn. Mom and Dad and Justin and I all went down on Thursday night so that we had all day on Friday to enjoy. The guys played golf and Mom and I spent the day on the dock - the weather was perfect - sunny with a nice breeze. Mom and I had quite the adventure when our umbrella when flying into the lake and then sank - we got in the canoe and and tried pulling it up but that didn't work. We finally decided that we should just go swimming and after lots of laughing and effort we were finally able to successfully rescue the umbrella. Needless to say we were both glad that no one was around with a camera because we may have made the funniest video contest. The lake is still down, but not quite as bad as it was at the end of last year. Ashlyn even enjoyed some water and dock time....she even went on her first boat ride. Saturday Mrs. Pam and Mr. Charles came down to stay the night. It was great to have both of our Mom's together. Mrs. Pam certainly enjoyed having some baby love from Ash. Eventually she'll have one of her own, just not right now. Justin and I cooked our mom's breakfast on Sunday morning. We couldn't ask for better parents, and for that matter better in-laws. We have been greatly blessed with a families that all get along and we love to spend time with.



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Mom

So, in honor of Mother's Day I thought that I would just share a few of my favorite things about my Mom. To all of you momma's out there - you are certainly blessed to have precious gifts from God in each of your children, but you are also such a treasure to your kids. A mother has a special love and care for her babies (even if they are 30) that is not describable. Mom's just seem to know exactly how to take care of you when you are sick, they always know how to clean ANYTHING - how is that??, mom's have an unconditional love and way of nurturing. Most of all they are selfless.



This could be very long, so as I said before these are just a few of my favorites!

1. I love that Mom has a strong love for God our Father! I always know that she is praying for me.
2. I love that my Mom loves my dogs as much as I do - as if they were really my babies (which they are for now) and she takes such good care of them. She doesn't mind being my baby-sitter for my Dogs.
3. I love that when Mom comes to my house for dinner she always helps to clean up after dinner - and I don't always reciprocate!
4. I love that we talk multiple times a day.
5. I love that she is not only my mom but my friend!
6. And I love that she has a green thumb.
7. I love that she loves me so much and her never ending support that she gives in all areas of my life.

We are looking forward to a fun weekend with our mom's. Justin and I are both very blessed to have such wonderful and loving mom's.

Coffee

Most of you know that I am not a coffee drinker - it has something to do with coffee breath; that is all that I think of when I try coffee. Well Justin never has been much of a coffee drinker either, so when we got married we didn't register for a coffee maker. Justin would drink coffee on rare occasions - like in a hotel. Men's Health recently said that it is healthy and good for you to drink coffee, well that is all that Justin needed and he is now a coffee drinker. Thanks to Chris and Amanda, we now have a coffee maker and I have a more of a 'morning husband' than I did before. If I had known that coffee was the big secret, believe me I would have purchased a coffee maker long ago. The coffee brews at 7am and he is up, drinking and starting his day. Before coffee he would roll out of bed close to 8, so this is a serious change. It really does make me happy to see him so excited about his coffee. It is so funny and I love it! But all of this coffee excitement in the Hicks household really got me thinking about God. You know what if I woke up early with excitement every day to meet with God, not so much for coffee but to spend quiet time with God. I read a devotion today about how God wants us to spend time with Him – that simple fact never seems to amaze me. I should be jumping up early every morning to have my time with Him, whatever it is that coffee does to you He will supply a million times over. That is what I am going to strive to do, maybe while I’m alone with God I’ll have to taste Justin’s coffee…who knows. I hope that you have an awesome Monday but that you will also find a few minutes and just spend that time in silence with God. oh and..Feliz Cinco De Mayo.

Hey. So, I first created the blog just so that I could add pix and stuff while we are in Napa (count down is now 3 weeks). But I started reading other blogs and now I am addicted. I love to read other blogs because it is a constant update. I love it. I have found blogs of friends that I haven't seen in a very long time. Its fun to see where friends are and what they are doing. I'll probably start blogging more, so check back as often as you like. I'm not sure that mine will be as interesting as others and please don't check and critique my grammar and or spelling - these are certainly not my strong skills. Thankfully God didn't intend for me to be an English teacher!

Here are some pictures from last weekend. Chris and Amanda came up and brought Sweet Ashlyn. Isn't she just precious! She climbed to the top of Mom and Dad's stairs and thought it was so much fun! I didn't get to spend much time with her as I was in Auburn on Saturday with my roomies - which was absolutely fabulous! and Sunday I went to Talledaga with Chris, Dad and Justin - yet another fun day!

I think that is it for now. Love you all! SC

ps - if any of you have a blog let me know so that I can visit!