Lacey & Ryan's Wedding

Ever since I could remember, I've always considered my mother my best friend.  I think I went through the "my mom is embarrassing and I can't stand her" stage early, in middle school - if I ever even did.  I've always looked up to her, always valued her opinion, and always been able to talk to her about anything and everything.  As all of my friends from Missouri know, I am terrible at keeping in touch.  But the one person I talk to every day (or ever other day, at most) from home is my momma.  So when thinking about who would be my Maid of Honor, there was zero hesitation when I thought, "I will ask my mom".  And I am so excited and honored that she said yes!  I love you mommasita!!

 I will never forget the first time I met Laura, almost 5 years ago; she had just moved to Houston from San Antonio after graduating college, and was a first year teacher at the start of the next school year. After hanging out that night, I just had this weird feeling that we were going to be really good friends...call it creepy, but I just knew.  :)   Flash forward to today and she is absolutely one of my best friends and someone I know I will always consider a best friend.  I trust her with anything and I know she will be there for me no matter what.  And she is a trooper - she and Mike are expecting their first child in November, 2011! - and she still said "yes!" to coming to the wedding AND being in it!  I believe, about 22 seconds after I asked her, Stick-Thin Laura yelled to Mike "Miiike, I'm getting a trainer after the baaaaby!!!!" - haha!  I love you, Laura!!

From the time Brian and I met way back in little league we were inseparable.  I remember during the summers in middle school spending nearly every day with each other.  We were playing baseball, going swimming, and pretending to be Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, playing ping pong into the late hours of the night.  Our friendship has only grown stronger, and we are still known to hang out for days on end.  Brian is probably the most caring and generous person I know.  He would do anything for anyone at a drop of a hat, which is what makes him special.  I'm honored to have him stand by me and be a best man.

Mike and I became good friends during our high school years.  We thought we were so cool cruising around in his red Acura Integra, listening to Jay-Z, DMX, and Chris Rock CDs.  The only problem -other than the fact we are two extremely white guys - was the transmission of his car.  It actually was an automatic.  But watching it jar back and forth in between gears, you would never know it!  Mike and I had some good times and laughs back then, and we still continue that today.  He is an awesome friend and someone I know I can always trust.  It is definitely my honor to have him as a best man.

The first time I hung out w/ Ally was at her and Tommy's Super Bowl party a few years ago.  Ryan and I left and said "I really like that girl.  She's no bullshit - just my style". And it's the truth!  I love her tell-it-like-it-is-attitude; I know that what I'm getting from Ally is 100% authentic, no matter what, good or bad.  She's also one of the few people that can drink lots and lots of wine with me - another quality that I adore.  :)   Whether it's dinner on Friday at El Tiempo, a weekend at their lake house in Conroe, or gettin back to my Mid-Mo roots at a Nascar/Indy race, Ally and I always have the best time!  Come to think of it, it's really funny what comes to mind when I think about Ally:  sweet tea vodka, BLL's, Bailey's & coffee.  But also their two precious little girls Reagan and Riley, their birthday parties, and dressing up as Toy Story for Halloween.  These things are on opposite sides of the spectrum, but to me shows the amazing mix of fun, life, and 'growing up' experiences you can have with one person.  Ally and I certainly have had lots of those moments in the past, and will have lots more in the future.  

In a very different way from my other friends, Tommy (TC) and I did NOT become friends during our high school years.  I know this may come as a surprise to those who see us now, but we didn't like each other at all.  Through a funny twist of fate, he and I ended up hanging out at a party in college and having a helluva time!  We have become better and better friends as the years passed, and he is definitely one of my closest buddies.  It may be a struggle to drag "Mr Social" out sometimes...... But, whether we are playing golf or hanging out at the lake, it is always a good time.

