My Wedding Dress

Here is my wedding dress I wore July 12, 2008 when I married the man of my dreams. I looked at tons of dresses online and in magazines before I ever steeped foot in a bridal shop. I decided to go to two local shops one Saturday just to test the waters. I found a dress at each shop that stood out, but just weren't right. I decided to wait until I was back at school in Lexington and go looking there. The day that UK played Louisville in football I went shopping. I took my mom, and my two best friends/bridesmaids Holly and Whitney. (My two sisters and other bridesmaids were at home in wky). We went to one shop and I grabbed some dresses. There were two that were simple and classic like I was wanting. I tried on the first. It was strapless and looked horrible on my chest. It was close to $1000. I tried on the next one and it was perfect! It had rouching around the waist and fell away from the hips with a box pleat. The deep V-neck with spaghetti straps had enough detail to keep interest. The taffeta fabric was gorgeous! I stepped outside and EVERYONE loved it. It was the one! But there was no price tag.... I got really, really nervous. I just knew it would be more expensive than the first dress because it was so much prettier! So the sales assistant took the numbers and went to look up the price. She came back.... it was a ballgown from Moonlight Bridal's Destination line. It was only $400! I was so pumped. That was definitely within budget. I loved this dress. I needed a little bit of alterations and hemming. The first time they hemmed it I hated it! It was way too short. I felt like could see my ankles. So I took it back and they let it out. I guess I like my dress the way people like their curtains... with a little puddle :)

I had to have a blusher! I thought it was one thing I would be old-fashiony about. I think it is so pretty and I had Dad practice so I didn't get a big hump when he lifted it and gave me away!Here's the puddle!

Baby Brock

Introducing the newest member of the family, baby Brock.

Brock was born June 17th - his parents 9th wedding anniversary. He is the third little boy. His big brothers Dawson & Isaiah are helping Mommy and Daddy feed and burp him. Isaiah (just turned 2) can also be caught swiping paci's if they're left out. Ha! He's been off a paci for a year, but now he wants to be a baby every once in a while.

MidTerm is over!

Grant just got back from his mid-term for his summer class. Yay! Only 4 more classes left. We are celebrating with Dairy Queen ice cream. Yum!

Play Ball!

Maddie played softball this year with the Hot Tamales!

She was a great player and had lots of fun :)

I can't believe Uncle G got Isaiah to pose for the camera!

Chad & Laura

On June 13th we welcomed another Chad into our family! I forgot my camera and stole these pics from Leanne so I don't have any of the bride and groom, but this is my younger cousin by 3 weeks. I was born January 3, 1986 and she was born January 23, 1986. We've grown up together and now we've both graduated college, started jobs, and gotten married. I can't wait to see what the future holds for Laura and Chad. I know they are very blessed. We used to say they would be the next John & Kate plus 8 because Chad is Asian and Laura is blonde.... but I don't want them to lead to divorce.... but I bet their kids will be just as cute!

This is Laura with my nephews Abe and Dawson, and niece Maddie. I can't believe they were all looking and all smiling! Leanne pulled off a miracle :)

Another Wedding!

Grant was a groomsman for one of his best friends growing up. Brandon married Stephanie in June and we went to Lexington to celebrate the weekend. They got married trackside at Keeneland and we went downtown to DeSha's for the Rehearsal Dinner. Here's one of the guys at Triangle Park... aren't they romantic?!

Wedding Season

We celebrated the wedding of one of my sorority sisters in Louisville this past May. My pics of the bride and groom are on my phone... not sure how to transfer them. They had a great wedding and reception. The reception was downtown at a history museum. The place was very chic! Congrats Breanna & Drew!

Holly met us at E-town to ride to the wedding with us. It was great getting to catch up again. She's moving out of the apartment we shared in college at the end of this month. We lived together one year in the sorority house and two years in the apartment. It will be sad to finally be giving up our apartment!

We're Homeowners!

Grant and I purchased our first home this summer! Our offer was accepted the Sunday before Memorial Day and we closed on the house on my sister Leanne's birthday, June 29th. We've been busy working on renovations. I'll try to keep you all updated on our home improvements!

