My favorite picture.

We have been stuck inside for 2 days.  I am not complaining (yes I am) because it was 70 degrees the day before that.  BUT we are having an ice storm and this town shuts down like we've had 10 feet of snow when there is any ice in the forecast.  So we haven't left the house and B is, like, totally over it.  I filled yesterday with all kinds of fun activities but today I am over it too.  We are sitting on the couch watching Super Why (she's learning, right?) and blogging.  If the electricity goes out.  I don't even know...

Anyway.  

I was planning on hitting all the wedding highlights with you today but I just really don't have the energy.  And I don't have all of the pictures yet.  So I am going to share with you my favorite photo from the wedding.  Lonnie captured this moment perfectly and I am so glad he did.  I didn't even know he was taking pictures!  This was right after the wedding and I was telling B how good of a job she did.  I told her she needed lots of kisses!  She said "No, mommy, me want nose kisses!"  So nose kisses she got....

This girl....

A party, a concert and a rehearsal.

Ahhhhhh.......  The weekend is over.  Wow.  What a wonderful (and busy!) few months we have had leading up to this weekend.  

The wedding turned out perfect.  We cried.  We laughed.  We danced.  We drank champagne from the bottle.  It couldn't have been better.  But it deserves its own post.  

I want to back up and share a few things that I haven't had time to share before I get to the wedding. 

A couple of weeks ago me and a few of my friends hosted a couples shower party for Sarah and CJ at my house.  We wanted to do something that would involve CJ a little more than you average "wedding shower".  Our theme was "Brats, Beer and Months of the Year".  I assigned each couple a month and they were to bring a gift that correlated.  My thought was that people would be able to get gifts geared more towards CJ with that theme than just something off their registry that, let's all be honest, most men don't really care that much about.

Sarah and CJ

We cooked a few different types of brats and had lots of toppings for them.  I made sauerkraut and we had a few other side items (potato salad, baked beans, etc).  You know, manly food!  Ha!  We had a few tubs of different types of beer (always a hit) and I made some cider.  It was a great time and the gifts were so cute!  Lonnie and I had April so we got them a picnic basket and filled it with wine, personalized wine glasses and a water proof picnic blanket.  

Katie and Tommy

This theme was perfect for a "non-traditional" shower.  They got things like a turkey fryer for November, a heavy duty ice chest for July, tailgating stuff for September and champagne flutes for January.  I think my favorite gifts were a jar full of money for March and the August gift my friend Jenny put together.  She looked up all of the days in August that were "national" days.  For example, she got them stuff to make s'mores for Natio.nal S'mor.es Day, a picture of all of us for Nati.onal Frie.ndship Day, matching socks for wiggle your toes day and her favorite board game for Nat.ional Just Bec.ause Day.  There more more but how cute and original is that?   

Jenny and Matt

Then we played a version of the newlywed game and, as you can imagine, it was pretty hilarious!  

Mark and Casey

It was a great night celebrating a great couple.  I actually think we should do this more often!  Although Lonnie may kill me if I plan any more parties at our house in the near future...Ha!  And would you believe I didn't get a picture of the two of us.  Sigh....

All the girls...

Moving on.  A few days after the party some of us girls went to see Mr. Timberlake in concert.

The concert was in Memphis (about 3ish hours away) and since he is from there they declared it Nation.al JT day.  

We dressed up and even made our own little bow ties!  The concert was great and he put on a great show for his hometown.  

This past Friday night we had the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner.  

Lonnie was on call and ended up having a TERRIBLE day Friday so he couldn't make it to the actual rehearsal but was going to meet us at dinner.  It was just me and B.  Let me just set the scene for you.  It is dinner time and she's starving.  We are outside and it is cold.  The wedding was on a ridge (also known as a cliff...) and it was dark out.  I was wearing 5 inch heels.  So here we go practicing our entrance.  The plan was for me to walk down some steps (about 15) with Blakely and Kyndal holding my hand.  Then when we got to the bottom I would walk down the aisle and they would follow me.  So we start walking down the steps.  B immediately screams NO HELP!  NO HELP MOMMY!  She wants to do it herself.  Then when we finally make it to the "altar" (it seemed like an hour) she bolts right to the cliff.  I am running around chasing her in soft grass with heels on while she screams ME SWING NOW (there was a swing set)!  I mean.  It was stressful.  I told Sarah there was no way the girls could walk down the stairs so we made another plan.  That plan was much better.  But you can imagine my stress about the ACTUAL wedding when Blakely was such a tornado at the rehearsal.

