Last night out!

so it seems to be a tradition to go have dinner and drinks at wild buffalo wings to celebrate classes from graduating/or almost graduating.  I went along with Chris to meet some of the people he had met.  On friday nights they do karaoke... usually we just watch, but Chris said I could sign him up as long as he could choose his song.

"Little Bitty" dedicated to his old roommate and friend Mark (he is a shorter fellow)

He did a good job!  I was impressed! :)  more confidence than I have!  There is also a video but I decided not to embarrass him 

I'm kinda sad to be leaving because we finally made some friends.  I couple who Chris met through work, Beth and Brady.  Beth and I really bonded and it makes me sad we will be going to completely different ends of the country.  :(

I didn't really think I was going to miss it here... but I am starting to realize I will.  Good thing I will know some people already when we arrive in Virginia!

Water Heater...

So most everyone that has facebook knows that our hot water heater hasn't been working... here is the timeline.

Thursday night: weird smells coming from the water heater

we get scared it is leaking gas (which it isn't, we realize it is an electric heater) but we turn off the power to the heat and the hot water heater just incase.

cold night!  

this is georgia wearing the scarf Sierra made for her for christmas (she also has a matching blanket!)

Friday: wait around for maintain half the day.  they replace the thermostat and say its fixed

Saturday: smell is back.  hot water is getting really really hot.  we decide to turn off the power again (this time just to the water heater

Sunday: they say they will send someone out monday.  chris skips shower.  i try heating water on the stove (which that didn't work) bummer

this is what it looked like

Monday: they replace the water heater.  it works long enough for us both to shower then stops.  then stops working again  

Tuesday: they come to check on it again.  say there is a loose wire.  should start working, give it some time.  later we call back, its still not working.  they whole complex has no water.  end come back around 3 and realize the hose leading out of the heater was kinked.  then it worked perfectly.

Now we finally have hot water! 2 days before we move!  Ugh!

This is what our house looks like as of now.  mostly because of me...  

Chris talking on the phone with his parents (of course not wearing a shirt :))

viva las vegas

My bestie ever since Kindergarden, Melissa's, mom Kay is a high roller and got offered a free suite at the Wynn Casino and hotel in Las Vegas.  Melissa had the great idea of trying to all get together for my last hurrah before the wedding in March.  Turns out all Kay had to do was ask and they gave us another room (of modest size compared to hers :) and before we knew it we all (Melissa, Katie, my mom Chris, Kay and I) had plans to meet in Vegas!  i didn't take as many pictures as Melissa but this is one from my mom of Katie Melissa and I sitting at the Bottomless Bubbly Bar we went to for $20.  Pretty good deal.

So this picture obviously isn't champagne...  The waitress accidentally spilt a whole glass of champagne on me (not good with a white dress on!) and tried to make it up to us by giving us free shots...  ugh... shots and I don't sit well with each other.

The shot tasted like a garnish on the side of a dinner plate that they would put on the plate to make it look pretty and not actually meant to be eaten.  yeah... well we ended up having a great time.  The annual "Shot Show" (not shots as in the picture above, but in the sense of guns) was in town so I made lots of friends trying to find a good deal on an optic for Chris's riffle.  Also met some people involved in a show called "Top Shot" that is a reality shooting show on TV.  We also met some people from Ireland or Scotland... i don't quite remember who were telling us that I was having my "hen party" which I thought was a cute phrase.  Needless to say i wont be drinking for awhile.  

The food was amazing!  Expensive but amazing!  Melissa, Katie, Kay and my Mom were all very generous with me and it really made me feel special.  I for sure felt like the center of attention (which I am not really comfortable with) but has a great time :)

Sledding down the mountain!

Some of the videos from sledding!

Snow in Arizona

So we got a call on the morning of new years eve from Chris's brother Brian asking if we wanted to join his family who was on their was up to Mt Lemmon to sled.  Of Course!!!  We didn't quite have the right clothing but made due.  Me with my converse and Chris with his sneakers no gloves, both of us in jeans... but heck, we wanted to go!  

We met them up at mile marker 14 where there were tons of people with the same idea as us.  We found a little area with lots of snow, not as many trees and a dip so we made our way.  Unfortunately, minutes after getting out of the car, Erik got a bloody nose.  Kim was trying to calm him by saying it was going to make some great pictures... but you could tell he was embarrassed. :(

 Poor Erik

 He got all cleaned up and we started sledding.  

Good times.  Me and Chris were especially happy that morning.

