Rest & Ribbon

Once school was out I was able to rest for about a week while working constantly on last minute things for the wedding. This including finishing up bridesmaid gifts, little kid gifts, and tying cute tags and ribbon on 150 lottery tickets! I can't post this picture without giving a shout out to my girl, Megan of Sassyrae Expressions. She is responsible for EVERYTHING that was printed at the wedding. She will forever be my paperist as I call her! Here's just a little sample:

P.S. No ribbon was wasted during this project...until Amy came over to help! ;)

Crunch Time

The next week was major crunch time with finishing school projects & finishing out the year. Since we used 5 snow days this year we had to go to school on the Friday before Memorial Day which was marked on the calendar as a make-up day. I'm actually pretty thankful we did go to school this day because there was LOTS to do!!

The next week was only a 3 day week for the kids! So it was a must everything got finished the week before! Tuesday was Field Day, and my lovely (at the time, Fiance) once again volunteered to help. Last year he was assigned to a station, but this year he got to travel with me and my class. It was a lot of fun, and nice to see him rooting on the kids! Not only is he the best for volunteering BUT this was also his BIRTHDAY!! When we left school we got home to quickly get ready, and I took him to dinner at Mi Cocina. Being new homeowners Ryan's wishlist was a lot of stuff for the house...I wanted to get him what he wanted, but I also wanted to get him something more exciting than a ladder! Soooo I got him the shot glass case he's always been wanting! I filled it up for him too. He already needs another one! I'm proud of his collection (he has 2 TEXAS TECH glasses!) My daddy is also a shot glass collector...whoever said you marry somebody like your father may have been a little bit right!

That reminds me! For my birthday I blogged about Ryan getting me the bracelet I wore in my bridal portraits & on wedding day, but couldn't post pictures because nobody could see me in my dress...well now that the big day has passed I can share! Here's just a few to see the jewels...and shoes of course! ;)

Bracelet from Fiance

I love my matching earrings...all to go with the add-a-pearl necklace my Grandmother Born started for me

Something Blue

Last Bridal Shower

I am truly blessed to be surrounded by so many friends, family and co-workers who chose to throw me a shower...my 5th was my last one! I hope it's this fun when we have babies!! :) My 1st grade team gave me a shower at school & boy were we showered!! Lots of gift cards which were really fun to shop with after the wedding!! They did a beautiful job making sure everything was PINK! :) I love my team!!

My Junior Bridesmaid was Julie D. who is the daughter of Joann. Joann was my mentor teacher & team leader my 1st year of teaching. We instantly connected, and became great friends! Amy is another teacher friend who student taught with another 3rd grade teacher while I was in 3rd grade, and then was our #1 sub...until she got a job teaching 1st grade. I'm very happy for her, but at the same time sad that I lost my best sub!

::Side Note:: Amy was on pins and needles hoping for a job opportunity this past year...the Friday before school started about 2 hours before Welcome Hour she was hired to teach 1st grade at another school in my district. Thank the good Lord for that! Not only am I happy Amy got her dream job, but also that she had weeks before to help me get my 1st grade classroom together. So needless to say...she's a great friend!!::

Joann, Julie, and Amy hosted a shower for me at Joann's home. We invited friends from school & former parents of students I had in the past. They did a beautiful job with decorations (hard to keep alive PINK plant) and yummy food! They know how much I loooove playing games at showers so we played a "Dress the Bride" game. Not to be confused...my dress nor me, myself, was involved in this game! I was the judge! 2 teams had to dress Julie (the Jr. Bridesmaid) and her friend, Bailey in wedding dresses...using TOILET PAPER!! (I'll post pics as soon as I get them...ahem:: MOM & JOANN!!) ;)

Julie's team was the winning team! I promise I wasn't being partial...it was a tough decision to make! Both teams got pretty creative with their dresses...including accessories! They had rings, bouquets, and even head pieces!

Since our wedding was "small" (we could have had 500 people)...it was nice to have the opportunity to celebrate with the people I spend every day with!

House Warming Party

Well....as you can see things got PRETTY busy with "The All American Couple". So busy that I'm super behind on blogging...just like lunch with an old friend I'm going to pick up RIGHT where I left off!

The weekend after my birthday & Arlington Wedding Shower we had our House Warming Party---WHY we planned a party at our house just WEEKS before our wedding??!! Thankfully we have wonderful parents who helped out very generously! My mom & friend, Krystal came over the night before while Ryan was at work...Krystal helped me hang stuff up around the house while Mom worked in the kitchen preparing all the food that would be served. When Ryan got home Saturday morning we got busy cleaning the house from top to bottom! Krystal came over early to help put out all the food that Mom made & even made cupcakes! :) Our first guests, Amanda & Calen were early so they were put to work too! ;) Ryan's parents came with his aunt, uncle, and Nanni. Ryan's mom brought all kind of goodies...including french onion dip in an interesting bowl (if you were there you know what I'm talking about) haha!

Us opening gifts...
We got an awesome basket of goodies from Uncle Chris & Aunt Gina.
I was cracking up because I asked who was staying for margaritas & Nanni raised her hand!

This party was a reason to show off our first new home, celebrate our 17 days apart birthdays, and help stock our bar! We got all kinds of gifts! Waaaay more than I expected! We certainly have some great friends who know how to shower us with great gifts & have a good time! Our friends Layn and Jessica stayed the night since they had a long drive back so we finished the night by playing Just Dance (ok...just me) and a card game!

