WE'RE MARRIED!!!!

All of our family and friends have come and gone....our place looks like a tornado came through here....there's a pile of thank you's staring at us already.....we are exhausted but happy, excited, in love and each of us have a shiny pretty ring on our left hand! Holy crap, we're finally married!!!! After a 352 day long engagement that was most definitely full of its ups and downs (thankfully more ups than downs), some really special time spent with my mom and sister, an awesome bachelor party for Jordan and an amazing bachelorette party for me, and this past weekend getting to be surrounded by all of our family and closest friends to celebrate our wedding, made it all worth it. All of it. So what if we had an argument here or a disagreement there? The wedding still went on and it was magical and really, we all learned something about each other along the way. And that's what made it such a fun journey and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect guy to stand beside me throughout it all.

Our wedding weekend can be summed up in one simple word: epic. It was literally epic in every sense of the word. From the moment my parents got to town up until the moment we said goodbye to them and finally kicked back on our couch to take in the past few days. I don't want to brag, but it really was one of the most amazing and kickass receptions I have ever been to. Which rocks, since it was my own. And that's exactly what we wanted it to be, a huge party to celebrate! My Dad kicked things off with a very heartfelt, humorous and emotional father of the bride speech. He had all of us laughing our ass off one second and the next, crying like a baby, and just like that, laughing again a minute later. His love for me has always been obvious but his love for Jordan, and for us together, shined through and it made my heart so happy. Your parents can tell you that they're proud of you or that they love you, but when you can see it show through without hearing the words, that's just when you know. And the whole time he was speaking, I just knew and knowing that he's proud of me and Jordan, and loves us and supports us, well, that's a pretty great feeling. After all of the typical dances got out of the way, we kicked off the reception dance for all of our guests by having a "snowball dance" which basically started with the wedding party on the dance floor, and when the music stopped, we had to go get someone from the crowd to dance with us and this went on and on until everyone was out dancing! And the dance floor wasn't ever empty or clear all night from the beginning!!! The DJ was amazing and our family and friends were even more amazing! They know how to party and party we did...all night long! Party a little too hard? Maybe. Feel bad about celebrating my wedding a little too hard and drinking maybe just a little too much? Not at all. Jordan and I had the time of our freaking lives! All of those people were there because of us for our wedding and it was a very surreal moment when I looked out at the crowd and realized, "I know every single person here. And they're here because they love me and Jordan, support our decision to get married and want to help us celebrate." I don't know if I've ever experienced a moment like that but it gave me chills and I could just feel myself light up. Best moment ever. And like I told Jordan at the end of my toast, the best is truly yet to come for us and for our lives together. And I can't wait to see what is in store for us!

morning of the wedding...done with hair and make up!

Mom making sure everything is centered and looking good...fighting back the tears!

Teagan, the cutest flower girl and niece ever!

exchanging vows...I Do!

Hawks for life in front of Kinnick!

4 sisters!

our first dance to Matthew West "When I Say I Do"

and my second favorite dance of the night with my Dad
to The Temptations "My Girl"

I can't wait to get back our professional pictures! And to start using some of our awesome and neat gifts that we got! AND to plan a honeymoon with Jordan thanks to my verrrry generous family! How lucky in love are we?! Here's to celebrating 4 days of marriage and a life time of them to come!

Eeeek It's Wedding Week!!!

Well, it's wedding week.

My parents get to town on Wednesday!

My sister gets to town on Thursday!

All of our best friends and wedding party get here Friday for the rehearsal dinner and pre-celebration party!

And we are getting married on Saturday!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhh!!!!!

I can't wait for what's about to be the most amazing, entertaining, fun-filled, awesome, and memorable week and especially weekend of my whole life! Ready or not Jordan, we're walking down that aisle and saying "I Do!" in 5 short days!!!!

SINGLE DIGITS!!!!

SINGLE DIGITS AWAY FROM WEDDING DAY!!!!!!!

Holy crap. 9 DAYS is all we have left!! I absolutely can't believe it!!!!!!! This past year has flown by so fast and now it is really starting to hit Jordan, and me even more, that our wedding will be happening in 9 freaking days! We have all of the wedding favors wrapped and tied up so the last thing we have to do before we're completely done is finish the seating chart and put the labels of people's names on the place/escort cards! YES!!!! I'm so soooo happy that we all busted our butts the past year to get stuff done early so that now we can be relaxing and enjoying this next week leading up to the big day! I know come our big day, rain or shine (hopefully more shine than rain), it will be the most perfect, kick-ass party, and wonderful day filled with our family and closest friends so we'll be surrounded by love and laughter all day long. And at the end of the night, I'll be married to the best man for me and I get to spend the rest of my life with a wonderful and awesome husband. And really, all the drama and crap that we went through while planning this wedding and the challenges we will face ahead of us in our future together, doesn't even matter because we have each other to always lean on and love through it all. And that's all that really matters. Time to celebrate Thirsty Thursday with a drink with my fiance and to kick off (almost!) wedding week!!