Ryan and I met Bo when Ryan and I were looking to buy a house; she worked for the builder of the house we now live in.  Ryan and I both immediately liked Bo but could tell she had a keep-it-all-business attitude towards us - completely understandable, but everyone knows Ryan can't let that happen. After making her laugh a few times w/ inappropriate jokes, we went out for some drinks and it's all history from there!  Flash forward a couple of years and I had the pleasure of introducing Kurt to Bo and watching them turn into a full-blown fabulous couple.  Since they live only a couple of houses down, we hang out several times a week.  Truth be told, Bo really won her way to my heart through my stomach - that girl can COOK!!  The best example of how good of a friend she is; there are days that I call her and ask "Hey, what are you guys doing for dinner tonight?"  After she explains - and 99% of the time asks if we want to come over to have dinner w/ them - I am able to confess that I'm only asking b/c I'm lazy and don't want to cook! That's one of the many reasons why Boom Boom is one of the sweetest, funniest, and giving people I know.  And I look forward to lots more dinners and wine nights together.

Kurt and I became friends after we graduated college.  I actually met him through Mike and some of my other friends who went to Southwest Texas State together.  If you have ever met Kurt, you know that he is always looking to push the envelope for a good laugh.  Nothing is more apparent of this than at a pool party we were all at a few years ago:  it was a busy holiday weekend at the apartment complex pool where most of the guys were living.  Kurt decided to liven up the party by wearing a tiny blue speedo, and posing on the lounge chairs and under the waterfall (see left), like it was no big deal!  If that is any indication, we always have a good time together.  He and his girlfriend Bo, live just a few houses down from us now so we spend a lot of nights with them cooking dinner and drinking wine.  Needless to say, Kurt is a great friend and I'm excited to have him be a groomsman.

Doesn't this picture say it all?!?  I met Claire through Brian and was told I looked and acted just like her.  Of course I was skeptical - but I will certainly take the compliment!  I've grown close to Claire over the years and she has become one of my best friends.  We can sit and talk about absolutely anything for hours and hours - w/o a moment of silence (something the boys just loooooove...).  I will never forget when she came home to Missouri with Ryan and I.  We went on a four-wheeler ride and she was loving every second of it!  I'll never forget the look on her face when she came back from an especially crazy ride and was covered from head to toe in mud!  It. Was. Awesome! That's what I love about Claire - no matter what situation, she's always a blast to be around!  And I know she will always be there for me or Ryan, any time we call.

It's unbelievable to imagine that I have actually known Tim my entire life.  We grew up a street apart in Glenshire and have been great friends since birth.  You would typically find us riding around the neighborhood on bikes, playing football at the park, or whiffle ball in the driveway.  Our only break would be for "chip burgers" and a Coke.  I would say one of the funnest things for kids growing up is a slumber party.  Unfortunately for Tim, he had a little fear of spending the night at someone else's house.  Most of our attempts for a sleep over would result in my mom staying up all night comforting him......  In all seriousness, Tim is one of my longest and very best friends.  I am glad to have him be a part of this special day.

I really wish I could remember the very first time I met Jessica, b/c knowing her like I do now, I'm sure it was damn funny.  We met our freshman year at Helias and have been friends since.  Jessica is one of the most quiet but funniest people I know.  She doesn't say a lot (she actually probably talks a normal amount but I just talk waaay more than "normal"...) but when she does, it's damn funny.  I have so many memories in high school, hanging out w/ Jess at her Dad's house, driving around in her Eclypse. We had 6 friends that all hung out together and we created a group name - which I will NOT identify here - but is one of those memories that is classic high school and totally unforgettable!  And of course, Jess and Jer will always have a special place with Ryan and I, since they were there and helped in our engagement.  Jessica did give me my first bridal magazine, after all!  We already have plans to return to the same house in a couple of years.  Jess will always be a very close friend of mine, even though we don't live close to each other, and I will always treasure our life-long friendship.

The first time I met Jeremy was actually at his wedding in Missouri.  He grew up with Lacey and married one of her really good friends, Jessica.  From the moment we met, we just hit it off.  It became a tradition at every Missouri wedding for us to hang out at the bar, drink too much, and ultimately have a great time.  We have spent many vacations and holidays with him and Jessica.  As a matter of fact, he played a very big role in Lacey and I getting engaged.  I shipped him the ring to bring down to Puerto Rico, and had him video tape the proposal.  But the best thing Jeremy did for our engagement was the "dance" for Lacey.  Just image a fedora and tuxedo thong.......  With that being said, Jeremy and I always have a great time together and have become great friends!

