Blessed

I am feeling so blessed tonight. I just spent the weekend with all of my best friends from college (missing Madison) and had such a wonderful time. We live all over the world and we can just pick up like it has not been a week since the last time we talked. We celebrated our newlywed Megs. Meghan's husband Chris just deployed so this was perfect timing to take her mind off of the deployment. 

Liz and Kristy met me in Nashville and we rode together on Friday to Knoxville. 

Our first stop, LeeAnn's parents house on the lake in Rockwood. we spent the afternoon. This is my 2nd time to visit LeeAnn's parents house and love sitting on the deck looking at the lake. Besides covering ourselves with bug spray it was a great way to kick-off the weekend.

Me, LeeAnn, Carolina, Liz, & Kristy

Sweet Carolina and Auntie Christy - she truly has such a great personality!

Our view enjoying catching up and sweet tea!
Watts Bar Lake, TN

We headed to Meghan's to meet up with the rest of the girls and went to dinner at Aubrey's in Knoxville. This year we have been so lucky to see each other quite a few times! After dinner, we stayed up late at Meg's house and talked more, debated Paula Deene, and laughed and laughed!

Does not matter how much I share with the pups that I am just not into them they find me and want my love anyways!

Saturday morning and early afternoon we spent showering Meghan. I am going to post her shower pics and details in a separate post.

After the shower we headed to the hotel that Garrick had gotten for us and it was perfect. We hung out at the pool all afternoon. Shopped, ate dinner, and went out for drinks and dancing in Market Square. The highlights:

Ayres Hall
The Hill at UT 

Love this! Jess showing off her six-pack!

Bathing beauties

Kenz was in for "winter break" from Brazil.

Besties

Dinner at Tupelo Honey

Let's get this party started!

Megs, Me, and Mel
We look like we are completing the diamond.

Featuring Liz

Mel and I showing off our Jazzersize and Zumba routines - this was much prettier in my head

Kris and I backing up Liz as Destiny Child

I have no idea what Meghan called these but toasting the bride!

"I'm on a Boat"

Meghan's Wedding Shower

Meghan's bridesmaids hosted her a post-wedding shower this weekend since we could not do it before the wedding and it was wonderful! There were 9 of us ADPi sisters there to celebrate Megs. I hope we were able to show Megs how much we love and care for her. 

Each of the guests wrote a note to Chris and Meghan to receive weekly until he returns in January. 

Jessica and her new monogram machine added a special touch to the runners

Petit fors from Daisy Cakes

Mimosas were a hit! 

My favorite part of the ADPi house, the Parlor Room. This was the perfect setting for opening gifts.

Meghan walking in to see the details for the first time.

Hostesses with the new Mrs. Ruel

My besties and the hostesses for the shower

The buffet style lunch was delicious! 

Melissa led the "How did Chris answer the question?" game and Meghan did great! 

The bridal party did a photobook for Meghan filled with memories.

The shower guests

Alpha Kappas Pledge Class 1998

Just casually hanging in the parlor room

Jess and I finally have some good pics together!

Mel and Me!

Meghan's Wedding Weekend

Meghan and Chris got married this weekend in Knoxville and we had such a fun wedding weekend! The weather was perfect and all the festivities went off without a glitch. Meghan was a very calm bride either that or just a quiet one=). I think my favorite part of the entire weekend was just being able to have so much one-on-one time with my best girlfriends. We had plenty of time to laugh and catch up!

Thursday night all the bridesmaids came into town and we met for dinner and lingerie gifts for Meghan. Friday we spent the day getting manicures and pedicures before the rehearsal. The church was beautiful! The rehearsal dinner was at Club LeConte downtown. The wedding party gave some great roasts and toasts all fairly appropriate. We stayed with Meghan at Cook's Loft downtown and it was great. We all got ready there and headed to the Wedding. The Reception was Knoxville Museum of Art. I can't wait to see her official wedding pic - I am sure they will be so good! CONGRATULATIONS MEGHAN & CHRIS!

My gift to the bride. The must for tailgate season.

Bridal Party

One of our bridesmaid gifts from Megs. These were so cute and very much in theme with her new Military life!

Bridal Party at the Rehearsal.

Future Mrs. and Mr. Ruel

Friends Forever

Pina Coladas

Sapphires with my best freinds

I find this picture hysterical. Mel and I look like Shirley Temple gone way wrong!

The beautiful bride and her favorite bridesmaid-)

All dolled up

Another gift from the bride. These were so sentimental and cute.

The new Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Ruel

Liz taking care of our men at the Sun sphere Bar while we were doing wedding pictures.

We had a huge ADPi turn out from our pledge class.
15 years from when we all pledged together!

Groomsmen singing "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" to the bride.

Dancing!

They had an artist at the reception doing these as gifts to the guests. These were all hysterical. He kept saying to me, " Wow! You have such a great smile - takes up your entire face!" Why Yes, I see he captured that about me. Garrick got nicknamed White Fang after this.

Sending off the bride and groom!

And we are back at the Sun Sphere Bar

Chris, Garrick, Chris Walters, & Clint
Sunsphere Bar

This sums up the weekend.