A Best Friend's Wedding

This past Saturday, Ryan's best friend Adam married his stunning wife Elisa. Ryan and Adam have been friends for nearly 20 years (since they were 10!). Ryan and I started dating when we were 17 and it wasn't long after we had started dating that I got to meet Ryan's best buddy Adam. It was immediately obvious what a fantastic guy he was. And thank goodness for that! I met him when Ryan and I were in that totally infatuated stage of dating when you're love drunk and can't think clearly. Like you hope you're thinking clearly, but you can't really be sure. And I remember thinking 'K, obviously I'm not the only person who thinks Ryan is a THE MOST AMAZING GUY EVER. Adam is top notch quality and he seems to think Ryan is best friend material. This is a ringing endorsement for what my doe-eyed, teenage heart seems to have been telling me all along'. Ha! 

Adam's support, loyalty and overall 'couldn't find a better best bud than this guy'-ness has been such a huge blessing in Ryan's life and in mine. They don't come better and I'm just so grateful Ryan and him have remained so close over all these years. In fact, nine years ago on this same weekend, Adam was Ryan's best man at our wedding. Nine years later, Ryan was his. Longstanding, quality friendships like these come along once in a lifetime and I'm so glad these two continue to be there for one another, year after year. 

The cherry on top of it all? He met and has now married his absolute soul mate, Elisa. And we all just love her!! It's clear they will be so happy together and we just couldn't be happier for them ♡

Nine years married to this man as of this past Tuesday! Not sure what I did to deserve him, but I'm thankful every day that we're together. He is the kindest, wisest, most patient, reliable, funny, hard working and admirable man I know. He's my rock and my greatest pleasure. Life with him is an adventure I don't want to miss one moment of. And now, to be expecting a little one together? Almost too much for this overly hormonal, excessively-prone-to-waterworks gal to process. Suffice it to say, I LOVE this man and I LOOOOVE our life together. 

// little baby is definitely a visible bump these days :) //

Fortunately, our weekend got a little work/vacation extension so we could keep the good times rolling. Ryan had to head down to Spokane after the wedding to purchase a vehicle for work. So we made a leisurely road trip out of it and had a blast! We stopped by Sandpoint's city beach to stretch our legs en route, stayed at the beautiful Davenport in Spokane, ate our way through the city, spent waaaay too much time and money at Hobby Lobby (how did I not know about this heaven before??) and felt entirely grateful that after nine years married we love each other's company more than ever. Definitely one of those sweet summer weeks we won't soon forget. 

Flames Game

Last weekend we were treated to a lovely night out at the Flames game by our friends Matt and Billie. Billie and I have been friends since the day we were born as our mother's were close friends. Matt and Ryan have been friends since middle school. As luck would have it, during a period of time in our lives where we hadn't seen one another for a while, we each ended up dating the men who would become our husbands. The childhood dream of two little girls during so many of our hundreds of sleepovers became our adult reality rather serendipitously. 

However the stars aligned, we were reconnected through our then boyfriends and the group of us have been in touch ever since. Its a neat thing with Billie and I. No matter how much or how little time goes by, we seem to have a kindred connection that spans distance and time. Its such a sweet relationship in my life; one I'm incredibly grateful for. 

week of friends. weekend with ryan. ♡ perfect ♡

Last week my social life and I reconnected. After weeks of annoying myself (and other's I'm sure) by repeatedly saying 'maybe I'll have more time next week?', I was finally able to catch up with most everyone. With packing and moving and then RV'ing and moving once more, the last several weeks have been such a blur. I'm sure there's been more time than I felt like there was. But like I've said before, when going through change I tend to take care of the essentials and then recluse to cope as I become comfortable with my new normal. I'm working on that knee-jerk response of mine. In time, I'm sure I'll be able to carve out time for everything. But as things stand, I'm part extrovert part hermit. I am who I am :)

Anyway, over the course of the week I was able to see several of my friends. Soul food I tell you!! Reconnecting with my most favourite people is high on my list of life's best and most simple pleasures. Then, because the weather was so terrible on Saturday Ryan decided to work from home. Meaning he was home for two whole days over the weekend!! Big. Deal. And even though Saturday was mostly work for him, it was such a treat to have him around. On Sunday we had a belated and joint birthday celebration with Ryan's family for me and my mother-in-law. It was a lovely time with family. After that the boys went to the football game and I made my way over to my mom's new place to help  set up her tree and hang some pictures (She is still recovering from her broken shoulder so it's a good thing us four kiddos are around to come by and help her get settled. PS. Her new place is GORGEOUS. I'll share pictures soon!).

