It's a girls thing...

My maid of honor, Tamara, and my Mom hosted a perfect bridal shower for me on Saturday. Unlike our Ohio shower, this one was for girls only! (The guys all went skeet shooting. I think they had to do something especially manly since we were all dolled up doing something especially girly!) We all gathered at my Mom's house on Saturday morning for a brunch. We had quiche, bagels, fruit, cupcakes, cookies, mimosas, and, of course, gummies! We laughed, we cried, we talked, and we laughed some more!

There were about 12 of us total and at the beginning of the shower everyone went around and either told a story or said something nice about me. I'm not usually one to bask in the spotlight. Quite frankly, I loathe the spotlight, but this day had the perfect shine. It meant so much to me to have the people there that came, and I was, and am, so thankful to have all of them in my life. I was certainly overwhelmed with gratitude that I just completely lost the words to describe it. (I think I just kept saying 'thank you' over and over. I know I have a larger vocabulary than that. I know I can express my feelings using other words. I know I can, but for some reason I couldn't that day.)

The highlight was definitely the game that Tamara created. It was a 'How Well Do You Know Your Mate' game! She asked Brian a series of questions about himself and recorded his answers. Then she asked him a series of questions about me and recorded them too. (This was all done during a covert mission between the two of them the night before. Those two are tricky, I tell ya!) At the shower she then asked me the questions and then played his answer to see how well we actually know each other. It was hilarious! Some of our answers were spot on. Some of them were a bit off, but it was a blast!

The shower was simply wonderful. I was able to see some friends that I hadn't seen in forever. It was so special to have them attend. It was intimate. It was lovely. It was perfect. I wouldn't have changed a thing! Thank you, Tamara, Mom, Amy, and all the other helping hands that made this shower a success!

Yes, No, Maybe So?

Since we've sent our invitations out everyday has been like Christmas! We wonder how many responses we will get from our invites. We place bets on the numbers that come in through the mail (I think Brian has one upped me on this), we anxiously await the mailman's arrival (technically, I am typically at work so I anxiously await Brian's text that the mail has just arrived), and it is all so much fun! So far we have 24 response cards that have come in that have 'joyfully accepted' our invite and 1 that has 'regretfully declined'. We are extremely happy with the outcome, so excited to see all of our wonderful friends and family, and are really looking forward to sharing our special day with everyone.

Not too long ago, it felt like we were so far away from our wedding. Now, the countdown ticker that so blatantly lists how many days we have left is, I swear, counting two days each day instead of one. We are 56 days away! Is that really possible?!

April Showers

We waited, and waited, for the Maryland public schools to announce high school graduation dates. For some reason, they wait until a month before school lets out before they have it figured out. I suppose this works well for any snow days that need to be added on to the school year, but it is my understanding that seniors don't have to make up snow days...

Nevertheless, we wanted to wait until we had found out the exact graduation dates for my sister, Amy, and Brian's brother, Brent, before we decided on dates for our bridal showers. (Both will be graduating from high school this year in Maryland and Ohio, respectively!) And since Spring Break has come and gone, and there is nearly a month left of school, we now have solid dates for graduations...and showers!

Brian's wonderful Aunt Kathy, along with some extremely helpful hands, have offered to host a 'Couples Shower' for us. That will take place here in Ohio on Saturday, June 12. My beautiful Mom, along with my lovely MOH, have offered to host another shower in Maryland for us on Saturday, June 19. AND, it is very possible that we may have another shower here in Ohio to celebrate. (Details to follow on all...) We are very lucky to be surrounded with so many loving and caring people.

So far, our April showers have been very effective at promoting growth in the future months!