Mr. Bogangles

Meet the newest member of our family:

Bojangles (Bo)

International Doggy of Liesure

Bo's 1st day in his new home

Learning to sit


Seriously. Cutest puppy face ever.

4.16.07: neVer forgeT

Originally Posted 4.16.09

I had spent most of my junior year checking out pretty much every college from Delaware to South Carolina. Yet none of them felt right. 

Then one day a classmate randomly mentioned that he had been to Virginia Tech and that it was really cool. I checked it out online, and mentioned to my parents that I'd like to visit it if possible. My parents (who were going through this whole college search thing for the first time and were beginning to get paranoid that I was never going to find a place I wanted to go to), made an appointment to visit the school the following weekend.

I'll never forget the feeling I felt when we turned into the campus. Many people probably say that you can't fall in love (especially with a school) at first sight, but trust me I did. I remember driving up past Lane Stadium, and then driving past the dorms, drillfield and classroom buildings. I was absolutely sold. There was no where else I wanted to spend my college years. I knew that something about this school was going to make those years special. I knew it was going to be the place where I really discovered who I was, and it would help make me the person I was meant to be.

Once I started school at VT, I was determined to take advantage of every opportunity. Freshman year, I ran for class office, and was elected Vice-President of my class (at VT you hold the position for all 4 years). I also was a member of the Student Government Association and the Student Alumni Association. I often got to emcee the pep rallies, which I absolutely loved doing. I was also co-founder and vice-president of an organization that many of you probably have heard of by now- Hokies United. The group was created after 9/11 to help the campus deal with the tragedy of that day. We made the organization so that it could be reinstated in times of difficulty...which it was for things such as the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. I still remember sitting on the floor of the room that night hashing out the plans for the group with my fellow students... never, ever in a million years did I expect that it would be reinstated one day to help deal with the biggest tragedy the school would ever experience.

The activities I was involved in were only one part of my experience at Virginia Tech. The friends I made there are the friends I know I will have forever. They are a family to me. I also had wonderful relationships with so many of the teachers and administrators. When I said that the school would make me who I was meant to be, it was these people- my friends, the teachers, and the staff that made that all possible. I can truly say I graduated having accomplished everything I set out to, and I had grown to be a much better person all due to the support of these people. I graduated with a second home, a larger family, and a place where part of my heart would always reside.

Like I'll never forget where I was on 9/11, I'll never forget anything about April 16, 2007. In fact, it took me four tries just to write this post because the feelings are still so raw. Sometimes I struggle with that...struggle to figure out why, almost two years later, it still hurts so much. But I'm learning to give into it, because, after all, they don't exactly write grief books for massacres. They don't really have support groups for this kind of thing. You come to realize that there isn't a right or wrong way to deal with something like this. You learn to deal with it anyway you can by trying to figure out some way in your mind to semi-comprehend what happened.

It's hard to comprehend that level of evil. And if your sane, I don't think it's possible to ever really comprehend it. Putting chain locks on doors so that rescue workers can't come in. Shooting so many rounds that faces were unrecognizable. Taking the time to mail a video to NBC in between shootings just so the whole world could see even more just how sick you were. 32 innocent people killed. 32 innocent lives taken in such a horrendous fashion. 32 angels who should still be here today. It's a level of sickness that I never thought I would have to learn to try and understand...and have to try to learn to forgive. Sometimes forgiveness comes, and other days you take it back in anger. Anger at seeing another mass shooting happen in the U.S. Anger in knowing that as graduation nears, there will be empty seats for those who won't get the chance to throw their cap up in the air and walk away head held high with their diploma.

But you try not to let the anger win. When you fight through it, and through every other emotion that you have- the grief, the sorrow, the disbelief- these feelings that hit you on levels you never knew you would have to experience- you try to come out of them with a positive thought. You come to realize that this experience will always leave you with a wound on your heart. Yet, somehow, even though you have seen the worst the world has to offer, you can look around and realize that there is more good in the world than bad. And that's what makes you carry on. 

In reality, this could have happened at any campus. Unfortunately, it happened at mine. Sometimes though, I like to think that if it had to happen, it happened at my school because God knew we'd be able to show the world that evil does not and cannot prevail. But we will prevail.

