Hello? Is this thing on???

Newlywed Lesson learned #2

Communication most often occurs when words aren't used

Most often, when I feel motivated to share my point of view in a very intense manner, my point is totally watered down and not even valid by the time I fight through my emotions to make it. This, I attribute to the fact that I am a woman(hear me roar) and a conflict-avoidant one at that(puurrr). At that point, in which I can not articulate what I intend to be heard so clearly, I revert to other modes of communication to speak for me.

Does this work? Of course not!

When this wordless dialogue begins, my fiesty emotions take hold and the most logical form of communication at that point is in the form of silence, stupid eye rolling and pouting (i know you can't believe it, but even I can stick my bottom lip out).

Therefore, we end up in an entirely different brouhaha than we ever meant to start with! Mostly, because I am now unable to even utter a complete sentence that makes any sense at all.

Ooohhhh women.

Ooohhhh the drama.

But, luckily I got me a good ole' man who won't let a single minute go by without resolving anything. I'm telling you, he got the scraggly end of this gig. There ain't no hitch in his giddy-up, he's the real deal. And, well....I'm just a woman.

(and we got our wedding pics back!!!)

Love and peace,

Kate

Dreamin'

I wouldn't mind if I had to be here today.

Piney River Ranch in Colorado.

It's perfect.

Here's to a day of making the best of where we are

I'm blessed,

Katelyn

oh, the things we have learned

So far, I have introduced you to our newlywed life together and the going-ons of newly wedded bliss.

This week, I am elaborating on our newly joint life.... and joint bank account, joint laundry, joint bathroom and sink, joint insurance, joint dog, joint tvs, joint...ok, ok, you get the picture.

Each day I will share a new fact I have learned in the first two months of this forever and ever life together. Perhaps, i will throw in a tip for future love-birds. Needless to say, this marriage thing has provoked many new (or perhaps dormant) emotions and actions in both of us. As well as produced a different perspective in some areas. Above all that, we love it.

blah, blah, blah here we go....

LESSON #1. I only thought I was aware of this...Oh boy, was I ever so naive. Marriage has very, very quickly revealed this truth to me.

MEN AND WOMEN ARE DIFFERENT

Duh, you say. No, No...don't be so quick to say "I told you so". Remember, I have never lived with a boy before. This is new for me.

example #1. some men might like to lay in bed an watch Sportscenter while reading ESPN on their iphone, whilst some woman might like to lay in bed and talk about nothing really.

example #2. some men might like to leave their dog outside all night and feed him "later" because he's a dog, whilst some women love their puppies and feel emotionally bonded to them and want them to lay on the floor so they can pet them and love them.

example #3. some men might like to eat their cereal and leave it all out after in case they want more, whilst some women might like to put the milk up because it might spoil and if you leave the cereal box open, bugs might find their way in there.

As you can see, these are only examples and would never happen in our home, because we both are perfect (and our money grows on trees).

Of course, neither of these perspectives are wrong, but because women and men are so completely different we often get right and wrong confused with personal opinions and ideas.

more Lessons from a Newlywed to follow

happy Monday's over!!!,

Kate

He loves him too. See

Nothing can ever change this love

Here's a little tribute to my favorite person in the whole world, my darling GT.

Don't worry, you haven't missed an anniversary (for crying out loud, we've only been hitched for like a minute). I just feel so blessed to spend everyday with my best friend and absolute love. This song is beautiful and I feel it in my deepest of souls.

If I were to call into Delilah and request a tune for my snookems, it'd have to be this classic. It makes me want to slow-dance.

Thank you Sam Cooke.

and GT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEGS2_jl2_Y

Happy Day,

Kate

p.s. go sit outside at 1230 tonight and look at Mars.

I dare you not to smile

GT and I spent a perfect weekend in Kansas City with Jake, Jamie, Beau and Jamie's family. Now, if you would've told me that the cutest baby ever would be my nephew, I would've laughed (but probably would've believed you). Luckily, it's true. Beau is the cutest babe EVER.

