The Great Debacle

We just got home from visiting our families in Greensboro. Our weekend was so fun and full! We had the chance to babysit Lila and Amelia on Friday night while Matt and Evan were out. Lila and I got to lay in bed and "girl talk" before she fell asleep. By the way, I totally miss girl sleepovers and talking ourselves to sleep, Luke just does not know how to do it. Lila fell asleep as we finished talking about princesses, favorite colors, nail polish, her light-up turtle, dancing, etc. What a sweet time it was. And then there is Amelia who is the snuggliest, sweetest, baby I have ever met. Her cheeks make my heart melt...

Saturday morning we got up and had a fabulous breakfast with Connie and then I headed over to Evan and Matt's to play with the girls again. Lila and I spent time "flying" and having a fake birthday party all while catching up and spending some QT time with Matt and Evan...

Later that day, Luke went to Squatty Pant's wedding in Durham while Evan, Connie and I celebrated Connie's birthday at the spa (her bday was in November but this was the first weekend we could make it down). We had an AMAZING winter salad and french onion soup at the Greensboro Country Club and then headed to Chakras for facials. It was so much fun...relaxing and spending time with family is one of my favorite things to do.

After the spa, Connie had a painting party to host, so Evan and Matt got a babysitter and we headed to dinner at Lucky 32. The food and conversation was wonderful, and afterward Connie met up with Luke and I for a drink at the new 1618 bar.

And then this morning my parents hosted a brunch for everyone and we got to spend the morning eating and catching up. It was fun to have everyone over at my parents...I love how marriage can bring families together. After playing and chatting it was time to head home and for the first time in a long time I felt genuinely sad about coming back to VA. This weekend reminded me of how much I love being close to my family and friends in NC.

I have been in Harrisonburg for 3.5 years now and having been driving back and forth to NC ever since. The 3.5 hour drive is beautiful, but it is also annoying and exhausting. This has left Luke and I in a debacle:

We have wonderful new friends and an amazing church here in Harrisonburg. We feel at home here and love the people we have created new relationships with. But, we still find ourselves constantly driving home to continue relationships with friends and family that we deeply care about. We value these people and the thing they all have in common is this: they are at least 3.5 hours away and all live in NC. Not only does this cost a lot of money, but also spending weekends away from your home can be tiring. It seems that we pack up every Friday and have to unpack every Sunday...

How can we "be here" but also "be there" at the same time? How can we make sure we are making new friends in Harrisonburg while also making sure we do not miss our nieces growing up? Or important family events? Or weddings and showers of those we have known for over 10 years? I never realized it until this weekend, but I really envy my friends in Harrisonburg who have family close by. They are constantly going there for Sunday dinners or dropping off their kids at their grandparents...but Luke and I just have eachother.

Being in Harrisonburg has been the greatest gift to our new marriage and life together. We have established ourselves as a couple and God has blessed us with people in our lives that only know "The Logans" and not "Taylor Register and Luke Logan." No one here knows me as "Tay Reg" but only as "Tay Lo." Sometimes it is so refreshing, but other times it makes me sad.

So, friends, that is our debacle. Our heart is both in Harrisonburg and NC at the same time and sometimes it feels like life would be easier if it was just in one place...who knows where we will end up after I graduate, but either way we need to balance our present and see where we are right now as a gift.

Also, for those of you in CSPA...lets start thinking about a metaphor for this one :)

Valentine's Day Pie

Valentine's Day has never been a big deal to Luke and I, but we always try to do a little something special for each other. This year I woke up to post-its hidden all around the house with sweet things that Luke likes about me (apparently I have 20 more to find). So far I have discovered them in places like: my shoes, kitchen cabinets, text books, underwear drawer, etc. I also came home to a nice table all set up with our china and a nice bottle of wine! It was wonderful...

nice and greasy after a long day of work and school

So you might be wondering what I did for my valentine? Well, if you know Luke then you know that he loves pies. If you know me, then you know baked fruit creeps me out; therefore, most pies disgust me. And if you have been reading my blog for awhile, then you know that my history with pies is short and sad, click here for my first pie story.

