Mexican Fiesta Rehearsal Dinner

Part 3 of the wedding weekend blog: The Rehearsal & Rehearsal Dinner. I loved taking pictures at Moriah & Michael's rehearsal but being in this wedding left me unable to take any pictures of this rehearsal. Kelsey (a groomsman's wife) took a few of Justin & Jennifer with my camera while we were all learning how the ceremony would go down.

The Happy Bride & her Itinerary 

"Is this over yet?"

After the rehearsal we went to the Thomas's church for a Mexican Fiesta. 

  

I think everyone had a great time eating and wearing sombreros. Justin did not want to put one on so Jennifer arranged a sneak attack and threw it on his head. It was pretty funny when it all went down.

Jenn's Bridal Luncheon

Jennifer had her Bridal Luncheon at Bernie's on Main Street. It was a huge success. Luncheons usually have dainty girly foods that are pretty but not filling. Not Jenn's, she let us order whatever we'd like and IT WAS GOOD. I think half the party had a grilled chicken sandwich with half fries/ half onion rings. How dainty is that? Regardless it was delicious and a good time was had by all. Here are a few pictures:

Moriah, Becky, Jennifer, Myself, Amy & Kate 

Mrs. Melinda & Her 3 New Daughter-in-laws

Jennifer had each bridesmaid pull a charm from the cake. Of course I ended up with "The old lady who had so many kids she didn't know what to do..but didn't live in a shoe" something along those lines. Brent was thrilled...

Thank You Michael & Justin for picking amazing sister-in-laws for me!

Justin & Jennifer -Sneak Peak-

I do not have time to upload and edit all the pictures from the "Justin & Jennifer Wedding Weekend". We are about to head to North Alabama to celebrate the rest of our Memorial Day Weekend with my side of the family. I couldn't leave home without posting a couple of images from this beautiful day. More to come, I promise. Enjoy!

The chapel at American Village

The Bridesmaid Bouquets

Beautiful Bride

Rockstars about to leave for their honeymoon 

9 Months Ago today it was OUR turn

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Justin Lane Thomas. You were a beautiful couple and I can't wait to post more pictures from your entire weekend. Thank you for including this old married couple in your festivities. Have a wonderful time in Seaside!

I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend. Maybe if we all do a "go away" rain dance we will see some sun on the lake tomorrow. 

A Cookin' Husband

That's what I had last night. He found a recipe in the Birmingham News last weekend and got to it. He purchased all his ingredients on his own at the grocery store last Sunday and treated me to mashed potato heaven. Yes, I'm too lazy to type the recipe out so here it is:

They were really good. It was a different flavor due to the pepper, onion and celery being mixed in.

Finished Product

There are only two of us here so we definitely had leftovers. I think it'd be a great dish to take to a family get-together. I'll make sure to let Brent cook they are sure to be delicious.

My handsome chef.. refusing the photo-op

chef's little helper...aka vacuum cleaner

Now to tonight, is anyone else bummed about how boring this American Idol finale is? I think the show has lived past it's prime. I have enjoyed all the Simon flashbacks but I wish they'd focused a bit more on Lee & Crystal. The winner hasn't been announced yet and I honestly don't mind who wins. Both appear to be stand-up honest people who deserve a shot at a career. Lee is my favorite though. I know they can both make it with or without wining the "Idol" crown. Who'd a thought they both auditioned 2 days after our wedding? They've been doing this since then? That is a long time. 

Just think, since then we've visited where it's all going down tonight

and while we were there we saw a really awesome sign...

Just announced: Lee Dewyze!!!! Hip Hip Hooray!!!!

my husband called that one too... Goodnight all.

Catching Up

This past weekend at the lake was FUN. I had no idea I would laugh so much at a group of girls I hardly knew before entering the "cabin". When I say cabin I mean Monster of a lake house. It was beautiful. I wish I could afford a place like that to spend summers with all those that I love and enjoy being around. I will post some pics (that I took with my crappy phone camera) of the cabin one day soon. My cousin Ana is getting married on June 19th. My sisters and I are both in the wedding.

(These pictures were swiped off Facebook. I forgot to take a camera)

The Bridesmaids (minus Meagan) in front of the fountain & flowerbed

Us surrounding the Bride

Modeling our new towel wraps, Thanks Ana! 

