I Now Pronounce You Man and Wife (Becky Neal, Blake Neal and Ryley Barker)

May 17, 2014 

Mr. and Mrs. Blake and Becky Neal!

Becky and I have been good friends since we met at Ball State back in 2005. We were research partners for a semester our senior year. Becky was born and raised in Texas and transferred to Ball State mid college. We were both among the oldest youngsters in our classes since we both got a later start in the social work field. I think this also played a factor in bringing us together. Becky is gifted with a Texas twang and southern hospitality. She loves yard sales, thrift stores and James Patterson. Who wouldn't become fast friends with her?:) 

One of my favorite stories that comes to mind when talking about Becky is a conversation that has been had many times. It goes something like this...

Me(conversation is possibly over the phone on a Sunday): Becky, What are you doing on Tuesday? 

Becky: Tuesday? Haven't you seen the weather forecast? Its supposed to snow on Tuesday! Im going to make sure I have enough food for myself and the cats for a week! Im going to make sure that all my work is brought home. I have to take a vacation day. Theres absolutely no way I can plan anything! I cant walk out of the house if there is snow coming!

Me: Well its January and Indiana snow is inevitable. 

Hahaha. She really got bent out of shape with the weather here in this state after growing up in a sunny hot state all her life. I just had never seen anyone react this way about snow or cold. It was hilarious the first couple of winters but now that shes been up in the Midwest for quite some time I think shes over the snow and she also realizes not to listen to a word that the weather forecast says a few days in advance because this is of course Indiana.

Summer 2009

   

 We have shared some great times together. She was a great support to me when I met Luke and our lives were a whirlwind the first six months we were together. She was one of the first people to meet him. I told her I was going to marry Luke just two weeks after meeting him and she quickly replied that she thought I had gotten too much sun and maybe I needed to go home and take a nap! She was one of the first to see our house before we bought it. HA! Luke and I knew the code to get into the door so throughout the whole offering and inspection process we kept coming to and visiting the house just hoping it would soon be ours.  She helped us move in and paint and she helped me decorate. She was definitely a God send in those days. Then 9 months after meeting Luke and 2 months after buying a house she was the first to find out that low and behold we were having a baby! WHAT! The wedding is in 2 months and we are leaving for Vegas in 2 weeks! Yep. What a crazy roller coaster of life I had that year and Becky was right by my side.

Vegas Baby 2010

Boat Trip! 

 I was so blessed to have Becky as a bridesmaid in my wedding. She definitely helped me a lot in the planning process so I was happy to return the favor and be a bridesmaid for her as well. Blake and Becky had a beautiful outdoor wedding. There was of course lots of purple since that is her favorite color. It was an honor to stand by such a great gal on her wedding day. I know that you and Blake will have such a happy future!

Me and Julie Harris

                               Some toast at weddings with a champagne glass, I prefer to have a bottle.

Julie, Laura, and myself 

Last but certainly not least! Heres Ryley, Becky's kid brother. Hes a good guy who would do anything for anybody. Or at least anything for his big sister. :)

Becky's Bridal Shower and Painting Party (Laura Houston, Julie Harris, Tabatha Sessions)

March 30, 2014 (Bridal Shower) and April 26, 2014 (Painting Party)

This is going to have to be a two parter blog combining Becky's Bridal Shower and Paint Party and then Ill follow up with her wedding and then between the two blogs Ill include six wonderful people. :) 

I will apologize in advance for the disorganization because I do not have a picture of myself and Becky or of the bridal party and Becky at her shower. This is my fault :( Im usually thinking ahead and awesome about Kodak moments but I was at Taryn's all night Bachelorette party the night before Becky's Bridal shower so I was not thinking about taking pictures. I was thinking about laying my head down somewhere! HA!

Luckily, things worked out because Becky and Blake's moms were the hostesses of the bridal shower so Laura, Julie and I were off the hook as far as hosting. They were able to help decorate and get things set up so I got a nap and then I was able to stay later and clean things up. The party was so cute with all the purple and love birddecor. The layered fruit champagne glasses were my personal fav! The cute couple got a lot of great gifts. 

