finally i feel as though i am living again! kate and roxie were great to take me out the day that i quit. they wanted me to be able to rant and also relax with a glass of wine. we had to drive around a bit so that kate could pick up her car from the dealership and return the rental and then we headed straight to the liquor store to pick up a couple of bottles of wine. the weather was perfect! it was sunny and warm, and we drove around with the windows down and the radio blaring. roxie had picked out songs perfect for my mood. she started blaring "survivor" by destiny's child and it was almost comical how perfectly the words fit. we listened to other songs and substituted "man" with "addison" or "job." all in all, it really was a lot of fun.
we got back to the apartment where the conversation quickly turned to girl talk and other things to take my mind off of addison. hours passed in the blink of an eye, and i still had the drive to muskogee, so while they prepared to go out for the night, i got in my car and headed home. when i got to the door of kate and nick's apartment, though, i was almost hesitant to open the door. it was as if walking out the door ended the life i had known for the past two years ... and in a way it did. knowing that i won't be able to run upstairs or ping kate anytime i have a question or funny story is so sad to me. i remembered all that i had endured in the past year, too, and found the energy to walk out the door.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
18 april 2009: bridesmaids' shopping with the girls.
saturday was so much fun! travis and i had been packing most of the week and preparing to move to mom and dad's, and i felt like little was taking place for the wedding. i was in desperate need of a girls' day, and saturday was just that.
travis and i stayed the night at my parents' on friday night, so mom, sierra, and i could ride together for bridesmaids' dress shopping in tulsa. we woke up early, got ready, and headed to tulsa. we met jen, shannon, andrea, dee & amanda, kasi, and amelia at david's bridal. we already had a list of dresses that we wanted the girls to try on, and i had printed out pictures of the dresses and their item number. it took a few minutes to get everything set up for so many girls, but finally sarah took us back to the dressing rooms and mirrors. i also had the opportunity to try on my gown for all of the girls. much to my happiness, it fit!! i had been so nervous since it didn't fit when amelia and i picked it up. i was measured and pinned for the bustle and can't wait to see it all finished.
my original plan was for the girls to have the same dress, but for their colors to alternate between champagne and bronze. the store didn't have all of the gowns in the colors that we needed, so the girls were trying on a rainbow of colors! one of the dresses that was tried on was a deep, deep purple, almost chocolate color. all of our eyes were drawn to it, and while i kept thinking of the other color scheme i had in mind, that color still worked well with the wedding and i couldn't stop thinking of it. before the end of the day, we had decided to go with the darker colored dress and forego the champagne/bronze mix. i considered keeping the champagne and alternating it with the purple, but in the end, everyone felt more comfortable in the darker hue. it's important to me that the girls all feel good in the dress they wear and that they are able to have a good time the night of the wedding. everyone was so helpful throughout the day, offering to try on different styles, and making sure that i was happy with the choices as well.
i checked on the jewelry that i had originally tried on with the dress when my mom and i went shopping, and we decided to go ahead and purchase it. the jewelry and veil had really helped tie the entire look of the dress together for me, so i was excited to have it.
after shopping, we all headed over to panera bread for lunch. jen needed to get back to help with the rink and hudson, so she wasn't able to join us. when we got to the restaurant, i was sad that there was not an area large enough for us to all sit and visit. i think it was good that some of the bridesmaids were able to spend a little time together getting to know one another better, though. amanda and dee were at a table by themselves, and i went to sit with them. amanda has several weddings coming up this year. i can remember going through the same thing when i was her age. it seemed all of my friends were suddenly marrying, and i knew it would be some time before i was to join them.
after lunch, shannon, kasi, dee, and amanda had to head home. amelia, andrea, mom, sierra and i headed to the spa for pedicures. when we got there we all decided on mani/pedis and spent a few hours chatting and laughing. the massage chairs were unlike any i had sat in before, as the seat of the chair raised up and massaged as well. it definitely made for interesting faces as each of us turned our chairs on. i couldn't stop laughing when andy said, "it's touching my lady parts!" we all also decided to forego ever getting a massage with my mom as she started to make sounds from the foot massage she was receiving.
