There are a lot of pictures from today... so I won't waste time:
BREAKFAST:
we were hungry.
^^ We had mixed reviews from the group on the quality of this breakfast, and although we all agreed that the service wasn't much to brag about, I'm happy to say I was in the camp that didn't find my food totally detestable.
After breakfast, the gang decided it would be fun to head off to the kart tracks. I was on the fence about the whole idea until I walked into the bathroom and was confronted with this:
"screw you, short people!" - this mirror
That solidified my decision to accompany Esther to the other end of the plaza, and go to a nail salon. I haven't been in a nail salon in probably 10 years, and according to the nail tech, that's FAR TOO LONG AND [MY] CUTICLES ARE PROOF OF THAT! How dare I. How. Dare. I.
It took me 15 minutes just to tell the guy I didn't want my nails podged onto my hand [acrylics], but that I really just wanted them painted. We compromised, and he did this gel french tip manicure, which is better I suppose than having fingernails 5 inches thick with gunk. I like my natural nails, so I'm okay with this. I think. At least there was a double sunroof in the car to distract me from whatever self-doubting concerns I may have had about my nails, which was a superfluous concern to have in the first place, but whatever. I'm not the type to go to a nail salon, so do I at least get points for doing a girly thing?!
umm..
We finally headed back to the cabins to help the boys get dressed for pre-wedding pictures; it was cute seeing them all dressed to impress, for one of their best friend's weddings. Seriously, they looked good!
friends help friends with bowties..
mike. rob. dillon
work it, boys.
the groom & all the groomsmen!
rob. dillon. kenny. mike. chad
They wouldn't be our guys if this didn't happen:
that's better.. almost didn't recognize ya'll.. haha
off they went!
Esther and I were back on the pool deck watching the boats cruise by when the boys headed off for pictures, and couldn't help but laugh when we turned back around 15 minutes later to find them huddled together on the back porch of the cabin:
hideout?
Soon enough, it was time to head over. The ceremony was on the bluffs, and there couldn't have been a better day for it!
so pretty!
Esther and I finally got ready, and I don't think we did too bad, either!
pretty esther!
We took our seats and watched with the crowd as the ceremony unfolded:
the preacher, the groom & his men!
here comes the gorgeous bride!
It was a beautiful ceremony, complete with some funny moments, serious vows & lots of love all around. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Pilic!!!! ♥♥
mr. & mrs. pilcic ♥
AND THEN COMES THE PARTY!
my handsome date!
this hilarious moment when matt was voted in as an employee... red or white, sir?
this unnervingly close-to-the-edge-of-a-200-ft-cliff picture of matt... :/
dillon on the bluff.. that looks like a riverbank.
these two dapper pinterest models bluegrass bandmates groomsmen.
my bra strap making an appearance... jerk.. haha
future facebook cover photo for dillon..
with the stunning bride!!
matt thought this was a stranger's phone.. but that's okay.
we both look a little creepy here.. haha
rob & ryan
congratulations, mrs. pilcic!
In the midst of the evening fun, I admittedly didn't get a ton of pictures, but I'm sure they'll surface over the next few weeks, especially when the official wedding pictures come back.
I feel quite blessed to have been included on such a beautiful day with such an awesome group of people!
Congratulations a thousand times over to the new couple.. cheers to a lifetime of love, laughter & learning.. together! ♥
It's a mere 3 hour drive from Granite to Loz, which flew by in the company of the three amigos I accompanied for the trip [Rob+Matt+Dillon]. We arrived at the winery, checked into our rooms and settled in for the afternoon until Mike & Esther arrived.
shawnee bluff!
The guys went off to do the rehearsal, Esther and I hung back to do the wine tasting, which took us eventually out to the deck by the pool, with a setting sun and 2 glasses of Centorri for the early part of the evening.
the pool & the view out over the lake
centorri.. x2
The rehearsal wrapped up, and we headed then to the Redhead Yacht Club for the rehearsal dinner. This place has been added to our bucket list of places to revisit when the season is in full swing. NOTED!
swim up bar & pool area!
We hung out, watched the Blues game and of course did what we all do best:
nom nom nom
^ Gracefully shoved our faces, that is. jk jk. Do you see the four of us, and Matt there in the corner? That food stood no chance ;).
TOMORROW is the big day! I can't wait to see Taryn's dress and to be a part of this day with them. I love weddings!
Today was our day in Granite, before we head out for LoZ tomorrow. We spent it doing truly touristy things, which made me happy :)
First stop: Breakfast!
d'awwwww ♥
^ Let's talk about how Dillon is actually a really good photographer? I don't know why that surprises me, but I really, really like this one - thanks Dillon!
Breakfast at Weezy's: good, simple, inexpensive food.. and cool stuff on the walls:
pretty cool!
After breakfast, we found ourselves back at Dillon's; I left the boys to their own devices for a couple hours and set off in search of a dress for the wedding. I mean, I brought one, but let's not pretend I'm the first or only one who's ever done that and then decided to go out and find a different one, if for no other reason than out of sheer curiosity of what inventory the local stores have.