 There was even a dog that was up in the snow partaking!  Such a good dog, he was just playing in the snow and chewing on a stick.  We were talking about how if we had brought Georgia she would have hated it!  She hates the cold :(

 All the kids and Brian going up the hill with their momma Kim waiting on the top with the sleds

 Cody looking excited!

 This is Sierra looking a little scared coming down the hill

The boys got a little tired of sledding and decided to play on a picnic bench

Good thing Katie got me a coat for Christmas or else I would have been freezing too!  Nicely enough Kim let me borrow a scarf and pretty much everything chris is wearing is borrowed.  Its good to do things with people who come over prepared :)

Such a fun day!!!

Shower Time!

One of my mom's best friend's (Janie) through me a bridal shower!  I was very nervous about this because I am not used to having the spotlight.  Janie knew that I am incorporating planes into our wedding day so she threw a plane themed party!  

How cute!  

The cake had a jet one a runway, super cute!

Didn't get a good picture of the other plane things but we did have a paper airplane making/throwing contest!  Such an entertaining thing!  Loved it!  Of course Kim (who has 2 boys) and Shirley (who has 3 boys) won 1st and 2nd place for distance!  Us Wheeland and Ridenour girls didn't stand a chance!  haha :)

Friend from so long ago came!  

 I got a pic with Karen and Cat who were both my roommates during and after college!

My girls that got to show up (minus Melissa and Emily who were missed!)

All the little girls all bonded.  They were out playing and practically had to be carried inside to start the games!

 My future mom Shirley, Grandma Mary and Sara enjoyed the seats to the side of where I got to sit!  Don't they all looks bffs?! :)

A pic with all the girls 

Bethanny, Grace, Sierra, and Emma

(minus Marissa and Addy who had to leave/couldn't come because of illness)

Sierra wearing a bag :)

 Katie was super helpful :) as always 

I  love her!

 Kim made me a beautiful bouquet to use for my rehearsal!  She even managed to put some of the cute presents I got tied in bows (Wedding bears courtesy of Karen)  Thanks Kim!

I thought this was sweet... Katie made me a garter that had different charms on it that applied to me and Chris (camera, passport, airplane etc)

This brought tears to my eyes!  

My future sister-in-law Kim and niece Sierra.  They really make me feel like there isn't a need for the "in-law" part :)

 My momma and me

We are almost all married old women! 

CRAZY! :) a good crazy though

Janie through me and Katie amazing showers.  She has always been in our lives ever since we were little girls and it was so generous of her to done so much for us!  She is great :)

Overall my shower was amazing!  I couldn't have asked for more!  There were so many people that showed up, especially considering we had to have the shower the day after Christmas!  unfortunately there were some people that weren't able to come because of it being that day and also because of illnesses going around, and out of town woes.  Those people we missed!  Haha, those reasons are why only 2 of my 5 bridesmaids were able to make it!  Missed you Amy, Cody, and Melissa!

Chris Graduates... again :)

So I can't really be specific about Chris's graduation... here are just a few pictures from the ceremony that I can actually share.  Chris graduated with honors... this is was taken when they called those people's names to stand up and be recognized.  He is the second from the left.

 Our friend Brady also graduated :)  friends.  too bad him and Beth (his gf) his being sent to the other side of the country... just when we start making friends :(

 Isn't he handsome :)

 Brady

Us after the ceremony... Not the best picture but the only one we got

Brady and Beth

It was a happy day and I am very proud of Chris and all that he has accomplished.  Wish you all could have been there to show your support but I represented for you all!

Festival of Lights

So its been almost a month since I last updated... sorry!  I had a great time in Tucson for the holidays but now its back to Texas for a few weeks and then a quick drive (not really...) across the country to our new place in Virginia.

but... back to whats been going on...

Chris and I drove through the Festival Of Lights which was located on a stretch of the Concho River here in San Angelo.  It cost us a donaton of $4 to drive through and we only ended up going through about half of it.... it was realllllllly long, a lot of lights and displays from the local business owners.

this is part of the area I walk Georgia along the river and i saw them putting up the lights... so pretty.  I wish we would have gone a little later at night because it was bumper to bumper traffic and it would have been nice to get out and take some pictures in this tunnel

this kinda felt like we were at the inside rollercoaster at disneyland cause the light streams moved :)

 blurry pic of chris

 blurry pic of me and georgia (she loves can rides, especially with the windows down!)

 this is her with her paws and head out the window (it was freezing!)

 it was pretty cool cause all the displays across the river made their reflection on the river... at times it made it hard to see what they were..