Four Wonderful Years

Cody and I celebrated our 4th anniversary last Thursday. I can't believe it has been four years since we got married, but it has been four great years! I love you baby!

Our wedding vows:
I, Melanie/Cody, choose you Cody/Melanie to be my husband/wife. Today I join my life to yours. From this day on, I will be your partner and companion, for you are my dearest love and best friend. I look forward to the joy we will find in each other’s separate successes, as well as our shared ones. I welcome the challenge of whatever obstacles we encounter, for I know that whatever we face, we face it together. In times of celebration, I will share your joy. In times of sickness, I will give you care. In times of sorrow, I will help carry your burden and be your refuge of strength in times of uncertainty. I make this covenant with you this day and ask God to help me fulfill my promise as long as we both shall live.

Cody/Melanie, I give you this ring, as a sign that I will love you and honor you, make you laugh, wipe your tears, and hold your hand all the days of my life. In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Our wedding day (6/17/2006)


Eating our anniversary dinner at University Chophouse (6/17/2010)

Our Beach Vacation

Cody and I took a week-long vacation to Myrtle Beach this past week. This trip was a celebration for Cody's graduation and our 4th anniversary (coming up on June 17). We stayed at a new place located in Cherry Grove, called Towers on the Grove. It was very nice and was in a wonderful location. It was far enough away from all the hustle and bustle, but still had restaurants/grocery stores/shops nearby. We had great weather; there was no rain the entire week. Here is our condensed (at least I tried) trip itinerary:

Saturday
After dropping Hershey off at the Hoffman Haus, we arrived at our hotel around 12:30 p.m. We checked in, got unpacked, and went to pick up a few groceries. We decided to go on to Broadway at the Beach and put our name in for dinner at Margaritaville, since there is usually a wait. Dinner was very yummy and it set the tone for a very relaxing vacation!

Sunday
After sleeping in, then spending a long day on the beach, we went to eat at another one of our favorite restaurants at the beach--Johnny Rockets. It is a 50's style restaurant that serves diner style food, like hamburgers, milkshakes, flavored colas, and yummy french fries. We walked around Barefoot Landing, then went to play putt-putt at Lost Treasure Golf. Cody chose this putt-putt place because he wanted to ride the train. He's such a big kid--I love it!

Monday
We decided to make a quick spaghetti dinner at the condo after spending the day on the beach and going down the slide at the pool. We found some great deals at Tanger Outlets, then we went to get some Heath bar ice cream at Painter's Homemade Ice Cream. (I have been going to this place for as long as I can remember. It is a must go-to-place when we are at the beach, and it's too good to only go once!)

Tuesday
We were able to sleep in every day while we were at the beach due to our bedroom being, as Cody says, "a bat cave." It was still so dark in the room at 9 a.m. you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. However, this morning we choose not to sleep in. We got up early, sat on the balcony to listen to the waves and talk while we downed a cup of coffee. We took a walk on the beach towards the Cherry Grove pier during sunrise. It was so beautiful! Then we went to Dino's Pancake House for a hearty, homecooked breakfast. It was an amazing morning, and quite possibly, my favorite part of our entire trip. We have decided that this will be a new tradition for us when we go to the beach.

For dinner, we ate some of the famous ribs at Damon's and then went back to Tanger to finish up some shopping. I love it that Cody likes to shop just about as much as I do!

Wednesday
Another great day on the beach, ended by a relaxed, casual meal at Atlanta Bread Company. Then some more shopping at one of my favorite stores--Marshall's. (Oh, how I wish we had one here in Greenville.) After a quick stop at Rack Room Encore to get Cody some more dock shoes, which we had been looking for about all week, we went to Painter's Homemade ice cream. I indulged in a scoop of banana pudding ice cream, and Cody ate orange pineapple.

Thursday
Our beach day was cut a little short so that we could get ready in time for our dinner at the Dixie Stampede. I had been to see this show many years ago when I was a kid, but Cody had never been before. We both had a great time watching the magic guy in the preshow, stuffing ourselves with tons of food (we each got: a whole rotissere chicken, pork loin, potato wedge, corn on the cob, biscuit, creamy vegetable soup, and an apple turnover), watching the animals, and pulling for the south (what a shocker...they lost)! Afterwards, we played a couple rounds of putt-putt at Mayday. I won a round, by luck, and Cody won the other round.

Friday
It's always a sad day when you know it is your last full day at the beach, but it is even worse when you don't feel well enough to enjoy it. I wasn't feeling well this day, so I spent most of the day in the condo. Cody was sweet enough to stay with me for a while, until I finally convinced him to go out and enjoy himself for a while. Thankfully, I felt well enough to go out for dinner at T.G.I.Friday's and ice cream at Painter's. We went back to the condo to pack and then enjoyed sitting out on the balcony.

Saturday
As sad as we were to leave the beach, we couldn't wait to get home to pick up our little baby! Hershey was so glad to see us! It was nice to be home, but we sure did enjoy our vacation!