Catching up

I've been a boring blogger this week. I turned my head and it's Friday already! Where has this week gone? I'm thankful that tomorrow is Saturday as I have many plans for the weekend that I'm anticipating. But for now, I'll blog about what my week has consisted of.

Of course I don't go through a day without working on wedding plans... And though this weeks planning has been fairly minor, I have gotten things accomplished. I've shopped for aisle runner fabric, bought wedding party gifts, inquired about invitation prices, made appointments, and gone over food lists for the reception. Well, that made it sound simple and short... Haha.

I've started a new book, The Notebook, actually. I'm looking forward to comparing it to the movie and finding similarities and differences. I'll keep you posted!

I'm excited about adding to my blog, all the many things that I'm going to be doing this weekend and in the coming week... I want to share it all now, but I think I'm going to keep you on the edge of your seat for now!

Hope you all had a great week. What did you do?

Drying Roses, NOT Dying Roses

You heard it right, I'm not about to let my priceless Valentine's token die! Last night I began my drying process. It's simple, you just have to tie your flowers (any type really) in the arranged form of your choice. My personal preference was to have them forever how they arrived at my door.

Once tied, you need to find a good place to hang them where they will not be bothered by roaming heads, or swinging doors. Then, I use a wire clothes hanger to attach my bound bundle of beauty to properly, and simply hang it until its heart is content! I let them dry for several (SEVERAL) weeks before I move them. A good way to test the flowers is to gently touch different places, both inside and out, to see if the petals are soft or crispy.

Once they are completely dried you can use your special arrangement for years to come! I think I'll be finding the perfect wall in our new home to hang mine on, never to forget the way he looked, the way the flowers smelled, or the way I felt on this wonderful Valentine's Day, when my darling fiance took the time to bring me roses that he had no idea, would last forever <3


(Will post pictures later for anyone who is interested in how this works!)

More on the Wedding

As of last week we have booked our transportation for the day of the wedding!

Alterations are this coming Saturday for the bridesmaids...

Last night the beads were ordered for the jeweler to create my designs.

And our first wedding shower is planned for the first week in April :)

I'm so excited!

Ps- Darling fiance just returned from the doctor and has been diagnosed with the Flu! Please keep him in your prayers!

My Valentine <3

I had to share my beautiful surprise with all of my friends...

When they arrived I almost cried :) I think I'll marry the delivery man! (Thankfully it was Will, haha)... I placed my gorgeous roses atop my nightstand so that I can fall asleep and wake up to their undeniable beauty and scent.

I have the greatest Valentine of all!

Where I am From

(This is a reflection of my version of Grandma Ann's Idea)

I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think,

all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read,

and all the friends I want to see.

-John Burroughs

I am from marbles, laundry basket rides, and warm summer days spent dodging the water hose. I am from secret gardens, and big waters. I am from strong white woven hammocks and cool breezes. I am from trampolines, bumble bees, and roaming deer. I am hidden in musty carpeted basements with gadgets galore.

I am from coins and bills, and reasoning. I see things in a different light than I have been taught. I live in novels, poems, and plots. I delight in natural beauty, normal and unusual. I desire love, warmth, and pickled cucumbers. I am from safety, protection, and confusion.

I am from old cars, lawn mowers, spray paint, canadian geese, and Paw Paw. Compassion, determination, organization, and guidance are a few things that define me.

Small, living, breathing, talking, creatures are my passion. I am from long, key bouncing fingers, and soft listening ears. I am from modesty, honesty, and freedom. I have been given attention, admiration, adoration, and appreciation, but none are meaningful without love.

I live, laugh, and I love without reservation. I am not from these. I am from God's hand, alive, promising, free. I am from grace, glory, and honor. I am His child. I am from happiness.

My Men

Some of the the most important men in my life will soon meet each other. On the twenty-third my fiance, my dad, my brothers, my father-in-law (to be), my brother-in-law (to be), and my fiance's best friend are going for their tuxedo fittings. I'm looking forward to this event because our families (extended) will get to meet each other for the first time. I'm already charging the camera batteries to keep all of our precious moments documented. Scrapbooking, here I come!

The little boys will have to wait for a while longer to be fitted for theirs, as they grow so fast at their ages. That will be fun too! We're going to have five miniature men running around in Tuxes. Hehe. I'll keep you updated on the newest events as they come... There's a lot we're excited about doing in the next couple of months. Until the next wedding update... Listen out for the bells!

