It's officially the DAY May 1st.....

I finished decorating the house yesterday and tying ribbons on the bubbles for the church and did everyones laundry.....then it was off to the church for rehearsal and dinner after. I held it together most of the day until I saw Allie and Bill walk down the aisle....we've come so far as a family....what an amazing husband & father the kids and I have....made that big step right up and became the dad Allie should have been born with. Everything is so connected.....if I didn't leave the corporate world and work at the church, I never would have thought to tell Allie about Catholic University, Allie would have never met Ryan, if Stefan had gotten into before and after care when he started first grade I never would have looked for a job closer to home, if I didn't volunteer to work Religous Formation on Monday nights I never would have met Fran, who saved the shower and asked her amazing cousin to step up to be the photographer today.....I never would have met all my amazing friends at Church.....The house is done! We go for hair at 7:30, make up at 10 and photgrapher here at 1, plan to leave for the church by 2. Well I sign off for now....have to get Allie's clothes in the dryer and try to get some sleep....too excited , nervous, overwhelmed and of course happy. My next post will be a reflection of the wedding day.......

It's Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY.......I know I have said it before but.....where has the time gone? Literally I just dropped Allie off for her first day of Nursery School, then Graduations ......elementary school, high school and in two weeks a year ago college! Yesterday of course was not without drama.....I get a call from Bill in the early afternoon.....Fran where are the seating cards? Did we take all we were suppose to from the downstairs? I go downstairs and there is everything for the reception....cake topper, toasting flutes, table cameras.....they (the boys Bill, Ryan and Josh....the best man......) the only thing I gave them to do, took the wrong pile of "stuff" they took nothing for the reception and EVERYTHING I had to decorate the house with......UGH! Boys.....we marry them and love them anyway!
Bill took Ryan and Josh to see the statue of liberty, wall street and lunch in NYC then came home in enough time to watch Stefan's baseball game....he was so excited the Ryan and Josh made the game! Dinner out and then home to get ready for all the festivities........I picked up the grooms cake.......an armadillo....made with red velevet cake....it is cute they did a great job on it. I had to store it at church in the refrigerator as I have no room for it at home. Well tonight is the rehearsal and dinner and tomorrow ............

Two Days .......I can't believe it!

Well....yesterday was perhaps the topper of the whole wedding planning experience! ANOTHER of Ryan's groomsmen can't make the wedding......so his photographer is now promoted to groomsman and no photographer......Three days before the wedding no photographer! But once again divine intervention comes into play......shout out to Fran Culver...her cousin is a professional photographer Allan Reider Photography, Union NJ!!!!!! www.njphotographer.com He is now the wedding photographer....YAY!
Ryan and his best man Josh came in last night and we have all hit the ground running....of course we had no internet at home on and off since Sunday so the four of us were at the church last night at midnight using the computer!
I'm off to work, Allie's off to her day with the girls, Stef is at school and Josh, Ryan and Bill are off to play once Allie leaves they're having a boys day of exploring!

Three (3) more days.....

Allie & I had a very productive busy afternoon and evening yesterday! Checked much off the list! Stupid allergies kicked in for us.....mine on Saturday and Allie's last night. The tree pollen count is off the charts and we are both paying the price....the pollen is just laying all over the cars and patio table in the morning and what is not laying all over everything is blowing like crazy! Allie's maid of honor arrived last night and Ryan and his best man arrive tonight......yay for help weith last minute things! Allie & I were talking this morning about poor Stefan .....we have to remember that he is only 13 years old and a little man....who is clueless and unaware......he just keeps getting marching orders and yelled at....he is very sensitive and is totally suffering the ill effects of being the one we take out all our frustrations on! We need to be kind to him .....and realize that he is going through an adjustment with his big sister getting married! We were talking last night in the car and something was said ....can't even remember what it was....but I said it's ok Stef she's the bride....he came right back at us and said only on Saturday.....she's my sister forever! Continue having moments on and off of happiness and sadness as is Allie.....but we both woke up this morning with the same attitude........it's Allie & Ryan's day and it's all about THEM and nobody else........as I've said before she is so happy and she is going to be a beautiful bride and her very handsome wonderful Marine will be at her side forever.......I'm so excited.......btw we never made it into the jacuzzi last night.....it was 35 degrees and windy the jacuzzi is 104 degrees but who wants to get out of the jacuzzi in 35 degree air! Continue your prayers for the happy couple and if you have anything left over I'd appreciate a few to be able to make it through.......