But, honestly, these two could scream the whole time and still be adorable, right?!

Christmas Countdown 2013

You may remember my Christmas Countdown from last year.  We had so much fun doing it and I did eventually get most of the stuff marked off of the list.  This year I am even more excited about it.  Mostly because Blakely will understand more this year and I know she will enjoy most of the activities a little more.  She already gets so excited when she see "Tissmas Tees" and when you say Santa Claus she screams "HO HO HO!"

Quite a few of the things are the same but I did change some up.  I am sure throughout the month I may change or add a few things to the list if needed.  The idea is to do one thing each day until Christmas. 

1.  Go to a Christmas Parade.
2.  Go to Garvan Gardens and see the lights.
3.  Make some treats for some special people.  (Can't be too specific!)
4.  Fill a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child
5.  Open an early Christmas present
6.  Make a pallet on the living room floor and watch Christmas movies. 
7.  Make hot chocolate (with lots of marshmallows) and sit by the fire.  (NO TV)
8.  Make a Christmas craft for family.
9.  Decorate Blakely's Christmas tree.  
10.  Go to the Arlington and see the life size gingerbread house. 
11.  Color another page in her Christmas coloring book and date it. (same book from last year)
12.  Daddy/daughter date night.  
13.  Spend the night with Gran Di. (because we all know she will have fun Christmas stuff for      B to do!)
14.  Get pictures made with Santa. 
15.  Decorate cookies and leave them out for Santa
16.  Read 'Twas The Night Before Christmas.
17. Do three random acts of kindness
18. Make a red and green lunch or dinner.  
19. Cut out snowflakes and decorate the windows with them.  
20. Decorate a gingerbread house.  
21. Make a pine cone bird feeder.  
22. Make apple cider and read Christmas books before bed
23. Drive around to see Christmas lights.  
24. Make or pick out gifts for her teachers.  
25. Go to a Christmas event (Santa story time or Christmas craft) at the library.  

We have already done a couple of the things on the list but I will post about them once we have completed a weeks worth of activities.  HAPPY DECEMBER!  It's the most wonderful time of the year!  

My Sarah is getting married!

Tomorrow, my best friend is getting married.  Sarah has been my best friend since 8th grade when she moved here.  I remember the first time I met her when she came to summer basketball camp and I thought to myself, "We are going to be best friends".  That was that.  And that was before I even knew she loved crafting!  Ha!

sunburned BABIES....

I know how lucky I am to have such a close friend.  We have been through many things in our more than 15 year friendship. I am so happy that she is getting her happy ending.  She deserves it more than anyone I know.  

Some fun facts about my Sarah!  

1.  She is a very terrible driver.  TERRIBLE.  She rear ended me in high school and I had to take her home because her car needed to be towed.  I, to this day, RARELY ride in the car with her.  She knows to just hop on in my jeep.   

2.  She doesn't forget anything, ever.  This is awesome and totally annoying at the same time.  We all know to just ask Sarah if we can't remember when something happened or who we were with or whatever.  And she isn't scared to bust you out if she remembers an embarrassing detail about you.  She really enjoys it actually.  

3.  She and I pretended to be lovers at a wedding one time.  I could leave it at that but I feel like I need to explain a little.  There was a random older guy and he WOULD NOT leave me alone and just didn't seem to get the picture.  I finally told him I was there with Sarah, grabbed her hand and kissed her on the cheek.  We held hands the rest of the reception and danced our booties off.  He left me alone after that!  

4.  She is an excellent trash talker.  Maybe this is because she is so sweet and you don't expect those things to come out of her mouth, but seriously, she can talk shit with the best of them.  She is very competitive (we all are) so this talent of hers get used quite frequently...especially during football season.  

5.  She is the strongest person I know.  She has been through some major stuff yet has never become negative or cynical.  She carries herself with grace and everyone who knows her loves her and her happy personality.  

I could go on and on with silly things about her and the crazy things we have gotten into but that would be boring for you guys.  Basically, I just want y'all to know how awesome she is.  She has ALWAYS been there for me when I needed her.  When I started to freak out right before my wedding (because of all the people..not the actual marriage!) she stripped me down, made me take off my spanx so I could breathe and poured a glass of champagne down my throat.  When we secretly did our FET last December she did everything for the Christmas party that I had already planned at my house so I could be on bed rest.  When I had Blakely she set up a dinner delivery so I had meals brought to me for months.  She is the best.  Like for real.  

