Prelude to a Vacation

I've been absent for a few days because I'm in Iowa for the weekend, dropping off Ryley for his vacation with Grandpa, Grandma, and aunt Jennie, and helping with some wedding stuff for my sister's wedding in June. I've already checked out from reality and started my vacation train of thought, which is dangerous because I still have to work a little on Tuesday, and I'm enjoying every minute!

Ryley is in Heaven when we come to Iowa...he loves my Dad and the freedom and space he has here. He has a much bigger yard to play in and constant activity to keep him entertained. He'll never even know Travis and I are gone, which is great because then I don't worry about him. I LOVE that we live closer to my parents and that they happily watch him for us...we'd be in trouble if they didn't!

I have to keep this short because I have a raging headache, due to the hours of invitation addressing that we did this afternoon. I have a spot on the couch screaming my name, but I thought I'd post a few pictures from our mini-vacation first. Yesterday I tried on my bridesmaid dress, which I love, and we picked out jewelry for the wedding party and for my sister. It's fun to have all this wedding stuff going on again this year (last year it was my other sister's turn) but it's time consuming and stressful too. Lots of details to wrap up at this stage in the game. However, my mom and sister are doing great, crossing things off their list daily. Jennie has her first wedding shower in a week and that's bringing me back to lots of memories 5 years ago, when I was the bride. What a fun stage in life she's in...anyway, enjoy the pictures, although I know you don't envy our invitation stress!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend...only 3 more days until I'm Florida bound with my cute husband!!! (It can't come soon enough) Now if only I could get rid of this headache...Happy Saturday Night!


Part One of a Four Part Wedding Invitation:The Bows...unfortunately, the easist part


Smiling at the start of a very long invitation-addresssing/assembling-session


The M.O.G. and M.O.B. (mother of the groom/mother of the bride) dutifully participating


The blushing bride with her wedding slaves! No one knows how much work a wedding is more than the moms!


Hard at work, tackling 200 invitations...ALL AFTERNOON LONG!


By the end, we all had to take some Excedrin, due to the splitting headaches we had from squinting, reading, and addressing 200 invitations.


Jennie and my Mom, relaxing over steaks at LoneStar Steakhouse


My Dad and I; post bloomin'onion and pre steak and salmon combo...a good place to be!