Oops...

I'm slowly entering my blog hoping you guys are still here. I haven't made an update since JUNE. Ahh! I feel like a horrible person, but I've been super busy, not to mention now that I have nothing to plan I feel like I have nothing to post! I need to change this way of thinking.

Here's what we've been doing...

June: Weddings
July: Vacation and weddings
August: Wedding
September: Catching our breath
October: Wedding and baby showers
November: Being an aunt and uncle to TWO new babies.

Here's what's coming up...
December: WEDDINGS!

If you haven't caught on, 2012 has been the year of weddings! We have another this coming Saturday and will finish the year with a wedding on New Year's Eve! This year has been incredible and has also gone by so fast! I can't believe we've been married for almost 7 months already. It doesn't seem real. In the coming year we're going to get very serious about becoming home owners so we're in save-every-penny mode right now. We started looking at homes over the summer but we didn't find anything that we really fell in love with and being as indecisive as we are we wouldn't have felt comfortable making an offer on anything we don't love.

Here's the last 6 months in pictures (these are kinda out of order, sorry):

 Here we are with Tyler watching the first OSU game of the season!

 My niece Hailey turned 8!

 We took a cooking class (so much fun)!

 Gracie was born

 Here we are at a wedding

 Alden was born

 The family in HHI

 HHI with my love

 Hanging out with our nephew Benjamin

Last dinner in HHI and it was amazing!

I've also decided that Matthew and I don't take nearly enough pictures SO my goal for next year is to take one picture a day and then I'll make a scrap book of 2013 at the end of the year. I really wish I would have thought to do this from the day we got married, that way we would have had an awesome scrap book of our first year of marriage. Oh well, you live and learn. Won't make that mistake again. 

And in preparation of taking one photo a day, I'm off to play with my new camera so I can get really good at taking pictures of us!

We're Married!!!!!

We're married.... and one moth later I finally update my blog! :)

It has been a busy (and awesome) month. Married life is wonderful... and pretty much exactly the same as not married life - for us anyway!

Our wedding was absolutely perfect! I had an idea in my head of how I thought everything should be and would be.... and everything was one million times better than I could have ever imagined.

I started the day off bright and early - breakfast with Kelli and her husband - Thanks for buying my breakfast, Matt! :) Kel and I went back to my house and waited for our ride to pick us up. I was nervous that I was forgetting things and that my dog was going to be left unattended - thanks for coming to hang out with him Cyle! After we left my house we went to the Worthington Inn to get ready! I was pretty calm and not nervous about this whole wedding thing if I do say so myself! I was a nervous wreck the week leading up to the wedding *sidenote: I was not at all nervous about the marriage, just the wedding so I am very surprised my nerves went away the day before! We had lots of baked goods and snacks - mimosas included - while getting ready. Once all the girls were finished we made sure the guys had finished getting their outdoor pictures taken and we headed out for some bridesmaid pics! The Monday before our wedding I met with our photographer at the Worthington Inn so we could get some ideas for pictures and we really got some great shots! We set up a really cool first look so Matt and I could see each other before the ceremony.

After we finally saw each other the day just went by so fast. We finished bridal party pictures and then walked over to the church for formal family pics. After the pictures we had to go into hiding because it was almost time for the ceremony! Still no nerves! Finally, 4:30 rolled around and it was time for the main event! Everyone made it down the aisle in one piece although my shoe did almost fall off. :0/ Our ceremony was nothing short of perfect! Our Pastor personalized it in a way we never thought possible and finally getting to say our vows and exchange our rings was a dream come true!

The ceremony was short and sweet and before we knew it we were at the Venue ready to party the night away! I love that we got to enjoy cocktail hour with our guests... it was nice to be able to mingle with them right after the ceremony was over so we're definitely very happy that we got all of the formal pictures out of the way before the ceremony! Everything went off without a hitch at the reception and our room was so perfect! The Venue has a rustic/warehouse type of feel but with our tables decorated the way they were it gave it more of a formal feel and was just awesome. We definitely partied the night away... we had such a great time, and we think our guests did as well! I know people say this ALL. THE. TIME, but the day really does go by incredibly fast. Time flies when you're having fun! After the reception we went back to the hotel for a few drinks with our friends before calling it a night.

The day after our wedding we had a very special one year old boy's birthday party to attend. It was great to see lots of family the day after the wedding and hang out with my new sister and brothers AGAIN! We had a great time at Ben's party and then it was back home to pack!

We left early the next morning for our honeymoon in Ft. Myers Beach, Florida. We stayed at the Pink Shell Resort and would definitely recommend it to anyone headed that way! We loved that it wasn't super crowded during the week and wasn't far from dining and shopping. We spent most of our days lounging at the pool or the beach which was amazing! We were definitely due for a vacation! The best part about our honeymoon was our candlelit dinner on the beach. Just the two of us under an umbrella with nothing but the waves and the sunset to bother us. It was truly amazing and something we will never forget!

A week later reality hit and we were back home in Ohio. I feel like my tan faded as soon as I got off the plane! :) It was nice to be home and get settled into married life!

We weren't home for long before we left again. This time for CHICAGO! We went to visit some of our very favorite people! I love that we got to spend an entire weekend with Marie, Joe, and Benjamin. It was super relaxing and nice to be able to spend time with family we don't get to see as often as we'd like! The highlight of our trip was getting to see our nephew Ben take his first steps!!!!!!! I am so happy we were there for that!

Our next trip is about a month away, so excited for a family vacation! Another week of relaxing on the beach... what could be better? But for now, we're just hanging out, working a ton - especially Matthew! I took up cooking - it's still a work in progress. The thing I like least about it is having to go to the store to get things I don't already have, and figuring out what to make!! It's not easy... thank goodness for Pinterest!!

