OIB Beach Week 2011

Every year since I can remember my mom's family gets together for beach week! We have this thing down to a science...

About two weeks before we left, Aunt Dara sent out THE SPREADSHEET. This was the first year I had the privilege of being able to view it, I guess being married means you are grown up or something. Dara created this spreadsheet that lets everyone know exactly what to bring, what night they are cooking, and what they need to buy from the grocery store for that particular meal. This was probably the first time it had been changed in 10 years since Luke, Dereck and I made it to the line-up for the firs time with Fish Tacos! Yes, every year we eat the same meal on the same day...haha!

Here is our week in summary:

Saturday: Arrive and immediately bring a cooler down to the beach. Eat a late dinner of salmon, salad, and garlic mashed potatoes (made by the Haneys). Play a game (this year was Mexican Train and Luke won!).

Sunday: Get up early and head to the beach. We usually read for the first part of the afternoon (I finished the first Hunger Games in 2 days--ahhh so good!), head in for lunch and then head back to the beach till late. This is usually when the boccee ball begins. Eat hamburgers and hot dogs (made by grandma and grandpa). Play a game. This year we added a new one to the mix, Sequence.

*sidenote: As you know one of my goals this summer was to win the family bocce ball tournament...and I must say I have improved so much on my bocce this year. I finally found out I just need a personal "coach" to tell me where to aim and then I let the ball go and win every time (well, almost every time). Dereck was my partner for most of the week until I found out he tried to trade me in for mom (who is way worse than I am btw). So, I then ditched him for dad and we won the Register portion of the tournament. For the whole sha-bang Luke and dad took the title. It was a great week of games this year*

The Register Champs holding the victory ball

Monday: Morning walk. beach, lunch, bocce. Luke and I go see Grandma Sue and Dick in Myrtle Beach for a wonderful lunch. Leave the beach early to go to dinner. Before dinner we take family photos (the same ones every year). Then we go to the same restaurant--Calabash. Which, in my opinion, is not good. Anyone else? Not sure why we keep on going back there other than Grandpa John loves it. One year we tried something else and it didn't go to well (bad service). Thus, we continue to eat fried fish until our stomachs explode. Literally, explode.

good looking fam...

note: don't let child hold Luke's head...this was right after we dropped him.

Cobe and Dara being silly on the dock behind the restaurant

got to love Aunt Dara!

Tuesday: A new tradition: The guys went fishing together! The rest of us girls went to the beach, lunch, guys join for bocce. Of course we eat steaks, salads and veggie (made my parents). play game-maybe some apples to apples this time around.

Luke caught a sting ray! Too bad we can't eat that.

The men with their flounder! It was delicious.

Wednesday: The girls go thrift shopping in Calabash (newer tradition)! By the way, I found the cutest dress and shoes for $20 total with birthday money Grandma gave me :) Go home, eat lunch. Beach...this time Luke, Dereck and I leave a little earlier to get started on our new meal--FISH TACOS. Which was a hit! The cool part? We used the flounder that the guys caught on Monday! Then we watch So You Think You Can Dance (duh.)


Thursday: You know the routine...and this year Marty Heise (A great friend from high school) came and joined us for PIZZA night. Yes, we always order from Tony's Pizza.

OK Grandma Becky is rocking out that bathing suit and hat...hope I look like her when I'm in my sixties!

MARTH--she is getting married soon!!

Friday: A whole lot of beach and eating left over food. For dinner dad makes an awesome seafood meal of some kind...and one last night of playing games.

Ted and Deb holding it down.

Saturday: We cry and go home.

As you can tell, we have a routine. And pretty much things say the same, we get a little older every year and our games change slightly. And every year I feel so blessed and fortunate to be a part of such a wonderful family who loves and supports one another.

Just Dance

A couple weeks ago we were in Greensboro for Chad and Rachel's wedding and it was a weekend full of dance!

First of all, I got to spend time with the sweetest and cutest girl I know, Lila! It felt like forever since we had seen her, and she is just growing up so fast! She turned 2 in May and is expecting a sister in November! Anyway, ever since I can remember Lila has loved dancing. Connie, Luke's mom, dances and Lila LOVES and I mean LOVES watching CiCi dance. She begs to watch the videos every time she walks into her house.

So, of course before we headed to the pool we had to watch some dancing videos and decided to do some dancing ourselves. Luke pulled out the flip cam (of course) and got some of it on tape. I just had to put it in here...but you must ignore his zooming in on my rear. haha.

Lila and Taylor Dancing from Luke Logan on Vimeo.

