He Liked It...So He Put A "Ringler" On It

BFF Nikki got engaged!!!

Last weekend, Tyler and I made the drive to Fayetteville for Nikki's surprise engagement party.  Even though we were a little late to the party, it was still a surprise because she didn't know that all her "Allen" girls would be in town for the big event.  It was so much fun to walk in with Tyler, Lynley, Danielle, and Jan the man...Nikki's reaction was priceless!  We had such a good time quickly catching up (even though we saw each other two weeks prior), and taking several pictures of course.

Welcome to the group Brad!

Once the party kind of quited down (I'm pretty sure we drove off a bunch of the guests) we got to celebrate Nikki's engagement and birthday just us!  She opened all her presents, and was able to keep a decent smile even though she had been smiling all night (I've only posted Nikki smile approved pictures).

Here's the group!

Lindsey and Lee don't like us...they only like each other.

Nikki's Bling!

I'm so excited that all of my friends are getting engaged and married.  Since I was the first one in the group to tie the knot, it's fun now to get to be a part of all of their big days.  I'm so glad these girls were with my by my side on my wedding day, and I can't wait to reciprocate!

Nikki and I at my wedding...now it's her turn!

The evening wouldn't have been complete without an awkward picture from the group.  Still working on taking pictures with all the boys.  Remember this:

Well...we are getting better...

We missed you Shawn!

I'm so glad we got to go to the party on Friday.  It was so great to see everyone again, including Jan the man and Danielle.  Now, let the wedding plans BEGIN...KEEP ON GOING...and BEGIN SOON (You're next Lindsey)!?  Love you Nikki and Brad!  Have fun planning...can't wait for the big day!

Today is Someone's Birthday!

Happy Birthday Mrs. Ellis - I mean Kathy!

Today is Kathy's Birthday!  Tyler and I can't be there to celebrate with her today, but we will be going to Allen this weekend and can't wait to have birthday dinner with her!

So blessed to be a part of the Ellis family...I'm also very thankful for all the times that Kathy offered either of her other boys for me to marry (in case Tyler and I didn't work out) so that I could still be in the family.  We love you so much, and are so grateful to have you Mama Ellis!  Hope your birthday is fabulous!  We'll see you Friday!

Barn Bash 2010

Last week was T.W.I.R.P. week (The Woman Is Required to Pay)!  Tyler and I didn't make it to any of the events except for Barn Bash (maybe the best one).  We had so much fun out on the ranch where it was held.  We had Fat Boys Bar-B-Que for dinner that night...yum...and even though we didn't participate (cause we're considered the old people at these things) there was a lot of sqaure dancing going on!  We got to sit with some of the best people: Michael, Terese, and Nathaniel Cox...aka the Coxen; Becca Woodall; and Hayley Nolan (about to be Hayes) and Mason Hayes.

Michael and Nathaniel or Sheriff and Bandit

Becca and I on the HUGE hay bales

Hayley and Mason...engaged!

Me and the Hubby

Me and Nathaniel...there's quite a cutest baby contest going on at

Ouachita right now...Nathaniel is definitely in the running!

All the girls...Terese, Hayley, Me, and Becca

We had so much fun!  Good food, good company, good times!  And...thanks for letting me borrow the overalls Becca!  Yeehaw!

Before and After

During girls weekend in Fayetteville, I was the one that purchased the bench (even though Kelsey was certain it didn't belong to me because there was no place in the apartment for it).  It was so precious and when I looked at the tag I found out it was only $35!  But, you know what dad always says: PIBNOS (Put It Back, Not On Sale).  But then, I saw a sign above it that said 10% off!  With no reason for me to put it back, I loaded it up in the car!  It was a very pretty turquoise blue, but unfortunately it did not match anything in our apartment.  I hope my friends aren't mad at me...they told me not to do this, but...here's the before:

 

And here's the after:

  

Now, I know it's not that precious blue color, but the only way I was able to convince Tyler to let me buy it was to a) assure him that there was a spot in our apartment for it, and b) assure him that it wouldn't be blue (blue was too crazy for him).  Anyways, it's perfect for our little bedroom, and now Tyler has a place to sit and put his shoes on in the morning!  We're in the process of looking for a cute cushion to put on it, but our misc. budget is getting smaller and smaller.  We might just have to wait until next pay day for our cushion!

