Long Time, No See

Well Thanksgiving break has come and gone but luckily I am on my home stretch of school and wedding plans.  Tyler and I headed to Mena on Tuesday night for a nice, long, much need break.  Wednesday evening dad, Manda, and I hit the road for Elgin, OK, where celebrated the holiday with my dad’s family. 

Manda and I waiting for dad to load up in the truck.

Dad finally got loaded up.   

Dad and Aunt Bonnie before breakfast on Thanksgiving.

After breakfast

AB, Blinky, and Tiger (The Family Pets) 

Manda trying to nap before turkey.

Me waiting for some yummy deep-fried turkey!!!!

YUMMY!!!!!

Dad and Manda rough-housing later in the evening. (Dad’s face cracks me up in this picture.)

     My Grandma

Picture Time!!! (Aunt Julie and Uncle Russell trying to figure out their camera. lol)

Manda napping once again.   

Hitting the road Friday afternoon.

On the road again and bored. Except daddy!!!! (Sunglasses provided by Dad)

 

It was a great break and I am so sad to see it over.  School is in full blast.  In the past week I picked out, ordered, and received my bridesmaid’s dresses.  Tyler and I also booked our honeymoon.  We aren’t going to Orlando but we are taking a cruise to Mexico.  I am supper excited and I can’t wait for a little R&R.  Tonight, I figured out what I am going to give my girls for their gifts.  The only thing I am falling behind on is Christmas shopping but hopefully during the break I can hit the road for the mall. I can’t believe that after so many years Tyler and I will be tying the knot in a month.  I am so thrilled to be finally marrying my best friend.  Well I think this blog is long enough and honestly I can’t remember everything that occurred last week.  I am hoping to get back into the swing of things soon.

A little wedding and a little chat

Tyler told me today, that even though I want our wedding decorations and etc to be a surprise, I am giving away too many details.  I had no idea.  I guess I am overly excited and just don’t realize what I am saying.  Oops.  Hopefully everybody will at least act surprised and in awe on the wedding day.  Last night I addressed and sealed up 103 invitations.  I didn’t even know I knew that many people.  I still have 10 more addresses to hunt down and then I will put them in the mail.  This morning I got up and headed towards Hot Springs.  I had the grand plan of getting to the mall and getting Tyler’s wedding band and then over to Hobby Lobby to get the rest of the stuff for our centerpieces.  I got to the mall at about 9:30 not realizing that apparently from 9-10 is elderly-walk-around-the-mall-time.  Absolutely none of the stores were open, so I found a couch between the 2 jewelry stores and watched the hustle and bustle of the walkers.  30 minutes later when the stores opened I found “the ring” in about 20 minutes.  Tyler has no idea what ring he is getting and so I don’t give anything away, I am going to stop talking about it now.  After that I headed down the road to Hobby Lobby.  I finished up there and came back home to Arkadelphia.

I was reading a friend's blog today and she decided to write about HER thoughts.  I think that is great, because that is what I use my blog for, to talk about MY thoughts, hopes, and dreams.  She is a new mom and for the first time in a while she didn’t mention her baby.  I was reading a comment left by a friend who I am sure had all good intentions but her last statement was can’t wait to read your next blog and don’t forget your baby in it.  I don’t think it is fair to tell somebody what to blog about.  I understand some people don’t get to see her baby all the time (including me) but she is always always trying to put a picture or something of him on her blog.  The family and friends who read her blog get more information and pictures about her baby then if internet didn’t exist.  I don’t see why we can’t be thankful for what we get to see and hear and let her write what she wants to write.  Just saying.

School and Wedding Plans

I have been falling behind on my blogging and I want to apologize to the whole 10 people who read it.  I have been super busy with all my wedding planning and when I am not doing something wedding related I am working on school stuff.  I will try to catch you up on everything that has happened since my last blog (if I can remember it all). 

Well, first of all, I have been working super hard on my invitations.  I have got them all printed out and Tyler put them all in envelopes.  I had no idea they were going to be so hard and I hate that they made me cry.  Tonight, I addressed 60 of them.  This past weekend Tyler and I went to Texarkana to finish registering at Bed Bath & Beyond and Target.  Then we went to Hobby Lobby and found some decorating pieces, unity candle. guest book, and signing pen.  The biggest accomplishment this weekend was Tyler and I figured out and made a sample centerpiece.  It is so beautiful and I can’t wait for everybody to see them.  I really don’t want to say a lot about it because I want everybody to be in aw on the wedding day.  I will say that we used sugar.  Today I met with my baker.  I decided to go with Delish Bakery in Mena.  I am going to have a red velvet cake with cream cheese filling.  Yum!!!

