Home Sweet Home

Ryan and I spent last weekend at his hometown.  It was a WONDERFUL & much needed weekend there.  I will admit......when Ryan and I were first talking years ago, I remember sitting in my sorority house and I googled his hometown.  It is completely different from what I grew up in.  NOT in a bad way at all, just different.  I remember my first visit there like it was yesterday.  I was SO nervous to spend time at his parent's house, driving down gravel roads & just hanging out in the middle of fields with friends scared me :)  Like a boogy man was going to come get me bc it was so dark out. HA The best thing about all of this is I get to see a part of Ryan that just shines.  (ok that is really cheesy and he might get mad, but that is the only word I can think of right now) Just go with it.  He was SOOOOOOOO excited to go home this past weekend and was smiling from ear to ear.  I too was excited and LOVE going to spend time with his family and enjoy the "country" :)  It is nice to get out of the hussle and bussle of our life and just try to relax and spend quality time together! 

~ HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS ~

YAY FOR PICTURES!  Finally!

Mr. Cooper and I 

One proud Uncle :)



BEAUTIFUL




Driving Ryan's truck!!!! Yes I know I look awful in this picture but I had just got done walking in the woods and was sweating! haha



Enjoying the awesome weather!

As you can see from above I learned how to drive Ryan's truck.  I have never driven a stick (successfuly for miles) BUT on Sunday I drove from his land to his parent's house.  A 15 minute drive!!!!!! YIKES! Watch out!

We got to spend time with Ryan's sister and her kids.  They are growing so fast and getting so big. 

We talked wedding!  We got some great old pictures that I am so excited about!

Of course the weekend flew by and were sad to leave.  We got home around 11:30pm Sunday night and I dont think I have caught up on sleep yet.  ahhhh Ryan is on week 12 of traveling.  I. MISS. HIM. A LOT. We need to make some final wedding decisions and it is getting to be very difficult with him gone so much.  Hopefully soon!!!

We are taking our engagement pictures this weekend!!!!! Finally, only 3 months since our engagement.  Ha  I am so excited, but getting really annoyed with what I am going to wear.  Which is "I have no clue!"  Awesome! ha  Which reminds me, I think I was suppose to take shirts to the dry cleaners.....crap! 

Have a great rest of the week. 

Love,
Emily

Growing Family

NOT as in Ryan and I family.......as in my extended family! :)  My cousin Freddy & his wife Maria had their 2nd bundle of joy today :) Stella Rose 7 lbs 14 oz 19" long.  She has a full head of hair & I can't wait to get my hands on her and see her!  Hopefully soon or over the holidays.  Man it just really sucks living away from family on days like today :(  THAT is another reason why Ryan and I need a helicopter! haha Congrats Fred, Maria, & Sophia, on the new addition to your family.  My Uncle Fred & Aunt Jan are in KC now and have been SO sweet to text me several pictures!  What would we do without phones that sent pictures?!?! :)

My mom just called me from Hobby Lobby.....what I would give to be at home and be able to go shopping with her for the wedding right now.  Hopefully soon!!!

Ryan is on week 11.....yes 11 of traveling for work.  Ryan stole accidentally took my headphones for my iPhone. I couldn't go for a walk without music and I felt dumb playing Pandora just cruising along in my neighborhood SO I went to Walmart and walked the aisles there :) haha Actually I needed milk & a few other things so I just tried to shop for a long time while pushing a cart! Pathetic!!!!!!  I am totally obsessed with caramel & apples in an individual wrapped package for $1.00 & only 100 calories.  So I bought 5 more of those :)  More expensive than just apples & caramel dip BUT much less calories.  I have started eating 5 meals a day.  2 of the 5 are small snacks (only 100 calories).  I actually can see small results and I have only done this for a little over a week. 

Another picture less post :(  HOPEFULLY soon!  I got my computer back, but still need several things re-installed.  Grrrr

So glad tomorrow is already Wednesday!  I seriously can NOT believe how fast this year has gone by.  Pure craziness. 

