A Call to Arms

Hello Readers (Mom, Julie and Shawna):

First, do not be alarmed by the time of this posting.  I am on my lunch break.  It's legal.  Second, I have been thinking deeply about this and I've now agreed to marry Ryan (I am about 85% sure of that anyway).  Consequently, I no longer have the option to marry other people I'd previously considered to be highly likely future spouses.  Accordingly, I would like to request that someone I know marry these people for my amusement such that I can at least be friends with said people. 

The list of the people I need friends to marry is as follows:

• Rob Dyrdek
• Tosh.0 man
• Geekologie Writer
• The Superficial Writer
• The person who came up with this
• The person who came up with this

I do not think this is too much to ask.  Please let me know who you'd like to lay claim to and we will try to make this happen.  Believe in the dream, kids.

Smooches,
Amy

Lake Hopping

I'm sure you have been losing sleep thinking I've been neglecting my life long dream of being a lake rat after a month long drought of lake mentions in posts.  Never fear friends, my sunburned shoulders prove otherwise.  Over the past couple of weeks, Ryan and I have been lucky enough to get to do a little lake hopping around greater Houston. 

Melanie and Jonathan invited us out on Lake Houston where we spent a day hunting ficitional investment properties, admiring Melanie's mad boat trailer skillz, catching up, trading highschool stories and trying to monitor the boys cursing about the stock market in the midst of unsuspecting children.  After boating we went back to Jonathan's Mom's house where his amazing mother was kind enough to let us swim in her pool AND feed us - an act of kindness she surely regretted after hearing Ryan and Jonathan's conjectures on child-rearing.  All in all, an amazingly wonderful day- thank you so much McClains!

I did a terrible job taking pictures.  The only ones I have are of the boys wakeboarding.  Go ahead and bask in their manliness though - they'd want you to.

Aggie Football talk > watching where you're going

Yanny Mac- trader or wakeboarding pro?  Hard to tell.

Maybe just trader.

Watching where you're going is for girls.

I think he fell immediately after this.

Okay, on to Lake Conroe.  The next weekend, Shawna & Austin and Jen & Brendan stopped by for the day.  As I'm sure you can imagine, the day can be summed up fairly concisely with the following art piece:

A lot of beer was consumed.  A lot of fun was had.   A lot of quotables.  Overall, great day with some great people.  I don't think I can explain it any better than with some pictures.  Enjoy.

Beerpong drafting.  Way cooler than fantasy football drafting.

Team Jawna

Team Ratt

Team Jumy

Team Hairy Chests.  What?  Does that not go?

Peace, love & brunch

Typical

Cuuuuuute

I can't stop laughing at this one and the next one...

The next day, the Martins and the Eastmans came up to Lake Conroe.  Ryan and I's families haven't spent much time together but at this point it's too late for either party to try and talk us out of dating.  You have to figure if Ryan's parents can tolerate hearing the same story involving Cheerios and babysitting 10 times in one night, they can most likely stomach Daddio's fashion sense, right?  (Don't worry, we did tell my Dad he couldn't wear his shorts and hiking boots together for this soiree - just to be safe)

Nothing bonds a family like some spirited games of floating beer pong.  We spent the day swapping embarrassing stories (mainly about Ryan - I've never done anything embarrassing obviously), eating fajitas, cooing at Kylie Pie, and taking a boat ride.  It was an absolutely perfect day - I love myself some Marstman time.  :c)

Mr. Martin & Daddio versus Ryan & Matt

Eastmans versus Mrs. Martin & Ryan

Kylie thought Mom's visor was hilarious

Most beautiful future niece in the world

Almost as good as fajitas

Hahaha.  I love this picture.

Kylie's hat is not one size fits all

Tiffany, Ryan E & Kylie

This is where I get it from

The end.

Shift-ing Gears

As you are most likely aware, for the past year and some change Ryan has been working shifts.  (See what I did with that title?  Haaaaaa.)  In real world terms that means that he worked 12 hour shifts (5:45 am to 5:45 pm or vice versa) in a crazy 5 week rotation.  In Amy terms that translates to "oh, I have a boyfriend?"  Starting next Monday Ryan comes off of what he affectionately refers to as his "LaQuinta hours," and rejoins the rest of us in our 8-5's. 

Doesn't he just scream Corporate America?

Although Ryan is distraught over the idea that gym shorts and a t-shirt will no longer consitute appropriate office attire, I, for one, am very excited to have him back.  No more turning down fun things on the weekends, no more trying to move around holiday days and no more trying to work on weekends so I can hang out during the week to fit his schedule.  I'm sure Caddy will appreciate his more regular trips to the lake to dispose of her leftovers.

