The Girls

When David asked me to marry him, I already knew who I'd ask to be my bridesmaids.  Right after college, I wondered who I would ask.  They say you leave college with your lifelong friends but most of my friends came from childhood.  In fact, half of my bridesmaids were childhood friends!

 Robby did a great job showcasing all of my girls' beauty as well as the gorgeous flowers by Wendy.  We ended up with a great day outside, so we took some pics in front of the church.

 Now, allow me to introduce you to my bridesmaids.

 Jennifer if one of my childhood friends.  We grew up in church and school together.  We were ballet friends - she took, I think, a year (or two) longer than I did but we both LOVED it!  Maybe K and E will both love ballet, too!  She was the first of my friends to get married and I was able to be a bridesmaid and sing in her wedding...I even caught her bouquet (the first of THREE mind you!).  So glad she could be a part of my wedding...with baby number TWO growing inside!  :-)

 This is Stephanie, David's sister.  We haven't gotten to spend that much time together just due to schedules and distance but I am so blessed to call her my sister-in-law.  She is a children's minister and you can tell that she loves what she does and is great at it!  She loves K and is always doing things to encourage her.  I hope that we will have more nieces and nephews to add to the mix so they can love Aunt Stephanie, too!

 And again, my sister-in-law (married my brother), Kenna!  She has worked so hard to be a great P.A. but has always maintained her sweet spirit.  She helped make some of the reception decorations and did my hair...all on short notice and without complaining.  Funny story - Kenna's brother was in my class at school.  We had study hall together, and he and this other guy called me "val" because they were sure that I'd be class valedictorian.  At that time, Philip and Kenna weren't even close to dating...no clue they would be!  :-)  I'm so thankful for God blessing Philip with such a kind, patient, and generous wife...and glad she is part of our family now!

 This is Sarah, my matron of honor.  She and I met in medical school and did our pediatric training together.  We sat on opposite sides of the room first year but both did a summer program in the peds clinic after that year...so we were FORCED to spend time together.  After that, we working in the Pediatric Interest Group together and were fast friends!  We tried to do as many rotations together as possible third year and Sarah worked hard to keep me at UMC for residency...promising we'd find me "a hot resident to marry."  Well...it worked!  I stayed...and found a hot resident to marry.  ;-)  We've been through a lot together in 8 years (really? wow!) and I am so thankful for her. 

 This is Sarah, my "oldest" friend.  We have been friends for as long as we can remember...forced together because our mothers were friends.  But how glad I am that we were.  Sarah is the kind of friend that I don't see much (she lives in CA) but whenever we DO get to see each other, it's like we haven't been apart; we pick up right where we left off.  She is a pediatric nurse and spend some time in Africa at an orphanage, which is where she actually met her husband!  It was such fun to be a part of their wedding...and to have her be a part of mine.  They are moving closer next year but not quite close enough.  Guess we'll have to take a road trip to visit.

And last but not least is Katie.  Katie and I haven't always exactly been friendly with each other.  We've known each other since Brownies...but we did NOT like each other.  In fact, in any scout picture, I'm on one end and she is on the other.  I thought she was loud and annoying (which was true) and she thought I was a goody-goody (which was true!).  Then came the day when she and Jennifer became good friends.  Being that Jenn and I were friends, Katie and I were basically FORCED to be friends...but it worked!  I was in her wedding and now she's been in mine!  She and her husband are such fun.  Thankfully, they live nearby, so we can hang out...if things would ever slow down!

I am so blessed to have each of these girls in my life and so thankful that they would honor me and David by supporting us on our wedding day. I am thankful to know that they will be the kind of friends to hold me and David accountable.  Can't wait to spend more time with them!

A Quick Recipe Break

I'm having fun reliving our wedding day through the wedding posts, but I thought I'd give you a little break with a recipe. 

As has been established, K loves making things.  I realized this past weekend her entire motivation (well, maybe not ENTIRE but a big one).  We were making something and all that had been done was whipping some eggs and sugar.  I pulled out a spatula to be sure everything was off the bowl before adding more stuff and she says "Can I lick something?"  Good grief!  Anyway, a few weeks ago we made some M&M cookies (the ones that led her to ask for more "emmie m" cookies when we made peanut butter cookies.  I found this recipe on Picky Palate and know that any recipe with pudding in it is great!  It did not disappoint...except that my cookies didn't look nearly as good as hers. Maybe it was due to the fact that we used regular sized M&M's rather than mini.  Who knows!  Alas!  They are good....give them a try!

