Where do I start.....(part 1)

Since it has been so long since I posted (and someone has taken to adding his own 2 cents), I don't know where to start.

Some highlights of the last few months:

1. Passed Will Ferrel in a Dallas hotel in July while he was out promoting Teledaga nights (wrote a very nice blog about it which will remain in draft mode most likely forever....)

2. Had bridal shower #3 at the Walls home (last weekend in July)

3. Two weeks before the blessed event was in beautiful Dublin for work(ok so it was Ohio)

4. Ran around like a crazy woman the week before the wedding finishing all of the last minute details (programs, menus, seating chart, etc).

Side story: During the last week - I was having some difficulty getting a hold of our very ditsy wedding coordinator from the reception site. Finally 3 days before the wedding I find out that she is "pursuing other opportunities within the hotel". I was pissed - I decided not to lose my head over it because I wasn't overly confident in her abilities - but it still was frustrating to have to walk someone else through the wedding details......

5. Rehearsal Dinner - was awesome. A very relaxed dinner at Portillo's with family and close friends. My dad gave a speech that made me cry and Steve and I even managed to pull off the "Steve and Katie Show" a powerpoint pictorial of us throughout the years.

6. Post Portillo's, Steve decided he need to give me a wedding gift that night back at our house. He had made (with the help of my mom, his sis and his mom) a scrapbook of pictures of me over the last 28 years....again more tears. It was so sweet....I couldn't help but feel bad that his gift was less than sentimental (to be opened on the wedding day - the Band of Brothers DVD set and a very nice card)

7. Morning of - I woke up (I guess that is what you call it after going to bed at midnight, walking up at 3:30 and falling back to sleep around 5:30), took care of the pup, showered and headed for the salon. Jill and Amy were well on there way to beautiful and soon it was my turn.

Becky (my neighbor and hair stylist) did an awesome job on my hair and make-up. Needless to say - I don't wear much make-up (read: NONE) and so I was not good at letting someone be so close to my eyes. She finally relented on the eyeliner as I explained I would tear up and ruin everything else.

We all headed back for the house - not without some drama in between though....

Steve had forgotten his tux at the house and so we had to coordinate it getting to him without us talking - in hindsight - we probably could have relented on that rule. He also then called Jill while I was getting ready because he also needed "something" (to be identified later) for the reception - which he could only somewhat describe to Jill and I had to hide in a bag for him to get post-ceremony, pre-reception.....I know it's confusing.

So I am eating my Jimmy John's, Tony is on Portillo duty because the photographer is early and I am not even in my dress yet. I say to the photog"here - take some pictures of my very pretty and uncomfortable shotes". I was so not ready to be in charge of the getting ready - and a little overwhelmed by it all. As Steve said when he looked at the pics - you were not smiling with your eyes.

I get dressed and we take a few pics by the bay window. I then have it my head that it will be an awesome shot to have me in the front hallway up on the staircase....I didn't really plan on how big my dress was and the 3 inch heels - but I made and didn't kill myself.

I will now take a short pause so that I can rejoin my life (ie packing for a work trip to Dallas) and will plan to pick up this saga at a later time.............