5 Months to go...

I know I'm a little late this month with the update, but can you believe we're only 145 days out?!?!?!? These days seem to be flying by!

After taking the month of May off, we hit the floor running come June 1st. We are very excited to announce that we have picked a hotel! We will be blocking out rooms at the Holiday Inn & Suites on Lake Street in Lake Charles. See the Hotel Information page for more details!

We also have decided to have our rehearsal dinner at Mazen's. I am so excited about our decision. It is by far, my favorite restaurant in Lake Charles. Every other special occasion in my life has been celebrated here so it seems only fitting that our rehearsal dinner also be here!

Also, all rentals have been picked out and secured! YEAH!!! All the girls dresses came in and are beautiful! I've been slowly delivering them to the girls, but so far everyone is excited about them! My dress is also in, it fits, and it's beautiful! While I'm still keeping it a secret, I can't wait for you all to see it!

The boys have finally set a date for their big shin-dig. They're going to be partying it up in Austin, TX the same weekend the girls are relaxing ;) in New Braunfels, TX. Wonder if we'll run into each other??

Exciting things to come: Finalize hotel details so you can begin booking, picking out invitations, decide on a honeymoon. We have been working with a travel agent who has sent us several possibilities for honeymoons, we just haven't quite decided where to go...

Patrick and I had the opportunity to spend some time up at Lake Travis in May with some friends. It is beautiful up there and we had a great time! Here's a picture of us our last morning there...

6 Months to Go...

Patrick and I took the entire month of May off from planning. We are very grateful to have such wonderful families and friends and were very glad to get to spend lots of time with them throughout May.

7 months to go!!!

We're getting closer!!!

First and foremost: HAPPY EASTER!!

We actually made a lot of progress this month! This month we booked a caterer with a wait staff, a DJ, 2 limos, started a registry at Dillard's, and some other fun extras you'll see when you come! I must admit, I am feeling much better about everything.

Getting the caterer booked was a HUGE step! We are about 95% decided on linens and the rest of the rentals we will need, so hopefully by this time next month we'll be even closer to finished!

Many thanks to my mom for helping me get the save-the-date cards out this week! I know its way past time for them to go out, but we've had some communication and technical glitches with them... Anyways, they came in, they were perfect (the 2nd time), and are now on their way to you! THANKS MOM!!!



This was a very busy month for us. We've had lots of company and have taken a few trips to Lake Charles to see family and take care of wedding to-do items. We did stay close to home Easter weekend. We spent most of it shopping at IKEA and the Oakley store. We both ended up with new furniture and new sunglasses! There's so much stuff in IKEA, its unbelievable! We also spent some of our shopping weekend at Dillard's starting our registry! There is a link on the Registries page that should take you right to ours!

Other exciting news this month: I bought a new car! I got a 2008 Volkswagen Touareg2. LOVE IT! Patrick has already upgraded my stereo. It now has navigation, controls my ipod, and has Sirius!

Patrick's brother Derek and his family are officially moving to Houston! Derek started his new job here in Houston this week. He's staying with Patrick and me until they buy a house. Leah and the kids will be moving here this summer when school is out. We are super excited that they are going to be close!!!

On the horizon: Secure Linens and other rentals, finish our registry, work out the kinks in a few other special surprises,and block off hotel rooms, finalize rehearsal dinner plans! (big sigh of relief) Its all starting to come together!! Also, girls trip to Destin at the end of April!!!

Check out the other pages for more updated information!

8 months to go...

The ninth month came and went quickly and with little progress. For Valentines day, Pat and I went to the movies and saw Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. We both enjoyed it! He had to explain some of it to me since I have not read the books, but that was expected.

In wedding news, I spent and afternoon with Mom and Melissa looking at linens at Occasions in Nederland, TX. They have so much fun stuff! It was long afternoon, but we entertained ourselves with all the combinations we put together. Still no decision since I've changed my mind since then, but progress!

The last weekend in February all the girls came to Houston and we went to pick out their dresses! I think they all got one they liked and feel comfortable in! Here's are group shot at the end of dress shopping!



Once the dresses were taken care of, we went to lunch and then I took the girls to my favorite nail shop and they all got pedicures with a side of martini! We had a lot of fun laughing at everyone getting tickled!





I think we all had a fun day!!

In personal news, volleyball has started back up!!! So I have been spending a lot of time at the courts trying to play as much as possible! Pat has been working a lot lately but spends a few days playing volleyball too!

9 Months To Go...

Time is flying by! Can you believe February is almost gone?? It has been a very busy month for Patrick and me. I had another set of back injections done in January and am loving the fact that I can stand without pain!! I'm taking full advantage of being pain free! Our friends Matt and Mandy we married on January 29th! It was a lovely wedding and we all had a great time!! We were able to spend time with lots of friends that we do not get to see very often.

<-Derek & Leah Hymel

Brian & Natalie McKinney->

<- Gus & Elizabeth Fabrega

Jay & Kaite White ->

Oh course I never got a picture with the Bride and Groom... so typical of me!

Coal turned 3 on January 31st!! For his birthday, every year, we grill steaks. Its the only time he really gets "people" food! He loved it, as if there was any doubt!!

Patrick and I spent the first weekend in February in Lake Charles. We took my mom and sister to dinner for Mom's birthday on Friday night and Saturday we spent the day doing more wedding planning. We toured the Isle of Capri hotels and the brand new Holiday Inn on Lake Street. We were also told the bar in the vault at the bank had been completed so we went to check in out and ended up spending hours at the Bank discussing table colors, flowers, and a whole load of other things Patrick couldn't have cared less about!! He was a trooper though!! Besides, he did get a Darrell's special out of the deal!!

All the bridesmaids are coming to Houston at the end of the month to go dress shopping! Lots of things still on the To-Do list, but we're finally making some great progress!!

Check out all the new pages I've posted for more wedding details!

10 Months to go...

Happy 2010!

I hope everyone had a very wonderful holiday!!

We spent Christmas Eve and New Years in Lake Charles and Christmas plus a few days in Baton Rouge. Our niece, Anna, is getting very big!













Leah and I left the guys home to babysit while we went to check out bridesmaid dresses!! They survived and we found some great possibilities! We are going with Alfred Angelo dresses. After final input from my mom, we also finalized colors: Wine, Gold, & Ivory. The girls and I are planning to go shopping in late February to get their dresses! That will be exciting! Mom and I went to the Houston Bridal Extravaganza on January 9th. We got a ton of great ideas for decor, flowers, entertainment! All in all it was a very fun day!

In other news: Patrick and I bought a new washer and dryer. They were our Christmas present to each other! I absolutely love them! I notice such a big difference in our clothes.





Also, my Mac bit the dust, so Patrick built me a new computer!! And it's PINK!!!

11 Months to go....

What a month...

In wedding news: I bought my dress in Lafayette over Thanksgiving! (WAHOO!!) I have officially put Patrick in charge of the music for the night, so another thing off my list! I did meet with a caterer and I am pretty confident that we will be using her. I have chosen, Cypi's Cake Box to make my wedding cake. Check out her page for pictures of her work. Next on my list is: Bridesmaid dresses and colors, invitations, florists, and getting the rentals secured.

In personal news: Pat and I went to one of my favorite restaurants in Houston, Rattan, for my birthday. It was excellent! We spent Thanksgiving in Sulphur at my mom's house.



For the second December in a row, we got snow in Houston!! And a lot of it...