50 Questions for the New Year!

1.What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
got engaged, graduated college, got a job, AND got married! WHOA!

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I made a resolution to work out consistently...didn't happen. No 2010 resolutions for me!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?:
No one I can think of right now.

4. Did anyone close to you die?:
Chico- Sean's family pet- aka- Gwyn's favorite son.

5. What countries did you visit?:
Mexico!

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?:
I'm pretty content with all that 2009 had to offer- couldn't ask for more!

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?:
Febuary 28th, Sean proposed. November 21sts, married my love!


8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?:
As said before...engaged, graduated, got a job, and married the love of my life. All equally important.

9. What was your biggest failure?:
Didn't get the first two jobs I interviewed for...but I don't count that as a failure. Those jobs just were not where God wanted me. I am so unbelievably happy those two interviews did not work out because I love Endy.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?:
Just the piggy flu


11. What was the best thing you bought?:(was bought for you)
My ring- love it!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?:
uh? lots of people

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?:
ehh...who has time to worry about other people's behaviors?

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?:
Once again...getting married, gradating, and getting a job!

16. What songs will always remind you of 2009?:

"Love Will Keep Us Together" As performed by Kim McGowen

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i) ...happier or sadder?:
happier
ii) thinner or fatter?:
bout the same?
iii) richer or poorer?:
Richer! (only by a little bit, I did get a job...but I'm a teacher :)

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?:
relaxing...


19. What do you wish you'd done less of?:
Worrying.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?:
I spent it at with my husband, family, and friends.

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?:
Each and every day I fall a little more in love...thanks, Sean.

23. How many one night stands?:
eew...do people really have those?


24. What were your favourite TV programs?:
No time for new t.v. shows...only Friends re-runs!


25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?:
i dont hate people.

26. What was the best book you read?:
Recipe for Marriage...very cute book I found at Marshalls. Random.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?:
Kim singing Captain and Tenneal!


28. What did you want and get?:
to wake up to Sean every day...best thing ever!

29. What did you want and not get?:
a six pack...haha

30. What was your favorite film of this year?:
The Hangover....kinda happens when Sean watches it 2340923749 times.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?:
Left school right at 3:15, which I NEVER do. Then, came home, took a bath, got in my PJs, and let Sean fix me supper. I turned 22!

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?:
I really can't think of anything!

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?:
I'm not very fashionable...


34. What kept you sane?:
Getting a job....I was SO worried about that!


35.Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?:
no one comes to mind...

36. What political issue stirred you the most?:
I don't follow the news like I should.

37. Who did you miss?:
My students from Central last year and Kim.



38. Who was the best new person you met?:
My fabulous fifth graders and my lovely partner in crime, Marisa.


39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Life flies by....

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"For it was not into my ear you whispered, but my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul."

41. What was your favorite moment of the year?
There were so many....but the BEST was probably saying my vows and hearing Sean say his.

42. What was your least favourite moment of the year?
not getting the jobs I applied for...but, again, it all worked out for the very best.


43. Where were you when 2009 began?
With Stephen, Mallory, and Sean...that was the night he fake proposed. Haha...actually turned out to be a pretty funny story.

44. Who were you with?
Stephen, Mallory, and Sean.

45. Where will you be when 2009 ends?
Not sure just yet...


46. Who will you be with when 2009 ends?
Sean, Adam, and Jessica...and whoever else.

47. What was your favorite month of 2009?
November

48. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2009?
well, it was my first year being 21! Everything in moderation...

49. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2009?
Absolutely not. No way. Never, Ever.

50. What are your plans for 2010?
teach, be a great wife, and love life!!

Have yourself a "Married" little Christmas!

Getting Read for Christmas:

On the way home from the airport after the honeymoon, we picked up our tree. Real, of course! That night, as we also unpacked from our Mexico honeymoon, we strung lights on the tree and put up the 5 ornaments we had and some red bows. To us, it looked beautiful! The following week Sean's mom passed some of their old ornaments to us and we bought a few, too. Along with the tree, I made sure there were candles and something "Christmassy" is every room.

Where all we went:

The great thing about living within a 50 mile radius of EVERY single person you're related to is that you get not one, but many, opportunities to eat and share time with friends and family.

Christmas Eve-
5:00- Peggy and Ernests- supper part one
6:30- Richard and Opals- supper part two

Christmas Day
7:30a.m.- Puppy delivery and breakfast at Sean's parents' house
12 noon- Badin- Tina and Waynes- lunch and love martinis
6:00 pm-Supper at Sean's Parents' house- Italian style!

