Weddings, Weddings, Weddings

April has been a month FULL of weddings!  Nic and I have literally had a wedding every weekend so far- April 2nd-Sarah Garrick & Kyle Brewer,April 9th- Lauren Ann Greenlee & Michael Cooper and April 16th-Courtney Price & Lee Fairchilds...I must say...all 3 were WONDERFUL and we had a blast at each!
I've broken by small digital camera and hate carrying the big Rebel everywhere so I've missed some great photo op's lately=(

Here are a few pics from Lauren Ann's beautiful wedding. The reception was at "The Knox House" in Kilmichael, MS.

Rehearsal Dinner @ "The Lodge" in French Camp

Some of the bridesmaids'
(FYI-the beautiful black dress that Lauren Ann is wearing (the back is lace-GORGEOUS!) is Valentino-her fiance' surprised her with it after she fell in love with it at a trunk show @ Ballin's-He called the next day and had them hold it for her...I THINK HE'S A KEEPER=)

Isn't she beautiful?! Her robe says "Mrs Cooper" -I gave her this for her b-day and it made my day to see her wear it on her WEDDING DAY!!!

One of the entrances to The Knox House

 The beautiful Mr. & Mrs. Michael Cooper

 This was the cake topper on Lauren Ann's cake. Definitely a "keep sake"-Wolfe birds that they made together at the Wolfe Studio..love it!



Mr. and Mrs. Lee Fairchilds

 

 Nic and his parents

Spring.....

I've been an awful blogger lately-I just can't ever seem to find the time anymore. I'm traveling this week so sitting here in the hotel gets pretty boring..its either write a report, shop, workout or blog... I'll begin with the blog!

Hard to believe its already April-where has the time gone? My last update was about the patio and needless to say...we've gotten LOTS of use out of it so far. We've already utilized the patio space a few times since we finished it in February. When I'm in town during the week, Nic and I try to meet for lunch at home and we'll eat

outside on the patio-which has been fun since the weather has been so beautiful. Now that its spring and time for roses, the red maple and other beautiful plants to bloom, I'm going to enjoy it even more. I LOVE SPRING!

Life lately... 

Lauren Ann's couples' shower

                                            Couples Shower for Lauren Ann & Michael

                                                       Watching their DVD

     Vegetable rolls, chicken satay, southern caviar,hot spinach & artichoke dip, pork tenderloin, captain rodney's and mashed potato bar

         I finally got to meet and hold my precious baby cousin, Ellie

 

                         Brittany & Andrew's Wedding

Lauren Ann's St. Patty's Bachelorette Party

                                                   Molly started soccer

                                           My mom turned another year older

My aunt turned 50 and had a blowout birthday bash!

                                            6 of the 7 Derivaux Children

   Some exciting news....

• Jennifer and Dan are expecting a little one-October to be exact=) They find out the sex in 3 weeks
• Becca found out the sex of her baby, its a boy and they are naming him John Bailes-Due in June
• My friend Kelly (from Arkansas) found out she's having a boy-Due in July 

That's all the blogging for now. Going to cruise Beach Blvd and do a little shopping while I'm out! 

Progress of the Patio

IT'S DONE, IT'S DONE, IT'S DONE!!!!!!!!!! Our patio was a covered area with literally like a 4' width of concrete. Last February Nic added 300 sq ft of exposed aggregate concrete (aka washed concrete) and this February he added a retaining/seat wall and 200 sq ft of belgard pavers and a counter top.... This last project took over a month but it was surely worth the wait and although Nic is rarely home, this reminds me its worth being married to a meticulous architect=)

                   Nic digging out over two feet of dirt for the patio expansion. It had to be done by hand with a shovel, tiller, and wheelbarrel. We couldn't use his skid steer this time cause the last time we brought it back there, we ended up having to have fence repairs done. 

Adding crushed limestone for the base of the retaining wall.

Mixing quikrete to form a concrete slab for the steps. The slab serves as a steady base for the cinder blocks to lay on.

The first layer of retaining wall blocks. As Nic said, the crucial step in building the wall. This was like a 2 day project. All blocks have to be extremely level

Second layer.

Remi being patient

Adding the capping stones and backfilling with washed gravel.

Cutting the last few capping blocks for the wall.

Bottom step going in. It is made of cinder blocks and filled with concrete.

Capping the steps with pavers.

Starting the first level of pavers .

Laying a paver band along the wall with a herringbone pattern between them.

Putting out bedding sand for the sugar kettle

Nic laying pavers

Making progress..

Almost done.

Pouring polymeric sand ( joint locking sand) into the joints. This keeps weeds out, locks the pavers in, and sets up like concrete.

Putting the counters and backsplash together.

The counters after being smeared with colored mortar and tops having slate tile on them.

The finish product. The sugar kettle serves as a firepit. Nic found this somewhere in Louisiana. He took off work one day and drove like 8 hours to get it. We BETTER use this thing!

Lower patio, bar area- I typically don't leave flowers out like this...we had a party the night before so I figured they could make the picture!

 

 

Looking up at the upper level.