Wedding

Alrighty, here is the Wedding post I've been promising.  If you are a new reader, this is my little sister Kelsie's wedding.  It was a lot of work and preparation (not so much on my part) and it turned out practically perfect. 

 This post is a hodge podge of pictures that I took with my phone or stole from other people's facebook pages.  I'll probably post some of the photographers pictures when they are ready, because I know they will be awesome. 

Here comes the bride.....

Ok Kelsie, I know you probably don't like this picture or the next because they are edited and it makes you and Grant look short and squatty. 

 So I will go on the record now saying that they are both tall and thin. 

The next few pictures are of the reception hall decorations.  I'd say Kelsie's country/vintage/chic vision for her reception became reality.  It looks great in there

That is actually the cake pan that my dad constructed from a new trash can lid and a silver bucket.  Those birds were the cake toppers.  I didn't get a picture of the cake.

From the beginning Kelsie and Dad really wanted a donut bar.  It was a big hit.  Those little cinnamon covered donuts could be the death of me.

All the table centerpieces were a different collection of antique looking things. 

The little miniature bride getting her hair done.

The entire wedding party wore chucks.  It was quite comfortable.

Most all of our extended family lives out of state.  So we had quite a crew of visiting cousins. 

Kelsie and the Carpenter boys. (cousins)

Kelsie and the Carpenter girls. (more cousins)

Me and Abigail. 

The only thing I like about this picture is my sweet girl and and my hair.  I ended up the chubby bridesmaid after all. 

two thirds of the handsome men in my life

My favorite picture!

 

We danced like crazy.  We had an awesome DJ!!  There was even a fog machine!

Mom and Jack-Jack!

He actually didn't attend the wedding.  I knew he wouldn't be quiet or still so he stayed home with my mother-in-law until the reception. 

 I think he won the best dancer of the night award.  He LOVES to dance.  I wish I would have video taped it.  No matter how tired, hungry, sick, or grumpy he will always dance if you turn on some music. 

That's all I've got for now.  It was really a great night!!

bridal shower planning mode

I'm in full bridal shower planning mode now that school is out.  In fact the shower things have overtaken our kitchen table and I believe our island will be the next victim. 

So if I'm a little absent for the next few weeks, just know I'm probably working on things for the shower. I thought I would give all my blogging friends a little sneak peek.

 My plan is to fill the vases and mason jars with a variety or wild flowers.

 We won't be eating here for a few weeks.

I'm in love with this floral fabric that I found on clearance.  I really wish they had more of it. I'm using it a sort of color inspiration.  

Well I hope you enjoyed your sneak peek and feel free to throw me some suggestions for cute decor to match this rustic/wildflower theme!!! 

{countdown}

OK, the countdown is official on! 

31 days until Kelsie's Bridal Shower!!

YIKES!!!

Matron of Honor needs to get her butt in gear.

65 days until Kelsie and Grant say "I Do"

HOLY COW!!

Well now that school is coming to end, hopefully we can get organized enough to pull this thing off.

These are a few of my favorite engagement shots. 

Pictures taken by Grey Area Photography (aka really cool people)



poop faces!! hehehe



Aren't those pictures AWE-MAZING!!! 

Thanks Jessica and Russ (aka really cool people)!!

Girls Weekend!!!

You may remember me mentioning before that my sister is getting married this summer.  This weekend we had an appointment in Lafayette to pick our bridesmaids dresses.  She wanted all of our dresses to be different styles.  They all had to be short, satin, and the color mercury, but other than that we were free to pick whatever. 

Me, Mom, Kelsie, and Nicole (sister-in-law) decided to make a fun girls trip out of it.  We left the day before the appointment to do some shopping, eat out at a nice place, stay at a hotel, and just be away from our guys for a night.  It was truly a blast.  Here are some pics!! (excuse the blurry pics from my phone)

This was right before we left.  We were so excited!!

This is my favorite new picture of me and Kelsie!!  We took this in the car!

First stop Burger King for lunch!!

We made it to Lafayette and after we checked in to the hotel we hit the mall for some retail therapy!!

