PS

PS- Jenna, Emma makes the cutest Care Bear ever!!!
Liz, I hope you are feeling better, sorry to hear your Thanksgiving was infested by germs, ick!
April- good luck on your exams? I'm guessing that must be coming soon!

KT's Christmas List/Rant

Here's my list!

I'm bummed that Susan hasn't gotten the DVD of wedding pix to me, because I wanted to do some stuff with that for Christmas, but I guess that's not happening in time for Christmas. I've been working on some of the pix myself, doing touch-ups in PhotoShop, so if you have particular one's you were thinking about printing, let me know and I can edit the picture if you want something done to it. Jenna, have you been getting links to our wedding pix on SnapFish? Susan has been sending them out to a mystery group of people, but I wasn't sure if you were on her mailing list?

I'm trying to get in the holiday spirit, but I'm a little bah-hum-bug this year about Christmas shopping. There's just too much to do, and too little time! I put up a little tree last weekend, that was fun. Work is very busy right now, I have a big report that's due before the holiday break, so that's putting a damper on my shopping. Per usual, I don't know what to get for Scott, and I really need to think of something good this year b/c he was telling Nader at Thanksgiving that I never get him any presents, which hurt my feelings! I feel like a jerk, he always says he doesn't want anything, so I have took that to heart from time to time.

We didn't end up getting a new tree this year, I'm still interested in ornaments, just maybe petite ones :) If you already got me a huge ornament that's cool, LOL! We'll have a big tree some day. Anywho.... here's the list!

Happy Holidays!
Love,
KT

Katie's list:
- Jodi Picolt book
- warm color socks
- VS Dream Angels Perfume
- Itunes gift card

Katie & Scott:
- cutting board (not wood)
- Christmas ornaments
- Outback Steakhouse gift card
- PJs- like almost all my PJs are from Liz, and I love them all! (M/L for KT, L/XL for Scott)
- William Sonoma Mexican cookbook
- small countertop wine rack (like 4-8 bottles?)

Stuff we don't need this year (LOL):
- anything else that goes in the kitchen
- lip gloss

I wouldn't worry too much about Scott specifically, since he's not going to be there for our get together. He does need some new PJ pants, prob XL to be safe, unless they look huge, he's more like a L/XL. Obviously, we don't want you to get us all the stuff on this list, I just wanted to provide some options =) Please, no sweaters from Kohl's, I've had such bad luck with my Kohl's sweaters, it just never ends well =/ Also, I would feel guilty getting lip gloss, cuz I've barely put a dent in all I got last year (I love it, just haven't used it all).

P.S. Additions

I would like to add to my list...LOL...as I was going to school I heard Transiberian Orchestra which I would like to have ( I don't have any) or Josh Groban ....either his regular album (red with his face on the cover?) or his Christmas album! I don't have any of those either. Just thought I would mention that!

Christmas

Hey! I've got you all pretty much 'sewed up', Jenna! Actually, I'm pretty much done shopping for everyone on my list this year...LOL! Anyhow, here are a few ideas for me if you want to do some shopping:

iTunes, Amazon.com, or Barnes & Noble gift card

bath & body works - vanilla noir

cookbooks: Cover and Bake, The Best 30-Minute Recipe, or The New Best Recipe


Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving! Unfortunately, we didn't really get a Thanksgiving meal this year. We were supposed to cook at my house on Thursday, but my mom got a stomach virus thing Wednesday night & my great aunt had a bad chest cold. So...we postponed 'til yesterday, and then I got the puking, etc. and my aunt was still sick. Thus...no Thanksgiving celebration for us this year...

Have a good week everybody!
Liz

Christmas lists anyone?

Will anyone be posting their wishes soon? I would like to get things ready as soon as possible, or I'll be forced to take matters into my own hands... LOL :)

I did manage to get a few things from the gift card that I had wanted to do some of our Thanksgiving pies and whatnot. I do have a few things still from Pampered Chef that I would like: stackable cooling rack, food chopper, any stones - particularly loaf, bar pans or deep dish. Ohio State earrings are still on my list - I like both post or dangling style - no big deal. That stuff from the Lakeside collection would work still. Additions to my list - I would like to have some comfortable black shoes. I wear a size 8 wide. I know it's always hard to get shoes, but I figured I'd throw that out there.

If you would like to get something for Emma - she wears a 2T - if you can find the adjustable waist pants, that would be good, since she is so skinny but the length is never long enough in anything less than 2T. She has some boots that still fit I believe, so we're OK there. She likes anything with Cinderella (she's getting some bed sets for Christmas already). She also likes the Lion King, pretty much anything Disney. She also loves Little Einsteins. I was looking at a laptop for her, but Santa decided to get the Step 2 Wagon so Mommy & Daddy would be able to push the little ones in that a lot easier than a stroller!

