Happy Birthday Fiance :)

Since T is out of town for training this week we started celebrating his birthday Friday night. With the help of my mom's delivery service - I bought T a conversion ping pong top for the pool table. He's been talking about it for months!!


You have to admit - ping pong is fun! Especially when you win ;) I guess I should've been nice and let him win since it is HIS birthday - but nah! Saturday evening after lots of practice he decided it was time to keep score. I won 5 games out of 6. Claiming alcohol hindered his playing we had a rematch on Sunday. I won 2 out of 3. I have a feeling there will be many more laughs and fun stories surrounding the table :) Come over and play sometime!!

I think Todd might want some more practice before he's ready for challengers :)

Turning into my dad :)

Anyone that knows my mother and I, knows that I'm pretty much a carbon copy of her. Last night as I finished preparing my taxes to mail it struck me that some days I have a lot of my dad in me too. I've never before put off doing my taxes - but this year I sent them in on the last day possible. I remember growing up my dad ALWAYS put off his taxes until the last day - then took over the kitchen table with paperwork and forms (this was before the days of turbo tax). I think he loved going to the post office at 11:45pm to be part of the last minute mayhem. Just like how he always put off his Christmas shopping until Christmas Eve :)

Crazy day in Blacksburg

I'm sure you have seen the news. Blacksburg has been the scene of another 'freak' trauma. I'm safe as are my close friends. A state of shock hangs over the town as we try to comprehend what happened today. Stegar's words are so accurate - 'senselessness of such an incomprehensible and heinous act'. Just unbelieveable. How can someone do this?

I Loved Her First

by Heartland:

Look at the two of you dancing that way
Lost in the moment and each others face
So much in love your alone in this place
Like there's nobody else in the world
I was enough for her not long ago
I was her number one
She told me so
And she still means the world to me
Just so you know
So be careful when you hold my girl
Time changes everything
Life must go on
And I'm not gonna stand in your way

But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she'd find you someday
But it still hard to give her away
I loved her first

How could that beautiful women with you
Be the same freckle face kid that I knew
The one that I read all those fairy tales to
And tucked into bed all those nights
And I knew the first time I saw you with her
It was only a matter of time

But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she'd find you someday
But its still hard to give her away
I loved her first

From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
Someday you might know what I'm going through
When a miracle smiles up at you
I loved her first

wow - how can it be three years since I said goodbye? conversations are so fresh in my mind - it feels like I just talked to him yesterday. sometimes he's in my dreams, so real. i love those dreams. he's so much a part of me, present in all that I do. i miss you daddy - especially this year.

Sweet Sixteen!

No we're not talking basketball. Nor are we talking 'Watch Out, I'm getting my driver's license!' We're talking 16 days til I become Mrs. Metz :) Which has a little something to do with the lack of blogs. Life has been out of control.... but I'll try to update you soon on:

Wedding Planning
Award Winning Grisman
Bathroom Transformation
Wedding Planning
SML Girls Weekend
Wedding Planning

Happy 1 month Birthday Annabelle!!

Mom and I drove down to Charlotte last month to meet Annabelle! (which just happen to be on her 13th day in the world) Or course she is precious!! It was fun to watch C and J be parents! They were definitely in the swing of things. Here's a couple of pictures.


She's was all decked out to cheer the Hokies on the NCAA tourney!


With her favorite college mascot by her side :)


When she's awake, she's wide eyed and checking out the world.


This picture reminds me so much of my dad. Right now she is favoring J in looks. Check out those lips!! Too Cute!!


Big Stretch - Yawn.


Babies are wonderful! I'm looking forward to fun times with my niece!

Eskimo Love Song

As I was googling last night for wedding vows - I ran across this - just the title had me laughing. Though I'd share :)

You are my husband
My feet shall run because of you
My feet dance because of you
My heart shall beat because of you
My eyes see because of you
My mind thinks because of you
And I shall love because of you.

Reminds me of the penguins in Happy Feet :) I wonder beat it's sung too?

Hands Down - Best Steak Rub EVER

I discovered this recipe for Cajun Beed Tenderloin last year and made it a couple times in a month - then somehow forgot about it. When we got out our steaks to thaw the other night and went searching through the spices, Todd asked about it. After 15 minutes of digging through all my Light&Tasty's I finally found it! It is sooo tasty you can't help but make an 'mmmm' noise with every bite!! The recipe calls for Tenderloin - but I've made it with flank steak and rib eyes.

* 1 beef tenderloin (3 pounds)
* 4 teaspoons salt
* 1 tablespoon paprika
* 2-1/4 teaspoons onion powder
* 1-1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
* 1-1/2 teaspoons white pepper
* 1-1/2 teaspoons pepper
* 1 to 3 teaspoons cayenne pepper
* 1 teaspoon dried basil
* 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
* 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
* 1/8 teaspoon ground mustard
* Dash ground cloves

  Tie tenderloin at 2-in. intervals with kitchen string. Combine the seasonings; rub over beef.
  If grilling, prepare grill for indirect heat. Coat grill rack with nonstick cooking spray before starting the grill. Grill tenderloin, covered, over indirect medium heat for 50-60 minutes, turning occasionally, or until meat reaches desired doneness (for medium-rare, a meat thermometer should read 145°; medium, 160°; well-done, 170°). Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing.
  To roast the tenderloin, bake on a rack in a shallow roasting pan at 425° for 45-60 minutes or until meat reaches desired doneness. Yield: 12 servings.

It is a bit spicy so beware. I used 1.5t of Cayenne and it was hot, but not too hot :) (and I'm a baby about spicy!)

You're opportunity to plan my wedding!!

Ok not really - but you can pretend to be the DJ :)

I love music but am horrible at remembering artists and songs... so I'm looking for help from all you music buffs! We are not having a DJ - just queuing tunes on the iPod for the day. So we'll need....

pre wedding tunes (relaxing)
ceremony tunes
cocktail hour tunes (fun but not too crazy)
dinner tunes (relaxing)
reception tunes (for when we take a break from ballroom dancing)

Comment or send me an email!! Thanks in advance :)

My Favorites

Annabelle Grace

Daddy - awwwwwwe!

Mommy - so sweet! Check out that little foot!

More Pictures