Our wedding weekend! Part 1 :)

Our special day was on October 26th and it sure has been fun already to look back on the photos.

My sisters arrived a couple days earlier than my parents and our best friends, which meant quality sister time!

 I had bags with beach towels and goodies ready for the girls and Dusty surprised us with a gift card to dinner, Starbuck's gift card, and manicures and pedicures for all of us!

He even decorated the packaging himself :)

 My mother-in-law, Millie, was too sweet and had personalized bags made for everyone with wedding goodies inside...including 'Kassie & Dusty' pencils, tic tacs, chapsticks, etc.

She's a thoughtful one :)

 Our first night together we headed to LuLu's to use up one of our gift cards from Dusty.

LuLu's is a must go-to when family/friends are visiting.

Each morning we sat out on the deck and had coffee and breakfast together. 

I could get used to starting my day that way...

 And then we were off to the beach!

We had the most gorgeous weather for our beach day.

 Having your family come visit you and spend time where you live is one of the best feelings around.

 I may have instructed Sarah to run along the beach like this...she didn't even hesitate - gotta love that :)

After spending the day in Orange Beach, we went to check out Gulf Shores and had dinner at The Hangout.

 The next morning, it was time to get our manicures and pedicures!

We had our coffee in hand per Dusty's instructions included in his gift.

It's nice to be pampered once in a while :)

We managed to finish up a few of the decorations before the other guests arrived.

'Rehearsal dinner' night was started out at The Gulf.

We LOVED having all of us together in Orange Beach...so special.

 Gray finally was able to meet everyone...he sure enjoyed having company.

 My dad ♥

Yay! My best friend, Kara, in Orange Beach!!!

Come back now...you weren't here long enough :(

It was time to decorate on the day of the wedding...Dad headed straight to the bedroom for a nap. Ha!

 Everyone was such a great help with the decorating, the food preparation, etc.

Thank you to all again...you're the best.

 Thank goodness I had Kara to work her magic on me - she rocked my hair and makeup :) 

 Next post: the actual wedding! :)

35 things i love about dusty.

in honor of dusty's birthday on january 23rd, i have decided to write him a post.

35 things i love about him...since it was his 35th birthday.

are you ready?

 

i love...

1. that you keep the kool-aid/punch/tea pitcher in the fridge fulled stocked at all times.
2. that you bathe abby singer and don't make me.
3. that you are the official bedmaker.
4. that you enjoy painting my nails and insist on getting more colors and 'nicer' polish than the $1.00 ones i get, so you can really perfect your craft.
5. your sense of humor.
6. that you make me laugh...like no one else can.
7. being around you...it's all i want, to be with you.
8. how dang excited you are about our new record player.
9. when you play 'myrtle the turtle' with gray. i like the voice and life you give to myrtle.
10. your spontaneity.
11. that you think that 'slow cooking' makes everything taste better.
12. that it's important to you that we visit your mom almost every weekend.
13. that you think it's silly to get upset when things are spilled, broken, or when anything happens on accident. gray and i really benefit from your attitude on this.
14. you as a dad...you are wonderful, just wonderful.
15. that you believe i can honestly accomplish anything.
16. how no dream is too big in your eyes.
17. that you love my family...it is so awesome, you have no idea.
18. that you called my grandma on her birthday and offered her two versions of happy birthday: she chose the sexy version, and you delivered.
19. that you read my blog and get excited when i have new posts ready.
20. that we go on walks together.
21. how laid back you are...i take notes from you.
22. that you are always willing to be my subject when i want to practice photography.
23. that no DIY project scares you.
24. that you are crazy creative and talented, yet humble about it.
25. that you will always share a meal with me when we go out for dinner AND you let me choose it.
26. that you aren't afraid to be silly...not one bit.
27. your outlook on life...you've taught me not to sweat the small stuff.
28. the way you make egg sandwiches.
29. when you dance...it's great.
30. when you wear the full hannah anderson pj ensemble.
31. that at your work christmas party, you danced on a wood beam (like it was a pole) while everyone watched you and you didn't even think twice about it.
32. your ability to make people laugh.
33. how fun you are to be around.
34. how thoughtful and sweet you are.
35. how happy you make me.

i love you, dusty.

happy birthday!



long weekend. thankful.

i'm really looking forward to the four day weekend.

mostly because that means dusty and i get to be together all of those days.

 

we have a bit of separation anxiety.

spending the day apart while working? neither of us like it.

what's that...you're running to the store? i'll come with you.

now, don't get me wrong. i'm pretty sure i need alone time more than anyone.

but, being apart for more than a couple of hours is not our jam.

i know, it's ridiculous.

i hope it doesn't ever change though.

