Waterworks by Andrea

So Wednesday officially starts my vacation....and the last week or so at work has been way more stressful than usual, so I'm more than ready to be gone for 2 weeks.

On 9/9/09 in the middle of another crazy day at the office, I got an unexpected delivery. Dre sent me a gorgeous bouquet of colorful mixed flowers with a note that said "To my wife to be. This is to make the rest of your days at work a little more enjoyable." I cried. And then my coworker asked how I would make it through the wedding if a bouquet of flowers makes me cry.

Honestly, I think I'll be crying a lot on the big day....too much happy emotion flowing at once. Good thing I'm investing in some quality waterproof mascara. Andrea

My Brain Is Mush by Andrea

For some reason I can't seem to be able to retain information anymore. If its not written down, chances are, I'll forget completely within the hour. And sometimes even if it is written down, I'll forget where I put the Post-It note. I don't think I've ever been this stressed for this length of time...and I've never had so many things on my to-do list at one time. Even besides all the wedding stuff, I've got several major projects that I'm working on at the office, and one of my coworkers is out on vacation so I'm picking up her project list too. Far too much for one brain to hold. I wonder if stress causes permanent memory loss?? I'm really hoping this is all temporary and that perhaps this is just my mind's defense mechanism preventing it from exploding from the information overload. Honestly, I'm surprised I remembered to blog about it....Andrea

What we're looking forward to by Andrea

“What is the one thing you are most looking forward to?”

I’ve been thinking about that a lot over the last few weeks. There’s so much to do, and plan, and consider for wedding day…I really just want to be done with all this logistical stuff and get to the party. But the wedding is day one of the rest of our lives together, and I can honestly say that I’m mostly looking forward to just being with my husband. Dinner for two by candlelight, watching movies, grocery shopping together, watching HGTV and Food Network on Saturday mornings, going to Mass on Sundays, playing video games together (or me watching Dre play video games)...you know, all the stuff we already do, but as an official little family of two.

When I asked Dre, he told me the number one thing he’s looking forward to is me having his last name. His grandma actually told me that same thing last week; that Dre is excited about the last name. Their family is pretty small, and with various marriages and remarriages and whatnot, there are very few people left with the family name.

So eventually when we’re ready to add to our little family of two, we’ll be starting our own branch of the family tree and carrying on the last name. Now that’s really something to look forward to and get excited about! Andrea

Bridal Shower by Andrea

My friends are awesome. Last Sunday, Parian and Steph planned and hosted the most beautifully fabulous bridal shower a girl could ask for. We had good wine, good food, and good…no, GREAT company. The only questionable element was the “hideously fantastic” veil they forced me to wear. It had a giant cardboard diamond ring perched on the top of a fuzzy silver headband, with that obnoxious fishnet stuff flowing down the back….(wait, it gets worse) to which my crafty little friends attached several fall-colored maple leaves to enhance the theme of the wedding. Yikes and a half.

But despite the insanely ugly headgear (which will become the new tradition at all future bridal showers), the shower was a true blessing. I literally felt the “shower” of love from all the wonderful women who love me and are part of my support system. Four of Dre’s co-workers came, and even though I’m sure they like me, their presence on Sunday was really a testament to their affection for and support of Dre.

Overall, I really don’t have words to describe the love I felt… I just hope I don’t cry again on the wedding day! :) Andrea

Advice to couples married 50 years by Kelly

Tomorrow is the Golden Wedding celebration. It's for couples who have been married 50 years. I think that Jake and I will renew our vows. It has been over 4 months already. I am probably an expert in marriage. I bet all of the couples who have been married 50 years will ask me for advice on marriage.

My job is to make sure no families hang out in the church. Its for jubilarians only (someone fix the spelling on that). I get to kick people out. It's probably one of my favorite things to do.

Afterwards we will all go out to eat and I will have to break my diet and eat a ton of pasta. I also decided to break my diet today because I have to work 19 hours today. I will probably break it on Monday because it is Monday. I am so fat and lazy. I am in a wedding in February which is in Italy. I should maybe get skinny for that. Probably won't. Oh well. Kelly