Home Grown Roots

We had a great weekend at the Hershey Spa! I sucessfully got to Hbg and back to Atl with no problems with my flights. Saturday I got to see my grandma and grandpa Chokran at lunch and spend some time with my mom. Then Saturday night I saw my dad and Brenda and had a wonderful dinner and watched the Olympics. Saturday night we celebrated Melissa's birthday at The Winner's Circle and finally got to refresh my line dancing skills- so much fun! Sunday it was nothing but relaxation at the spa with a rain shower, sea soak, lunch, and my very first massage! Then it was chicken encheladas at Lauren and Jeff's! Before I knew it, I was back on my way to Atl. I miss my small hometown already...

The Smith family will be arriving Friday night for a fun filled weekend! We are going to a GT basketball game, can't wait! Of course I have to work Saturday before the game, and our handy-man will be finishing our tile in our sunroom on Friday, so I hope he is gone by the time they get to our house. Talk about close timing!

Another packed weekend, here I come!

Mom's Birthday Weekend!

This Friday night I hope to be catching a plane to PA for mom's birthday! We have a day planned at the Hershey Spa- my first massage ever!! But a threatening snow storm is looming around the corner... We all hope that my flight goes off as scheduled and doesn't put an wrench in our plans. I'm very excited to be able to spend time at home and with my family as well as at the spa. Ironically, it is one of my good friend's birthday as well- so we are going out Saturday night to the Winner's Circle to line dance (soooo much fun!). But again, I hope the snow doesn't keep all that from happening. Even if I do have to stay in GA, I will get to spend a great weekend with my boys. It feels weird leaving both of them for 3 days, I know they will be fine, but the weekends are our time to relax and spend time with one another.

Then next weekend Ben's mom, dad, and brother are coming to visit to see a GT basketball game. We are both very excited to have them here, we miss our family and friends and love visitors ;o). We are ashamed to say that we haven't made it to a basketball game yet at GT- horrible, we know, so we are excited to finally get to one! This will also be Brad's first time to ATL so we are excited to show him our place and the city as well.

As you can see, we will be quite busy these upcoming weeks so I'll try to post when I can. We are also having a handy-man fix our bathroom ceiling (a leak made a whole from the unit above us) and paint (woo hoo!) AND put tile in our screened in porch! So we are busy bee's here and can't wait for it all to be done- thanks to our wonderful landlords- Ben's parents :o)

Miss and love you all!

The mom's visit to pick a wedding dress!

Ben's mom and my mom came down on a last minute notice to come see wedding dresses with me. A few weeks ago, Ben and I went on a whim to check out this one place that I have been eyeing up- well it ended up that I found 3 dresses that I absolutely loved. So I called our mothers and they decided to come down and help me decide on one.

So before the actual appointment on Saturday, we enjoyed some time together (they arrived Thursday afternoon)! We had lots of yummy things to eat, went shopping, and went to see "Young Frankenstein" at The Fabulous Fox Theatre! It was a great show, and our mothers loved it! We are really glad that we went and got to show them a bit of historic Atlanta.

Then the big day came and we went to the bridal store and they had my 3 dresses pulled, and I tried each one on for our mothers. As soon as I put my dress on for our mothers- my face lit up and I knew right away- that was my dress! It was the greatest feeling in the world. And an even better feeling was when my "helper" stood in front of me (veil and all) and asked "Is this your dress?" and I replied "Yes! This is my dress!" my mother then replied "HA, she said yes to the dress!". If any of you know the show on TLC "Say Yes to the Dress" it is about picking out your wedding dress. That night I had a bit of doubt- but that quickly went away when I remembered how I felt in it.

Then Sunday and Monday we relaxed with Wrigley and Ben and enjoyed a day at the Georgia Aquarium- which was away cool. Having them leave is always sad, but I know that I will get to see them at the end of the month for my mom's birthday.

Check out the pictures below!



Ben decided to make this incredible chocolate bunt cake... yummmmm



Wrigley sitting with his Oma



Mom and I at the Georgia Aquarium!