The next day-
6pm- Supper at Sean's "Aunt Bessies" Dumplins- YUM!

Sunday-
2:00- Lunch with Pickler family

Our first Christmas Morning

Woke up at 5:30. Puppy sleeping quietly next to the bed- ready for delivery to Sean's mom! We opened stockings that were left by Santa under the bed. Mine included chap stick, lotion, and some candy. Sean's included candy, candy, more candy, beef jerky, and a sweet love note! Following stockings we went to the living room, puppy in tow, to open our gifts to and from one another. Sean got me a camera and an amazingly beautiful oil painting of one of our wedding pictures (aww). I got Sean a drill, Columbia fleece zip up, and a Columbia fleece pants. The morning was so peaceful and full of joy. We have so much to be thanful for- anything under the tree was just gravy!

Tradtions?

-I liked our stocking being hid under the bed. It was fun opening them as soon as we woke up.

- Yule Log on T.V. stayed on all night-Christmas music playing

Pickler Honeymoon: Toes in the water, Toes in the Sand!

We left at 3 am after the wedding! We did manage to get about 2 hours of sleep and we were not ready to wake up! As we struggled to stay awake, we made our way to Charlotte Douglas!

The plane was NOT a good experience for me! We had a connecting flight with a layover in Florida. The first plane was TINY! I sat, absolutely silent, all the way to Florida. Then, I was alright when I was off the plane, but as soon as we boarded again, I was silent once again. The flight attendant even gave me free rum and coke to calm my nerves! Not a minute too soon, we landed in Cancun and I was just fine!

We stayed at Sun Palace. It was WONDERFUL! We spent a lot of time on the beach enjoying the sunshine and unlimited beverages. The room we stayed in was gorgeous and even had a hot tub overlooking the ocean! Food= wonderful!

The whole week was a time to relax from the stress of our daily lives and enjoy being married. I loved hearing "Mrs. Pickler" as we were greeted at a restaurant. Another perk was the spa service. I enjoyed two massages, a pedicure, and a manicure all for only 40 bucks! (We had a lot of spa credit because we were honeymooners). Even Sean got a pedicure because it was included! Hilarious!

One day we went to visit Isla Mujeres, an island not too far from Cancun. It was very beautiful and we got to visit their little town to do some shopping. We really didn't find any good deals and the sales people were very pushy but it was something cool to experience.

Another day, we spent the morning at a zipline tour. Sean did the zipline tour and I chickened out and instead enjoyed Corona and took pictures! Sean really enjoyed the tour.

The weather was great and it only rained one day. The water was a beautiful blue hue and the sun rose at 6:30 every morning and we left our curtains open so that we could enjoy the view. After we enjoyed the view, we had breakfast delivered every day! The menu included: cream cheese and bacon omelet, fresh fruit, orange juice, cresent rolls, and fresh juice. DELICIOUS!

Overall, we had a wonderful time! We enjoyed celebrating being married in one of the most beautiful place either one of us has ever visited.

And, yes, the flight back was every bit as traumatic as the flight over- but totally worth it!

From this day forward....

7:00 Woke up and ran around waking up all of the girls while jumping around and announcing "I am getting MARRIED today!" I then went and curled back in bed with Jessica and talked for a minute about all of the excitement. Then, I called Sean's mom and talked to her for a little bit, too. (Of course I had to spy on Sean that morning without actually talking to him) One by one, each of the other girls came in and we sat and talked for a little bit until we had to get ready for the brunch. I remember running around taking pictures and saying "I'm going to remember every second of this day!". Needless to say, I am sure I was annoyingly chipper that morning!

We rode to the brunch at Debbie's house hosted by some of the women in my family and ate yummy food. I gave each of the girls their gift and told them THANK YOU for all they had done over the past couple of months. They really are so awesome : )

After we finished eating Martha and I headed back to the lake house to work on my hair! We spent about 2 hours getting ready there and that time was special to me. Of course, she did a wonderful job on my hair. But, also, it was nice to spend time with my soon-to-be sister in law. She and Neal will be married soon and there are some things that she can especially understand because are marrying brothers. In other words, when I complain about Sean she understands because Neal and Sean are SO alike in some ways.

