Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner

Friday evening, we had the rehearsal at First Methodist and it went very smoothly. Mrs. Turner did a great job of directing everyone and getting us ready so we could head to Wynlakes Country Club for the dinner.

We had a green and white theme all weekend and I loved it more than I had imagined! The menus, place cards, and flowers at the dinner were gorgeous and looked fantastic. We also had our guests sign a picture and Bryan and I are going to hang in downstairs by the door, so we can see it every day.

Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie.

Mr. McKenzie was so gracious as to let Bryan and me have our reception at The Trophy Room. They are such wonderful friends to our family and I am very thankful for their kindness and generosity.

Bryan got up and gave the sweetest speech about our courtship. He told everyone how we met and how he fell in love with me. As he was talking I could not quit smiling because he is the sweetest person and I feel so blessed to have him as my husband. Bryan's uncle Syd also played the Bag Pipes as we entered. It was a surprise to us and was so cool!
Weejie (Bryan's dad) and my Daddy chillin' before the rehearsal



Daddy's photo shoot before we left. I felt like I was in high school again!!!

Bridesmaid's Luncheon

My Bridesmaid's Luncheon, held at my parent's home, was hosted by some of my mother's closest friends and was simply stunning. The flowers, food, and table decorations were so beautiful and it was the perfect way to start our wedding weekend. I can not describe how much I enjoyed myself and how special it was to have all of my best friends together the day before the wedding.
Laura Katherine, ME, and Jennifer Lynne
(Bryan's sisters)

Lauren Myers, my maid of honor
Candace

My Matron of Honor, Sister, and Best Friend, Leigh Anne

Mama and Me

Tara

The delicious and beautiful Olexa's Buttercream Cake

Bag Stuffing Party

On Sunday afternoon, Mary Catherine hosted a "bag stuffing party" for us. We have so many out of town guests and we thought it would be nice for them to have a little goodie bag. It is such a job so Mary Catherine volunteered to help us stuff the bags and she will be taking them to the hotel on Friday morning. She is such an angel for doing this for us!!! What a huge favor!! Thank you MC! I am not going to tell the contents of the bags...it will be a nice surprise to our friends.

Mary Catherine and Me
Leigh Anne, Mom, and Me

Happy Birthday Tori and Bryan

As many of you may know, Bryan and I celebrate our Birthdays 2 days apart. Mine is July 8, 1977 and his is July 10, 1977. Bryan has hooked up with an older woman! On Wednesday, we had dinner at Highlands Bar and Grill and on Friday, we cooked a yummy dinner. Bryan cooked us each a fillet and I made grilled okra and tomato salad and green beans. The flowers on the table were sent to me on my Birthday from Bryan. They are so beautiful. We then headed to the movies to see The Hangover. It was out of control funny but a little crude for me. Bryan loved it and thought it was hilarious.

Two Little Visitors

Georgia Anne and Jack came to Birmingham for 3 days to stay with Toe Toe and Bryan and it was just the best time! We were a little worried about Jack being away from his Mommy and Daddy but he did great. We all slept so well and they were well behaved and just precious! Jack napped for a LONG time on Friday afternoon...thanks to a little help from the Mountian Brook pool. While Jack napped, Georgie and I watched "Hotel for Dogs" and Bryan grilled outside. We had a nice visit with Mamaw on Saturday morning as well.

We took the kids to the pool on Friday morning and they had a BLAST! It was so much fun to see them laughing and have such a good time. Jack (notorious for being scared of the water) was so brave. He loved swimming around the pool and jumping off the side into the water. They also enjoyed the baby pool. Ironically, Jack was fearless in the big pool, but was very clingy to us in the baby pool! Georgia Anne, true to form, loved both and made some friends.


Georgia Anne and Jack love Casey so much. Jack still gets Casey and Molly (my parent's golden) confused. It was so cute--he would call for "Molly" and when she would come up to him, he was say "Hey Case!" I think he knows they are different dogs...but maybe Molly is easier to say.

Georgie LOVES the swing in the back yard. She always wants to go very high and usually I let her. However, since her last visit, the tree and it's branches have become a little overgrown. One branch was in the way, preventing her from going very high. She decided that the branch needed to be cut and that Bryan would do it when he got home. Later she told me Bryan was too short to cut it and that I would have to get Papa to come and do it. Funny thing is, Papa is about an inch shorter than Bryan!