The incredible tunnel at the aquarium- I could have stood there for hours...



The largest saltwater aquarium in the world, the glass was 2 feet thick, and it would take 15 months to fill it with a garden hose... it was HUGE!! (and way cool)

Wedding dresses!

This past weekend, Ben and I went to Priscilla of Boston to look at some wedding dresses. Ben actually agreed to go along (only because there is no one else down here to go with me) and had a good time. I found three dresses that I absolutely love. I was so excited about them that I called my mom and she is making a special trip down just to see the dresses! After she agreed to come, we decided to get Ben's mom, Lisa, in on the fun too. So the two of them are coming down for four days at the end of the month to visit and see the dresses! We also got tickets to go see a musical, The Young Frankenstein, at The Fox Theatre- we both think that our mom's will love it.

Lauren and Jeff are busy at home making home improvements, including a brand new bathroom (everything is new but the bathtub)! Dad and Brenda are busy at home keeping their businesses going and enjoying their winter in PA- skiing weather :o)

Ben's family is planning a visit in March to see a GA Tech basketball game and then again in May for Ben's graduation. I'm going home in February for my mom's birthday, and we're going to the spa... my first massage ever!

I miss everyone at home, but am so glad that I get a "surprise" visit from our mom's and have other planned visits in the future :o) I hope the next to plan a visit are my dad and Brenda, with Lauren and Jeff short to follow (hint hint) <3

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We had a blast spending Christmas in PA. It went way too quckly of course, but we got to see almost everyone that we wanted to. We were very blessed by many wonderful gifts and lots of loving family members. Wrigley made the trip home with us on his first flight (he did great) and got to meet my family! They all loved him and we loved having him with us for Christmas. Ben and I decided to lay low, and spend new year's eve at home with Wrigley after going out for a lovely dinner, just the two of us. We had a great time :o) Now it's back to the grind on Monday! We miss everyone already, below are some pictures from the holiday festivities!


3 generations of Chokrans!


Christmas morning at mom's, it was a white Christmas and everything!


Just another Christmas at my dad's :o)


some members of the Smith family enjoying Christmas morning


we invited friends to Aroogas, what a fun night and we got to see so many friends!


Wrigley being so good in his carrier, ready to go back to the ATL. He layed down all by himself and everything!

Now until Christmas...

This past weekend, Ben and I managed to get a lot of things done. We baked Christmas cookies, sent out some Christmas cards, went grocery shopping among other errands. We are ready to head back to PA for Christmas!

We have a few Christmas parties to go to this week, then I have off on Saturday, then Sunday I head back to work in order to have off on Friday (Christmas day). So this upcoming two weeks will be a little bit odd for us.

I am very anxious for it to be next Thursday and for us to head up to PA. I know that anticipation is half the excitment, but I just want everyone to meet Wrigley- and to be with my family and loved ones for the holiday.

*For all those who will be around on the 26th- Ben and I will be hanging out at Arooga's on Linglestown Rd (accross from Sheetz- on the corner of Linglestown Rd and Colonial Rd) on the evening of the 26th to hang out with friends and family. Anyone is welcome and bring family/friends if you wish. We don't have a firm time yet, so text/call us if you want to join in!

Miss you all... 9 more days until PA! :o)

Pictures from Thanksgiving and our first Christmas tree!

Hello everyone! Below are some pictures from the pasts two weekends. We have been very busy but I managed to capture a few images :o) We picked out our very first Christmas tree from a small family nursery (reminding me of SKH) and had it set up in no time. It looks awesome and really helps keep us in the Christmas spirit down here in the warm state of GA. We can't wait to come home for Christmas and for everyone to meet Wrigley! Hope you enjoy the photos <3>

The awesome fabric we found for our tree skirt

Christmas decorations in the kitchen


a view from the family room into the kitchen

we just got the cardinal picture framed- just in time for Christmas

a festive Ben showing off our fabulous tree :o)

Wrigley crawled up on him all on his own... what a snuggle bug.



He sat there all by himself too, I managed to grab the camera before he moved