Making place cards

Kayla and Stina came over tonight to help make place cards for the reception. It probably would have taken my mom, Lauren, and me about 9 hours to do it ourselves, but with the extra hands, we knocked it out in three! We had some problems with ribbons not lying in the correct direction, but everything looked great in the end! Thanks for your help girls :)

The Course: Course 1 at Foxborough Pines

Checkpoint 1: From behind the bed in the guest room upstairs to the trashcan in Lauren's room.

Checkpoint 2: Out of Lauren's room through the hallway to the white bin in my room.


Checkpoint 3: Out of my room, down the stairs, hit the umbrella stand in the front hall (Whitney and Chris got holes in one on this one!).

Checkpoint 4: From the front hall into the living room, around the couch, hit the medicine ball in the dining room.

Checkpoint 5: Out of the dining room, through the kitchen (optional: through the book tunnel, if you make it you take a stroke of your score. Eric was the only one to make it!), into the family room, hit the practice putter machine in front of the fire place.

Checkpoint 6: Out of the family room, through the wooden bars, into the corner (must hit at least one wall) under the coffee pot in the kitchen.

Checkpoint 7: Into the hallway (may use the phone book to bank), down the basement stairs, into Eric's room, hit the scale.

Checkpoint 8: Out of Eric's room, through the tv room & through the weight room, into the storage room, hit the solo cup hole. DONE!

Guessing game..

It's raining outside, it's a Saturday night, and no one wants to spend money... so what to do?? We decided to decorate indoor golf balls and have a tournament!

Here's the deal. I'm going to post a picture of the 5 balls. The participants are me, Chris, Lauren, Eric, & Whitney. Now you guess who decorated which one!


After all the votes are in, I'll post the answers.

Blocking and a busy day!

Today my mom and Lauren and I met with the cake person at 9am, the florist at 10am, had an hour and a half meeting at the church, and then met with the photographer in the afternoon! This is the first day I've met the photographer, but she seems really nice. During the church meeting we blocked the wedding to figure out where everyone would stand and what they would do. Our IBC coordinator is very intense and punctual! We had to try to keep things light-hearted (see Rob & Lauren - the honor attendants)!

Retrieving the dress

We picked up my dress from Leesburg Bridal this week. It was a bright sunny day, but of course the second we walked out of the store it was pouring rain! My mom ran out and pulled the car around, and Lauren and I were left with the task of trying to shove the dress into the car without it getting soaked (it was in a bag). I think we were pretty successful!

trial cake

We were thinking of putting ribbon on the cake for the wedding, so my mom ended up making a trial cake or what my dad like to call "prototype cake" (he called my hair appointment yesterday my "prototype hair-do") to make sure the ribbon didn't get spotty and would look okay. We're still working on figuring it out, but now I get to eat cake for dessert!

86

I did a trial run of my hair for the wedding yesterday. It was really interesting because I've never gotten my hair done before! We ended up going out to dinner at the Olive Garden because my hair looked like it should go somewhere. Lauren and I were speculating as to how many bobby pins were in my hair. I think Lauren guessed around 37, but when we were taking them out they just kept coming! There were 86 bobby pins in there! This is a picture of my hair after we had taken it all it out!

(p.s. for those of you that love Olive Garden's Tuscan Garlic Chicken - my mom ordered it last night and the waiter told her it was one of its last days on the menu!)

Chris's Food Woes

The other night we made cookies because we wanted something to eat for dessert. Chris's mom didn't want any baked goods in the house before the wedding because she said then she was tempted to eat them.. so I jokingly suggested to Chris that he should lick them all and then no one would be tempted and he DID! He went over to the cooling rack and licked all the cookies! gross.
Then the next morning we were making coffee and it came out as tinted brown water instead of actual coffee. We didn't know what we had done wrong until Chris realized he had forgotten to grind the beans and just put them in the coffeemaker whole, not as grounds :)

1...2...PIN DODGE!!!

As many of you know already since you've heard about it for years, the 6th annual Pin Dodge tournament was held yesterday. I've watched for two years and this is the first year I've played. It was so much fun! My team (yellow) did horrible (8th place out of 9), but Chris's came in 3rd, and his brother Robert's team won the championship. I can hardly walk up stairs today because I'm so sore, but it was well worth it :) I'm already looking forward to next year!

My new calling

Tonight Eric and Chris wanted to play some twilight golf to get ready for golfing before the rehearsal. I decided to tag along and played the first three holes with a driver. After the third hole I went into the brush to find one of the guy's missing balls and found two others! Then I just started walking the holes near the brush finding more and more! I should become a professional golf ball scavenger-hunter. Chris spends more time in the sand than David Hasselhof

Key confusion

Chris and I went to drop off my car for its yearly inspection tonight. He drove my car and I followed in the 'Blue Angel' so we could get back home. Before we left LJ had warned me that the van may not start again, don't turn it off, and call if we need her to pick us up. I was expecting something to go wrong! So anyway.. after I had dropped off my key in the overnight slot, we hopped back in the hardly-running beloved old van and I could not start it! I'm not talking about the engine not turning over or spark plugs or what not, I just couldn't turn the key in the ignition. Chris pulled out the owner's manual and was reading what to do, he tried turning it himself and it wouldn't budge (so no, it was not my weak arms that was the problem!). Eventually he got over in the driver's seat to give it a shot, and after about 5 minutes of struggling, pulled the keys out of the ignition and asked me if I was sure I was using the right key. Well.. turns out I put the wrong key in, and of course the key to the taurus wouldn't start the van.. Oh did I feel foolish!

