Dom Dom Da Dom!

I got my dress!!!!!  (at exactly 3:15 this afternoon!)

I HEART the panhandle

We had a lovely time in Tallahassee last week -- packed it full, but it was not nearly long enough to see everyone and do everything.  After a terrifying, chair gripping, turbulent flight into TLH, we joined mom, dad and Ryan for a Hopkins lunch and a couple of slices of FGF cake. YUM.  Then we were off to the Cake Shop where we were "helped" by a less-than-friendly cake girl... prompting us to consider Cheney's chef skills??  (she bakes a mean carrot cake ya'll)  Then we were blessed to meet Taylor, Warren, Anna and new baby Addilyn Grace in the hall way at TMH.  Man is Addy cuddly!  We got hugs and hellos from MP and Porgie and then had a really special chat full of many many "I love you's" with sweet Gramps.  We left the hospital famished and headed to William, Josie and Nikki's to crash.  

Ryan and Lindsay brought us delicious dinner, Carrie M. cuddled up on the couch and Chase provided us with a few hours of entertainment!  Will and I introduced the Nuggets vs. Lakers and the Cavs vs. Magic's: LeBron, Dad, Pharaoh, West, Soccer Girl, Jason, Russian, Big Bird, Lip Neck etc. to Will and Josie and spent a few hours yelling at the TV.  (Man! Soccer Girl is useless! -- GO MAGIC!)

Wednesday was wonderful!  Will stayed home and played in the pool, practiced his best cannon ball and did some light reading (1776) while I tried on some dresses with mom and a possie of gals.  Laurie, Carrie, Lindsay and Nikki joined mom and I to yea or nay my choices.  SO great to see ALL of you.  After hitting up Chick-Fil-A with mom and LaLa (and the stick on bra haha), we set out to find my momma a dress!  SUCCESS!  With a little finagling, a helpful lady at Macy's (mom, did you fill out that survey?) and lots of mall powerwalking, mom found a beaut.  I look forward to her unveiling in Sept.  Then we hurriedly searched for our lost car, trying to beat the rain and headed off for Granna's bday surprise.  We met the Strickland family and all the little kids out at McCord park, and mom and dad brought Granna blind-folded to 3 planted flower bushes and a plaque in her honor.  Pizza, kids in the pool, family time and rich chocolate cake followed.

And then we headed to the beach...

Will took FLA pics the entire ride down: a karate van, boiled peanut stands, old houses, and massive 4x4's.  We bought "American Pride" koozies, fireworks, Dorritos and as many sweet tea bottles as we could carry.  We popped in to check out Syd's handy work, then were off to the Rosenbergs "Mansion by the Sea".  Heaven.

Thursday and Friday were chillax days.  I collected shells and walked to the gator.  We visited the Graham's house and measured out the tent and mocked up a ceremony.  We even did a little dancing on our "dance floor".  We set off ALL of our fireworks and fancy sparklers on the beach and did the wedding dance and chant around them.  "This is the wedding dance, oh yeah, oh yeah."  It goes something like that!

William joined in the morning and the fellas took kayaks out over past St. T and did a little fishing as I had a girl day and baked in the sun.  William mowed the yard, Willy napped in the hammock, and I attempted a yogg in 90 degree weather!

Our vaca came to an end way too quickly!  I heart the panhandle.

Dear Ocean, you and I have a date...

Tallahassee here we come!  We've just missed Memorial weekend and all of it's glory... (White Trash Bash, I do think of you often) ...but I'm so happy to have a relaxing weekend in Tallahassee signing some checks, tasting cake and trying on dresses with mom.  We are both looking forward to a few days at the Point soaking up sun and scoping out the terrain of the big day.  I can not wait to SWIM - Bring it on!

Eight...

Mack, this is for you!

8 Things I'm Looking Forward To:

1. Traveling with Willy and girlfriends (Iceland, South of France, Greece, Africa, Tahiti, Australia, India on and on...)