4 more days

I write 4 more days but in reality things will start happening on Thursday!
Seating is done, frames are done, confirmation appointment today with the florist...still need to get gift bags done, confirm makeup artist, nails tomorrow, pick up Stef's tux tomorrow.....I know I'm forgetting something!
Having more moments........I was thinking last night......saw the makeup trial, saw the hair, saw the wedding gown on, saw the shoes and nails.....but not the finished masterpiece! So excited. On Thursday Allie is going out with her girlfriends and will be back on Friday morning so I will use the day to get the house decorated and cleaned. Ordering food for brunch..........thinking on Thursday I'll sit in the jacuzzi with a bottle of bubbly and relax.....can't believe it's here. Where did the time go? I just want to put the brakes on everything and enjoy......spend more time with Allie.....wishes.........
The weather looks wonderful for Saturday YAY! Have to leave for work now....wish I had time off........two funerals this week......I guess it's God's way of keeping me busy at work! God does have a wicked sense of humor!

Today my post will be a wee bit off the wedding......

As you have read my husband Bill ans son Stefan are in Washington DC this weekend coming home today......
here are a series of texts I have received since Friday from Bill......
Friday.......so because you can't bring bags into the Capitol I am sitting outside with everyones' bags aka backpacks waiting for everyone to finish the tour NOT HAPPY

Friday.....whole tour got kicked out of the Supreme Court before the tour even began because they were too rowdy.........NOT HAPPY

Saturday......(from Stef with a picture) at the lincon memorail and a marine in full dress blues just proposed.......he was thrilled, went up to him and told him & her the story of Ryan & Allies' proposal.......I have a sweet little man.....he was so excited to tell Allie & I

Saturday night......at Howard University Hosp with scout who cut himself with knives bought in chinatown marshal arts shop......NOT HAPPY (this was received @ 11PM)

Sunday 6:45AM........hosp was surprisingly good .....raining NOT HAPPY

I know someday we'll look back on all this and miss it ....but for now STRESS!

Allie and I had a great road trip yesterday to Alexandria VA.......didn't really get to explore much as we were on a mission.......unload, put away, food shop....@ the Air Force Base, and drive home! Lots of driving in one day......AND lots to do at home....our goal is to have all done by Wednesday night......Allie is going away with the girls Thursday into Friday for some girl time and then when she returns on Friday morning it is rehearsal, dinner following and WEDDING DAY.......say a prayer for us!

Seven Daze.....

Here we go the wedding is a week away! The ten day weather says it will be 74 and sunny....no rain for now! We finished the seating arrangements, tweeked the menu at the reception and oh yeah another marathon shopping day......all while working and trying to keep up with Stefan's baseball games, Tween Group at Church, Tae Kwon Do classes and the usual Cinderella stuff such as but not limited to cooking, cleaning, laundry......it never ends. Since Bill & Stefan are in Wahsington DC for the weekend I decided to take Allie out to dinner at our favorite place. McCormick & Schmick's in Bridgewater. We only go there for very "special" dinners. We had a lovely relaxing time and toasted to our wedding anniversary and to the upcoming wedding. Amazed that we actually still like each other, had no major fights and pretty much have gotten it all done. We will drive to Virginia later today to drop off Allie's clothes and car, food shop a bit so Ryan & her don't come "home" to empty cabinets and an empty refrigerator! Allie managed to pack up a lot of her stuff, clothes and shoes...so why doesn't her room look any different? She is such a pack rat! She has so much accumulated STUFF! We can keep it here and between visits to Virginia for us and Allie coming to NJ before she starts working...it'll happen! It always does! We plan on moving to NC in the summer of 2011 so there really isn't a huge hurry....but we are not moving all her "Stuff" that she can't bear to get rid of.....Bill will have a coronary. Will try to get some much needed sleep and then off we go in the morning :-)

Nine Days....we've entered the single digits

Where has the time gone???? Allie is in another room in the house right now and she yelled to me .....ten day weather says showers on Saturday May 1st......whatever....right? It can't be any worse than her graduation party....outdoor with a huge tent....thunder lightning and pouring rain! Rivers of flowing mud in the yard and unseasonbly cold 10-20 degrees below seasonal! Allie's party started at 2PM and the skies opened at 2:05PM. Can't be worse than that.....no worries minimal time will be spent outdoors! Still need to do some wrap up things......driving down to Virginia on Saturday morning.....goal is to be completly done by Wednesday morning! Wish us luck! Went and returned some gifts that Allie & Ryan got duplicates of. Shopped for shoes and a purse. I finished the wedding program for the ceremony today at work....started to cry......went to dinner with Allie tonight and again started to cry. Luckily they are just moments of remembering and not sadness. Allie went to the hairdresser today and looks beautiful. I can't wait until next week ...by Thursday it will all start happening. Oh Lord get us through

Eleven Days!!!!

