and the "Son-In-Law of the Year" goes to......

drumroll please.......Wesley Denis Bryant

Yes, that's right. Wes officially has won over my dad's heart (as if he hasn't already over the last 9 years).

Today was my dad's birthday. His 54th. We celebrated with a sweet family dinner at our ever-favorite Mazzi's. We laughed about quirky family traits. Reminisced on the way Grandma Phyllis warmed up her butter. Shared our Mazzi's memories (our engagement, my mom telling my dad she was pregnant with Matt, etc).

When we got home, Wes finally surprised my dad with his birthday present......his restored record player. My dad was more than ecstatic. An awkward handshake and hug later, my dad was already grooving to his new records (that came with the record player). He hadn't used his record player in years, but thanks to Mr. Fix It (aka Wes) he was rocking out as if he was back in the 1970s.

So there it is. Wes has done it again. Congratulations "Son-In-Law of the Year", congratulations.

"Son-In-Law of the Year" ruining pictures.

Christmas '09

Weekend Checklist

✓ Baseball game with Michael & Ellen

✓ Work

✓ School

✓ Bob’s “Celebration of Life”

✓ Church

✓ Coffee date with the parentals

✓ Unsuccessful bridesmaid dress shopping

✓ Auden’s 5th Birthday Party

✓ Dinner with Wright’s & Kammerzelt’s

✓ Soccer game

Whew.Busy weekend. Wait....shouldn’t we be wedding planning?

engagement is all about....

wedding planning while...

still finding time to be silly....right?

p.s. those are homemade orange juliuses. we of all people would be drinking out of wine glasses :)

you're just like my mother

This might be every soon-to-be married young man's nightmare....marrying their mother. Well, apparently Wes is in for a real nightmare, as last night he once again reminded me how much I am like his mom.

The scenario. It was 5:00 pm. We were having the Kammerzelt's over for dinner at 6:30. The house was messy. The food wasn't cooked. In my mind, it was GO time. Wes, on the other hand, thought it was a perfectly fine time to chat it up with his wonderful father and show off his most recent Buick parts. With little courtesy considered, I turned on the loud vacuum cleaner and vacuumed right around the two "chatty Cathy's". It was then that he uttered the infamous words, "Gosh, you are just like my mom".

Why? Because I'm hard-working, loving, and determined?

I finally took my eyes of the vacuum, looked up at him, and simply said, "Thanks!"

Like father. Like son.

Like mother-in-law. Like daughter-in-law.

clinton kelly and his tomboy

"Let's go shopping!" These are the infamous words Wes muttered this afternoon. Yes girls, be jealous! My fiance proposed the idea that we go shopping.

Unfortunately...anyone who knows me well, knows that I hate shopping. Despise it. Loathe it. Would rather do anything but it.

Yet somehow Wes miraculously convinced me that it was indeed time to restock my rather bare closet. After some serious arm twisting, my personal Clinton Kelly and I headed to the mall.

Wes and I are natural born deal makers. His deal...I needed to find at least two new tops. My deal...I would buy him his favorite mall treat, an Orange Julius.

Three shirts, one jacket, a pair of Jesus sandals, and an Orange Julius later we successfully made our way home.

I of course worked the runway and flaunted my new clothes off for the crowd. The audience: my uninterested dad, my opinionated mother, and of course my loving partner in crime, Wes.

my new Jesus sandals

fiance to the rescue

Wes: "Didn't you check the weather reports?"

McKenzie: "No. It was sunny when I left!"

This was the conversation that took place when Wes came to save me this afternoon.

This morning I had a brilliant idea. I'd ride my bike to work to bask in the morning sun and get some exercise. Brilliant idea, right? Without checking the tire pressure, I quickly put my spontaneous plan into action and rode my old school Schwinn to work. Yes, all 7.5 miles.

Within hours my brilliant idea was not so brilliant anymore. Sigh. Let me explain.....

Reason #1, Since it was the last day of this Lil' Kickers session, I was showered with gifts from my kiddos. A jar of Hershey kisses from Eli. An Itunes gift card from Desarae. A bouquet of flowers from my Jackrabbits class. I have such a rough job, eh?

Reason #2: I walked out of the soccer fields only to learn it was.....hailing!

This is where the hero enters the story. With my hands full of gifts and unwilling to ride my bike in the hail, I came up with brilliant plan number 2. Call the boy toy! After bribing him with a lunch date, Wes quickly obliged and was at my work in no time, strapping my bike down to his prized Toyota.

Not only did Wes laugh that I left my house without checking out the weather reports, but he also advised me that my handle bars were loose, my tires were flat, and my seat was bent.

Hail. Broken bike. Lack of storage. Apparently my brilliant idea was not so brilliant. At least I got a lunch date with a hottie.

sex wax

Late last night Wes handed me a strange soap-like looking object. The small label read "Sex Wax". I was completely confused. What in the world did you talk about at boys night out last night?!?!?!

After enjoying watching the many faces of my curiousity, Wes finally led me to the guest bedroom and muttered....

"Here, maybe it will work better with this...."

There before my very own eyes laid a surfboard. My very own surfboard. I freaked. Jumped up and down like a mad woman. Hugged and kissed Wes like crazy. And finally introduced myself to my new best friend, Harvey Mushman (my surfboard's name)

Our family is complete (for now). A boy. A girl. And their surfboards.