my mom and sierra had to cut their visit at the spa a little short as sierra was competing that afternoon for the miss paegent. they took my car to her event while amelia, andy, and i finished. the three of us were going to head to target to get the cute metallic flats jen had been wearing earlier with her jeans. (it was decided these would be worn with the dresses at the wedding since we will be outside most of the time). andy realized that she still had the drive to tahlequah ahead of her and she opted not to go to target in order to finish her drive before dark. amelia and i headed to forever 21 instead. i can't decide why they never have anything when i'm desperately in need of a cute outfit quickly ... but when i'm on a strict budget, they have nothing but things that i want to buy! mims purchased a dress for eric's sister's bachelorette party and then she headed off to do a little more shopping. my mom and sierra were finished with sierra's event, and had come to the mall to pick me up. the three of us then headed to target where we picked up sierra's shoes and finished our girls' day shopping.
i had planned to post a picture of the bridesmaids gowns that we selected, but unfortunately the website isn't allowing me to save the picture. i suppose you will just have to wait for the unveiling (pun not intended) at the wedding! i'm already looking forward to the next time we can all get together. it was exactly what i needed!
travis and i stayed the night at my parents' on friday night, so mom, sierra, and i could ride together for bridesmaids' dress shopping in tulsa. we woke up early, got ready, and headed to tulsa. we met jen, shannon, andrea, dee & amanda, kasi, and amelia at david's bridal. we already had a list of dresses that we wanted the girls to try on, and i had printed out pictures of the dresses and their item number. it took a few minutes to get everything set up for so many girls, but finally sarah took us back to the dressing rooms and mirrors. i also had the opportunity to try on my gown for all of the girls. much to my happiness, it fit!! i had been so nervous since it didn't fit when amelia and i picked it up. i was measured and pinned for the bustle and can't wait to see it all finished.
my original plan was for the girls to have the same dress, but for their colors to alternate between champagne and bronze. the store didn't have all of the gowns in the colors that we needed, so the girls were trying on a rainbow of colors! one of the dresses that was tried on was a deep, deep purple, almost chocolate color. all of our eyes were drawn to it, and while i kept thinking of the other color scheme i had in mind, that color still worked well with the wedding and i couldn't stop thinking of it. before the end of the day, we had decided to go with the darker colored dress and forego the champagne/bronze mix. i considered keeping the champagne and alternating it with the purple, but in the end, everyone felt more comfortable in the darker hue. it's important to me that the girls all feel good in the dress they wear and that they are able to have a good time the night of the wedding. everyone was so helpful throughout the day, offering to try on different styles, and making sure that i was happy with the choices as well.
i checked on the jewelry that i had originally tried on with the dress when my mom and i went shopping, and we decided to go ahead and purchase it. the jewelry and veil had really helped tie the entire look of the dress together for me, so i was excited to have it.
after shopping, we all headed over to panera bread for lunch. jen needed to get back to help with the rink and hudson, so she wasn't able to join us. when we got to the restaurant, i was sad that there was not an area large enough for us to all sit and visit. i think it was good that some of the bridesmaids were able to spend a little time together getting to know one another better, though. amanda and dee were at a table by themselves, and i went to sit with them. amanda has several weddings coming up this year. i can remember going through the same thing when i was her age. it seemed all of my friends were suddenly marrying, and i knew it would be some time before i was to join them.
after lunch, shannon, kasi, dee, and amanda had to head home. amelia, andrea, mom, sierra and i headed to the spa for pedicures. when we got there we all decided on mani/pedis and spent a few hours chatting and laughing. the massage chairs were unlike any i had sat in before, as the seat of the chair raised up and massaged as well. it definitely made for interesting faces as each of us turned our chairs on. i couldn't stop laughing when andy said, "it's touching my lady parts!" we all also decided to forego ever getting a massage with my mom as she started to make sounds from the foot massage she was receiving.
