Paris Shower

Well I promised I would be back soon.......does 20 days count as "soon" haha

Life has been ridiculously busy to say the least.  Our days fly by, our nights go too fast & our weekends seem like seconds.  We are having a blast & enjoying every second of it, but man it's exhausting.  I know I will miss the planning, but I am soooo ready for it to just GET here already :)  I am not the most patient person you will ever meet! ha

Back to WEDDING FUN - Ryan's family threw me a sweet sweet shower in his hometown.  I was SO nervous it was going to snow when we originally planned to have it on 2/18/12, but it was a gorgeous winter day!  Ryan and I picked up my mom that Friday night & headed north for the weekend.  It was my mom's first time going to Paris and it was so fun taking her there.  We gave her a grand tour on Saturday morning :) 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that my mom & Ryan's family (well my whole family for that matter) get along so well.  Ryan's parents were so welcoming to her & I & we really appreciated their hospitality & yummy food :)

 My mom, me, & Ryan's mom :)

This was the BEST punch I have ever had & look how ADORABLE these glasses are with sprinkles :)

 The awesome hostesses!  Thank you for everything!!!

We were so spoiled.  Thank you everyone for everything!  SO generous & thoughtful.  We totally don't deserve it. 

I am LOVING LOVING LOVING this weather.  We have had the windows open & fans on for a few days now.  Heeellloooo spring!

I have even mowed the yard already.....Ughhh

16 days until the BIG wedding weekend :)  SO SO SO SO SO excited!

Have a great rest of the week & weekend.

Love,
Emily

Sprinkled with LOVE

First off - I want to thank my awesome friends & family for ALL you have done, your love, your support & thoughtfulness during Ryan & I's engagement!!!! THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.

Well.....37 days have passed since my last post.  BOO to me :(

O well.  A LOT has happened! 

First post of Wedding FUN!!!!!

My AMAZING friends threw me a shower in Nixa 2/11/12.  It was FABULOUS!!!! They did not miss a detail.  I have talented friends!  It was SO great to spend time with family & friends near & far.  Dont you just love weddings & babies - brings people together.  :)

Melina, Ashley & I at Ashley's shower 2/11/12

My friends have WAY more pictures.  I need to get those from them.

My aunt, cousin, & future MIL traveled in and I LOVED having them all there :)  

37 days until the big day!!! I am BEYOND excited, ready & nervous.  My mom calls me every night with our RSVP update.  I love it & secretively jealous she gets all the mail :) (you know me and my love for mail)

Speaking of mail - I went to the post office today to buy more stamps & I had a fabulous conversation with an older man about the weather.  It's the small things in life that make me smile :)  I loved that he was friendly, I loved that he was probably sending mail to a child or grandchild, I love that people still talk to on another these days, & I just loved his nice heart to have a conversation with me.  I miss my grandparents terribly and when older people talk to me in public it reminds me SO much of them.  I don't hesitate to talk to them one bit :)  Especially at the post office, bc my grandma & grandpa sent me mail weekly :)  God works in great ways!

Ryan is traveling this week - gasp - not time to travel again already. Grrrr  *Remember the 13 weeks in a row travel last year* I don't think I can handle that AGAIN.  ha  Although in 38 days we will be on the BEACH of Hawaii - YIPPPEEEEEEEEEE.  So excited!

Have a great weekend!

I will be back SOON to talk about my Paris shower & bachelorette party.  PROMISE PROMISE PROMISE.

Love,
Emily

74 days...

There are 74 days until the big wedding day :)  I still can't believe it will be OUR wedding.  Ryan and I have attended 30 weddings (give or take) over the last several years and they are always so fun to go to and see friends/family and celebrate the bride & groom getting married, but it's just hard for me to realize it's finally OUR turn to have a wedding :)

I have been thinking A LOT lately.  I think my brain and heart are at full speed.  I am NOTHING like I expected myself to be as a "planing bride" (well maybe a few things, but nothing what I imaged myself to be) Does that make sense?  I get a count down email every day and today it said "74 days until the wedding" I am EXCITED, NERVOUS, ANXIOUS, EXCITED, NERVOUS, & HAPPY for the wedding day, but I just can't focus on that ONE DAY for some reason.  Yes I have cried.  Yes I have worried.  Yes I have debated on colors, decorations, flowers, invitations, etc.  Yes I have woken up in the middle of the night worrying about "the day".  But I don't find myself dwelling on that ONE DAY details all too often, because I am focused on the DAYS-AFTER-THE-BIG-DAY :)  I know the wedding day will be fabulous bc we have the BEST family & friends on this planet.  That is why my head & heart are in full swing of focusing on Ryan and I's life after the big day. :)  We want to enjoy our life TOGETHER.  Live life to the fullest TOGETHER.  Spend as much time with our family & friends as possible TOGETHER.  Explore TOGETHER.  Take adventures TOGETHER.  Dream big TOGETHER.  Love TOGETHER. Smile TOGETHER. Laugh TOGETHER. Be silly TOGETHER.  That is what a "wedding day" symbolizes to me - joining two people & families TOGETHER and enjoying life after the big day.   I am not sure this post really flows or makes sense to others, but I just wanted to write down how I have been feeling lately.  Ryan and I are very blessed and do NOT take for granted our very supportive family & friends and really appreciate ALL the hard work others are doing for us for that big day & beyond!!! :)  I just don't want the true meaning of marriage to get overshadowed by flowers, colors, $$$$, or centerpieces. :) 

See I can't even talk wedding for a whole post......

