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! :)

100 Days and counting...

Rich and I were fortunate to be able to come home to Texas and spend Christmas with my family this year! While it was a rough Christmas for all and our hearts were saddened by the fact that Nana was not there to celebrate her favorite holiday with us, there was and is much to be thankful for, most of all our family! We are slowly healing from loss of a wonderful Mother, Grandmother and friend but I know she was there watching over us the entire day!

One of the last conversations I had with Nana was all about our wedding and what my dress looked like and what she would wear to the wedding. While it brings tears and sorrow knowing that she will not be there in body while Rich and I say "I do", I know that she will be smiling down from above, glowing with pride as she always did when thinking or talking about her family, daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Though it is bitter sweet, I was able to go and pick up my dress from the dress shop while I was home at Christmas. Mom and SheRa went with me and she was able to pick up hers as well. Not only did SheRa help lighten the mood with her usual laughter, she modeled her dress as well as channeled Natalie and Sasha to the shop as well. (Courtney's dress is not in yet, I wont start to worry for another week or so!)

I was able to try on MY dress, not just the stores sample gown but my very own wedding dress. It is still so surreal that I am getting married, I was the one standing in front of the mirror in a wedding gown...EXCITING but surreal at the same time. I love it just as much today as I did the day I first tried it on and ultimately decided it was THE dress. I can not wait to get it altered, and in just 100 days wear it down the isle and become Lt Col and Mrs Richard Rupanovic.

I can not believe that its only 100 days. Where has the time gone? I feel like there is so much left to do, little stuff but none the less A LOT of little stuff. I started making a list of "to-do's" today and it is overwhelming to look at. I have split them up over the next couple of weeks but it it still a lot to take in and figure out how I will ever get it all done!?

"normal" shoes here I come!!

I went to the doctor today and got the pin in my toe removed. After waiting about 90 minutes I was then taken into have my foot x-rayed. I saw a glimpse of my x-ray on the computer monitor I asked if I could look at them. The nice x-ray tech asked if I would like a copy. DUH it is the craziest thing I think I have ever seen, at least where x-rays of my feet are concerned. I have 4 screws, a plate and a 4 inch pin in my foot. WILD!!!

After taking the x-rays I was then placed back in the exam room to wait some more. My 1:30 appointment really meant I wouldn't see the Dr until 4:00, go figure. After the doctor came in and took a look at the x-rays, to which he said "That's what I like to see", he told me the game plan. 8 weeks of physical therapy, orthodox and hard sole shoes should set me on my way to dancing the night away come 4/17/10.


After the doctor left I had some guy come talk to me and write a prescription for orthodox. Next came the worst part of the whole appointment, sadly this was the part that I was looking most forward to but that hurt the worst. The doctors assistant came in at this point and told me she was going to "try" not to hurt me, i knew right away this was bad news. After using "elbow grease" she finally was able to get the pin out. I instantly felt light headed, from the pain, and thought I was going to pass out. This was not a fun experience but it is out and I can start on the road to recovery!































Physical therapy is not going to be easy, I have to learn how to walk all over again. I have not been in normal shoes or walking regularly since August so it is going to take some time for me to learn to walk on my whole foot and not just the outside of it. This should be an interesting process, I know it wont be easy but as the doctor said my "carrot dangling in front" of me is our first dance as man and wife (not to mention the dances that will follow that)!!


One thing is for sure, I CAN NOT WAIT for my next pedicure!!!

Whew...at least its over!

So the last couple of weeks have been interesting to say the least. I had my foot surgery on November 19th and since then have been hobbling around on crutches and a knee walker thing.

I got my stitches out this past Wednesday, December 2, and was placed into a negative heel shoe. This shoe is designed to take the weight off my foot where the broken bone was removed, a plate and a pin inserted. as much as I was wanting to walk out of the doctors office, this didn't happen. I am still hobbling around on crutches and the knee walker. When the stitches first came out and i attempted to place weight on my foot I could feel the incision pulling, I was too afraid that I was going to open it up if I put pressure on it (not to mention, it HURT to put pressure on my foot!). Just last night I started to put a little more pressure and start "walking" on my foot with the help of crutches. Its really more of a shuffle that I am doing in 1-2 inch increments...I am hoping that I can get rid of the crutches soon, feel more confident walking and get the show on the road. The most important thing is that I be able to walk and dance come April.

I will have to most likely change my shoes that I will be wearing for the wedding. I don't think that the 2 inch heels that I ordered to wear will be the best thing with my foot, especially since the doctor isn't too fond of the idea. I did find some ivory satin isetoner slippers that I am considering as my back up option. Wish I had known about surgery BEFORE I ordered the heels that I can not return, exchange or even wear. OH WELL...