Indiana Jones Adventure Spoon

Chris got an Indiana Jones Light - Up Adventure Spoon from a specially marked box of Frosted Mini Wheats this morning during breakfast. He was a little disappointed that it wasn't dark enough to test it out completely, so Lauren, Chris, and me all crowded into the downstairs bathroom to see if it worked. Success! Now we know what tool to use next time the power goes out!

IV Bruise

When I woke up this morning, I took the bandaid off my arm where I had the IV yesterday. It looked pretty dark so I thought I had dried blood or something that needed to be washed off. Well I washed my arm very thouroughly this morning, and nope, it's a bruise!! I mean, I know I bruise easily, but come on.. isn't this a bit excessive?

Mystery Response Cards

I promise I won't be posting this often as time goes on, but today I'm on the couch for awhile and figured I would take the opportunity to do so!

Anyway, I just wanted to take a moment to thank those of you who have turned in your response cards thus far and let you in on a little frustration/fun that we've been having with some others!

Example 1: The illegible name. We're pretty sure we have figured out who this is, but I really did have to laugh when I opened it

Example 2: The no name. I'm so pleased they'll be thinking of us, it's very sweet! I wish I knew who they were so I could thank them..
Example 3: The entirely blank card. Really? I don't know what else to say. Postmarked from NOVA, so that's a huge help as it really narrows things down for us. :)
It has been fun to try to figure these things out, and often provides entertainment in the afternoon, so thank yous go out also to the three aforementioned people, whoever you may be!

Wisdom teeth

I had surgery this morning at 8:30 to get my wisdom teeth removed. Apparently all three were impacted, not just the one I thought originally. At least I didn't have four! Chris came with me to drive me back from the appointment. I felt very groggy and slept the whole way home in the car. When we got back, I had to take the gauze out the try to eat some yoghurt since these anti-swelling, anti-infection, and pain killer medications are not supposed to be taken on an empty stomach. Unfortunately I forgot to put the gauze back in and after my nap I woke up with blood all over my pillow. Now I'm doing all right, just really sore, puffy-cheeked, and it's a bit hard to smile!

patriotic pair

Here's an awesome picture of Chris. I think he was still one, and very patriotic.

HPANDME

Any ideas? While this car had its break lights on right in front of me the entire way down the Georgetown Pike until we reached 495, I made up a story about it. I had lots of time while I was stuck behind it! I think it means Harry Potter and me. This person is very obsessed. And also a terrible driver. He/she must have been driving with both feet. I mean, the person would accelerate up the hills (not very quickly, I might add), while still having their break lights on! Is that even possible without having one foot on the gas and one on the break? I thought for a moment that their break lights were just permanently on and broken, but no, then they flashed off for a second before coming back on. Any other thoughts to what their license plate may mean?

JTI

I have a job! I'm working at JTI, a business strategy/compliance consulting firm in Great Falls. The office is located in this little community area of cottages. It's a little ways away from where we're living next year, but at least it's a reverse commute. I start in August and am very excited!

wisdom teeth

My wisdom tooth is impacted :(

engagement card

I was cleaning out my room today, getting rid of some things and I came across the engagement card you all signed back in September when we got engaged. Everything you guys wrote was so sweet, so I didn't want to throw it away. I didn't know what to do with it though because it's so big! So what I ended up doing was taking this picture, and then cutting out all your notes individually. I'm going to make a little scrapbook of everything. Thank you guys so much! You are all such great friends!

wedding at IBC

I went to a wedding this morning with Chris and his mom at IBC. It was very interesting since I've never seen one before. Who knew that everyone in the audience stood for when the bride walked in??? It was a very pretty ceremony, and short as well. I just have so many details to think about now! Ah! You have to decide where people stand, who holds what, lights what, fixes what.. It's unbelievable! I have a lot to do this week now!

Thunderstorms and Narnia

The power was out from 2:45 until 7pm tonight. It was ridiculous. It stormed ridiculously hard for awhile, and then nothing came back on! We started out the afternoon playing swedish bridge and hearts, then took a walk, and then started getting really bored. We went to see Prince Caspian at the TallyHo to pass the time this evening. It was great! I enjoyed it and can't wait until whenever the next one comes out.

Strat 'n' Kat

So what do you think of the new nickname? Coach Jamie made it up.

I am a 6th man!

My jersey finally came! I am very excited

dress fitting? I think not!

I went on Monday for the second dress fitting, but the dress wasn't ready! I had to reschedule it for Tuesday. We decided to hold up the colors of the dresses to determine what color shoes to go with until Lauren got caught in the hangers

bridal shower

Sunday was the bridal shower at the Strattons. It was so much fun. Everyone brought a recipe to share, and now I'm sure I'll be an awesome cook. Or at least I'll try my best to make all of the awesome recipes I was given!
Mrs. Stratton also made a beautiful cake that her mother used to make. It had blueberries inside and was delicious!

Frolf

We went to Burke Lake Park the other day to play. It was pretty fun. We finished 2 over par and Chris finished 3 under.

busy busy busy!

Friday morning we met with Bales, the pastor performing our service, and his wife. It was a great meeting, they're pretty fun people to spend time with. Afterwards I had two interviews for jobs. Both went well, however the second job sounded terrible! I was so tired after the meeting and two interviews! Saturday morning we met with the wedding coordinator at IBC. Also a good meeting, but a busy weekend! I left my phone at the church on Saturday after the meeting, so I was phone-less until I found it today!