Say yes to the dress already!

So I had thought I had my dress picked out pretty much before Tony proposed. Now I am not sure. I think I picked it because it was inexpensive and simple. You can see it here: http://www.bridalonlinestore.com/Collection/displayimage.asp?image=haylee-front-b.jpg

It is pretty. But I am not going to get married again...so I suppose I should get something I REALLY LOVE. So I went dress shopping several weeks ago. Tony's stepmom Diana, Steffanie and Ashleigh came to give me their (very) honest opinions. It wasn't nearly as much fun as I had hoped. First of all, it is actually very exhausting trying on dresses. Some of them are heavy, and some require an unusual amount of flexibility to get on and off. After 3 hours, I was starved, dehydrated and nursing a migraine. It wasn't all bad...we had some good laughs and the ladies were very helpful and it was kind of amusing to see my daughter trying on wedding gowns as well;)

I do like this one, I love the fabric and detailing, but strapless dresses squish up my armpits. Not something I want on my big day;)

I like the back of this one......

This was Di's favorite one.

This one is VERY pretty!! But there are those squished up armpits again.....

I was noticing I look like my momma in this picture..A LOT!

I really like the red...makes the dress pop.

So my search continues, I am going in a couple of weeks to another dress shop. Perhaps I will find "the one"!

Engagement Party

Tony and I celebrated our engagement on August 29th, at the very lovely home of Mike and Diane McKeel in Gresham. If you did not get an invite, well it got lost in the mail. Seriously. I had very nice invitations made up, and the company was supposed to mail them individually to all of our recipients. I received a message from my mother telling me thank you for the beautiful engagement party invite......all 26 of them!! Needless to say, the company screwed up and mailed all the invites to my mother..in KANSAS!!! I found this out less than 2 weeks before the party. They will NOT be handling our wedding invitations.

Anyways, regardless of that small obstacle, we had a wonderful party. Good food, awesome friends and family and we could not have asked for a more beautiful location. Thank you Aunt Diane and Uncle Mike! And thank you Papa for your very sweet speech. I am honored to be joining such a wonderful and loving family. And there is also the fact that it was a reason to get my hair done and buy a new dress....and shoes;)



I get the feeling he kinda likes me.......



Tony & I and our sweet flower girls.

A little about the bride-to-be....

Well as you know, my name is Brandy=) I was born January 21st, 1977 in Cameron, Missouri. My parents split before I was a year old, and when I was 3, my mom packed all we had in her truck and we drove to Oregon, where she met up with my step dad. I lived in Beaverton with my mom and half brother until I was 13, that's when I was placed in the foster care system. After that I moved several times, before I ended up in Gaston where I went to high school and met my kids' dad. I did not graduate with my class, for me raising my daughter took priority. I did get my GED in 2006.

My bestie and I on the day I recieved my GED.

In 1997, I was reacquainted with my dad, and reconnected with my older brother. We have alot of making up to do....which is hard to do when so many miles separate us.

I love so many things, but right up there at the top of my list are God, my kids, (Tony of course!) and photography. I am blessed to be a work at home mom, I am a daycare provider and have been for 15 years. There isn't anything quite like being able to send your kids off to school with a hug and a kiss and greet them when they get home with a smile and fresh cookies(=

In my spare time (Do mom's really have this?) I love to read, and scrapbook and plan new adventures for my kids. I also enjoy writing, especially about things I have strong opinions about! Sometime in the (hopefully) near future, I will once again have a horse...another object to keep me busy...because quite frankly I don't think I am busy enough;-)

Some other things that make up ME are....working out, wine, camping, fishing, thunderstorms, music, singing ( although I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket), having someone brush my hair, cooking, dancing, the beach, being spontaneous, tickle fights, laughing so hard I cry, arguing, taking naps in the sun, road trips, snuggling with my kids in my bed, foot rubs, nachos, planning awesome parties for my kids, watching football, shooting hoops, dreaming, making smores with the kids in the back yard, babies, candles, getting my yard ready for spring, orchids, roses, lilacs, Ashleigh's wit, Dustin's sensitivity, Aiden's orneriness, my girlfriends, shopping, getting a pedicure, leaving a legacy for my kids, being right...ALL the time, dressing up for no reason at all, teasing people, animals...specially mine, BBQ's, and making a difference in the community.

There will be a pop quiz on all of this=)

Meet Anthony's Attendants

BEST MAN...Brother Bob, who somehow missed out on being best man at my first wedding, is now in his rightful place as best man. He has always been there for me no matter how hard a situation has gotten...he, like all my fam, know what it means to be there for one another...i have truly been blessed to have him as my brother and my friend...and my backup....he will tell you the Flying M story if you ask, and its always best after a couple brews:)

A little about him...anyone that knows him well knows that life revolves around the Philadelphia Eagles.... haha well they are a close second to his kids and Rye anyways....but football season is huge....and UFC is huge....and he is also the yamhill county horseshoe champ:) He does concrete for a livin...thats a mans job! He works and takes care of his fam....he is a homebody for sure...and there is nothing wrong with that!

We have been through alot together and I'm sure there will be more to come...but we always have each other to turn to.

GROOMSMAN.....Kodie Goodwin....

Kodie and his sister Kealie are really two of the most important people from my past...they would be my stepchildren, although I hate that word, so I will partially claim them as my own, from my previous marriage....I learned so much with them....I was kodies little league coach and I loved watching him play sports....one of my favorite memories was raising "Creampuff" with him...that was a pig he had for 4H...sometimes we would go fishing and play video games or stomp around the house like Stone Cold Steve Austin HAHA but seriously he is one of the best people I have ever met...his heart has always been huge and he has always cared so much for everyone....my life is better having known the kodeman....

