The Happy Couple

Here they are! The happy couple, Jessica and Jason!

We had a great time with them in Houston, Texas last weekend. Our flight to Texas was delayed on Thursday night so we didn't get to meet Jessica and her family until the next day. Our three days in Texas was a fun and busy time. She, my sister-in-law Deb, and I went shopping on Friday while the guys played golf. Jessica proudly showed me her wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses that she had picked out at David's Bridal shop and her shoes at Bruccettes shoe store. (Her dress and shoes are on order and had not arrived yet.) I even found my shoes for the wedding for me! I had not planned on shopping but I could not resist these shoes! This is the first time I've purchased shoes before the dress. Later, we also went out to lunch and met her mother and brothers at Chili's.

On Saturday we all went out to eat at The Original Claudio's Italian Restaurant and Piano Bar where Jason had played his guitar and proposed to Jessica a few weeks ago. This place seems like a popular hangout near the beach and had a great atmosphere. This time we met her grandparents, too. There were eleven of us, which included the happy couple, Jason's friend who was visiting from Ohio, Jessica's grandparents, her parents, Steve & I, and Deb & Stacy. Our table was right next to the dance floor and the music. We had a great time, the food was delicious, but I had trouble conversing at the table because the atmosphere was so noisy. (I think everyone had trouble carrying a conversation so it wasn't just me.) It was also dark so I couldn't read lips very well either. No matter what I did with my processors, it was hard to find the right mix. Every now and then a couple would come and dance with the music. I love to watch other people dance, especially when they are good. I danced with my son and my husband a few times. I think it would be fun to take dance lessons before the wedding. I've always loved the movie "Shall We Dance" with Richard Gere in it and have always wanted to learn to dance.

On Sunday, we went to church with Jason & Jessica, Jason's friend, Jessica's parents and one of her brothers. We went to the First Methodist Church in downtown Houston where the wedding will take place in November and it is BEAUTIFUL! The church has lots of stained glass windows, burgundy carpet and pews, and a pipe organ behind the choir loft. The sanctuary is spread out in a half moon shape with a balcony and the sound system seems good (better than most churches I've been in.) After church we went out to eat for lunch at Maggiano's Little Italy Italian Restaurant to talk and plan some wedding details as a family. Jason loves this place and ordered for all of us - we ate family style! Steve and I left at 2 p.m. because we had to be at the airport to catch our 4 p.m. flight. As it turned out, our flight was delayed leaving Houston because of storms in Atlanta, so we missed our 9 p.m. connecting flight to Knoxville. We got on the 10:40 p.m. flight but that one didn't leave until after 1 a.m.!!!! So, we finally made it home and in bed by 2:30 a.m. It was a long weekend but a good one. We had not seen Jason since Christmas. And I hadn't seen him face to face since my 2nd CI surgery. We'll be back in Houston for a wedding soon!