Goodbye Tahoe...HELLO Yukon!

After 13 years of having the Tahoe in our family we bid it farewell and welcomed a gently used 2005 GMC Yukon! It was bittersweet since the Tahoe has been on so many family trips with us. From swim meets, to recruiting trips, to family trips up to TN, and the numerous trips back and forth from Pensacola to Auburn and back it was time to cut ties with the Tahoe. In the end the Tahoe's AC stopped working (this is absolute torture when you live in the lovely South where the heat can get over 100 with the heat index in the summertime), I needed to replace a couple of tires, and some other expensive fixes that were just getting to be too high for us to pay in one service.

 Jeremy and I were trying to make our Tahoe last until Kai moved in to Kindergarten, but these past couple of months it seems like we have had to get it serviced on and received quotes on how much to fix it. The cost of fixing it was outweighing the reason to keep it rather than trade it in. I found a phenomenal deal with Lynch Nissan over the weekend (I had been casually looking for about a month and a half) and showed Jeremy online and we decided that we needed to test drive it soon since a deal like that wouldn't be there for long. I loved it! However, they weren't going to come down to what we wanted to spend on a payment, so I test drove a Nissan Murano. It too was a great vehicle, but after having a large car like a Tahoe it was hard to imagine all of our stuff in a smaller space. I sat and talked with the salesman to compare the two and we finally came to a mutual agreement on price that would work for both of us. After 3 hours at the dealership and closing time right rapidly approaching I filled out all the preliminary paperwork and left them to detail the Yukon one last time before picking it up the next day.

I went home and cleaned out the remaining stuff we had in the Tahoe. Yesterday at lunchtime I received a call from Rob at Lynch saying that everything had processed perfectly and that my Yukon would be ready to be picked up at 2pm! YAY!!

Christine and Dylan are MARRIED!!

My best friend, Miss Christine Galbavy, is now Mrs. Christine DONAHUE!! We just got back a couple of weeks after celebrating her wedding festivities at home in Pensacola. Christine and I have known each other since 1st Grade and between going to the same school and swimming on the same team (GO GPAC!). Now 24 years later I was asked to stand by her during one of the most important and special days of her life as her Matron of Honor. 

The boys and I drove down before Jeremy and we actually arrived several hours before my parents did (they were in Arizona for my dad's squadron reunion). Once we got down to the beach the boys went out to the private beach, "bakyard," to play in the water and build sandcastles. Thursday was pretty much a travel/down day since the festivities weren't set to begin until Friday morning. However, we were able to see Christine and her family for a brief visit at Beach Club. The boys were exhausted by the time we headed back to my parents house---they were passed out by the time my parents arrived back home.

Friday began all the fun activities for the wedding. That morning we all went over to Ms. Malleiro's house for a Bridesmaid Luncheon. This was a chance for a Christine to spend some quality time with her bridesmaids before the craziness of wedding festivities begin.  The food was delicioso! Great friends and a radiant looking bride made the whole luncheon a perfect affair. I had so much fun and thanks to Ms. Malleiro for hosting such a fun get together.

We absolutely LOVED this screened in patio! Great views and amazing friends!

With our new COACH sunglasses that Christine gave us!

Friday afternoon after the luncheon I ran by to pick up the wedding bands, at the request of the Bride. When I got there the sales associate showed me the bands and I shook my head approval; one titanium one for Dylan and one yellow gold one for Christine. On my way to Elebash's I paid a quick visit to one of my other best friends Katie Fox and to see her adorable baby, Isla. By the time I made those two stops I had very little time to get ready for the Rehearsal at St. Paul's Catholic Church.When I got home Jeremy had just gotten in to town and we got ready for the rehearsal. So we all dressed up and got Kai dressed up (he was the Ring Bearer). Everything was going without a hitch and everything ran smoothly. Afterwards we went back to the beach to the beach house that dinner was being hosted at. The food was again AMAZING and catered by Native Cafe at the beach. This was a great time for everyone to mingle and have a little more intimate setting than the reception. We left shortly after 8 and Jeremy and I (we dropped Kai off with his Nana and Papa after the rehearsal) joined Rob and Nikki at the Break for a couple of drinks. We didn't stay out to late since I had to be up early to get ready for the BIG DAY!

Saturday- THE BIG DAY!
We all headed in to town to Christine's parents house to get ready. It was a very relaxed setting since it was at the comfort of her parents house. We all got our hair did and our makeup did! :) My Mom even brought over some yummy finger food for us to munch on and Kristy improvised and made us a nice cocktail (Yeah for having a bar tender on hand!). Once we were all ready to go we put on our dresses. I slipped upstairs for a second just before Christine was about to put on her dress. It was nice to have a moment with her before I knew she was going to be whisked away with all the Bridal obligations that were ahead.

A few pictures were done at the house before getting on the Trolley to take us to the Church. Again, everything was going smoothly, until I got a text from my Mom saying that Kai was sadly refusing to get ready. Unfortunately, he was unable to make it, but Christine going with the flow just shrugged it off and said that's OK, and walked down the aisle with her Dad. The entire time after we sat down I kept thinking in my head "Katie, your only job is to know when to stand to join Christine and Dylan at the altar for the vows. Don't mess it up. Don't ruffle her dress the wrong way. And DO NOT trip!" Well I somehow got up to altar and fixed her dress without a problem and then I was able to witness, front row and center, her exchange vows with the man of her dreams!

The Reception was a fun affair. A lot of friends came to the wedding and the reception. It was a mini GPAC/St. Paul's Reunion! I had so much fun seeing everyone. Next MOH task-THE SPEECH! I think I did pretty good.

Married 7 years and I can't believe how fast the time has gone by!

Kristy, Christine, and Me

Love it!!

In closing (I know you all are probably waiting for this novel to end) I am so happy for you, Christine, to have found your Man of your Dreams! I know that Dylan loves you. You can see it written on his face every time he is with you. He is without a doubt a perfect match for you! Dylan, I am so happy that you are joining our crazy and fun family of friends. We are close, but we are always there for one another through thick and thin and I look at you as one more great friend to add to our group. I love you both and wish nothing, but the best for you two. Congratulations!

Mr. and Mrs. Dylan Donahue!!