Even though I am missing family & friends extra today, I am going to go break a sweat and stop complaining :) 

Love,
Emily

Marriage Class

Wow - I am posting on a Saturday night :)  We are FINALLY home on the weekend :)  Thank you God.  We def. needed this.  This morning we got up bright and early.....yes in the 6 o'clock hour early & headed to Ft. Smith, AR for our Pre-Cana marriage preperation class.  I had a few expectations, but it was nothing what I expected.  Does that makes sense? ha  It was AWESOME.  I loved it & I think Ryan enjoyed it too.  As much as sitting for hours on end and learning/talking about our feelings, responsibilities, finacials, family planning, & goals can sound awful, I really enjoyed opening up and "communicating" with Ryan.  # 1 thing in a marriage is COMMUNICATION!  Which I could not agree more with :)  After 6 plus years of dating I think I have finally got the meaning of "talking" through my/our problems.  Man did it take some time!  I will be the first to admit it.  We wrote down our answers to several questions & can't wait to read them years from now!  

After class we drove an hour home & headed to none other than Wally World for some meat so Ryan could smoke meat all afternoon on his smoker.  We cleaned a little & then I took a 2 hour nap.....GLORIOUS!!!!!  Ryan made bacon wrapped pork loin that was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like one of the best things I have ever eaten good :)  So PROUD of him!!!! 

I have gotten several calls/text/facebook messages of friends who collected wine corks today while they were at the wineries in Missouri :)  We will be using these for our wedding reception!!!!  We only need hundreds more! haha Thank you friends! 

Again a no picture post :(  Makes me sad.  I get my work computer back this week...wooooo hoooooo!  Can NOT wait. 

My mom text/called me multiple times today during "renovation Baker house"!  Sounds like it's coming along.  Can't wait to see the new progress when I go home next.  

Thanks to Ryan's parents & their friends and betting on Nascar last weekend........Ryan and I bet each other on drivers tonight.  O HELP ME why do I care about Nascar.  hahaha  $10 is $10 and hopefully I win! 

We have new neighbors and their dog has barked NONE STOP since 3pm today.  O MY GOSH!  If they were home I would go knock on their door.  Not kidding!  Grrrrrrrrr

I am ready for bed and it's not even 10pm......

I LOVE FALL!  This weather has been perfect!!!! 

Ok seriously this is enough random posts! 

Good night.

Love,
Emily

Racing

My brain is racing in circles....I went to a race track this passed weekend and saw cars racing in circles.  Ironic?!?! ha Ok so I am not that creative with my writing.  Ask my english teachers from school or my close friends!  Anyway, Ryan and I spent an AWESOME weekend with his parents, their friends & a few family members. If you know me at all you know I can't stand Nascar, BUT watching it in person is WAYYYYYY better :)  Still not saying I am going to be an avid fan, but hey we are getting closer :)  THANK YOU Randy & Teresa for a wonderful weekend!!!!  I got burnt, Ryan won $$$$ at the casino, & spent much needed time together...all in all a fabulous fall weekend!  I introduced the "dice game" at our campground....the neighbors even came over to play :)  Of course I did not win!  We played four games and the same person won 3 of them!  Grrrr! ha I dont have any pictures of this weekend yet, but I will.  I am using my old laptop for work this week bc my work computer got very sick with a nasty virus so it got shipped to the STL.  Hopefully I get it back SOON.  My laptop is so old and slow, but it works :)  Clearly or I wouldn't be typing this post. 

I worked out tonight.  YAYYAYAYYA!!!!! ha Like I feel like I could pass out right now.  This was no walk in the park (like I normally do), hopefully I stick with it!  I WILL!  I HAVE TO! I WANT TO!  It's just SO hard with Ryan being gone during the week to keep my motivation BUT I am NOT making anymore excuses :)  It is SO easy to just lay on the couch and watch TV shows that I want to watch. LOL  HELLOOO I used to do 2-a-days, ran miles at a time, lifted hundreds of pounds of weight & LOVED every second of it, I want that passion back :)  AND I will get it.  

