Amazing weekend!

This weekend was a big one and I loved it!

Day 1 - Saturday
We started the drive to Buda early. Our big gender-reveal party was set to start at 3, so we needed to get up ASAP to get ready. After visiting with my mom, we got down to business. Karl had been manning the BBQ since 3 am, so we just had the side dishes and last minute cleaning to do. Everyone started arriving and we got our first surprise of the day. My cousin Samantha was in town from Tennessee. I haven't seen her since she moved away almost 2 years ago. It was such a wonderful surprise that she was in town on just the right weekend!!

Everyone was super antsy and ready to cut the cake, but cake is dessert. We had to eat dinner first. I made them all suffer a little longer. All day, Patrick had been threatening that he was going to stick his finger in the cake to find out the icing color. I knew he'd be good and wouldn't peek.

After enjoying some snacks (fruit, cheese dip, ranch dip, and cookies), the BBQ came off the pit. Karl's hard work paid off and we had some very tasty brisket and sausage.

When everyone arrived earlier in the day, I had asked them to choose either a pink or blue ribbon to show their guess. There was a heavy pink majority (10.5 to 4 - even my 18-month old nephew picked girl).

As you can tell by the above pictures, the majority was wrong. We are having a little boy! Lots of excitement in the house. We just needed Mom to make the day perfect.

Day 2 - Sunday

Yesterday was Patrick and my 1-year anniversary. After such a great year, I was ready to celebrate with our parents and test out our wedding cake - would it be as good as it was on our wedding day??

After visiting with my mom, we headed back to the house for a while before she came home and Patrick's parents came over. After Dad brought Mom home, we ate some fabulous leftover BBQ (mom had cheese dip only, but that was the most she'd eaten in a while so that's cool) and then Gretchen and Arlen came over.

After some more visiting, Patrick and I cut the cake.

After pouring some champagne (sparkling apple cider for me), we toasted to a wonderful first year and tested out the cake...and it was fabulous! It tasted  just as good as on our wedding day and we were stoked! 

As a bonus, we even got a little rain. Last year, we got rain (luckily not during the ceremony but before and after). Maybe we'll get rain every year on our anniversary...

Day 3 - Monday

When I planned this post, I was planning to only have 2 days. But my completely awesome husband made me add a third day. 

Patrick took a vacation day today, saying he wanted to relax and he had some errands to run. I figured he wanted to get his oil changed and his car washed, stuff like that. Turns out, I was wrong.

I opened the door to the apartment and immediately realized Patrick had made dinner. I could smell one of our favorite dishes that we haven't had in forever (it takes a really long time to make). Patrick took the day off to surprise me! 

My other surprises were this beautiful orchid and Blue Bell Gingerbread House ice cream (weirdly, he found this Christmas flavor in July??). 

My husband is so wonderful to me! I'm so very lucky and I know it. I love you Patrick!!