Mother's Day 2015

Yesterday was Mother's Day! Our day was filled with lots of love and laughs. We started the day off bright and early with 8 a.m. church (we may or may not have been 30 minutes late....) with Andy's parents. After church, Andy, David and I went over to their house to open gifts and make breakfast together. We cooked up some pancakes, waffles, sausage and fruit salad. It was a really great meal! However, we didn't have much time to savor our food because we were hurrying to make it to a 12:15 movie. We  quickly piled into my car and headed over to the theater for the matinee movie. The movie was not my favorite ( I don't care much for Will Farrell movies), but all of us being together was nice. After that Andy's mom and I went to a mother-daughter Pure Barre class while the guys took naps and got started on dinner. Once we got home from our workout, we wrapped the night up with some salad and spaghetti on the back patio. All in all, it was such an enjoyable day!

The best part of Mother's Day was seeing how excited Andy's mom got when she opened her presents. For almost a year she had been asking for photos from our weddings. We finally delivered on that request!!

See below for the cutest photos of her opening her gifts!

Bridal Shower, February 1, 2014

I have some very sweet aunts who went out of their to host a beautiful bridal shower for me. These are times that I will always look back on and smile. -- Feeling very loved!! Details: Silo on 1604, mimosas, salmon entree, Italian cream cake and a lot of fun gifts! My favorite gift of the day was my mustard yellow apron from Sur La Table.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

This Christmas was unlike any other. For starters it was at my aunt and uncles house who live on the North side of town. Normally we do Christmas eve dinner at my grandma's house who lives in Alamo Heights. This was a much appreciated change because it meant I was able to split my time between my family and the Rafie's much more easily since we were on the same side of town. Another great thing that made this Christmas special was having all 16 cousins together at once. We haven't had that happen in years! Christmas day was exciting because we had two additions, Ercelia and Ashley, to our morning tradition of opening gifts and eating breakfast. It was refreshing to be around a ten-year-old who still believes in Santa. After breakfast with my family Andy picked me up and we went to his family's apartment to open gifts. It was a big change from last year's Christmas morning when we were in a huge home opening gifts. It was amazing to see how unfazed his family was despite the cramped situation. It was a great reminder to be content in all circumstances because we are so blessed and some family have much greater things to worry about.

What a year to be thankful for. So much has happened in this year, and I want to take a minute to sum up the highlights!

I celebrated my one year anniversary at my first official job!

I bought my very own brand new mountain bike!

I fractured my zygoma.... bone in my face.

I got engaged!

I went to the ER for the first time in my life.

I highlighted my hair for the very first time!

Andy and I got our first home!

I road tripped to Colorado with Andy and Kennedy!

Andy and I camped at Enchanted Rock with Kathryn and Phil!

I started a blog and have kept up with it for the most part!

Andy and I were featured on Style Me Pretty!

Andy and I celebrated our three year anniversary!

We loaded two trailers full of furniture and moved out of State!

 My BFF moved back to Texas!

The list of highlights could go on and on... I am grateful for so much. My family and my fiancee. My dog and my new huge backyard that kennedy can play in. My amazing group of old and new friends. I think 2013 was good, but 2014 has so much in store for me. I cannot wait to see what this new year will bring!

XoXo- 

Ilianna 

Home Sweet Home!

Sometime back in November Andy and I flew to Kansas City, Missouri to shop for our future home. We hit the ground running as soon as we got picked up from the airport. I had made a list of the homes we wanted to checkout, so one by one we begin to visit them. It only takes about three minutes to decide if the house is a yes or a no. After about five houses into the list, all of which were a big NO, we stopped for lunch and decided we wanted to scrap the list for the afternoon and go look at the house that Abe and David had selected for us. Apparently earlier that week they had stumbled upon this house and said it was one of the best homes, for that price range, that they had seen in Kansas City.

As soon as we got to 11212 Applewood Drive Andy and I knew it was the one! It was everything we could have wanted! A cute red front door, a big kitchen, an enormous backyard, no basement (something I think I spooky and prefer not to have), two bedrooms and one bathroom. Oh and it has good door knobs according to Andy! This house is also near a lake and in a safe side of town. It's all so perfect!

This will be out first home as a married couple and it will always serve as a reminder of how amazing God is to take care of us. For a numerous amount of reasons this house could have very easily not worked out, but God provided for us is a huge way. He paved the way, when for a while it seemed there was no way for us to own a house.

First of many photos to be taken at this house :)

The back yard is longer than a football field, it could hold an olympic size pool, you could run laps and get tired!!

Engagement Party - November 16, 2013

This enagement party reminded me how truly lucky I am! It was everything I could have wanted and so much more. Andy and I felt loved and cared for and it was so endearing to see everybody celebrate with us. That night was a night I will never forget. Having my dad and Andy's parents there, combined with all our close friends was just the best thing I could have asked for. I really can't say it enough.... I am blessed and so very lucky and grateful. This is the start of a new and exciting season for Andy and I. We are truly taking a leap of faith and trusting God with our plans for the future. I can't wait to see what's around the corner!  

A Bridal Shower for a Lovely Lady!

Brooxie Jones is getting married!!! In just a few, short days she will become a Rafie!! I have had the honor of getting to know Brooxie and she has surprised me with her kindness, outlook on life and wisdom. Not only will we be sister-in-laws, we will be best great friends that love, support, uplift and care for one another. I cannot wait for what is in store for our friendship, but I am even more excited for what is in store for she and Seth!