my mom and sierra had to cut their visit at the spa a little short as sierra was competing that afternoon for the miss paegent. they took my car to her event while amelia, andy, and i finished. the three of us were going to head to target to get the cute metallic flats jen had been wearing earlier with her jeans. (it was decided these would be worn with the dresses at the wedding since we will be outside most of the time). andy realized that she still had the drive to tahlequah ahead of her and she opted not to go to target in order to finish her drive before dark. amelia and i headed to forever 21 instead. i can't decide why they never have anything when i'm desperately in need of a cute outfit quickly ... but when i'm on a strict budget, they have nothing but things that i want to buy! mims purchased a dress for eric's sister's bachelorette party and then she headed off to do a little more shopping. my mom and sierra were finished with sierra's event, and had come to the mall to pick me up. the three of us then headed to target where we picked up sierra's shoes and finished our girls' day shopping.
i had planned to post a picture of the bridesmaids gowns that we selected, but unfortunately the website isn't allowing me to save the picture. i suppose you will just have to wait for the unveiling (pun not intended) at the wedding! i'm already looking forward to the next time we can all get together. it was exactly what i needed!
04.12.2009: easter sunday.
this year easter was a new experience. it was evident that life is moving and we are all growing. for the first year ever, the kids didn't all walk into the living room at the same time to see what the easter bunny had left us. of course, justin and lindsay weren't even at mom and dad's that morning since they are now married. mom and sierra were already gone to church and travis was already awake by the time that i woke up. i found mine and travis's easter baskets in the floor in my bedroom and he and i looked through them together. after i got up and around, i finished up the preparartions for the easter dinner. mom had already fixed everything, i just had to put a few things in the oven and make sure it was cooked before time to head to justin and lindsay's. we had decided to do easter at their house and her family was invited as well. their house was filled with her parents, her brother and sister, her grandma and grandpa (from her dad's side), my mom and sister, travis, and me. my dad didn't join everyone and that really made me sad.
we ate a lot of yummy food and watched marley & me. (on second thought, maybe it was the movie that made me sad -- just kidding!) after the movie was over, no one really stuck around for long. the moms helped get the kitchen back in order, and everyone headed their separate ways. travis and i stopped in at the lears', but we didn't really stay for long. amanda spent her first easter away from home this year as well and was in enid with zach's family. we left before long so that we could go home and pack more of the apartment. we decided at the beginning of the month that we would move out of our apartment in tulsa and move in with my mom and dad in an effort to save money, as well as aleviate a little of the stress. addison keeps getting worse, and i keep having issues with my health. i feel like my parents are hovering and going a little overboard, but they are truly concerned with my health and i think they'll be glad that i'm back home so they can keep an eye on me. the drive back and forth isn't something that i'm looking forward to, but travis seems really excited about the move in general; and he never has minded a drive. we shall see how it goes.
we ate a lot of yummy food and watched marley & me. (on second thought, maybe it was the movie that made me sad -- just kidding!) after the movie was over, no one really stuck around for long. the moms helped get the kitchen back in order, and everyone headed their separate ways. travis and i stopped in at the lears', but we didn't really stay for long. amanda spent her first easter away from home this year as well and was in enid with zach's family. we left before long so that we could go home and pack more of the apartment. we decided at the beginning of the month that we would move out of our apartment in tulsa and move in with my mom and dad in an effort to save money, as well as aleviate a little of the stress. addison keeps getting worse, and i keep having issues with my health. i feel like my parents are hovering and going a little overboard, but they are truly concerned with my health and i think they'll be glad that i'm back home so they can keep an eye on me. the drive back and forth isn't something that i'm looking forward to, but travis seems really excited about the move in general; and he never has minded a drive. we shall see how it goes.
04.06.2009: court's birthday at andy b's.
monday night court's family and friends got together to help him celebrate this year's birthday. we met up at andy b's for a night of bowling fun. the place looked phenomenal. jen, kate, and i had been there for a team meeting with addison; it has had a total facelift since then. i hated the pictures from that night and am refusing to post any of them, but we all had a great time together and are already looking forward to the next excuse to meet up again.
