Our Engagement Party June 22, 2013!

So this blog has taken to long to write because I had it 50% completed and then my computer somehow lost everything that I had saved... and it was a lot of work too!! So unfortunately this post is not going to be as detailed as what I had originally planned because 1) It has now been a several weeks and I don't remember everything, and 2) I hate re-doing work that I already had done!! Ahhh! It takes me back to school when this would happen with papers...

In preparation for our engagement party, I went on pinterest for some ideas and I found the "love story" idea! We had this up by our food table for something for everyone to read. The last point has our wedding date... August 30, 2014!

Also in preparation for our party, we wanted to do some sort of activity that would allow for people to mingle. It was the first time Aleksy and my family were together and I thought instead of having everyone stay around those who they are familiar with, we would encourage getting to know one another. We divided everyone into teams and together they answered questions about themselves.

We also had these cards prepared for our guests where there was a story that was fill in the blank with some advise for Aleksy and I. Some of them were funny, some very thoughtful and some both! We have kept them all!

This prep work was done over many hours the days prior to the engagement party!

For the benefit of my sweet tooth, I made lots and lots of cupcakes for the party! Although the cupcakes themselves were from a box (vanilla and chocolate), I made the cream cheese and chocolate icing from scratch. And bought these little rings and tuxedos and wedding gowns on toothpick from good ol Dollarama.

Aleksy and I with my "bride" sash that I made for myself and my bridesmaids, and Aleksy's "groom" garter that he made for himself and his groomsmen. And Aleksy's bow tie that we bought at the street festival downtown from a vendor "Mac and Joel" who are also our photographers!

Aleksy put a lot of hard work into this banner! In case you can't read it, it says "She said yes". We got this idea (and the most ideas!) from Pinterest! I love it!

Group shot! This is everyone who attended our engagement party (well most anyways, some had already left by this time). Our closest friends and family members. Aleksy and I took this picture from our bedroom window!

Our friends surprised us with this cake with a picture from the day we got engaged and under it says "Congratulations Katherine & Aleksy". So thoughtful!

Aleksy's groomsmen! Warren, Kenny, Andrew, Zac, Al & Jon Jon!

And my lovely bridesmaids! My sister Steph, my friend Steph, Andzelika, Chelsea, Nikki, and Alyssa!

And Nikki's Mom was with us in spirit and provided me with a sparkly sippy cup that says "I'm getting married bitches! and Aleksy glasses that say "groom".

And we had to take shots in our "bride" and "groom" shot glasses! Aleksy had to take 2 because he didn't wait for the picture the first time... Ew, vodka shots. Following these shots, Aleksy and I had more drinks with Nikki & Jon Jon to follow (who stayed over!).

Also, my amazing bridesmaids made arrangements for this photobook (as well as a photo slideshow that was on display in my living room). All of my bridesmaids helped by contributing pictures from our adventures together! From Florida, to Chile, to Dominican, to Algonquin and Chile, there were a lot of adventures covered in this awesome book!

Summer 2013 in photos!

Hi! It has been a while since I have written because this has been a crazy busy, eventful, fun summer! Every summer weekend has been an exciting adventure and I am going to share pictures from these adventures. Many of these adventures included events relating to Chelsea and Warren's wedding. I will save a special post for Chelsea and Warren's wedding, Chelsea's bachelorette, stag & doe, and shower!

We had our engagement party in June in our backyard. This is our wedding party! 6 on my side, 6 on Aleksy's and one of my flower girls: my Rachel!

On the July long weekend, Aleksy, me, my sister, Kenny, and Rachel and Brandon went strawberry picking at Heemans! Aleksy and I used our strawberries to make daiquiris, strawberry ice cream sauce, and just for snacking! The whole basket only lasted about a week!

Brooklyn and I went canoeing at Fanshawe Conservation area after we camped overnight (campfire, smores and all!) for Brooklyn's birthday in July. It was my first time steering the canoe, and I rocked it!

Canada Day was really cold. Aleksy and I wanted a beach day really bad because we hadn't had one yet so we went anyways despite the cold weather, and sat in the back of the jeep with 4 blankets over us, and of course brought a couple drinks!

Later on Canada day, Aleksy and I went to the fireworks in Harris park with Chelsea & Warren. And had funnel cakes... because they're the best!

This summer, we have spent lots of time with our little man Colton! It is unbelievable how much he has grown when I look back at pictures from April/May! This picture was taken at Warren & Chelsea's stag & doe.

 Nikki & Jon Jon were able to make it down to London for the stag & doe and they stayed over afterward. The next morning, we went out for breakfast at the Early Bird an amazing little cafe on Talbot St. downtown with a lot of character! This picture is awesome for 2 reasons: Jon Jon looking sassy and This breakfast plate was called the "fat elvis": french toast, syrup, peanut butter, deep fried banana, and bacon... and probably 2000 calories but soooo friggin good!!

In July, Chels and I had a beach day with the doggies. Warren and Aleksy joined later. We started at the sand dunes near Grand Bend and let the doggies run up and down them. They loved it... but got tired half way up (for me it was 1/4 way up... its so much work!).

The last weekend in July, we went away for a weekend to camp in Al & Stephs trailer! We camped at this awesome conservation area near Watford. This picture is from our hike... I have Colton all bundled up in a wrap! At the trailer we ate, hiked, drank, ate, and ate some more! Such  good weekend away!

On the civic holiday weekend, Ribfest was on downtown. After arriving home from Grand Bend on the Saturday (from Chelsea's bachelorette), we headed downtown for some ribs. I got ribs, beans, coleslaw, and corn bread and Aleksy got the same plus chicken and pulled pork... and beers! And Trevor was working the rib fest, so we bought from his booth and he hung out for a bit.

A couple weekends ago, Aleksy and I went to the drive in to see "We're the Millers". Such a good movie! We try to make it out at least once a summer to the drive in... I love it!

Family beach day picture! We actually had the same family beach day on the same weekend last year! It was the weekend after the August long weekend! We went to Port Stanley for the day, Rachel built a sand castle and we stopped for some ice cream before we headed home. I even tried something different than birthday cake!

 Also this month, Aleksy and I had a weekend away at Mom & Paul's boat. Sailing, 8am Palm Bays, steak dinner that I ate entirely (which never happens), hike to the beach in Scarborough bluffs, and swimming in the lake (not me.. only Aleksy and Paul are crazy enough to go in that cold lake) are all signs of a good boating weekend!

The August long weekend, Aleksy and I went up to Toronto to visit Jon Jon and Nikki and they surprised us with a day outing to downtown via the GO train, and an impromptu ride on Nikki's brothers boat around centre island! Drinks on Jamie's boat followed by some more drinks back at Nikki & Jon Jon's place and a walk around the Port Credit harbour front including lunch by the water the next day!