Better late than never right?!?! :)  I FaceTimed with my mom, brother, SIL & Brennen on my birthday so they could sing happy birthday to me and watch me blow out the candles on the YUMMY cake Ryan made me :)  Ha LOVE MY FAMILY!

My parents have been working their butts off remodeling their house :)  LOOKS AWESOME!!!! I went home a few weekends ago & it looks so good.  Should be finished very soon :)  Little Brennen has been an OUTSTANDING helper :) Honestly he has, WAY more than I have :)  He is RIGHT next to my dad the whole time helping him! ha It's too cute. 

Grandpa's little helper :)  He has his tools ready!

Carrying his very own tool box, with his new tool set he got for Christmas from AJ & UF :)

I know not many people read this blog, but it's a great way for me to remember life right now!  I will laugh at myself in a few months :)

Have a great day & week!

Love,
Emily

Far too long

This post is LOOOONNNNGGGG over due!  I am so mad at myself for not updating frequently, but what can ya do.  11/20/11 was far too long ago to dwell on it (my last post) HA.  To be honest, I think about blogging on this silly thing all the time, because I know years from now I am going to want the memories of my life, but finding the time to sit down and type at the computer OUTSIDE of work is just not fun right now.  I sit at my office computer for 9 striaght hours a day and the LAST thing I want to do at night is be on my computer, so I have neglected this poor little blog :(  O well!!!  I am enjoying life and LOVE spending as much time with our friends & family as possible :) 

Ok quick recap (for my own sake & family) - so pretty much the only people reading this!
* I spent Thanksgiving with my family & Ryan headed north to spend time with his family & HUNT.
* December flew by SOOOO fast.  We loved spending time with both of our families at Christmas!  Ryan surprised me and took me to the Nutcracker :)  I loved it - he hated it.  At intermission he said "what the heck did we just watch" lol
* I celebrated my 27th birthday
* We had fun ringing in the new year with friends back in MO
* We got to spend a weekend with Ryan's parents :)  We were wedding planning machines last weekend.  It was so fun to show them the church, reception venue & where we are having our rehearsal dinner!  (they even got to see me in my dress) :) :) :)

Wedding World:  93 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What?!?!?! How did that happend?!?!?! Ryan and I all along did not want a long engagement at all, but seriously this has FLOWN by.  Like CRAZY fast flown by!  I am kind of sad & excited all at the same time.  

We are pretty much done planning, just trying to figure out the logistics of everything is what is getting a tad stressful.  I know it will ALL WORK OUT & be FABULOUS, but still a little stressful.

Work has been SUPER SUPER SUPER busy (it could not have come at a worse time) HA.  Kidding aside I am thankful to be so busy, it makes the days FLY by!  But in return I am so tired & crabby at night I dont want to be productive!  Or maybe its just the cold weather?!?! Either way I need to get my butt in gear and finish some final things up for the big day!

I know I have left out a ton, but trying to recap a month in a half in one post will just turn even more boring than it already is.  Although my mom will love reading my ramblings I will stop!

I hope to post more often, but we shall see where that goes :) ha

Have a great day!

Love,
Emily

Family Time

Ryan and I have been very blessed and lucky to spend quality time with our families over the last few weeks/weekends.  A couple of weekends ago Ryan enjoyed 3 days of hunting and seeing his family & I was at home with my family.  (remember my wedding planning post) ha That is what consumed my time at home.  BUT I did make time to see my family as well!  Ryan and hunting is a whole post in itself  :) That boy LOVES it. 

Mine started with FOUR full days at home!!! Can't even remember the last time that has happened.  It was MUCH needed and so fun.

We celebrated my brother's 29th birthday.  My mom made his favorite meal and we laughed, chased B around my parent's house, & just had fun spending time together. 

This passed weekend we headed back home to spend time with Ryan's parents.  We spent the entire day yesterday laying on the couch, taking naps and watching college football together....can't get better than that :)  

GO HOGS!!!! What a weekend for college football.  SEC dominated!!!!!!