3 weeks...

3 weeks.

3 weeks left until the wedding!!!!!

That means it's less than a month away. 3 weeks left to finish the seating chart, place/escort cards, wrap gifts, write some cards to my girls, finalize my parent's gifts, do a make up trial run and organize everything. Oh yeah and 3 weeks left to keep calling Jordan my "fiance" instead of "husband." 3 weeks left to try and relax, eat normal, sleep normal, not pick at my face, not overpluck my eyebrows, not get a nasty sunburn or awkward tan lines and not become a crazy person. Anyone can do or not do something for just 3 weeks, right? Right?!! Well, we're about to find out....

the bachelorette party extravaganza

I'm getting married!

We survived. I've been home since Sunday late afternoon and am just now coming back to life. This past weekend had to of been one of the most epic of epic bachelorette parties ever. EVER!!! My awesome and amazing sister (and maid of honor, whoop whoop!!), Janelle, planned the whole shin-dig and it was fabulous. Every single minute of it! On Friday, Janelle and I drove up to the Wisconsin Dells with our sister-in-law Kat and we got to the house we had rented for the weekend a couple of hours before everyone. The house was pretty bomb too. It had two bedrooms with a queen bed in each room, two full bathrooms, a giant kitchen and open eating area and then a huuuuge living room with two couches that pulled out to queen size beds. It also had a pretty sick patio complete with patio set for us to sit out on and chat it up. After unloading all of our stuff, Janelle kicked me and Kat out so she could do some decorating. To pass the time, we loaded up some cold brewhas and made our way to the pool...really, we didn't mind at all. After an hour or two, we made our way back to the house, oooh'd and aahhhh'd over all of the decorations and dove right into all of the snacks. Janelle had bought and brought with her all of my favorite snack foods!! M&M's and popcorn, chips and dip, puppy chow, chocolate chip muffins, donettes and pickle wraps...nom nom nom soo good and such a great surprise! And an even better surprise was the hilarious and delicious cookie cake! Thankfully, none of us got pissed off and stumbled around the yard with it like in the movie Bridesmaids. We actually devoured it and it was super tasty. After making sure things were all in order, we got cleaned up and the rest of the girls started showing up...it was the perfect sized group of 9 of us girls and I was so happy to be with my best and closest girl friends for a whole 3 days. We spent Friday night snacking, sipping on some drinks, and somehow it turned into everyone sharing their most crazy or drunken story involving me....so that was pretty entertaining. Lots of belly laughs and happy tears all night long!

ready to tear up Noah's Ark!

Saturday we got up bright and early to head to Noah's Ark! This is the world's largest waterpark!!!! We got there before the door's opened, loaded up on sunscreen and set out to tear up the park. And tear it up we did! I'm sure some parents/people around us in line didn't appreciate us from time to time as we were dropping plenty of f-bombs and being downright ridiculous but that's what happens when all of us girls get in our own world together! The day was mid-80s and slight overcast so it was perfect outside and none of us got fried thankfully. It was a blast being there and super fun to let loose with all the girls. We got the most out of our money before calling it a day to head back to the house for the real event of the weekend.

got your ass straps?

So, like I said, there were 9 girls staying in the house for the weekend. 9 girls. 2 bathrooms. 4 mirrors. Thankfully we all started showering and getting ready when we did because I'm sure it could have been a disaster and taken all night but we knew we had more important things to do, like make scenes downtown the dells and rage, so we got to it. All of my friends got me some awesome gifts and turns out they know I like to drink wine because I got at least three bottles, some new nighties and lingerie and a really sweet hanger for my wedding dress that says "Mrs. Easton" on it so that was awesome. Do I have the best friends or what? After the gift giving, we busted out some games and only played the game "The Game Of Things". It is a riot and had every single one of us laughing soooo hard! We played that for awhile, passed around a few bottles of celebratory champagne, took some group pics and headed downtown. And got really fricking crazy. Really fast.

watch out downtown dells, here we come!

trifecta love

and here starts the dance party....

queen of the hair flips

best maid of honor and best best friend

I'm getting married in 4 weeks. What what?!

Basically, to sum it up here's how Saturday night went down: we all collectively downed two bottles of champagne before leaving the house and had our fair share of "coma in a cup" and "strip and go naked" drinks so we were well on our way to a great night. We thought we'd go on a bar crawl, and well, one bar was all we needed. We took over and had a giant dance party going and hung out with a bachelor party group that was there. People were getting iced left and right. I successfully ruined an intense game of pool and a game of shuffleboard. I also started throwing ice....from people's drinks. Yes, just put my whole hand into their drinks and would throw the ice. Hilary was breaking her neck doing hair flip after hair flip. Kat was demanding my friends to make out with random dudes. Lisa was getting hit on by the creepiest guy in the bar. And Janelle was watching all of this happen and loving it and babysitting us. Before we knew it, the light's came on and it was bar close. We all got together in a group and somehow made the walk home in a giant single file line like a row of ducks with Janelle at the end being our Mama Duck. All in all, 100% successful night. 150% amazing bachelorette party out celebrating with my best friends.