Nicole and Peeta

 Me and Peeta




Here are my favorite purchases of the trip:

I got this purse at a store called Charming Charlies!  It is the best store because it is full of jewelry, purses, accessories, hair things, even shoes and clothes, but it's all divided up in the store by color.  It's awesome!

I got these buy one get one half off at Charlotte Russe.  They are not Toms or Bobs, but look similar.  I got these and a pair of khaki ones for $38 total.  Score!!

 In American Eagle they have these bra brands named Audrey and Abigail.  Nicole and I thought this was soo funny because those are our daughters names, but you might have had to be there.

                             Audrey-my niece's name                            Abigail-my daughter's name

We went to a store called World Market and it was sooo cool.  It had tons of cute indoor and outdoor decor and all the old types of candy, and toys.  Mom picked us all up a Happy Hippo snack.

Kelsie commented that the hippos nose looked like a female body part!  he he!  Can you see it?  Yikes!

                           Tossing coins and making wishes!!!

We visited a Super Target!!  Super Target is awesome!!  I couldn't get over these cool shopping carts they had.  I am easily amused.

On Day 2 we met Grant's sisters, the other bridesmaids, for lunch at Olive Garden before heading over to David's Bridal to try on dresses.  I love some soup, salad, and bread sticks!  Cheap and delicious!!

This is Chelsea, one of Grant's(the groom) three sisters.  I wasn't very good at taking pictures.

We all tried on a couple dresses and this was the one I picked.  It was a bit snug but I wanted some motivation.  Unfortunately when I went to check out, we realized this was not one of the dresses we could get in the mercury color, so I had to pick a different dress.  I liked the new one too, but it wasn't quite as different or snug, which is probably good.  It was also cheaper than the first dress. 

We took this group picture before we knew my dress wasn't going to work.  We didn't take a picture of my real dress, but it's similar to Nicole's style except it has two sleeves. 

Kelsie had a fitting and alterations appointment after this and so we all sat and watched her get pinned up for an hour.  Then sadly we headed home. 

I was happy to see my husband and kids, but sad the weekend was over so quickly.  We are already planning another girls weekend.  I think getting away from your husband and kids is such a needed break for all moms/wives.  I am such a happier and more patient mommy and wife when I come back.  It's true that absence makes the heart grow fonder. 

Kelsie's Vintage-country-chic Wedding

My baby sister is getting MARRIED!!!  It is pretty surreal to think about.  I am super excited about it and we all totally love her fiance Grant.  Kelsie and Grant are a great a couple and will have an awesome life together.  I would type some more mushy, tear jerker stuff, but I need to save all that for my speech at the reception. 

We are in major wedding planning mode right now.  Well I haven't actually been much help, having three kids kind of hinders my helping abilities, but I do my best.  I really should be focusing on planning the wedding shower.  I have set the date and time and booked the place.  I've bought a couple little decorative things, but that's about it. 

Her wedding theme is sort of Vintage/Country/Chic.  It's really cute.  Kelsie and my mom have really been DIY-ing almost everything.  We all enjoy making things ourselves, not to mention the money it saves.   I am putting up a few inspirational pictures that Kelsie is using from the website Green Wedding Shoes  for the actual wedding.  She isn't doing the exact same things but similar. 

The bridal shower is in June, so I have time, but I hate waiting till the last minute.  I will probably end up doing the majority of the shopping, planning, and decorating during the three weeks in between school letting out and the shower.  There are, however, a few things I cannot put off.  I have to really get serious about shopping around for invitations.  I need to have the menu planned out and let the other bridesmaids know what I need from them.  It can be quite overwhelming to think about all that I have to do, especially when I feel trapped at home by my three munchkins.  I am bound and determined to fulfill my duties as Matron of Honor to the best of my abilities and galldarnit, throw the best dang bridal shower this side of the Mississippi. 

Whoops, sorry about all that.  I got a little caught up in the country part of the wedding theme.  It's not really country-cowboy, more like countryside country.  Below are some bridal shower inspirational pictures I found from random places.   I am planning on using greys, whites, and yellows in the decor. 

I can't wait until after the wedding so I can post pictures of all the cute stuff we they have been making.   For now you will just have to take my word for it and believe me when I say her bridal shower, wedding, and reception are going to be very cute and different (in a good way).