Wow... We're Getting Married!

Yesterday, Matt and I met up in tiny Severy, Kan., to get our engagement pictures taken. Jeannie Conard, the photographer, had taken my brother's and sister's senior pictures and also had children that are Matt's age that went to school at West Elk, so Matt knew them and had played summer ball with them growing up. She takes great photos so we were excited to have her take ours... and just to get them taken in general!

It was suppose to be 50 degrees out, which I suppose it was. But when it's cloudy and gray out, it definitely feels alot colder! Most of the pictures that Jeannie takes are outside and what I was noticing as I got closer and closer to Severy was how much snow they had! Great... just my luck! I assumed that we would have to take alot more pictures inside because once I got in to the lovely town of Severy and got out of car, I realized it was all slush. And I had ballet flats on. Good thinking, Allyson.

The "Getting to..." portion of the trip was quite entertaining. We were to meet Jeannie at her studio at 2. She said it would be hard not to miss since Severy.... well Severy is barely a town! Lauren had given me directions earlier, saying that studio was in a big white building and right next to a really old wooden building. So, I get in to downtown as Matt is pulling into downtown. I jump in with him and we drive around for 10 minutes trying to find this place! I mean, how hard should it be to find a big white building next to an old wooden building in Severy?! We finally had to stop and ask someone and they pointed us in the right direction.

We pull up and Jeannie is waiting and I apologize over and over for being late, explaining to her that Lauren said her studio was big and white and near a wooden building. She points to a huge pile of wood and says, "Well, there's the building!" She said they tore it down about a month ago. So I guess Lauren was partially correct ... though she might be colorblind since her tin building was tan with a green roof. Whatev.

We hopped in the car with her and she took us out to this lake (that we had never seen before - rather large!) to a spot that she takes alot of pictures. I somehow manuevered my way around in flats (no socks, no tights) in the snow. (SIDENOTE: Target ballet flats stay unusually dry in a 1/2 inch of snow, in case you are wondering!). We got some great shots in the snow though... it was still really white and pretty! We spent about 30-45 minutes out at the lake, taking pics. Some were really funny... Matt and I just aren't serious people so when she asked us to not smile, it took all of me not to just fall over from a fit of laughter. Jeannie noted later that I sure like to laugh alot!

We headed back to her studio to take about 8-10 inside shots and that was it. Pretty quick and pretty painless. Matt dropped me off at my car, but not before reminding me how excited he is to marry me. He said that truthfully, he sometimes forgets that we're getting married since we don't see each other very often and have not talked about the wedding in detail in quite some time (due to my brutal work schedule). I completely agree with him though. I mean... I read theknot.com daily and keep in contact with vendors about the wedding. But in the end, that's noy what matters. What matters is that we're getting married... and this was one of those fun steps we took together to get to that goal!

Hopefully we get some good pics out of this, too. Hopefully she doesn't send us the 'closed-eyes' shot. God knows I was probably smiling in that one, too... :)

PS. The picture is of Lauren's so-called wooden building... THAT'S what we were looking for to find her studio. You now understand why we couldn't find it!

It's better...

I told you things would be better.

He called (I was not going to call first!) and said he was sorry. After giving him crap for awhile, I (sort of) accepted and will move on.

The topic of what to wear will be discussed Friday evening since I have basketball tonight.

Boys Stink... Sometimes.

I understand that everyone has their bad days. Hell, I probably have a bad day every other day. But there is a difference when a girl has a bad day and when a boy has a bad day.

And apparently, my boy's latest bad day started because of me!

Matt and I are getting our engagement pictures taken on Sunday, something I have been looking forward to since January when I set up the appointment. I have picked out my clothing, how my hair will be done, I'm just very excited! Now this next statement is corny, but it must be done when you live three hours away from your fiance. Matt and I have been talking about actually setting aside a few minutes to discuss our clothing and what each of us will be wearing - even thought about breaking out the web cam.

Last night was going to be our night to discuss this. Instead, I get a text from him asking if I'm going home after our pictures, which I replied yes to you... which he replied with "OK".

When I call him later, he is just being extremely cranky (he had said it was because of K-State playing like crap against Nebraska -- I don't get upset about these things anymore. That is the life of a K-State fan!). Finally, he says he is mad at me because I'm not going to Wichita after our pictures.

My reasoning for not doing such is because I am not an early-riser. I can not get up at 5 am, put a smile on my face and drive three hours back to Tulsa without the possibility of death in the background (due to me falling asleep at the wheel). To him, it means I want to see him, but not badly enough to get up early.

PS. This coming from a man who gets up at 5:30 am three times a week to go play basketball (CRAZY) so is used to getting up that early and doesn't understand why others would find that hard to do.

It has turned in to much bigger drama (I blame him for that) than it should be, which is what most of our fights turn in to. But I refuse to give in and accept his childish behavior. Am I right, or am I right?

So... this is why boys stink, sometimes. Tomorrow, I'm sure everything will be back to normal and they will be great. But today... they are all on my bad list!

Spending Valentine's Day.... with Cliff

Valentine's Day is that one day a year that is set aside specifically for those that love each other... to show that love. While everyday should be Valentine's Day, this is the Love God's way of reminding men to celebrate the woman in their life.. at least for one day.