04.02.2009: court's birthday.
another special friend of ours celebrated his birthday on april 2nd as well. happy birthday court! in honor of his day: the top ten things we love about court
court collier ...
01. ... has a way of making everyone feel welcome
02. ... is an avid fan of xbox and halo
03. ... is outspoken for the causes he is passionate about
04. ... has a great sense of fashion
05. ... is a wonderful husband to jen
06. ... and is a terrific daddy to huds
07. ... can make you laugh with his sense of humor
08. ... loves to skate
09. ... is an incredible graphic arts guy
10. ... is one of the people we most regret not spending more time with
court collier ...
01. ... has a way of making everyone feel welcome
02. ... is an avid fan of xbox and halo
03. ... is outspoken for the causes he is passionate about
04. ... has a great sense of fashion
05. ... is a wonderful husband to jen
06. ... and is a terrific daddy to huds
07. ... can make you laugh with his sense of humor
08. ... loves to skate
09. ... is an incredible graphic arts guy
10. ... is one of the people we most regret not spending more time with
Friday, April 3, 2009
04.02.2009: amelia's {27th} birthday.
in honor of my dear friend's special day ...
01. amelia and i have been friends since the 6th grade
02. one of our first memories of meeting was at donna spears's house with our church youth group
03. her middle name is unusual and beautiful: witsell
04. she has the most beautiful, long hair
05. most people think we are sisters ...
06. ... and many people believe us when we say that we are
07. we always dreamed of living together in a big city ...
08. ... but stillwater and tulsa were as close as we got
09. she is a huge fan of fashion and shopping
10. she hates to try anything on ...
11. ... but unlike me doesn't mind making returns
12. she always has the best bags and purses
13. and the greatest shoes
14. we have lived several states away from one another ...
15. ... and also right down the hall ...
16. but no matter how much time or distance between us, we always pick up right where we left off
17. we have an uncanny similarity in the events that take place in our lives
18. travis and i are her "mom & dad"
19. she loves to travel
20. and any big city that either of us have ever travelled to, we've gone to together
21. she loves photojournalist photography
22. and has an incredible knack for interior design
23. she carries her tan year-round
24. and hates her job almost as much as i do
25. she loves to force me to order in a "man voice" at the drive-thru while she laughs uncontrollably
26. she has a beautiful smile that brightens your day
27. and morning, noon, or night, i know that if i really need her, she's the kind of friend who will always be there for me.
happy birthday. we love you. xoxo.
~ mom and dad
01. amelia and i have been friends since the 6th grade
02. one of our first memories of meeting was at donna spears's house with our church youth group
03. her middle name is unusual and beautiful: witsell
04. she has the most beautiful, long hair
05. most people think we are sisters ...
06. ... and many people believe us when we say that we are
07. we always dreamed of living together in a big city ...
08. ... but stillwater and tulsa were as close as we got
09. she is a huge fan of fashion and shopping
10. she hates to try anything on ...
11. ... but unlike me doesn't mind making returns
12. she always has the best bags and purses
13. and the greatest shoes
14. we have lived several states away from one another ...
15. ... and also right down the hall ...
16. but no matter how much time or distance between us, we always pick up right where we left off
17. we have an uncanny similarity in the events that take place in our lives
18. travis and i are her "mom & dad"
19. she loves to travel
20. and any big city that either of us have ever travelled to, we've gone to together
21. she loves photojournalist photography
22. and has an incredible knack for interior design
23. she carries her tan year-round
24. and hates her job almost as much as i do
25. she loves to force me to order in a "man voice" at the drive-thru while she laughs uncontrollably
26. she has a beautiful smile that brightens your day
27. and morning, noon, or night, i know that if i really need her, she's the kind of friend who will always be there for me.
happy birthday. we love you. xoxo.
~ mom and dad
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
happy {23rd} birthday, j.
today my brother turns 23 years old. it is incredible to think that he is so grown up; he even has a wife and two pups now! looking back, i have so many fond memories growing up with him. i'm not sure how he and i got to be so "old." in honor of his special day:
justin w. leach ...
