My little sissy is not so little anymore...

Yesterday was my not so little, YOUNGER sister's Sweet 16 birthday! We have a 10 1/2 year gap between us so I've been trying to transition from the "motherly sister" to just the "older sister", if that makes any sense at all!? There was a weird couple years where I couldn't help but try to make her innocent and protect her as much as possible. Now that she's getting older and I'm no longer living with her all the time I can't help but let her be her own person. But with that said it makes it easier to be more sisterly vs. always trying to take care of her, and although I wouldn't trade the past 16 years for anything, I'm excited for the years to come! She's not into sports like I was but she has a HUGE passion for music (which I think is from me taking her to concerts all the time when she was younger) and would love to get into cosmetology (bring on the free haircuts!). She is growing up so fast and turning into such a beautiful young lady and I'm so proud of her! She looked so cute yesterday at dinner in her new dress and heels - which put her a good foot taller than me since I was in flip-flops! Yes, she's taller than me anyway, but let's not talk about it okay!? Anywho - my point being that she's getting older and so am I but I feel like it's much more drastic for her. I look forward to having her stand by me as I get married and the many more years to come together as best sisser friends! :)

Happy Birthday and I love you Sisser!
Xoxo,
Your (older) Sisser

Invitations!

So my cousin Stephanie has been designing our wedding invitations and she informed me that they are in the mail as of yesterday! I am more than excited for the following reasons:

1. The proofs look AWESOME!!!!!!!!
2. So glad to have her graphic design expertise - an added family touch! Love it!
3. They're not like anything online anywhere, custom baby! Ya!

Photos to come when we get the delivery!

Thanks again Cuz! :)

Coming up - Debbie's birthday, My lil sisser turns 16!, and the Lasley-Scalise shin-dig!

Preview of Pictures

We just got an email from our photographer Mary Sandy and she has blogged about our engagement photo session! :) I'm so happy with the preview - they are amazing! Take a look for yourself:

Link to Mary's Blog

Let me know what you think!!

Engagement Pics are DONE!

Last night Andy and I went to the Desert Botanical Garden and took our engagement pictures with Mary Sandy. I will be the first to say that after looking at photography sites and thinking how easy and fun it looks - I was SO wrong! Being a model for a couple hours turned out to be much harder than it seems - it didn't help that we had a constant audience around at ALL times. With guidance from Mary we were able to loosen up a bit and get comfortable with the the camera. I'm very excited to see how they turned out! The main reason we wanted to take the pictures at the DBG is because their is a special exhibit - Chihuly: The Nature of Glass. It's something unique and hopefully made as a beautiful back drop. By the time we were walking out we had a family calling us the "married couple" because they managed to go on the same paths we did. One guy did a double take of Andy - I think he thought we were famous or something and Mary was the paparazzi! Ha!

Overall it was a great time and got us used to being photographed so come the Big Day we're ready to model and act like we're professionals! So check back in a couple weeks and we will hopefully have pics to post! :)

Happy Anniversary Grams & Gramps

Last weekend my Mom and Dad hosted a surprise 36th anniversary party for my Grandma Patti and Grandpa Dave! It's been hush-hush among all their friends out at PebbleCreek (aka the Brito-Crall wedding location) and around the family. My uncle Rick and his girlfriend Maryanne, my uncle John, and my Grandma's sister Jo Ann and her husband Howard all made the trip to surprise them. Man it turned out to be quite a night! Needless to say they were very surprised to see all their friends and even more surprised to see their family after they made their way through the crowds of people.

It was great to meet all of their friends, most of who all knew about Andy and I getting married out at PebbleCreek. Apparently, we're the take of the town out there in Goodyear! :) I can only hope someday that when Andy and I are retired we will have the pleasure of living in a place like PebbleCreek and have such a great network of friends - and make it to 36 years and beyond of course!

During the celebration there were family members talking about Grams and Gramps and funny stories about the things they got away with when they were younger and fighting over who was the favorite. I gladly claim the favorite granddaughter - mainly because I was the first grandbaby. Although my cousin, Steph (her blog) wins the first grandbaby married and first to have a great-grandbaby. Anywho - it was wonderful to get to hang out with my family and catch up and see my grandparents tack on another year.

Cheers to Grams and Gramps - here's to many more years of love and happiness!

Love always,

Your FAVORITE granddaughter ;)

Gentlemen & LADIES - Start your engines!

Andy's favorite time of year had just passed - NHRA Drag Racing at the Firebird Raceway. Last year was the first time I had gone out to the track and experienced the thrill of 2-300 MPH! I was instantly hooked! When they pass you and it rattles your entire body - it's such a RUSH! Not to mention the nitro and burning rubber - sounds crazy coming from a girl but man its fun! I also love the fact that there are girls racing side by side with the guys! Ashley Force-Hood is Andy's "other" girlfriend and man she's awesome!

Anywho, we spent the whole day out at the track and got to meet up with my friend Robin and her fiancé Jim, who owns Hughes Performance and races in the sportsman’s series. Last year this time Robin had actually passed her test to get her racing license! Robin also managed to sneak us up to the starting line last year. I thought Andy was going to pass out with excitement, not to mention, Ashley Force walked by him and brushed his shoulder.

This weekend was also our one year anniversary for saying those three little (or not so little) words. I made him say it atleast three times before saying it back because I didn't know if he really meant it or if the nitro had made him fall in love with me! :) I think it was probably a little bit of both!

Here's our pictures from the races:

Virtual DJ

New addition to our blog - the Virtual DJ! (to the left, left, left --->)

We're going to be working on our playlist for the wedding soon and would love some input on those must have songs - so send in your suggestions!