School is a pain in the butt.  I met with my advisor on Friday to find out that the chemistry that I already have isn’t a good enough chemistry and I am going to have to take another.  That really sucks stinks because I need this higher chemistry to be able to take organic and biochemistry in the spring.  The bad thing is that I need organic to be able to get into the nursing program.  If I can’t figure out a way to take this class I won’t be able to stay in the nursing program and will have to be out for a semester or until I can get this ONE class.  I was able to get in to most of the classes that I need for the spring.  I was lucky enough to get into all Monday, Wednesday, and Friday classes.  I have also found the organic chem class that I think I need offered at TC on Tuesday and Thursday.  I have to get it approved and hopefully it won’t be full.

Sorry I haven’t had any pictures to put on my blog but now that it is almost Thanksgiving and Christmas, I should be posting more from the holiday season.  I feel like these last few blogs have been so boring and hopefully soon they will be more fun.

A Few More Wedding Plans

Sorry I haven’t been blogging regularly, especially now that I am planning a wedding.  I want to keep everybody up to date on the plans but I am having trouble finding blogging time.  I have settled on my caterer, Sugar and Spice Catering out of Texarkana.  I am super excited about them.  I have enjoyed some of their food at another wedding in August.  It was delicious.  On Tuesday, I am going to meet with Delish Bakery out of Mena to pick out and order a wedding cake.  Tyler and I have also decided on a honeymoon.  I had originally always dreamed of a tropical get-away for my honeymoon but Tyler and I have decided that a trip to Orlando would be much better.  We plan to spend about a week and half in Orlando going to Disney World and Universal Studios.  I have never been before and am super excited.  Overall, everything wedding related is coming together very well.  I am so proud about how much I have accomplished in just 2 weeks.  I am still looking for the candlelighter equipment and I also still need to complete my DIY invitations.  I have also put Steph in charge of my music.  I thought it was crazy that the only thing that I was stressing over was the music.  She had music that she didn’t get to play at her wedding and I told her if she wanted so could use the same music.  I am so thankful to not have to worry about the music anymore. 

School related, I am registering for spring classes Friday.  I am not really looking forward to next semester because I will be taking 2 hard science classes.  I am so ready for this semester to be over.  Honestly, I am ready to graduate. 

Busy Busy Weekend

Saturday morning Tyler and I left Arkadelphia a little before 8.  We were definitely early birds that morning.  When we got into Mena we headed straight to Ty’s house to drop Daisy off, take a quick photo for our registries, and pick up some stuff for Ty’s bank.  Tyler was unprepared for the photo shoot but he is so photogenic we got a couple good ones.  After that we went to the bank, then we registered at Herod’s and Coast to Coast.  I had so much fun registering I have trouble remembering what I picked out or left out.  After Coast to Coast Tyler was starving so naturally went to Papa’s and had a lovely meal.  After Papa’s we went to James’ Super Save Foods to get Shelton to do our flowers for the wedding.  He said yes and I picked out some gorgeous white rose bouquets.  Mine is going to be special with some silver jeweled flowers in it.  I think they are going to be beautiful.  We also got a bundle of boutonnieres for the groom, groomsman, mothers, grandmothers, ring bearer, dads, and candle lighters.  When we left there we headed to the travel agency to find out that they are closed on Saturdays.  However, it was okay because I got the number.  Next, I had an appointment with a lady about some wedding rental decorations.  I found the arch that I am going to use at the ceremony.  It is gorgeous.  It is huge and there are so many possibilities  when it comes to decorating it.  I also found the inspiration for my color scheme.  The owner, Kelli, let me borrow a blue chair sash. (Pic at the bottom)  When we left there Tyler and I went to Wal-Mart and registered.  It was really fun cause I got to use one the price guns.  At Wal-Mart I picked out some awesome blue Paula Dean cookware.  Love it.  We also decided, while at Wal-Mart, to buy DIY invitations.  We got some really cute ones.  On the other hand I am supper nervous about printing them and typing them out.  I am worried I will mess them up.  If somebody else did them I would be able to blame them.  Wal-Mart was our last stop for wedding related activities this weekend.  We then went to the Olmstead house and got to play with Christopher and chat with Steph and Stephen.  Finally, we met up with Tyler’s parents for dinner at Cruizzer’s.  I have accomplished so much this week wedding wise but I still have so much to do.  This week I plan to call the travel agency, call Kelli and reserve the arch, call about a caterer and baker, and get started hopefully on the invitations.  I am taking my bridesmaids to Little Rock on the 20th of the month to do some dress shopping.  Super excited!!!!  Next weekend Tyler and I are going to Texarkana to finish registering at Bed Bath & Beyond and Target.  We are also going to go by Hobby Lobby and look at the wedding stuff, fabric, and flowers (center pieces).  Then off to the mall to look for Tyler’s wedding band and gifts for our attendants.  Lots to do but I am working hard and I know this is going to be a beautiful wedding.  I am working to hard for it not to be. 

