Blogger Awards

So because Erin over at Wedding Planning Memior tagged me in Honest Scrap I'll oblige cause she's so freaking awesome... and my sister and all.



1. I married my best friend from 5th through 8th grades older brother. never saw that coming back then.

2. I can't imagine living far from my family. Brad is pretty good at it. I think I would be devestated.

3. Brad and I have two cats. Neala (lovingly known as Meowla) and Mr. Giaus. He was just Gaius but over time the Mr. was added and now he's only plain Gaius when he's in trouble.

4. I have been married for 423 days.

5. My hair has become a bit of an obsession for me. Although I'm getting less obsessed I think. Erin thinks it's weird. But then she doesn't have curls.

6. I have a tattoo... Just 1 for now. My sister has one that matches... kinda. We got them 2 years apart and mine is on my left foot... Hers is on her right. So we make a pair. It's of the trinity knot or dancers knot. I love it.

7. I love pasta. Pasta and alfredo sauce.

8. I'm excited that Brad is going to Law School. I'm excited for him, but I'm excited for me too. I get to really have time to read again.

9. Every time I think I want to retire from actually dancing to just teaching, I have another show to dance at. I love it. After 18 years it's still one of my favortie things to do.

10. I need to keep a planner. I am the master at double booking myself. Ask any of my close friends.

So there you go... 10 random facts about me.

We're not pregnant, however.......

I think my husband and father have a conspiracy to drive me crazy. They really enjoy suggesting the most horrific names for my future children. Yesterday after suggesting Norman for our not yet conceived son, this is the conversation that follows his next "awesome" name suggestion.

Him: Aethelbert Blair Essex

Me: Sweet can we add Diddelyhop to the name? I really like how that flows with Aethelbert.

Him: Sure…if it has as sweet a historical value as Aethelbert. ;)

Me: uh it obviously has very sweet historical value. Duh. It was the sixteenth King of Bosnia's middle name and he freed the captive lemurs of the 12th century allowing them to have full access to all of the land that was bequeathed to them by Lenora the Icelandic Roman Goddess in 1 AD. Can't get much sweeter then that, right?


Him: …rrrriiiiiiiight…

So I'm just shot down, right out of the sky, because my names don't have any sweet historical meaning. *insert eye roll here*

Why is it that he can suggest names like this and then say nope to every acceptable, decent name like Lila for reasons like, "it has too many L's, we may as well name her Lala". I just have to say, I'm glad I'm the one who gets to sign the birth certificate.

Shower the Bride with Love

So, wedding joy is getting into full swing. I'm so glad that I can be involved in these girls weddings. I love them all and enjoying seeing how delightfully happy they look as they are surrounded by their favorite people.

Katy's bridal shower was on Saturday. My boss was so kind to offer her house as the party location. After the crazy rain delayed my getting there. We got everything in place shortly after most of the guests got there. The food was great, the games were fun, the bride was georgous! Congrats, pretty lady. Pictures to come.

Ah, so glad I'm not that young!

I think that when a whole family feeds and grows off of drama, they welcome a person that has those qualities already ingrained in themselves. I don't know how to deal with the family my little sister is marrying into. I'm am not a fake person. I'm not going to say I approve of things that I don't and I'm not going to hold my opinion in when I'm included in a conversation that steers towards things I do or do not agree with. This causes some turmoil between our families without our (my family) knowing. My whole family is open and fourth coming with information. We aren't caculating and manipulative. With the family "rift" if you will, though I don't know how you can say that it is a rift if one party doesn't even know it exists, it seems that most issues revolve around our (both families) mulitpule opinions of one particular person. People defend her by saying that she's young. I don't think thats true. I think she's lost. She doesn't know who she is without the gossip that comes with high school and high school friends. She doesn't know how to dress without the models that are scattered throughout her place of employment. She doesn't know how to be in a functional relationship, the ones that are closest to her that she pays attention to are disfunctional. She doesn't know how to be a part of a conversation that doesn't revolve around her, because most do. People in that family are so focused on the outside impression and keeping the peace that no one is willing to disrupt the waters and help each other grow if it needs to be started in a negative way. I'm glad that I have been nurtured and raised to be able to know my self, even if my self is ever changing and I'm ever rediscovering who I am. At least I can interact with out gossiping and dress with out too much help, and love with out hurting those I love. Thank you Mom and Dad, Devin, Erin and Brad for helping me to become the person that I am. I know we fight, but we never fight like that.

