Christmas 2010: We drove; We ate; We conquered

This Christmas holiday, our first Christmas as a married couple, was spent visiting our wonderful family and friends.  1,434.8 miles and 1 8-inch windshield crack later, we're back home!  Below in map form is an abbreviated view of our trip:  Daphne to Starkville, Starkville to Brookhaven, Brookhaven to Jackson, Jackson to Brookhaven, Brookhaven to Gadsden, Gadsden to Memphis, Memphis to Daphne!  

Daphne:  We packed our bags, loaded up the 'stang, and bid Mardi farewell.  No worries!  My friend Liz was a very capable caretaker for Mardi while we were gone.

Starkville:We changed into fancy clothes in an un-fancy gas station and arrived with time to spare in Starkvegas to attend our friend Lori's wedding.  We actually had 5 (five!!) friends getting married that same day, but Lori won out since she was a scripture reader at our wedding  =)  The ceremony was in a Baptist church in Starkville and was absolutely beautiful.  I'm not usually a fan of traditional in-a-big-church-weddings, but this one was very personal and unique.  Afterward, on what seemed to be the coldest night of the year, we enjoyed a semi-outdoor rustic reception off site.  I guess since I am post-wedding planning I tend to appreciate all the details that went into a wedding better.  Lori had burlap and mason jars and frozen custard and delish food!  She did a great job!  We skipped out on the reception early though because we had to make a 3 hour drive to ...


Brookhaven:  We stayed here for a few days with Stuart's parents.  Though not pictured on the map, we took one day to drive to Prentiss, MS with Stuart's dad to visit Meme, his grandmother.  She wanted to take us out to lunch.  In a town of around 3,000 there aren't many restaurants to choose from; however, we happened upon Williams' Old Time Country Buffet.  It had an all-you-can-eat buffet with various fried meats and delightful vegetables which often contained more pork than they did plant product.  Most of the patrons there were in head to toe camo and appeared to have just walked out of the woods.  I ate only vegetables but still think I gained a pound or two.  Otherwise, back in Brookhaven, we just enjoyed time relaxing.  I even read a novel!  We also took some time to go on a few family walks around the neighborhood and took a drive to see Christmas lights.  On the second to last day of this leg of the trip we took a short drive to ...


Jackson: We met up with several friends at Mugshots, a delicious hamburger joint.  I had a burger smothered in blue cheese and, well, it just doesn't get much better than that!  We enjoyed our dinner together and then headed back to ...


Brookhaven:  one more day here, then we were off to ...


Gadsden:  Being married is wonderful, but it definitely complicates holiday plans since there are now two families to visit with.  Stuart and I decided that we would spend more time with his family, but even it out by spending the big days of Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with my family.  We arrived in Gadsden a couple of days before the 24th and were able to visit with my old church family and my Uncle Jerry.  On Christmas Eve we had our traditional Brown Family Christmas (mom's side), which usually involves eating a lot of delicious foods and watching the kiddos open present.  If we're lucky, there is singing involved.

Exhibit A of delicious food

Trenton, the youngest of the grand-kids, ate too much of Exhibit A and had to take off his pants.

Trenton walking with Papaw around the back yard.  Presh!

The yearly family shot

On Christmas Day in Gadsden, Santa came and he brought SNOW with him!!!  It was the first recorded white Christmas in Gadsden in 100 years!  We opened our Christmas presents and headed outside to play!

Newly fallen snow on the yard reindeer my dad made

=)

Good thing Stuart grew out his vacation beard so his face was warm!

Our Christmas day finest

View from the front seat of the 'stang on our way to ...

Memphis:  After a 4 hour drive, mostly in the snow, we arrived at Dee Road to celebrate the Saulters/Ray family Christmas!  We had a great visit with them and especially with little Vera Kate!

Vera Kate has taught me that I like children after all!  =)

Two peas in a pod ... watching present opening while wearing a Saulters' family tradition

Uncle Stu is learning!

The Ray's most beautiful Christmas decoration:  La-a.  Long story there.

Finally, Monday morning, the time came to head back to our little neck of the woods.  Stuart had been disappointed all trip because a Chipotle restaurant was supposed to open in Memphis, but was not yet ready for us.  I had no idea the love and obsession Stuart has for this restaurant until we were married.  So on the way home, we took all highways and back roads so that we could go to Tuscaloosa (The Armpit of the South) to eat lunch at their Chipotle.  Stuart got his burrito, and we got to pass through a lot of interesting places along the way, such as the twin cities of Guin and Gu-win.  Guin is the only city in Marion County that sales alcohol; Gu-win (same pronunciation) has a population of 204 and has 1 policeman. 

That's a happy man right there, folks

We made it back home safely after an 8 hour drive!  Mardi welcomed us back with open arms.  I think she was afraid we abandoned her because she has been super nice ever since!  And I think now we're ready to stay home for a while ...