Just to further convince you....here's some evidence

And you must watch until the end....he belly laughs. Of course, this is genious because he is only 4 months old. I am beyond thrilled to be his aunt and and thriving in this new world of aunthood. Thank you Beau, for making me smile.

weekend photo recap

"The Uncle" hold

sweet Jack and Kole looooooving some watermelon

cool Will rockin some 3-d glasses.

Seriously people? the Kullild girls make some pur-tee chillins

i love these girls and boys (and Wolverine)

the boys played at the park...

and watched you tube videos

Meanwhile....us girls held down the fort, cared for the baby, cooked large rations of food and did loads and loads of laundry. hmmm...........or just went shopping on the Plaza. But, it doesn't really matter what we did. We just loved being together. I feel truly blessed to have siblings and in-lawed family of my in-law that are such fun and just plain ole' good people. God chose to bless me by surrounding me with amazing people and I pray that I will bless Him by loving them.

From a very, very proud Aunt,

Kate

Calling all Betty Crockers and Cow Hands!

All you bakers...help me!

Have you ever used Splenda to bake with??? I'm beginning to think it is the culprit in my shortbread textured cookies. I made another fateful attempt at snickerdoodles last night, only to get the same result...snickerbiscuits. The good thing is, we like them. Bad thing is, that wasn't my goal.

We're having a potluck at work today and I put my name and snickerdoodles on that line to bring today. Why? you may ask. I have no idea. After starting the baking process around 1015 last night, I finished around 1100 with more shortbread cookies. And guess what? That's what I'm taking to the potluck. Oh well, at least their tasty and no one there will ever know that they aren't supposed to be called(as i put a label on my container) Snickerdoodle Shortbread Cookies.

Now, for all the Wranglers out there.

My husband wants this.

Yes, he wants this. I'm all for cowboy wear, but really??? This is how our conversation went.

Grant-"Look at this sweet belt"

Kate-"Oh honey"

Grant-"It's in"

Kate-"With who?"

Grant-"you just don't know", "that's cool"

"All my western belt wearin' buddies wear hair on hide"

Whaaaaatttt?????

The end.

Happy Tuesday

important monday update

i still make the bed every morning.
the end.
period.
BOOO-YEEEEAAAHHH
(this post is more for my own feelings of accomplishment. feel free to ignore it completely)

a very merry riley event

Dum-dum-dum-duuuum.

We had a wonderful weekend in H-ville with the entire fam celebrating the beautiful wedding of Kim and Matt! I love, love, love my in-lawed family and am so blessed to be a part of such an awesome gang. Kim and Matt's wedding was full of people who love and support them and I felt honored to be included in the celebration! Who doesn't just love a good wedding of two people you love???

Poor Kimmie. She did well to survive this ragged group of nasty ole' boys

the brothers telling "kimmisms"....i'm afraid the list continues to grow

(uh umm, pssst...that's my very handsome hubs on the left)

funny sibs.

Pink cadillac, pink cadillac. The cute car the newlyweds left their hitchin' in

sisters, sisters....there were never such devoted sisters.

yep. we're still in love

Happy Thirstday,

Kate

It happened

I got lazy.

I kind of feel like this after work.

My blogging is suffering...along with the laundry, cleaning and GT. Not sure that I have ever been this lazy, I slept 10 hours last night and just woke up from a 2 hour nap (WHAAAT???). Usually, I'm hatin' on people who do this! I'm encouraged to get over the tiredness though, get off of the couch, turn on the lights, pump up the music and get to business.

Happy after-work slump,

Kate

Hiiii-deee-hooo neighbor!

our cute lil' kitchen. Mamaw Jo had made these curtains for my last house.

In the spirit of a little house remodeling, I thought this title fit all too well. If you're unfamiliar with the phrase, it hails from the all-knowing neighbor, Wilson, to the Taylors of Tool Time. It, being the hit sitcome of the super-fly and h-o-t-t JTT, circa 1990's. Anywhoo....(enough of my elementary obsessions).

We are far from completion on the house makeover, but I am already thrilled with our progress. GT has painted 2 rooms, put up 8 blinds, built a deck, moved lots of furniture, put with my nagging, made mutliple Home Depot runs and hauled off about 3 truckloads of trash. LOVE HIM! So, here are a few snapshots of our progress thus far! I don't have any befores, but will find some for later.

