My Bridal likes to Party!

Meet my Bridal Party!
I could not imagine our day without your love and support. You girls are the world to me and I can't wait to enjoy every minute of it with you! Thanks in advance for everything you've done for me throughout the years and for all the years to come!
I love you girlies:)

My best friends:) My college girls!


My beautiful Zellner girls and soon to be Sister-in-Laws!


The cutest little 2 year old flower girl ever! I love you Olivia!

Here are a few fun pictures of all my lovely ladies!


New Years 2009


Thanksgiving 2007?!?!


Baby Olivia Memorial Day Weekend 08


Drinks at the Comedy Club April 2009

Here's to all the moments to come!

Love,
Alicia

Wedding Planning!

So I guess it is no longer a secret... not that it ever was...but I absolutely love my fiance! I still pinch myself occasionally to remind myself that yes, I am engaged and yes, WE ARE GETTING MARRIED! OK, I really don't pinch myself... but I look down at my left hand and see the most beautiful ring and it's mine! I cannot believe that as of tomorrow it will be two weeks since Ray dropped to his knee and asked me to marry him. I get chills just thinking about it. The proposal was so special and meaningful. I couldn't have asked for anything better.

So now the fun begins!
Ray and I will be getting married on Saturday, November 14, 2009 in Dallas, TX. We are still working out the details about the venue but have it narrowed down to two. By this weekend, the decision will be made, the deposit will be given, and both Ray and I can cross one more thing off of our list. We have three months to finish planning the wedding. It has been a lot of scheduling, planning, and time consuming moments... but I've really enjoyed every single moment of it! Ray has been so helpful and thoughtful over the whole process. I couldn't imagine my life without him. I LOVE YOU PAPA BEAR!

So these are the details:
Venue: In Progress...
Photographer: Booked!
DJ: Appointment Set
Florist: eh... I love flowers but really can't see paying $1,000s of dollars for something that dies. So we'll see what direction we go in for this.
Invites: I'm making my invites. Should be fun!
Dress: I HAVE MY WEDDING DRESS!!!
Bridesmaids and Groomsmen Attire: I have ideas... but will put those to use on August 8th! Hopefully I'll be able to get my girls together for a fitting and choose a dress that day!
Bridal Party: I am so thankful for my 6 ladies and Ray's 6 groomsmen! They mean the world to us.
Register: Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Macys! (We've currently signed up at all three places... I love this part:)
Honeymoon: I WON A 3 Day All-Inclusive Trip to my location of Choice: Mexico, Bahamas, Dominican Republic! I am so excited. We'll of course extend our vacation a little... but how amazing!

I will of course fill you in on more details as they come along. I'm sure I'll be doing a great deal of posting in the next few months:)

SO ENJOY!

Love,
Alicia

Hello Fiance! Happy 4th of July!

I'm ENGAGED!

Let me start from the beginning. It all began on Friday, July 3, 2009. Checkpast and PFS had closed their doors for the holiday weekend and both Ray and I were getting ready for our Road Trip with The Fants to Oklahoma City for the July 4th Holiday. I was so anxious and excited because it has been since January 2008 since the four of us had taken a road trip together. Little did I know that this would be a trip like none other.

Friday, July 3: While Ray was taking the kiddos to Dogs Play, a daycare and boarding place, I was packing our suitcase. All of a sudden, I hear a loud crash and then a shatter. While packing, I had somehow knocked off one of our mirrors and watched as it smashed to the ground. Even though it is said to expect 7 years of bad luck for breaking a mirror, I was not phased. The morning had started off so well and I would not let this minor set back bring me down. But a good note to self... I will have to make a trip to Garden Ridge for another mirror in the near future:) Anyway our bags were packed, lunch was made, errands were ran, and by 4:00 it was time to head out to McKinney to meet Kristin and Michael. 3 1/2 hours later, a quick stop at the Oklahoma/Texas Border...

(picture I "borrowed" from Kristin!)

a pit stop at a local gas station, many tent and firework citings , billboard scrabble, knippleheimer songs, and dinner at Subway... we were finally in Oklahoma City. That night we took a trip to BRICKTOWN! It is said to be modeled after the River Walk in San Antonio! It was amazing. Well this is of course after our random stop in a field where a lot of local Oklahoman individuals were waiting to see fireworks. We couldn't make up our mind about staying or leaving... so after our second trip to the same spot in the field... and I'm sure many individuals were confused by this indecisive nature... we left for Bricktown for a better view! After viewing fireworks, we decided to continue walking. Ray said, "hey why don't we take some more pictures." I of course am always up for extra pictures to remember the moments. But what I didn't realize was this was our moment... the moment I had been waiting for for over 7 years....