I still smile every time I think about how we used to "cruise" in town with our music (probably MASE) turned up way loud and singing/rapping at the top of our lungs.  Wait, maybe we still do this?  Anyway, she is getting married tomorrow.  This makes me super happy because she definitely found her match.  He loves her and appreciates her like she should be appreciated.  He is a good one, no doubt.  

And wish ME some luck getting my sweet girl to walk down the aisle and then be quiet during the ceremony.  The rehearsal tonight didn't go so well.  She may scream NO MOMMY the whole time but at least she will be cute!  It is going to be a crazy fun time!  Happy weekend!

Dusty

Things are pretty crazy around here leading up to the big wedding on Saturday.  But I wanted to check in and say that I am still here with lots to blog about but no time to do it!  Hopefully after this weekend I will have some time to sit down and write about a few of the things we have been doing.  

But right now, I have a heavy heart.  My sweet little dog, Dusty, passed away Friday.  Boo.  

He was my first baby and he was almost 12 years old.  About two weeks ago he started this weird coughing thing (almost like asthma or something but would only last a few minutes) and I took him to the vet after about a week of it.  They diagnosed him with congestive heart failure and put him on medicine.  Now, I worked in the medical field for many years.  I know that doesn't just go away.  I knew eventually he would succumb to his heart troubles.  

After being on the medicine for a few days he got much better.  He was running up the stairs and playing with Blakely like usual.  I thought once he got better that we were going to get a few more years out of him.  He was 12 but shih-tzu's live forever.  My mom's lived until he was like 18!

I took him to the groomer on Friday because he was in bad need of a cut.  Helga is our groomer and she is like the dog whisperer.  It has always been a nightmare to get Dusty groomed until she came along.  He loves her and would sit there and let her do whatever (except for the toenails..he always HATED that!).  

Anyway, she called me and said that he was breathing weird and she thought he may need to go back to the vet.  I said I would come get him.  I was at the grocery store and started that way.  A few minutes later, my phone rang and it was my aunt.  She works right next door and Helga came to get her when Dusty started acting funny.  My aunt told me she thought that Dusty had died.  I was like....no.  WHAT?  Are you sure?  She was sure.  

I was in the car with Blakely and basically lost it.  But I quickly realized I could not do that.  I had to get it together because Blakely was frantically saying "MOMMY!  MOMMY SAD!  OH NO!  MOMMY?"  Not fun.  Hard.  

I'll save all the details but, yeah, he died at the groomer.  Sweet Helga is just the best.  She even performed doggy CPR with mouth to mouth.  I mean....  She tried but it just wasn't happening.  I called and thanked her and told her that if Dusty couldn't be with me when that happened that I was glad he could be with her because I know she loved him too.  

So that is pretty sad.  I came home and put B down for a nap and had a good cry about it.  And now writing this I am getting sad again.  Sigh...

Duster was a good dog.  Not the smartest (as Lonnie would say!) but super sweet and always cuddly.  I got him right before I started x-ray school because it was my first time to live alone and I was lonely.  He slept on my pillow every night until we moved here.  

A good dog.  Our little family will definitely miss him.  We already do.  

Random things...

It has been one thing after another here lately and I can't seem to find the time to sit down and blog.  Here are a list of random things for your midweek!

• Blakely is in the "obsessed with bandaids" stage.  You can usually find her with one on each cheek and she will be carrying a princess that is covered in them as well.

• We had our wine dinner last night and it was super fun.  I love getting dressed up and going out with my husband!  No pictures because it was a mad dash to get ready and get out of the door.  I will say that I was about 6'2" with my shoes on...but still shorter than my Lonnie.  :)

obsessed with these.  may wear them to every holiday party...

• Lonnie was off last week so we had a lot of family cuddle time.  It was cool and rainy most days so we got to build a fire and watch movies each night.  Blakely watched The Li.ttle Merma.id which she LOVED (we've watched it 3 times now) and Cin.dere.lla which she liked but not as much as Ariel (Ay-dull).  I have waited my whole life to watch movies with my baby girl.  It makes my heart smile.  Lonnie even looked over at me and said "you are so happy right now"...he was right!

• Since Lonnie was off Blakely just got a whole bunch of Daddy time.  She loves it but probably not as much as he does!  Here are a couple more from the week...

he wore those stickers on his face the whole time we were at breakfast.  and he let her crawl all over him so I could eat.  he is the best.  