Riley will be needing some more clothes. He's in 18 months and seems to be slowing down a little bit. 18 months should work for now...summer he will need 24 months I think. He really does need some "everyday' shoes - he wears a size 4. He doesn't have any boots, but he doesn't really have a need to go outside and play in the snow quite yet. He likes Cars - actually he's attached to the boob tube sometimes. I told Santa to stop at Grandma's house if he wants and leave a picnic table. He could use some drums or something to bang on...maybe some trains or something to push around?

Honestly, Eric is in need of jeans. He goes through them very quickly. That's the one thing I can think of that he wants that someone might be able to find. He wears a 38x38 - which is very hard to find!!!! He still would like anything Ohio State. I just saw a Crown Royal commercial on tv - he likes that stuff too. It doesn't really matter either way. He probably thinks he'd rather not have anything, but I wanted to make mention just in case!

Ok, now it's YOUR turn!!!! Get listing!

So cute!

A lot of great pictures, Jenna! That's hilarious that Emma & Riley are the same weight :) (Hopefully the 18 mos. Christmas gifts I bought still fit by then...LOL!) ) Anyhow, I'm sorry to hear that teaching isn't so great for you this year... Before long it'll be Christmas break & you'll get a little time off.

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving with family/friends. We're supposed to be cooking at my house, but my mom came down with the flu today. So...we'll see...

Happy Thanksgiving!
Love,
Liz

OOOOOhhh Disney!

So last weekend we went to Disney on Ice in Sioux City. Needless to say, the kids loved it! It was great.... take a look....

**HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!**

Oh how this year is flying by! Thank goodness, right? Well, only a few more months to go for me. Unfortunately, things are not going as well at school as I would have thought. I'm beginning to believe I am not cut out for the country atmomsphere at this school - everyone talks about everyone behind their backs and then turns around and acts bureaucratic to your face....or at least somewhat humane. It's rediculous. In other words, this year kinda sucks too....ANYWAY...

Enough with that crap...onto the good stuff...

Halloween was a blast for Riley, Emma, Eric & I. It was great. We went trick-or-treating at the mall and it was nice and warm for the kids - although they were going to be warm anyhow! We took them through the neighborhood and saw some of the people from daycare. I have some pictures to add. Riley started walking on October 15, and I haven't been able to stop him since. He's gotten quite a few teeth and is eating everything in sight. At his 1 year checkup, he was in the 25%ile for height and 50%ile for weight (I think -it may have been 75%ile though) and he weighed 24 lbs. He's proportionate to his body size and everything looks real good the doc said. He's growing like a weed! By the way - Emma is 24lbs too. This was October Nov.3 - You can believe that he's probably gained more weight since then.

More to come....

I will be posting soon, I just wanted to let you know that I will be giving you more updates!

You know what I want...

Okay...I'm sure you know what I'm posting for...Christmas lists! I know KT's still in Hawaii...the lucky thing... & Jenna you sent us a short list at your birthday time. Any additions/changes (did you buy any of the Pampered Chef stuff on the list with your gift card?)? I'm ready to shop...LOL!

I had a really great time with you all last weekend...seems like you plan forever & then it's over so fast!

Have a good week,
Liz

Long time, no post...

I guess we died again... But, I wanted to get on and say Happy Birthday to ya, Jenna! I tried to send an e-card from work...but it had issues with the Flash player :( Anyhow, watch for something in the mail from me! Hope you have a great day & are going do something fun for your 27th (we're old!)

Love,
Liz

Cute stuff

Hi ladies,

Hope you all are doing well :)

I got my ring bearer pillow and flower basket today, they're just so cute I wanted to show ya'll!
I love getting stuff in the mail, sweet!


It's also funny, the lady that made these, her business is called "Katie & Me", kinda cool.

We also have our invites, and almost all the addresses (whew). Still tracking down great aunts and uncles, Dana totally left me hanging with the family list... oh well, there's always whitepages.com, my new friend! We'll prob send them out in early August.

Not too much going on here. Did a lot shopping last weekend and got the stuff washed/put away from our shower in Michigan. We got some silver sheets, and they're pretty cool. I wasn't sure about silver as a sheet color, but Scott liked them, and I gotta say they would look super neat matched with a dark red comforter (go bucks!) :) Too bad our bedroom stuff it blue, lol.

My aunt Les is at Blanchard Valley hospital right now. I think she is on oxygen and morphine now, it's getting really rough. Dana said she's still in good spirits though.

On a less sad note, I got promoted last week, which let to a sorta lame raise, but any raise is better than nothing!

Jenna- are you getting excited for your new job, have you started having meetings and such yet?