WE ARE VIRGINIA TECH. WE WILL PREVAIL.

Obligatory Blizzard Pics

We got 28" where I live. Definitely not as much as some places in D.C., MD and the Jersey shore, but still a lot. We were actually in a state of emergency where we weren't even allowed to drive until today. Crazy! Here are some pics: 

Outside our kitchen door about 1/2 way through the storm. The snowdrifts were insane...that's a 6 foot fence in the background.

Somewhere, in there, is my car...

Don't mess with William Penn. He'll throw a snowball at your face. Just sayin'. 

JUMP. For your love. 

Mr. Mallard is cold. 

Ivory soap is the cleanest AND nicest soap. It also floats. The wall says so. 

I hope everyone had a safe and warm weekend!

Our McReception Part 3: A 1/2 Cup Token of Love

One of my favorite parts of our wedding was the few minutes that Ryan and I were able to sneak away, exchange gifts and let everything set it. Ok, I'm not going to lie...I was also SUPER EXCITED to finally be able to give my gift to Ryan. On a scale of 1 - 10 of sheer awesomeness, I would rate it a 10. Ok, wait, maybe a 9. Exchanging vows would have to get the 10. 

Anywho, about 3 months before our wedding I decided that I wanted to get Ryan something special for the big day. And since he was taking care of the top secret honeymoon, it had to be uber special. Also, since I was one broke a$$ bride at this point, it had to be relatively affordable. So i got down to business and thought about Ryans #1 pastime...cooking. Coincidentally, my number #1 pastime is eating. We are totally MFEO (made for each other). 

Back to the subject. So I thought long and hard, and decided I would make Ryan a cookbook....but not just any cookbook. I would use my super stealth Jack Bauer skills and get tons of recipes from friends and family members. Mind you, I had just moved 2 hours away from all of our friends and had just started a new job, so I had some serious panic attacks about whether or not I would be able to pull this all off (along with keeping everything a secret from Ryan).

In order to keep everything as simple as possible for the recipe writers, I mailed out a poem explaining what I was trying to do, along with a recipe card and a pre-stamped, pre-addressed envelope so that mailing everything back would be easy-peasy. 

Here is how the poem went (incase anyone else wants to do something like this): 

The wedding is getting closer, and very soon it will be July

But first I need your help, so please take the time to reply

I want to give a surprise to Ryan, for when we say "I do" 

Something that is from the heart, instead of something shiny and new

I know I'm a very lucky girl, because Ryan loves to cook

So what I'd like to do, is make him a special recipe book

Please take the time to tell us how to make your favorite meal 

You can even include some wishes if you want to sweeten the deal 

Family and friends mean the most to Ryan, your words will mean a ton

Especially since when I try to cook, he tends to want to run

I want to thank you in advance for taking the time to be so sweet

If you visit us after the wedding, we'll make sure to cook you a tasty treat!

p.s. please keep this a secret

Love, 

Katie

Somehow the stars aligned, and the responses I got were beyond amazing. So many friends and family members went the extra mile with their recipes. A lot of friends provided recipes passed down from generation to generation in their families, and some family members provided recipes in the original handwriting from our grandmothers and great grandmothers. A couple people even wrote VT Fans or Hokies in the "serves" part of the recipe card (way to get into the spirit!). I can't even begin to tell you how overwhelmed (in a good way) I was by the responses. In short, we gained a little bit of everyone's family in one little book. 

Now onto the gift opening! I was originally planning on having my brother deliver Ryan's gift to him, but both my mom and the MIL protested and insisted that it had to be done in person. And, like the typical wise women they are, they were right. I'm so happy that I have pictures of this moment. 

Ryan's gift- In typical 1st child possessive behavior, I began referring to Ryan as "My Ryan" shortly after dating....

Completely surprised that Ryan had gotten me a gift too (the even bigger surprise came the next day when I found out he planned our honeymoon to Anguilla)

Checking out my new, beautiful necklace

Love this pic

Ryan opening his gift 

He was the perfect gentleman, and opened his card first. Unlike me...I turn into wolverene at the first sight of wrapping paper (instert wrapping paper claw marks here).

