Yes, We're still alive!

So someone has been teasing me lately (SALLY) that it's been too long since we've posted so WE'RE POSTING OK? We've been DROWNING in wedding planning since the New Year; when it turned over to 2008 and I couldn't say, 'Oh the wedding isn't until next year!' I got a little frantic. So things are coming together... Blake and his boys have all their clothing (I thought they were going to go without pants for a while there) and the bridesmaids' dresses have come in. They're super cute. And I went for my last dress fitting this past Friday!
So as far as updates go - we all survived New Years. Sara Kramer and Luke Schmidt both came in town and we all went with a big group to a new bar called Open City to ring in the New Year. We had fun getting all dressed up and made it home in one piece.
Towards the end of January - Chris and Aerica drove in from Austin one weekend so Carol, Gia, Madelyn, Aerica, my mom and I could all go to the Galleria to shop for flower girl dresses. We got lucky that day and got dresses and pants/shirts for the ring bearers. The trip wasn't so lucky for Chris though... he got really sick but thankfully everything worked out ok.
Blake got back from the first of his TWO Bachelor parties this Sunday. Mark Arceneaux, Andy Greek, Jason and Blake all went to Vegas for this past weekend. I don't know much of the details but I know they had a fun time and Blake made some money betting on some horse races. Their connecting flight to leave on Sunday night was coming from Seattle so they were delayed leaving and Blake didn't get home until 3 that morning.
We've also started taking dance lessons! We're taking private/group lessons at Fred Astaire dance studio off Memorial. Our instructor's name is Stephan (Steph-ON) and he moves his hips better than me (which isn't saying much). So we now know the rock step, rumba, tango, and salsa. All we want to learn is the two step - but they told us that's the most difficult step and we're not ready for it. HA!

Here are some pics from New Years... at least the ones that are G rated. :-) The invitations for the wedding have gone out so I hope everyone is making their plans! We're getting excited!!

The first night Kramer got in town we took her to the Firehouse for a concert. From L to R: Alicia, Matthew, Kramer, myself, and Blake.
All the girls from L to R: Jennifer, Kramer, Kellie, Kate, Haley, myself, and Carla.

The girl who keeps me sane at work - CARLA!Blake and I with his close friend, Jon Herrington. All the boys, L to R: Luke, Jon, myself, Blake and Jeff.Lauren and Travis.Kellie and Luke - we were all dancing queens that night. :-)Kramer and IJeff and his girlfriend!!

Happy Belated 2008!

Christmas at the River

Our trip to the Guadalup! It was a great time... some people almost got punched for snoring, some got shot with the BB gun (CLENCH!), some walked in on people passed out in the bathroom, but for the most part everyone got along. Thanks to the Jacobson's for letting us use the house. Hopefully the cleaning ladies liked the ham and potato salad we left behind.

Playing Battle of the Sexes on Friday night- I don't remember who won. Matthew successfully read a clue card though. Speakadahouse! George W Bish! Then we moved on to a friendly game of Kings. Here's Jeff stripped down to his ribbed wife beater after saying the word 'drink' too much. That's for not giving us the point in Battle of the Sexes when we said a wife beater was a white sleeveless tank top, "NO... it's a white RIBBED tank top." Jerk. But this is the game that got Christy in trouble because she got the king cup. It was either that or the not being able to rhyme on 9 busta rhyme. Don't ask.I'm all bundled up for the fire. It was cold! Something like 30 degrees and it was windy too!! Like the slippers? Jeff and I won gift certificates at a grand opening of some outfitter in downtown Gruene. So I bought slippers and Jeff bought beenies. You'll see the beenie later... I'm surprised he didn't lease the beenie.


All of us at the front of the house next to the horseshoe pit. Nice fire huh?
Jason and Christy.
He pumpkin and she pumpkin. She pumpkin looked like a oompa loompa in all her gear. A cute oompa loompa though. Too bad we don't have video of her doing that dance.
Jason's idea of a good time. CONSUME!
Dancing around the fire - part of a rule in Kings - I think I was doing the soulja boy.
Here's Lauren (is that the beenie?) "Hit me again Ike and put some steak behind it!"


Jeff trying to remember how many boxes of Cheese it party mix is left, either that or where a Fit could fit.