For all of the things I am looking forward to about this change, I also realize there are a few things I'll miss.  Namely the following:

• 1 weekend, out of every 5, of whatever I want to watch on TV (Say yes to the dress marathon?  Don't mind if I do.)
• Surprise car washings
• Picking up sushi for dinner
• Watching great chick flicks without Ryan's "girl voice" echoing the main character's every single line  
• 1 full week, out of every 5, of complete control of a computer without hearing "Can I please check my fantasy line up real quick?  The game is about to start!"
• Ryan running errands for me during the day
• Full nights on my couch of combing HAR.com and watching HGTV (I love you, Candice Olson) without judgement

Some of my favorite stories from this season of life include:

• Thanks to his week off, Ryan spent 3 days running all around Houston with my Mom to pick our wedding venue because I was in busy season and couldn't
• When Brendan tried to plan he and Jen's wedding based on what weekends Ryan would have off
• Going up to Ryan's office during the Superbowl where they had a full spread of homemade BBQ and fixings.
• One time I was at the lake hanging with the family on a weekend night.  I sent Ryan a picture text of Abby sleeping on the floor so he could see her new collar (HEY- she looked really cute).  He responded with a picture of himself at work laying on the ground in the same position.
• Going to dinner and a Rockets game with the Martins, Eastmans, Krueggers and Sechlers even though Ryan couldn't make it
• Taking Ryan Taco Bell at the office at midnight on his birthday (I'm quite the romantic)

All in all, I'm thankful for this phase of life and all that it brought both Ryan and I, but I'm even more grateful to have a fiance again.  :c)  Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a few more nights of remote control freedom and My First Place is calling my name.

Nuptial News: Installment Two

In comparing this issue to the first, you would think I've gotten nothing done this month.  You would be mostly correct... but I did get one BIG thing crossed off the list.  I now have a dress.  This was the part of the process I was most nervous about (after finding a place that is).  It is such a relief to have it crossed off! 

The timing worked out so perfectly and I could not feel more fortunate.  On July 24th I went to the Princess Bridal with my Mom, Jen, Julie, Mrs. Martin and Tiffany in tow.  I am so thankful they were there because I was standing in the middle of a room blankly staring and not saying anything.  You might say I was catatonic.  Luckily they flew into action and started pulling dresses...otherwise I may have stood in the same position for at least 45 minutes.  I tried on about 8 and we all agreed one was a winner.  It happened to be exactly my size.  We left without getting it because my Mom is a lot more logical than me.  :c)

Later in the week my Mom told me since it's a big purchase, you want to be absolutely sure and since it was the first time I'd tried on dresses maybe I should try another place.  Blah, blah, blah... All VERY logical and wise things to say.  I booked an appointment at another bridal place and then called back the Princess Bridal to make my follow up appointment (I felt pretty certain this was my dress).  When I called back the Princess Bridal I found out the dress I'd tried on was for sale in a sample sale the weekend of July 29th and that it was 60% off.  Immediate rush of panic.  I set up an appointment at 5 pm on Thursday (the first full day of the sample sale).  I also proceeded to inform them that I'd be calling the next day to check on it.  A lot. 

I called the next day at 11:30 (1.5 hours into the sample sale, mind you) and they told me a lady from the Woodlands had called about that exact dress and was on her way to look at it.  I crossed my fingers, moved my appointment up to 3:00 and got myself some Schlotzkys that I was too nervous to eat.  At about 1:45 my Mom and sister couldn't take the suspense anymore.  They called and told me they were going up there and that I should follow suit.  I got there at 2:30 and miraculously the dress was still there.  I knew because my Mom and sister were standing next to it, guarding it like lions.  A few people there told me that I was very lucky because the dress had been tried on already that day.  Apparently the person from the Woodlands had tried it on and left to think about it. I tried it on one last time, teared up a little and the dress was sold. 

"What does it look like?"  It is white.  That's about all I will divulge.  I've always been a weirdo about dresses.  I wouldn't even show my homecoming dates my dresses beforehand.  I don't want you all envisioning some ethereal goddess and then being disappointed when it's just me.  :c)  The only disappointment I want anyone experiencing on July 9th is that Ryan didn't enter on an elephant.  Oops, did I reveal too much? 

Things Accomplished:

• BOUGHT A WEDDING DRESS!
• Set up a date for a bridesmaid dress-a-palooza
• Set firm date for engagement pics
• Started researching videographers
• Set up a food tasting appointment
• Added more questions and to-dos to my list

Things in the Pipeline*:

• Still shoes (though thanks to Shawna's photoshopping skills I have some more ideas)
• Booking an officiant/minister
• Videographer
• DJ
• Everything

Ryan's Contributions:

• Wedding Favors: Whataburger bucks
• DJ:  A DJ who is also a magician

* if you have suggestions, by all means - lay 'em on me!

I wonder what I'll get accomplished in the next month....

Countdown to Brunch Season

As people's Facebook statuses, the increased frequency of time spent on ESPN by your loved one or reading the headlines on MSN may have indicated - football season is upon us.  I played a variety of sports as a kid and regardless of my lack of skill in most, I enjoy watching nearly all (golf included).  I have always considered myself a sports ethusiast -until 2007 when I started dating Ryan, who can only be classified as a sports fiend.  Too much of a moderately good thing is a very bad thing.  Ever since then my love of sports has taken a 180.  Football season is hands down the season I dread the most.  Allow me to take you down memory lane.