I'm almost feeling like I need to change my posting to read daze not days.....so much to do so little time! Still need to go and get shoes and a purse! Allie & I are driving to Virginia this Saturday to bring down her Spring/Summer clothes....finding out that the Fall/Winter just won't make it. She will then leave her car in Virginia and we will get a ride back to NJ with a Boy Scout family who is leaving on Saturday night and not Sunday afternoon with the rest of the group. Works out nicely for us! Just have to sit in the car with a 13 year old boy....hopefully he'll sleep the whole way back to NJ. Need to work on the favor thing, bathroom baskets, camera thing, digital frames and getting the house ready for the Big Day! I had my first nightmare about the wedding last night.....we were delayed at the rehearsal and missed the dinner. We overslept on Saturday morning and missed our hair appointment.......some guests said not so nice things to me at the wedding.......all just a bad dream. I know friends and family will just share in our joy and happiness. How could you not when you look into Allie's face and eyes and see the love, anticipation and happiness? Dippy is going for her day of beauty today. I envy her sitting in the whirlpool "bath" getting her haircut, pedicure and massage and topping it all off with a cute bow....sounds like the perfect way to spend a Tuesday! I can't believe soon we'll be down to single digits........Oh Lord get us through!

Less than two weeks!

Yikes...less than two weeks. After I finish the housewrok today I'm going shopping for shoes......hopefully it will be an easy outing and relatively inexpensive......as you can imagine everytime I go out shopping with Allie these days it ends up costing a considerable amount of $. We heard from Allie last night they arrived safely and Allie said she loved the place and they were busy moving in the furniture and unpacking.....young love!
We found out yesterday that the Grand Colonial would like their final count 10 days before the wedding along with food choice totals for planning purposes only. When Allie gets home we are going to have to tackle the seating arrangements......the only not fun thing on the punch list! Back to housework and then onto the store! Having friends over for dinner tonight as.....did I mention Bill is running a Boy Scout trip to Washington DC....... NEXT WEEKEND~they need to go over plans for that weekend~so Cindrella needs to get back to the cinders.....Happy Sunday....what ever happened to Sunday being a day of r e s t ?????????????

Shopping, Moving & Tasting

Yesterday once again we hit the ground running....Kohls, Party City, Hallmark, Michaels and some jewlery stores! We finally stopped to eat dinner at 9PM.....just as Ryan and one of his friends arrived (his friend Chris arrived with Ryan to help him move furniture)
After loading all the family room furniture into the truck and Allie, Stefan & I loading all the shower gifts into the van and a good nights sleep, they were ready to go . Ryan got the keys to their new place last week and even though they said the place was officially clean....Ryan did it again, so hopefully when Allie & Ryan arrived this evening all they had to do was unpack and place!
Before they drove to Virginia we all went to the Grand Colonial (reception venue) for a wedding food tasting...it was fun. I told Allie & Ryan that it was a good thing they did this as they won't eat on their wedding day and if they do they won't remember it!
I now look around the house, especially the family room which now has no furniture in it :-( and I'm feeling the sadness and heartbreak of once again saying goodbye! However I told Allie that I better see her sometime...........We also realize that the move of clothes next weekend will not do it all.......perhaps two cars? Yikes 2 weeks (14 days) from now we'll be dancing at the reception ...for one more hour

