Wedding, Family Pics & Funny Faces

My good long time friend Erika Ruf got hitched on 7.23.09. The reception was up beautiful Millcreek Canyon. The scenery was great for taking pics. The dress I'm wearing might suggest I'm hiding a baby bump but no I am Not prego.





So Grayden has a few funny faces that he makes. I haven't been able to capture his signature one very well but hopefully soon.

He loves his strawberries!



4 Year Anniversary!!

Shut Right Up!!
It's been 4 years????
Holy Smokes!!

It's been a lot of hard work & bliss but no regrets!


Love you Babe!


09.09.09
Dating
Dating
Engagement Night

Bridal Shower

09.09.09

Farewell Bama!


It was a fantastic trip & much thanks to the Bama Bunch!

(7.14.09-7.21.09)

Coka Cola Factory

7.16.09

The Coke Factory is right next to the aquarium so that's where we headed next. I have to admit that I am team Pepsi but you have to hand it to Coke for they do know how to advertise & have more fun. There use to be something similar in Vegas that I once went to but I don't believe it's what it use to be.

The highlight of this place is the All-You-Can-Drink Coke & Coke products from around the world. There is some disgusting stuff out there that I do not believe people drink. Another fun part was their 4D interactive movie. (I believe the 4D is some how referring to the moving chairs you sit on) Grayden wasn't to sure about the moving chairs but luckily he didn't scream & cry like other children, he just had a wide eye look the whole time. There was also a theater room where you could watch thousands of past Coke commercials. When you left the factory they gave you a glass Coke bottle for a souvenir.







This slide show will probably be real boring to most. It's mostly just a bunch of pics of vintage Coke signs.

Georgia Aquarium

7.16.09

I have to confess something...

My name is Amanda Howells & I am an Aquarium Nerd.

I seriously love them! Something about the sea life is so fascinating to me. I could watch them all day (especially w/ a thick piece of glass in between us). Georgia's deep sea tank is the size of a football field- largest in the world. They had this dome room where you could stand on a flat escalator (like in the airports) & you could just look up & admire the sea life while it moves you on through. It was sooo awesome. They had a 3D interactive movie (like Bugs Life at Disney World). We also went through the Titanic exhibit which was pretty cool & very real with actual artifacts & rooms of the different class of sleeping quarters. They also had a cold wet "iceberg" that you could touch & feel & see how frigid the water was. Before you entered they gave you a ticket of an actual passenger who was on the ship & while you go through out the exhibit you were suppose to figure out if you lived or died. I was a 1st class passenger- T was a 2nd. I survived & T died. This aquarium also had a lot of great touch pools. I touched a shark which is a very hard rubbery feel.

Overall an amazing experience thx again Dad & Beth for taking us there it was awesome! I feel so privileged to have been to two of the best aquariums in the world. (Monterey Bay, CA)

I took this pic bc you can see my dad, McKenzie, T, & myself in the reflection.


Sweet Home Alabama!

We were able to finally plan a vacation back to Bama. As most of you know I have family there (Dad, stepmom, & lil' sis). Also T served his mish there. We've been wanting to go back ever since we've been married. Anyway, we had a blast (minus the plane rides w/ a mobile stubborn baby)! Here is what some of our fun consisted of:
  • Atlanta Georgia Aquarium (largest & I think newest in the world)
  • Coke a Cola Factory
  • Golfing
  • Jim & Nicks
  • Olive Garden
  • Rojo
  • Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince
  • The Preserve
  • Fat Sam's Sub Station
The plane rides pretty much sucked. A big thx though to Baby Einstein & their dvds w/out this wonderful invention we might've left our son in Dallas. (Child Services- we're joking!) The two legs there we were lucky to get the whole row to ourselves & Grayden slept the first 45 min but that was it for all 4 legs!

No, I'm not really sure what is going on with his hair here.
....

Holy Crap!!

My baby boy turned 1 today!!

Insane.



(pics & party details to come)

Garden Update

These pics were taken on 7.13.09







What I have learned thus far...
  • broccoli will turn to flowers
  • squash is very prickly & should wear gloves when handling
  • grasshoppers will come & sometimes when looking deep into your garden they will jump up into your face & scare you half to death!
  • broccoli is an enormous plant
  • kids (nephews) have a hard time not stepping in the garden. once caught they blame it on their younger brother even though the foot print matches there's exactly.
  • your garden can change drastically overnight

Independence Day 09

It's tradition in the Howells fam to go up to the Hunstville house for the morning of the 4th. This year we ate at the Liberty breakfast which is much better then the Huntsville one in our opinion. My grandparents also go to that one as well so it was nice to see them too.
Later we were invited to attend the Fords fireworks show which was awesome as always. They sure know how to host a party! Following that Cami's in-laws stopped by & they had a box of works as well then we headed to our backyard to watch the Thanksgiving Point show which was swell but Grayden missed it- way too sleepy.



You know when you judge a firecracker by the box & you get really excited & have high hopes for it & then it turns out it blows? Well that was this pic & it looks like Grayden agreed.

Tubes Day!

6.19.2009
We arrived at 6:30 am, they checked his vitals, changed him into his little gown & the actual procedure began at 7:30. He did great the first hour but towards the end he started to get fussy because he wanted to eat & nurse but wasn't allowed. When the nurse took him away he was completely content no worries at all. (unlike his father who couldn't sleep the night before & couldn't sit still the whole time). They took us to our waiting room & I had a couple sips of my juice barely read two pages of my book before the doc came in & said they were done & all went well. About 5-10 minutes later the nurse came & told us Grayden was awake & we could now go get him & that's when we heard the screaming. It took us awhile to calm him down, I tried to nurse him but he was still a bit shaken up & disoriented. We got him in the car, he eventually fell asleep & after we got his prescription & before we got home he woke up & he was cooing & acted like nothing ever happened. The end- just kidding. I wish I could say " and they lived happily ever after" but we're still trying to clear up the last ear infection since he got sick again right after the surgery so it's getting better but still not over.