N.S.P.D.

Yes, National Stephanie Pleva Day!! It's finally here. This year in honor of the 30th anniversary of this major holiday Adam, myself, King Richy and Lil Cub are taking a lovely Carnival, aka prices right on acid, cruise to Cozumel Mexico! Boat leaves tomorrow, coctails begin at six. I hope everyone enjoys thier NSPD and has a drink for me!!

North Kakalaki

Well that's what Adam calls it. Anyway we just returned from our 10 day trip up to North Carolina for Adam's brother Josh's wedding. We left after lunch on Thursday with a car full of luggage and two dogs. 10 hours later we were in Garner at his brothers place tired and with soar buts. After some sleep we woke up to...snow! Yes! for a short while on Friday morning they had big white flakes! the dogs were going nuts, it was their first time seeing it. Poor little bruiser was so cold. Friday brought lots off errands and last minute wedding chores. I was enlisted in helping to build the bouquets! And i must say we did a pretty good job. After all the dogs had been taken to the "doggie spa" we loaded up and headed to Benson where the wedding would take place. Leah and Josh had decided to hold the wedding at a b & b; Preston Woodall House. what was super nice was that the wedding party was staying in three cottages across the street. Ours, Lucy's Cottage, was a 3 bed/2 bath with a full kitchen and dinning room. Oh! and our bathroom had heated tile floors!!!

Lucy's Cottage


Adam, his sister Alyssa and brother Josh at the rehearsal

The rehearsal went good, the dinner was great and we played some cards into the night. Saturday was a lot of running around. Since i was not in the wedding i was official helper of all. But as soon as pictures started I was able to get myself ready. The wedding was beautiful, the reception a lot of fun and the family was in good spirits. After the reception the festivities continued in the Lucy house. And man did we pack it! Leah and Josh had hired a baby sitter, with wii for the kids, so there were a few parents who were free for the night and boy did they take advantage of that! All had a great time. The next morning we all awoke to the remnants of a college frat house. We quickly cleaned up and headed to Wilson where Adam's sister lives.

Josh and Leah Young


Adam and I at the wedding

Alyssa was going to be hosting family thanksgiving on Monday and had a houseful already on Sunday. Adam and I decided to order some Pleva's meats from my cousin Tommy and have it shipped over. We had quite the spread; brats, Pleva dogs, summer sausage, cedar sticks and JERKY!!! Everyone enjoyed the food it was nice to share with his family my families traditions. The rest of the day was devoted to resting and playing cards...which we did a lot that week!


Alyssa with the Thanksgiving meal

Monday's thanksgiving was great! and all were full. Tuesday Adam and I headed to Raleigh to go to the N.C. Museum of Natural Science. It was interesting and great to see Raleigh. After that I got a quick tour of NC State, where Adam went to collage, then we met up with old family friends for dinner in Graham then we headed back to Wilson.


In front of the Museum in downtown Raleigh

At the NCSU Bell Tower...i know it's sideways...oops

On Wednesday, believe it or not, we headed back in the same direction we went the day before, only this time to Kernersville. This is were Adam grew up and his good high school and collage friend was home so we had to go see him and his family. We also decided to stop by his mom's grave and leave some flowers since it had been a while since he'd been there. She now has a lovely pot of Mums adorning her plot. Then it was onto Jurgs house, Adam spent the day playing beer-pong! and i rested. Then after all day there I decided we needed to head back to his sisters. She was putting up the tree and we got there just in time to decorate it! I've never in my life put a tree up before thanksgiving. But it was the only chance I was going to get, Thanks Alyssa.

Thanksgiving was spent at Nicks Uncles house. They put on a lovely dinner and were very generous opening their house up to us. That evening Adam's dad Russ rejoined us one last time for a late night of card playing.

At the ECU game with Nick & Alyssa

Friday we went with Alyssa and Nick to their Alma mater, ECU, for a football game. It was my first one this year and we had a good time! When we got back Josh and Leah came over and cooked us a fabulous steak dinner! ooo it was soooo good. Then it was time for more...you guessed it CARDS! Josh invented a card game, needs a name, but it's fun and challenging. After stuffing our face with gourmet cheeses, homemade guacamole and nuts i waddled up to bed to rest up for our long trip home. As we were driving through N. Carolina Adam said to me, "It feels like I have two lives. " I totally understood, we have the lives that we grew up with and when we go back it seems like nothing changed and then we have the lives we chose for ourselves. It's odd that when we travel "back Home" we tend to resort back to that lifestyle and forget all about our new lives...Just a interesting thought that we both had.

All in all It was a great trip, I got a much needed break from "life" and enjoyed spending lots of time with Adam. Now it's count down to the cruise!



Jordan, Casey and Bruiser in his new coat