Family Shower

Ricky's family was so gracious as to host a Couples Shower for him and I.  It was so beautiful! They had it in their back yard and of course decorated in yellow and wheat!  

Super cute decorations!

Delicious food!

You can't get any better than desert from Merritt's Bakery

Super cute favors

Gift Opening time! I shared I promise :)

The beautiful hostesses!

My mom and aunt

My family

Part of Ricky's family

Sorority Sister Shower

Over the last few weeks I have been blessed to have had several Bridal showers thrown for Ricky and I.  Our first shower was hosted by my amazing sorority sisters at Betty's house in Guthrie.  It's always so fun to all get together and reminisce about old times.  

Enjoying some delicious food!

I don't remember what was so funny, but this is such a cute picture of me and my mom.

Almost all of the girls that attended! 

In memory of Rhonda Jo Manning

On April 27th, 2012 my beautiful sister, Rhonda Jo Manning, left this world to be with our Savior.  

Obituary For: Rhonda Manning | Hayes Funeral Home

I think I am still in shock.  I feel like it's not real.  Like she's just gone on a trip and will be back soon.  I'm numb, I hurt, I'm sad, I don't understand.  

My sister and I were 12 years apart.  And our personalities were as different as night and day.  But irregardless, she was my big sister and always will be.  

Last week was probably the toughest week of my life, much worse than my worst day during the year long deployment.  I got the call Friday morning at work, Ricky was in Chicago, my amazing friend Kara came and stayed with me until I could figure out what to do.  My mother-in-law drove me to Edmond to be with my parents.  Over the course of the next few days I had to pick out flowers for her casket, pick out her clothes, pick up her bridesmaid dress she was supposed to wear in my wedding, and find photos for the slideshow. Why did I? So my mom wouldn't have to.  And they were all tough, especially picking up the dress.  

Rhonda Jo, you are dearly missed by SO many people.  You have touched so many lives with your huge smile and constant happy nature.  I'm not handling it well knowing you won't be there to help me celebrate my marriage.  I know how excited you were to see your baby sister get married.  But I know you will be watching from up there and grinning that huge smile.  I love you big sister and miss you like crazy.  

My sister carrying me around

Amazing Man

I want to dedicate this post to my amazing fiance Ricky :)  Since coming home from his deployment, he gets two months of paid time from the Army.  So, I have been giving him all my honey-do's while he's not working an 8-5 job.  Not only has he been doing little odd's and end's for the wedding, but Monday he also came to pick up my car to get the oil changed, rotate my tires and fixed my wiper fluid valve.  So when he brought my car back I noticed the squeaking in my brakes was getting worse so yesterday he took it back and they check them out.  They just needed to be tightened so luckily no huge expense there.  BUT, the main thing is I have this amazing man that is willing to do these little things for me.  

He's headed to Chicago right now for his bachelor party (big 4 day event).  So while he's gone my plan is to start unpacking more and get some wedding gifts organized.  Looking forward to a little down time! 

Crunch time....40 days left

I apologize again for the lack of posting, but with Ricky coming home, moving, and all the wedding festivities, life has been a little crazy! 

The good news if I finished my Project 365! Which turned into a Project 397 haha, so go check that out on my facebook! 

Ricky has only been home for 3 weeks and it has been packed full of fun!!! Here is summary of all we have been up to:

OKC Thunder game!

My Birthday dinner at Shogun!

Colored Easter Eggs with this cute kid

Went Egg hunting with Ellie Kate

Opened our first wedding fist! 

Went to our first Drillers Game of the summer

I had my First Wedding Shower

Ellie found her Flower Girl dress! And of course she can twirl in it :)

We had our Couples Shower

On top of all these amazingly fun things, we've (well I) have been super busy with decorating details and finishing up DIY projects.  He's been really helpful in running errands for me during the day while I'm at work.  Tomorrow are my bridal portraits and I have my final dress fitting tonight.  So please say a little prayer that it fits!!!  

How's the transition of Ricky being home you may ask? Incredible.  Things are about as normal as they can be for moving and planning a wedding.  We are trying to get re-acquainted but for the most part, it's like the last year didn't happen.  It seems like he's been here the whole time and we didn't skip a beat. Deep down though I remember some of those awful, lonely nights.  But the good outweighs the bad and in 40 days I finally get to marry him :) 

Hopefully better updates to come! (And more detailed ones) But for now this will have to do on such short time :)  Thanks for reading!

Homecoming!!!

I'm finally getting a moment to put up pictures from Ricky's deployment homecoming! I'll do more in depth discussion about my reflection on the whole deployment, but today is just for fun and pictures :)

Got my signs ready!

My #1 supporter during this whole deployment :)

Ellie Kate so ready to see her Bubbie!

Here they come!

I could see him from my seat and it was killing me  not to be able to hug him!

Our first embrace :)

Me with Ellie Kate and my nephew Jake

That night, Ricky wanted a big plate of nachos for dinner!

My amazing parents got us all tickets to the Thunder game Sunday!