Sunday was a rude, rude awakening. I've never had a more miserable 4 hour drive before in my life. And I wouldn't of traded it for anything. But before we left, all 9 of us girls crammed into one bedroom and laid all over the bed and floor to piece together the night and we spent all morning laughing. Best way to recap and relive the night ever. We also looked through all of the pictures which just added to the humor and hilarity of it all. So thanks ladies for the amazing beyond amazing and most epic of all bacheorette parties ever. I truly couldn't have asked for better friends who always love and support me, give me a shoulder to cry on, an ear to complain to and will stumble home right beside me at the end of the night! I can't wait to have another dance party and celebrate with you all at the wedding. Whomp there it is!!!!!!!!

One Month Out!!!!

Ahhhh we're exactly ONE MONTH away from the wedding!!!!!! I can't hardly wait!!!! Most people were celebrating the 4th of July today (and we did too!) but the only thing on my mind was the fact that Jordan and I will be getting married in one month from today!!!! This is a run down of my current thoughts and how crazy my brain is making me: What will the weather be like? Will everyone that has rsvp'd yes be able to actually make it? What if the people who said no show up, should I make a name card for them too? What if I spill something on my dress? What if it doesn't fit?!! What if my face breaks out the day before the wedding?!! What if Jordan just doesn't show up?!!!! Seriously, brain! Just knock it off already! Our wedding is in one month and this is what I know: it will be a fabulous and beautiful day with rain OR shine (hopefully shine!), if people do or don't show up that's up to them and out of my control so I'm sticking with only making cards for the people who said yes, we will be surrounded by our family and friends who love and support us....and well, I know Jordan is going to show up! I can't wait to marry him and be his wife and start our life together as Mr. and Mrs! Here we go the next 31 days as I'm sure they'll fly by....ready or not, but we're definitely ready, here we come!

And right now the main thing on my mind is.....my bachelorette party!!! We're leaving on Thursday and I'm so SOOO beyond pumped!! I don't think the Dells is going to know what's hit when the "Kate Cross extravaganza party" rolls into town!!!

About that baby bandwagon....

Lazy Sunday loungefest with T & K

So. I know I've said it several times how bad I want a baby and kids sooner than later. After having my niece and nephew stay with us the past three days, I still stand by that thought, mostly, and I'm not sure about Jordan. Shortly after the kids left, we both just passed out on the couch and recliner. For about a solid 3ish hours. We had the kids for 3 DAYS and were 100% exhausted and worn out! Not that I would trade it for anything because we had an absolute blast, but still!!!! It all started out Friday night with the electricity going out. Scott got here with Kat and the kids so we got a movie going for them and just sat down to eat dinner and every light went out. And then I quickly realized I don't have a single real candle anymore because all I have and use are Scentsy plug-ins!!! Damn it!!!!! We found about 8 tea light candle and used those hoping they would hold us over.....thankfully as Scott and Kat were walking out the door, an hour later, the power kicked back on and we had lights!! Ahh crisis averted!

Saturday morning rolled around and Teagan came into our bedroom wanting milk and to watch cartoons. Naturally, because the sun was up, she determined it was time for all of us to wake up. Until I realized it was 5:45AM so I convinced her that it was so early cartoons weren't even up yet, hung a blanket up in the extra bedroom window to darken the room and convinced her to sleep until 8:00. Now that's what I'm talking about! Once the kids woke up, we lounged all morning and watched cartoons then we got cleaned up to make a trip to the mall to see the movie Brave and to play at the playground. The movie was pretty good but kind of disappointing for a Disney/Pixar movie. It didn't have the classic "adult humor" in it like the Shrek movies and it actually had some pretty intense and scary parts that freaked out Teagan...Kemper was too busy chowing down on his popcorn to be scared! After the movie, we played at the mall playground then stopped at Target quick before coming home to pick up some new bath toys because my plastic cups just weren't cool enough or fun enough they said! On the way home each of the kids passed out for an afternoon nap and slept for about an hour once we got them inside.....looks like we do know how to watch, entertain and take care of two kids for a full day! We got them to eat an entire dinner and take a bath and they were asleep again by 9:30! Oh yeah, go us!!!

Sunday was our typical Lazy Sunday only with the kids this time....we had cinnamon rolls and watched How To Train Your Dragon and UP. Teagan and I played dress-up with all of my jewelry and some dresses and tank tops I let her play with. She is such a little diva! We did that while Kemper climbed up on and jumped off of everything in the living room with Jordan just laughing and encouraging it all.....boys will be boys I guess! It was the perfect lazy sunday just hanging out until Scott came back to pick them up! All in all, it was a fun and amazing weekend with the kiddos and I'm so lucky they live so close to us! Can't wait til our next fun weekend and sleepover in the future!