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

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