After my hair was complete we headed towards Central to get ready. Honestly, as soon as we got to John and Nicole's to get ready and all of my "ladies in waiting" arrived time flew by! Aunt Tina delivered such a sweet letter from Sean. His words were so sweet and so sincere. The letter gave me butterflies but surprisingly did not make me cry. I remember trying to picture him writing the letter. I then sent Sean's gift- a set of cuff links with Shanda, my matron. Next, I did my make up, waited for the photographer to arrive, and then put on my BEAUTIFUL dress. All of my girls were there, of course, but also my Meamaw, Sean's Mamaw, Aunt Tina, and Gwyn were also there. I just remember everyone smiling SO big and feeling so loved. The next hour before walking down the aisle was spent posing for pictures and making sure I didn't get my dress dirty! Thank goodness the photographer did not mind all of my crazy picture ideas. I also need to add that my girls looked HOT! Their dresses, hair, and feathers were awesome. They looked as if they were from a magazine! I even remember joking and saying that I should rent them out to other brides. Even cuter than my bridal party was my adorable flower girl was actually pretty convinced she was cuter than all of us because she loved posing for cute pictures!


Soon enough...it was time. The girls and I walked across the street and up the stairs into the school. We went quietly out of Sean's sight and waited to be called out for our turn. While we were waiting we ended up talking and laughing so hard at Tegan-the flower girl that we actually had to be shushed because people could hear us over the music! In what seemed like 2 seconds the girls were asked to come out and I was all by myself for about a minute. I closed my eyes, prayed, and concentrated on remembering everything. Sean's dad came back to get me and I might have cried a little had he not completely fell apart. Soon enough, it was time to stand in front of the double doors and wait for them to open! I stood, listening Cannon in D being played and the doors opened. No words can describe the feeling. At the end of the aisle stood by best friend. Sean looked incredibly handsome and truly happy.


As I stepped up next to Sean and felt him next to me I was immediately calm. My favorite part of the entire day was looking in Sean's eyes as he said his vows- so pure and sincere. After some brief and beautiful words from my preacher, a song sang by Kim, and our hands being blessed by the women in our families, we were announced as man and wife! We faced the crowd and Kim began our rather untraditional exit song "Love Will Keep Us Together!" by Captain and Tennille. Sean and I both were extremely excited!


The next couple of hours absolutely flew by! We took pictures (which are absolutely gorgeous), did all of the traditional stuff (first dance, cake cutting, tosses, ect) Before too long, it was all said and done! We had our "exit" for a photo op and then came back. Sean and I sat and enjoyed some time to just relax! Our wonderful families and wedding party helped clean up and break down. Afterwards, joined by some guests and our families, we went to one of our favorite places-El Ranchito! Finally, we had time to eat, enjoy a margarita, and let everything slow down. Of course, Sean and I were in full wedding attire ; ) A perfectly simple ending to our simple wedding!

Wedding bells and school bells rang for me on November 20th...

The day before the wedding...

Most brides are bouncing around running errands, getting pedicures, putting final touches on the venue, ect. Me? I decided it'd be just fine if I worked that day! So as all of the last minute details were falling in place I was with my students discussing the water cycle, division and playing dodge ball. HA! Luckily, my "entourage" was doing all of the running for me. My lovely ladies were making sure that there were flowers, a cake, decorating was finished, and that everything was in running order for Saturday. God bless everyone who lent a hand that day...wouldn't have pulled it off without you!

After school I signed off on my sub plans and headed to our fancy wedding venue, Central Elementary. I walked in and immediately my heart stopped and I teared up. Everything that we had worked on throughout the week was officially together and our Michelle was playing Cannon on the harp. Then, I caught Sean's eye and immediately knew that regardless of what happened in the next two days, everything was going to be alright because I was marrying HIM.

Six o' Clock rolled around and the rehersal began. Unfortunately because I am "little miss last minute" there were a few things that were not exactly in place. But, after 2 hours we did eventually figure everything out. By the end of the evening I was just so tired from spending and entire week preparing for the wedding and teaching 53 fifth graders that I honestly was just ready for it to be Saturday!! Sean was of course as relaxed as he could be!

After the rehersal at Central we went across the street to John and Nicole's house for a beautiful dinner. The menue consisted of baked ziti, bread, and salad. The food was delicious and the setting was relaxing and elegant.

Following supper, a few of the girls and I ran to Wal Mart to get some last minute items. After Wal Mart we headed to Jessica's lake house for a night that turned out to be the most relaxing one of the week. All of my bride's maids sat around and chatted until WAY past our bedtime. I looked around and felt so blessed to have such wonderful women in my life!

As I fell asleep last night I remember thinking...whoa!! I am getting married today!!