Susan and I have been friends since our freshman year at Helias - and yes, she also belonged to the group-that-must-not-be-named. What I love most about Susan is the fact that even though we only see each other 1-2x/year, absolutely nothing changes.  We catch up and hang out like a day hasn't passed.  I can't explain how much that has meant to me over the years; moving away when very few of your friends do and coming home and back into their very different life is hard, and sometime scary.  But Susan has been there, completely unchanged, since day one.  And I don't think I'll ever be able to explain how much that has meant to me.  I can't write this, though, without telling my favorite Susan story.  A few key points: 1) I played soccer in high school very very poorly; I was only on the varsity team basically b/c my coach wouldn't put a senior on JV. Yes - I was terrible. 2) I apparently had a problem w/ contact sports - so much so that my moms' goal for me was to get yellow card (I failed her on that one). 3) Susan was a rock star on the soccer field: very good, aggressive, and scary - pretty much the exact opposite of me.  During one particularly rough game where I actually played (we must have been winning or losing by a lot...) a girl on the other team came up and very aggressively plowed me down.  I probably didn't think about it twice - mostly b/c I had no idea what I was doing out there.  Well, Susan saw this and retaliated by extra-over-aggressively plowing down the same girl.  She then told the chic "You can knock me around all you want but leave Lacey alone."  HA!  

Even though Tanya and I haven't lived in the same town since I was about 8 years old, we still have an unbreakable sister-bond. We've made it through some family ups and downs together, the highlight being my dad getting to meet his first grandbaby, Ella.  I will always treasure the memories I have with her and our dad. Tanya has since added two more to her family and although I don't get to see them nearly as much as I want to, I get regular pictures to see their adorable little faces grow and change.  I had the pleasure of being in Tanya's wedding when she married Rob and I am honored that she will now join me in my wedding.  I just hope I can follow in her footsteps of a great marriage and beautiful, healthy babies!

Kim has been my brother's better half for a long long time and I couldn't ask for Dean to be with a better person.  Even though it's not "legal", in my eyes she's been my sister for a long, long time.  She is the sweetest, nicest person and would do anything for my family - including be the family chiropractor!  I look forward to hanging out w/ her every time we come home b/c I know I'm going to laugh and usually get some pretty good stories. After a glass or two of wine, Kim tends to get pretty animated when she talks - those of you that have been there to witness this knows what I'm talking about - and even if I've heard the story 17 times already, it's always hilarious b/c Kim tells it only the way she can!  I absolutely love her to death and I am so honored that she's in my wedding!

I have wanted a brother my whole life, and within a year I'm getting two! Dean is Lacey's older brother, with whom I've gotten to know well over the past 5 years.  I remember meeting him for the first time when we all went on a cruise over Christmas one year.  Anyone who thinks Lacey can party...needs to meet Dean.  We have had many late nights out in Houston, at Bone's in Jeff City, or even dance parties in his living room.  I am glad to have him as a new brother and for him to be a groomsman.

It wasn't until about two years ago that I really was able to get to know Ryan's sister, Amy.  When Ryan and I first started dating, she was living in Chicago finishing her ER residency, so I only got to see her a handful of times every year.  But she moved back to Houston after she graduated and we were able to hang out a lot more.  We really got to know each other over dinner, wine, and Snapped marathons!  We've had many late nights, wine in hand, and our eyes glued to the TV, watching Snapped for hours and hours!  She is getting married to Jason in August 2011 so now it's a lot of wine and wedding planning! I am honored to be asked to be in their wedding and just as honored for her to be a part of ours!

I met Jason when he started dating my sister a year or so ago.  He and I always seem to have a good time.  We have battled it out on the golf course, rocked out at Buzz Fest, and have even gotten drunk at Christmas, putting puzzles together.  In August, he will officially become my brother when he marries my sister.  I am excited to be a part of their wedding, and just as happy for him to be a part of ours.