I do have a Valentine... it's unfortunate that he is three hours away from me, though! I got a nice text at 8:20 this morning from my Valentine wishing me a "Happy Valentine's Day". I then came to work and immediately searched for the perfect Valentine's E-Card. I wish that I could say I will be able to see my Valentine today so we can go out to eat a lovely, expensive dinner and I would get tons of flowers.

This is not the case, though.

I will be spending Valentine's Day with my coworker, Cliff. His Valentine is also about 3-4 hours away. I know for a fact that his Valentine is getting some gorgeous flowers (a nice array of roses and tulips and maybe stargazer lilies, since they are her favorite - never heard of them, but they are her favorite). Since my Valentine and I decided no gifts this year, only cards, I suggested to Cliff that I would have no problem if he wanted to send me flowers as well.

He thought that my Valentine might have a problem with that.

Must Be Something in the Midwest Water...

I'm not even kidding! I now know five people that are going to be giving birth to children this coming summer and one that just had a baby yesterday. This all means that I will have six newborn babies (and a few 1+ year olds) at my wedding in August.

My cousin Michelle will be having a baby in May. My cousin Megan will follow up with a baby in June, immediately followed by my friend Jenny who is due in the middle of June. Megan Holding, a friend of mine and Matt's, is due in June and I just found out that my good pal Tami from Wichita State is pregnant and due at the end of July.

I am in love with the idea of "getting married" and everything that comes with it. I can't imagine what the feeling is like when you find out you are going to bring another human being into the world, raise it and hope like hell that it turns out OK. That's just alot more pressure!!! :)

To all my prego cousins and friends, congrats times a million! You are all going to be (and some already are) such amazing and wonderful moms... your little one's are already luckiest babes in the world!

Here's to the moms-to-be... and to all of those that will buy you presents and be content with that for now! :)

Can I just say...... FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I'm not gonna lie. I kept my mouth shut until the final minute of the game. I refused to blurt out anything related to the beating of the Jayhawks until I really felt it in my bones! And with a minute left, I was finally able to scream, jump up and down... and probably force Cliff to get a warning note on his door today from the management at his apartment for the loud and obnoxious yelling coming from his third-floor apartment.

But I did not care. I would have streaked the streets (if I was that kind of person). I would have wrote on every facebook wall of every KU person that has no valid reason to be a KU person about the game (if I was that kind of person). I would have worn my purple jumpsuit and a Wildcat tattoo on my face to work today (if I was that kind of person). But because I am not that kind of person (or don't have the guts to be that kind of person), I will just write about the greatest feeling in the world on my blog. Because it's my blog and I can do what I want!

So the best day of my life was on Dec. 6, 2003 in Kansas City, Mo., at Arrowhead Stadium when K-State beat OU in the Big 12 Championship game. It was wonderful because no one thought we had a chance. Even when the game was two-minute away from being over, the Sooner band kept playing Boomer Sooner because they didn't know what else to do! I just remember standing there and thinking, "HOLY SHIT! This is for real!"

Well, that was the same feeling I had last night. I just stood there... wishing I was actually there. That's why it is the second best day of my life - since I wasn't physically there witnessing it like I was the football game. Last night's win was a feeling that is hard to describe... its relief, excitement, rage, and blurry bliss all mixed into one!

I will never forget it. Nor will anyone else that was there witnessing it or those witnessing it from afar... K-State beat KU in Bramlage. The end.

GO CATS!

Unlucky in Sin City...

Last night, we arrived in Las Vegas around 10:45 aka 12:45 central time -- insert many yawns, I was very tired! I'm not here for pleasure, Im here for busines. The women's basketball team plays Southern Utah Saturday evening in Cedar City, Utah. I think its hilarious that we're staying at a casino - the Golden Nugget, pretty nice digs - and the school is PAYING for it! Actually, as we were walking through last night, some people were cheering as we walked in (old people = booze = loud) for the girls, but I overheard one of them say, "I can't believe that ORU is paying for them to be here..." My thoughts exactly!

BUT the reason we are here, other than the fact that this is the head coach's version of heaven (apparently his weakness is gambling and buffets!), is because when we go to play in Cedar City, there is a big altitude change and it takes two hours for your body to get accustomed to it. That's why we're just going to get there, play and come back. Makes sense... in a strange way!

We've only been here for about 12 hours and I my bad luck has already peeped it ugly head in.

I was admiring my ring this morning (I do this alot, I'm weird) and was just thinking how amazing it is that the little diamonds stay in place. Not kidding you, I looked a little closer and ONE OF THEM WAS MISSING! Unbelievable -- I've had this thing for just over two months and I'm already losing diamonds. Brutal.

I was calm for a second until I called Matt then started bawling. He was completely calm.... he has insurance on it and a guarantee that they'll replace diamonds so he says its not a big deal! Although it did make me feel a bit better, knowing it can be replaced without having to pay something for it, it is a big deal! I was just sad that something like this has happened to me already...

Secondly, the Monte Carlo casino was on fire. No, we're not staying there nor have we been there yet, but the girls were supposed to be back from practice by now, but I'm afraid they might be stuck in traffic right now. No shopping for me... for awhle I suppose!

We'll see what else can happen in the next 48 hours.....