There you have it, my month in a blog post! I'll leave you with some pictures!

Rehearsal Dinner

 The girls with my groom

Me with the guys 

 Waiting for my Soon-to-be-Hubby

First look

Our Vows <3

Reception :)

Goin' to the Chapel...

... In SIX days!!!!

I honestly cannot believe our WeDDing wEEk is FINALLY here! After 15 months of planning our thoughts, ideas, and dreams are coming to life!

All weekend I've been thinking about how crazy (and exciting) it is that this is the last week with my current last name. This is the last week that I'll be wearing one ring instead of two. It's the last week that Matthew will be without a ring! In less than a week I'll be a wife and I'll have a husband - an amazing one at that! THIS TIME NEXT WEEK I'LL BE MARRIED!!

Planning our wedding has been amazing, fantastic, crazy, stressful, wonderful, scary, humbling, and overwhelming at times but I would not change anything about it if I could and I absolutely cannot wait to see how it all comes together next week!

We have had such an amazing support system throughout this process and I don't know how I'm ever going to thank our family and friends enough for their love and support. We have such thoughtful, kind, loving (and creative) people around us and we would not have been able to plan what I know will be the most beautiful and perfect day of our lives without their help!!

I have a busy week ahead of me... my To Do List is growing! But for every stressful moment I have this week I know they will all be well worth it when the clock hits 4:30 on May 5, 2012. I can't wait to be married to the man of my dreams, to the person who makes me whole, to my soul mate!!!

I have found the one whom my soul loves.

                                              Song of Solomon 3:4

Oops...

I am a terrible blogger. I know this. You don't have to tell me!

My last post was back on March 6th just as we were getting ready to send invitations out! Well, the invitations are out, and we've gotten most of our response cards back already!

The past few weeks have been incredibly busy though and I'm loving every second of it. I've been to 2 baby showers, 2 bridal showers (my own) and my bachelorette party! I feel as though these events have prepared me for the main event in T minus 23 days!! I can't believe how fast time has passed!

I've been swimming in wedding stuff and although I LOVE planning our wedding, Matthew and I are ready for it to be here! I'm wondering what I'll do with my time when I'm not meeting with vendors or calling make up artists, choosing hair styles and bridesmaid shoes, picking out groomsmen suits and ties, deciding on scriptures and program wording. Whatever will I do with myself after May 5th? Blog more? I'll work on it.

I have to say, I feel so lucky to have so many wonderful people who are willing to have me delegate to-do items to them and help make our day perfect!

Here are some pictures from my pre-wedding weekend of fun!

 These signs were made by my FSIL! Love them! 

 My niece, Shai, with me at shower #1

 All of my beautiful bridemaids! 

 At my Bachelorette Party! Soon to be Mandy Dickson!

A shower gift from my FSIL, again, so creative! I LOVE these wreaths! 

Eek!

We have less than 60 days until our wedding! 59 to be exact!!

I'm so excited I almost can't stand it. I am also getting REALLY nervous! I do not like being the center of attention and it makes me really nervous to think that all eyes are going to be on me when I'm walking down the aisle!

I have two bridal showers coming up in less than a month and my bachelorette party too!

In the next few weeks we have birthday parties, bridal showers, and baby showers... I'm a busy girl! But it just makes the days go by that much faster and gets us that much closer to May 5th!

My dress fittings are underway and I got a call last week that the bridesmaid dresses should be ready for pick up this week!

I bought a new pair of wedding shoes because the ones I originally bought were starting to scare me!!! I do still need to find bridesmaid shoes and Kelli and I are going to do some online shopping this weekend to see what's out there!! We're also working on getting the guys suits picked out.

Invitations are almost finished (there was a slight hiccup with the amount of ribbon provided) but I expect them to be completed on Thursday night and in the mail on Friday!!



I also have a fantastic idea for table numbers that I plan on tackling this weekend! I hope they turn out like they're supposed to!!!

I just really can't believe that we are finally almost there!!! Can't wait!!!!!


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4 months to go!!

Our wedding day is quickly approaching!! I honestly cannot wait. Everything is coming together and I'm quickly understanding what everyone meant by "the little things will stress you out..." Here's a short list of the little things I've thought about but haven't actually done anything about yet...

-Programs (everything about them)
-I have to put together my invitations? (forgot about that somewhere along the line)
-Finalizing invitation wording
-When to send out invitations (every check list says something different)
-Ceremony music (I've been putting this off for 6 months)
-After ceremony send off (bubbles/bird seed/rice??)
-What song will I dance to with my dad?
-What's my mom going to wear?
-Bridesmaid shoes
-Jewelry
-Dress alterations
-Votives for the tables

Ok... that's enough for now. I have actually completed a couple of things off - we had our food tasting (yum), we're pretty sure we've decided what food we're having we just need to confirm it with the Venue :) We chose tablecloths and napkins. We got to see our venue again, which I love! I absolutely cannot wait to see it set up for OUR wedding.

I have purchased my wedding shoes (unless I change my mind and take them back)!!!! YAY! I'm really excited about them. A little nervous too. I always just assumed I'd wear heels at my wedding but today while shoe shopping I seriously considered flats. Everyone said I needed to choose something comfortable BUT with me being on the short side, and Matthew being on the really tall side I thought heels would be the best choice. And if the get uncomfortable and I want to take them off... I'll take them off! Check 'em out!!!

Cute, right? 

OH! We have our flower girl dresses now as well! They are SO cute and my FMIL found them at TJ MAXX for just $20!! 

One of my flower girls modeling the dress!

Last on my list is to leave you with an image of my sweetie pup. Here you go... :)

The other love of my life :)