I wish I had taken more pictures last week but I was too busy gabbing my face off, lapping up overdue time with my favourites. So, the one snapshot of one coffee shop I managed to take will have to suffice. Also, and unrelated, but I am really digging the views on my drive home these days. I wish an iPhone photo could do the mountains justice, but take it from me…in person they are 100x bigger and 1000x more breathtaking. 

This past week(stagram)

A few snapshots from last week, as illustrated through my Instagram feed + one photo kindly sent to me by my bff (thanks Nicole!).

This will result in a brain-trail, thought-dump of sorts. 

Last week my Mom and I hit up Evelyn's in High River. We were on our way to attending an MLA candidacy debate, and felt like we needed some pie for sustenance. Random? Yes. Awesome? YES. 50's style diners are so awesome. Turns out they didn't have any pie left. It was 5pm and they were closing. 

Yes. we were in a small town. 

So, we ended up settling on a date square and a slice of coffee cake. Scrumpsh! (Sidenote: I tend to shorten words in conversation, and often don't have much difficulty translating those words when writing. But I have to admit...shortening the word scrumptious had me scratching my head for a second there.)

That night, I wore pink lipstick. Now, this may not seem newsworthy to some. But it is to me. I'm not a lipstick wearing kind of gal. At least thus far in my life. But, I've decided that, everything now and then I'm gonna give it a go. There's something so uniquely feminine about it. And sometimes a girl's just gotta feel like a girl, ya know?

Another night this week, the hubby and I partook in one of our favorite bottles of wine while watching the last three episodes of The Walking Dead. Ok. That show is crazy. I can't really describe why I like watching it so much. I can say though, that having a glass of wine while watching it certainly helps me palette it's craziness. That show is a major train wreck. I want to look away. but I can't. 

A couple times this week, we were graced with some April showers. Showers! Anything not frozen, falling from the sky by way of moisture is A-OK with me. I was pretty pumped about it. The air smelled like rain. Fresh rain. Is there anything better?

By the time I got home, my backyard looked like this. I'm not going to say anymore. I'll get emotional. 

To cope, I talked it out with Memphis. As you can see from his facial expression, he's like, so over this. 

Later in the week, we went out on a date night with my bff and her hubby for dinner and a movie. Since having their sweet little baby girl 18 months ago, we hadn't been out on a double date... if you can believe it! It was definitely overdue, and as fun as we had hoped. We went to see The Hunger Games and then finished the night at Earl's with some appies and drinks. 

We totally asked the server to take a photo. We were those people. Momentarily I felt awkward for doing so. I always kind of do. Then, I quickly realized, we're the era of social media. Everyone takes pictures everywhere. Its totally fine. In fact its better than fine. We're documenting fun times we don't want to forget. So go on! Take pictures! You won't regret it Carli! 

Good talk, self. 

PS. Love time with great friends! Could not be more grateful for these two :) Love you guys!

I thought it was safe to put these puppies away. It wasn't. So I called them back up to the big leagues. At least for a few more weeks. 

Over the weekend, I caught a coffee date with my sweet sister-in-law Tara. Love that girl. It was a much needed catchup and a coffee at Java is very difficult to say no to. See for yourself. Mmmmmmm....coffee.

That same day I had a yummy lunch with my dad at Joey's. We were catching up before he left on an extended trip to Egypt. So excited for him! He's been wanting to do something like this for some time now. 

Random Carli Fact: I don't like salads. I like veggies, but salads as a meal, I tend to avoid. Not this one though. This salad, if we can call it that, is my kryptonite when it comes to salad. It makes me forget I ever had anything bad to say about them.

Halfway through our lunch, my brother Tyrone decided to join us. It was lovely seeing this guy. I don't get to see him often enough, so when I do, it's a major treat. We snapped a mini, half family pic. We're the dark haired members of the family and we stick together like birds of a feather. 

I don't know why I said that. 

But I love them. Thats the main point I was getting at. 

All in all, it was a lovely week. 

And, can I just say that I'm so grateful for things like Instagram and this blog. I really wanted to create a space where I remember the lovely things that happen in my life. Taking all these pictures and blogging about them has been so helpful in encouraging me to stop, slow down, and realize that wonderful memories are being created every day...even during a very simple week at home.