2. Having a JOB!

3. Getting nice buns

4. A spacious home

5. Kids, tons and tons of little kiddos

6. Naming these tons of kids

7. My race with Will in June

8. Our Wedding (of course!)

8 Things I Did Yesterday:

1. Ran the West Side Highway

2. Had Thai and Gossip Girl night with Cheney

3. Ate delicious strawberries and chocolates Will brought home

4. Drank 4 cups of coffee... ?

5. Wore my lime green thongs (otherwise known as flip-flops)

6. Tried to track down Ruben... no luck

7. Shaved my hairy legs.... oh yeah.

8. Booked an appointment to try on wedding dresses! AHH!

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:

1. Speak French, Spanish, Italian - speak many languages fluently!

2. Go to work in the morning at an awesome, well paying job

3. Then come home to my dashing husband, charming children, a hot healthy meal, huge home, and swimming pool.  Do a few laps then sit in the sauna.  Have a man massage out the day's tensions, then drink chilling lemon water through a straw as I sit next to my man and read stories to my kids...fire roaring, glass of wine in hand and the dogs snoozing at our feet.

3. Bend like the Cirque du Soleil contortionists

4. Pop in to visit my family and friends daily - go fishing with my brothers

5. Rollerblade fearlessly

6. Sew and wear my own clothes - dress like a 50's lady

7. Drive a stick shift - sorry Granna, the lesson didn't stick? Har Har

8. Communicate flawlessly

8.5. Entertain friends more, host fabulous dinner parties that go into the night

8.75. Sing, Dance, Ride Horses, Wear Dresses everyday, Fly, Travel

with out flying... just BE there

(To be continued...)

8 Shows I Watch:

1. True Blood

2. Gossip Girl

3. Tim and Eric (only with Will... 10 yr old humor)

4. Anything Audrey Hepburn (I guess these are movies though)

5. Grays

6., 7., 8... not much of a tv gal

Tone Time!

Will and I are participating in a race in Central Park on June 6th.  That's right, we will be running a race as philanthropists in an effort to raise money for the National Institute for People with Disabilities (I'm also running to get my late 20's wedding body put back together and to enjoy the endorphins that come with being an early riser with a positive mission).

We're breaking in new shoes and greeting the morning exercise crowd on the West Side Highway.  If you'd like to join, or just wish to tone up your buns, let me know and I'll send additional info about the race or where to meet us for a morning yoggg!

I been gettn' crafty ya'll

I have finally learned how to work my sewing machine (thank you m+d) and have been sewing up a storm.  I'm telling everyone... "I think I can make that."  Today I've cut up some old brides maid dresses and made them into pillows!  Ain't that economical!?

Bottles Galore!

Merci beaucoup a ma famille for so much collecting!

Playing "Dress" Up with Mack

On a special trip out to CO to meet my new little love, Elsie Anne, I was treated to a night with the girls (EA, Mack and Laurie) and a LOT of Laurie's "better than sex" pie.  At the end of the night, I got to play "dress" up...  MacKenzie pulled her wedding dress out of storage and I jumped into it... yes, it's still got that magic.  Beautiful, comfortable and one of a kind!  Now all I gotta do is find MY dress!

EXTRY! EXTRY! Save the Date!

The Save the dates have made their way into the mail and across the US of A.  Hoo-rah!  with a little doodling from the bride and groom, this pretty creation was born, printed, stuffed (in fancy silver envelopes) and mailed with a little help from Poe.  Oh, do say you'll come!

We've Set the Date!

Pack your bags and book your tickets... We have set the date!  We are excited to get busy planning the details and are looking forward to a super small eclectic wedding September 19th, 2009 down at sunny Alligator Point beach Florida.  We can't wait to share a romantic September evening on this woodsy, magical beach.  Hoping for plenty-o-sunshine and am inviting zero no-see'ems.  Stay classy Alligator point, and until September, hugs and kisses.