Going back to Cali...Cali

Finally time for my annual trip out to California to see my family. While I usually feel like I need a vacation after my vacation, I still really look forward to this trip. I only see my mom about once a year and the same with my cousins.

While I was there my Mom and Grandma Dianne (Dad's Mom) threw a bridal shower for me, yippee! We had a 'tea party' and used my Grandma Granberg's tea set so a special piece of her could be there with us.

The set-up for my shower!

I ended my trip with my Grandma Dianne in San Francisco and the bay area. We had a great house to stay in. Don't believe me? Check it.

It totally reminds me of a home in New England or something...*swoon

Twisty Cypress tree and a swing? Okay.

That's the entrance from the street. I totally felt like I was in the Secret Garden.

Grandma and I went to Muir Woods, one of my favorite places--EVER. It is a redwood forest, but not nearly as busy as THE Redwood Forest. Win-win! We went on a hike, yes, my Grandma went on a hike (and may or may not have complained less than I did).

Grandma and I in front of a redwood tree!

The main goal of this hike was to see the San Francisco Bay from a cliff, we were pretty excited because it wasn't foggy where we started our hike and that meant we would really see the bay. So. We hiked. And we hiked. And we hiked some more. What did we get?

Zoomed in as much as I could. This is take 4--the other 4 takes you couldn't even see the bay...ah well, it was a nice hike with Grandma! :)

I had a ton of things planned in my 6 day trip and was exhausted by the time I came home but I had a great time, the only thing missing was Ross. I always love it when he can join me on my family trips, and my cousins kept asking where he was. Next time, next time! :)

Our Engagement Party

Not a whole lot happened (blog worthy) in our lives between Kara's wedding and our Engagement party. I can sum it up here: Work, class, internship, work. There you have it folks, that's what our lives were this summer!

On to the engagement party! On July 18 (yes, our lives were that boring for a month...) Jessica, Melissa (her mom) and Corkey (her aunt) hosted an e-party for us at Jess's house. Kara came home to surprise me (!!!!!), my Dad and Step-Mom made it and my uncle from Omaha and cousin even made it (ok, so he was in town by chance, but he was there!). We had so many friends and family there, I couldn't believe it. I have no group shot of everyone who was there. What was I thinking?!

My Dad, me and my Step-Mom

So when my Dad walks to the door, I couldn't see him. What did I see instead? 50 roses. Yes, 5-0, fifty. What does one DO with 50 roses? Good question. Well, if someone graciously gives you 50 roses I suggest you bet on not using your dining room table for a while, that gives you a space to dry them.

Yep, that's 50 roses folks. Just in case you didn't believe me.

We had awesome food, Jess had a great game to make sure we're on the same page. My favorite question:
"What is your 'song'?"
Ali's Answer: "Well...we don't really have one, but our first dance is to Love Will Keep Us Alive by the Eagles, so I guess that's as close as it gets."
Ross's Answer: "Um...I don't think we have one, but if we did I'm guessing it would be something by the Eagles"

HA! That boy sure does know me. :)

Me and my awesome man :)

Mr. & Mrs. Phillip: The Main Event!!!

June 19, 2010 Kara and Matt had amazing weather, an amazing support system and an unbelievably beautiful wedding. I am going to let the pictures do the talking for me on this post, so here we go!

Val, Laura and Jess getting their hair done. We had a great time laughing and chatting while we got our hair done.

After all of us had our hair done we headed to Sumre's moms home, Bev hosted a bridal brunch for us. She is so amazing! Sadly I don't have any pictures but I have a feeling you'll all be on picture overload anyway ;)

The decorations in the new lodge at Camp Wood in Elmdale, KS.

Kara and Matt's wedding was at Camp Wood, just miles from the ranch she grew up on.
Fun fact: Laura and our friend Randy went to camp there for years. I went to camp there for a few years in Junior High but never knew them! Then after Ross and I got to know each other better I met his best friend (and best man!) Ben who also went to Camp Wood and I even have a picture of in my collage from camp!

Kara and Matt had their "first look" on the porch of the home she grew up in that her brother and sister-in-law now live in with their three handsome boys.

All of Kara's half of the bridal party. I think the colors all coordinated SO beautifully!

I just love this picture of Kara and Matt during the ceremony.

The whole bridal party, one good lookin' group, if you ask me!

Our signature picture, Brown Eyed Girl. Love you all :)

Ross and I are officially the next wedding...how odd! I am blessed to have such an awesome group of girls to have learned from and have support me all the way.

Kara and Matt: Thank you for letting me share in your beautiful day. I am so lucky to have you in my life!

Mr. & Mrs. Phillip: The Rehearsal

On June 19, 2010 Kara and Matt's rehearsal was at the new lodge at Camp Wood in Elmdale, KS. Such a beautiful backdrop for pictures, don't you think?! It was a bit windy, but still beautiful.

Laura, Kara, moi and Jess at the rehearsal.

