Happy New Year!

Hard to believe it's 2012! Last year went by so fast, and the past 6 months have absolutely flown by! Our time here in Birmingham is already half over! In 6 more months, we will be moving (again), Paul will hopefully be starting a new job with a practice, and I will be...well, I don't know quite yet what I will be doing, but I know the Lord will guide me.
Last night we just stayed in to ring in the new year. Unfortunately, we are both starting to feel sick - Paul with a sore throat and me with a head cold, so we weren't really up for going out. We stopped by Whole Foods and picked up some of their prepared meals from the salad bar and the hot meal bar.

I got an "everything-but-the-kitchen-sink" salad - and I mean it had everything in it!! I love salad bars!

 Paul got a New York Strip (which he grilled here), some mac-n-cheese, creamed spinach and wheat rolls. 

And Vance got a pig ear - but he was more interested in our plates. He did get a bite of steak to celebrate the new year, though!

We watched the Auburn-Virginia bowl game, and then Carson Daly's New Year Celebration in New York. Someday, I would actually like to go to New York for New Years Eve! I think it's one of those things I would like to do just to say that I've done it. Maybe some day I will!

Happy New Years!

God Bless

Family Fun

My family loves spending time together doing whatever we can - shopping, cooking, eating around the table together and then sitting for 30 more minutes just talking, playing games, playing cards, or watching movies to name just a few of things we enjoy.

This past weekend while we were there, while I loved doing all of the aforementioned things with them, I think my favorite times were around the table and playing games. We ate really well (thanks to the wonderful cooks in the family!) and we also played some really fun games.

Corn hole - my dad actually made these boards! They're red and blue with the Palmetto and Moon on them. 

Scrabble! My mom and I played a game over breakfast before I had to leave Wednesday morning. It was a  lot of fun, and we had a great board!

This was our new game for the weekend - Hanna introduced us to Settlers of Catan. It's an interesting game, with a lot of instructions, but very fun! We played twice, and I think I finally got it by the end of the 2nd game. 

Of course we played cards. I don't think my family can get together without playing one game of cards - we grew up playing Hearts, Wizard (Oh Heck), Nerntz, sometimes poker, and other games. Saturday night we played Wizard, which is always a good one!

I love playing games. It's a good opportunity to sit with family and enjoy each other - to talk, to compete, to help, to interact, and to have fun. 

God Bless!

A Manning Family Christmas

This has been a wonderful Christmas for my family. We were all able to come to Charleston to be together and celebrate together. And it's been wonderful.

The stockings were hung by the chimny with care.

Mom's beautiful Christmas Dinner table.

Must have holiday treats from my God-mother, Bev - Aunt Sis eggnog and white trash

Edens Mess - my mom's new favorite dessert!

Henry under the tree with the presents.

What Christmas wouldn't be complete with a friendly game of Cornhol - in our pajamas of course. We got better with each game!

My dad and Hanna cheering us on.

Paul and Henry - two very handsome guys.

My amazing family!

Paul, me, David, Meredith, Hanna, Mom, Dad

Merry Christmas from the Reids!

God Bless

Christmas Video

I love this holiday.

I love that we are celebrating our Lord's birth.

I love the time spent with family.

I love giving gifts.

I love the meals and the fellowship.

This video was shown at our church at the Christmas Eve service. It's priceless. It's told and acted by some kids in New Zealand, and is just precious.

Merry Christmas.

God Bless

Chicago

They don't call it the windy city for nothing...but it's an amazing city, and this past weekend, Paul and I went with his family to Chicago. It was a "just for fun family trip"!!

Here's a little of what we did and saw...

We stayed at the Conrad Hotel, which was on Michigan Avenue and walking distance to so much shopping! It was a gorgeous hotel, and in the heart of the city, which was wonderful. 

Shopping downtown! That's an Anthropology bag in my hands - of course!

We went to the top of the Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower). It was really pretty to see the city lights all across the city. 

My next career move - The French Pastry School! 

Breakfast one morning for Paul- a cinnamon role with icing - only while on vacation is that ok.

Sunday we took the bus to Navy Pier and walked around. 

This is the view from Navy Pier looking back at the city - it's so pretty. 

Leah, Kevin, Anna, Scott, Holly, Paul, Me, and George

Hmm...where should we go from here? I'm thinking St. Thomas - it's only 2,116 miles from Chicago.

This place was recommended by a local bus driver as the best hot dog place in Chicago - Portillo's Hot Dogs. While I forgo the hot dogs, everyone else said they were really good. 

We of course stopped by the American Dental Association. It wasn't open, but Paul was still able to get a picture! Do you see him?

Sunday afternoon, we went to the Chicago Theater and saw "A Christmas Story, the Musical". It was very well done, and had many of lines from the movie. Still one of my favorite Christmas movies - I grew up watching the 24 hour replays on TBS.

We then went to The Walnut Room Restaurant at Macy's. Evidently, it is THE place to have a holiday dinner. Our wait time was almost 4 hours to be seated. 

 A HUGE Thank You to Leah and George for such a wonderful family trip. We made some sweet memories, and will always remember this time we had together.

God Bless

Enjoying fall

Yesterday Paul and I got up real early to go hiking. Some friends had recommended Ruffner Mountain for hiking, so we decided to check it out. It was a beautiful, crisp, clear, cold, fall morning, perfect for hiking/walking along a trail. Vance tagged along and had a blast!

Our "hunting dog" at work! 

Hopefully we can go again soon before it gets too cold. I love being outside and especially in the mountains.

God Bless

Change for a Dollar

My mom shared this video with me, and I wanted to pass it along. It's a touching video about "paying it forward". Watch all the way to the end.

Pay it forward today.

God Bless