Isn't Lila the cutest thing? I just want to cuddle with her all day, except she isn't really the cuddling type--she is to busy for that (just like me!). Maybe one day she will be on So you Think you can Dance?

So, I started out my day dancing and ended my day dancing. Ever since I watched Modern Family (my favorite show on TV btw) and the episode where Mitch does a flash mob for Cameron, I have been dying to participate in one myself! I was THRILLED to find out there was going to be a SURPRISE FLASH MOB at the wedding! It was perfect for Chad and Rachel as they love to dance and have a great time.

How did this work?! Rachel's MOB had the idea and sent out a a video for all of us to watch to learn the moves. We told her we could participate and then she sent us the time we were supposed to enter. Then, after the rehearsal dinner, they got Rachel and Chad out of there (no idea how) and we practiced all together. It was so much fun!

So during the beginning of the reception they started and it was a hit. It was fun to watch Chad and Rachel at first as they nervously laughed...but as we continued they were excited and loving every minute. Check out the video:

Untitled from Luke Logan on Vimeo.

Cool idea right?!

What a fun weekend of dancing and hanging out...

Catching up with the Logans

So, I am playing a bit of catch up...after going to a wedding and packing up our life, Luke and I moved into a townhouse 2 weeks ago on a Friday. Then the next day we got up and drove 7.5 hours to spend the week with my family at Ocean Isle Beach. We got home on a Saturday night and spent one day getting things together before I had to be at work on Monday. We just got internet this week, so lets just say things have been a bit crazy! But I want to fill you in some on what the Logans have been up to!

We had great plans for July 4th this year. We got reservations at a great place downtown to sit on the rooftop and watch the fireworks! We got together some of our bffs from the burg and the newly-weds (Jake and Ash) were even able to join us the day after their wedding (they had a few days in between getting married and going to the Dominican Republic). We were going to have great drinks, wonderful company, a beautiful view, and delicious food.

And then it down poured. Like, really down poured. And, they could only sit us on the roof. So, those of us with the best rain gear sat in the rain, while the others got under the umbrella. Our food took 3 hours and they messed up our orders quite a bit. Lots of broken promises for sure. It took Jake the whole time we were there to get his one cup of coffee. Now, I must say I felt bad for our waiter and have been back to Pennybacker's since and things have been great! So, all of this was OK and laughable because we still were holding on to the fact that the fireworks would begin at 10:00 as promised. And then at 10:15 they were canceled... at least we had each other!

Paul and Nichole trying to stay dry! They are next to get married in November!

Ash and Jake KAVE, nothing could make these love birds upset...

The weekend after the 4th we had the chance to go see our friends Chad and Rachel get married. We have known them forever, and it was great time to get together with all our friends from Greensboro. They have such a sweet love story and we were glad we got to celebrate with them. Unfortunately, our camera battery died and I only got one picture...

Don't these boys looks great?! Ren, Luke and Julian.

The weekend after the wedding, Luke and I packed up and moved to Vine Street, about 3 miles from Big Love. During the move we felt completely blessed! We had 8 friends show up with 4 pick up trucks and we moved everything in less than 2.5 hours. It was by far the smoothest and easiest move I have ever had (and I have had A LOT of moves). After we moved, we had pizza and beer and a wonderful time with your friends. I wish we had pics!

The next morning, we woke up and headed to the annual family beach trip at Ocean Isle Beach (more on that to come). And ever since then it has been working, unpacking and trying to get settled. As I speak there are boxes and items EVERYWHERE...but Deb will be coming soon to help us with the finishing touches!

Hope you enjoyed catching up with the Logans! More to come...

The Big Question

Everyone is asking, "is the new move going to change your blog name?"! The answer is...I don't know. Which is why I need you to answer the poll question on the left of the blog.

Should we leave it the same?

Should we change it to "Logans on the Vine" since we are moving to Vine Street?

Should we change it to "Logan Lane" just because I think the name is cute.

Should I stop blogging in general?

Do you have a name suggestion?! Leave a comment because I'm running out of ideas and need your help!

Moving on up...

literally. We are moving on up. Out of the cellar and into a townhouse. This brings a mix of different emotions.

The cellar, and most importantly Big Love in general, has been so good to us. We have made a lot of memories during the past 2 years it has been a part of our lives. It has seen all of us through many seasons of our lives, and we have seen it go through different seasons too:




I cannot imagine spending our first year of marriage anywhere else. I lived here when we got engaged and planned the wedding...and then we spent our first year of marriage here. We started new jobs, got in our first fights, bought our first car, started graduate school, learned how to love each other as husband and wife all in this little cellar. And I know it has meant just as much to the other girls who have lived here the past 2 years. We have seen many engagements, changes in jobs, break-ups, different bachelors/bachelorettes and winners of So you Think you can Dance (oh yes).

