So much to say, so little time....

I haven't posted in so long and have several updates!

1)We went to Corpus Christi for a Couples Shower/Cocktail Party thrown for us by 11 of our parents friends. It was truly special to see so many people there who love and support us! It was truly some of the best catered food I have ever had and my parents said the same thing, which says a lot! I hope to see the hosts and everyone who came at the wedding as well!!

Us with the hosts and then one of us two:





2) We decided to have Shelby's tail docked (just the end - about an inch). It makes me sad to see her tail all bandaged up and she was in pain for the first 48 hours or so. It's still foreign to her and that makes me sad :-( She recently split it open and we had to get it re-bandaged at the vet's office. Great, back to square one. They said recovery time is about a month, which is what like 1 year in dog time?!

3) The wedding dress fits. Finally!!! It is on it's way to Corpus Christi and the annoying alterations chapter is closed!! Now, the only time I will be getting naked in a cold room in front of people will be on my wedding day! Wait, weird. Anyway, I cried when I tried it on and could breathe. It embarrassed the Seamstress - I guess b/c she should have had me breathing in it all along? And it was in front of people. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I was crying b/c I never had to schedule another appt. with her again. ;-)

4) We are shopping for homes!! It's an exciting time - I really LOVE real estate. I think it's my calling. So, it's even more exciting for me. Today is our third day with the realtor and each morning I have awakened before 8am with excitement! Like we are going to Disney World! Keep us in your thoughts and prayers. It's a scary time to make a big decision. This is one of the homes I LOVED but the location, staircase, and 1970s features were all wrong. But isn't it SO pretty form the outside?!?!



5) Beau and I met with Deacon Ken at the Church yesterday and it went really well! We had a really great conversation and like him a lot. We were reviewing our FOCCUS scores (FOCCUS is a marriage prep course where we each answered 150 questions and they compared our answers) and he said overall everything looked really good. If you aren't familiar with FOCCUS, it's a great program designed by a team (I think) of psychologists to help couples discuss key areas of their future. There are, of course, no right or wrong answers. It was really enjoyable, actually! My favorite part was that it was short and sweet b/c our answers matched so well :-)

6) 77 days til the big day :-) Some quick updates: Invitations are in and look great, rehearsal dinner menu has been finalized, bridesmaid dresses are in (picking them up today - fingers crossed the colors are correct!!), bridesmaid luncheon details are being finalized (I have the best family for offering to host this!!), and much more. It's getting exciting!

http://www.staceyandbeau.weddingwindow.com/

Toasting Flutes

My Manager, well now my past Manager, Heather Thomas gave Beau and I the sweetest gift over Christmas. Along with many other thoughtful items that made up a very creative gift basket, she gave us Waterford toasting flutes!! They are BEAUTIFUL and so much nicer than the ones we registered for! I didn't even know I could have something so nice and we are so fortunate to have these given to us!

I carried them on the plane this past weekend to Corpus (that blog entry is still to come!) and I was so stressed about the possibility of breaking them. Any time Beau would tease me about moving so slow, I reminded him that there isn't much use with ONE toasting flute!!

Here is a picture at Cyclone Anaya when I opened the gift at our Team lunch. On a side note, I'm totally going to miss that team :-(

To dock or not to dock.

I really need help with this dilemma. I’m torn and I don’t know what to do. As you all may know, but may have forgotten, little Shelby’s tail is crooked. Really crooked. And while I have always said that it adds character and that I think it’s PRECIOUS, it’s beginning to go bald! As you can imagine, it’s not pretty. Background: The crooked nature is a result; it appears, of being broken in 2 different places when she was a puppy and before we brought her home. [Remember that story?! I freaked out when I saw that she had a crooked tail and Beau’s answer was that all puppies have crooked tails when they are young and that they straighten out when they get older. Uh, yeah right.] I digress. So, the two broken (but completely healed) points where the tail turns in a different direction (oh, and the tip) are balding! I don’t know if she chews on it or if it rubs a weird way when she sleeps but it is kinda-scary-looking and I fear that people will think I don’t take good care of her. Because I do.

Pros to docking: No scary baldness.

Cons to docking: Shelby will be in pain, she can’t sleep with me for a couple of weeks, what if the hair doesn’t grow over the end of it?, what if she looks like she has a nub??, what if she hates us forever for taking a part of her??? Although, we took her ovaries and she still loves us….

So, to dock or not to dock? That is the question.

Look at that darling crookedness!!

If the dress don't fit...

you must acquit. I think O.J.'s murder trial was shorter and less painful than my wedding dress fitting situation. Really. I'm not going into the entire story of how I don't really get along with my seamstress or how I hate taking all my clothes off in a freezing dress room. On 4 separate occasions. Further, I will not elaborate on how my dress is too tight in my rib cage and I am having dreams of not being able to breathe and passing out on the altar only to have my wedding video aired on America's Funniest Home Videos hoping to win 10 G's from my most embarrassing moment. What I will mention is that my bridal portrait has been postponed and I have to make a separate trip down to CC for it.

Bummer about cutting things so close but the extra trip will be fun! On a more exciting, positive note, we head to CC this weekend (original bridal portrait date) for a couples shower being held in our honor! I can't wait to see everyone!!

Remember when Cinderella put the t-shirt on Gus Gus and it kept rolling up on his big belly?! Too tight!!

The Curious Case of the $1,200 Picture Frame...

Who knew that a) picture frames can be priced in this range and b) Beau and I would accidentally register for one! Much to my surprise, there it was on our registry when I looked online yesterday. I was seeing if all our items were added since our trip to Corpus over Christmas. They were added alright. Along with the $1200 picture frame! And it's a 5X7! It's not even huge :-)

We thought it was a mistake at first since there wasn't a picture to reference. Beau did some searching, found the style online and yep, we both remember registering for it! It was to the back of the shelf, neither of us picked it up so we didn't see the price. Honest mistake since the others were all around the $20 mark.

I called Hanley Wood asking that they remove it immediately since it makes us look greedy and ridiculous! I love the ladies that work there - they are so sweet! They completely understood.

In case you are wondering, it is silver plated and made by the designer, Buccellati. Yeah, no idea. I can't really figure our what is so special about it other than the price of silver is on the rise.

Snappy New Year!

Our New Year's Eve was one of the best yet! We kicked it off with pre-party drinks and eats at Thea's house and then off to Martini Ranch. Or Margarita Ranch. Whichever, they changed the name and I can't keep track. Three of our girlfriends rent it out every year and I love it b/c they always have a great DJ, open bar and a limited # of tickets sold so there is never a line for bathrooms and bar! Not to mention, it's in Uptown so up until this year, I could always walk home ;-)

It was also very special because it was my first and only NYE as an engaged girl. AND my last as Stacey Caldwell. Daily events in life start to turn into these big, dramatic occasions when you start to think of things that way! Nonetheless, we are in the home stretch of the wedding - finally in the same year of 2009!!

Overall, Beau and I had 3 days off work so a total of 5 days of vacation! I can't tell you how special that was!! Waking up with the biggest decision being should we grocery shop or go see the Curious Case of Benjamin Button?? And should we go to dinner with friends or stay in and cook and watch a movie?? Such a tough life!! Loved every minute of it and it was VERY tough to get out of bed Monday morning :)