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I'm a big baby.

The beau and I joke about who will cry more during our wedding.  He says he'll keep it together, I call bullshit.  Events in Amsterdam on the night of the engagement predict otherwise.  We were both weepy messes.  Sometimes I am super duper weepy and emotional, other days I'm like "cool, bring it on, I'll be the coolest wife ever."  Right now, I cry my little baby eyes out at Ron Pope's song "Drop in the Ocean."  Holy shit, it makes me so emotional.  Especially the lyrics "Drop in the ocean, a change in the weather.  I was praying that you and me might end up together.  I'm holding you closer than most, cause you are my Heaven."  Legit, this shit is true.  There were times we had a disagreement or something, and I would talk my ass off to God that night while I was laying in bed.  "God, do what is best."  "God show me the way."  "God, what should I do?"  I pray my ass off every night, but sometimes, I pray more than others.  And God has a way of showing you the way, whether you want to believe it or not.  And with this, I say:

You are my Heaven,

"Will you tuck me in?"

I've been around the LO since he was little.  From the time his Dad would give him a bath, have to dry him off, and wipe his tush.  Now he's self sufficient & can do all of that himself.  In those few years, I've not tucked him in.  Wednesday he actually asked me if I'd tuck him in.  My heart leapt through my throat!  Was this something he was actually asking?  It may seem insignificant to some, but this is normally his and his Dad's routine at night.  I got the usual goodnight hug & sweet dreams, but never got to do the tucking in.  His Dad and I tucked him in that night, said his prayers, and said I love you.  It was in that moment that nothing else mattered. This was a sweet little boy who wanted his Dad & Ms. Cole to tuck him in.  I felt special.  I remember as a kid when my StepMom would tuck me in.  She would say my prayers with me, and sometimes sing me a song.  Her voice always made me feel comforted and at ease right before a night of slumber.  I hope that night, the sound of my voice, and us saying his prayers comforted him.  I wonder if it's something he'll remember?  I wonder if my own StepMom remembers tucking me in at night and how much it meant to me?  Or how much it would mean to me as an adult?  Don't take the little things for granted.  Something as simple as tucking your child in at night, a quick hug, an "I love you" can really mean the difference between a good night or day.

And this concludes Friday's sappy post.

Wedding budgets

As the days of our engagement wear on, we are faced with the planning of the wedding. The beau doesn't seem to care about the specifics, he just wants me to be happy.  He keeps saying "team us."  So, I have all of these ideas and grand plans in my head, but do you know how much these things actually cost?  It is crazy.  We have decided to keep the wedding to mostly family and a few really, really, close friends but that's still about 60 people.  I think I have decided on colors, and a theme - nautical them with yellow & blue & white stripes...just not sure what to do next!  So, have you planned a wedding on a budget?  Give me all the details, please!  I feel like people in my "real life" are already getting tired of hearing about the wedding because I won't shut up about it. ;)

xoxo

V. Christmas vacation 2013

This year is our 2nd year having a winter vacation at the house in Robbinsville, NC (the LO promptly renamed it our “Christmas house” last year.)

So, this year we had a few days to come up here and enjoy another Christmas vacation.  We left around 5 a.m. early Thursday morning (the day after Christmas.)  It took about 11.5 hours with a few bathroom breaks along the way (I mean, hello 6 year old little boy and his baby bladder father.)  The ride up was actually very good.  The LO was feeling a little under the weather so that was a bit of a challenge but after we got him some medicine and he started to feel better he did a complete 180.  We came to the house to de-winterize it, then headed to the store for some groceries.  Made some baked chicken for the LO before we tucked him in.

The beau & I had a few glasses of wine and lots of conversation.  It’s times like these that I’m very thankful we are able to come up here and get away.  There is no internet, no cell service, no cable, just us and 4 walls.  (Funny thing is, we turned on the TV the day we were leaving and surprise...there was basic cable!  Glad to have missed it though.)

Day #1

Today we headed over to Gatlinburg.  It’s about a 2 hour drive through the Smoky Mountains.  We had a fabulous day with lots of sight seeing and perfect weather.  Seriously, there was not a cloud in the sky and the temperature was about 48 degrees.  On our way home, we stopped on the side of a road in the mountains and had a small snow ball fight.  There was not much snow on the ground but we scraped together what we could.  I totally won that snow ball fight.  Totally.  We had just gotten through the Smokies when we looked over at the visitors center and saw a herd of ELK.  WHAT?!  I saw the “Elk Xing” sign but didn’t think much of it.  We pulled over to take pictures and it was so surreal.  This kind of stuff is something you don’t see in Florida.  We headed back and passed a bunch of turkeys on the side of the road.  I had a smile from ear to ear as did the LO & beau.  The beau has been coming to this house since he was very little, and has never seen a herd of elk, so it was extra special. It was just a very beautiful day and was one of those days that make you thankful to be alive.  Sometimes I get so caught up in the day to day activities of life that I just forget to look around at my surroundings and thank the good Lord.  Today...today was different though.  I think I talked to God more than I ever have and thanked him for everything.

Once we got home we threw some burgers on the grill, ate, and played a game of Sorry. 

Day #2

The car lag was starting to kick in so we had a low key day.  We all hopped in the car & drove around to the dams.  There are 3 dams near the house so we spent most of the day in the car.  We came home after seeing the dams and threw some steaks on the grill.  We pulled up the picnic table in front of the TV & watched Smurfs 2 while eating dinner.  I hadn't seen the first movie but the 2nd one was quite cute.  

Day #3

We had to pack up and head to SC to see my Dad's side of the family.  It's about a 3 hour drive, so after winterizing the house, we left around 11.  Got to Dad's around 2 and opened presents.  My parents got Frank & I a wine refrigerator which we absolutely love (when we got home from the trip I booked it to Publix and bought 10 bottles of wine to fill the fridge.)  My stepmom cooked an absolutely delicious dinner of roast, mashed potatoes, and lots of good sides.  The LO had "life saver" fights with my brothers.  After the LO went to bed we played an adult game called "Cards Against Humanity."  If you haven't heard of it, seriously, look it up.  You can download a free version or purchase it from Amazon.  It was so funny and we could not stop laughing.  Also, the LO got to feed the horses with my Dad & he was in Heaven.  

Day #4

Got up to head home.  Time with my SC family never seem long enough.  I always feel a pang of guilt when leaving them.  They're too far from me and time only seems to speed up through the years.

So there it is.  Our short, but fun Christmas vacation.  I hope we can go up to the house next year because we always have such an awesome time.

I hope your Christmas was a happy one.  

Much love,