In 9 months....

...We'll be getting married!!! Did I scare you for a second? I can't believe we are down to single digit months! I'd have to say that I think we achieved the most wedding accomplishments this week. Here are the things that we got done this week:

1. Received church info and mailed back the form they sent as well as the deposit. SSOO glad I can stop freaking out about the church now.

2. Received floral outline and an estimated cost for what I want. Signed that sheet and mailed it back with the deposit. Only a few changes had to be made!

3. Talked with our photographer about taking pics around Manhattan (close to church) with the bridal party before we take pics with family in church. She is also putting together a schedule for the day (including when we should all get ready). She's like my friend, photographer, AND wedding planner. Love her!

4. Talked with limo service. The lady didn't speak English that well so I just said I would reply to her email and we could communicate that way. I told her the vehicle I wanted and come to find out, it was on special this month so she is giving it to us for the special price!!

5. Found a travel agent that is going to email us everything she can find in our price range and that's on a beach (we may be finding a new agent because Derek talked to her last Friday and we still haven't heard back)!

Now for what I want accomplished in the next month:

1. Centerpieces!!! I have a couple ideas but nothing I love.

2. Invitations. Not order them yet (need to finalize times for everything) but look into them.

3. Videographer. Derek's uncle is going to be getting back to him on if he has a student that could do it or if his son could do it.

4. Music for ceremony. Church gave us a list of organists that I need to try and get a hold of.

5. Bridesmaid/flower girl dresses. I told my sister Amber she is in charge of bridesmaid dresses but I suppose I could help her out a little :)

That's all for now! I will give you an update a month from now on how my to do list is coming along.

Ridin Dirty

I'm super excited about my latest wedding find. I'm not sure which one we are getting yet but I am LOVING the 2nd one :)

I have been searching for months for a big enough limo/bus to drive our wedding party around. There is only 1 service in Manhattan and from what I have heard, he can be sketchy. So I found this limo service in Topeka that serves Topeka, KC, Manhattan, etc. The plan is to have the wedding party ride around and take pictures around Manhattan before the wedding. Then, it will drive us from the church to the reception. I'm super excited! Manhattans not gonna know what's going on. Everyone's going to think there is a celebrity in town :)

tah dah!!

As of yesterday, we finally have a church!! It has everything I ever wanted...I center aisle, pews, and can fit everyone! I stole this pic from a girl I went to high school with. She told me to check the church out and after I saw her pics, I called right away!

First Lutheran

The pastor was very nice on the phone and is mailing me a wedding book with all the details. He is also going to do our pre marriage counseling with us before the wedding. I am sssoooo happy to finally have a church!

Dress shopping, Royals game, family pics...Great weekend

My sister Amy, her husband Josh, Paxton, Harper, my sister Amber, and Aiden all came to town last weekend. After work on Friday, Derek, my mom, and I went to dinner at the Salty Iguana while we waited for Amy and her family to get into town. They didn't get to KC till about 11:30 cause Josh had to work but Pax and Harper both woke up when they got to our place so we got to play with them for an hour before we all headed to bed around 12:30.

I woke up bright and early Saturday morning and sent Amy and Josh back to bed and I watched Pax and Harper and made some quiche for when everyone woke up. Mom came over and Amber and Aiden got into town around 9 so we ate a quick breakfast and headed to Bridal Extraordinaire to go dress shopping!! We left Pax and Aiden with Josh and Derek because they were going to my dads girlfriends house to go swimming with my brother and his girlfriend. Harper came along with us girls and did GREAT! On our way to my dress appt. I told my sisters and mom that I was hoping the 1st dress I tried on would be the one because I hate trying clothes on. I put the 1st dress on and loved it. Amy immediately started crying which made all of us start crying. As much as I loved the dress, I felt like I should try on a couple more just in case. I tried on some great dresses but none of them felt like the one. Everyone says you cry when you find the right one and I was beginning to think that wouldn't be the case for me. Then I tried on the 5th dress, got up on the stand in front of all the mirrors and just started crying. I knew it was the one! The store I bought it from will only let you take pics after you buy the dress so I don't even have pics of the other dresses I tried on.

After dress shopping, we headed downtown in hopes of finding a place to eat that none of us had eaten at. We walked around (sweating like crazy) only to find that all the restaurants down there are only open M-F. We drove down to Westport and ate at McCoy's

We were VERY sweaty from walking around trying to find someplace to eat

After lunch we went back to my place so we could all nap and freshen up before the Royals game. Nana Jana stayed at home with Harper and the rest of us headed to the Royals game. It was SSSOOOO hot but we all had a good time and stayed for almost the entire game.