My Inspiration

Here we go…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KAMERON MCDANIEL!!!!

My good friend Melody was induced this morning and she now has a beautiful baby boy.  I am so happy for her.  I will hopefully get to see him this weekend. 

Tyler and I are going to Mena this weekend to start on wedding stuff.  We plan to start registering at at least a couple of hometown stores.  We are also going to see some wedding rental decorations.  Hopefully I will get around to seeing Shelton about doing my flowers.  We have to get Tyler’s side of the guest list.  I need need need to decide on invitations.  If we have time I need to see a travel agent about the honeymoon.  I have sooooo much to do in such a short time.  I have oodles and oodles of check lists and I keep adding to them instead of crossing off stuff.  I still need to pick out a cake design and bakery as well.  

If I haven’t been doing school work I have been sitting in front of this computer trying to find the perfect songs for each moment of the ceremony.  I finally decided tonight, that I will not look no more.  Every time I look I changed my mind.  I have decided on 3 different Kenny G songs, Bella’s Lullaby, and a U2 song.  I don’t want to say to much because I want everyone to be in aw at the ceremony.  I still need to come up with a playlist for when the guests are being seated and for the reception.  We are officially getting married at First Baptist Church.  We are going to have the reception in the Fellowship Hall.  There will be no dancing but hopefully lots of good food.  I have contacted the flower girl and she said yes.  I have got in touch with my hairdresser and somebody to do my makeup.  My hairdresser is going to round up some help to do my bridesmaids hair.  I started tanning today.  I feel like I have accomplished a lot but then I think about everything else I have to do and then I get a little short of breath.  I am still keeping my cool and I am staying as organized as possible. 

BIG NEWS!!!!!

Sorry I haven’t blogged lately I had a dreaded Ethics test last week and spent a lot of time freaking out over it but more importantly…

I AM GETTING MARRIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It has been almost 6 years since Tyler and I started dating and almost 2 since we have been engaged and we are FINALLY going to tie the knot.  I have been waiting for this day for a long time and in only a few short weeks I will be a bride and then a wife.  JANUARY 1, 2011 or 1/1/11 is the day we will say our I do’s.  I have so much to do in such a short time.  I also have school and finals to think about on the side. So far I am not nervous about the work load.  I am lucky to have such a supportive family to help me through this.  Tyler and I have made a few decisions about the wedding so far.  Our colors are going to be blue and silver and at the reception I want it to have a winter wonderland theme.  We have chosen the places but are still trying to make sure they are available.  We want to get married at First Baptist Church with Brother David officiating.  We want the reception to be held at the Old Armory.  However, we haven’t decided if we want dancing yet.  We do want music to be played at the reception.  We have asked our bridesmaids and groomsman and they have all said yes.  I am super excited for December because that is when my girls and I are going to Dallas to get our dresses.  My bridesmaids will walk in at the ceremony to Bella’s Lullaby. (Thanks to Edward Cullen :) )  Tyler and I are so excited to be getting married and can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together.  I know we are going to have some great adventures and I will be sure to continue blogging.

On another note…

Tyler and I were robbed Sunday night.  Happy Halloween to us.  They took his wallet and my brand new tomtom out of my jeep.  I usually always lock my jeep but for some reason we both forget to lock it.  We were carrying a lot of stuff in that we brought back from Mena and it just slipped our minds.  We felt really stupid for it but learned our lesson.  I just hope who ever took our stuff needed it more than we did.  Hopefully now I will be able to find my way home or to school.  I am not sure cause I don’t have my tomtom.  Is this a reason to miss Ethics? lol.