CAKE!

 YUM!

 Becky and cake table 

PRESENTS!!! 

Becky and I first met at Ball State back in probably 2005/2006. We were both in the social work program and both graduated with our Bachelor degrees. We became close when she and I worked on a semester long research project our senior year. By knowing her I met the following ladies Laura, Julie and Tabatha.

Laura and Julie both worked with Becky and our also social workers/case managers. Tabitha is Becky's brother Ryley's girlfriend. I met Laura and Julie for the first time upon being asked to be bridesmaids.

Laura and I seem to have a lot in common. Both social workers, both married with two girls and our youngest are both just a few months apart in age. We are both advocates of breastfeeding and we are both loud and outspoken! 

Julie and Tabatha are both the quiet girls in a group. :) 

Heres a group pic of the final product of painting party that we did at my house before her big day. Becky decided against a typical bachelorette party and only wanted to paint so we granted her wish. She is a collector of stars and has a Van Gogh Starry Night themed room so the artist that directed us had a step by step model for us to follow. This was my first time painting anything (besides a wall) and Ill have to admit it was fun! I of course have a lot of problem following directions and I didnt like the "tree" that was in the middle of the painting and so I did my own version of the tree. I still think mine looks better than the original. The big brown blob in the center of the piece does not do it for me. The instructor kept saying it was supposed to add a visual focus. ??? Looks like a brown blob to me. Painting the blues and greens was relaxing though. 

I was happy to be able to host the party since hosting is one of my favorite things! Julie, Laura and Tabatha thanks for helping plan, set up and participate in both of the parties. In the next blog I actually have pics of us. :) 

Hood Rat, Hood Rat, Hoochie Mama! aka Sarah's Bachelorette Party (Emily Long, Eleanor Wieseke)

April 5, 2014 

Sarah's Bachelorette Party!!!

                                                     Emily, Me, Eleanor, Sarah and Katie

First of all I want to start off by saying that Sarah is probably the best person I've ever met in my life. She is caring and compassionate and is always thinking of herself last. She and I have the same morbid sense of humor and we are both social workers so we are on the same level with a lot of things that most people just wouldn't understand. If i were to write about Sarah I would be filling up pages of a blog BUT this isnt about her its about her sister Emily and her best friend from childhood, Eleanor both of which I have met since knowing Sarah! 

Sarah became Mrs. Davenport on April 19th in Mexico but before the two were hitched off Emily and I insisted that she have a proper bachlorette party. I didnt care that this was a second marriage for both of them. Getting married is a BIG deal and lets face it Im selfish and need reasons to get out of my house! 

I declared the theme of the party to be called, "Hood Rat, Hood Rat, Hoochie Mama!" and asked everyone to wear animal print or some kind of sexy attire to fit the mood. Here's the dress I picked out just because I was so excited that I could actually fit into it. Word to the wise if you are going to wear a skimpy dress, wear some underwear that go with it. Ha. This thing was so short I could barely move without my granny panties sticking out! Hows a girl supposed to get her dance on?!?

Emily and Eleanor both have the pleasure of knowing Sarah for much longer than myself. The three of them basically grew up together and any friend of Sarah's is bi-curiously a friend of mine. Emily and I always share lots of laughs when we get the chance to see each other and Eleanor seems so down to earth. Shes also a nurse so shes calm, level headed and so smart. Meanwhile Sarah and I are more the ditzy blonde types HA!  

In order to celebrate the upcoming marriage we went to eat at Sarah's favorite Mexican restaurant and then we went to see the ladies of Talbott at the Talbott Street show and bar. It was a blast! 

Me and my two Besties! Sarah and Laura

Sarah-trying to find a spare place to tuck a buck.

The whole party! 

Laura, Beth, Me, Emily Sarah, Eleanor and Katie

                                  This pic cracks me up I think Im trying to have antlers or something. 

Laura these boots are amazing. Thanks for going along with my crazy themed party idea. HA!

Sarah Im so happy for you and Rick! Thanks for letting us go out and show our wild side!