Sunday we woke up bright and early for 9:30 family pics. It was a good thing we went so early because it was getting really hot by the time we were finishing up. A girl that works with my brother at Reality Executives took our pics and I can't wait to see how they turned out.

The boys were obsessed with riding and driving my car.
It was a very fun weekend and we were all exhausted on Sunday. I took over and hour nap AND went to bed at 9 :)

We MIGHT have a church!

Last weekend, Derek and I went to Manhattan to meet with the florist and visit some churches. I was nervous about the florist appt. because I had no idea what I wanted (shocker I know). I was able to find a couple bouquet and centerpiece pictures and took them with us (Derek was so nice and came along with me). Our florist (Homestead Floral) did my sister Amy's wedding so I am pretty confident in her. She basically gave me some suggestions and I said sure! Do whatever you think will look right! I had trouble concentrating because I saw a mouse run across the wall right by us so I was more worried about that thing crawling in my purse! She assured me that they just run into the green house and it won't come close to us. She is adding up everything we picked out and will be getting back to us with the cost (cross your fingers it's not $5,000)!

On Saturday we went and looked at a church. I liked it but it has chairs instead of pews (I don't know what it is but most of the churches we are finding have chairs and I am not a fan) AND the chairs were covered in turquise cushions. Not ok! I loved the rest of the church and said if worse came to worse, I would use it but it was totally going to clash with my colors :) Sunday we planned on attending service at the church we have booked (but I had never seen). My mom and sister suggested we just go look at it before service starts so we could get a good look without it being full. So, we went and looked at it and it's not very pretty from the outside and small in the inside. Since we were already out we decided to go take a look at a couple other churches. 1 was WAY to small and the other was decent size but way to expensive. So we are back to square 1...no church. I finally asked for some peoples opinion on facebook and a HS friend suggestion First Luthern. I looked at her wedding pics and it looks beautiful. Big, pews, and no awful colors. I called the church yesterday and the pastor is on vacation but the date is open and he will call me back next week. Fingers crossed that we can have our wedding there cause I love it!

Besides my dress shopping this weekend, we have a fun non-wedding weekend planned! Both my sisters are coming to town to go dress shopping with me (my mom is going as well) and then we are going to the Royals game Saturday night and taking family pics on Sunday! We haven't had a family pic since I was 8! My parents aren't going to be in them it's just going to be us kids, husband, fiance, and babies. I can't wait to see how they turn out. I'll post next week with pics!

IT'S HERE!!!

After waiting 4 VERY long weeks our new phones finally arrived!! They arrived just in time because our blackberrys are going to fall apart any day now. So here is what we got

The Droid Incredible. It's similar to an Iphone but has actually gotten better reviews! Your gonna have to bare with me while I get used to using this thing. If it takes me 45 min. to reply to your text, this is why.

In other news, we will be heading to Manhattan this weekend. I am SO excited because Amy and the kids, my brother, and mom are all coming too! We are looking at a couple churches (yes, we still haven't found one) and meeting with the florist. Derek's parents are going to try and come up Saturday to try out a catering place for the rehearsal so we are going to have lunch with them. Lastly, I get to babysit Madi and Boston Saturday night! I have watched them since they were both babies and I have missed them SO much since I have moved. I hardly get to see them so when Leslie said she was going to dinner Saturday night, I begged her to let me watch them. Well, I didn't have to beg much because Madi misses me just as much as I miss her!

Off to learn how to work my phone!

4th of July!!

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. I love the weather, the food, the fireworks, and just all the red, white, and blue decorations! This year, Derek and I went to my aunt and uncles in Springfield, MO. I hadn't been to their house in like 4 years so I was excited to finally go! It's only 2.5 hours from Kansas City as opposed to 5 hours from Manhattan so it was nice to not have to drive so far to get there. We got there around 7 on Friday and just hung out and catched up with my aunt, uncle, cousins, my mom, and her boyfriend.

Saturday we took our time getting ready and then headed to Branson (about a 45 min. drive) for the day. We walked around one of the outlet malls, ate lunch, and just drove around and looked at all the different stores and things to do in Branson. We headed back in time to meet my cousins (who are too cool for Branson) for dinner at a Mexican restuarant.

Sunday for the 4th we made lots of food, bought LOTS of fireworks and alcohol, and celebrated my cousins 24th birthday (she is 5 wks younger then me). It was luckily awesome weather so we set up lawn chairs in the backyard and then moved to the driveway when it was time for fireworks.

Monday we slept in and headed home around 1. I hated leaving but my cousin and her boyfriend are moving to KC next month so I know I will see them soon and I am SO excited to have them live by us! They are getting married in November so we will be doing a lot of wedding planning together! Thank you Richters for a great weekend!!

Silence for Cohen

My thoughts and prayers are with this family- http://www.inthiswonderfullife.com/