Summertime & the living's easy....

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Our second get-away and really our first vacation was in May during my summer break. (If you can't tell my/I/me=Jai... I will probably be writing 99% of these updates.) Anyways getting the old passport stamped is always a good time! The resort was beautiful and the seafood was so fresh, and each and every meal was... well simply put some of the best food we had ever had. The whole staff and all the locals were extremely friendly to us and so helpful in recommending places to go and ensuring we get there on time and safely. After a day on the resort we determined we needed to rent a golf cart for ourselves... expensive but so worth it, we explored every inch of that place! We stayed at the Punta Cana Resort which is a very nice gated area with several resorts, restaurants, and a golf course to check out. 

Our own little piece of heaven - Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

While on this trip David took me snorkeling.... which was the first time I had ever been, and it was so beautiful and amazing! We had a terrific guide! It was a private tour with just us and the guides which made it even more hands on. The guide caught a sea urchin and let us hold him (like a porcupine but he didn't hurt us), and he gave me a very beautiful shell while we were snorkeling  David was a pro... me well let's just say I will rock it next time now that I know how everything goes down. 

That week we also went on a off-roading Segway tour (yes with jungle tires and everything), and hiked back to a 25 foot deep, fresh water lagoon. This was amazing... hiking into the rain forest was so neat and the guide knew so much about the land and showed our group poisonous trees and how some areas have deteriorated over time. At the end of our hike in we came to the lagoon where a single duck calls home, and the guides are friendly with him by bringing him food. The crystal clear water was so amazing, and although it looked shallow and like you could touch the bottom, the water was actually 25-feet deep! The water was cold but it was so amazing and such a great experience. Along the tour we were also taken to a private beach area where we could relax and take a quick dip. This is where we had photographers with us the whole time taking pictures, so if you were wondering where our super corny beach pictures came from.... well it was here. 

The Lagoon - Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 

We went swimming in the ocean and had a few of those umbrella drinks that are totally required in this type of environment. ;-) The picture up top shows you our own little private area that we occupied before everyone else, and laid in the sun. While we were in the ocean one day all of these tropical fish came up to us and we actually played with them. I know this sounds crazy but it was so cool. Every time we would sit in the water and stir up the sand they would swim around in it (we think they were eating something in it). They hung out with us for a very long time. I have to say overall we thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip, and would recommend it to anyone thinking of going. We went in mid-May which is still off season.... the privacy and romance was well worth it!

 Umbrella drinks - Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

... From the Dominican we flew into Atlanta for one night, then woke up and headed straight to Branson, MO... time for me to meet the sisters!

Memorial Day Weekend in Branson, Missouri

This was the first time I had ever been to Missouri and the first time I got to meet David's sisters and their families. I do love the mountain scenery in Branson! David and I flew into Branson with John Schilling, David's brother-in-law's brother (whatever he's family in my book) so interrogations started early. Just kidding the flight was great with the exception of me slamming my head into the overhead luggage compartments in front of the whole plane, and John not getting a bottle of vodka that the flight attendant forgot to give him and then interrogated him like he gave it to some kid hiding out under the seats.... but other than John and I being hot messes, it was a flawless flight. ;) 

That weekend I got to meet everyone and they have been so nice and accepting towards me since. I am truly happy and blessed to be marrying into a family like David's, and that they actually like me (or at least I think they do).... haha. 

John, Me, & David - Branson, Missouri 

.....Also during this past summer David met my family and they all absolutely love him as much as I do! A couple of them give him a hard time for being a "Yankee" (yes they know Missouri is a Mid-western state, but you know us southerners if you from anywhere but Georgia you're a damn Yankee). Just kidding. We also went to my cousin Christy and Tyler's wedding where he got to meet more of my extended family. During the week of the fourth of July we stayed in the Isle of Palms and Charleston, South Carolina with friends. This was the first time either of us had been to Charleston and we fell in love. Pretty sure we both said we would love to live there but then would probably grow to hate the tourist ha ha. While we were there we watched the fire works on the beach, did some shopping, ate some more really awesome food, and toured The Middleton Place which was an old rice plantation (you must check it out). I'm telling you now if I wanted a real deal wedding with 487654687 people it would totally be at this place!!! It was so beautiful! Anyways I do believe that wraps up our summer!

The Middleton Place - Charleston, South Carolina

Our first trip!

Nashville

The first trip David and I ever went on together was Nashville, Tennessee in March during my spring break. Granted it's not far from good ole' Chattanooga, but it was still new scenery and even better company. We were suppose to go to a Predators Hockey game but we never made it.. instead we went exploring the main strip and all the bars, music holes, and quirky shops. Now if you haven't ever been to Nashville, which we both already had, then you should know it is a city that never sleeps and it has an over abundance of music coming from every which way so bored we were not. That weekend we also went to a comedy show at Zanies where David won a free DVD! He thought I was a crazy girl putting our names in but he won, so who's the crazy one now! (Spoiler Alert: It's still me.) David also took me to The Gaylord Opryland Hotel, and if you haven't been here then you should definitely go. I was blown away, it is so beautiful! We also drove pretty far out in the beautiful countryside to the Loveless Cafe that I had heard so much about, and the food was amazing! We also had MOONSHINE (for me it was a first)!