This is the new TV/Dining room, or Woodrows throne room.

The Dining Room side. The walls still need to be painted and be donned with mirrors/pictures

Our bed. We just got the pick-stitch quilt from PB and I looooooove it. Granny gave us our comforter and it is so lush and I am happy to crawl into this coziness at night.

My fave part is the note that I framed on the wall. It is Mr. Darcy's proposal to Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice (if you know me at all, you're aware of my obsession with this film).
It reads

“In vain I have struggled.

It will not do.

My feelings will not be repressed.

You must allow me to tell you

how ardently I admire and love you.”

So beautiful. That's how Grant talks to me every morning. So precious.

Well, we're headed to Huntsville today for Kimmie and Matty's wedding this weekend!!!! So, i'll update on the beautiful nuptuals when we return!

Happy happy last weekday day to me!

love,

kate

BIRD!!!!

We are training our Woodrow to be a Water-Dog. And, when I say "we", I mean GT. I throw in the occasional command, but mostly stick to the observation deck and encouragement command post. What is a Water-Dog?... one might ask. Well, quite simply, it's a good ole huntin' dog. Therefore, not only will I be left without a husband many a weekend in the fall, but I will also be without my compadre and pup. I will send them both off into the glorious world of duck and dove killin'(and anything else that flies). Perhaps, once in a blue moon, I will be able to join them.

Here are things you might see while observing dog training at home:

Your husband sternly giving commands to a dog easiliy distrated by yours truly

Your husband rewarding a good puppy and talking a very high pitched baby-talk voice

Your husband running like a crazy man around the back yard telling the dog to "come on"

And......Mallard decoy heads in your kitchen sink.

I must say though, GT is doing a fine job so far and I am very impressed with his training. If you'll all come visit, you can get a first hand demonstration.

I'll be back with more house and job updating soon! I'm sleepy for now!

Nighty night,

Kate

Lay off me, I'm Starving!!!

Fun GoodTimes fact:

I know that most people have their "go-to" foods that are always kept stocked in their fridge/pantry. But, GT & I have a ridiculous need to have 4 things always available. Funny thing is, we never really talk about our love for these things, but quickly fret when they're missing (i.e. GT ran to the store at 6 this morning to stock)

Is this crazy??? or normal???

And they are....

1. grapes

2. cereal

3. coffee

4. DDP

Just for Extra FUN

As long as old women sit and talk about old men

As I type, GT and I are sitting in our new living room! Nope, we did not move homes, but we sure did move furniture. Along with rearranging and cleaning we accomplished quite alot in the 3 days that comprise a weekend. Friday and Saturday morning we successfully hosted our first garage sale...hooray!!!! Friday and Saturday night we drove out of town for concerts and had a wonderful time being music-lovin' love-birds. Sunday we had a great morning at church then worked our little rear ends(not off though...unfortunately) on the house, watched some Shark Week and baseball and I got ready for starting my new job tomorrow. Here are the most interesting pics from the happenings.

As you can see, these two were a huge help at the sale.

Just pickin, no buyers at the time.

Thankfully, this kid came to our garage sale. Possibly, the best mullet I have ever seen (and I live in Arkansas)

We drove to Monticello Friday night to hang out with my cousins Korie and Willie at a Buck Commander event. It was a cd release party for a band featured on the Duck/Buck Commander videos, CashBox. We had a blast hanging out in a field and bowling alley...don't ask. Seriously though, I love my cousins alot and have so much fun anytime we're together.

Randy Travis. I love him, forever and ever, can I get an Amen! As is now a yearly tradition, GT and I found a show close to us, Magic Springs, and sat back in our lawn chairs and listened to this legend and his soul grabbin' voice. We are rarely more content than we were for those 2 hours.

One thing that I love about RT and music of the like is the foot tappin' that it inspires. There was not a foot sitting still during "Diggin' up bones" or "Whisper My Name", just to name a few.

Happy Best day of the week,

Kate