Emily's 21st

A happy happy birthday to miss Emily! 

Jillian's Visit: The Final Post

part one

part two

part three

part four

part five

part six

part seven

We continued our tradition of things we shouldn't by visiting Madeline's downtown around lunchtime on Jillian's last real day in Spokane. I had hot chocolate and Jillian had quiche and tomato basil soup that smelled wonderful. We split a piece of "Midnight Sin" chocolate cake afterward. She can handle more chocolate than I, so my portion was boxed up for her later. 

We were on a time schedule because we had to get ready for Kidz Club. Our harvest party was a costumed event and that meant that we needed to join in the fun. Jillian borrowed Heidi's scrubs and stethoscope and was a nurse while I was transformed into a hippie. Kidz Club parties have a different format, so we opened with songs and a lesson before breaking into stations for the kids to do activities. 

Scariest part of the day? I was asked to paint faces. I've never done that before. Most of the kids just wanted words and simple things, which I can do. Thankfully Isabel (crazy blonde wig) got the complicated "zombie" requests.

 

Here we have some of the Kidz Club leaders (the others were taking kids home): Heidi (tin man), Olivia (pirate), Bethany (raisin), Keith (himself), Rick (Superman), me (hippie), Emily (Indian). Missing are Brittany (Raggedy Ann) and Isabel (fairy)... their costumes are in pictures above.

Steph was "getting ready for a party when she got electrocuted" and Rachel was "Swedish Fish". Clever ladies.

We returned from Kidz Club and Skyped with Emily. We made dinner (spaghetti squash and meatloaf) and stayed up late talking against our better judgment. 

All too early (4am) we got up and headed for the airport to make sure Jillian got there in time for her flight.

Goodbye Jillian! It was a wonderful visit!

the blessing of friends

There's just something special about these two. 

They're friends from Beaufort, two of the first people that I called when I got engaged. 

Two of the first people I asked to be in my wedding. 

Two of us were in Jillian's wedding. 

And then these ladies are  two people who have been able to come out to Spokane to visit. 

Emily came in Spring 2010, just in time for my 21st birthday.

And Jillian is here now!!

We're having a lovely time enjoying fall. 

And I'm so blessed to have such splendid friends. 

Em's Birthday

this lovely lady has reached the

two-decade mark!

that's right, Emily is 20 :)

When I think of Emily, I think of

spatulas

hot tea and conversation

Charleston

Ben&Jerry's

The Lizzie McGuire Movie (sorry. it's true.)

staying up really late

squealing and sharing joy even if it's inconvenient for her

swing dancing

the beach

I've known this woman since she was shorter than I am, which basically means since she was about four. 

We became friends when I was in high school and she was a wee little middle schooler. 

We shared braces, a poor fashion sense, and writing class. 

Moving on, we shared memories, thousands of pictures, and I was honored to have her in my wedding.

She's a fabulous friend and I wish I could say that our paths cross more often these days but it's been since last July when I was in town for Brooke's wedding.

Hoping to see her in Beaufort, and if not, to coerce her into another visit to Spokane. 

Miss her!

Em, I hope your birthday is as fantastic as you are!

And I really, really mean that. Even though it sounds totally cheesy and fake. 

Have a great 20th!

two days left...

Three days before the wedding, I had another busy day. 

We met Carson's family downtown for lunch (do you notice that neither of us are doing anything really related to the wedding itself? left the stress to everyone else.) after getting a certain important piece of paper: Our marriage license! 

After that, I dropped Carson back off at my parents' house. I don't remember what he did, but I went to  a hotel with my bridesmaids for my bachelorette party...

They gave me a huge beach bag filled with stuff for our honeymoon in Mexico

Brooke (who is a domestic wonder) made her first-ever cheesecake: Raspberry

We got one room for six girls... so we got rather cozy.

And we had sparkling cider, though we appear to have taken in stronger drink

When we decided to indulge in more cheesecake at midnight, we realized that we'd thrown all the plastic forks away. So we got in the elevator in search of one. Everyone was asleep but Morgan, Em and I

And we found one downstairs before being barked at by a grumpy desk clerk

While we had our cake and ate it too, these ladies were fast asleep

And the next morning, I took a picture of the beach bag. There was so much stuff... it was like Mary Poppins' bag... just kept coming!