The next morning was an early one...I got up to fix everybody breakfast & get ready for ANOTHER bridal shower. It was a little bitter sweet since it was my last one. :( But also a little relieving since Mom and I were getting worn out on being somewhere EVERY weekend! The next post will be about that shower...

Life Size House Wife

I was given a bridal shower on May 15th by The Thomases good friends Sherri and Sharon. This shower was held in Arlington so we invited friends and family who lived on that side of town. It was good to see everybody! Sherri and Sharon did a beautiful job at entertaining us all! We had great conversation & delicious desserts! Recipes must be shared!!

I was quite surprised to walk in, and see the Life Size House Wife! This is the one of the most creative wedding gifts I've seen at a shower! They blew a picture of me, and attached it to an iron board. A mop was used as my hair with pink tulle to make the veil. A house wife's look is not complete without kitchen & garden gadgets attached to her apron!

I'm thankful to be joining such a happy family with such kind friends. :)

Ryan's Mom, Me, and My Mom

National Holiday

Us before dinner. :)
I'm wearing my birthday present from my MOH, Missy-Pooh

If you know me well....you know what a big deal my birthday is! I usually celebrate the entire month of May! Getting older doesn't scare me...well especially now that I'm on my way to dreams coming true! I just love the joy of birthdays!

This year...was...an...exception. My birthday (May 14th) morning was spent getting hair & make up done for bridal portraits! I felt so beautiful thankful to the hair stylist who has done my up-do's since middle school, and the make up artist who has shown me how to let true beauty shine! Mom and I met my MOH, Missy & photogapher at the Dallas Arboretum. We came prepared with a sheet to change in the parking lot, but thought we would TRY to change in a bathroom or something...NOPE! SHOT DOWN! So there I stood in the parking lot with a sheet to hide me while I got dressed in my bridal gown. Without giving away details of the gown...let's just say...it was interesting to make that work!

Our photographer took us way back into a quiet part of the Arboretum where we got some of my favorite shots! I was nervous about not looking "natural" since I was just standing/sitting there by myself without Ryan to lean on...like our engagement photo session. Thankfully I have an excellent photographer, hysterical MOH, and adoring mother who helped me feel at ease & enjoy the day!

Ryan knows how important my birthday is to me, and wasn't going to let it slide! When I got home after a long, exhausting, but incredibly enjoyable day he (and Ryder) had baked brownies for me with candles! I was quite impressed! We waited to have dessert after to dinner so we wouldn't spoil the exquisite dinner we were about to INHALE!

Ryan took me to Bin 303 which is an old house in Downtown Rockwall that was turned into a Texas Cuisine restaurant. We enjoyed an appetizer, red wine, and a delicious meal. Then of course...dessert was chocolate brownies!

When we got home I opened a package I got from BFF for my birthday! It was FULL of goodies! Gold glitter TOMS that I've been wanting, the Wizard of Oz Find It! game, Tervis Tumblers, and a homemade card TO:::BFF, SFAM, AUNT ANGELA:::FROM:::BFF, SFAM, MARK & DYLAN!! I took a picture of the fabulous-ness of it all, but haven't gotten it off Ryan's camera yet...(Next birthday wish list from Husband will be a camera!) Ryan got me the gorgeous bracelet I'll wear on our wedding day. A very special gift! I think the best gift for him is knowing I will be older than him for 17 more days...As I write this I'm only 8 days older than him!

Couples Shower!!!

Last night (05/07) was our Couples Shower at Ryan's Nanny's house. Ryan's family's good friend, Mel, and his aunts, Aunt Gina, Aunt Janet, Aunt Kathy, Aunt Linda, and Aunt Denise were the hosts. They did a FABULOUS job!!!

The shower was outside on the deck that Paw-Paw built. Everything was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! They went with a FIESTA theme! There were beautiful centerpieces, lanterns hanging, and table cloths (duct tape included). ;) Despite the wind...good thing I brought a wardrobe change!

We started off the evening with some DELICIOUS food! I need ALL recipes please!! Mel had called Ryan and asked him a few questions. When we got to the shower she asked me the same questions. We were pleasantly surprised that we got MOST of them RIGHT! I believe there are some objections to Ryan's favorite toy as a child...Angel, his cousin/babysitter, says Ninja Turtles! Ryan answered GI Joes...I went with the practical answer of...A FIRE TRUCK! DUH!!

We were overwhelmed with the amount of gifts! The shower theme was things you would to host a party! My daddy wasn't aware of this, and started questioning our lifestyle as we opened up shakers, wine corkers, etc! Everything was beautiful & perfect! It was all JUST what we needed!! I'd love to post ALL the pictures of all the gifts, but going through 200 pictures to crop, edit, and post to the blog...well, that will just have to be a Facebook-er! We got the most precious, emotional gift from Ryan's Great Grandmother, Moos. Nanny fulfilled her request that it be given to us...we got her silver, a school house cookie jar, and a blanket she knitted!

We are soooo thankful to everybody who came to celebrate with us! I'd also love to post pictures of our guests, but again...Facebook-er! We had the best time! It's great to be surrounded by such loving family & friends!! Thank you for supporting us! Lot of love!! ~Ryan and Angela

Us with Amanda & Calen...me in Outfit #1





Us with the hostessses (Me in outfit #2-Diva!)