Engagement party in San Antone

We went down to SA this weekend for our pre-marital counseling, and also hung out with my soon-to-be-outlaws! They threw us a sweet engagement party, and it was alot of fun. :)

and last not but least.....the plaid twins :)

and here's norman on our way home - pooped out from having so much fun :)

wedding prep...and crafts...and other stuff

so when I am not working or hanging with my man, I am planning this speedy wedding! It really is alot of fun, and I'm so glad it's only 36 days away :)

Here is some of what I've been up to...

I have been trying to have serious talks with norman about our new life...and when we are going to move. He does not like it and refuses to look me in the eye when I start to talk about russell.  HOWEVER, when he hears russell pull up in his diesel pick-up, he runs to the front door and wags his tail!! so maybe there's hope after all :)

Growing succulents is not a problem for me and my very sophisticated nursery complete with hot texas temperatures and plenty of fluorescent light :)

I'm pretty sure I would cover the ENTIRE house with billy balls if I could, aren't they beautiful?!?!?! I actually found them dried, so we will have the real thing, so excited!

Finishing the reception details...you can never have too many of these bad boys :)

And last but not least, getting to know russell's history in a new way. What a precious gift pictures can be!

it's a girl! and a girl!

I will soon have two new nieces!!  Savannah and Sadie Shepard, and they are so adorable.  such cute lil' blondes :) (Ashley, their momma, is Russell's baby sister.) We are so lucky to have 3 adorable nephew/niece cheeks to pinch and kiss!

They are sooo cute in their cowgirl garb - very thematic for our wedding. yee haw :) and I totally want to borrow savannah's jean skirt. maybe it will look cute on my ankle, haha

bawlz

I am feeling crafty and have started on some of the crafts and arts projects for the nups...this is my first attempt at felting wool roving. Since billy balls are out of season, we are crafting our own!!

the real thing

the faux thing

 

you just can't have too many balls. :)

doggy depression & ava jane

It has only been a week, but being engaged is so GREAT!  I just love it. But, someone in my house does NOT love it, and his name is norman zucca solise. (soon to be norman zucca stone, which works out great because I won't have to change the "s" in normans monogram, haha)

Anyway- norms has just been laying on his bed, and everytime russell comes over I always say "look who it is!!" and norman, no joke, huffs and walks right out of the room!! This is a classic love/hate relationship :)

OK, so if you can even believe it, the entire wedding is planned, and I wish I could share all the details with you on this blog! I will post some of the craft projects as they come up - but first, this precious lil' picture of by baby friend ava jane! She came with her momma jess when we were doing a walk through at the venue. She just sat in her cart with her little chubby legs crossed and had an expression on her face that said "ok, this place looks kinda fun, but I may have a few more questions..."

The future Mrs. Stone :)

There are so many wonderful people in my life (and I wish I could call each and every one of you!)... and I wanted to let you all know that Russell and I are engaged!

My sweet man proposed one day shy of our 2 year anniversary :)

after I said "yes"!

sitting under the century tree

He popped the question under the incredible Century Tree in college station. (For those of you who don't know: The Century Tree is a live oak tree that was one of the first trees planted on the Texas A&M University campus, so it is well over 100 years old. According to legend, if two lovers pass beneath the tree's branches, they are destined to be wed. Similarly, if a couple becomes engaged under the Century's canopy, the marriage will last forever.) It is so amazing to me that we will be able to visit this site in the future and remember what God has done for us.  We have some very funny and precious moments from this day - I will NEVER forget it!

It was such an incredible day! I am so delighted that the Lord has blessed me with the most amazing man! And, it doesn't hurt that the tree is so visually interesting - and has some fantastic symbolism, both for us as a couple, and for our faith. My fingers are already twitching to pick up my pencils and do a drawing of the tree, and finish it with this verse:

Ephesians 3:17-19
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

You know me...I already have 1,000 ideas and will share them with you as they firm up. :)

so happy!!

the pup tent

I am a self-proclaimed dog trainer, and although my methods are what some might call "unorthodox" and I have only trained one dog (who turned out kinda weird, I'll admit), I have a happy puppy and a happy life.

I seem to be on the road more than usual these days, and without roommates, I have lost my lovely dog-let-er-out-ers!

So, I have devised a genius plan to keep my puppy shaded from the hot texas sun and and dry from the rains while I am out of town for the next few weekends...a TENT!!

Here are some pictures of the trial set-up. In my own defense, it looked smaller in the picture on the box...

I threw some treats inside to see if norms would go inside...

(wink!)

Norman grabbed some toys to play!

I think it's a keeper!