Memorial Day Weekend & Birthday #3

We had a great holiday weekend. It was so nice to have the extra day off from work and just relax. It was a scorching hot weekend in Nashville, 90's and sunny the whole time.

Saturday was Sadie's 3rd b-day. We celebrated the day by doing all her favorite things... we played frisbee in the morning and went for a really long walk at the greenway. Before Matt & I started getting ready to go out for dinner and a movie, we gave her a special b-day dinner.

{chicken, cottage cheese and rice. Dogs love it and it's actually good for them and doesn't upset their stomachs} 

{she went straight for the chicken}

{then it was time for dessert - a birthday cookie from the doggie bakery}

Monday was a lazy day, but we did have some yummy BBQ. Matt made his famous Stuffed Hamburgers and I did grilled asparagus and corn. We love our corn - rubbed with olive oil, salt and pepper and then topped with parmesan cheese.

{ YUM!!! Matt's hamburgers are amazing, but so much food. They really are for men! }

Pea Green with Envy

This Spring has been a crazy mess of storm, then hot, nice days. That makes for grass that grows I swear like an inch a day. By the time the weekend comes there is no option for not mowing. Matt has literally mowed the lawn every weekend all Spring long.

A few weekends ago there was spotty rain, but there just wasn't enough time to wait for the ground to completely dry, so Matt cut the grass when it was still a little damp. Sadie gets so excited when the grass is cut she has to run around and goes crazy.

This is what you get when the grass is still damp, you cut it and then let the dog run around!

{the camera doesn't even come close to getting the craziness of the green}

{She knew it was bath time} 

Playoffs - Part II

As I've said, there's been a lot of hockey in this house for the past couple of months. The Nashville Predators made it to the playoffs and for the first time made it past round 1. This was a big deal here in Smashville. They made it to round 2 and were playing Vancouver, the favorite to win the Stanley Cup this year. It was game 6 of the series and it was the last home game. The Preds had to win to go to game 7.

Matt got tickets and off we went to cheer on our Preds and hope they made it to game 7.

{Vancouver and Nashville have very similar colors, so Nashville fans dressed in Yellow for the "Gold Rush". I don't really have much yellow, so I have to represent with a scarf}

It was a great game and the Preds really left it all on the ice. They didn't come out with a win, but the city was still proud at how they had gone.

{SOLD OUT}

Playoffs - They're Everywhere!

April and May have been 24/7 Hockey in this house. The aside from it being playoff season for the NHL, the Nashville Predators managed to get themselves into the playoffs. That means, at least one of our TV's is on hockey all the time {well, and Bravo too, seriously - I have an addiction}.

On top of the real playoffs going on, Matt's hockey league was soon coming to a close. His team, The Predators {yep, not making this up} had also made their way to the playoffs as well and he was so excited. Now, I have to admit, I had not gone to any of the games so far in the season. They are typically later on Sunday nights and at inconvenient times. Another thing I hate about playoff hockey - playoff beards!

Seriously, Matt grows a gross beard. I love him, but facial hair just isn't a good look on him. No matter how long he grows it out for, it still NEVER fills in. It's always patchy, prickly and multi-colored. Just all around bad!

But, since the hubbs was in the playoffs, I of course came out to show my support. I went to the first  quarter-final game which they won 4-3 over the Dark Knights. He also got a little award and recognized as the Best Offensive Player. Very proud!



Then it was off to the semi-finals. They won 9-7 against Possum. Matt scored a Hat Trick (3 goals) and 2 assists. I unfortunately was not at this game because it was so late, but I knew they were win!

Finally, the Championship. Best 2 out of 3. Game 1 they won 2-1 over the Broadway Bullies. Game 2 they lost 7-5. So Game 3 was all or nothing. The guys played so hard and game out with a win 8-3. They were on fire!!

The Nashville Men's Hockey League CHAMPIONS!!

Easter

I'm mad at myself that I've sat around and taken so much time to get caught up on my posts. Easter was a month ago and I'm just now posting our pictures.

