Ross and Sarah get Hitched!

2 Blogs 1 Day .:. Can you dig it? Me neither....okay more updateing....

FINALLY! The day came for Ross and his wonderful, amazing, fiance, Sarah, to get married!!! We have literally been waiting for this wedding allllll year and the time had finally come for Ross to get a wife and for me to get a sister (whoop whoop!). The rents and I travelled to Fort Collins about five days before the wedding began. Those five days flew by as we were helping to prepare for the wedding, welcoming family into Colorado, and pretty much just having a great time.

On Thursday, July 1st, Ross and Sarah held seperate Bachelor/Bachelorette parties. Sarah's best friend Katie and her fabulous mom put together a great dinner for all of the women in attendance at a country club in FC. We ate, drank, and were merry! We also played a couple of fun Bachelorette games. One was answering questions about how well you know the couple and I don't want to brag or anything, but I won! Ha! After the dinner with all of the ladies we went to a local bar that had swings for bar stools. It was pretty cool. Late the guys came over and we all just sat around and visited and had an overall great time!

{Cousins (Me, Emily, Catie) ready to kick off the Bachelorette partay}

{Nothing says "I'm ready to party" like a boot. Sarah has a stress fracture in her foot, but was still ready to have a good time.}

Friday was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Katie's amazing family had all of us over to their house and we had a big bbq complete with backyard games. I don't think any Walker family event would be complete without some sort of game or competition. It was a great night with a gorgeous sunset and fun people. We were ready to go with the wedding!

{Double Rainbow! Just a perfect completion to the awesome Rehearsal Dinner}

Finally, Saturday the big day was upon us! I went over to Sarah's mom and sister's apartment at about 8:30 and we started getting ready for the wedding. We had a great time just putting on make-up and doing everyone's hair. After we got ready, we went to the park where Ross and Sarah were getting married and took some fun pictures. We went back to the apartment and just hung out until the limo came and picked us up. The limo finally rolled up and we all trekked downstairs from the third floor. I was wearing these cute little heels and all of a sudden as I was walking down the stairs made of rock granules I trip and skidded down at least 3-4 stairs. Pretty typical Alyssa move. I wasn't hurt just a couple of nice scrapes on my knee and shin. Just so you know band-aids photograph beautifully during weddings. It was a pretty good laugh at least! We got to the circle at Colorado State (this gorgeous lawn lined with trees between all of the buildings) where the wedding took place. Ross and all of the guests were there waiting for us. We pulled up and as soon as we got out of the limo the wedding started. We had to walk at least three miles down the sidewalk a.k.a. aisle - seriously looooooongest wedding walk ever. Ross hadn't seen Sarah until the moment that she walked down the aisle and it was a pretty great moment! I was a blubbery mess during the entire wedding. It never fails, I always cry. But overall it was such a gorgeous wedding and so well meant. There was a really special part where the preacher mentioned that Ross had told him that he wanted a marriage like my mom and dads and commended them for making it work and having such a great relationship...uh cue waterworks now... so sweet.

After the wedding, the entire bridal party piled into the limo and went to one of Ross and Sarah's favorite places to eat in Fort Collins, Big City Burrito. These burritos are huge, but they are soooo yummy! We ate our burritos, piled back into the car, then headed to the reception. The reception was sooooo much fun. Serioulsy, the dj was the best that I had ever seen. There was one point where every single person their was in the congo line. It was so so so much fun! We danced and danced and danced! Overall, fun times had by all.

{First Dance.:.Awwww}

{Air Guitar Contest, pretty much the highlight of the night.}

Ross and Sarah are so absolutely perfect for each other and I couldn't find two greater people. They literally fit together like a puzzle and were put on this earth to be together, okay that was super cheesey, but very true. I am so blessed to finally have Sarah as a sister! Now the girls out number the boys in our family, and let me say, that's a good thing! Plus, now Ross and Sarah's dog Mack isn't illigitimate! Yay! So happy for you both and love you bunches!

Lyss

Summer Recap

Hello Hello!

Here I am again this time from my brand spanking new apartment in Burlington, VT! I can't believe that I am FINALLY here after what seems like a million years of discussion, training, and more discussion this summer about coming to Vermont, I and my ELC pal, Mallory have arrived! But before I start sharing VT stories, I must update you on my life since I last posted in April. I think I'm getting worse at blogging since I decided to make it a point to be better at blogging...so is life!

Okay, so before I left the face of the planet, I was in Indy living at HQ and having a blast! The four consultants who returned for our second year all lived together in Indianapolis and had a blast! Here are some highlights of the summer...

• Hil's Bday Surprise: In May, we celebrated Hilary's 23rd birthday! We had a super fun time! Matt, Hil's boyfriend, Mallory, and I planned a surprise party for Hil. Mal and I decorated Matt's hotel room while Matt and Hil went to a street fair. We went all out...streamers, silly string, a pinata, confetti poppers. She was totally surprised. It was pretty great! Mallory and I even made her a cake, which was decorated quite awesomely if I do say so myself. Mal's boyfriend and two of his friends came to Indy to celebrate with us. I think it will be a birthday that Hil will remember for quite some time! {Pic: Hil and her sweet cake}

• Dave Mathews Band Concert: So, it poured, I mean torrential down pours including thunder, lightening, and wind and we unfortunately had lawn seats so it wasn't as much fun as it would have been if it had actually been nice out. We watched the opening act then the sky literally opened up. We waited it out for two hours and then Dave finally came on. We stuck it out for five songs in the rain then decided to go home. We were sopping wet, tired, and pour Justine had a really bad cold, so it was time to head our. It was a good show, but I wish it wasn't raining so we would have been able to stay for the whole thing. Regardless, it's a good story :) {Pic -All the ladies before DMB and yes the sun was actually shining before the concert!}


• Indy-500: On a redneck note, we actually attended the Indy 500 as well! Ha! We were told that the Indy 500 is more classic then NASCAR because it's Indy cars, which are mostly European drivers...needless to say, I don't think everyone got the classy memo. BUT, we went, we saw, we conquered. It was a cool experience and hey! I can say that I actually went to the Indy 500! {Pic: Justine and I at the I-500}
  
  
• Nashville: During the summer we also traveled 300 miles to Nashville and met up with our FIJI consultant friend John and his friend Chelsea. Matt was brave and trekked all the way to Nashville with Justine, Hil, and I. We had such a blast. The bar scene in Nashville is awesome because of all of the live music. We went to a ton of fun country bars, a club, and a piano bar [I <3>
  
  
  
  
• Strawberry Festival: Our boss thought that it would be fun to take a little time out of the workday to head downtown to the annual Strawberry Festival. It's not so much of a festival as it is a giant sale of strawberry shortcake, which I have absolutely no problem with. The sales of the strawberry festival help support this beautiful old church that is right on the circle downtown. DELISH!

So these are pretty much the highlights of our summer fun working in Indy! The four of us had such a wonderful time and have gotten so much closer. We are really close friends which is so unbelievably wonderful. In the spring we will all be in Hilary and Matt's wedding and can't wait to make some more memories. Here are some pics of my favorite ELC ladies and I! {Mallory & I - we're based together in Vermont}
{Hilary and I - she's based in Tampa and will be getting married to the wonderful Matt in May!}
{Justine & I - Justine is traveling and leading all of our first year traveling ELC friends!}

I'm going to blog again today! I know! Two blogs, one day...that's crazy talk.

Later,

Lyss