Football Season 2007 - "Ignorance is Bliss":  Ryan and I had just started dating and so he did a pretty good job of tempering his overwhelming love of football season with his overwhelming love of spending time with me (haaaaaa).  In order to help in concealing his true obsession, he tried to find ways to include me in said passion.  I'm sure some of you may remember the great Fanny Pack incident of 2007. (Sidenote:  There is no such thing as a bet you can't lose.  No matter how good UT's record is and how bad A&M's offense is.)

Christmas shopping in Rice Village on a Saturday in December is made infinitely better by having to wear a fanny pack because you lost a bet.  (Yes, I did in fact wear that shirt in hopes it would make the American flag fanny pack blend - mission: fail)

I, also trying to be a good significant other, would sit and watch game after game with him without complaint.  This season actually went remarkably well in comparision to others I have known since then.  Ahh, the good old days.

Football Season 2008 - "Hey, remember me?":  Ryan and I had been dating for a year and a half and so we were fully over the honeymoon phase.  It could be said we were over it 3 weeks in when he decided that flatulence was no longer a private matter, but for the sake of this story we'll say it wore off sometime between football seasons 1 and 2.  Ryan decided we were finally at a serious enough stage in our relationship that he could take me, a longhorn, to Aggieland for a game.  We went, they lost and that is the last time I have been to College Station my friends.

First (and thus far last) A&M game.

This is the season I became fully acquainted with the depth of Ryan' love affair with the sport.  I was no longer interested in watching 48 hours a weekend of football and he was oblivious to the fact that there was an existence beyond his living room (or Brendan's living room) on Saturdays from August - November.  I grew very accustomed to him disappearing on a Saturday not to be seen or heard from again until sometime Sunday evening.  I guess that's not entirely true... I would receive encouraging love texts such as: "I'm seriously done watching the Aggies.  4 letter word, 4 letter word, 4 letter word."  (Love you, boo).

Football Season 2009 - "I'll give you a call in December (after the Big 12 Championship, obviously)":  Full-fledged obsession.  I'm not sure I saw him at all last football season.  However, I'd learned my lesson from football season 2008.  Every weekend Ryan and Brendan had a standing date with either Taco Bell or Jack in the Box and Jen and I had a standing date with any one of the remarkable retail establishments in either Rice Village, the Galleria or Westheimer.

This past weekend Jen and I were commiserating with the Florida ladies, Caitlin and Jenn about how close football season was.  We came up with a fabulous way to ease the pain of being football widows.  This year, we will begin our own hobby: Brunch Season.  Each Sunday as our respective men sit around and grunt at the TV while remarking on Kirk Herbstreit's latest tanning exploits, we will be found sipping mimosas and recapping our weeks at a local restaurant.  If you find yourself feeling similarly, please feel free to let us know and we will be sure to include you.

Not sure if you're a football widow?  If any of the following apply to you, you may want to participate in Brunch Season:

• Your significant other has showed up to your birthday (unfortunately placed in October) more intoxicated than you for 3 years running
• You could have carried on an illicit love affair between the months of August and December without even a second question
• You have had to threaten your significant other to within an inch of his life because he will not stop texting JT his friend for score updates at a wedding
• You have a fantasy football line up memorized - and you don't play fantasy football
• You know the vegas odds on the outcome of any given game for the upcoming weekend

Bring on Brunch Season 2010 - after all, everyone is a winner when there are mimosas and eggs involved.

Oh, the man I agreed to marry...

Contrary to what some of my blog posts and my constant teasing about Ryan might lead you to believe, I love a million and one things about my fiance.  Not the least of these million and one things is how hard he makes me laugh. 

The other night he was trying to be responsible and going to bed early since he had to be up at 5:45 am.  Like a puppy, I am not easily self-entertained and during HGTV commercials I insisted on throwing things at him and flicking him.  He ignored me for a solid 2 minutes despite my knowing he wasn't asleep.  Knowing it would coax him out of silence, I started this exchange:

Me:  Hey, what if I was your child?  Would you be ignoring me right now?
Ryan:  *without opening his eyes and without skipping a beat*  First of all, if you were my child you'd be in your cage right now.

What on Earth am I getting myself into?  Is it too late to list him on Ebay?

Sexy Dexy's Homecoming

This past Saturday, on Noah's one week birthday, Austin, Shawna, Dena, Matt, Caitlin, Jonathan, Brianna, Jen, Ryan and I drove down to Clear Lake to see Jenn & Taylor's new house and to meet precious little Noah Dexter.  Noah's proud papa has already given him a nickname - Sexy Dexy.  I'm sure Jenn will grow to love that one. 

We dined on cupcakes and pizza, watched SportsCenter and Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (guess who was in charge of the remote), hung out by their beautiful pool and took turns holding the little man. 

Thanks for having us over Jenn and Taylor and welcome to the crew, Mr. Noah!

Jenn & Taylor did such a fabulous job- how cute is this?

Noah has more clothes than I do.  Dena is shocked.

Caitlin, Shawna & Noah

Caitlin & Noah

Shawna & sleepy Noah

Transitioning is hard.

Dena & Noah

Austin, Noah & Taylor

Noah & his beautiful Mother

Jen & Noah

Me & Noah

Look at those big blue eyes

So precious.