Just a hello, I'm still alive

I have been so bad over the past 6 months with keeping in touch with everybody, remembering birthday's, getting things in order, being on top of things. My blog has suffered too.

But ........ I'm still here. Work is crazy and I don't know when it will get better. Wedding plans are coming along really well. I can't wait for the bachelorette party and especially THE BIG DAY!!! I've really enjoyed being able to plan the whole thing with Robert and my Mom and Dad. My MOH's have been great with the bachelorette stuff. Jenny's really been on top of things. R & I have some hiccups yet, so keep all your fingers and toes crossed -- or whatever brings the most luck. Our honeymoon flights are booked now so we are SUPER excited!! Yay! Yay! Yay! And we got a HELL of a deal! I"m planning on taking 3 weeks off in October and right now -- it can't get here fast enough!!! I NEED A VACATION!!!!

Heading to Shiner this weekend - YAY! Have a few things to do but mainly get some R&R in as well as POOL TIME!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Frustrations!

I have thoroughly enjoyed wedding planning so far! I wish I could take a month off to get things done, but unfortunately that's not feasible. So it's trying to get things done during work breaks and weekends. Luckily I have every other Friday off, so that helps. I can say it feels very surreal right now. Like I'm doing all this planning for someone else. Like I'm not really the BRIDE! Does it ever sink in???

And when you're planning do you continually second guess yourself?? Geez! I could kick my own butt sometimes!

However -- I am having a DOOZIE of a time with bridesmaid dresses. The color I want is only available in the priciest of dresses, which is NOT HAPPENING! I made a mad dash to Ventura's on Saturday with a limited amount of time only to find out I needed a LOT more time there. I've done numerous online searches, but you cannot compare a color online to one in real-life. Oye!

I know it'll all work itself out, however it's driving me crazy in the meantime. Quite a lot hinges on the color of the gals dresses, like the guys tuxes. Robert tried some on last night (and oh my gosh he was SOOOOOOOOOOOO handsome), and there were a couple colors we liked, however I can't give the go ahead until I have the girls dresses figured out. (naturally us ladies are MOST important!) Hee Hee

Anyway -- just writing and venting here ...

On another note, cause I don't like posting without a picture -- here are some fun ones. Enjoy!

Frio Breakfast Stop. Look at all these folks! And still more on the way!

Dogs always make me happy. They are so fun! Always happy.

Miss Sophie -- one FINALLY where she's looking at the camera.

Sophie on Robert's lap as we're cruising down the highway, probably back to Katy from Shiner!

Bella Rose as a puppy. Too cute! Bella as an adult. She's still just as sweet and cute!

Road Warrior

Well I finally racked up some miles on the car-o this weekend. :) (that one's for you KDK!)


Friday night Robert and I ventured over to Watson's to meet our friend Bryan for a few drinks. It was good fun and we had some good laughs. They especially liked posing for the Miller Lite girls. Of which the big picture magnet is hanging on our fridge!


Saturday morning I woke up early to hit the dusty trail back to Shiner. Picked up mom, met up with Dawn and Jenna and headed to K&K. We spent about 2 hours trying on dresses and even got Jenna in one. I can't wait to take Hana and Jenna out flowergirl dress shopping!!!!


Here's a few we found that were SOOO CUTE! this one was our favorite, I think!

This one was so precious -- it was cute in the front and had a little train in the back! aww.

So after shopping at K&K, Dawn and Jenna headed for San Marcos and Mom and I started our running around. We went and visited with the cake lady, then the wedding decorations lady, then -- yes -- we drove to Austin to try on the dress that is still the lead contender, just another time. It's still the most flattering!

After that mom and I went to Baby A's for dinner, since neither one of us had one single thing to eat ALL day. It was yummy. Then it was back to Shiner we went. We did stop off in Lockhart for a break at Wal-Mart then again in Gonzales to see what their material departments had. As we were walking out -- between the jewelry section and the electronics my heel slipped and down I went -- oh so graciously though. It was HILARIOUS!!! Mom turned around when one of the workers said "OH MY!!!". I bumped a stand and mom just cracked up. Seriuosly -- slooooow motion. We were laughing for a good 10 minutes!

We finally made it back to Shiner and although I had intended to go back to Katy that night, it was after 9p so I hung out with Mom and we did more wedding stuff on the computer. It was fun. I was sad my sisters weren't there with me, but hey -- we're all busy, especially THIS time of year!

Robert and I finished decorating the house for Christmas last night -- it looks good. We hung lights outside and are going to let the boys hang ornaments on the tree on Wednesday. This Christmas has completely snuck up on me!!!

