Bachelor Party, Birthdays & Marathons

Thursday evening some of Shaun's fraternity brothers showed up at his house with pizza to kick of his bachelor party weekend. The next morning they woke him up early, had him pack his bags and took him away to an unknown destination. He eventually figured out that he was on his way to Biloxi where several more of his brothers showed up for the last fling as a single man. They had a blast and hung out to way too early in the morning talking, playing craps and poker at the casinos and just being buds.

See?? Even Oscar is depressed and missing Shaun too

Meanwhile back at home, I was house/dog sitting in our new home (well, almost OURS) ;), sorely missing my sweet Shaun, but good friends always come to the rescue.....

My childhood friend and bridesmaid, E!
(Isn't her tan disgusting? She makes my fair skin look ghostly!)

E (yes, that's what we all call her) came for a weekend visit and to run the ING Marathon in downtown Atlanta. She's my mischief buddy and always has been. We met when we were 15 and our crazy personalities instantly clicked to form one of the greatest friendships I've ever had! We decided while the man is away...we'd have our fun too! Only one problem... now that we're both old women, we had a "wild night" staying up till 9:30, yes, you heard me, NINE THIRTY (we are lame and sad) eating pizza and watching TLC's Four Weddings & What Not To Wear. Yes, it was pathetic, but hilariously fun.


Saturday, we went to a birthday party at Two Urban Licks (you should seriously go. It's one of the coolest spots in Atlanta) for two of my sweet friends here in town. Allison and Ashley. Both of them are also in our wedding festivities and such good friends to me!

Allison (the birthday girl) & Travis (her hubby)

E & Ashley (the other birthday girl)

The whole gang (minus Shaun, who's in Biloxi, remember?)

E craziness - me taking a picture of E taking a picture. Or was it the other way around???

Sunday morning, E started out on her journey of 26.2 miles around the city of Atlanta. She started at 7 am and I joined the crowds waiting at the finish line around 10:00am to cheer her across the finish. You can't see her in the picture directly below because the officials are blocking her, but her official time....4:39:16! I'm SOOO proud of her and yes, I started crying when she finished!

Watching her train this last year and struggle to reach her dream has been a true inspiration to me! I really admire her for sticking with it through sprained ankles and fractured foot and never taking her eye of the goal. I have a lot to learn from my friend and I'm so incredibly proud of her!!

It was also precious to watch her family come down from NC and watch her Dad hug her and beam like a proud father as she crossed the finish! (she's the one standing at the orange fence trying to catch her breath!)

This last weekend of full of fun memories and precious times! I'm so glad I got to spend it with such wonderful friends! And just in case you're wondering... I'm thrilled to finally have my sweetheart back! ;)