Showered

This past weekend my mom and sisters threw me my first bridal shower.

It was held at my parents' house and the theme was Hawaiian based on our honeymoon location!

My mom and dad ordered an authentic Hawaiian lei for me and had it shipped all the way from Oahu! It was absolutely stunning and made me feel extra special. All the guests were given party leis to wear as well.

When the guests entered they were greeted with a ukulele, lei, and woven hat. The lei and hat were mine from my first trip to Hawaii when I was 6 months old. I wish I had a picture on my computer of it, but it's at Mom's house. Also my mom got Jimmy and I a cute sign that says "and they lived happily ever after..." Love it.

Kris, Mom, me, Alison, Emma, and Jen.

These are all the lovely ladies that made the shower happen. My sisters, mom, niece, and sister-in-law. Kris and Jen dubbed themselves the "cruise directors" for the shower.

Once everyone arrived and given leis, it was time for food! There was chicken salad sandwiches, spinach salad, fruit kabobs with and without shredded coconut, and multiple dips. It was all so yummy. For drinks we had iced tea, pink lemonade, and "Blue Hawaii" which was Sprite, Crystal Light lemonade, and Raspberry vodka. Yum. I allowed myself half a glass since it was a special occasion and I was the bride-to-be! At the end of the shower there was a delicious pineapple cake that I wish I had right this minute!

After lunch we did some introductions, and then Kris and Jen started the first game. The ladies were split into 2 teams and we played wedding pictionary. My team lost, but only by one after a lightning round. The winners were gifted mini sized Bath and Body Works antibacterial gels. So cute.

Then it was time for the gifts. I was overwhelmed with the generosity of the ladies. Emma helped pass me the gifts, and kept the game we played going while I opened gifts. Earlier that week Kris called Jimmy and had him answer questions about his childhood and our relationship. These questions and answers were then passed out to some of the women to ask me as I opened gifts. If I got a question wrong I had to chew a piece of Bubbelicious. I was so worried that I'd do awful.

Here's me in the middle of chewing and opening.

There were 15 questions, and I only got 3 wrong!! I was very impressed with myself. The ones I got wrong were:

• What is the name of Jimmy's favorite elementary school teacher?
• What was the name of the elementary school Jimmy went to? (My guess was close, but I named his middle school)
• Who was Jimmy's first best friend? (Who'd have guessed his first best friend was also named Jimmy?!)

Kris and Jen were upset that I didn't get more wrong!

We also did the game where however many ribbons you break is the number of kids you have. I only broke one, and that was on purpose because my friend Mary pleaded with me to break one. Thanks Mary. I still have 2 more showers so those gifts better not have tight ribbons!

Jimmy and I were gifted so many wonderful things, but the one I was most excited about was from my mom and dad. This cabinet belonged to my grandparents. There are two of them. One had been in my parents' house since I can remember, and the second that had been in my grandparents' house was refinished with a sanding and stain, the doors were completely re-glassed and leaded by a friend of the family, and the whole thing looks like new. I can't wait to get it back to our house and start to fill it with special glassware and little memories from special events in Jimmy's and my new life together.

Mom and I.

At the end of the shower Jimmy came back from hanging out with my dad, uncle, cousin, and nephew. He brought along Fritz and all the ladies loved them both.

My baby had a big day with the guys and passed out as soon as he got to Grandma's house.

It was a fabulous afternoon. I loved everything about the shower, and I am so grateful to have such wonderful women in my family. Love them so very much.