Camp Out

I haven't been camping in years. I think the last time I was about 17 or so. And I think it was hot outside. I can't really remember. But this time was different. It wasn't hot. Here is how the day went....

We will start with Friday night. I rushed home from work and picked Kyle up to go meet with a wedding planner lady at the Oaks. We had dinner out there after and I sat at the table with my iPhone calculator and papers scattered everywhere. I ordered a glass of wine because it was needed. I am not a numbers lady, but I can certainly tell when they are adding up. Headed to FTG that night to sleep and girl talk since Katie, Kristin and Sheri drove in from Dallas to help me look for a wedding dress.

Sat morn we were up early, all getting ready at my parent's house. Katie and I took cold showers. McDonald's drive-thru (Kristin says they have the best fountain Diet Coke) and off to Tulsa. Stop to buy a strapless bra that I didn't even need and ended up returning. Sorry for all the bare boob action, Katie. But that is why you are matron of honor, my love.

I had 2 bridal appts. The first one was very successful. I narrowed it down to what style I liked. I said I didn't want strapless but I think I can't avoid it. The style I like looks best strapless. I like simple, elegant dresses. Nothing on the skirt. I tried on some and I didn't even come out of the dressing room. I found one I loved. But I am not gonna show you. Because I love it and I want to keep it secret in case I purchase it. I have already sent a pic of it to my bridesmaids. The second appt was not so great. The girl wouldn't let Katie in the dressing room with me. She had to be in there. She did give me a strapless bra attached to what I can only describe as a torture device for my mid-section. She put me in a huge ballgown from their Disney Fairytale line. Sparkles and all. I will say it was very princess-like but the dress was not for me. They had one dress that was in 2nd place, but it was too heavy. It was like I had midgets attached to my body and I had to carry them around. And the fabric was just matte cotton-like. Saturday afternoon dresses are cotton, not wedding dresses. But if you bought a dress that day, you got a signed sketch by one of their designers! I'll pass.

Back to FTG for a cookout/camp out. Kyle joined us around 6 and I immediately lost my lap buddy Allison to him. We were really roughing it. Cooking over a fire, lanterns hanging in trees, and I had to walk all the way back to the house to refill my Skinnygirl. Then we (pappy, bryan, erin, jordyn, lauren, allison, kyle, heather) all slept outside in the tent. And I have never been so cold in my life. Blow up mattresses get really cold and when they are outside in the 49 degree temp, they just get colder. Luckily I had my dad's camo pants to wear.

Pappy cooked us all breakfast outside again. This man really knows what he is doing. I feel like he should teach a class or something.

This blog turned out to be much longer than I expected so here is the good stuff:

From last week's St. Patty's Day Party

Artsy shot by Kristin

Mom forgot to use the flash. Camp fire group

Morning after sleeping in the frozen tundra

She wears leopard, I wear camo

She has decided to let Kyle hold her now

City boy shooting the bow

This is me saying it hurt my arm when I shot the bow and the string popped me.

Random Thoughts of Upcoming Married Life

The past week has been one of the most exciting weeks of my life. Tonight around 9:30, I will have been engaged for a full week. And I have been quite the busy bee. Already looking at a venue tonight, wedding dress shopping tomorrow. Ring goes back to Pittsburgh next weekend to be sized. I'll miss that thing, but at least it is traveling with Kyle. Along with the million wedding ideas floating in my head, there are also tons of things that hit me about what will change once I am a married woman. Here are some of those gems:

1. I will likely never have to mow a yard again.
2. I will no longer be responsible for checking my tire pressure or maintenance on my car. I guess I can still get my oil changed.
3. My last name will be Gatewood and I will officially live with a boy.
4. I hope he grows to like the smell of my nightly eye cream with coffee in it. It's greasy but I love it and I slather it on before bed.
5. How will I poop without Kyle knowing? (this one is your favorite, right?)
6. I have to move. Again.
7. Sophie will no longer have to spend her days alone!
8. How soon can I convince him that we need a dog door?
9. I will be an Auntie to a new little guy, Henry. And Kyle gets to claim my three ladies! (They are so excited!)
10. I will be saving so much money on rent. Just think of all the clothes I can buy!

Self-portrait with the ring

St. Patrick's Day Weekend

This past weekend started out like any other weekend. I went home on Friday and packed a bag and grabbed Sophie. Kyle and I planned on eating dinner at Charleston's fairly early so we didn't have to wait too long. I was rushed and it was humid and I had to stop at the grocery store after work to get all the food for the party we were hosting Saturday night. I busted into Kyle's house around 6:30 and hurried to change clothes.

We ate dinner and headed back home. We moved around some furniture when we got back and I went into the kitchen to start making some dip for the party on Saturday. Basketball was on in the living room but Kyle was in the kitchen talking to me. I turned around to place the bowl of dip on the counter and when I turned back around, Kyle was on one knee. Proposing!

There we were, in the kitchen, stirring dip, talking and all of the sudden we are getting engaged. I started crying and sweating (that won't surprise most of the readers that know me). I think the only thing he said was "Will you marry me?" but honestly it is all kinda blurry. It was so quick and unexpected. Right now as I type this, I am trying to remember every little detail. If only Sophie could talk.

