Shower Pictures:

Natalie sent me a few more pictures from the shower so here you go:

Natalie, me and Courtney

Shayna, me and Farrah ( with baby girl Cortez, who should TOTALLY be named Michelle. Personally I think its a perfect name!)

Aunt Kathy and I

Sissy (Dava) and I

The group, with Courtney this time :)

Beth and I

Shayna, Natalie, Me and Farrah

All wrapped up in packages and bows!

I finally made it to Texas and had a FABULOUS time! I am so blessed to have such great friends and family who made the trip home so special!!



I was afraid I would miss the bachelorette party with all the flight cancellations, but no rain, sleet or SNOW could keep me away. It was a lot of fun and I hope all the other ladies enjoyed it as much as I did. I cant wait for them to send me the pictures (hint, hint), not that I will be showing any of the ones that are "what happens at the bachelorette party STAYS at the bachelorette party" worthy, but I am sure there are a few others that are a few that I can post, eventually.


Saturday morning was great. I spent the night with Mitch and Natalie on Friday night. The kids didn't know I was there, and told me as much when I came out of the room Saturday morning, so I didn't have 2 pairs of eyes staring at me when I woke up. When I came out of the room David turned and said "HEY! I didn't know you were here". I was able to just relax and have a stress free morning drinking coffee, eating "Hi Ho Cheerios" and spending time with the kids and Natalie before the shower. My new BFF (Blythe) followed me all around the house, sat in my lap, watched TV with me and called grandma before they left for a birthday party.



After a relaxing morning it was time to shower and get ready for the shower! I had a great time and am thankful for all those who came to celebrate with me. I scored some GREAT gifts and I can not wait to get to where ever the Air Force decides to send us (which is NOT Colorado, but that's another story for a different day) so that we can use them. I hope that wherever we go, we find a house with a big kitchen and lots of counter space to display all of my purty new things!




My wonderful Mom and I at the shower.


I had to lift these pictures from Natalie's blog, since the only ones that were taken with my camera are of people enjoying all the yummy food that was served at the shower (Oops, I apparently forgot to assign someone to camera duty with my camera, but Natalie and Courtney were on top of with their own, thankfully!).



The best sister-in-love a girl could ask for!!! Thank you Natalie for offering to open up your home and host a great shower for me, I love you!!

My wonderful family and friends (From left to right, back row): My Aunt Dava, Stepmom Beth, Aunt Kathy (who is camera shy??), Mrs. Wanell Soslow, Shayna Soslow Aldrich, (From left to right, front row): Mrs. JoNora Mallory, Natalie, Mom, Me, Ms. Janie Litton and Momma #2 Ms. Dajuana Skidmore. (Not pictured/photographer): Farrah Cortez and Courtney Hartgrove. Ms Schwalje came down with a cold and was at home nursing herself back to health :( Thank you to you all for such a wonderful time of friends and family fellowship!



Not only was I able to go home to enjoy the Bachelorette party and shower, I was also on a mission to get a lot of wedding planning and preparations done. Mom picked me up at the airport and we, carefully but quickly, made our way over to the linen rental place so that we could take advantage of the 50% off sale of the table cloths for the reception. This was great and I was able to report back to Rich that this caused us to be UNDER BUDGET for once!! *WHEW* Sunday was spent visiting my grandfather in Austin and some wedding shopping with my mom.


Monday was an all out marathon of WEDDING. Natalie picked me up at 9 and we took the kids to their swim lessons, David was able to move up to level 9. After lessons were over we dropped them off at Jeni's house so that we could spend some girl time together and go for the hair and make-up "practice" run. I am glad that I did this. While the makeup was BEAUTIFUL and the hair was pretty, I realized it wasn't what I wanted and now have revised my hair ideas for the wedding.



After this, we went to moms house and picked up my dress and then headed to pick up the kids. After lunch we were full steam ahead, going to Walmart, Hobby Lobby (twice), the alterations lady to get both of our dresses in for their first alteration, Sams and Old Navy, just to name a few. David, Blythe and Michael had no issues picking out and pointing to things that were "pretty" and that "Aunt Chelle, you should buy this for your wedding". I didn't know I had my very own pint sized wedding planners, if only I could sick them on all the "to-do's" that I still have to get done!


Just 50 days to go and we will be Mr. and Mrs. Lt. Col Richard Rupanovic! :)

Seriously? Snow, snow, go away....

UUUUUGGGGGG...My flight has been cancelled once again. I do not understand why a 9:35 flight was cancelled, a 9:55 flight is still scheduled (but full) and I am on a 10:30 flight. Tell me how this makes sense???

I JUST WANT TO GET TO TEXAS. I have a full schedule of events for this trip and I feel like I am never going to make it.

So frustrating...

Of all the times for Washington DC and the East Coast to have an all time record breaking winter. The most snow that has fallen here since 1884 picked this week to fall and keep me from coming home. HOW RUDE!

My flight for Thursday has been cancelled, I only found this out after calling American Airlines myself. They have booked me on a flight Friday morning that is supposed to be in Austin at 1:55pm. I hope that nothing goes wrong with this flight and that I can indeed get out. I am already having to scramble and get appointments and meetings re-scheduled for later during the trip.

Here's hoping for the best, cuz otherwise: What's a bachelorette party without a bachelorette? Or a bridal shower without the bride? And how is a girl supposed to have a dress fitting if the dress and the girl are in different states?

Where has the time gone?

Only 71 days to go, but in the mean time...

What an exciting time this is. We have sent out all the invitations and have started to get the response cards back. It is so much fun checking the mail in the evenings and seeing who responded and who is coming to celebrate with us.

I will be flying home to Texas this next week. I have a lot to do in a short amount of time but I am very excited for this trip. Between dress fittings, hair and makeup meetings, figuring out the seating plan and layout for the reception venue, the first meeting with the DJ for the play list at the wedding, and a million other little but very important tasks, I will be enjoying my time with family and friends who will be celebrating in both the Bachelorette party and the wedding shower. This is such an exciting time and I cant believe that the big day is just around the corner!

I am a little worried, we are getting a snow storm of historic proportions and they are expecting us to be shut down for a few days. I normally wouldn't let this bother me at all, but after looking at the 10 day forecast and seeing that snow is also expected on Tuesday and Wednesday as well, its making me a little nervous. I am hoping that it is no more than a light dusting later in the week so that I can get out and get home on Thursday so that the festivities can begin!!

I will keep you posted and take pictures and post them as this blizzard hits. This is more snow than this area has seen since 1922, or so they are predicting...Wish us luck! :)