01. ... was my best friend from the time that he was born
02. ... didn't talk for a long time because i said everything for him
03. ... could close his ears while napping, and they would remain shut for 10-15 minutes after he woke up
04. ... had a "rat tail" hair cut in elementary school
05. ... would go hiking with me for hours in the hillside on the mountain we grew up on, with nothing but his bow and arrow, a canteen, and a baggy filled with peanuts and dates
06. ... loved to sing about his "fellow man"
07. ... and shout hall-le-EU-la in our little country church
08. ... looked forward to friday nights because that's when we were allowed to sleep in the same room talking and giggling together
09. ... cried the first time that i didn't want to have our ritual friday night "sleep over" {now i cry to think that we don't have weekly moments together like that anymore}
10. ... was known around our house as brother bear
11. ... and eventually bubby when sierra began talking
12. ... now i can him j
13. ... is an all-star athlete, good at any sport that he tries, and especially talented at basketball
14. ... could truly be a stand up comedian, giving jerry seinfeld and dane cook both a run for their money
15. ... has always wanted nothing more than a wife and children to love and support
16. ... looks after his big little sister when she needs it
17. ... and remembers to spend time with his little sister
18. ... has had too many motocycle accidents to speak of, but loves riding as much as ever
19. ... has always looked out for the underdog
20. ... can carry on an entire convesation in his sleep
21. ... and can also fall asleep in the middle of a sentence having a conversation while wide awake
22. ... has been thought to be my twin when others meet us
23. ... is the greatest brother & friend a girl could ask for
justin w. leach ...
01. ... was my best friend from the time that he was born
02. ... didn't talk for a long time because i said everything for him
03. ... could close his ears while napping, and they would remain shut for 10-15 minutes after he woke up
04. ... had a "rat tail" hair cut in elementary school
05. ... would go hiking with me for hours in the hillside on the mountain we grew up on, with nothing but his bow and arrow, a canteen, and a baggy filled with peanuts and dates
06. ... loved to sing about his "fellow man"
07. ... and shout hall-le-EU-la in our little country church
08. ... looked forward to friday nights because that's when we were allowed to sleep in the same room talking and giggling together
09. ... cried the first time that i didn't want to have our ritual friday night "sleep over" {now i cry to think that we don't have weekly moments together like that anymore}
10. ... was known around our house as brother bear
11. ... and eventually bubby when sierra began talking
12. ... now i can him j
13. ... is an all-star athlete, good at any sport that he tries, and especially talented at basketball
14. ... could truly be a stand up comedian, giving jerry seinfeld and dane cook both a run for their money
15. ... has always wanted nothing more than a wife and children to love and support
16. ... looks after his big little sister when she needs it
17. ... and remembers to spend time with his little sister
18. ... has had too many motocycle accidents to speak of, but loves riding as much as ever
19. ... has always looked out for the underdog
20. ... can carry on an entire convesation in his sleep
21. ... and can also fall asleep in the middle of a sentence having a conversation while wide awake
22. ... has been thought to be my twin when others meet us
23. ... is the greatest brother & friend a girl could ask for
03.27.2009 travis lear {24}.
i let travis's birthday pass by without a post in his honor! on his birthday i did send him texts throughout the day to remind him what a fantastic person he is, and i've decided to post those here:
travis l.w. lear ...
01. does the great impression of joey gladstone's mister woodchuck
02. has feet small than he used to from rock climbing shoes
03. knows how to fix just about anything
04. is my rock star
05. likes to go fast
06. can drive for hours going no where ...