Summer show

So we're getting ready to go into the week before the show. Costumes are being finalized, dances finished. Putting a little spit polish on everything. Ok maybe alot. This year the time flew by and we're already to this time. It seems shorter then normal. Erin has two songs and a medium sized role this year. First time ever!!!! She's hoping to keep building her status with Robin so that if they ever actually do Les Miserables she can get one of those parts. She's doing wonderfully! Good Job, Erin!

On another note, Brad's birthday was yesterday. We're actually celebrating Friday/Saturday, but I did give him the book Helter Skelter. I think he'll enjoy it. :) I hope so at least because it's a monster of a book.

We're closing in on Katy's wedding. She's holding up really well under the stress. It's funny to watch her and Erin go through what I was a little over a year ago. I'm glad I'm just in charge of small parties and not a whole wedding again. Good luck girls, your doing great!. Now I just have to get those stinking shower invites out. That's my weekend goal. I can do it!

Mira Jane

Amy and Cora, before........

our new niece!

Mira Jane

Born May 10, 2009 at 10:46 am

8 lbs, 2 oz 21 inches

Happy, healthy, baby girl. Amy and Allen welcomed their second daughter into their family on Mothers Day. Everyone is doing wonderfully. Here's a picture to oggle at. :)

One year!!!

Who can believe that it's been one year since I walked down the asile to marry my now husband? The last year has been an experiance. I wouldn't change it and it was honestly not any harder or easier then I expected. Plus I have this wonderful man as a permenant part of my life.

Speaking of that wonderful man. He did an amazing job with our anniversary plans. I was in the dark for the whole weekend as to what was happening. We celebrated a week early due to a show that I had planed with my dancers and the pipe band. We stayed in on Friday night. Brad brought dinner home with him and told me I could pick any movie I wanted to watch. Too bad the movie I chose wasn't all that good.

Saturday I had rehearsal for Big River in the morning so Brad got to sleep in, but as soon as I got home I was told to pack an overnight bag. I had to bring one fancy outfit, swimsuit, and normal clothes for Sunday. After I packed, we headed to lunch in German Village. It was very tasty. We stopped and got two cupcakes for our"cake". The real cake had to be thrown out after my parents lost power this past winter. After that we headed to our "next destination" which ended up being the hotel we spent our wedding night at. We checked in and changed into our fancy clothes and headed off on foot to dinner. We were a little early so we headed to a bookstore and bought each other a hard back book that will be our "paper" gift. Dinner was delicious and after dinner I got to see my first opera. We saw Marriage of Figgaro on campus. It was very good and quite funny. We headed back to the hotel after the show and to my surprise got champange and chocolate covered strawberries delivered to our room. We ate our cupcakes, strawberries, and champange while watching a movie and then drifted off to sleep in the "Heavenly bed".

Sunday morning we got to have breakfast in bed and then after checking out, spent a few hours wandering all around German Village. It was such a wonderful weekend. So well planned. nothing felt rushed or like we had to much time in between. It was great. A little vacation in our own city.

Thank you, Brad!!!

In other news, Devin is doing well in the Highway Patrol Academy. He's loving it, especially now that his knee/leg isn't bothering him any more. Erin is busy planning away for her wedding. Amy gave birth to her second daughter, Mira Jane (more on her next time). And April sent us a great anniversary card. Brad laughed out loud when he read it. :)

Love you all,
Crystal