Happy Birthday, Gran!

We had such a fun weekend! It started early on Friday when the family that was already here took a trip to Sam Moon. I met up with them after work and then we went to Ikea before spending the rest of the afternoon swimming at my community pool. All of the cousins enjoyed acting like little kids while we played in the kiddie pool area.



My brother-in-law called on Friday before getting on the plane to fly here to tell my sister that he had gotten a promotion at work. We decided to have an impromptu congratulatory party - complete withcake, candles, and balloons.



Saturday was filled with shopping at the Allen Outlet Mall before dinner at Buca di Beppo's. We reserved the "Pope's Room" (a large table that all 17 of us were able to sit around with pictures of the Pope, a statue in the center and a large chair that Gran quickly claimed). All the food was ordered family style and we got to try lots of excellent food! My grandmother had a BLAST and really enjoyed everyone singing Happy Birthday.





Everyone left yesterday and now our house seems so quiet! We can't wait to have company again!

(At last count, Gran had received over 115 cards and is still getting more! She hasn't even read someof them because she keeps counting the total! :) )

Party Time

My grandmother (Gran) turns 80 on Sunday. She didnot want a party so instead the family is all going to be here for our own get together!

Gran, Mom, my sister, two aunts, a cousin and her husband all drove in yesterday. Everyone else is coming today. There will be 18 people total when everyone is here. Some of the adults are staying in a hotel, but all the kids (I still think of myself as a kid) are going to be at my house on air mattresses and such. We are going to shop, hang out, swim, go out to eat, etc.

Should be fun! I will post pictures later...

Surgery Update

Sorry I haven't posted anything sooner...

I haven't heard anything recently, but Gerry said the surgery itself went well. Now they are just trying to help her through all the immediate post-op stuff...she was a little disoriented when she woke up.

Thanks for your prayers!!!

Broken Hip

Daniel's grandmother in Arkansas fell and broke her hip yesterday. She is having surgery today to try and fix everything. Please keep her in your prayers as well as Dan's mom, Ouida, as she drives to Arkansas to be with her mom. I will update when I know more.

Baby Shower Surprise

Dan was working today so I took the opportunity to go see my friend Kathleen at her baby shower. Kathleen and I were at A&M together and had a lot of the same classes. We had a certain table at Souper Salad that was our 'study table' for the night before any exams. It is amazing what you can learn while snacking on blueberry bread! She is currently finishing her last year of residency at the med school in Galveston and is expecting her first baby in early September. (Her shower was in her hometown outside of Tyler)

Kathleen and I were great friends and were in each other's weddings. We keep in touch but we haven't been able to physically see each other since she picked us up from the ship we were on for our cruise/honeymoon. It has definitely been toooo looooong!

I didn't tell anyone I was going so it was a lot of fun to walk in the door and surprise her and then it was great to sit and talk for a few hours. I hope I did not monopolize too much of her time! I loved getting to talk with all of her family - her husband, her sister, and her parents....what fun!!

I can't wait to see her again - hopefully before her son goes to kindergarten!!

Finally Friday

I woke up on Monday morning thinking it was Tuesday. Then I woke up on Tuesday thinking it was Thursday. I am not sure where all these days were going but, obviously, the week was not moving fast enough for me! I hate it when that happens because I have been waiting for Friday for three days now.....Glad it is finally here!!

Wedding Weekend #4

Another fun-filled, exciting weekend! I have really grown to love weddings - I think I just enjoy reconnecting with old friends and seeing two people so madly in love with each other join their lives together...makes me weepy!! Now my husband, that's another story!! (haha)

My friend Cari got married on Friday night. I had to miss out on the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner because I could not make it to Lubbock on time. My flight out of Love was delayed and I didnot land until almost 10:30 on Thursday night. (Dan drove up on Friday when he got off work and then we drove home together). Friday morning we had a Bridal Brunch and I got to catch-up on all the festivities! What fun!!

Megan and Leslie and I all went to high school together (with Cari). Leslie lives in Canada now and Megan is about to move to San Antonio from Dallas. Leslie was also a bridesmaid.

Holly went to high school with all of us as well, but she was a year older. She is holding her son, Corbin, as Cari watches.

Lots of chatting going on at the brunch!!

We were setting up partitions to make a room for Cari and all of the bridesmaids to get ready. My sister broke one of the dividers and Cari's dad and brother had to come fix it.

Cari was definitely pampered - she looked beautiful!!

Cari, Leslie, and I were the three of the four people our age in our youth group at church. (Poor Mark was the only boy...)

Holly and I - all of the bridesmaids were asked to pick out a black dress to wear. We were all pleasantly surprised at how well they all went together. We all had our own style but a lot were somewhat similar. They all ended up being knee length as well - how is that for coincidence!! It looked GREAT!!

Me, my Mom, and my sister

Me and my Gran during the reception

Dan and I with the happy couple - Congrats to Jeremy and Cari!!

We were definitely glad to get home. Daniel is really glad that our wedding filled summer is now officially over - unless someone else surprises us and gets one in quick!!