Soooo.... first trip and I was still convinced he was the one! Side note after David and I went on our second date I called my mom and my aunt and told them that I had met the man I was going to marry... they too thought I was just an infatuated school girl but BAM!!! I WAS RIGHT! Haha. Seriously though have you met David?! How could you not fall head over heels for him?! He is one of the sweetest, most sincere guys I have ever met! I am so thankful I am blessed with him in my life. He's going to kill me for posting this mushy-ness on here, but oh well. ;)

This was inside The Opryland Hotel

We're still here!

We haven't forgotten...

Sorry we have so much to write and send out, but life has been super hectic lately. Between school ending and my final exam, then my Grandfather passed away, and not to mention all the holiday travel and shuffling around.... Anyways currently, we are getting ready for the Christmas holiday and planning the wedding. The wedding is constantly evolving ha! One thing is for sure we can announce we have chosen the week of June 8- June 15 in Kauai, HI. Still nailing down where it will be and the exact date of the exchanging of vows.

Soooo with all that being said you can see why we have been a little absent from the blog but don't worry we are about to bombard you all with updates... from our first trip together, up to the engagement itself. (That is if I can ever get David to write his side of what all went down). :-)

On another note can everyone reading send me your address if you want our engagement announcements. Thanks!

Jailynsey@gmail.com

Why Oh Why....

So we opted for a blog instead of a wedding website... why would we torture ourselves with more work you ask? Easy because we wanted something that would keep going after the wedding festivities were finished. You see David and I live in the great state of Tennessee (10-eye-see). David's family and friends are scattered all over the place... (Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Florida, Canada, Texas... really the list goes on and on). Jai's family and friends live further away from us as well (Georgia, North Carolina, Florida... yeah that's pretty much it).

SO as you can see we wanted to keep the ones we care about most but we don't get to see as much as we would like updated on all the crazy, fun, important moments that occur in our lives.

Since we were suppose to let our subscribing audience know what the basis of this blog was about first (ooops)... we figured we would tack it on now. So this blog is about us and silly things we may want to write about and share with you guys!

Phew now that's out of the way here's a funny video.

The real us.....

Meet Bella.... Our only child

Bella Murphy was born July 17, 2008 in Clarksville, Tennessee. My friend Hollye and I (Jai) met the breeders in Nashville and I knew she was the one. David met her in January 2012 and they have had an inseparable love affair since. She's a Pomeranian and the only "child" we have right now. David has several nicknames for her including: Bigs, Bells, Hells Bells, Biggity Bigs, Biggys, She Big Bigs, Bealzabigs, Belzie, and Bellzabub. She is a very friendly dog that loves all people, and she's scared of cats, birds, squirrels, leaves, her shadow.....

Oh and fun facts about Bella: She runs from her "poots" because they scare her, and she loves the snow (but we don't see much of that in the south).

Introductions

Introductions... since they may be needed.

Inquiring minds want to know, I'm sure, the basics of who David and/or Jai has chosen to spend the rest of their lives with.

Here we go....

David Thurman

Son of John (a.k.a Bon/Bonny Oaks) and Patricia (a.k.a. Patitus/RattaTatPat) Thurman. He has two older sisters Jeannine (a.k.a. Jars/J9) Thurman-Birkenfeld, and Audrey (Beegs/Auds) Thurman- Schilling with whom he is all very close with. Also if you haven't noticed by now David really enjoys coming up with nicknames for people, and they are pretty entertaining. David is from MO (that's Missouri a.k.a. the "north" for us southerners)... Springfield to be exact. He attended University of Missouri Rolla and obtained a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He works for ABB as a Strategic Account Manager in Technical Sales and he enjoys his job. 

David enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, playing with his new adopted dog Bella, hiking, riding his motorcycle, snowboarding and reading. He also likes to torture Jai with what she calls "smart people" TV (a.k.a 60 Minutes, Documentaries, Frontline). 

Fun facts about David: He plays guitar and piano. He is extremely smart at math (I guess you have to be for engineering). He was an amazing swimmer in high school and offered a full scholarship to swim for college. He is really passionate about woodworking and hopes to set up his own little wood shop when we move into a "family friendly" home. 

Jai Hall

Daughter of many parents: Michael and Janet Hall who live in North Georgia, and Johnny Harkins who lives in Calhoun Georgia. She has a sister named Megan Hall, and 4 step brothers: Michael Hall, Mathew Hall, Max Hall, and Ian Thomas. She is a true southern belle from Calhoun, Georgia. She has an Associates in Surgical Technology from Georgia Northwestern and is currently over half way through with her RN (nursing degree) at Chattanooga State College. 

Jai enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, loving on her dog Bella (a toy Pomeranian), hiking, reading, and kayaking (but she needs to get back into it again)! She likes to torture David with "crap" TV like American Horror Story, Grey's Anatomy, and the Walking Dead.

Fun facts about Jai: She played volleyball in high school, and did a little Ballet when she was younger. She really enjoys arts and crafts and wants her own little crafts room when we move into a "family friendly" home someday. Photography is also becoming a little hobby of hers and now that we have an awesome new camera we are going to dive into it headfirst! 

..... More updates to come just getting the introductions out of the way!!! Stay Tuned and subscribe! :)