Honeymoon Cruise

For anyone who has never been on a cruise before, you need to go! For our honeymoon, Devin and I cruised on the Freedom of the Seas with Royal Caribbean. This is the largest cruise ship in the world right now.

Our first stop was in Labadee, Haiti. Here, we got to enjoy a beach barbeque on a private resort.

The next day, we went to Montego Bay, Jamaica. After arriving, we took a taxi and then a six wheel independent drive vehicle into the jungle. We were able to go on a course of five ziplines, including the longest one in the Caribbean. This day was an absolute blast.

On our last stop, we visited Georgetown, Grand Cayman. I have always wanted to visit the Cayman Islands, so this was amazing. We got to go on a three-stop snorkel excursion. The first visit was to Stingray City, where we swam with, played with, fed, and kissed (for luck) stingrays! Additionally, we were able to go snorkel the Coral Gardens and Barrier Reef. This was a great day.

However, the cruise had to end, as all good things do. So, we made our way back to Watkinsville to settle in to our new, temporary home for the summer!

Wedding Day

Two weeks ago was one of the greatest days ever imaginable. Devin and I were married in the Atlanta Georgia Temple and had a reception in Bogart afterwards.

The night before, we had a super fun barbeque/pool party for Devin’s and my families to meet for the first time. I also had a lot of time with my sisters that night.

Nearly my whole amazing family (We missed you Kate!) was able to come for it. While I am now a "Stephens," I will always be a "McCollum" as well.

I also got to join a new, wonderful family that day.

But, the best part of all was that I gained a husband and became a wife that day. Nothing could have been better that day than that.

A Sticky Situation...

I have a new favorite gum, I think: Orbit Mist Watermelon Spring. I can't wait to try the rest of the Orbit Mist line: Mango Surf and Peppermint Spray. While not accepted by the ADA to strengthen teeth like the regular Orbit gum line, it's just too cool not to try. However, I have a WARNING! If you try to blow a bubble...

You might in up in a very sticky situation!

Winding Down...

I thought college went fast. Wrong. Grad school has been the fastest part of my life...hands down. A year ago, I hadn't even graduated college. 11 months ago, I was just moving to Athens. Wow. Now, in 15 more days, I will be done with college for a verrrrrrrry long time. Someday I'll get a doctorate's, but not now. It's cRaZy that college is ending!

Seventeen Years Ago...

Seventeen years ago, three of my sisters and I sat at the window watching a flash flood outside our Las Vegas home debating what a Native American would name a baby who was born that day. Around dinnertime that night, my little sister was born...without a Native American name. Jessa came as a very loud little girl who wanted to make her presence very known. Every since then, she has always been very energetic, outgoing, and crazy. And, while we could barely stand each other when we were sharing a room at ages 6 and 12, we couldn't be closer now. She has grown to be a very smart, beautiful, and amazing person. Jessa is now one of my very best friends.

Happy Birthday Jessadork!!! I love you!!!

Little Boy Blue

One week ago, I had a sleepy, floppy-earred little puppy to bring home with me. He spent the majority of his time napping and loved spending time in his little bucket bed. At that point, he was given the name Blue for his beautiful eyes.

A few days later, his ears began to stand up, and he looked adorable. Also, he began to be more comfortable with his new enviornment. Blue has a pile of toys that he became inseperable from at this point.



Just a couple days ago, his ears stood up all the way!!! I think he looks so cute and goofy with his too-big ears! I can't get enough!



These pictures may also be the first time he has sat still in days. He loves to play and be active--night and day!



The newest challenge is to teach him to walk on a leash, because I need a running buddy, and he will certainly have enough energy to do it! Of course, he has also found a fire hydrant that he loves...

Puppy Love!!!

When I arrived home on Saturday, I learned that my parents' neighbors had a new litter of puppies! Dad walked into the house carrying one of them, and he was adorable!!!

After talking with Devin and doing very little convincing (he was hooked too!), we decided he had to come home with me at the end of the week.

Since then, I have been spending a little time with him each day...I just can't get enough!

By the end of the week, he will be 5 1/2 weeks old and ready to leave his three brothers and his mother. And, Devin and I will name him once we get home!