The Adventures of Miles-erific & His Travelling Companions: March 2009

...the best dog of all time!! I know we have many Miles fans out there, so it's with a sad heart that I pass on the news that Mr. Miles passed away this past Friday. It's been a tough couple of days but John and I are hanging in there.

Miles was diagnosed with a pretty severe heart condition back in December that we had been managing with meds and limiting his exercise. Miles was managing pretty well, but ultimately his heart just couldn't sustain him. Miles woke us up in the middle of the night and was sick, like we thought maybe he just had a upset tummy. After watching him for an hour we realized he was becoming more distressed so we rushed him to the ER. Things didn't go well from there. We didn't want him to be in any pain and his heart just wasn't pumping strong enough so we made the tough decision to put him down. He did the best he could but it was his time.

John and I hibernated most of the weekend and had our share of tears, but we're on the mend and time will help. Miles was such a big part of our life and home that there's a definite void. We just keep reminding ourselves that he's in a better place where he can run, frolic and play again. He had many great adventures in his lifetime, and was very loved. Thanks for all the support and kind words. And in honor of the best dog I've ever met, a few pics:

Miles was such a good dancer!

He LOVED being on the trail and always had to be in front leading the way.

You know it's a good time when there's slobber involved!

Chillin' in the backyard with his mom and dad

One of my fav memories, Miles learning to swim. He always avoided the water until this random day at Falls Lake and he just got in and wasn't quite sure what to do but he made lots of splashes.

Camo Miles.... chillin' and blending into the high sierra desert scape.

:) Happy times :)

All ears! This is the pure essence of a frolicking Miles :)

Man, that guy always remembered his manners.

This was taken years ago at a weekend up in the NC mountains. Miles was up all night running through the woods with his cousins (Annie, Celo, Cutter) and was zonked out the next morning. I spooned with him that morning on the hillside. He looks pretty content to me.

Hiking with his buddy Riley. This was a tough 6 mile hike in the mountains of Southern California. He had a blast and slept for 12 hours straight afterwards. Good day!

More hanging out with his mom and dad. He was really good at hanging.

One of my fav pictures of all time. My boys.

Majestic and noble Miles

After a long blogger silence, John and I have emerged and we're married, Yay! After the holidays we were pretty consumed with wedding details, thus the lack of updates.

Good news is that all the headaches were up front in the planning process because the day of turned out perfect. Can't believe everything came together so smoothly having not met many of our vendors, or laid eyes on place prior to getting there.

We arrived to St. John on Wed the 25th after many of hours of traveling. Ironically we reunited with our folks and family in the Atlanta airport. We were all on the same flight from ATL to STT. After arriving in St Thomas, we went to the courthouse to get our marriage license and then took the ferry from St Thomas to St. John. St john is not a large island, the roads are very curvy and you drive on the left. The drive from Cruz Bay to Concordia takes about 40 minutes even though it's only about 10 miles. As a little background, we all stayed at Estate Concordia, an Eco Resort that's on the National Park of St. John. It has a treehouse feel with all the units positioned on the hillside and are connected by a series of boardwalks. There are eco-tents and Eco Studios. To read up on it, or perhaps do a little research for your own vacation here's the link: www.maho.org

View from our studio...stairs!

After going down several sets of stairs you hit the office / pool landing. View of Salt Pond Bay is below.

Looking back towards some of Concordia's tents / studios. You can see the boardwalks

After a long day of traveling...dinner at Cafe Concordia. Food was quite delicious!

Some folks had already arrived so it was nice to get to visit with them and yes, have a much needed rum drink, mahn. Thursday we met with our planner and officiant and scoped out both the reception area and the ceremony area at Little Lameshur Bay. We had the afternoon to relax and snorkeled at Lameshur Bay. So great to finally get to chill out and enjoy the scenery.

Hanging out in the shade at Little Lameshur Bay.

Amber, Kenny and Ellie (11 weeks)

Anna soaking up some VI sun

Good friends James (Best man), & Audrey thawing out from the VT winter. Audrey manned John's camera the day of, so thanks for all the great pics, Audrey!

Thursday night my sis planned a little girls night out action. After being surprised with a lingerie shower we left for skinny legs for some local food and music. The dudes went out for their own fun at Island Blues.

Rocking some new shoes

Riding in the outdoor cab to dinner: KBD, Lizzie, Me and Laurel

Dancin' with my momma

After Skinny Legs, we went to the Sputnick to hear some live reggae. Gettin' down to the funky island beat, Mon.

Friday we all went to Trunk Bay, one of the most scenic beaches of the Virgin Islands and i believe it's made several top 10 lists of one of the best beaches in the world.

The Blue Towel Group at Trunk Bay

The old San Diego Crew: Jason & Steph, Aaron & Margaret (plus 1 bun in the oven)

Hi Friends! Will & Laurel, and Meg & Peej (plus one very small bun in the oven)

Ellie even got her toes wet!

Then it was back to get ready for the welcome dinner in Coral Bay. We had a great dinner at Shipwreck Landing, a very special musical toast by best man James, followed by some great music performed by the buddies.

James roasting, I mean toasting at the rehearsal dinner. The toast was in a musical format but of course.

After dinner the buddies serenaded us with their tunes. LOVED it!

Saturday flew by...everyone warned me that it would, but holy cow did it ever. We were running ahead of time then all the sudden it was 3pm and the photographer was arriving and I wasn't finished getting ready and then it was time to drive to little Lameshur bay for the ceremony. I was hanging out in the car as everyone was getting placed then me and my daddy stepped on out and it was show time. It was so overwhelming seeing all the smiling faces and of course my groom waiting for me. We had two beautiful readings by my aussie fairy girls, Heather B and Kelly (Crissy was with us in spirit). After choking up during the vows we finally got to kiss and be announced as Mr. & Mrs. John Trice. We exited to our fav band, Phish, "Tweezer Reprise". I cried during the ceremony, and John cried afterwards. We're such softies.

My daddy escorting me

The kisses!!!!

The Bridal Party: Anna, Amber, Jenn, Karen&John, James, Austin, Corey

The guys being oh so silly.

Group shot with both families

With my momma and daddy

With two of the 3 Fairy friends: Heather B and Kelly

The Trices

Sykes siblings

After some photo ops we hustled on over to the reception. We had great food and great music and it really flew by so fast. A few highlights from the reception:

Lem, the steal pan player. He actually stayed late night and jammed post reception with all our friends.

Umbrella Drinks!!! So glad these survived the journey to St. John and came together the way we had hoped they would. Concordia actually purchased them from us which was GREAT b/c we didn't have to fly them back home.