Fact: It's the SAME inventory, because they're the same stores that we have in Cincinnati. But just maaaaybe, it'll be something different!?
Anywho, I found not one, not two, but FOUR dresses, all of which will be donned at sometime in the next year, I'm sure. I finished up my shopping excursion and made my way north to Alton, where the boys were already a couple hours into the afternoon at Fast Eddie's.
colorful chairs! :)
Matt, Chad & Karrie eventually met us there, and we continued on to Chubby's down the street..
friends!
And then it was the Pub House..
charging my phone from the ceiling? sure.
The night continued on into the late hours when we finally arrived at our last stop; Kenny & Taryn joined us there, along with Mike & Esther and a collection of other friends. It wasn't a bad way to end the night; this time tomorrow, we'll be in Lake of the Ozarks, and in 2 days, Kenny & Taryn will be a Mr. & Mrs.!
The sun was out and beautiful before we were even stirring today. It didn't surprise us that the day we would be departing would of course be the most beautiful of those we've seen so far this weekend, but it is what it is, and at least it made the offloading process a prettier experience than doing it in the rain.
even the ducks were out and about!
We rallied together to clean up the boat, collect trash and personal items, and sailed away from our cove back to the marina. It was nearly a 2-hour trip on the houseboat, but a great opportunity to dry off towels and other miscellaneous things that had managed to become waterlogged from yesterday's storms.
sunny day for a slow ride out :)
We hit the marina and began offloading everything.
we actually had more than this when we showed up.. haha
There had been talks of possibly taking the guys' boats for a final cruise around the lake once we got the houseboat back to the marina, but by the time that happened and we started counting the drive times that lay ahead, we all agreed to take a rain check on it, and promised to get back together for round 2 as soon as possible.
kenny loading up
It is rare that our leg of the trip is the shortest, but we lucked out this time with a trip home just shy of 3 hours, compared to the 7/8ish hour trip for the Illinois folks, and the 12+ hour jaunt for Mike and Esther back to Florida. We prayed for safe travels (done & done, amen!!) and hopped on the road for Ohio.
We drove... and drove.
And drove.
And arrived at home!
And then I went to WORK. For 2 hours.
uh huh... *sigh.
It's scary how adult-ish I've become, going in to work on a Sunday evening so that I'm not insanely overwhelmed tomorrow when I hit the floor after missing two full days last week. Haha.
At least tomorrow is the Colombia v. USA USWNT match-up. LET'S GO, USWNT!
So it stormed last night like I haven't heard it storm for a long time, and this morning we awoke to the leftovers of the storm. Tables, chairs, plastic bins and grill trays were all brimming with freshly poured water, and the mist hung around for a better part of the morning. Despite the early hours, there was already plenty of activity onboard:
that time the boat ran out of WATER... [in the tank]
And this...
old hot dog fishing..
It was barely drizzling when we collectively decided to go ahead move the boat to another cove, closer to 76 Falls. Rob and Kenny took off in their boats, while the rest of us enjoyed the view from the patio as Ryan captained us to the new destination.
boys running circles around us
From there, it was a late breakfast and then off again towards 76 Falls where we tied off to a couple of other Bajas and took in the experience of a full-blown boat party.
here we come!
My Way, the catamaran that took the LOTO shootout title, came coasting through at one point too, which was a sight for all of us!
my way
boat party! :)
The clouds started to gather again, so we decided to make it an early afternoon and head back to the houseboat for lunch and determining our next moves. With no hiccups in direction today, we all made it back at the same time, fixed up lunch and then spent the afternoon lounging and fishing. The guys and Esther took off on a mini fishing excursion around the cove, which ended just as they ushered in the sunset.
**Fishing pix - others **
I caught an IG capture of it that the Lake Cumberland page regrammed! Small things, I know, but I thought it was pretty cool ;)
thank you, lc!! ♥
The evening hours rolled in, and I found myself parked on top of the houseboat with my book in one chair, and Taryn in the adjacent seat. The gang was preparing to head out to a club for the night, but Taryn and I opted to hang back, a decision I still don't regret.
The stars were out in full force, with a perfectly clear viewing of the Venus & Jupiter Conjunction! It was GORGEOUS!
Taryn and I covered a lot of ground getting to know each other a little better tonight; I've always liked her and while we've spent a good amount of time together in casual outings, we've never really had the chance to dig in and get to know the other. It was refreshing, and I'm really thankful for that time. Thanks, Taryn! :)
The gang eventually came cruising back in, with some fun stories of other bar-goers and lake regulars from the stops they made. We all convened downstairs for a couple more hours of fun, including several hilarious rounds of Heads Up. My apologies in advanced for the video quality. Our double-wide-on-pontoons looks extra classy here too, I know ;).
With that being said, I think we've had enough action for one day.
Good night, beautiful Cumberland!