(bathing suits are underneath)

As you know, Emily spent the weekend with us. I woke up Monday morning and wondered where she was. I forgot she wasn't asleep in our guest room. She and I hit up the shops Thursday afternoon. We found some great deals at TJ Maxx, New York & Company, Belk, Express & Old Navy. Brent almost had a panic attack when we walked in at half past eight. We'd been out and about since 3:15. (No damage to my bank account was done though- I kept the tab under $80 and even bought someone a gift. ) We had dinner at Kobe. I swear I'd eat Japanese food every day if Brent let me. Charlie was sad when his "Auntie Em" as he calls her left. He laid in front of the fireplace and pouted for an hour while I napped. Staying up late at the lake on Friday night wore me out. I just now feel like I've recovered. 

Hanging out before she left

Charlie knows how to strike a pose

Life will not slow down in the next few days. We've got our 3rd and final Thomas family wedding this Saturday. I can't wait. I hope everyone has a great Wednesday. Be sure to come back tomorrow for pictures of the dinner Brent's in the kitchen slaving over tonight... should be ineresting!

Mini-Me is coming to visit!

My sister is on her week long vacation from the bank. She works (pretty much full-time) and goes to school online/ and in person. She has grown up so much in the past year. Needless to say she's developed an interest in shopping....just like me! The best part of this new found passion she has is that she wants ME to help her. How happy am I? (Sidenote: most of the shopping happens when my Memaw & G'Ma get together and let me pick things out for her since she's always at work) Good news is that my work has been insane this week and I've had to go in an hour early each day. I am going to skip out of there at 3 tomorrow and meet my sis for some afternoon browsing, a good dinner out then probably stay up late chit chatting. What else are sisters for? In honor of my sister deciding to spend 3 of her vacation nights with me I think I'll post some pictures and take you down memory lane...

we slept all night in this bathtub

Halloween 1993

Exploring the birthplace of Elvis

Family Beach trip 2008

Christmas 2008

Maid of Honor

Needless to say I can hardly contain my excitement. I have to work on Friday but after that we are heading to the lake for our cousin's bachelorette/ lingerie shower. I'm glad that I get a chance to hang out with Emily (my sister) because it seems like the 4 year age difference always kept us at different places in our lives. When I went to college she started high school. When I graduated college she started...Now we both have big girl jobs (kudos to her for working all the time too) and have more to talk about. Faith, Family and Charlie. Kidding about Charlie but she SURE loves my boy. I'll be sure to post pictures from our adventure together. And Brent, I promise I won't go crazy in TJMaxx... just an item or two :)

Check out her blog: (she never writes but it's super cute)

Tim McGraw Concert

The concert was great. I'm not going to lie.. I was a little skeptical beforehand. The last outdoor country concert we went to didn't live up to the hype (Kenny Chesney). It was fine but did not come close to putting on a show like Dave Matthew's did a few months before. However, Tim McGraw rocked it out. We had a great time. I bought the tickets for Brent for Valentine's Day. He had a good time... Mexican food, Music and a night out. Can't beat that.

I took a suggestion from Life with a Lab and bought a new book (Love the One You're With) at Costco today. I've already read a few chapters. I hope to finish it soon and knock off 1 book from my 101 in 1001 list. Off to prepare for tomorrow... work, work, work - Have a happy Monday!

Doo Dah Recap

Doo Dah Day almost didn't happen for the Thomas Family. Brent called me yesterday afternoon and informed me that he was going to be required to show up for work Saturday (aka Doo Dah Day). Being the drama queen I am I broke into tears. Not so much about Doo Dah Day but about the fact that I don't have a ton of friends/ family in the area to do things with me when my go to constant (BRENT) can't go. My new family (The Thomas's) have crazy work schedules. I never know where they are. Lucky for me the nurse and fireman aka Moriah and Michael had already volunteered their Saturday for the task of chauffeuring/ entertaining two kids: Connor (our cousin) and Parker (Moriah's friend). They called and said they'd happily drag the children to Doo Dah Day before they went to the Zoo. Long story short, Charlie and I loaded up this morning and headed to the festival. We had a nice shady spot to watch the parade from. He and I were there by ourselves for around 2 ours and we survived! We were content and made friends with other dog people. Who cares if some probably thought that I was "weird old dog woman at the park by herself".

Here are a few pictures from our Doo Dah "dad-less" Adventure....

"Mom I sure love this shade..."

(I'm a tad obsessed with the Toy Camera setting in Aperture)

when the gang arrived

Connor taking care of Charlie

looking clean from the bath dad gave me Thursday night

The only mishap came when Charlie apparently got nervous and decided to let a small tird out without warning. So much so that he proceeded to sit on it during the parade which led to a messy behind. I thought the hyperactive child next to me had stepped in dog poo. I even mentioned to his father that the slimy brown stuff on the child's shoe (that the child kept rubbing) might be poop. He politely told me it was dirt. A few minutes later I realized where the smell was coming from...Charlie. I did the best I could to clean it from his furry tail (disgusting, I know). Moriah ended up giving me some of Connor's wet wipes but it still wouldn't do the trick. Thankfully he was able to hide his mistake with his tail. Only Mom and company knew about the dirty little secret he was hiding. THANKS to Brent for taking control of the situation. There's no way I could handle any more poop duty. Looks like we are no where ready for kids!