And now he is growing up into a fine young man...he is in college at Cal-Poly and plays lacrosse...and he is pretty darn good from what I hear...and I would expect nothing less from him....I always knew him and Kealie would be excel no matter what life had to offer them.

Meet Brandy's attendants

Matron of Honor~ Angela Tanis, friend of the bride.

Angie and I went to high school together, but it wasn't until several years later that we became close. We have been there for each other through the best of times, and the worst of times. When something crappy has happened in my life, she is the first person I call. When something exciting is going on, she is the first to know. We text and instant message each other every day! We share alot of the same interests....kids, photography, being totally goofy and a passion to serve God.
With Angie's strong encouragement, I went back 3 years ago and completed my GED. Angie drove 4 hours to see me "graduate". Angie understands me, and shares in my joys and pains and her love contains no boundaries even when we are miles apart.

Maid of Honor~ Ashleigh Keithley, daughter of the bride.

The closest, deepest, most connected and most challenging relationship is with my daughter. Sure we have those moments when I have to be "mom" and am not very popular for awhile. But when the storm passes, we are back to being best friends. She stands for what she believes and will not back down just because someone else thinks she should. I feel most times like she is the person I would like to be most like. Isn't it funny instead of her following my example, I want to be more like her......

Bridesmaid~Steffanie Frost, friend of the bride.

I first met Steffanie in the flower shop in Yamhill on Valentine's Day several years ago. We struck up a conversation, and I felt my very soul bond with hers. Although we did not speak of spiritual matters, in my heart I knew she was a fellow sister in Christ. It was some time later when we happened to attend the same church service that my hunch was confirmed. Steffanie has seen me at my worst, and still cared enough to call (and keep calling when I would not return her calls) and to stop by to listen and share a glass of wine. Even with her crazy schedule of work, raising 2 boys and everything that entails, she has made time for me.

Junior Usher~ Aiden Keithley, son of the bride.

Of course I want my youngest to have some sort of role in our wedding, and being that he is a tad too old to be a ring bearer (and really whats the point in one, since they never really walk down with the rings) I have created a role just for him. He will help escort my beautiful yet ornery flower girls down the aisle=)

Flower Girl #1~Kaitlyn Jacobs, daycare buddy of the bride.

I have taken care of Kaitlyn since February 2005, when she was 2 1/2 months old! She is definitely part of our family, and we have gotten very close to her parents as well.

Flower Girl #2~ Taylor Jacobs, Goddaughter & daycare buddy of the bride.

I have cared for Taylor since September 2007. These girls are like my own. Lisa, their mom asked me this last spring to be Taylor's godmother. I was so overwhelmed with emotion to be asked this honor. I am honored to have these sweet babies in our wedding=)

The kiddos

I thought I would take time to talk about 3 of my favorite subjects.....Ashleigh, Dustin & Aiden.....the 3 lights in my universe.

Ashleigh is 15 and to say she is my daughter would be an understatement. She is also one of my best friends. We have a very close relationship. (Think Rory & Lorelai from Gilmore Girls) When she talks to me, she doesn't hold much back....

Ash is outgoing, spirited, strong-minded, and a great leader. She volunteers for anything. She speaks her mind. She loves sports, specifically basketball & track. She doesn't care what other people think about her. She has plans to become a teacher in the future, she just isn't sure what to teach=)

Dustin is my middle man, he will be 14 in 2 weeks. He is VERY sports minded, loves watching them and loves playing them. He will be a freshman this year, and is slightly anxious about this new chapter in his life.

Dusty has now passed his sister and mom in height! It's a little weird to be looking UP to him when reprimanding him;-) He has been hitting the gym this summer, which is giving him some much needed confidence. He isn't really sure what he wants to do after high school, but I am sure it will have something to do with sports!

Aiden is 9 and my little fireball! He is almost always up to some sort of mischief=) He is extremely bright, and his teachers have told me that he is one of the smartest kids in class....the problem is...school bores him! He would much rather be at the swimming pool, or outside with his bike, or lifting up rocks in the yard in search of bugs, or snuggling with his momma;) He is definitely my baby!

Overwhelmed already!

I didn't really "plan" my first wedding. My dress was borrowed from my foster mom, and I had a few flowers and balloons for decoration, and we had a cake. Venue was my church at the time.

Tony & I have tentatively set a date for August 21st 2010. And now everything rushes to me at once...colors, venues, cake, food, attendants, flowers, hair styles, dress, music, wedding favors, guest lists....oh and the most important part for me....a photographer. Now this is the part that is REALLY getting under my skin. Being a photographer myself, I know how much work and time goes into shooting a wedding and editing the pictures. And I know I undercharge a little. But do people REALLY spend THOUSANDS of dollars on a photographer and NOT have all your images on a disc? I thought I had found one for $750...based on a friends recommendation...but it turned out to be LAST year's price:( This year's price is $1100. So the search continues......

So I have my dress picked out, our colors (pink & red) and our attendants are chosen. That's about it......

And she said yes...

Tony proposed to me on June 20th. We had talked about our future many times, however I must say I was very surprised! We were standing in my kitchen talking and being...well....kinda mushy;) He looks at me kind of funny and I ask whats up? He says "I am just trying to figure something out". He then tells me we should go outside for a minute. My heart dropped! The only reason for him to want to talk outside would be to...*gasp*...break up with me!! I went out side and sat down on the front porch, and then I was told to close my eyes. WHAT?! He kneels in front of me, and says "Huny, you are my greatest gift...will you marry me?" I was bawling, he was bawling....I look up and.....said YES! Just then, Ashleigh and her friends walk down the road and see me crying (Tony's back was to her) and SHE thinks Tony just broke up with me. Before she could lay a smack down on him, I held up my hand hand. She was like "My mom just got proposed to!!" All the girls started jumping up and down and screaming. What an exciting evening!