Monday Fun :)

I have just been informed that Monday night is Christian skate night at the rink. So last evening sis and I headed over to get a little excercise and recreation in. We found that not many people show, sadly enough, due to Monday's lable. There were three other people in the rink and they showed up half an hour late. There is a good side to my story however, it is nice to be able to do the chicken dance without seeing people laugh, and I'm eager to practice my circles and get back to where I was at twelve. And if those hopes are too high then I'll settle for a night of stress free fun. You can also get in super cheap on this night, where else can you have two hours of fun for $3.50? I'm looking forward to adding this to my routine as we had such a magnificant time. I don't get to get out and do much but this could be the beginning of a new outlook on Monday's for me. Monday is usually one of those days we all dread (at one time or another). It's either the first day of the week back to school, or work, or taking the kids to their respective places. It's that "Oh it's Monday" feeling you get that garuntees the start of a bad day; the Monday morning assurance that you have a WHOLE week to go before you get a free day to breathe. Skate night is changing my gloomy start-of-the-week attitude and giving me something to look forward to, and I'm excited!

A Good Morning.

Today is a good day. I'm filled with joy. I've missed being away for two days. I did a two day (overnight) trip at work and didn't have computer access. And I noticed that I left my sad puppy (literally) message post up while I was gone. Sorry for that!

The kids and I had a great time while mom and dad were away on business. We really pulled it together in the mornings and got to school in perfect time. Wednesday night we rented "The Game Plan" and the boys LOVED it! Burger King accompanied our miniature blast and as bad as it is for our bodies, it sure did taste good! Will came over and spent time with us on his ONE night off. It tickles me pink when he does that! We had so much fun.

Homework, bath time, and school is a whole new world, but I felt like mini mom. I'm excited about having schedule's different than my own. I'm ready to see my children grow and learn. Mostly I'm ready to see my darling future husband be "daddy." But first I want to be married!!!! Haha. I'm not in a hurry I just look forward to all that our future holds.

The smaller boys and I made a special trip to "the big school" yesterday. (Fiance left his books by accident) By the time we got there (a mere 30 minutes) the boys thought we were "far away." Will was waiting for us at Yum Yum's to grab his books so he could get to class and had parked his truck in a different place. The boys went wild yelling "Hey Whale" and "What you're doing here?" and "What color your school?" while my smallest just waved and grined (he loves his uncle!). When it was time to go we all exchanged goodbyes and Will began to walk across the street. As we backed our car out to turn around and head for home Joshua screamed "NO! You no leave Whale here Ashey! He too far way from his home!" I tried reasoning with the twins (because when one says something the other repeats it, and today was no different) as they demanded I go back and get him, but of course we couldn't. I am now a "bad ashey" because I left Whale "too far away" and "he can't get back his home."
Whale, if you're out there and you're reading this I'm sorry, please call me if you can't find your home!

After the parent's came home yesterday afternoon the boys were slightly confused as to why I was leaving. They told me I could still stay at their home, to which I promised to spend the night another time. I missed my bed at home, and my carpet, and the smell of my house, the warmth of my fur blanket that rests atop my bedspread, and I was happy to curl up earlier than usual and lose myself in a good book. Peacefully, quietly, I fell asleep when I wanted with no disruptions. Homework, bath time, and school is a whole new world, but I'm going to love every minute of it when the time comes!

Capture my heart <3

Sunday I went to Wal-Mart. BIG mistake. No, not just because every time a woman goes in there she's sure to find something else she needs that she forgot, or in the midst of the islands of goods displayed lies, unfailing, such a bargain that can't be left for someone else to buy. On this warm afternoon, betwixt church services, my grab-and-run turned into a battle to leave.

Before I ever made it to the store, before my car was shifted to the white "P" for park, even before I had thought about finding a row to rest my car safely in, there, at the very back of the parking lot, inside of a raggedy old truck bed, was a sign posted: For Sale Boxer Puppys.

Now, had I not been carrying my little sister along I would've gone about my business and made it in and out of Wal-Mart with my necessities in no time. But as I rounded the corner she blurted out as she read

"For Sale Boxer Puppies."

I quickly made an illegal U-turn to examine these precious furry bundles. I should have convinced myself otherwise but when I walked up to the truck I was too far gone. Maybe it was the fact that their owner didn't even spell the poor creature's species correctly, or just the fact that they were so incredibly adorable. Either way from the top of her precious light brown face, down to her perfectly designed long white toes she won my heart. I rubbed and petted and cooed to her for a long while until I finally convinced myself that taking her home would be unfair to her nature of running freely and a puppy's need of my utmost attention. I simply don't have what she needs.

If there was some way I could've communicated this to her, to help with her understanding, as I walked away I would've done so. Nothing would do. She whined and pouted and broke my heart. I've thought about her since I left her there, in that old run down truck, hoping dearly that the looks of the man with her certificates do not in fact cast judgment on where she lives and what she eats, or even more, show how she is loved. My heart pains at the thought.

