Thursday, October 27, 2011

Sent with Love

We sent our care package to Chelsey Nay Nay (Brian's cousin) on September 21st in hopes that it would make it to Macau by Halloween, it arrived in one piece and early...WOOT, WOOT!! I wasn't sure how long it would take to get to her and if I had filled out all the custom and address papers right! This was a very interesting learning process in which I am thankful for the friendly lady at the Post Office. Now we can say that we have marked an item off our bucket list: "send a care package to a Fulbright Scholar in Macau"
These are some pictures that Chelsey had posted on FB and emailed us. It's the little things from home that she missed and had hinted she wanted (Jiff PB Oatmeal Squares, Mike and Ike candy), so what's a good cousin to do???? SEND THEM TO HER. We got laughing because it cost 3X as much to mail it to her then it did for our goodies. Oh well, it was lots of fun for the kids to shop and send in hopes that she got them. We are SO sneaky, everyone at home knew we were sending her something but her.






We love and miss our Chelsey Nay Nay and are anxiously waiting for her to come home over Christmas break (just 51 more days!!!). In the meantime, we are planning our next package now that we have some experience!!

School Pictures

Here's a sneak peak of the kids Fall pictures for the 2011-2012 school year. I can't believe how grown up they look and the difference from last year. Where did my babies go?!

Hunter
4th grade
9 years old

Hayley
2nd grade
7 years old

Stolen Pictures

Told you that I would have more wedding pictures to post after I  stole them! These are from my Aunt Debby...enjoy!!

Paul and I

Hunter seating GG


Hayley singing

Ed and Amy

Kids walking Mom down the aisle

Keegan and Charlotte

Daddy walking Erin down

First Dance as
Mr & Mrs Brian Holdaway

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Erin and Brian's Wedding

WARNING: PICTURE OVERLOAD

We had a great time at Erin and Brian's wedding on Saturday and are just now getting caught up on our sleep and everything else that has been put on the back burner. Thankfully, we didn't go back to school until today..woo hoo for an extra day of fall break thanks to a PD day!!

I have decided that I have honestly inherited the GG gene of my love for pictures and wish that I gotten more of everything but it was a crazy, busy, but fun night. These are not the best, it was weird lighting and I am too tired to edit everyone red eyes out so pay not attention to that. The are finally uploaded for all those "stalkers" who have texted or asked about my wedding update.Here you go!!
GG and me
Our day started super early, up at 6:30 and left house at 8:15 for   9am hair appointments with our gal Susan. She always works her magic on Hayley and I and we knew that today was going to be no different!! We got to laughing because my regular thing is color/highlights/cut with a pony tail and today I changed it up on her and had to get it fixed!!  As proof that I was going to get all dolled up for the wedding she wanted to see a picture of me in a dress and make up on! I tell ya, I LOVE my jeans, hoodies and boots/flip flops so when we do get all cleaned up, people want proof!!


me and my gal with our hair fixed
only picture i have of my hair.
 it was pretty and curly and had 10 tons of hairspray on it~ LOL


After our hair was done we headed to the Gillispie where we were meeting the rest of the girls for make up, dressing and pictures. The boys didn't have to be dressed and ready so they took advantage of some father/son bonding time at the Slugger Museum.
Hayley was wore out!

Grandma had a yummy lunch, white pimento cheese, chicken salad, fruit salad, and left over desserts from the rehearsal dinner. All perfectly good comfort food.  for us so that we could eat and relax as we were getting ready.
Erin, Grandma, Hayley and Amy
me and my little/big sister
We all got pampered by Emily and her wonderful makeup skills. I tell ya, she had worked wonders on lots of us!!

sneak peak of Erin's dress

 After lunch, Hayley and I went downstairs so she could practice her song. Erin asked if she wanted to sing, be a flower girl or brides maid and she pick sing. IMAGINE THAT!!  She has been practicing "Love Story" by Taylor Swift since last Christmas on her karaoke machine and was more then ready to perform for everyone. I really wished that I could get a copy of her singing, she did AWESOME!! I was a mess watching and listening to her and didn't think about taping her. Her Daddy did but for some reason it won't upload so hopefully in the next day or two I can get it up.

All of us girls finally got dressed and then it was time to get pictures. I am SO glad that Erin and Brian decided to do all the pictures before hand because that gave us much more time to enjoy the reception and not have to worry about this picture or leaving someone out. Could it be all the cousin weddings that we have had over the years that we have pretty much perfected one as much as you could....one of the many advantages of a large family! 
Grace (Brina's niece) was the flower girl

me and my momma and daddy
            

Keegan was ring bearer and so handsome!
our pretty bouquet
pretty flowers on the tables

so stinkin' cute
Our old baby sitter made her cake and it was delicious! Yes, that is a lumberjack on the grooms cake (that is what Erin calls Brian)


One of my favorite pictures:
Groomsmen
Eddie, Paul, Kenny, Todd, Dan, Brian
Bridesmaids
Me, Erica, Shannon, Denise, Amy
Gabe, Hunter, Keegan, Hayley, Grace and Charlotte
 I wanted to take FULL advantage of my family being all cleaned up and having to take lots of pictures from everyone so I snapped a few.
Me and Hunter


First dance
toast and cake cutting

Hunter got cake smeared in his face...gotta love Erin and Brian!
 It was  a wild and crazy dance par-tay all night long! I sat there and was in tears from laughing and watching all the little kids (and some Hens, too) tear it up on the dance floor. They sure do know how to have fun and it's only going to get more interesting in the years to come as they get older!!

Poor Brian has finally been iniciated into the family by getting freaked by all the Hens (and Zachary) I am sure that he will have nightmares for years to come!

 Not really sure what Momma was telling him right before the guarder toss, nor am I really sure I want to. Whatever it was, she talked for a while. Once again, scared for life.
Hunter  was air born for the guarder thanks to Taylor!

Aunt Amy, Uncle Jay and Keegan

These next pictures are something that I will cherish and have grown to love more each day the older I get. My Grandma and Grandpa Spitznagel are the only grandparents that I have living and are the best example that anyone could see as far as marriage goes: for better or worse, sickness and health, richer or poor...all the days of my life. They have been married 66 years and are still growing strong and their love for one another (and their HUGE family) is something that I can't say enough of. LOVE THEM SO MUCH. Thank you for the example and bar that you have set for each of us.
Gramps and GG


GG and Gramps with most of their Great Grand Kids!!

Keegan, Gramps and Hunter


Erin and Brian,
 I am so excited that you all finally tied the knot after 2 long years of counting down. Wish you both nothing but love and happiness as you grow old together and hopefully lots of 2 legged babies...no more 4 legged babies!! Thank you for letting us be apart of your special day. Love you both so much!!