Im back....

I feel so terrible that I have been so absent from the blog. I was so good about documenting every step at the beginning of the wedding process but as it got closer and closer and I started teaching blogging just got pushed to the back burner and for that I am truly sorry. Blogging is something I truly enjoy and I have decided that I must make time for myself to do it at least a few time a week. I know it is a great way to keep everyone in the loop with what is going on but mostly I know in 10 years I will look back and be so thankful I document our journey together.

The blog the next few weeks will be really random and it is going to take a totally different feel. Instead of just writing about the wedding I will start writing about what is going on in our lives. The wedding is over but our lives together are just getting started so that is really all that matters. We have so many exciting things coming up but I want to end this short post with a shout out to my amazing cousins

I've talked about them a lot in their blog and the hug, life changing experiences we have gone through together, me getting married...rae having her first baby, twins at that.... and amanda having her 3rd little girl. Rae didn't get to come to the wedding because she was to close to her due date with the boys and thank goodness she didn't because she had the babies less than two weeks after the wedding.

Introducing Wyatt and Bryce born April 3, 2013. We are so excited that they are healthy and home.

Are they not the cutest little humans you have ever seen! I can't wait to get to hold them and love on them in person.

That is not all the exciting news I have...AMANDA HAD HER BABY GIRL TODAY!!! Skylar Jane has made her grand entrance into the world and is such a cutie pie.

Sorry for all the pictures but what can I say...I'm a proud cousin!! I can't wait to head to Texas and meet  these cuties in person.

Hope everyone had a great week. I don't know if it was me but it seemed like this weekend took forever to get her. I am going to really enjoy my weekend for sure!

xoxo

amber

A month without blogging....

It has been a whole month since the last blog post and I do apologize but there are just not enough hours in the day.

As all of you know I started teaching on January 7 and that has been nothing but an adventure.  I love my babies but wow have we been busy getting into a routine.  I feel I am a little more structured than the other teacher and I have changed a lot but the students are adjusting and last friday I feel like we finally turned a corner. I am exhausted when I get home but have had something almost every night that is wedding related.  This is going to be a very busy next few months.

Since I was staring my job I wanted to get as much done for the wedding as possible therefore Christmas break was consumed with any appointment I could make for wedding purposes. Although I got a ton done over the break I still have a lot to do these next few weeks. If i'm absent from the blog I'm sorry I will try my best to blog at least once a week to keep everyone updated but for now here is a little rundown on what has been going on.

1. The invitations are out. Andrew and I mailed them out on Thursday so everyone should start getting them anytime. The invitations were a total mess and have been the worst part of this whole wedding experience.  Everything was going great until I went to pick them up Christmas Eve Day and when I got them home they did  not fit in the envelope that THEY told me to order. I had a mini panic attack and they assured me that everything would work out and they would take care of it just to run them back up after christmas.  The day after christmas I was up there working things out and it felt like everything was going to be fine....they took full responsibility and just chalked it up to a mistake. THEN when my Dad went to pick them up they wouldn't give them to him unless he payed for them AGAIN....for something that wasn't our fault. Needless to say I am very disappointed in their costumer service and I will not be using them for anything in the future.  It is really upsetting when you use a family friend and this is what happens.

2. Food is finalized for the rehearsal dinner and the reception. Now just waiting for the RSVP's to come in so I can give him final numbers.

3. Our showers have started and they have been amazing. Andrew and I feel so incredibly blessed and are loving getting all the packages.

4. My wedding dress is MINE! It is finally finished being altered and I can't believe how beautiful it looks. I love it even more then when I bought it. I can't wait to ware it and let everyone see it.

5. We finally decided on how i'm going to ware my hair for the wedding. Everyone can sleep at night  now. As my MOH would say it was worse picking the hairstyle than it was picking he dress.

6. The tuxes are picked now everyone just needs to get measured!

7. All the wedding party gifts are ordered and we are just waiting for them to be shipped.

There are still a lot of little things to do but it is coming together. Next week is full of appointments from picking out rings, ordering favors, floral appointments and much more.  I hope everyone has a great week and I promise to be better.

xoxo
the engaged couple

Invitations

ATTENTION...ATTENTION: 

Today I received a very important phone call...THE INVITATIONS ARE IN!!!!

We're having a wedding...yay!

xoxo,

the engaged couple

Envelopes

50 extra envelopes of each color
Being frustrated because my computer wasn't cooperating when trying to address the invites.
Everyone scrambling to get accurate addresses and formal names.
Having all the invites addressed and waiting to be stuffed...most accomplished feeling ever.

Invites go in the mail about a month from today.  Getting very very excited for the big day and all the festivities to start.

We hope everyone had a great weekend. I have the crud that has been going around and have been completely useless today but thats what sundays are for RIGHT?

xoxo,
the engaged couple

Loving the Holidays but busy, busy, busy

It finally feels like Christmas in Ruston. It rained and became cold last night and I am loving it. Mr. Andy came over and fixed the fire place just in time!  I am completely done with christmas and all my presents are rapped under the tree; I can not say the same for Andrew.

