Sisters in the City

Last week while Jake was in Italy and I was lonely Alison hopped the bus from PA to NYC to spend the day with me, wander around The Metropolitan Museum of Art and take in the city's summer sights.

The moment I first arrived in New York I fell in love, hard. The kind of love that can't be defined. A devotional, passionate, irrational, loyal and sometimes unrequited love. I knew I had found home. I knew I could never leave. I knew I was in deep.

Alison, however, hasn't been as easy. New York has had to woo her. New York has had to work for her affection. And still, she strings my darling city along. Showing up for days at a time, smiling, wearing flirty dresses and then running off to Boston's quieter (and she claims, cleaner) streets.

I'm not offended. I'm not even defeated. Because I know little by little this city will make a New Yorker of her. It may take years, but just you wait one day she'll wake up with her heart in her throat and she'll know the only cure is to drive, bus or run her way back to this hustle and bustle. And an inexplicable calm will settle in her soul as cabs whiz by her and people push pass and buildings scrape the sky. Just you wait Alison Victoria, it will happen. How? you ask. Well, because New York City is magic.

^^The sculptures are always my favorite. Always^^

^^Museum feet^^

^^It started to drizzle while we were on the rooftop garden^^

^^Rooftop feet^^

^^We stumbled upon some wings of The Met I had never explored before that day^^

^^New Yorker: established - 2005^^

The Wedding: The Rehearsal Dinner!

It's been a hot second since I posted anything wedding related, so here are a few pictures that my sweet Jamie and #WestonOnTheBrink shot at our rehearsal dinner! :)

^^Just waiting to be sat in^^

^^Pretty flowers in the ballroom^^

^^Probably crying up a storm already^^

^^It's all about the chandeliers^^^

^^I love my Bridesmaids^^

^^ The men!^^

^^The Happy Parents^^

^^We had just a few people at the dinner...^^

^^Some serious toasts^^

^^JAK^^

^^Last single girl night!^^

^^Maid of honor lovin'^^

To my Mama...

^^1986^^

Mama, thank you...

...For giving me life. Seriously, that's the biggie.

...For giving me three siblings who, although they drove me crazy throughout childhood, I can't imagine the world without.

...For instilling in me a love of the arts and encouraging the singing, dancing and silliness that has come along with it!

...For loving my father and working every day to keep your marriage strong, happy and healthy for almost 35 years. 

...For showing kindness to all of God's creatures (like that frog you saved in the park last week).

...For thinking I'm the most amazing woman in that same way you thought I was the most amazing baby girl.

...For kissing my boo-boos. 

...For sharing your ricotta cookie recipe.

...For my long eyelashes and long legs. 

...For filling my half-empty glass with your effervescent, optimistic champagne outlook on life. 

...For being there for me, always and forever.

...For shaping me into the woman, wife and future mother I am/will be.

I can't wait to have a daughter some day, I just hope I can deal with all her ridiculousness as gracefully and patiently as you have with mine. I love you Mommy. 

Love,

Your Katie

^^Mom (and Ali), John, Pat and Me (and Barbie) Thanksgiving 1990^^

Sometimes your friends are photographers...

...and you invite them to your wedding because you love them and they're beautiful and their positive auras are practically blinding. Oh and they can dance. You all have an incredible time. Fast forward two-ish months and you are finally coming down from that amazing wedding high and life is feeling a bit, well, normal. But wait, you meet one of said beauties for a drink and she hands you a disc of, oh you know, just like 600 of the most gorgeous photos of your wedding. Like this one...

So now I'm typing up this post, all misty-eyed thinking about our wedding and our incredible friends and amazing family and feeling crazy lucky and loved all over again.

My dearest, Laraine and Xanthe, your formal thank-you card shall arrive soon, but my thankfulness couldn't be contained to the confines of a piece of paper, I needed to share it and share it with the masses. It's safe to say this is one of my favorite presents ever.

My dear brides, this is what Xanthe and Laraine did from the sidelines, while partying like rockstars no less, can you imagine what they'd produce if you put them up front and center as your photographers? Yea, that's what I thought!! (here are just a few ... ok, 40ish pictures that I ADORE!)

^^There were strings, a chuppah, chandeliers and candlelight... it was perfect^^

 ^^We did it!^^

^^Mom and Daddy!^^

 ^^Amy and Mike - and JJ rocking the trumpet as he processes out!^^

^^Let the party begin!!^^

^^Happiest in his arms^^

 ^^Adam singing father/daughter dance song James Taylor's "You've Got A Friend" arranged and conductor by Jonathan Ragonese!^^

^^Dancing with my Daddy^^

^^Blessing of the Challah^^

^^The speeches begin!^^

 ^^Peek-a-boo Matty, I see you!^^

^^Mr. & Mrs. DeGroat cracking up at childhood stories of JG^^

 ^^We were dancing fools!^^

^^It wasn't just our wedding day, it was also my Mama's birthday! So we gave her a little surprise!^^

^^Dad twirling the birthday girl around the room to an orchestral arrangement of "If Ever I Would Leave You" sung by Allan Harris :)^^

^^Little sis making her Maid of Honor toast!^^

^^Just a tad thrilled about having The Amigos serenade us^^

^^The Amigos Band, we love you^^

^^Final Toast of the evening!^^

^^Love, love, love this shot!^^

^^The most exhilarated I have ever felt in my entire life.^^

 ^^Five cakes from Crumbs Bakery each boasting vintage cake toppers from Amy's collections!^^

^^Anticipating having cake for the first time in months! (I was more than a little excited)^^