After Doo Dah I brought Charlie home (kennel bound due to his messy self) and drove back up to the Zoo to meet Michael, Moriah, Connor and Parker. The kids had fun looking at the animals. I've never been a huge zoo fan but it was fun seeing how excited they got and listening to the stories they'd tell about the animals. 

Riding the train- Girls Rule (per Parker)

Connor and Mike on the train

this sums up Michael's day...

It was fun. I'm exhausted though. Charlie has been passed out since I got home around 5:30. I'll post pictures from the Tim McGraw concert tomorrow. Have a happy Sunday!

Hello iMac

I am embarrassed to admit that this is the first time this week I have turned on our iMac. Yes, I'm failing at blogging. I've been to busy working (late hours mean I'm off early tomorrow), playing WWF and watching TV. Brent came in tonight while I was watching OnDemand episodes of "Mercy" and dropped the "I don't think this show is getting picked up again next season" bomb on me. I'm depressed. It's a drama filled good hour of my week. I really hope he's wrong and Veronica, Sands & Mike are left with another year to sort out their love triangle. Let's cross our fingers.

This weekend should be fun. I ordered Brent tickets to the Tim McGraw concert for Valentine's Day so we will be heading over to the show tomorrow night. I'm excited because outdoor shows mean Mexican food beforehand. Yum! Saturday is Doo Dah Day. I can't wait to take Charlie to visit all the doggies outdoors. He's not much of a socializer. Poor pup will walk 90 to nothing until we find a spot to sit and watch the parade. Hopefully we will not be forced to stand by a snake handling ten year old this year (did that last year and freaked me out). Note to all you snake fans out there: stay away from Doo Dah Day! I don't like snakes and neither does my dog!

Brent was given 1 day passes to the Regions Charity Golf Tournament. Hopefully we will venture there Sunday after church. I can already tell this is going to be a slammed pack weekend...but I wouldn't want it any other way!

Let's pray for no rain!

Late to the Party...

The "Words With Friends" party that is. JessRut (Her w.w.f. identity) invited me to join the iphone gaming nation. I'm addicted. Brent doesn't get it...at all. He keeps staring at me saying "Put down the phone". I can't wait until he purchases his new iphone and finds something he enjoys to do on it like I do. I think he's held off on purchasing one just to prove a point. He wanted to be the last man on earth with the Motorola Razor. Pretty sure my sister had that phone in Jr. High. Anyways, if you want to play me in a game (I'm a real tough opponent so be warned) my name is AshleyJ115.

**the tough opponent thing is a joke... I've gotten smoked each time I've played**

Mother's Day

We spent the day at the nursing home visiting Brent's grandmother. His parents, Michael and ourselves all joined her for a picnic outside. I think she had a good time. We've all been able to visit her more now that she's moved to a nursing home closer to the Birmingham area.

Mother's Day Picnic

Thomas Family

Us with Mrs. Thomas

Michael & his Grandmother

I'm sad that I wasn't able to go home and visit with my family but I hope they all know I was thinking of them. My sister Emily handled our Mother's Day Gift shopping and deserves a big shout out.. THANK YOU EM!! I hope everyone had a great day with those that they love.

Seems like yesterday...

I was graduating college, taking last minute trips and living it up before entering the "real world". Where did that 3 years go? I graduated from UA in 2007 and it is now 2010. I've had 2 jobs, met my soulmate, and gotten married! It's always fun to look back at pictures. I love realizing how good times were and hoping for many more to come. Ready for a stroll down memory lane... (pardon the quality... most were pulled from Facebook)

Me & the BFF after graduating college

We were so unprepared...but loved every minute of it!

In Nashville for "interviews"

Study...No! Houndstooth...Yes!

Our "Last" Spring Break

Before the "Bryce" incident

All that was fantastic.. I loved every minute of college. I sometimes get nostalgic and Brent snaps me back into reality. I know he enjoyed college but I don't think he enjoyed it like I did. There's just something about spending 4 fun years in Tuscaloosa that will stick with you. I think it always will. I'm thankful for the friends I left there with... 3 years later... Look how far we've all came! If you're in the pictures above know that you are very special to me. Even if we don't talk all the time I love you all so much and you helped shape me into the person I am today. The person that annoys Brent has to put up with all day long!