Bryan's Bachelor Party

Bryan's Bachelor party was last weekend in Orange Beach and he had a great time hanging out with his friends. On Friday, they chilled out on the beach and that night, had dinner and of course, headed to the FLORABAMA! I heard that they were dragging on Saturday morning, but managed to make their way out the beach and have dinner and surprise surprise....more FloraBama on Saturday night.

Walter, Bryan, Syd
David, Walter, Ward, Les, Ricky, Bryan, Syd

My Bachelorette Party

This weekend, my friends hosted a Bachelorette Party for me at Ross Bridge Resort. We had a blast! First we had a nice dinner in a private room then headed upstairs for a lingerie shower. On Saturday, we all enjoyed a wonderful breakfast followed by a day by the amazing pool. I also had the chance to have an hour massage which was very relaxing. I have the best friends and everyone was able to make it, which was special to me.
Candace made the trip from Atlanta and I was so glad. She is a new mom and this was her first girls outing. Baby Caroline and Dave had a room down the hall so she could enjoy herself knowing they were close by.

Beautiful Sima
(Kenzie and I look on)

This is the little pig that Georgia Anne gave me. She wanted to come to the party, but Leigh Anne told her it was for big girls. She sent this and it sat right by my plate. She also made notes for all of my friends and asked Leigh Anne to pass them out. The next morning she made sure that we all received our notes and that she had made enough for everyone. She is the sweetest little girl. My sister has done a wonderful job with her daughter and I am honored to have her in my life. She is going to be the best flower girl for her Toe Toe.

Lauren Baugh and Mary Catherine

Catherine and Margot

Margot made the trip from Boston and was glad to see some warm weather. Boston has been cold during the month of June and she told me they have not had a day over 65 degrees! Wow! Needless to say, she really enjoyed the pool on Saturday.

Tara, Me, and Candace

Vicksburg Shower

We had a shower in Vicksburg this weekend and it was wonderful. Dr. and Mrs. Palermo hosted the party at their beautiful home. We had a great time and I enjoyed getting the know everyone better. Bryan and I were so appreciative of all the lovely gifts we received and are really looking forward entertaining so we can put everything to good use. Thanks to those who hosted the party.

My sister, Leigh Anne,surprised us and sent this beautiful painting with our name on it. She had it sent to Mississippi and it was such a nice surprise. For those of you who know Leigh Anne, you will agree that I have the most talented and kind sister in the world. Thank you Leigh Anne!!

Bryan with his sisters and brother

Us with all of the hostesses
Me, Jennifer Lynne, Stephen, and Allyson, Bryan's cousin

Casey and Basil

Christmas, 2004

Christmas, 2007

I had to write something about my beloved friends, Casey and Basil. Casey and I have been together since my lonely days in Mobile when I moved for my job and did not know a single person! I got her when she was 6 weeks old and she was the most beautiful Golden Retriever I had ever seen and is to this day. She is the best dog I could have ever imagined and is so loyal to me. She has been such a good companion to me through my single years. She is afraid of thunderstorms so much-it is hard to describe. In 2004, after Leigh Anne had Georgia Anne, Basil came to live....excuse me.."stay" with me until the baby got bigger. When Georgia Anne turned 2 in 2006, I finally accepted that Basil would be mine. She is such a sweet Pug and even though she has her share of problems, I love her so much. She is now blind and has rotten teeth and skin allergies ( lovely, huh?) but still the sweetest little girl. She and Casey are great friends and love to be together. The only time the are separated is when they go to Tallassee, where Casey stays with Mom and Dad (and their Golden, Molly) and Basil stays with Leigh Anne and Michael (and their Pug, P.J.). When they get back together, they are so excited and glad to see one another. For years, while everyone else was sending Christmas Cards out of their kids, I was sending out my Christmas Cards of me and my "kids". My friends always got such a kick of our pictures...mainly I think because it was a little sad!! Oh well, I never minded being a little behind everyone else. Someday, Bryan and I will have our own kids to send out on our cards, but here are some of the ones through the years that I sent. Enjoy!

Christmas, 2006

Christmas, 2002

Christmas, 2000