One Year Anniversary Trip

This trip was a celebration of our first anniversary, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's!  When Jay returned from work this time, we had alot of catching up to do.  And after three months of not taking a day off from work, I was in desperate need of a break. :)  This is going to be a pretty long post with everything that I want to put in it so I think I will split it up... Part one:

A very close friend of mine lost her mother at the end of last year to an unexpected brief battle with cancer.  Brittany and her family are probably the kindest people that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.  Brittany especially, can light up a room with her smile and her giggly laugh.  On the first day of our trip, Jay drove me to Brittany's house in Collierville, TN.  Our friendship is one of those where we don't have to speak every day, every week, or every month...she will always be a best friend of mine.  We pick up right where we left off like we never were apart.  Jay got to meet Brit for the first time on our wedding day, so this was the first time that they have gotten to spend any time together.  Jay took us to dinner and then we had coffee/dessert at IHOP until some time past midnight.  We had such a great time catching up...and everywhere we went, Brittany knew at least five people!  That's her personality.  She loves people and she loves God.  She is amazing.

Jay and Brittany's dog Goliath!

Me and Brittany Draughon

 I love this girl!  Jay and I stayed in a pretty awesome hotel there in town and the next morning we headed for Memphis for a trip to the zoo.  The Memphis Zoo.  I had no idea the awesome-ness that is the Memphis Zoo.  We were both incredibly impressed with all of the animals and how close you could get to them!  We also decided that early on a Thursday morning in February is the time to go. :)  There were hardly any people there and the animals had all just been fed so they were roaming around.  We took the coolest pictures and we stayed for FOUR HOURS wandering around trying to see everything.  Here are some highlights!

At the entrance...it was a beautiful day.

Panda Bear!! Eating his bamboo.  He had to be separated from his buddy because they couldn't get along. :)

This snow leopard was so cute.  As soon as we walked up to his "habitat" he started pawing at the wire bars...I'm sure he was dreaming of malling us...but it was so cute!  Then he chased his tail until he caught it.

This monkey carried his grass/hay on his head....

and then he would sit on it. so no one else could get it.

This bird surprised us by saying Hello!

Pausing for meditation and rehydration.

Elephants!!

The sea lion exhibit! How cool!  See Jay?

Waiting for Goldilocks?...

Next blog post: Memphis continued...