AND ... might I add -- on the way to Austin on Hwy 71 I got a warning for having no front license plate on my car. Hello! That takes it down a notch! ha ha It was by a state trooper just barely outside Bastrop. He was in the turn land headed South on 71 while I was 2 or 3 cars deep headed North -- all stopped at a traffic light. What a booger. This is the 2nd warning I've gotten in my BMW in about 6 weeks -- for the same darn reason. It's a silly law if you ask me :)

Wedding Dress, Wedding Decor

I tell you what -- October 2009 is going to sneak up on me - I swear it! But we're getting things going and hopefully we'll be ahead of the game.

Last week Robert and his good friend (and groomsman) Ryan worked on one of our table decorations. Here they are hard at work:


Here is the 90% finished product. Robert stained it while I was out Black Friday shopping with the gals. We have clear votive holders to go in it and it looks really good! Way to go babe!

So while we were out on Black Friday, Mom had a wild hair up her purdel and wanted to go look at wedding dresses. And we did find one that is really flattering and very pretty!! Yes, I'm still "looking" but it always goes back to that one, which I believe was the 2nd one I tried on. Jenny and Jill loved it and Mom did too!! So we'll see. (big smile!) I don't know about for some of you other married women -- but it's all very SURREAL feeling right now. SO exciting and so just "wow"!

I went on Sunday to Ventura's here in Houston for a quick look at one particular dress. Although I liked these, the other one from Austin still "does it" for me -- so just a couple more shops then we'll be ORDERING! I'm hoping to have bridal portraits in April -- so need to get it ordered soon!

Here's a few I tried on at Venturas:

And today, with all good luck and the moon and stars and sun aligning, I'll be sending out the official "will you be my bridesmaid" packages. Hee Hee. Fun stuff!

Chiropractor, Birthday, Wedding, Work and Life in General

What CRAZY days the past few have been!

Last week at work was pure HELL. Work was insane and there were all sorts of things happening. I believe all the stress of that week and the week's before led up to a severe neck ache. So after 31 years I went to the chiropractor today. LOL He cracked the shit out of my neck at the end and I was in more pain than before. 4 advils later and an ice pack I was feeling a little better. I go back on Wednesday for more punishment.

We did celebrate KDK's 32nd birthday on Saturday evening at YiaYia Mary's! It was a good time and Karena looked FABULOUS! (I hope I look half as good as her when I get her age! ha ha - that's just an on-going joke we have. K's all of 4 months older than I am!)

Today is Robert's 36th birthday! He had the day off and has enjoyed it. He's over at his good friend Ryan's house doing wedding stuff (wood work and beer drinkin!). :) He's been so great with all the wedding planning!! We also found our centerpieces Sunday for some of the tables so that was cool!!! Now I just need to get a dress picked out so I can figure out what colors I'm going to use.

I had to laugh -- Robert THOUGHT he was snagging a younger woman -- but he's got one that's falling apart before HE is!

Today we also met with Alice and Eric our Serendipity Photographers!!! They are so awesome! Robert and I will be working on their contract this weekend.

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!! I'm SO ready for the holiday's! ALL of them -- both Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's! Robert and I got the tree up but we still have a bit more to do, some other inside decorations and all the outside decorations. I just wasn't ready to take down the Fall/Thanksgiving stuff until at least Thanksgiving is passed.

Here's a few pics from the house.

Our dining table centerpiece.

The Stockings: Robert, Jamie, Jr, Matthew & Sophie's

Our First Meeting with the Church

Robert and I have had a busy week!!! We were in Scottsdale, AZ for a few days - him attending a conference and me just hanging out and thinking about wedding stuff. Got a few things done, which is great. We flew back on Friday night and drove to Shiner mid-morning Saturday for Papa Ed's 85th Birthday Party. We had FUN!!!!!! It was a great evening! I've got lots of pics to post!!!

Sunday was church, then Robert installed a ceiling fan for Mamo and then it was full-on wedding errands around town. A good 5-hours of stuff. We started at the Kasper B&B checking out rooms for our out-of-town guests. Got those all taken care of and then it was to the American Legion Hall for measurements, then to see Father Bob at the church to get that ball rolling, then back to the Hall for the final stuff, to my parents then back to Houston. We were exhausted!!! But I feel like things are getting accomplished.

Next big task for me -- officially asking my girls to stand in the wedding!!! Yay! I hope they say YES! :-)

Here is a picture of the Sts Cyril & Methodious Catholic Church in Shiner as we left Father Bob last night. It was such a pretty shot we couldn't pass up! A great way to end our day of wedding-planning!!!