• I am getting so pumped up for Christmas.  I have already started working on some Christmas presents for family.  And I am in the process of making the Christmas Countdown list too.  MERRY MERRY!  
• Lonnie and I are having a party this weekend for Sarah and CJ who are getting married in a few weeks.  Once that party is over the Christmas tree is going up!  
• Do your children love to be naked?  I can't even tell you the struggle it is to get B dressed in the mornings.  And the second we get home each day she screams "ME NAKEY" and starts stripping down.  Fun.  
• Aaaaaaaand Lonnie has taught her how to pee outside.  Which she thinks is the coolest thing ever.  I have to say, it is pretty funny and she is darn good at it!  Ha!

this was right before she showed me how she "pee pee out-shide grash!" 

• We had to cancel our family pictures because of the rain last week.  Totally sad about it.  We haven't had family pictures since B was born and I was really looking forward to it because the leaves have been so so pretty this year.  Lonnie isn't off again until mid December so we rescheduled for then.  So, winter family pictures?  I guess so.  Weird.  I need to think of what we are going to wear because our "fall" outfits just aren't going to cut it.
• In one of my fantasy leagues I am 10-0.  Did you hear that Kalyn?  Undefeated...can't even believe it!  
• I'm off to go pick up my baby girl and take her for ice cream!  

A Colorful Weekend!

This weekend we celebrated my bestie Sarah's bachelorette party.  For the whole weekend.  It was crazy fun.  Some much needed girl time was had and I am so happy that we were all able to step away from our lives for a bit and just enjoy being together!   We started planning this weekend in like JUNE.  The logistics of planning for a girls weekend out of town for 15 girls.  Well, I'm glad I don't have to do it again any time soon!  Ha!   

The shenanigans started on Friday.  We all drove to Little Rock (about an hour away) and checked into our hotel downtown.  Bottles may have been popped at this time.  Then we went to Painting with a Twist.  I am sure you all know what that is but just in case....you go there (bring your wine and food) and they "teach" or "lead" you through painting a super cute picture that never turns out as good as it is supposed to!

We decided to paint flowers and a great time was had by all.  

Then we went back to our hotel, dropped our paintings off and headed out to find some food and music.  We went to a little pizza place that had live music and the pizza was amazing.  The music was good too and we ended up dancing to a few songs.  We headed back to the hotel to hang out and be good girls because we were supposed to go to bed early.  You can guess how that turned out.  ;)

Saturday morning we all ran (didn't run) in THE COLOR RUN.  It was the first time it had been here and there were so.many.people.  I haven't checked to see a final count but it was seriously packed downtown.  We had an absolute blast and I still have blue boogers.  (When will that go away?)  I will definitely do that run again if they come back!  

before and after

this was at the start of the race...LOVE it!

After the race we went to THE FLYING FISH right downtown and chowed down.  Showers and naps soon followed as we were all tired from accidentally staying up too late the night before and we had to rest up for the big night!  

The theme of our night out on Saturday was "We are wiggin' out for Sarah's last night out".  It was a perfect theme and went right along with our colorful weekend.  We all brought a wig to wear and all of this was a secret from Sarah.  It turned out great and we looked pretty hilarious walking around all night in our wigs.  I had a long purple wig and I can't tell you how hard it was to get all of my hair under that thing.  Also, I should never have bangs.  

We went to dinner at a little Italian place (you know, so we could load up on carbs) and made friends with the owner.  I mean, how could you resist this group?  He demanded a picture with us.  

Then we headed to a dueling piano bar.  Lots of fun there and lots of laughs.  After a while though we were ready to shake our booties.  

Downstairs they had a big dance floor and a DJ.  All 15 of us took that place by storm.  We danced for hours.  I can't remember the last time I danced that much.  At some point we all tossed our wigs because it was so very hot.  We closed that place down and then walked back to the hotel.  Someone in the group was demanding Taco Bell (I won't name names) so two of the girls got a cab and brought back an insane amount of tacos, burritos, crunch wraps, mexican pizzas, etc.  All of it.  And it was amazing.  LOL!  Since we had rooms together we hung out in the middle room so we wouldn't wake others up.  I'm pretty sure I saw 330 on the clock before heading to bed.  Oops.  

Not many pics to share after we went to dinner.  You know...girl code and all!  But we all had a great time, especially Sarah as you can tell from the picture below!  

The next day we all woke up and headed back to our "normal" lives.  It was an amazingly epic weekend and I am so very happy that we were able to do it.  As we all get older it is much harder to plan things like this.  The girl time was much needed for us all and I am so thankful for great friends to make these memories with!  Now bring on the wedding!!