As I just mentioned Ryan is on week TEN...yes 10 straight weeks of traveling during the week.  It has been VERY hard on the both of us.  Obviously in different ways, but I know we will get through it and we make it work :)  Just like everything else that has come our way.......we just deal with it and move on :)  AND that is exactly why I love Ryan so much.  Even though last week....not as much! JK JK JK JK

Let's see what else.......O yea.......GO CARDS!!!!! 

One day I am going to look back on all these posts and just laugh at myself :)  AND I totally know this is going to be true, but right now I am stressing out about our wedding. ha   I have SOOO many ideas but just dont even know where to start and why would I it's still 187 days away! ha I might make my weekly trip to Hob Lob tomorrow & see what I need or where to start on one of my projects :) 

I just wish all my friends & family lived in the same town :(  

Ok wow this is entirely too long for zero pictures for people to look at.

Toodles!

Love,
Emily

Happy Birthday Mom

First and most importantly......today is my Mom's 60th birthday.  Shhhh I was not suppose to mention the age! I LOVE birthday's.  I always have and not sure why.....maybe the selfish, spoiled part of me loves the attention and gifts and love and the day soley on the birthday person :)  Others think birthday's are just another day....(cough cough cough Ryan) but I would like to give all the attention to my mom today!!! Ok maybe not ALLLL I have other things to talk about too! hahahhah JK JK JK  I have mentioned it before and I will mention it over and over again......my mom means the world to me.  We have fought like cats & dogs, laughed like little kids, cried like babies....all side by side.  We have done it ALL & yet my mom still sticks by my side 110 % of the time.  Just last night I called crying on the phone and she listened to EVERY word I said without judgement, calmed me down & was the voice of reason....SERIOUSLY how does she do it?  Blows my mind.  I SO BADLY wanted to be home with her today, but work has taken O-V-E-R my life there was just no way to be away.  :( So I called her, text her, emailed her, sent her flowers......I think you get the point.... I wish I was with her today.  ha Thank you Mom for being the VERY BEST MOM on this planet.  I hope one day I can be 1/2 the person you are today.  You truely are a gift from God.  LOVE YOU! 



Junior Year of college....2006 or so! ha


Ok.......wedding world!  Ummm yea - lets talk about that.  Ryan saw our venue where we are having the reception for the first time last Saturday.  My mom was able to meet us there and lets just say.  3 DIFFERENT opinions about EVERYTHING.  My brain was in a spiral freak out mode......ekkkkkkk.  I KNOW everything will work out and the day will be fabulous, but o my!  SO.MUCH.TO.DO!  We also met with a cater on Saturday morning at 8AM....yes 8AM to talk food, dishes, silverwear.....fun fun fun. 
On top of wedding planning, working my butt off, & trying to survive while Ryan travels; my work computer has a HUGE virus on it :(  Not good!!!  Today I had to mail my computer back to my IT guys.  Seriously do not have time for this.  My laptop it is.  Grrrrr

Dawn & Calc called me this week & I had GREAT conversations with them :)  I miss those girls SO MUCH!!!!!!! 

Melina & Ashley got to read my drama/issues/venting in my life via email this week.  THANK YOU FOR LISTENING (aka reading) LOVE YOU GIRLS!!!!!!!!

GO CARDS!!!!!!

So READY for this work week to be O-V-E-R.......going now to watch TV & maybe enjoy a glass of wine :)

Something that touched my heart today.........."MONEY DOES NOT EQUAL POWER"   I think my grandma & grandpa in heaven placed that car with this bumper sticker RIGHT in front of me today.  Call me cheesy but whatever :) 

Love,
Emily