Saturday night Ryan, his dad and I headed to his sister's rodeo they put on.  It was so great to see Ryan's neice and nephews as well as his sister and Brian.  If you know Ryan and I at all, you know we CRAM as much into one weekend as possible!!!! We love spending time with our families and friends since we live so far away from some of them.  We didnt get back to his parent's house until 2:30am this morning, but well worth it!!! 

Ryan is sitting in his recliner watching the Nascar race now......apparently I can't talk to him, he is so focused on this race.  The last race of the season!!!!!! WOOOO HOOOO, YIPPPEEEE, YAY, :) ha I will go ahead and say it......Go Carl :)

Well since I have not updated this blog as frequently as I had hoped, I will post a few pictures from when my friends from the STL came down.

I think that is a very quick update and have caught up.  It works.  I am going to try and update more often.  Especially since our wedding plans are almost all finalized :) Can I get a YIPPPEEEEE! Still a few decisions are pending but we are moving right along. 

I can NOT believe Thanksgiving is 4 days away.  I can NOT believe how fast this year, month, weekend has gone by so fast.  I am trying my hardest to enjoy each day bc everything is just going at sonic speed and I want to enjoy it all. 

Happy Thanksgiving week my friends and famly.  I "plan" on doing a post on what I am thankful for this week. Which is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH. 

O yea - we celebrated Ryan's birthday last week too!!!

Love,
Emily

iPad

Hello!!!!! I always think about blogging but just forget or don't want to spend time on my computer.

Quick update :)

I am typing this on my mom's new iPad......ummmmmm I am super jealous!!!! I LOVE this thing. So does a certain 2 year old :) he knows exactly what to do. It's cute & scary at the same time.

I took 2 vacations days from work and they were MUCH needed. Not just to finish planning our wedding but for my sanity too :)

My 2 favorite friends from the STL came to visit last weekend :) we had craft time, Hogs football & fun. What more could you ask for! Thanks for visiting Calc & Dawn!!!!!!

It's hunting season......need I say more? See u after Christmas Ryan.

Well..... Ryan and I survived his 13 weeks straight of traveling during the week. Whoa glad that is over

WEDDING UPDATE:(today's list)
Met the linen lady
Fabric Store
Went to lunch - yummy Bambino's
Went to Pier 1 for some ideas
Mall
Sonic Happy Hour
Sam's
Meeting at the church with our priest
Another fabric store
The BEST part of the day.......Playing with Brennen. He is at the funniest stage in life. Seriously this kid could not be funnier. We had a blast spending time together last night &
tonight :) AND Aunt Emmy gets to babysit tomorrow night!!!!

No pictures :( Hopefully this week!

Have a great weekend!!!!!!

Tomorrow meeting with a cake lady. Whoop whoop

Love
Emily

Fall Favorites

Well....since I am a major slacker (or too lazy to type) I am going to do a full post of my Fall Favorites :)  Totally random.  Get ready!

***CARDINALS WIN THE WORLD SERIES!!!  The most dedicated Cards fan EVER got to meet David Freese on Sunday 10/30/11 - my dearest Dawn with MVP David Freese :) 

***ENGAGEMENT PICTURES

***HALLOWEEN -  we celebrated Halloween Saturday night along with thousands of other people (aka college students) on Dickson Street.  I was not excited about going out & had zero motivation to dress up.  BUT then somewhere/somehow we pulled it together and made costumes in 5 minutes and were out the door with our friends :)  We ended up having a GREAT night and so glad we went out.  I DOMINATED the shuffle board & for Ryan.....he needs to learn some skills from me :) HAHA Good times. 

***Halloween part 2 - Monday was a little spastic (is that a word?!?!) for me.  I ended up running to get candy at 6:30pm and ended up buying Christmas candy.  No big deal.  I am sure the kids still ate it. HaHa Note to self: buy candy earlier next year :)  I was kind of sad we only got 10 kids or so, but better than nothing. 

***Ryan's traveling - IS ALMOST OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can I get a "whoop whoop" Holy moly these last 13 weeks have been hard.  Although, Ryan is getting to see new places - so that is cool.  He DROVE, yes DROVE in NYC around time quare & central park on Tuesday.  He probably wont do that ever again.  Man he is brave!

***Freinds - so thankful for ALL of our friends.....near and far.  LOVE LOVE LOVE you all.

***Family - Um yea - lets be honest I could write a novel on how awesome our families are and how much we love them.  SO THERE YOU HAVE IT......we love you all and miss you all a lot!  Thank you for all the love and support over the last few months :) 

***FOOTBALL - Hogs are # 7!!!!  Woo Pig Sooiee

Funny story that I want to remember:  So I was talking to my mom on the phone after she saw the engagement pictures and I asked her what is her favorite......She picked the one I would have never picked and the one I picked as my favorite she didn't like.  There you have it folks......WE NEVER AGREE ON ANYTHING :) hahahah

Wedding update:  ummmm next

Have a great weekend everyone!

Love,
Emily