Perfect M&M Cookies from Picky Palate

• 1 stick/1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose Gold Medal Flour
• 3 tablespoons Instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips
• 1-1 1/2 cups M and M’s

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and line a large baking sheet with a silpat liner or parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl cream your butter and sugars until well combined. Add your egg and vanilla mixing to combine. Add your flour, pudding mix, baking soda and salt, stirring to combine. Add chips and m and m’s stirring to combine.
3. With a medium cookie scoop, place dough 1 inch apart from each other. Bake for 10-12 minutes until cooked through. Let cool on cookie sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to cooling rack. Enjoy!

Family

David and I are so blessed to have great support from our families.  His family has been a big part in helping with K so that he could stay and finish his residency here.  We're excited to put our families together and make our own little family!  For some reason, K was not having it when we took these pics but she got better.

The whole Gilliam family!  We were sad that David's cousins couldn't make it but it was too far...hope we'll see them soon!

This is David's Grandma Carrier or Nana to K (I tend to say Nana, too).  K adores her "Nana banana" and we are so thankful for her sweet and giving spirit!

This is GG and GP, David's dad's parents.  I love watching them together.  So precious!  GG spent some time with us over Thanksgiving and GP was so sweet to encourage us to always make God first...the KEY to a successful marriage!

David's sister, Stephanie, is great!  She loves K so much and K loves her - sending her cards, getting her (traditionally) Twinkle-toes, writing down things they've done for K, making cupcakes, and having sleepovers at her apartment.  So blessed to have her as my sister-in-law!

This is us with our parents.  The joining of two great families!  We are both so blessed to have parents who have made the choice to stay true to the covenant of marriage that they made and to make God a prominent part of their relationship!  They have all been a great example to me and David and truly generous in their giving to us in all ways.

This is my side of the family.  My parents and Philip with Kenna, his wife.  We're a little family but we love each other and have fun together!

I was so excited that many of my family members were able to come.  None of my grandparents are living anymore but we still love getting together with my parents siblings and their families.  First up is my dad's family.  There are still several people missing but a nice big group.

Now Mama's family.  Again, several people missing but so thankful for those who could come (and those who couldn't).

This is Philip...my brother.  He's turned into quite the handsome, smart, hard-working, fun, kind, and giving young man.  I am so proud of him and can't wait to watch him and his own family.

We are both so thankful for all of our families and are looking forward to our own.  God chose to bless me by including K with David, and I am so excited to be her Mama and can't wait to add to our family.  But one thing I am so thankful for is David and his desire to lead our family in God's will. We pray that God will use us for His glory and continue to grow our family in Him.

The First Look and Us

So, after Daddy saw me it was off for my love's first look!  Yes, we saw each other before the wedding.  I think it was super special and made everything less stressful.  Can I just say, even seeing each other before, when I saw David at the end of the aisle it was still exciting.  Once again, Robby did a fantastic job!

I love this series...first a look of anxiety, then a smile (he can hear me coming)

then I'm there,

and then the first look!

I was so excited...and wanted a kiss...

...it's probably illegal...but we kissed anyway!

:-)  Then there was more dress checking

...and sweet nothings!

Then Robby went to work on some outdoor portraits (there are more coming at our reception venue!)

Stylish

Classic

Then it was inside for pictures with the wedding party and our families!  The beginning of a perfect day!

Getting Ready

Almost two months ago, David and I got married.  How can it have been that long ago?!!  I did a few posts about the day before...now a few (yes, a few!) posts about the wedding.  First off, I want to give credit for the photographs to my WONDERFUL photographer Robby Followell of Followell Fotography.  He is great at capturing the day...the whole thing.  However, he not only takes pictures, he gets to know you, makes everything personal.  FANTASTIC!  I highly recommend him (and his great wife, Jess!). Check out some of his other work here...if you look far enough, you'll see the post about our wedding along with some engagement shots, too.  :-)

After the rehearsal dinner, I went back to my apartment.  I had kicked my parents out for the night so I could just relax and have one last sleep by myself.  I slept okay...to be expected.  Then got up the next morning and actually sent out an e-mail to work (got fussed at by my co-workers for that but it really only took 5 seconds!).  After that I just relaxed until time to go to the church to get ready.  I was the second to arrive, Mama was first.  Then we went in and got busy!  I started with my make-up...even putting eyeliner on my bottom lids.  :-)

In the meantime, Sarah and Sarah were steaming my dress and veil.  The dress was new, the veil was the under portion of Mama's veil when she and Daddy got married. (something new, something old (one of them)

Then Kenna, my brother's wife, started on my hair.  I didn't really want to go to a salon to have my hair done...just not me.  So, I found some styles that I liked on Pinterest, did some trials at home and picked one.  Then Kenna did it...for the first time that day!  It looked perfect!

In the meantime, the guys were busy getting ready, too!  Working on buttons, cufflinks, and putting vests and bowties on!

Once Kenna finished my hair, it was time to put on THE dress!  This was the dress that I had been eying since David and I started talking about getting married....but I was convinced it wouldn't look good.  Surprise...it was the one!  I knew it when I put it on.  Buuut...it did have lots of buttons!