07. ... but has the best sense of direction of anyone i know
08. can do pull ups with his fingertips
09. shares a birthday with quentin tarantino, fergie ferguson, & mariah carey
10. shows me exactly what a hard time i'm going to have when we have boys when he gives me that adorable "little boy" face
11. is another james dean; he even looks like many of james dean's pictures
12. does not like sour cream, cream cheese, or whipped cream
13. is a lover of classic rock
14. recently discovered that LITs are his favorite alcoholic beverage
15. buys the greatest gifts
16. but never gives others the opportunity to buy great gifts for him -- he always buys what he wants
17. helps me appreciate the little things in life and the southern values i grew up with
18. is a lover of all living creatures & believes all life should be treated with respect {until connor starts barking too much}
19. is a great "dad" to the pup
20. loves romantic comedies
21. makes me smile every time he walks into the room
22. supports his family and friends and is always there when it really counts
23. can say the silliest things {just like me} that cause us to laugh out loud
24. will be the man standing at the end of the aisle on october 17th -- he'll make a great husband.
happy birthday, vit. i love you.
travis l.w. lear ...
01. does the great impression of joey gladstone's mister woodchuck
02. has feet small than he used to from rock climbing shoes
03. knows how to fix just about anything
04. is my rock star
05. likes to go fast
06. can drive for hours going no where ...
07. ... but has the best sense of direction of anyone i know
08. can do pull ups with his fingertips
09. shares a birthday with quentin tarantino, fergie ferguson, & mariah carey
10. shows me exactly what a hard time i'm going to have when we have boys when he gives me that adorable "little boy" face
11. is another james dean; he even looks like many of james dean's pictures
12. does not like sour cream, cream cheese, or whipped cream
13. is a lover of classic rock
14. recently discovered that LITs are his favorite alcoholic beverage
15. buys the greatest gifts
16. but never gives others the opportunity to buy great gifts for him -- he always buys what he wants
17. helps me appreciate the little things in life and the southern values i grew up with
18. is a lover of all living creatures & believes all life should be treated with respect {until connor starts barking too much}
19. is a great "dad" to the pup
20. loves romantic comedies
21. makes me smile every time he walks into the room
22. supports his family and friends and is always there when it really counts
23. can say the silliest things {just like me} that cause us to laugh out loud
24. will be the man standing at the end of the aisle on october 17th -- he'll make a great husband.
happy birthday, vit. i love you.
engagement party thank you notes.
i have been so terrible! i designed these thank you cards immediately following our engagement party. i even got most of the cards filled out, but i kept waiting for travis to sign them, and i also needed a few more addresses. i was appalled this evening when i ran across the written thank you cards that had not been mailed. for those of you who were at the shower and have not received your thank you card, please forgive me. travis and i are both so appreciative of the time together with our family and friends and your thoughtful gifts. please do not take the delay in the notes as a sign that we are ungrateful. it truly meant the world to us to spend that time with you, and we look forward to spending other memorable moments together the next few months {and many years to follow}.
wedding registry.
before our engagement party travis and i registered at bed bath and beyond and at target. i have been dying to get registered at pottery barn, so tonight while travis was in muskogee, i started our pottery barn registry. there are some things that are only available in the shop, so i'm looking forward to going there to finish up.
i am now contemplating whether or not to register at dillards. the stores that we've selected are only in tulsa, and that leaves none of our muskogee guests with any place to shop. i would like to think that they could just do a little shopping while on a trip to tulsa, but there are several of them who do not often travel to tulsa. i'm really not sure what to do, and would welcome suggestions. four registries seems like an awful lot. my brother's wife has said that she thinks it would be just fine and that the muskogee guests would probably appreciate us thinking of them. again, four just seems like a lot, and the thought of tackling another registry seems a little daunting. i considered closing our bed bath and beyond registry, but am not sure if i want to do that either. i don't know why i am making such a big deal about this, but i really just can't decide.
i am now contemplating whether or not to register at dillards. the stores that we've selected are only in tulsa, and that leaves none of our muskogee guests with any place to shop. i would like to think that they could just do a little shopping while on a trip to tulsa, but there are several of them who do not often travel to tulsa. i'm really not sure what to do, and would welcome suggestions. four registries seems like an awful lot. my brother's wife has said that she thinks it would be just fine and that the muskogee guests would probably appreciate us thinking of them. again, four just seems like a lot, and the thought of tackling another registry seems a little daunting. i considered closing our bed bath and beyond registry, but am not sure if i want to do that either. i don't know why i am making such a big deal about this, but i really just can't decide.
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