Kindergarten here we come!

Tonight was Dawson's preschool graduation. He did a great job saying his bible verse and his poem. Each child dressed up for the job they want to do when they grow up. Dawson was a construction worker. He said a poem "Construction work one day I'll do. I'll use hammers and nails to build something for you, and it won't cost that much!" He's been telling it to us for about a month!

I found out tonight that Maddie graduated from kindergarten at CC elementary tonight too. I didn't even know they had kindergarten graduations anymore! Mom & Dad went to visit her before Dawson's. I got to see both of Maddie's preschool graduations and she would always say a poem or two and sing songs. Maddie's preschool wore caps and gowns to graduation. So cute!

New Mr. & Mrs.

Congratulations to Josh & Sarah!

They had a beautiful wedding yesterday. It was so much fun to watch them say their vows and listen to the great music. They had decorated the church beautifully. And of course I love seeing all the old pics in their slideshow. Hope y'all have a great week in Jamaica!

Here are pics of me with the bride and maid of honor!

Baby Reese

We had a great visit with Amber & Corey yesterday morning. We only got to see Reese for a few minutes before she had to go see the doctor. She was so precious! Amber put her pretty gown and bonnet on to get her hospital picture. Amber & Corey are going to be such great parents. Here's a pic of Sarah, Amber and I all piled onto the bed. We were the Summer Brides last year at church. I think it will be a few more years before we add more babies to the group.

Olivia Reese

6lb. 11oz.

20.5 in.

May 15, 2009

It's a Girl!

Congratulations to our good friends Corey & Amber on the birth of their first child! Aanmber called me Thursday to let me know they were on their way to the hospital. Friday morning when I woke up I couldn't wait to find out if Resse was here yet or not. Amber's sister Tori had emailed me her phone # to call for updates. Amber had a hard night. Around 6am she had only dilated 3cm. They gave her an epidural. Around 10am Amber & Baby Reese were under a lot of stress. The doctors decided they couldn't deliver naturally. They took Amber for C-section and Reese was born healthy! The cord was wrapped around her neck twice so it was a blessing that the doctors knew to do the C-section. Amber was upset about having to have a C-section, but I know it was best for mom & baby. I pray she heals well.

Grant and I are going to go visit them this morning in BG at the hospital. Our other friends, Nathan & Sarah, are going with us. We will have to carry on the DINKs(Double Income No Kids) status without Amber & Corey now! Haha.


Today is also a special day because my good friends Sarah S. is getting married! I am so happy for her and Josh. They live in O'boro where Sarah works at the hospital. Josh is taking a test for the E'ville fire department TODAY!!! He found out he could take it about a month ago, so they moved the wedding back an hour. He will have about 2.5 hours to get from E'villle to G'ville (about 1.25 hrs away) and get ready to get married! I'm praying everything goes smoothly for them today. I also pray God blesses their marriage the only way he can.

I hope to post pics soon! (And pics of the baby shower too!)

Praying for a healthy mom & baby. & daddy too! Amber is in labor at BG!!

Sick Day :(

Yesterday started out like most Mondays, and stayed that way until about 4:45. I was meeting with colleagues and then went back to my office to finish something up. I got an overwhelming weak feeling. I never get super hungry at that time so I didn't know what was up. I finished up quickly around 5:05. Mom had stopped by the office b/c she had a doctor's appointment in town so I knew she was going to be shopping at K-Mart. I stopped there to see what she was getting adn still felt awful. At this point I was starting to get a headache. She bought me some Wheat Thins and a bottle of water and I headed towards home. Grant had set up an appointment to look at a house and I hated to miss it, so I went to meet him and was definitely nauseas by this point. I was afraid I might vomit at any second. I put all my focus on not getting sick while we were looking at the house. Once I got home I crashed. Told Grant to get me a trash can with a bag and took my place on the couch. The rest of the night was spent lying watching tv, sleeping, and the rushing trips to the porcelain throne. yuck. My throat is sore today, I guess from the vomit and the fact that I didn't risk trying to take my allergy pill last night. I've been nauseas today and had a horrible headache, but I've kept my food down so far. The exciting food that is- toast, then some mashed potatos and biscuit.