MY PROPOSAL!


Alicia Rose Waldrup... Will you marry me?!?!
Yes of course!
(Well I said that after I said... Are you serious... don't play:)

Ray putting the ring on my finger


Looking at my beautiful ring!


The happy couple!


Group Picture after the proposal! I am grinning from ear to ear:)

..and here's a video of the whole thing (with great ambient music!!)

That night of course I could not sleep! I was so anxious and excited... and I think I stared at my ring for an hour just trying to soak in the fact that it was mine and this was real! What an amazing day. I am so thankful for my fiance... my love... as well as my great friends that mean the absolute world to me. I am so glad they could share this with us... plus you guys are amazing photographers!

July 4: Playing around at OU Campus
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
After a quick continental breakfast at the hotel, we drove over to the OU campus.

THE FANTS and (soon to be) Zellners!


One of many 1,000s of statues and fountains at the OU Campus...
A perfectly placed bird poop dropping made this statue look sad...
So this is how we cheered him up:)

Group pic in front of the gigantic "O" donated by class of '07... I think:)

Later in the afternoon, we stopped by the Botanical Gardens. What we didn't know was that everything was FREE! Here are some pics of our trip!

Cute Bug hidden in the Garden

Mr. Frog Prince... I've already got my prince!

That night... we went to Nonna's for dinner and watched the storm pour in. Even though a little wet, we still rode a river taxi through Bricktown and ended in Skky Bar where we watched the fireworks over looking the Bricktown Ballpark! What an amazing night!

Dinner at Nonna's in Bricktown!

Sunday, July 5: On our last day in Oklahoma, we stopped at Waffle House and had an amazing breakfast/lunch... for some of us (cough cough Michael and Ray) we had a little bit TOO MUCH of an amazing meal... I was proud for you guys attempting the challenge... but it made me full watching you ! At least the trip allowed Ray to save the runaway eggs. Without him, 70 eggs could have perished...Or run into a parked car...

For our last trip in OK, we decided to stop by the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial. It definitely touched my heart. I remember as a fourth grader hearing of this tragedy... a federal building had just been bombed! It definitely hit a little too close to home for me.

Photos of the destruction




View of what now stands... 9:02: Our lives changed forever!
In remembrance of the 168 people who died!


Faith Sustains Us!


And Jesus Wept!

Let us remember that FAITH DOES SUSTAIN US!
It is in all times and especially in the most difficult of times that we should seek Christ and build a stronger relationship with him. It is in Him that we can truly understand redemption and sacrifice and be healed.

I HEART ROADTRIPS!

Let me set the scene...

It was about 9 o'clock on a Saturday night in College Station, TX. We were all hanging out at the guys house trying to find something to do... of course so many people with so many different ideas. Then it hit me...

ROAD TRIP!

The room got quiet and no one really answered at first. I think people really weren't sure where I was going with this. But within a few moments we had some takers who would join us... our amazing friends Michael and Kristin! So within a 5 minute period we gathered up what we thought we would need and left. (OK you have to know that this was about 4-5 years ago... so of course this is just how I remember it today... please forgive me if the details have been scrambled up over the years!) So we were off...

What began as a random road trip lead to many monthly occurrences of leaving for a random destination without thought or a complete plan. This spontaneous activity lead to some pretty interesting situations and realizations along the way including:

1. Random trips to the local Wal-Mart for bedding and additional supplies
2. Sleeping outside on the concrete with a single blanket for four. Michael can sleep anywhere!
3. Realizing the importance of TP. Poor Ray:)
4. Considering weather conditions... Rain!
5. Going camping in a forest that had just burned down or was partially on fire
6. The concept of running out of gas in the middle of a forest... Girl I was right with ya on this one. No way would I want to push your Honda to the next gas station. Boys...
7. The importance of bringing all kitchen utensils when trying to make spaghetti
8. Flash lights are a must!
9. Kristin has everything one needs in her purse... she can build a shopping mall out of cu-tips and batteries:) We are thankful for you!
10. Learning to laugh at yourself, love those around you, and living each moment to the fullest is what life is all about!

So because of the up and coming road trip to Oklahoma City for this 4th of July, I have decided to bring up the past. Here is an ode to past random road trips. I am of course missing pictures from some of the best ones but will include them at a later date.

