New Colt's Stadium

I am so jealous of Tim today...He and his dad got to go to the Colt's vs. the Tennessee Titan's football game. I was most jealous because he got to see the new stadium. Here are a few pictures from the day.

On their way out the door

The formidible new stadium

Remnants of the RCA Dome :(

Holidays in Utah

Mom and Dad were kind enough to send us plane tickets to Utah for Christmas. We went to Park City Mountain, which is a beautiful ski resort in the Wasatch Mountains. They held the Olympics there in 2002. We stayed in a great condo. The inhabitants were: Mom, Dad, Leslie, Drew, Keely, James, Jac, Cousin Chris, Tim and me. It was a full house, but we had a great time. Unfortunatlely, I was unable to shoot a lot of shots from the slopes, but I was able to take several pictures of our family in the evenings at the condo. Tim, Leslie, Drew, and I were going to spend the actual Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the guys families so the Malayter family celebrated our vacation Christmas by drawing our Christmas tree. Enjoy the pictures!

Our Christmas Tree!

What a Joy James is in front of the Xmas tree he produced.

Merry Christmas Out-laws

The Three Ski Amigos...Tim, Keely, and Cousin Chris

Two Future CPA Exam Takers

Tim and Chris....what a pair

Aunt Ellen and Cousin Chris

Good Buds...

Mama's Kids... James looking cool.

Let It Snow Where You Are...

Tim and I decided to send out a fun little Christmas card this year poking fun at our new location. It reads "Let it Snow Where You Are...cause it doesn't snow down here!" Hope you all enjoyed it. Below is the letter that we sent with it:

Happy Holidays from the South!

I hope that this note finds “y’all” in good health and spirits this holiday season. Tim and I can hardly believe that we have survived our first year down in Charlotte, North Carolina! The year has flown by, and needless to say, we have learned many new things living in our new southern surroundings.

In the event that we have a few visitors or that we convert some of you to come live down in “these parts,” let us give you a northerner’s primer on all things “southern”:

1.) First off, the dialect: You must remember your basic grammar: "ya'll" is singular, "all ya'll" is plural, and "all ya'lls" is plural possessive. Mastering the use of “ya’ll” is key to claiming the south as your adopted home.
2.) Restaurant Etiquette: When ordering iced tea when dining out, you will need to specify whether you want sweet tea or unsweetened tea—if you do not specify otherwise, a southerner will assume you want sweet tea because in a southerner’s mind, sweet tea is the only kind of tea.
3.) Snow: Like our card indicated we rarely—if ever--get snow down here because our seasons mainly consist of almost summer, summer, still summer, and construction season. Beware of the south when there is the “threat” of snow. It requires the obligatory trip to the grocery store where you will sigh when you watch the natives clearing the shelves of all of the main staples: bread, milk, bottled water, pop tarts, beer, etc.
4.) Collegiate affiliation: Other than stock car racing, they do not care about any sports here other than college basketball. It is imperative as a new resident of the state that you immediately pledge your allegiance to either UNC or Duke. (If you need a hint, UNC = Good; Duke = Evil—it’s the Indiana equivalent to the Golden Domers).
5.) “Oh Bless Your Heart” vs. “I’m Just Saying”: When you hear a southerner whip out the phrase, “Oh Bless Your Heart” in reference to something that you just said, be warned that it may not be the nicest thing. “Oh Bless Your Heart” seems to be the passive southern equivalent to the north’s “”--immediately followed by the phrase, “I’m just saying,” in order to tone down the previously stated slight. Some southerners believe that “oh bless your heart” is part of their secret code language and that northerners haven’t caught on to it yet—so whip this phrase out early and often!

In all seriousness, life in the south has treated Tim and I well. I have just completed my first full season with NASCAR, and am enjoying the opportunities, friends, and experiences that I have been afforded through the organization. Tim is now a full-time student at UNC-Charlotte earning his Masters in Accounting—I know…I know…he is definitely part of the family! He will graduate next summer and will pursue his CPA license. Other than work and school, we have enjoyed many visitors over the last year. We have also enjoyed our proximity to the ocean, the mountains, and many fun southern cities. If you are in town, do not hesitate to stop in—we love visitors!

Wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday Season! May “all y’all” have much prosperity in 2009!
Bless Your Hearts—I’m Just Saying!
Tim and Megan

Santa Clause Does Exist!

Just don't ask for anything too Big! That is the fun theme of Les and Drew's Xmas Card! Anyway just thought that this was fun to share :) Hope you are having a great holiday!

Jac's Making a List...and She hopes you are checking it twice!

Jacqueline recently sent me her Christmas List as she wanted for me to post it on my blog so that the family knows where to look for it. She has made her list and hopes that you check it twice for all of the great ideas from her. I am happy to post everybody else's list here for people to look at discretely for gift exchange ideas. Without further ado, Jac's list:

1. New ipod nano(green)
2.Breyer "traditional'' models
3. a microscope.
4. Indiana Elite clothing
5. Club Penguinm DS game
6. Guitar Hero for DS
7. Art stuff
8. Twilight, the book
9. Gift cards

Ho...Ho...Ho...Spencer's First Holiday Season

Leslie and Drew loved the summer dogtography that I took last time that I was home. This time, they asked if I would take a bunch of holiday photos for their Christmas card. Being that I love taking pictures--especially when they are lovely subjects, I said absolutely! Anyway the theme for their pictures this year was their new gift "Spencer." I hope that you enjoy them!

Mommy and Daddy Love Doting over me!!!

Tim's Twighlight of his Twenties Party!

Tim and I were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to spend a long break at home in Indy for the Thanksgiving holiday. We had a great time and were thankful to have the opportunity to spend an extended amount of time with our friends and our family. Tim's birthday was earlier in the week before we went home, however, Tim always celebrates his birthday the friday after Thanksgiving. This birthday was a special one because it was Tim's 29th birthday. I like to call it Tim's Twighlight of his Twenties Party! Oh and by the way, Tim and I celebrated our first anniversary as a couple. I cannot believe that it has already been a year. Boy has it been a good year! Love you, Tim!

Jac and Drew just horsin around!

The Brother-In-Laws!

We were all excited to see Adam...It had been awhile!

Father and Son...James is looking a lot like Dad's 8th Grade Picture!

Tim getting ready to blow out the candles!

It is not a true birthday party without birthday spanks!

Uncle Shawn even got in on the fun!

Mom got Tim and I a replica cake from the top of our wedding cake...we love the white cake with hazelnut filling and white chocolate frosting.Not sure what this face was about...

Myrtle Beach and Blue Crabbing

Tim and I are blessed to have Donna and Dave come through the Carolinas a few times each year. Donna and Dave are retired and they are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel frequently--especially in the southeast. Tim and I are fortunate to sometimes get to take part in their trips. For two weeks in October Donna and Dave spent some time in a great condo in Myrtle Beach. Tim and I took the trek down from Charlotte to spend a weekend with them on the Carolina coast. Since we did not get to go during the summer it was a refreshing and fun trip.

Tim and I had fun visiting, beach combing, and just getting away from everyday life. My favorite part of the trip was crabbing. Tim's family had never been crabbing before and I had fond memories from my trip out to Oregon a few years ago. In any case, it wasn't exactly crab season so the pickings were slim. However, we had a Great time. Enjoy the pictures of our family, the crabbing experience and the beauty of the coast!

The Stankus Family Getting Ready to go Crabbing

A Great picture of Dave enjoying his vacation

Dave and Tim are intent on setting up the net.

Me, I get to look on as they do the dirty work!

Father and Son having a great time!

My Handsome Hubby's Million Dollar Grin

Us Playing Deadliest Catch!

I bet the natives loved watching us!!!

The whole family joins in...

I can't watch this fun and not try it too!

All of that work paid off with a single Carolina Blue Crab.

I totally felt like we were on the deadliest catch...but this one was not a keeper :)

Us frolicing in the cold waves!

Love this one...

Favorite!