He finally said, "look at the ring" since I was too spazzed out to pay attention. And then I saw this beautiful thing:

We called our parents (who already knew) and my brother's family (who also already knew). The little girls were so excited and they exclaimed, "we already knew!" when we called to tell them we were engaged.

Katie got the next phone call. And I got to surprise my aunt in person since she was in town visiting my grandma. Zach and Kristin were next, but Zach text me as I was typing out the message to him.

We were pretty much on cloud nine the rest of the night. It didn't happen until about 9:30 and by 11:30 we were both so mentally exhausted! Kyle's eyes were shut the minute his head hit the pillow. I had a 5k the next morning, and I was pretty sure that I would have plenty of wedding ideas running through my head to keep me busy on my run! The party happened as planned Sat night and I got to surprise all my friends when they walked in the door. And then I got a surprise when Elaina walked in the door. She drove in from OKC when I called to tell her. She had a bottle of champagne, card and a wedding magazine. She knew she couldn't miss out on all the fun that night :) (Love you, Laina!) And Sammi and Elaina and I pretty much found a corner and talked all night. (Love you, Sam!)

It still feels somewhat surreal. But at the same time, words cannot even describe the joy I feel. Not only is the ring more beautiful than I could have imagined, but Kyle is the perfect match for me. I know, I know all the lovey-dovey stuff everyone says. But for those of you that know us, I think you would agree.

To wrap this post up, I'm engaged!

Katie: Engaged June 2009

Heather: Engaged March 2012

I pinned this ring on Pinterest 12 days ago. Looks so similar to my ring, and Kyle had no idea what I liked.

I know what you are thinking, where is the picture of the newly-engaged. Believe it or not, we didn't take a single picture all weekend.

Party Planning

I mentioned in my last post that Kyle and I are throwing a St. Patrick's Day party tomorrow. I love planning fun events and I have made an handy to-do list with all the items I need to buy, what I plan on making, and when I need to make it. Orginally, I planned on doing only green(ish) foods, and then I realized I needed much more time on my hands to plan that so I just will put a green spin here and there. But I do plan on painting my nails green, which my mom will love (not).

Here is what is on the menu:

Chuy's Jalapeno Dip

Spinach Dip

Stuffed mushrooms

Garlic Chicken Puffs

Funfetti cookies with icing and green sparkles

Lime bars- just substituting lemon for lime

I also wanted to make some fun, signature cocktail but I am not sure I want to commit to it. So I will most likely be making an easy Shandy recipe: light beer mixed with lemonade.

My usual go to drink is Skinnygirl Margarita.

I didn't like it at first, but the taste grew on me. I mostly like it because it is low calorie and pre-made.

Last weekend I added some raspberry Crystal Light powder to it, and it rocked my socks off. It was one of the most delicious concoctions ever.

The Skinnygirl line has come out with several new cocktails that I can't wait to try:

I am not so much a fun of the sangria, it is way too sweet but I do like the Cosmo drink. I can't wait to get my hands on the others.

My allergies are really buggin' this week. I heard on the news this morning that allergies are at their worst right now since we didn't really have a cold winter.

Tonight is dinner at Charleston's, come to me Peach Bellini!

Incredible Pizza

Back in August, Kyle and I took the girls to Incredible Pizza for some food, fun and games. This time around, the family was in town celebrating Tabley's birthday. He turned 4 years old and is doing great.

Most of my weekend was spend inside watching TV and relaxing. Kyle was sick, which rarely happens, so I really took advantage of the down time. I watched House Hunters regular and international (I never guess which one they will pick!), Selling NY and LA, and a Whitney Houston biography. All while wearing my robe and barely any makeup.

Kyle and I are hosting a St. Patrick's Day party on Sat and have invited tons of our friends. I have all kinds of food items on my list of things to make. Cookies, cupcakes, dips, fun drinks..I can't wait! I am running the St. Patty's Day 5K on Brookside Sat morning and then plan on putting on my apron and getting to work!

For all you runners our there, or even non-runners, there is a really fun race coming to Tulsa in June.

The Color Run will be June 23rd. It is not a timed event, so you can just have fun and not worry about your time. I am thinking of one my blog readers and her husband should do it, *cough cough (Becca Van Valkenburg)

Side note, Jessica Simpson really needs to have her baby.

Jordyn & Brooke at Incredible Pizza

Allison, Lauren, Derek in the bumper cards

Jordyn catching some zzz's at Incredible Pizza

Look at this colorful house in Outer Banks, N.C. For $1.95 million, it can be yours.

My project this past weekend. Organizing Kyle's pantry. You should have seen it before.

More Pics of Allison's Birthday

Here are some pics I stole from Erin's sisters Snapfish page. She has a fancy pants camera and has a some good shots. Also, I will include a hilarious video of Jordyn and a balloon....

Allison Turns 6

Can you believe this little crazy haired baby is 6?

She came into our lives roaring and ready to go...so it seemed fitting that she had a zoo themed birthday party.

We started the day with a family lunch at Ted's where she got to wear the big red sombrero and stand in her chair while they sang to her.

Tons of her friends and cousins came over that afternoon. They were shuffled to the back yard where a traveling "zoo" appeared. They got to hold and pet the animals and give some treats. It was really a unique birthday party!

She even had a cake that matched Banana the snake!

Jordy and Aunt Heather at lunch 

My look-a-like