First Road Trip: Conroe!
A cold, rainy trip... but it was AMAZING!


Camping Trip in Huntsville 2006
Hiking in the "great outdoors"


Girls finding firewood...
(Wow I do not remember those dance pants EVER being that loose)


Spring Break Trip to Alabama 2006... 13 hours and counting!
Thanks Ryan for driving:)
BIG RIG DRIVING...


Visit at Auburn!
Oh I am in Love... my second favorite campus to date.


Georgia Aquarium... one of many of Ray's fav emo pics!


Coca Cola Factory in Atlanta!
Seriously the Cokes around the world are amazing... I would not recommend drinking them all tho...


Cheaha!!!: The Largest Mountain in Alabama
Ray and Ryan 2006


Road Trip to Denton 2006: Cool Beans


Ray is letting the world know... that this street vendor has
"All American Hot Dogs"


Trip to Plano, TX: July 2006
"I found the bunny!"


Spring Break 2007: Camping Trip
STRANGE FACIES?!?! I love you girlies!


Boys will be boys! Spring Break 2007


Our future Fants and Dukes!


April 14, 2007: Ray's Gangsta Party in San Antonio after the Langford Wedding.


Happy Birthday... Birthday Boy!


Alamo Bowl 2008!
New Years Trip to San Antonio with the Fants!


WHOOP! GO AGGIES!


Michael and Kristin put'n up their dukes!


Ray & I at the Alamo in San Antonio, TX 2008


THE MIRROR MAZE! The coolest place ever! Especially after Pat O'Briens:)

Group Mirror Maze Picture 2008

April 2009: Birmingham, Alabama: Comedy Club


The boys at the Comedy Club 2009


Alabama Trip 2009: Baby Olivia... almost 2 years old
How can you not love this little face!

I hope you've enjoyed a trip down memory lane. More road trip pictures will definitely follow.
UNTIL THEN...

Love,
Alicia

TID BITS!

I've always found the little things that make people tick interesting. These "tid bits" help to define one's character or personality. Well I thought today I would include some of these little tid bits or fun facts about me that many may not know...

IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:
1. I am addicted to Chapstick! (for those of you who know me... this is an easy one)
2. I am the baby of the family.
3. I absolutely love traveling... but would rather spend the time driving because (a) I'm actually afraid of flying and (b) I think that you get a better experience traveling by car which leads me to my next fun fact...
4. I love road trips with friends.
5. I love being organized but spontaneous.
6. I do consider my two puppies my "children" for now.
7. I would love to live in a different state but would hate to be that much further away from my family.
8. I love scary movies... but have a huge love for Lifetime Movie Network and anything that will make me cry. Basically this is anything that has Will Smith in it... who would have thought Fresh Prince could have that effect on me.
9. Every Sunday I like watching Bridezillas b/c I never believed there were ppl out there that are this crazy.
10. I would do anything for my friends and family!
11. Ray (of course) is the love of my life and makes me a better person. Plus I always told my mom that I would marry someone who could move both eyebrows up and down... He had me from the beginning:)
12. I love photography and scrapbooking.
13. I could talk to my mom every day of my life... and then some.
14. I love to dance... but sadly Ray can out dance me ;(
15. One day I would love to own my own business.
16. When I was younger the first car I wanted when I could drive was a teal pick up truck... not the case anymore. I have my eye set on a Nissan Murano... wishful thinking I know!
17. My favorite color is blue... but I have this amazing love for maroon, burgundy, and bordeaux.
18. I used to drink 5 Dr. Peppers a day in college until I started working for Texas ENT.
19. I love the smell of coffee but do not like the taste.
20. The one place I've always wanted to travel was Australia... mainly b/c of the accent. I love the accent... but now I would absolutely love to take an Alaskan cruise.
21. My favorite sport is dancing (which many might say is not a sport) b/c I lack many necessary hand/eye coordination skills to play other sports. Volleyball is a close second...again not too hot tho.
22. I still have a huge love for Taco Bell even though I know how bad it is for me.
23. I seriously would love to open up a chain restaurant of Fazoli's in Dallas because of their amazing bread sticks. Any investors?!?!
24. I would love to be a stay at home mommy (when that time comes)... still waiting on the lottery winings.
25. My favorite food is anything that is sadly considered a carb.
26. My favorite number is 7... before that whole I love the number "7" came out.
27. I will die a happy person if I know I've changed the life of just one person and helped bring Jesus Christ into their life.

Love,
Alicia