made it out alive

Ha. Today was my grand finale of my weeklong stay with the kids.... we had tons of fun and kept busy this week, but I'm so glad to be home. I cleaned like mad tonight... for my own sanity and also because my inlaws will be here all weekend. We are going to celebrate my birthday and Amy's birthday (my sis-in-law, Ryan's bros wife... who is also PREGNANT!), so I am so excited. I am also so excited and NERVOUS because I'm running in my first race tomorrow! It's just the 5K for Homecoming at good old RWC... but nonetheless, it's my first. Leah (sis-in-law, Ryan's sis) is running it "with" me, or should I say AHEAD of me... so pray I don't die. Seriously. I'm so nervous. My stomach is in knots just typing this. Anyway.... good to be home. I think the kitties missed us... Calla is mauling me as I write, I can't even see the screen. I think the cats are trying to communicate with us on another level, too... almost like a toddler or young child... acting out for attention! I stopped home with the kids today so they could see the cats (the kids are OBSESSED) and... dum da dum dum..... the kitchen floor was absolutely COVERED with flowers. I got a bunch of hydrangeas from my mom last week, and I put them in a pitcher on the counter, hoping they'd start to dry so I could enjoy them for awhile. The cats must have got UP ON THE COUNTER and tore a few heads off the stems and who knows... tossed them, danced as the flowers fell around them, who knows?! It was SUCH a mess, took me forever to vacuum them up. I need help. We had them trained pretty well, and they stayed off the counters and table, but now they are jumping up al the time.... spraying with water doesn't help anymore, nor does lining the counter with tinfoil... all of the things I read that would help... so, HELP! Suggestions, please! No AJ, I won't use shock collars or anything, though. Ok enough rambling about my oh-so-important life issues. hehe. Better go rest up so I can WIN TOMORROW! BWAH HA HA!

only 6 months and 10 days until YOUR day, shawty!

AJ wrote the sweetest, most thoughtful little tribute to me today in her blog... and her work deserves recognition! Check it out! I love you Amy, I don't know if you could ever know how much that means to me!

24

(John Keller-- Sorry if I unintentionally mislead or excited you because of the title of this post... even though I tricked you, I still believe you ARE Jack Bauer!)



In about an hour, I will be 24. Are you serious? Lately I keep thinking about how when I was younger and all I wanted to BE what I am now and where I'm at in life. I am living what I have wanted since I was a child. Married young, truly amazing and unreal husband, close with family and inlaws, incredible close friends, house, education, pets, good job. I need to really shut up and stop complaining and wishing my life away. I always want to be at the next step, the next milestone. This year, I want to just be content and just let what comes come. Appreciate and just live. Have dreams, but stop planning. Be hopeful, yet grateful.






ok I'm done.








Check out my birfday present! It's the fabric on the left, isn't it just beautiful?! Mom is making elegant curtains for the living room for me.... don't worry, it's just the roll of fabric in the pic, not the actual curtains. We rearranged the living room AGAIN, since we couldn't get it just right in the 3+ other times we've tried to arrange. We moved monster armoire from the bedroom to the living room and put the tv in it, and my parents let us use a smaller one they had for the bedroom. My mom had one piece of advice for me now that we are actually going to decorate the living room (seeing that I hadn't done so yet because of my dissatisfaction with the arrangement)... she said, "It looks good, just make sure you don't put too many little tchotchkes in it." TCHOTCHKES?! I just laughed at her, rather proud of her that she had made up a word herself. Then I was reading a magazine the next day, and I saw the word in an article, and realized that it meant, essentially, "knickknacks." Okay. I felt a little dumb that I didn't know that, but whatever. So I told Ryan about this whole interaction later on and he was like, "Yeah, that's why they named the restaurant that Jennifer Aniston worked at on Office Space Chotchkie's... remember how she had to wear all of those pieces of flair?" Wow. Impressive. Over my head. That's all I have to say.

In Da Hood

yes this is my brother, no it's not me with a punk haircut :P

sigh

Haven't had much to write about lately.... or much that I want to write about, that is... working 47+ hours per week from now until forever, no time to see friends, no time to work out... Just feeling blah. I did get a bit done in the house this weekend.... organizing, etc. Plus, I have a friend who is going through a very trying time at the moment, and needs such prayer and support... so if you feel the urge please lift her up... I hurt for her so. What a roller coaster week this past one has been.... BLAH!

How bout one bright spot... my birfday is in 4 days, oh yay. :)

Mr. and Mrs. LePore

Matt and Beth were married on Saturday, and what a perfect day it was. The weather was crystal clear and warm, and I had probably the most fun I've had being involved in a wedding than ever before. I had the privilege of being Beth's matron of honor. She has always been my "other sister" and it was very touching and emotional to see her be married to the love of her life. I was still dancing on Sunday morning! :)









Carrie, Beth, and me at the rehearsal... the church was so gorgeous



my mom did the flowers for the wedding, so this is what her kitchen looked like on Friday :)



At the salon... Beth reacting to seeing her hair for the first time... check out who the photographer was in the mirror. Why don't you just call me Rachel Ann Shipman?



Meg and me



Ryan and me



Carrie and me



the bridal party



the best man, Chuong, and I after we fell making our grand entrance.... definitely the most embarassing moment of my life, but it made for a great opener for my matron of honor speech! My knees are purple today....



momma and me at the reception... I was so proud of her.



dancing the night away....



The whole day was perfectly flawless... I can't believe my girl is married. Check out Rachel's blog for more pics.... coming soon!