Close up of the card. I had it made here on etsy. I loved it so much that I've had it made for other weddings too!

Getting to the good stuff

Pointing out a recipe from my grandfather. He personalized a quote from House Beautiful, Feb. 1957 "How, Where and Why to Read a Cookbook." Again, I'll include the quote which you can also personalize if you're ever making a cookbook for someone: 

" Ryan cookbook is not just for cooking...his cookbook is for inspiration, for lifting the spirit and freeing the mind, for brightening your outlook as well as for parties and table conversations...for the understanding of people and places, for the revelation of the past and for the interpretation of the present...for culture, education, for inviting the soul, reliving memories, reliving experiences. Ryan's cookbook, like poetry, is for the intensification of precious moments. Where except in cookbooks and in lyrics, does one find so much emotion distilled, charted and recollected in tranquility." 

Lookin' at all the love found in a simple recipe card

Wrapping paper scraps and shoes :) 

Previous Recaps: 

Getting Ready: Part 1

Getting Ready: Part 2

Getting Ready: Part 3

Our McWedding: Part 1

Our McWedding: Part 2

Our McWedding: Part 3

Our McReception: Part 1

Our McReception: Part 2

All photos courtesy of Kate Leigh

Our McReception Part 2: Lets Hear it for our (Bridal) Party

There's still not much going on over here, so I figured why not finish up with the wedding recaps. You know...the wedding we had a year and a half ago. Yeah, that one. Maybe I'll get all the recaps done before our second anniversary :) Either way, I figure better late than never...

So, here we are. I last left off with some bride and groom pics, so I figured I should follow that up with some pics with our amazing bridal party. A wedding is sweet, but having your best friends by your side just makes it so much sweeter. 

Walking in front of our reception site

Me & My Beautiful Bridesmaids

The Entire Wedding Party

Some of you may be wondering what we are laughing at in this pic. I wish I could say it was something cute and funny. However, this picture is the direct result of my youngest sister letting out what may have been the loudest belch I have ever heard. Classy. 

Yet, the barstool behavior resulted in one of my most favorite pictures of the day:

Yummy Bouquets

The Girls

When we first looked at our  reception venue, I fell in love with this abandoned building. The first words out of my mouth to Ryan were, "we have to get pictures here!" He thought I was crazy. Luckily, our photographer thought it was an amazing site too. First day of marriage: Katie:1 , Ryan: 0

Proof that I can, indeed, run in 3 1/2 inch heels and a wedding dress

Group shot in front of awesome green building

Serious Bridal Party 

Silly Bridal Party

And one more in color...

Next Up: A little Gift Exchange

Previous Recaps: 

Getting Ready: Part 1

Getting Ready: Part 2

Getting Ready: Part 3

Our McWedding: Part 1

Our McWedding: Part 2

Our McWedding: Part 3

Our McReception: Part 1

All photos courtesy of Kate Leigh

The Great Storm of 'Snow Nine

Yesterday Ryan and I hunkered down at home while the massive snow storm that hit most of the East coast came to our town. It was the first time in over a year that both of us had a Saturday off together, and it was absolutely wonderful to be forced to relax and do nothing. We watched Christmas movies all day, and our neighbors even brought us homemade chicken dumpling soup and cake. In short, it was perfect. Today may not be as fun as we have to shovel ourselves out of the 20 plus inches of pretty white stuff, but it was definitely worth it yesterday! 

I took lots of pictures last night and again this morning as we walked to and from Mass. All of the snow makes our town look like it came straight out of a Christmas card. I think I'm in love ...

Outside our front window yesterday afternoon

And the back side

What it looked like later in the evening

Sunrise

Brick wall almost completely covered

So beautiful

The lamp posts in town

Snow on the Green

The Courthouse

Ryan trying to find a path where we could walk

Icicles!

Walking home from Mass

Seriously, isn't this just gorgeous?

More icicles and lanterns

Winter wonderland picture #1

Winter wonderland picture #2

What happened to the car?

Pretty church picture in the center of town

I hope everyone else who was hit by this storm is safe and warm!