I'm hoping I can get some good planning done tonight for the upcoming baby shower on Saturday. I'm hosting the shower at my mom's house. It's a double baby shower for my sister-in-law Jordan & my sister Brooke. We've got decorations & favors ready. I need to get the food planned out and figure out chairs and table arrangements.

Let me know if you have any good recipes for an 11am baby shower for 15-20 people. I'm making the cake and can't wait to post pics after!

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

I didn't technically scrapbook today, but I did last night and today I went shopping at Hobby Lobby... so I think it counts!

Today I went shopping with my mom & dad today. Mom and I planned today since it was "Friends & Family" weekend for Macy's and the Loft. We got lots of shopping done and got to end the night by seeing my cousin Catherine walk into her junior prom. She's growing up and looked gorgeous. I'm about to go to bed now, but I'll try to show some pics of my purchases and the prom couple tomorrow!

Kitchen Tour

Kelly is hosting a kitchen tour today on her blog as part of a new weekly party, "Show us where you live Friday"

So, here's my kitchen:

And of course we have to show some school spirit! The candle on top of the stove to the left is custom-made. Theresa made it for us before our wedding. It's a pic from Rupp Arena my senior year.

I love these canisters! The square ones are from our Target wedding registry and I got the round "Pasta" one from a local gift shop. I also love the aluminum trivet. It matches lots of our aluminum serving pieces.

Here are our everyday dishes. We have multi-colored Fiesta dishes. I love them! Everyone always talks about how their white dishes work for everything, but having 2 of each color lets me mix and match for every holiday or mood! I also love the red polka dot dessert plates for holidays. I added the "S" to a silver platter after seeing it done by joysofhome.blogspot.com

You can see that I need to wash dishes... practically no bowls clean! There are only big spoons left in the drawer too! We've been eating breakfast at home, lunch at work (packing) and grabbing food however we can at night this week. The bowls and spoons are high. ha!

Here's our table. It's got two benches which is great for squeezing in lots of friends and family!

Thanks for touring our kitchen! Hope you enjoyed!

Zumba

I just got back from my first zumba class with Leanne and Brandy.  They've been before and Leanne invited me last week to go with them.  They picked me up and we headed over.  The class was crowded and I saw several people I know.  Turns out, the majority of them were on their first class too!  I think I will try to do the Monday night class and just continue walking / wii fit the rest of the week.  

Let's hope I remember my dance moves for next week!

Disney Night

Last night was the Valentine's banquet at church.  Yes, it was a month late, the ice storm is to blame for that!  We had a great time.  We had breakfast with the characters complete with mickey mouse head shaped pancakes.  After that there were several different acts.  Our Sunday School class did "Disney Idol" for who would be the next Disney Prince or Princess.  We didn't get a group pic which makes me so upset!  Grant was a baseball player and I was a fashion princess.  We didn't win, but it was still lots of fun.  I got this photo from Kim   

on her facebook photos.  I think Mom might have more pics, I'll have to get them from her sometime.  

Spring-Time

I am absolutely loving this spring weather!  I've gotten to go walking three times this week and it's such a blessing.  My friend Sarah and I walked twice and it was great to catch up after such a busy winter time.  

On Wednesday night Holly, my best friend from college, came to visit.  It was great to see her.  I haven't seen her since Christmas time.  She is on Spring Break this week from UK.  I am so proud of her.  She will be graduating this Spring from the Communications Disorders program.  She has already been accepted into two grad schools and is expecting her letter from UK this week.  I know she'll be in!

Tuesday night I went to a Pampered Chef party with Mom & my sister Brooke.  We had lots of fun just enjoying some great food and fun.  Tomorrow I am meeting my mother-in-law for a women's event at her church.  It should be a good time. 

My other sister Leanne invited me to Zumba (Zoomba).... for Monday night.  The first class is free so I guess we will see how well I do!