I am alive.

I know.  I know.  It has been FOREVER since I posted anything.  I was in St. Louis from Sunday - Wednesday and my hotel with "free Internet" actually had Internet that would not work so I couldn't keep anyone posted on anything.  Plus, I was pretty busy with work and dinners that by the time I got back to the hotel I was exhausted.  Needless to say.  I am very happy to be back in Atlanta!

The St. Louis Arch.  I was so excited to see it when coming home from dinner, I snapped a picture at a red light.  Yay for being a tourist. :o)

But bullet form an update on my life & the wedding.

• Kyle and I LOVE our wedding rings.  We got them from my parents and last night tried them on.  His is big, mine is a little big.  But I didn't want to take it off.  So there is a slight chance I wore it around the house for awhile.  Hopefully, that is not bad luck.
• Our minster is no longer missing in action.  YEAH!  Him and his wife RSVP'd yes to the wedding festivities.  So with that said.... we have a minister.  Now Kyle and I just have to read some pre-marital books.  Fun Fun.
• I have my 1st wedding shower this Sunday.  Stay tuned for a picture filled post.  I have 2 friends coming in from Alabama so I am so very excited for that reunion.  I am not going to lie.  I do get worried since our wedding registry has not changed much and pretty much everything "fulfilled" I already have in my possession.  I just wonder why people don't buy straight off the registry - I mean it is a slam dunk.  You know we want it.
• We are also getting RSVPs back and it is so exciting to see who is coming to the wedding.  We are so far at like 56 people.  Sadly, a lot of invites have gotten lost in the mail / people moved and did not forward their mail so I had to order more invites and *hopefully* those will come soon so I can get them out in the mail ASAP.

• 

  A RSVP from my dear friend Heather.  Girl is crazy!

   
• Speaking of my dear friend Heather -- she just took a job in Tuscaloosa with the University so I am so excited that she is closer.  I now think I should make trips to T.Town and see her often and eat lots of bad for you food.  And better yet - Kyle and I can now go to a game or just to town and have a place to stay!! Yeah for friends in Tuscaloosa! =D
• MY DRESS FITS!  IT IS NO LONGER 2' TOO SHORT.  Victory!  But... it is kinda loose now from all my workouts so we will see March 4th how much they need to take it in.
• Non wedding related :: today is my Mom's birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  We're doing dinner with her tonight since she is in Atlanta {they really should just move here}
• Kyle and I have a minor "words with friends" addiction and last night we were laying in bed, talking, watching TV and playing each other in Words.  This is where technology is taking couples.  ;)  But at least we're hanging out.
• I actually won a $50 gift card at my company's kick off event last week and I am excited that Kyle and I can have a dinner date somewhere nice soon.  I am thinking our 5TH ANNIVERSARY! Originally, I wanted to get a cabin and we could escape {and of course take the dogs} but it ended up being too expensive and we're really trying to save our money.  So, dinner date it is.

As of today we're 58 days out!!!

:: wedding update wednesday ::

Oh my goodness!  So many wedding related things to share.  But before I go into EVERYTHING I have to admit that I am marrying one awesome fella.  This week has been a total stress filled with breakdowns and tears, but Kyle J has been able to find the "good" in everything and the silver lining and make me smile.  He has been cracking jokes and just really been someone I can vent to.  So I am forever grateful for him. ;)

1.  Wedding Rings.  We have them! =D  And goodness  do we have them. after all the stress that was getting them sent to Virginia {worst.decision.ever} just so we would not pay sales tax we have them {well not in our possession, but in my parent's possession}.  I absolutely LOVE my ring.  It is not what I thought I would want or would end up with, so I guess I don't love the flashy shine as much as I thought I did.  Kyle's ring is amazing too.  And for the pricetag it better be amazing. =D We did good REALLY good deals on the rings - especially Kyle's (we got $800 taken off).  And not only am I forever grateful for Kyle, but I am thankful for my parents who had to deal with the shenanigan that is our wedding rings.

2.  Marriage License.  We have that too!  =D  Kyle and I can officially get married in the state of Georgia.  That made it all seem SO real.  The woman was like "congrats, you can get married now" and I couldn't help but smile. 

3.  Enagement pictures were taken {again} and Justin with 375 Photography is amazing.  I am SO happy with our final photographer decision.  He was so organized and knew what to do - directed us and we were done in a hour. Easy.  He had a way of making both Kyle and me relax {and with Kyle that is a true accomplishment} and he was fun to talk to.  And even though it was COLD very COLD, in fact Friday morning it was snowing... we still had a fun time. 

4.  RSVP cards are still rolling in from our very on the ball wedding guests.  We are up to 26 guests thus far.  So if you have not sent your RSVP back - send it send it!! ...And the notes people are writing on them are so very very sweet.  I have really been blessed to have so many awesome people in my life. 

5. I have ANOTHER dress fitting on Friday. This one is to make sure my dress is not still 2" short and to make sure the top fits right.  Then I won't have another fitting *hopefully* until the 1st week of March to make sure that it still fits right.

6.  I got Kyle's wedding present last week and I am absolutely in LOVE with it and cannot wait to give it to him. I really wish I could blab and blab and blab about what it is, but the secret it safe with me!! Now, I just need to get my thank you gift for my Mom and also get something for my Dad.  But I have an idea for my Mom.  But I hope Kyle LOVES his gift and I have a feeling he will.  But I think it was such a bad idea to get it so far in advance since I cannot keep looking at it and just want him to open it up and we cannot do that since it is a WEDDING present.  Not a January present!!!

7.  Our minister situation may be figured out.  Since he does not need any special licenses in the state of Georgia, he does not need to do anything but show up. Now I just need a little more faith that he will show up.  Everytime I talk specifics (like: we have your hotel room. your wifey is invited. you're invited to the rehearsal dinner) he clams up. I.Do.Not.Need.This.Stress. And he wants Kyle and me to read some books {they're long. I want to find books on tape} before the wedding since we cannot do premarital counseling with him, but he is looking into some churches that will do weekend counseling. 

January is going to be oh so busy.

January is going to be a crazy month in the Vines-Shanahan house.  Not only do I start traveling for work and head to both Florida and St. Louis - but the wedding things are intense and off the charts.

January 6th :: 1st wedding dress fitting & dinner with a bridesmaid to exchange Christmas presents oh so late and catch up.

January 8 - 11th :: work travel.  Kyle gets to fly solo with the dogs.  Bless him.

January 13th :: Kyle and I are taking the day off and getting our marriage license (eeeek) and our wedding rings (even bigger eeeeek) .... talk about 2 events in the wedding planning that scream oh my goodness we're getting married!! .... and then we're meeting our photographer at 3:00 for engagement photos in the city.  Topped off with an early dinner because we're gonna be oh so tired.

January 22nd - 24th  :: more work travel.

January 29th :: My first (and main) wedding shower.  =D  I guess that means I need to buy some amazing thank you notes so I can get those written and out quickly after.

....and mix in there work and wedding work outs and I have to have 2 more dinners with 2 other wedding party ladies to give them their christmas presents!!  I think January will FLY right by!