100% Chance of Showers

This weekend was busy and fun. Part of the fun was getting to throw a shower for my friend at work. Angela is the funniest and feistiest person you will ever meet - she had us all laughing uncontrollably when she opened her gifts. Angela does all of the accounting for my weddings... poor girl. This spunky New-Yorker will be such a great Mom even though her little boy wont be able to get away with much. We love you Angela and will try not to screw up our accounts while you're gone.

Lisa and Pat (my Co-party-planners)

Hey, how did that boy get in here? Oh, it's okay, it's just Ken !

(Angela's buddy at work. He takes most of the beatings)

Mama Miele 

(she is so funny and only speaks Italian,.We now know where Angela gets it from)

Eating and Chatting... ladies are so good at this. 

Hali and her E-Harmony shot. 

Do you think this one will work Hali?

Angela

Can you tell she is annoyed I made her pose in front of the pots I made?

Lisa, Angela and Mary

Hey Alexis! Where are you going?!

Humble Thanks...

I want to say just a quick and humble thank you to all that made my birthday so special. I can't believe the outpouring of love I received, almost like you were a little worried about me. I'm thinking a few of you thought I might be standing on a ledge ready to jump. No worries, I proudly embrace my 30's with excitement for what lies ahead. I can't believe what amazing family and friends I have collected in the last 30 years -- it makes me so proud of me! 

Mostly, I owe my sweet husband a thank you for doing all in his power to make me feel like princess for a day/weekend. It didn't take all of my 30 years to find him, but I gladly would turn them in to make sure I did. Since my birthday I have had this quote swimming around in my head...

"Marriage is perhaps the most vital of all the decisions and has the most far-reaching effects, for it has to do not only with immediate happiness, but eternal joys as well"

-Spencer W. Kimball

Thanks Colin, I wouldn't have changed a thing. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!!

I am secretly writing this while Mary is getting ready for her big day. Today is Mary's 30th birthday! I literally married up ( I'm only 28). When she does read this, I want her to know that I am so proud of her and all the things she does for me, her friends, family and for her young women. Most people don't know how much time she spends working on her lessons, but I can assure you that she pulls out all the stops. She has paper everywhere when she cuts out all her hand-outs -- not to mention that her girls always get freshly baked treats. I am so thankful to have met my wife, she makes me want to be a better man. I can't say what we are going to be doing today because I want it to be a surprise, maybe she will write something up about it.                      Colin

Halloween

Halloween was so fun this year. At work we ALL got to dress up - this is the first time in the history of our resort. It was great seeing Halloween characters walking around property. 

And, it is always a good time when you get to hang out with the Bell's. We loved getting to play with baby Brooklyn, also known as Happy Feet. We started off with some dinner (yes, in our costumes), then back to the Bell's for a little guitar hero. 

So, you know how you have those friends and you don't realize their secret talents until random times? Well Mrs. Bell is a guitar hero freak! I am going to make money off of her and enter her in contests to battle zitty little teenagers. Those little fingers on that plastic guitar were unbelievable. Nice job Ash! 

Lisa on Halloween... get it? She is a bride and we plan weddings. I thought it was very creative. 

(what is up with your office Lisa?)

Whole Foods Hanna, Angel V, Little Red Riding Hood and Cowgirl Maryann

Cookies from Tami. If you've had them, then you know they taste just as good as they look. 

Thanks Tam!

Happy Feet

Colin in Character

Kitty Cat Ashley and Black-Eyed-Pea Cameron

I was better at the face than at the game.

Those are the fingers that will make me millions

Reuniting...

This last weekend was a time for reuniting. Well, not so much for me, but for Colin and his high school buddies. His ten year reunion was on Saturday. I got to meet a few people who's names I have heard a few times and even an ex-girlfriend that I couldn't help but adore. 

The weekend started off with Dinner and Karaoke on Friday night. For the first time ever, I feel pretty confident in saying that Colin has met his match. Joe and Tiffany came in to town from Idaho and gave him a run-for-his-money. I secretly loved it. Joe was not only up for singing any song, he would also add a few of his famous dance moves for extra performance points. 

Saturday we headed over to the Reunion, had dinner, lots of chatting and of course catching up. Luckily I had the company of Laura and Tiffany when Colin would run off to give another football buddy a hard time. I did start calling him Uncle Rico at the end of the night.

Friday Night Fun...

These boys couldn't get enough of each other!

Colin ...10 years ago

Uncle Rico and the Boys

My Posse for the Night

I tried to get them all... it was too hard battling the professional photographer.

Side Note: Colin and Dallas are ALWAYS next to each other in every picture... 

now and growing up. 

Be Our Guest...

Where are you? I have been waiting so patiently! I really thought you would be here by now. I promise to make the meals you request, the bed how you like and always have fresh towels. I was thinking we could do some shopping, of course a craft, and maybe a nap? You decide, your the guest. I got your room all ready. Can't wait to see you...

I Have a Problem

I have an addiction I must come clean about. I can't stop. Even when money is tight and it is the obvious thing to let go, I can always justify getting "one more". I have now noticed they are popping up all over the house. I seem to find ways to store them, as if to tell myself "look there is always room for this little guy". 

I can not take all the blame for this addiction, it was inherited you know? My mom has the same problem... don't let her tell you otherwise. I don't know if she is at the same stage of acceptance as I am, so be kind to her. 

Yes, I love magazines! While I only subscribe to three; Martha Stewart Living, The Ensign and Lucky -- I buy almost every months issue of House Beautiful, Beautiful Homes, Bon Appetit, Real Simple, In-Style and a few others. I'm glad to say that I don't buy gossip magazines -- unless I am in an airport and then for some reason it's okay. Oh, or those horrible themed recipe ones at the check-out stand, I stay away from those too... 

After going through them all and only keeping the wedding issues I need for my job, tearing out the pages of ideas, recipes, and crafts I want to try, and filing them so neatly away; I am now vowing to do my best to not buy and store magazines like a crazy-cat-lady-hoarder anymore! Feel free to hold me to it. You can check my house, closets, and the famous magazine basket if you wish. This should keep me on my toes knowing the "magazine police" could be around the corner. 

Little Side Note: You have to admit that you like them too. You know that when there is a neat idea on how to frame pressed flowers you want to try it!!

Here is some evidence of my offences...