Liz- so sorry to hear about your mom and the St. Catherine's drama, I hope things are going well for her. April told me a little about it.

gotta go for now... talk to ya'll soon!
Love,
KT

To blog or not to blog...

OK- maybe my censorship of the blog was a little extreme, so I'll just explain my intent. This blog is a place for us to keep in touch with each other, post pictures, etc. For more serious matters of the heart involving the fellow bloggers, PLEASE PICK UP A PHONE!!! You don't want your momentary anger stored in public cyberspace for the rest of time.

Email and blogging is a great tool, but it's not the best medium for expressing hurt feelings. If it's necessary to use in that matter, it would serve well to save the message and come back a few days later and reread before sending.

Jenna- I'll call you soon, and you can call me whenever you like.
Maybe a nice conference call is in store too.

No 'mo drama

Hi ladies,

I just got back from Michigan, Scott and I had a great weekend! We took Deedra and Nader to see the fireworks, and had a nice BBQ on the 5th. Drive back today was pretty smooth.

Looks like we've got a little drama here....
I didn't really think we should be re-reading this drama over time, so I just got rid of it.

Jenna- I'm sorry that you have felt left out- I thought we had a good bonding time in NE and that you're a busy momma that would just want to come to the wedding and have a great time. Some people actually hope for the luxury of not having to diddle with the details.

I also think you should take some time to think through your part in all of this. April has asked you lots of times if you were coming to the shower/party, and you've let plenty of weeks go by without saying anything, so she and I didn't want to push the issue and make you feel guilty if you couldn't make it out. I might not know the whole story, but it just seems like there was a lack of initiative there. We're all very sorry, and will try to make sure you stay in the loop about important stuff from now on.

Logistically, there's not much reason to host something if you're not able to be at the event, it's a fairly key component. Please be a little more honest with yourself. You've made mountains out of mole hills throughout the wedding planning process. The whole point is to be there with me on my big day, supporting me as a close friend, and to have a great time!

I didn't actually want a bridal shower in the beginning, but sometimes it's best to go with the flow. I think it's going to be great. We will be sad that you're not there, but we're not going to have any hard feelings about it. I hope you can build a bridge and do the same.

I'm not even going to touch the subject of your wedding, I have no clue why you're bringing that up. It doesn't make any sense to sit around playing the comparison game 5 years later, it's a completely different situation.

As for my bachelorette party, my gut reaction is that Liz is not jumping up and down for joy at the prospect of going clubbing in Widsor, but she knows I like to dance, and so she'll try to grin and bear it, and hope that I don't do that crazy leg-flailing thing (don't worry, I wont)! We're also going out for dinner and maybe a show, so there should be a little variety.

I've read in the wedding planning advice that you should lay out your expectations of the attendants, so that they aren't left confused, and the bride isn't upset when things don't go as planned, etc. So I'm going to do that for you here.

Jenna's bridesmaid responsibilities:
1) Share in the happiness of our special day
2) Wear the dress- It's gonna need altered, bustled, ironed, and who knows what else.
The gig is to show up looking good. Remember to bring your shoes!
3) Get drunk at the reception- if logistically possible
4) Remember who's wedding it is- Katie & Scott's! And all this bitching is PISSING us off.
5) Dress up Emma and Riley super cute
6) Have fun!!!
7) Smile in the pix =)


Liz's bridesmaid responsibilities:
1) Share in the happiness of our special day
2) Wear the dress- It's gonna need altered, bustled, ironed, and who knows what else.
The gig is to show up looking good. Good move with the flops!
3) Get drunk at the reception- if logistically possible
4) Help April with the shower, bachelorette party, and slide-show stuff as needed
5) Get excited if the DJ remembers to play our token Beatles requests =)
6) Have fun!!!
7) Smile in the pix =)



April's maid of honor responsibilities:
1) Share in the happiness of our special day
2) Wear the dress- It's gonna need altered, bustled, ironed, and who knows what else.
The gig is to show up looking good. Coordinate with Tracy to see who wants to get the bussle done 1st and take pix for the other girls to have as an example. Find out who's train is hanging the shortest on the ground right now (prob Jenna or Liz's since the didn't add length) and make sure all the girl's trains get hemmed to that same length.
3) Get drunk at the reception- if logistically possible
4) Lead the organization for the shower, party, slide show. Chat with me and the girls about who wants to be involved in what. Let me know if I'm putting too much responsibility on you!
5) Fuss with my train at the ceremony
6) Have fun!!!
7) Smile in the pix =)


Wedding updates:

Hotels-
I looked at the hotels over the weekend. We stayed at the Super 8, it is decent. I would suggest Super 8 for Thurs night since it's a central locale, and then either to stay there again on Friday if you don't want to move, or to go to the Fairfield Inn for Fri night. I know Jenna and Eric plan to stay at Comfort, that makes sense for them since they have the points. I'm not going to block rooms at Comfort Inn b/c the hotel is a bit older and not as nice looking as the one's across the street that are the same price. We're going to try to get the discount blocks at Super 8 and Fairfield. The drive from the hotels on the highway in Port Huron is very quick (6 min from the reception), but also a bit tricky (several highway switches). It's a bit of a haul to the church from there. Either area should be fine, and ya'll are welcome to stay at whichever place that suits you best. I'll chat with ya'll and see what makes the most sense.

