What floats your float?

November 16, 2010

We had root beer floats after dinner last night, and they were soooooooo good.
I mean, no other float is as good as a root beer one.
Why does root beer-melted ice cream taste so heavenly?
I like to think I was celebrating Will and Waity Katy's good news. :)

RIP Dan Benton

Words fail me in this moment of time...
but we will always love and miss you, buddy!
Daniel Andrew Benton
2/12/83-10/28/10

Our First Wedding Anniversary

September 19, 2010

Happy anniversary...to us!
We have been together for exactly two years and have been married for exactly half of that.
(In case you didn't know, we met on September 19, 2008 and married exactly one year later. : )

We celebrated atop West Mountain with a sunset picnic paired with a bottle of (VERY strong) [cran]Berry Christmas wine from our reception. At home, we squirmed while watching our wedding video (It's just awkward seeing yourself on tape!), and we listened to all the things Alan said that we didn't hear the first time. *lol* We also laughed over our funny wedding pictures and ate a piece of our reception cake--chocolate with cherries, a variation on the very first cake we ever made together.

I cannot wait to use my personalized stationery, and I know Zach liked his Brick Journal book because he already poured over it last night!

Here's to many, many more times together... : )

This is where we had our reception: a former magic theatre turned glow-in-the-dark T-Rex mini golf!

getting ready to open my present: personalized stationery, wax seal set, and Lego rose in a memory box

Zach flipping through his Brick Journal Compendium

We walked along Bathhouse Row...

...and stopped for refreshments in The Arlington, which I first visited when I met Zach's parents in December '08.

the view from West Mountain

our favorite

our wedding cake nine months old...as old as the wine

First Engagement Anniversary

July 19, 2010

A year ago Zach and I were in Kansas City on what I thought was going to be a quick little getaway when he surprised me with a carriage ride around the Plaza and an Alice in Wonderland-themed proposal at Southmoreland Bed and Breakfast.

We arrived at the B&B, where I was informed we would be visiting. I had already started shaking and my knees were weak and my heart was beating--my body knew what was happening before I did! We went inside, and the night manager took us up to our room. She gave ME the key to allow us to learn how to use it. As I opened the door, I saw a bottle of champagne and a box of chocolate-covered strawberries with signs that read, "Drink Me" and "Eat Me." What did I think? Why, how nice of the B&B to provide their guests with such luxuries. But then I turned around and saw a crawlspace with a sign that read, "Open Me." Zach suggested that I better open it up. Inside, I found a shadow box Zach had made with pictures and mementos of us inside. On top was a sign: "Love Me." When I picked up the shadow box, I saw the ring behind it: "Marry Me." I figured Zach had something to say to me, so I took my time looking over the shadow box so I would be ready.

"Please say yes!!"
*Hahaha*

Even more so than our wedding day, this was the happiest day of my life. :) THIS was the day we decided to spend the rest of our lives together. Don't get me wrong; I am glad we were married in front of our parents, family, and friends. We had a lovely, sweet wedding. :) But sometimes I still wish we had eloped. *lol* After all, this day was PERFECT. There was no stress, no fuss, and no expectations--only a very pleasant surprise. :)

These pictures were actually taken the next day after we had tea at the Intercontinental on the Plaza. I had actually expected Zach to propose there (!), so I had taken great pains to pick out a cute outfit! *haha* He always keeps me on my toes. I was actually quite gross-looking when he proposed. ;) (No one will EVER see the one picture we have from the night of the proposal...at least not for a very long time.)

Zach, thank you for asking me to be your wife.
I can't wait to celebrate with you tonight!
Happy "engagement" anniversary!

Presenting the Cooke's!

June 19, 2010 (The 19th is a sweet date!)
Yesterday we attended Zach's cousin Lindsey's wedding, where she became the bride of Sam Cooke at the Albert Pike Residence Hotel in Little Rock. :)

It was a lovely wedding.
I just loved Lindsey's dress and hair.

I really liked how the seats were arranged around the bride and groom and the four columns with the tulle-and-light arrangement overhead. I took lots of pictures of that!

Waiting to begin: family had to be there early for pictures. :)the balcony from which the bridal began begin the processional

The music was fun and personal--I mean, how can you not love a wedding with The Beatles?! It was especially sweet to see her sister Ashley, her matron of honor cry, while her husband Josh married them.
(I didn't get any photos of the ceremony because the flash would have spoiled the moment.)

Luckily my favorite sister-in-law borrowed my camera to get a picture with her cousin. I took pictures of Sam and Lindsey dancing, but you can't see them very well, so I decided to use this sweet picture on facebook. :)

first dance

It was also so great to finally meet Zach's cousins Ashley, Alexis, and Camille and their significant others and getting to spend more time with his extended family. They are all so sweet! I also was so happy to meet his dad's cousin, Linda Adams. (Zach said I was beaming when I met her, telling her how she taught me to cook. *lol*)

All in all, it was a great day! We've been married NINE months exactly!

Our best wishes and congrats to the happy couple, the Cooke's!

Here are some more pictures:

cousin Alexis cutting the bridal cake

so rich

father-daughter dance

Erin and Sayer boogies.

This groomsmen stole the show dancing to "Beat It!"

garter toss (Lindsey threw her bouquet from the balcony, so I didn't get any pictures.)

farewell with sparklers

wedding dress+fire=not safe=Run!=Ashley gets no pictures of the bride and groom= :(

They rode away in this carriage-sooo sweet!