During one of our last nights together we all shared some of our favorite memories in the house. I can't remember them all, but here were a few:

1. Our first year here, Ashley was using the jacuzzi downstairs and put on the jets before the water reached the top of them. They couldn't turn them off and the next thing you know Amy runs upstairs screaming "the basement is flooding!!" Apparently, they held up tarps to try to keep the water in before our not so cool landlord, Mr. Batey, "saved the day."

2. The Cinnamon Challenge

3. Themed Dinners...specifically childhood dinner!

4. Seeing Big Lovers getting married...Sarah and I even got married a week a part! And her and Amy got engaged a week a part!

5. Snow Days...games, sledding, cooking LOTS of bacon, margaritas, oh yeah and games...also the weekend that I accidentaly slammed Daph (the cat) across the floor and into the wall

6. Big Love Beach Trip

7. Luke's birthday, aka Key Lime Pie Night

8. Any night of being entertained by the SYTYCD cast and all the bachelors/bachelorettes!

9. Wine and cheese Part 1

10. When I accidentally left the door open for a couple hours. Jess and Holly came back to the house and found the stray black cats in our living room. Apparently it was the most mad Jess had ever been...I think she used a broom to get them out?! Oops!

And the list goes on and on and on...

as sad as we are to leave the Love, we are really excited about having windows in every room and floors without drains!!! So goodbye love, and hello vine street. It's been a good one.

Kaveman found a Kavewoman...

aka Jake and Ashley got married this past weekend.

Yes, Luke and I went to another wedding (we are in the middle of a 3 weekend streak). But, this was not just any wedding...it was a wedding of celebrating our sweet Harrisonburg friends, Ashley Howe and Jake Kave. And they happen to be friends with horses and true blood cowboys and cowgirls.

Their wedding was at Hermitage Hills Farm in Waynesboro, VA. The venue could not have been more beautiful or perfect for these two. I kept on telling Luke if we got married there people would laugh because, well, until last weekend neither one of us were horse people...and unlike my kin, we have never been farm folk. BUT Jake and Ash fell in love and got engaged during a sweet horse ride through the countryside...it was simply amazing.

Katie and I had the best job of all. We got to hand out programs which means you get to see everyone that attends the wedding...we loved it...and did a pretty good job if I must say so myself.

Holly Hermes came all the way from Atlanta to celebrate. Love her!

where the ceremony took place

Amy and Nathan, Katie, me and Holly before the wedding began

Sweet Meg. Ashley's mom made these bridesmaids dresses!

oh and no big deal but the beautiful bride was also wearing a wedding dress that her mom made especially for her...

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Kave!

Cocktail hour in the stables? Fine by me..and the horse loving on Katie.

After Lisa and Brandon's engagement, all Luke wanted was a puppy...now all he wants is a horse. By the way, I hate horses. I had one bad experience at Girl Scout camp...

some of Big Love reuniting for the big day...love the ladies in boots!

the views were amazing

reception

Jake and his big love ladies...his cowboy hat was a hit!

So the Cellar Dwellers had another amazing weekend celebrating love. We feel so blessed to see so many people we care about commit their lives to the Lord and each other. Here's to another one next weekend! Congrats to the Kaveman and Kavewoman...have fun in the DR!

Jordan + Anna: Part 2

Anna and Jordan got married at an AMAZING inn in Winston-Salem, The Grayln. It was absolutely beautiful. They got married in the garden and the reception was throughout the inn. While the guys were out golfing, the girls spent the whole day getting ready:

Sigma Kappas

Anna decorated parts of the inn with old wedding dresses that people in her family had worn. What a cool idea! The one above is her mom's old dress displayed. Also, the veil that Anna is wearing has been in her family for several years. She is the 15th bride to wear it and it was gorgeous!

Anna gave us all some mint spray before walking down the aisle

Where the ceremony took place

Mr. and Mrs. Geras

I love this pic! We climbed a lot of stairs to make this happen...and it was worth it!

protecting our necks from choppers

why does it look like Lindsay is about to give Courtney a lap dance?

have fun in St. Lucia

Yes, we got a limo. Are we hot stuff or what?

What an eventful and memorable wedding weekend. I loved being with you all...and I can't wait till October!