I was also pretty good with the BB gun. Who said they didn't like the potato salad -DANCE!





Can you canoe?
The river is so calm without drunken flashing tubers.

"I'll just paddle on the left, you adjust."
Thank God the BB didn't have long range.

Flashback to New Year's Eve 2006 with the cowboy boots out. Jeff was trying to give us dancing lessons......they didn't go so well. Blake didn't have enough strength to hold me up - he didn't eat enough heart your stop that morning.

I can't figure out how to turn the video - for some reason I dance better with Jason. Maybe we'll sub Jason in for our first dance at the wedding. Either that or Lauren - Lauren and I worked on a pretty sweet dance move too. It mostly involves her dropping me on my face but it looks pretty sweet when we pull it off.

You know what I need? A NERD ROPE!

Brenham, Texas

These are some pics from a while back-- Charlie, Carol, Blake and I went to Brenham one Saturday to do some things for the wedding. I thought I would share the pictures so everyone can see some of the sites of the wonderful town where we're getting married. 122 days to go!

Backyard view of the Ant St. Inn. This is the historic Bed & Breakfast where the bridal party will be sleeping the night before the wedding, and where Blake and I will sleep the night of the wedding. It was built in 1899 and is located in downtown Brenham. All the rooms are filled with antique furniture; it'll be the perfect backdrop for pictures the day of the wedding when all the girls are getting ready.Fountain in the back of the Ant St Inn

Blake and I in the backyard of the Inn

Front of the Inn

Across the street from the Inn is a ice cream parlor/restaurant called 'Must Be Heaven'. They sell Blue Bell Ice Cream (the factory is located in Brenham) and make a lot of other homemade desserts. Of course we had to stop for some ice cream. Ice cream- the reason why I won't fit into my wedding dress.
The road that the lady who's making our cakes lives on. Everyone's happy in Brenham!
Blake picking out a shirt at a hole-in-the-wall bar called The Green Door. The back of the shirt says 'Making the world a better place 18 oz at a time.' This place is run by Jerry, a nice old man who has the drink of choice of every man in Washington County memorized. Men walk in the door, he gets their beer out the cooler, and they give him $1.50. ALL BEERS ARE $1.50. Kinky Friedman has supposedly had a drink there. Charlie wants to move to Washington County and go there everyday. A poster on the wall at the Green Door says "Tractor for Sale: runs good, missing the steering well and seat. Perfect for the man who's lost his ass and doesn't know which way to go." :-)

Cows that Carol is going to rent for the wedding to put in the pasture behind La Bahia Hall. I want them in the background of our wedding pictures. JUST KIDDING!
The Brazos Bell-- the site of the rehearsal dinner. The executive chef, Andre, is a nice French guy that is really difficult to understand but he can cook! He use to be the executive chef at the Four Seasons in Houston. He makes great food and we'll have the whole place to ourselves on Thursday night. This restaurant is located in Burton, the town next to Brenham further down 290 closer to Austin.

We hope everyone can make it to the wedding to share in all the fun. You better be working on your dance moves so you can shake your booty to the Grateful Geezers!!

Carol Roder Photography

Today my mom and I ran some wedding errands during the day (I bought my veil!) and then we took Carol out to eat for her birthday. Carol gave me a cd with the full resolution pictures from Sunday so I thought I would share. Isn't she talented? :-)

Tomorrow is Carol and Charlie's 28th Wedding Anniversary-- SHOW ME YOUR PISTOLETTE!

SMOOCHY SMOOCH

Stick out that booty.
One of my favorites.

We're ready for Santa

Blake and I are all decorated for Christmas! We bought a tree at Kroger and Jason & Christy came over tonight to help us put up all our decorations.

Blake's collection of nutcrackers. He's got 15!

Jason wrecked our apartment tonight. He went out on the patio and broke three (nice) flower pots. Then he came inside, tried to to fix the light fixture in our kitchen, and instead ripped it down. (He's not invited back.)

Today Carol took some pictures of Blake and I in the museum district and near the Rice University campus for our Christmas card, so keep checking your mail!

PS: The girls were victorious on Saturday night. Pat, Alicia, Christy and I beat Yogi, Matthew, Jason, Blake AND JEFF (Ha the boys needed an extra guy to TRY to beat us.) Take that BISHES!