Babies on the way.

 This weekend, not only did we cheer on the Dawgs, but I also got some practice with my camera. I am slowly learning all of the features, tricks, and quirks... it's definitely a process. Before the twins come, Bridgette and Kam needed a Christmas card picture and a few reminders of this amazing, somewhat unpredictable journey they have been on for the last six months. 

Happy GA/FL.

The real world won out this weekend and instead of heading down to Jacksonville, we cozied up on the couch with two dogs, two of our favorite couples, the soon-to-be-born twins and lots and lots of food. As much as I would have loved to be in Jacksonville, this laid back version of tailgating was absolutely perfect... especially when you throw in all of Bridgette's fabulous fall decor*, amazing kitchen* and breath-taking babies' room*. 

*Pictures to come next weekend after her baby shower

A picture says it all.

Engagement Pictures... the moment it all felt real but slightly unbelievable at the same time. Last weekend, Travis and I walked down alley ways, climbed over railroad tracks, sat in some crazy grass, and carefully made our way into a freezing creek for our engagement pictures. I feel like I have been dreaming/planning/wishing for this day for seven years. In college, it was alway so fun to see those older girls take their engagement pictures. Throw in some random wedding blogs (I have a slight obsession with weddings and blogs if you haven't gathered that yet) and you have a love for all things engagement and weddings period. These pictures are one of the first "official" things that family and friends see of you and your fiance together. So needless to say the days, hours, and minutes leading up to this moment were filled with nerves and tons of excitement. After an almost tragic situation that morning, we were on our way. Since Sunday morning, I have been checking the 375 Photography Blog  like clock-work waiting for that sneak peek. While we were outside for recess today, the email finally came... pictures were posted!! Over the last seven hours, I have looked, looked and re-looked at these pictures... not only because I am so impressed with the work that Justin did (if you need a photographer for ANYTHING, he is AMAZING!!!) but also because I am in slight disbelief that staring back at me is my fiance. For some reason, seeing these pictures, seeing us together, and being able to share them with family and friends, has brought an overwhelming sense of reality. The waiting to take these photos, to share these moments with Travis, and then have a photograph to serve as a daily reminder of what we are committing to has just been one of "those" moments. 

Apples. Apples. Everywhere.

Last weekend, Travis and I headed up to Ellijay with his parents for the Apple Festival. We began our early morning with french toast, pancakes, and scrambled eggs from a quaint little cafe downtown...

 And then I made a new best friend before we made our way over to the festival.

 At the festival, we saw decorations for every possible holiday, tasted dips, BBQ, and several different kinds of apple cider, found our inner child with rubber band guns and marshmallow launchers, ate funnel cake, apple pie, and caramel apples, and then Travis found the perfect place to take a nap. 

After acquiring new goodies at the festival, we began our trek through all of the antique stores in downtown Ellijay. If you like antiques, Ellijay boasts some amazing stores with even more amazing treasures to be found. Our first stop was more than successful... one window pane and three mason jars. Ellijay is a land mine for mason jars. And since so much of my thought process has been dedicated to all things wedding, these three mason jars kick started a treasure hunt of sorts... leading us to this monster of a mason jar.

One wooden Christmas tree, one Athens drawing, one window pane and ten mason jars later, our adventures in Ellijay were over. Now on to figuring out where to 

store our newly acquired mason jars.

CAKE.

Wedding To-Do List:

Venue

Dress

Photographer

Flowers

Invitations

Engagement Pictures

And my most favorite... to be crossed off today...

CAKE

Can't wait to eat cake with this MOH...                             In one of our favorite cities...

                                     

At one of the bestest restaurants...

A God Wink.

The last couple of weeks at work have been extremely difficult. I am continuing to learn how much I can take, what I will and won't stand for, and how to teach children despite craziness swirling around their classroom. I have learned quickly over the last year, that just when you think you are on the brink and you can't take anymore, God gives you one more push, one more situation or circumstance to make you fall back down to your knees either in gratitude or reaching back up to Him for help... all proving that He is still in control. This last week, I was blessed with a new student. On Tuesday morning, I did not see this addition as a blessing. I saw more paperwork and a scramble to figure out how to structure my class for 6 students, 2 paras, and 1 teacher. As the week wrapped up, I was reminded by one of my friends at work, how special this new little one was and finally saw him not as more paperwork, but as a blessing in disguise... a reminder of why I love teaching.... a reminder of how teaching can positively affect a child... 

a God wink. 

Happy Wedding Day Annie... part 2.

The majority of our college friends are married and celebrating their 1-3 year anniversaries. Anna is the first of our highschool friends to get married. Her wedding weekend was a surreal realization that we really are growing up. The weather could not have been more perfect. The company was beyond perfect. And the bridey looked absolutely perfect. Now see for yourself...

Friday morning all the girls headed over to the clubhouse (where the reception would be the following evening) for the bridesmaid luncheon. With a signature drink, a perfect view, and some sweet surprises from our bride, it was a great start to the wedding weekend.

That afternoon we headed to the church to rehearse where to stand, when to sit, 

what to say, and how to walk.

Next up... rehearsal dinner... family style. Travis loved the large plates of Italian food that were put on all of the tables. I loved the large assortment of cookies and cake. YUM! After some yummy food, sweet speeches, the bride and groom were reminded of where their lives started, the friends who have been there along the way, and where their love began. Can't believe I am about to say this... but GO TIGERS! :)

And now for the BIG DAY!!! It was an early morning, but with so much excitement, we didn't completely mind the 7:00 am wake-up. Christen, Tikvah and I headed back to the clubhouse to get our hair done, eat some yummy breakfast food, and find ways to sleep without messing up our hair... not totally successful. The early morning did give me time to test out settings on my camera... good thing I had the perfect test subject... Annie's wedding dress and little details!

Our bride finally arrived... and then reality set in!! She is getting married!

 

Since being a bridesmaid and taking pictures during the ceremony don't exactly go hand in hand... just imagine that you saw Annie walking down the aisle, her daddy crying as he gave her away, promises made, and then a "he does" and a "she does" too, leading up to...

MR. AND MRS. FOTIA!!

And one of the more exciting parts of the night... wait for it...

And go... notice the little thief that came out of nowhere... hmmm....

What you might not have seen through the pictures is the love that Annie and Frank have.... waiting for years to be able to finally call "that boy" your husband is something so special and it makes me so happy to have been able to share this with them!