Sixteen days and counting

I realized as I typed the title that the wedding will happen in 16 days no matter what else does or doesn't happen. Time to let go and let God! Easier said than done. We are so fortunate to have what we have and to be able to give Allie & Ryan a wedding. Allie was quite upset last night. Allie found out that one of Ryan's friends and a groomsman has had to back out of the wedding. She noticed on the hotel website that he cancelled his reservation........Allie told Ryan that this happened ......Ryan found out yesterday that he can't come to the wedding.....Marine/Family stuff. The only request Ryan had of the whole wedding thing was to be able to have a military wedding with an arch of swords at the end. They need to do this with a certain amount of Marines ....not sure how it all works....but it has to be even and at least 6 or 8? They also found out that their photographer had not booked a hotel......in all fairness since he offered to take their wedding pictures as his gift to them .......credentialed Marine combat photographer.....I told Allie that Bill & I would pay for his hotel room as our way of thanking him for offering to do the wedding photography....well as of April 14th he and his wife had not made hotel reservations....losing the dicounted rate that we had locked until April 10th......Bill also feels very strong that out of town family and friends don't have to drive on May 1st as they are not familiar with our roads. There is always the DWI thing, which would be devastating for us if someone got a DWI because they came to Allie & Ryan's wedding. Spent the $ on transportation for the day, a party bus for all the guest (seats up to 50) shuttle service back to the hotel after the wedding and a limo for the bridal party. Since we were saving a considerable amount of $ on a photographer it was a win win......however boys will be boys......Ryan gave Allie his assurance that things will work out........If you are reading this and you are a praying person please offer up a prayer for Allie & Ryan ......and me too.........

Eighteen Days and counting

OMG it is 18 days away......much to do little time to do it in......wish I could hire someone to pack for Allie. They are moving her bridal shower gifts, couch, two chairs and two end tables and two lamps this weekend. Allie plans on going down next weekend with her clothes....usless she can get them packed this week.....oh Lord at least the shoes (they are quite heavy and numerous)! Perhaps I'll take a drive down with her next weekend for drop off.....or she can take someone else with her! We have to get the seating arrangements done. Allie & Ryan are going to the Grand Colonial this weekend for a "tasting" should be really fun for them! Ann Marie is working her little fingers off getting the wreaths done for the torches in church and for the hurricane candles at the reception. It seems like it was just December and they just got engaged. Time flies when you're having fun! I am really enjoying this time with Allie and things are going really well. Let's just hope it keeps going in that direction!

3 weeks from today!

I can't believe three weeks from right now it will all be over! We did some shopping this week and I decided (or I should say my sisters helped me decide) Navy gown it is! There is still something wrong with the purple gown I ordered, something on the waist with the ruishing ......still not right! My brother Dave came up this weekend from Florida as he has business in Washington DC. We had everyone over......I made Mexican food and many pitchers of sangria....it was a fun visit. Allie was very happy to spend time with Uncle Dave as he isn't going to make it to the wedding as his son Andrew graduates that day from Florida State University. We talked and laughed and had a great day!
THREE WEEKS CRAZY

Check that box

On Monday we found a makeup artist....yeah.....check that box! She is lovely, not too expensive and will come to the house. Allie will apply for their marriage license this week, found a charity to donate to in lieu of favors and shower thank yous went out! I had an email from my sister Eileen in California.....she and her husband and daughter are flying out for the wedding....so thrilled haven't seen them in a very long time! Sad to think that I really won't get to spend much time with her.....but ..... Allie & I started to compile a RSVP list and now have changed into make a list and get it done mode! I can't believe we are so close 23 more days......there are a few teary moments here and there......just a few. Once again it will be time for goodbyes and well wishes. I kind of gotten used to her being away from home for the last 5 years and since she has been home since January it will be hard once again to let go! Here we go again....let go and let God!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! Today was Allie's last official Easter Basket hunt! She was so funny she actually ended up getting really frustrated and mad because she could not find a clue in her hidden egg! Stefan and Ryan blew through their basket hunt with relative ease and Allie was stuck....the egg was actually hidden in a shoe in her closet....btw.... Allie has hundreds of shoes...... ended up getting mad at everyone and yelled at us all. Too funny! She eventually found her clue and Easter morning was saved!
Bittersweet times here this week. On Holy Thursday I washed feet during Mass as part of my duties as a Parish Staff member. Allie has always been my assistant and realized that this was the last year for our little tradition. On Good Friday Allie read at the 3PM Passion of our Lord Service very powerful......our church does "Living the Stations"....Allie presented Station 13......Jesus dies for us......she compared the station as Jesus being innocent.... died for our sins....Service men and women being innocent .....putting themselves in harms way for our safety and protection.....very powerful there was not a dry eye at this service! So proud to be her mom. Allie also read at the Easter Vigil..... She was the voice of God! On to Mom & Dads' for Easter dinner......