Ross and I snapped a quick picture before heading to Kara's brother and sister-in-law's house for the rehearsal dinner. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures and Leah (Kara's sister-in-law) did such a great job of getting the house and land ready for the day. *sad face.

Once the rehearsal and dinner were over the bride's girls loaded up and headed back to Emporia for some girl time, wine and relaxing before the events to come the next day!

Kara's Bridal Shower

I had the honor of hosting Kara's bridal shower at our house. We did a Greek theme since that's where they were going on their honeymoon. Her shower gifts were clothes and accessories for the trip. On the postcard invite it read: "Kara will be a Mrs. soon, let's get her ready for the honeymoon." Side-note, make sure you're clear that it's not for 'naughty' gifts, her Dad blushed when he read that and thought it was for...other items. ;)

Looking at her pretty new earrings!

Kara got some really beautiful new outfits, I can't wait to see pictures from their honeymoon, I have a feeling they're going to be amazing!

Checking out her new skirt from Val and Leah

The morning of the shower all of us girls got together and had Mandy Giefer take pictures of us, they came out SO beautiful, I forgot to upload those so I'll try and get a couple on the computer soon!

Catching Up!

Well hello there to all of my readers (ha! ha!). It's been a while, since I wrote you last my garden has become overgrown with weeds (again...), I went through finals week, traveled to Florida, started and finished my summer online class, got engaged (EEK!), hosted a bridal shower for Kara, was in her wedding and am now busy planning our wedding! Wow, that's a lot going on! No wonder I haven't updated my blog. You know, because so many people read it and those of you (Laura) who do read it are so interested in the goings on in my life and don't already know about everything. :P

I will focus on my favorite thing for this post: our REAL engagement! As most of you (haha...okay, Laura, as YOU know) our wedding date was set long before I had a ring on my finger so looking at rings and getting a ring wasn't a huge surprise, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't special or exciting for us.

We went ring shopping in Lawrence one Saturday and found one that I fell in love with. After dealing with a couple of stores we weren't very impressed with we walked into Kizer-Cummings Jewelers on Mass. Street in Lawrence, I'm telling you, if you need a nice place to go, this is it! We got to choose from a few loose center stones and I went back to do that once they came in. The store was wonderful to us, got the stone set the same day so we wouldn't have to drive back to Lawrence again. Now I just had to wait for him to give it to me. *sigh.

Ross made a reservation for us at the Grand Central in Cottonwood Falls, and we got to sit out on the patio on our own away from the main dining room. Our waitress hadn't even come back with our drinks before he popped out of his chair, got on his knee and was saying the words I'd been waiting a loooooong time to hear. "Ali, you're the only woman I ever have loved. You're the only woman I ever will love. Will you marry me?" And of course, being the pain in the a$$ that I am I rolled my eyes and said "I guess...". Poor guy, what has he gotten himself into. Way to ruin the moment, Ali.

Isn't she beautiful?!

Ross: "What the hell have I done?!"
Ali: "EEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Florida!

I was fortunate enough to take a trip to Fort Lauderdale, Florida with my closest girl friends. The trip cost us very little (a big thanks to my internship supervisor, Deb!) and we were able to make this Kara's bachelorette party weekend.

Laura, Kara, Jess, Sumre, Amanda and I stayed at Laura and Aaron's house the night before and woke up VERY early in order to leave for the airport by 4am. I'm not sure if you are aware of this, but getting six women out of bed, dressed and ready before 4am is no small feat. Somehow we were out the door before 4:00, how that happened I will never know. Off we were to Florida! Well, to the Kansas City airport, then to Florida.

See?! Proof!

Our flying experience was anything but glamorous. On our first flight we not only sat in the back of the plane near the smelly restroom but we had a crabby flight attendant. We weren't all that enthused about being up early either but she sure was a grouchy butt. We survived and made it there, got to the resort, did our grocery shopping and decided to lay out by the pool for a while. It was lovely! So relaxing, just what we all needed.

Laura covering her nose from the smell...

We went back to the room, made supper and had...a few...drinks. :)

The next day we went to the beach which was owned by our resort and private so we had less creepers than the other beach (but not completely creeper-free). Sumre and I played in the waves for a long time while the other girls relaxed, tanned and read their books. They got just a liiiiiiittle sun burned so we took it easy the next day.

Sumre and I getting thrown around in a wave...we didn't have any fun at all ;)

We had a nice dinner out on Saturday night, then on Sunday we went back to the beach and rented chairs with umbrellas for those who were a little too pink for the sun. Laura and I weren't burned so we saved our pennies but later in the afternoon two ladies who had chairs next to the other girls were leaving and offered them to us, bonus! We got a mojito and strawberry margarita to celebrate!

Enjoying our free chairs with an umbrella!

We went to the beach on Monday morning to say 'goodbye', packed our bags and headed back to the airport and back to Kansas. We had a great trip and hope that we can do something similar next year!