alo's place: All Grown Up

this morning i drove to michigan to be a part of my cousin amanda's bridal shower...so fun!!! i am so excited for amanda and her fiance, joe, to be married this summer (one day after our 5 year anniversary!). unfortunately, i will not be able to be here for the wedding (it is the same weekend that my sis-in-law is getting married!!) so i wanted to be sure to be here for the shower...plus my mom was co-hosting :) of course i couldnt come without making something sweet...i made mini chocolate (with chocolate chips) cupcakes with caramel frosting, buttercream stuffed strawberries, and phyllo with frosting and blueberries. my mom did a great job with the party, but the best thing was being able to see all the ladies here to support amanda in this new journey of her life!! there were 4 generations represented!!

amanda and i had a great childhood together! from the beginning amanda and i were close...i was born on her first birthday! :) so we were "forced" to share but i never minded, i dont think that she did either. after my family moved from michigan to georgia, amanda and i didnt get to see each other very often, but when we did we had so much fun. in the summers, she always let me tag along on the boat with her friends, go grab lunch or go shopping. i never felt like the younger cousin, but rather a good friend. over the years, amanda and i have done our different things and experienced different life adventures (although i did become a hair stylist after her; she made it look so fun!! :) ), but she has always been there to chat and catch up! one of my favorites memories of our "adult" friendship was sharing a tent with her in africa for a week...that would make anyone close!!! so, today it was so fun to see her opening presents that she and joe will use in their life together...to see how excited she is to spend her life with joe! it is so crazy that we are all grown up and married and starting families of our own when it seems like yesterday we were here at the lake as kids... frizzy perm hair, matching bathing suits, and eating mimi's ice cream dessert (that is one thing we still like to do!).

amanda, i am so happy that you have found the love of your life! i can see the happiness he brings you when you walk into a room together!! i cant wait to see what God has in store for you guys. i hope that our kids will one day be able to come to gull lake to hang out during the summers and have the childhood that we were so blessed to have together! know that i will be praying for you and cheering you on as you grow old together...i am always here to chat! love you, amanda jo! my family by force, but my friend by choice!!!

here are a few pics of amanda and me together...