Patiently waiting for buttons to be buttoned.  :-)  Love this pic.  It shows my first ring from David and my last ring from my Daddy.

A few more finishing touches!  The garter...that mama made (something blue)

Shoes (that were SO hard to find!  Everything was true ivory rather than white...so I went silverish) and blue toes

And a pearl bracelet that is Mama's (something borrowed)

The finished picture?  Just after mama put on the veil. She likes...I like...

Then Daddy came to see.  I must admit...I cried!  Thankfully, no one got a picture of it from the front (I can't pretty cry!).  Daddy likes!  Now...to see my groom.  Sooooo excited!

Will he like?

5K and Cookies

A week ago, David was on call Friday night.  So, K and I made cookies.  I had in mind that we'd make a specific recipe for it called for chilling the dough and we didn't have time for that (or at least not if I was going to let K have a cookie before bed) so I asked her what she wanted to make.

 "Emmie-M cookies!"  Hmmm...we had JUST made "Emmie-M" cookies and I had seen a peanut butter cookie recipe I wanted to make.  Compromise...use the recipe I want and add M&M's. 

Once again, I found the recipe on Pinterest.  It is peanut butter with cream cheese added to it.  Let me just tell you...it makes for a GOOD peanut butter cookie!  Nice and soft.  That Saturday morning, we got up bright and early to make the treck to my home town and walk in a 5K.  We walked with my friend and her little boy while her husband ran.  We both ended up getting 2nd and 3rd in our age division...while pushing 3-year olds in strollers.

  I thought that was pretty good!  Anyway, I took some to them and her husband commended later that the cookies were really good.  I think I'd agree.  TOTALLY recommend these!

Cream Cheese Peanut Butter "Emmie-M" Cookies adapted from Miss in the Kitchen
3 oz Nufchatel cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter softened
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup M&M's
1/3 cup sugar for rolling

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large mixer bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and peanut butter together until smooth.  With the mixer on low, add eggs one at a time, mixing until combined.  Add vanilla, 1/2 cup sugar and brown sugar, beating until all incorporated.  Add flour and baking soda and mix until combined.  Stir in M&M's.

Add 1/3 cup sugar to a small bowl.  Scoop cookie dough into rounds and roll in sugar.  Place on a lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart.  Smash cookie dough balls cross-wise with a large tined fork.  Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until cookies just start to brown.  Cool for 2 minutes on cookie sheets and then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Apples All Around

We had a bag of apples in the fridge and David requested that I make apple pie or turnovers or something apple while we have so many apples.  So, last week I made an apple turnover cake. 

K helped me and kept calling it a birthday cake!  :-)  Unfortunately, due to the candy incident, she couldn't have any (did finally get some right before we finished it) but did great when I told her no.  This is very easy to make.  I didn't have any applesauce and just left it out.  I thought the cake was a "tad" dry, so I think the applesauce would have helped with that.  Only used about 2 apples and I thought it could use more.  Try it for yourself.  Would make a good breakfast cake.  :-) 

Apple Turnover Cake adapted from Nerdy Baker

For Filling:
1 heaping cup of sliced apples (I used 2 apples)
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons water

Plus
1/2 cup brown sugar (I used a 1/4 cup each of dark and light)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

For Cake:
1/3 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar (I used splenda)
1/2 cup applesauce (didn't use)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup sour cream (I used fat free...originally called for greek yogurt)

For Glaze:
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoons milk

Method

For filling:  Make your filling by combining apples, sugar, water, cinnamon and cornstarch in a small saucepan.  Cook on low heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring constantly until the sauce is thickend and the apples are a bit soft.  Set aside to cool.  In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together until well combined and set aside.
For Cake:  Preheat oven to 350°.  Grease and flour a 9×13 baking dish.  Set aside.
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Add applesauce (if using) and vanilla and mix till combined.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift the dry ingredients together.  Add the dry ingredients to the batter in three parts alternating with the yogurt in two parts, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.  Beat until just combined. Spoon half of the batter into the prepared pan.  Spoon the cooled apple mixture over the batter carefully and spread as evenly as possible.  Sprinkle 2/3 of brown sugar cinnamon mixture over apples and cover with the rest of the batter.  Sprinkle the rest of the brown sugar cinnamon mixture over the top. Bake for 45-55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

For Glaze:  While the cake is baking, make the glaze.  In a bowl, mix the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until the glaze is desired consistency.  When the cake comes out of the oven, immediately but carefully pour onto hot cake.  Try to pour as evenly as possible.  You might have to pick up the cake and tilt it to spread the glaze evenly.  I even poured some out that pooled at the corners and repoured that over the top.  Let the cake sit for awhile for the glaze to set.  Enjoy!