 

now, i made a list of options for possible activities to fill our weekend:

+ miniature golf

+ driving range

+ walks in our favorite neighborhoods

+ work on diy christmas presents

+ board games

+ hub stacey's for their yummy french dip sandwiches

+ garage sales/thrift stores

+ bonfire

+ hot tub

+ and of course, watch movies

 

before we can get started on our list, we will be preparing and hosting thanksgiving dinner.

i will be making a turkey for the first time.

wish me luck, and lots of it.
i'm also making a pumpkin pie, which will be the first pie i've ever made.
i would buy one that was already made, but dusty's mom gifted me a pretty pie plate that i have yet to use, so, now is the time.
the pumpkin pie will be made with a pre-made crust, fyi.

 dusty will be making his famous mashed potatoes with packet gravy and boxed dressing will be served.
oh, and canned cranberries were also a request...and warm dinner rolls are my favorite, so those will be on the menu.
chips and dip (made in crockpot) = appetizer
alright, well now you know what we will be serving.
that was not my intention, but it happened.
 

we will be missing everyone in north dakota very much, but thankfully we will be home soon for christmas.

so excited! 

 

also on the list for the weekend, counting our blessings.

happy thanksgiving!



Date Day in Florida.

Towards the earlier part of last week, it was decided that Saturday would be a date day...and Dusty would plan it.

He would be taking me on a special date.

A date that I would love and enjoy.

He would plan it all with only me in mind.

We would take turns planning.  When it was my turn to plan, it would be the perfect 'Dusty' date, not necessarily the perfect 'Kassie' date.

But, this week, Dusty was planning and it was my time to enjoy.

So, on Saturday morning, Dusty told me the agenda - we would be attending a Blue Wahoos baseball game in Pensacola.

The Blue Wahoos are the minor league team for the Cincinatti Reds.

Now, don't get me wrong, I do like attending sporting events, but it seems to me that Dusty possibly had himself in mind as well during his planning process.

Regardless, I was excited.

We were headed to Florida.

Even though it's only a couple of miles away, it still excites me when we cross that border and are officially in the sunshine state.

Besides this pit stop to snag a picture by the 'Welcome to Florida' sign, our first stop was Hub Stacey's in Perdido Key.

Hub Stacey's french dip sandwich?

Yummm...it's our favorite.

And it's on the water, which means you can't go wrong.

Our second stop was at a sports bar in downtown Pensacola.

Now, this part of the date SCREAMS Dusty.

Watching an entire NASCAR race on a Kassie ideal date?

Um, no...absolutely not.

My spirits/attitude gradually rose when the race was over and we left that bar.

And then, when we walked into the stadium, I was back!

A place I've never been to? And it's gorgeous?

New experience?

Our first baseball game together?

Now, this was what I was talking about!

I think it was possibly one of the coolest stadiums I have seen - completely open, clean, on the water, all of the employees were chipper and seemed to be loving their lives...IT WAS AWESOME!

Visitors in the future - if there is a game while you are here, we are going.

Date Summary:

• Hub Stacey's - fun, lots of fun...and the food was delcious, as usual.


• Downtown Penscaola to watch NASCAR - not fun.

Crabby, demanding, unhappy people as customers AND employees - really brings ya down.

(I tried to be cool about this part of our date, which is why we stayed for the whole race.  If I would have said 'can we please go?', we would have...all about give and take, right?)

• Baseball game - AWESOME.  I'm ready to go back.

Date Grade: B-

It's very possible Dusty was purposely leaving room for improvement.

 

Any suggestions on what I should plan for Dusty's ideal date?

Maybe we'll watch a Real Housewives marathon for four hours in between doing things Dusty will actually like :)

One of our favorite things to do.

We love sitting on the porch...especially when the sun is about to set/is setting...it's when the temperature is perfect - for now, anyways.
If I remember correctly from last summer, the temperature never becomes perfect during those hot, humid, summer months.
So, for now, I am taking full advantage of the outdoors while it's still enjoyable.

 

 

Protocol for our evenings spent on the porch:

Step 1: water the flowers

Step 2: turn the sprinkler on

Step 3: sit in our chairs, put Pandora on, watch the sprinkler, and enjoy the weather.

Sometimes, we take Pandora out of step 3 and put YouTube in there instead. 
You know, when you feel like choosing EVERY song and not letting Pandora do the choosing.

 

 

Our choices last night:

Something Corporate - Konstantine

Guns 'N Roses - November Rain 

Dion & The Belmont's - Runaround Sue

Train - Marry Me

Joe Cocker - With a Little Help from my Friends

Mick Jagger - Old Habits Die Hard

Michael Jackson - Man in the Mirror

This is Dusty's all time favorite song...it's starting to quickly climb the ranks for me too.

Couples Photo Shoot

Dusty looked at me the other day, told me not to move, ran to the car, and returned with camera and tripod in tow.

He's all..."you look beautiful...such a natural beauty. Trust me. Please let me take a photo of you."

Me: "seriously? no, this isn't happening. I don't want you to take pictures of me. Please put it away. Stop, please stop."

Before I knew it, he was taking pictures.

I hadn't showered in a couple of days, had not one ounce of make-up on, hadn't brushed my hair, just woke up from a nap after swimming all afternoon.

Do you think I wanted there to be documentation of this look?

No, I did not. 

I deleted 99% of them.

No one needed to see them. Ever.

Here is the one that survived:

Dusty insisted I post it...so, I did.

But the best part of this post?

Dusty's picture...for sure.

Mmmmm...I like it. A lot.