God please, though she's but an animal, she feels, she breathes, she hurts. Take care of her. Give her to someone caring. And please don't send anymore puppy trucks my way for a while. I don't think my heart can take it!

-More Wedding Details-

We've had some big updates to the wedding in the past couple of weeks and I wanted to fill everyone in. After speaking with Momma Penny, Fiancé and I have booked our rehearsal dinner site, and are very excited! We'll have a banquet hall all to ourselves while still having the dine-in service (per fiancé's request).


{A little side note from the bride: I love when fiancé has a preference for wedding details! He has had a lot to do with our planning from day one. I'm glad that he has a part, because it makes it feel less like "my day" and more like ours! That's how I prefer it :) }





The gowns are in! Yes, it's true, all of the "big girls" gowns anyway... My dress came in only a few short days before the bridal store was ringing my phone again to share the good news that the bridesmaid gowns had arrived! A couple of girls have already been to try their dresses on and of course they are beautiful. I'm ecstatic about the other ladies fittings soon! Be forewarned girls, I've gone camera crazy! Will and I are going to have every moment photographed I'm sure.





Just the weekend before last our flower girl and junior bridesmaid were fitted for their dresses and completed their orders. The girls had a spectacular time playing in the gowns that were in stock and modeling in front of the floor to ceiling mirrors in the showroom.





The same day, Will and I walked next door to pick out the tuxedos and match colors. I'm happy to say that we found the perfect shade of yellow to complement our female attendants. He tried the tux on (the top half anyway) and he took my breath away all over again. He's so cute :) We are looking forward to our male attendant fittings at the end of this month!





In the days following my mom went to see my sister try on her dress and stumbled right into the numerous catalogues of mother's gowns. She (and I) fell in love with a gorgeous piece, knowing it would be very difficult to find another one as perfect, and having very little time left for ordering (due to 14 week delivery scheduling), she placed her dress order. Yay!





Rental equipment has been reserved and includes many of the "smaller" but BIG details of our wedding. Candelabras, columns, unity candle stand, server ware, silverware, linens, chairs, and other things (I can't remember it all) are coming from Winston to share in our big day. Everything has been picked out and of course matches PERFECTLY!





I am feeling very blessed to have everything come together so nicely. The next advancement in planning is invitations, and the completion of the aisle runner, which are both in process. Right now, I'm in need of a small break, if only for a night, so I am anticipating Valentine's more than you can believe! I need a Will and Ash night... Soon I can have those every night for the rest of my life!!!

My Gift <3

Well I haven't really blogged about any personal gifts like my blogger friends do, but I decided I had to show you my new gift... :) My mother-in-law (to be) gave me the warmest pj's ever! I wore them last night and I have to tattle a bit, my dad keeps our heat ridiculously low (shhhh!), and these are a God send! (I'm told that the gifts were late, as hubby {to be} had them hanging on his bedroom door and couldn't remember to bring them to me). They couldn't have come at a better time than last evening! I didn't even need covers until well after I had rested my head.

Also, the pretty pink bag photographed with my new warm fuzzies was sent home with me yesterday from her as well. I'm especially excited about taking my new "Bahama bag" with us on our honeymoon!!! Incase you can't make it out, the toat features a map of the bahamas and the caribbean (our exact destinations!). What a wonderful carry-on!

I feel extra special to have been thought of and even more so when I saw my name (the second one) sewn into my pajama shirt :) Thank you for the special gifts momma! I love them!

Baby Sister

Today is my sister's birthday. She is celebrating the big sixteen! I can remember still, when we were younger and I played like she was my baby. There is a five year age difference between us, so we grew together in stages. While she was a baby I played with her like any little girl plays with her babydoll :) That was FUN! Except when she cried I'd give her back to mom. And during my teenage years she was into barbies and toys and I was learning about the wonderful world of make-up and hair rollers. Now she's driving and I'm getting married. I imagine when she is my age I will have children and husband and I will have more of a home than just a house and maybe she will be exploring college, or a serious boyfriend, and the employed world. Things change. I like to think for the better, most times. As children it was harder for us to bond, while we were both still learning to grow and change as life does. As adults, our children will grow together, we will look back and laugh at those times when we screamed at each other and swore that we'd not talk again, and we'll reminisce in the times when we had miniature night-before birthday celebrations waiting for the clock to strike mid-night. I love my sister. In three months, she'll no longer be the friend I walk down the hall to talk to, I'll have to pick up the phone and call. I believe our separation will only bring us closer and in time she too will marry and have a family of her own. Things change. I like to think for the better, most times. It will be strange adjusting to not having my baby sister down the hall, but I'm thankful for all of our 16 years together thus far. Happy birthday Amy!