This year for Luke's birthday I gave him a coupon book for different things, and some of them conveniently included expiration dates (haha). Luke forgot to turn his pie one in on time, so I thought I would surprise him with making him a pie anyway for Valentine's Day. I really thought all things were lined up for a great night of pie:

1. Last year I messed up so bad it can only get better from here

2. I had my special pie plate that my mom found me at my grandma's. I think she thought it would help me out in my future endeavors:

3. I also had my grandma's Kitchen Aid...in hopes that her spirit would suddenly make me a good baker....and I must say it made me look like a natural (and that cute apron of course)

4. my mom called with some last minute advice about making sure your egg whites are room temperature.

So, all odds were in my favor and everything seemed to be going pretty well...and then I got the meringue (at least I pronounced it right this year), and instead of getting thick and high...it got about as thick as a piece of paper.

This is what I was hoping for:

and this is what I got:

Oh is that lemon soup?! Or, maybe a melted lemon bar? Maybe some snot? NO! That is the pie that I made. Seriously, I tried so hard. Maybe I need to stick to Costco or calling my grandma to make desserts that I am responsible for (oops Thanksgiving). So this year I got the flavor right, but the consistency and the meringue were mediocre at best. However Luke was just happy to see me try and followed up my sad attempt with a great veggie/ravioli dinner for the 2 of us.

So, Valentine's Day was great...but let's hope next year is the year with the pie!

Lila's Nail Studio

We had the chance to go home to Greensboro this past weekend to see our good friend Daniel Goans marry the love of his life, Lauren. It was a beautiful weekend full of friends and laughs. Sadly, my pictures of the wedding did not turn out too well, so I do not have too many to share, but here are a few:

The Logans with Sarah and Houston at the Rehearsal Dinner

Charlie, Leo (who surprised everyone) and Drystan

Also, the night of the Rehearsal Dinner happened to be a Coach's Conference at the Downtown Marriott. I was sitting by myself in the lobby waiting for Luke, and saw lots of NC State coaches. Then I realized the man that was standing right in front of me was Tom O'Brien, the head coach of NC State's football team. After contemplating for a few minutes, I finally got the courage to go up to him and introduce himself. I then awkwardly told him how much my dad loves him and asked him for a picture...

of course I had to throw up my pack sign!

The wedding was Saturday morning at Grace (where Luke and I got married)!

I wish I could have captured the simple, genuine, hipster coffee shop feel that they were able to present at their wedding and reception!

After the wedding we headed to Evan and Matt's to visit and spend time with family. Well we thought that was what we were there to do...apparently we had an appointment to get our nails done as well! First, Lila painted her own nails, then Ci-Cis, and then Evans...and after INSISTING that she paint Uncle Luke's nails, he finally gave in. He pleaded for blue, but she would not have it. Pink it was.

Lila is thrilled and Luke is scared to death

note the princess polish all lined up...

Who needs a professional when you have her?

After finishing Luke's nails she wanted to paint mine. Given that I had just painted mine and had an awards ceremony to attend the next day, I politely declined. Then she looked at me straight in the eyes and said, "sit down." Well, who can say no?!

haha i'm not sure about this face...

Then it was time for her to do her toes! She knew exactly what to do...

this might be my favorite pic of her!

After her dad dried her toes with the hair dryer, she was ready for her princess party!!

By the way, the last time Lila wore that dress, she was the flower girl in our wedding! Apparently it is her new favorite "princess dress" and wears it every day (but she insists the bow is not tied!).

Meanwhile Evan and Amelia were hanging out and snuggling....2 very sweet girls!

We had a great weekend at home even though it was too quick. We are excited to go back in a couple weeks for another wedding and a spa day with Evan and Connie (for Connie's belated birthday present)!