Good Times - Great Girls

Between the four of us girls (Lindsey, Lynley, Nikki, and me) it has always seemed very difficult to get together.  Ever since we left for school (4 years ago!) our schedules have always conflicted with each other, making it almost impossible to see each other more than twice a year.  However, last weekend, in a very last minute attempt to reunite...it happened!  Lynley missed our trip to Fayetteville last semester, so she decided to use her Labor Day weekend to visit Nikki.  Lindsey had already made plans to be in Fayetteville, so I was the only one left.  After a bit of convincing from the girls, and the okay from my supportive husband, I headed to Fayetteville too! 

Still waking up...hence the puffy face

I got in town Friday evening to find Nikki...yup...cleaning.  We met up with Lindsey and Lee at Mama Z's for some fabulous homemade spaghetti and meatballs.  Then, we waited for Lynley to get in town.  She's a bon-a-fide teacher now, so she had to wait to get off work before making the trip to Arkansas.  No problem, Say Yes to the Dress marathon anyone?  Lynley finally pulled in around 10:30, and we spent the evening...duh...talking.  And yeah, I was the first to fall asleep again :( 

The next day we headed out for lunch at Red Robbin (yummm).  With nothing else left on the agenda, I suggested we go to a place called Daisies and Olives.  None of us were extremely excited about going, but we went anyways.  I had been looking for some things to put on a wall in my apartment, and I was determined to find something.

Four girls, and two hours later...this is what we ended up with:

A little ridiculous I know, but we couldn't help ourselves.  Every time one of us found something cute, the other would say "oh my gosh, that's so cute...if you don't get it I'm getting it!" As a result of that, the mantle, a frame, and the welcome sign were thrown into the pile.  The rest of it was due to bad influence from each other:

"You have to get it...it's too cute!"

"This would look so good in your kitchen/bedroom/living room/anywhere!"

"What am I going to do with it?"

"You will definitely find a place for it...get it!"

And...if finding things to go in our homes wasn't enough, Lynley added an extra excuse of:

"This would look great in my classroom!"

"I could use these shelves for binders!"

Total inventory from the trip:

1 mantle

1 bench

2 empty frames

1 empty window pane

1 window

2 shutters

3 old crates

1 old bucket

1 canister

1 old army trunk

1 red side table/cabinet

2 signs (1 welcome, and 1 tomatoes sign)

I had to leave Saturday, but even though I was only there for a day, it was well worth the trip.  Love you girls!  Can't wait to do it again...SOON PLEASE!

Chicago...Seniors 2009?

It's been a tradition thing in the Carpenter family to take a family vacation after each of us girls graduated. For Kelsey's senior 2004 trip we all went to Disney World. For my senior 2006 trip we traveled to New York. So for Kayla's senior 2009 trip...I got married! So yeah, vacation (for the family at least) didn't exactly happen that year. Therefore, Kayla graciously rescheduled the senior trip for this summer instead. Thanks Sissy!

And here's a list of what we did...

a mostly picture post (out of order because the pictures are random):

 

Lincoln Park Zoo

    

    

Navy Pier

   

Fireworks show at the Pier...excellent!

Gino's East

YUM-O

The Bean

(Cloud Gate is it's official name...no one knows that though)

John Hancock Observatory:

We did not go to the Sears Tower, because the John Hancock (though not as tall) had much better views...that is the truth!

Window washing at John Hancock is VERY dangerous!

Architectual Boat Tour

This was our boat tour guide...it was Tyler's Uncle BOB!!!

He doesn't think so, but I was constantly reassuring him that he was wrong.

So apparently Chicago is Gotham City..most of the Batman movies were taped there. This is the Willis Sears Tower. At the top (if you can see) there are a couple of little boxes attached to the outside of the building that you can stand in and the only thing between you and the ground is a few inches of glass!

 

Cubs Game @ Wrigly Field

So...they lost 18 - 1, but the experience was a 10!

Field Museum

 

This is Sue

Sue is the largest preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex ever discovered

This is Mom and Dad acting like Sue

Sic' Em!

 

Not Pictured:

Second City (Comedy Club)

Portillo's (still dreaming about those hot dogs and chocolate cake)

Magnificent Mile

Museum of Contemporary Photography

 

Overall...a very GREAT vacation! Let's do it again!