Cousin Whitney Turns the Big 3-0!

Today Cousin Whitney turns the Big 3-0.  We've been friends since she was born 9 months after me.  She's one of the sweetest people in the world.  She couldn't be nicer.  She's hands down my favorite travel partner.  She knows what I'm thinking usually with just a look.  She indulges my crazy ideas that have landed us in four different countries, on bikes huffing and puffing our way across the Golden Gate Bridge, drinking in Hells Kitchen in New York City, you name it.  She knows just when to click the photos of me jumping everywhere we go.  She's just plain fun and I'm sure glad to have her in my life!

 

Happy Birthday to Cousin Whitney!

Lake Weekend Recap

In all the engagement excitement, I missed posting pictures from our recent family lake trip.  We had a lovely time on a perfect summer day at the lake.  Lots of swimming and skiing, only minimal sunburns, and no major injuries.  Win, win, win.  There were two minor incidents involving Little Brian losing a paddle and he and Cousin Whitney managing to strand me in the middle of the lake when the boat got blown into some rocks.  Eh, live and learn, I say.

Here are some photos from the day!

Right before that paddle got lost.

Cousin Whitney

That's me

Me again

Right before he dunked me in the water.

Posing with the ol' boat.  1974 model, still runs like a charm.

Dad and Little Brian

Cousin Whitney's crew.

My dad.

Uncle Rusty

Traditional father/daughters photo

Two of my favorite guys

The Freakin' Weekends (Part II)

“For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), It's always our self we find in the sea.”  ~e.e. cummings

In case you missed Part I, click here.

Next up, we have a weekend on the water.  A couple of weekends ago The Boy from Texas and I headed to New Mexico for some fun in the sun and time on the lake with the familia.  We kicked things off at the local restaurant where Aunt and Uncle Evil Kineval, Aunt Delta Dawn, my parents, The Boy from Texas, and I shut the place down (and then some) and my stomach was sore the next day from laughing.  It was complete chaos.  CHAOS.  It was also TBFT's first time to meet the aunts, and fortunately the crazy didn't scare him off!

Saturday was spent on the water.  In addition to the Aunts, Cousin Whitney, her husband, her dad and her father in law came along as well.  After two new boats broke down on us, my dad ended up bringing us the ol' 1974 model Chrysler, which pulled us all over the lake on skis and inner tubes and ran like a dream.  She's a classic!  Aunt Evil Kineval made two kinds of breakfast burritos both mornings and for dinner on Saturday a hugs spread of queso and tamales and grilled chicken and birthday cake.  It was some good eating, let me tell ya!  The Aunts both approved of the Boy from Texas after being impressed by how much he could eat.  Yep.  That's what matters in my family.

He's cute.

The newlyweds.

Cousin Whitney riding shotgun.

The Boy from Texas and the Aunts

Fun ladies!

 Oh, and I crossed going camping off my bucket list, thanks to Aunt and Uncle Evil Kineval letting The Boy from Texas and I crash their camper.  One more down!

And then I missed my flight back to College Station.  I guess that with as much flying as this little long distance relationship is making us do, it was bound to happen sometime.  Good news was I got an extra night hanging out with the Boy.  Bad news was I got to pay the change fee on a plane ticket.  Ouch. 

And lastly, I'll recap the past weekend when Loud Oklahoma Girl and I headed to Arkansas for our friend Chicken Plucker's wedding.  Now you guys know I've been to a wedding or two in my time.  I am going to deem Chicken Plucker's ceremony the one that is the most like what I want one day.  It was simple---a few vases with wheat and roses, some wheat tied in a bow taped to the end of a pew, one bridesmaid and one groomsman, a preacher, a couple readings, and that was that.  Forget all the other crap.  I loved it.  I'm also working on hiring her to be my wedding planner, but right now she's having a little PTSD after planning her own, so I'm hoping she'll be more on board with this idea in time.

The rest of the weekend was pretty low key, a lot of hanging out and talking with LOKG--we're good at that.  Church on Sunday. A fantasy football draft party.  We also did some running--and nearly dying of heat strokes.  And we spent some time with this sweet girl.  Meet Miss ABJ, who is LOKG's niece.  Aunt Tiff claims her too.

Me and LOKG

Post-run picture with the baby

At the football party

One more post-run sweaty mess of a picture

My Cousin Got Married at the Methodist Church....

“What was love, really? Flowers, chocolate, and poetry? Or was it something else? Was it being able to finish someone's jokes? Was it having absolute faith that someone was there at your back? Was it knowing someone so well that they instantly understood why you did the things you did—and shared those same beliefs?” ~Richelle Mead

I know I'm wearing everyone out with that line from the fabulous Reba, but I just love it so much that I am going to keep using it.  Sorry I'm not sorry.

Today, it's time to recap Cousin Whitney's wedding.  Sorry I'm a month late in doing that, but I was waiting for the professional photos to arrive so I could share those as well!

I have to admit that things started out a little rocky with the flight from hell.  But after that, it was all smooth sailing.  On Friday, we did a ton of wedding related errands and I swore that I will elope.  Cousin Whitney's phone must have rang 50 times that afternoon.  But never fear, because when she got stressed out, I loaded her in the car, blared Reba's song and we had a jam out, sing along, dance party.  You can't be stressed when singing in the car.  I think it helped.

That evening was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, both of which went really well.

Me and Cousin Whitney at the Rehearsal

The Bride and Groom

Rehearsal dinner

Cousin Whitney and her bridesmaids

 After that, Cousin Whitney and I snuck out for a while to go hang out with our family, all of whom were cooking out at Little Brother's house.  As Cousin Whitney put it, she just needed some time with "our people."  And they did not disappoint.  It was awesome.

Me and my favorite kid

Family gathering.

Our people.

Then it was time for the lingerie shower.  I think Cousin Whitney is pretty much set on lingerie for the rest of her life.  And we had the best time.  Seriously, an absolute blast.  My favorite part?  Headed to the shower with 6 of our family members jammed in Cousin Whitney's car with everyone screaming and laughing and being generally inappropriate.  Man, I love my family.

Cousin Whitney and the loot.

Western cookies

The party people.

Our family (we were all jammed in one tiny car)

After the shower (and staying out WAY too late at Little Brother's), Cousin Whitney and I headed back to her house for the night.  She put it best about 1 am when she told me that she should have run off to Mexico.  Weddings do make you feel that way!

Saturday morning we hung out for a while just talking about life, and then it was time to get rolling.  Hair, make up, dresses, a little dancing to calm the stress....

Then it was show time.  Her wedding was really beautiful.  I always love it when you go to a wedding and leave thinking "that was just so them," which is exactly how I felt about her wedding.  I'll let the pictures do the talking here.

The happy couple!

Walking down the aisle.

Cousins!

First dance.

Our family.

Our famous jumping photo--we have taken these all over the world!

My Maid of Honor speech (read it here)

Little Cowboy and The Bride

Best part of the reception

Me and my cute date

After the wedding reception wrapped up, the newlyweds headed off in a flurry of rain drops and bubbles.  The rest of the family headed back to a hotel room where we jammed like 15 people in one room and should have gotten kicked out for being so ridiculously loud.

Sunday wrapped things up with a big brunch at Cousin Whitney's parents' house for all of the family who attended the wedding.  Biscuits and gravy and breakfast burritos, you can't beat that!