All the envelopes came in and I am planning on starting to address them today. They are so pretty and I am so happy we decided to go with them.  Enveloperinc.com was a great resource and their customer service was amazing! I know addressing the will be a huge job so I better start now.

I had my first dress fitting on Monday and everything went very smoothly. The dress still fits which is always good and I was very happy with our alterations lady.  She is so sweet and I think she will do a great job. I hated leaving my dress there but knew it was in good hands.

We also passed marriage counseling two weeks ago! I really enjoyed it and am so happy that Andrew and I completed it.  It not only gave us great information but also allowed us to get closer with out paster, Len, which I feel will make the ceremony more personal. I would recommend completing the counseling with your paster to anyone about to get married.

I have been spending a lot of time in my classroom and up at the school.  I have really enjoyed it and can't wait to get started. It reminds me why I choose the profession I did and how much I really do love it.  The other teachers have been great and I know they will be so supportive when I get in the room. The teacher I am taking over for is starting to clean out her room and it's starting to look great. I am going to be able to get in there next Friday and start to make it my own. I can't wait and have been working on getting everything ready at home so all I have to do is put things up and organize.  I feel so blessed to be given this opportunity and I plan to take full advantage of it.

We have also found out what the two little babes are going to be!  I am so excited to now know I need to buy polo oxfords instead of polo dresses. We are so excited to finally have some boys in the family and can't wait for the babes to be here.

Sorry for the randomness of this post but I feel like the holidays are so busy that most of my posts this month will be a little bit of everything.

Happy Wednesday,
xoxo
the engaged couple

busy time brain dump

We have been very busy in RusVegas. Andrew started a new quarter and I have been going over to my classroom quite a bit to observe. I am spending the evening doing things for the wedding but mostly doing things for my classroom. Here's whats being going on.

1. The house is looking like Christmas. This is my favorite time of year and I couldn't wait to get my tree up.  Andrew even helped me put up lights outside this year!

2. The invitations are officially being printed.  They will go out in a little over a month which is so crazy!

3. The envelopes are on their way....I see lots of addressing in my future.

4. My lamination machine has been doing some hard work these last few days. I have used it so much through college and I am so glad i bought it freshman year. Laminating in your PJ's beats going to school any day.

5. I hope Andrew's hands get better at cutting lamination.  He needs more practice or bigger scissors; maybe both.

6. Has anyone else besides me been obsessed with the christmas movies on lifetime and halmark recently? I think I have 10 recorded on my DVR as we speak.

7. I do not like these winter season finales all my shows are having. I find it very annoying I have to wait a whole month for them to come back on.

8.  We are almost done with our christmas shopping which is a first! YAY US!

9. I am enjoying my last month of seeing my kiddos every week.  They make my heart so happy and I will miss them so much. No worries though I made their Momma promise they were still mine on holidays and during the summer.

10. Andrew is off hunting in Mississippi with the Donahoo Boys. I sure hope they kill something and it's not each other.

11. The flower dresses are coming in and they are very cute.

12.  I WILL START MY NEW JOB ONE MONTH FROM TODAY!!!!

Sorry for the randomness of this post. I'm just feeling random today.

xoxo,
the engaged couple

14 Day Recap

I can't believe it has been two weeks since my last post. Boy have things been busy around here.  I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving holiday.  I loved getting to spend so much time with Andrew and our families.

We headed over to Mississippi for Thanksgiving and it was a blast getting to see everyone. Some of his family I haven't seen since getting engaged ( I know thats awful of me) so it was great getting to catch up and show off my ring.  Everyone was asking about the wedding and commenting on the blog.  It made me feel so great to know that people are really reading and it is helping everyone stay connected and up to date.  Some very exciting news on the Halbrook side came about when we found out that Andrew's cousin, one of our groomsmen, Jesse got engaged to his girlfriend the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.  We are so excited for them and can't wait to celebrate their engagement and wedding!

On Friday, Andrew's Parents headed up to Cincinnati to visit Madison, Andrew's sister, and we headed over to Shreveport to see my fam. Shreveport was a blast as always, Andrew went to the camp with my Dad which gave Mom and I the day to do whatever we wanted.  We ended up going to look for her a MOB dress and found her the perfect one.  She looks so beautiful in it and I cant wait for everyone to see it.  I don't want to give anything away so all I'm going to say is T-I-G-E-R-S TIGERS!!

Our bulldogs lost their final season game on Friday night which gives us the boot from any major bowl game. It is really disappointing after such a great season but I still love my bulldogs. They played great this year and I am such a proud Alumni.

In the mist of all our travels I have been working on things for my classroom and stuff for the wedding. A big I LOVE YOU goes our to my dad who brought the gold cardstock to the printers to get an exact match and sign off on all the proofs. I love the invites to much and can't wait to hold them in my hand.

I hope everyone had a fablous hump day! I got to see my classroom and talk with Ms. Boyd again this afternoon and ended the night with my two favorite kiddos.  It doesn't get much better in my opinion.

xoxo,
the engaged couple

PS if you have not had a Carmel Brûlée Latte from starbucks GO NOW!