Even thought it's just Matt and I for most holidays, including Easter, we still like to do something to make the day different and special. We have been trying to be good and watch we we've been eating and be healthy. But, I have to admit, my favorite candy holiday is Easter - by far. I would give up Halloween if it meant 2 Easters. I love all Easter candy!

The closer Sunday got and the more I saw all that delicious Easter candy in the stores, it was making me depressed. So, Matt and I decided to make a duo basket, complete with treats we both enjoy. But the catch had to be that we could only get "mini" or "single serving" items. That way, once the day was over, there were no reminders of our naughty candy behavior.

My friend Nikki and her friends were so nice to invite Matt and I to a "lonely kids" Easter Brunch. It was a little gathering of Nashville friends that weren't able to be with their families for the holidays. It was so nice to get together and have a yummy meal. And the Mimosas and Sangria weren't bad either - a lot better than the Koolaide we got at the kids table at grandma's house!!

And of course I made Matt and the baby take a little Easter family picture.

Then it was time for some play in the nice weather we were blessed with for the day.

Not a Weather Girl

Most of you know about all the bad weather Tennessee has been experiencing this Spring. We've had our fair share of floods, tornadoes, and ridiculous amount of gloomy, stormy days.

There is 1 person dog that has been particularly affected by all the weather shenanigans.

Whenever the thunder starts to rumble and the rain starts to tap on the roof, our poor baby takes cover in what we like to call her "safe rooms". She goes into the master bathroom and either hugs up on the toilet base in our toilet closet, or if the door is open, takes "cover" in the laundry closet inside the toilet closet {she may be a dog, but she understands the importance of putting as many doors between "it" and you as possible!}.

This particular storm she decided to try out the laundry room. It was a good decision apparently. The humming of the dryer drowned out some of the noises she hates so bad and the steel door to the garage was enpenitrible {you know, because she knows these things}. She stayed in that tiny room for hours.

Living Room Progress

My project to-do lists have gone to the way side lately due to sheer laziness. I have been doing a couple of small things. Like here where we updated the media console. I'm back again to report some additional progress.

When we bought our new laptop last year, we eliminated our desk and just chose to use a side table to house the laptop. I scored an awesome corner table from work that is just perfect for our space. It's so functional and makes the perfect home for the laptop and even a small chair for when we need to be extra focused. {I didn't take a very good picture so you can actually see the table, but I promise, a follow-up is coming}.

If you remember, this is what the Living Room used to look like

{BEFORE}

{We even got 2 new great pieces of artwork to go behind the couch. It's such a strange space to fill because of the cut-out to the kitchen}

There are still few more changes to the Living Room that I've already done, I've just to get some good pictures to post.

From East Coast, to Gulf Coast

Gulf coast, watch out, the Bennett/Watson crew is headed down! Yes, it's happening. Our only ever east coast family will be venturing to the gulf coast {Pensacola Beach to be exact} for our vacation this summer. This has been in the works for a long time now. February to be exact.
Last year we went to Oak Island, NC and it was great - so relaxing. Only downside, Matt and I had to drive 11 hours to get there. So, this year we decided that we should find a location that was more equal in drive time for everyone and somewhere that was new and different.

Then it came to me... the gulf! Being the planner that I am, we started looking into it immediately. I don't know why, but I love looking at vacation homes. Maybe it's wishful thinking there will be one in my future - {sigh}!!

There were some requirements: pet friendly {Sadie is a must}, waterfront, and houses only. While this all exists, I quickly found out that the gulf is a little more expensive than the east coast when it comes to houses. Most people do condos, but that's not quite what we were looking for. The whole going up and down elevators, etc just isn't for us, especially with a dog - no thank you. Then a friend {thanks Nikki!} suggested Pensacola Beach...
7 hours from Nashville
8 hours from the 'Boro
none of us have been there
fun atmosphere and lots to do
a nice assortment of waterfront houses to choose from

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!!

Here she is. She'll be all ours for a whole week this summer. Seriously, is it only May???

She's got great views, large living spaces and plenty of room. Plus, she is right down the street from lots of Pensacola Beach's entertainment and restaurants.

{with this to wake up to, what more could you want?}

Now, to start working on that whole wearing a bathing suit situation... Maybe it's a good thing it's still May!!!