Limo-
I'm gonna look for a limo soon. I want to try to get a big party bus that will have plenty of room for all. It will take us from the church to the reception. I'm gonna try to get it set up to also take the girls from Fore Lakes to the church before the ceremony, we'll see if that's in the budget.

Rehearsal-
It's at 6pm on Thurs. The groomsmen and ring bearer need to come early on Thurs for tux fittings, that's just an FYI, doesn't apply to ya'll. Parents, wedding party, readers, priest, etc will be there and at the dinner.

The dinner will be at the Voyager restaurant, I haven't set the time yet. It's going to be a family style meal. There will be about 30 of us there, so a pretty large crowd.

Wedding Etc.-
-Susan is concerned about not having an assistant for the pix, so everyone will need to be as helpful as possible with the posed pix so she doesn't go crazy. I'm encouraging her to bring along one of her friends from photography school, so hopefully that will work out
- We asked Nader to do the Old Testament reading, I think he's excited
- We'll prob have aunts or uncles do the other 2 readings
- Deedra is going to help out with getting people gathered for pix, passing out flowers, busseling our dresses, etc. Allison might be helping with that stuff too, I haven't asked her yet


PS- Pray for my Aunt Les, she's not doing well. Cancer has spread to her lungs and liver and she is at home right now on a morphine drip. Angie called me tonight, she sounded worried, and they don't really know what's going on, the doctors haven't said much.


Love,
KT

Yay- emails

Hey there, sweet job on the email thing... now I will be less of a blog slacker! I was going to post last night, but April decided it was higher priority for me to do the address list for the bridal shower etc. Yeah, I didn't like the all pink either, but I didn't have the heart to tell April!

I'm at work now, just talked to Tracy... she says we should just invite all her cousins and aunts on the list to the bachelorette party, and that prob next to none will come. April- I'll send you an email with details!

I've been really busy with wedding stuff, work, and such. May was nuts, we were gone pretty much every weekend. Vegas was awesome (and expensive)! Florida was fun, Scott really enjoyed it too. Peter & Christy's wedding was pretty high brow, but it was also very nice. Allison & Prabu's wedding was a lot of fun. April would have loved it cuz they didn't hardly play any slow songs the whole night. Their dance floor was bumpin' like a night club. I almost felt bad for the older people, they looked bored!

I'm going to look for my plane tic soon for Labor day weekend, I will probably try to fly in on Friday afternoon or something, I haven't asked for that day off yet, so I probably should. Then I'll go out on Monday. Does that work for ya'll?

OK- I gotta work now, laters!
~KT

Figured it was you :)

Grey = much better! Anyhow, I do like that it emails everyone the posts now (or at least I assume it does since both posts came to my email today).

Don't feel like a loser, April! Much easier for me to say, I know.... Are you still considering PTA? I think it would definitely be a good choice, because with most careers healthcare-wise, you're practically guaranteed a job. We'll talk tonight :)

Liz

I'm the culprit.

I decided to change the blog up a bit add a little pizzaz. Well its official....I'm a loser....I got the ole "all positions are filled" letter from BG. One more thing that I tried to do down the gutter. Whats next??? Anyone else want to plan my career for me?

April

yuck!

Who made the blog this awful pink scheme...blech! LOL! (and you can't see the titles unless you roll over the space under the date for some reason....)

KT...you're a blog slacker!

Liz :)

AWESOME!!!!

I'm so glad for you....I know this is something that has been frustrating you for awhile. Now you will be able to relax a bit and enjoy the summer. That's cool that you were able to find plane tix and get a car. I'm glad everyone is able to come....I don't think it would have been the same without Eric and the kids. So are there any thoughts on you comeing to the bridal shower in August???? I would love to see you :)

Congrats and love ya

April

Congratulations!

That's really great news, Jenna...I'm so excited for ya! If I could pick a grade to teach, it would probably be 2nd or 3rd...that'll be a lot of fun :) I got the photos of Riley...too cute! Also great news that you were able to get plane tickets & rent a car.

Any news from anyone else?

Liz