Royal Watch (Pool) Party

Ryan and I went to a pool party last Saturday at my parent's house. It was really just a family gathering together to eat, swim, laugh, and try to fix a drain/vent fixture in the bottom of the deep end. I don't know if I'm alone here, but I love spending time with family. I always have. I have family in different states many miles from where me and my immediate family live, including Missouri, Texas and Mississippi. The extended family from out-of-town unfortunately weren't here for this party, but I remember fondly those times sitting around my grandmother's kitchen table listening and laughing and talking with family.

This weekend we had family from Murfreesboro in town which prompted the pool party. I may be the only one to admit it, but another reason we all love to see one another now lies in the tiny hands of the babies our family has gained in the last two years! Charlotte and Gemma have brought so much joy and fun to our family, although, watching them walk and wobble close to a pool is quite nerve-wracking. Feeling the warm sun and the water in the air so well-known in the southern states was a refreshing feeling. While dangling my feet in the cool water I found myself thinking about how I could get to the toddlers as quickly as possible from across the pool. Thankfully, the plan I came up with was not necessary and no children fell into the pool! Time spent with family is a precious thing. We all have our own beliefs, convictions and opinions, but what I love about family is that all of those other things are put aside when we come together. There's never a wasted moment when it's time spent with family.

Image found on Google. All the watermelon was eaten before I could take a photo of it. We love our watermelon!

And what summer pool party is complete without a big slice of messy, dripping watermelon? I had to eat mine standing up so the juice wouldn't drip all over me. Even doing this I still managed to have one arm covered in the sweet stuff. When I talk about watermelon, I think specifically of my younger, but not little, brother. Connor could eat watermelon all day long and never tire of the fruit. I may be remembering incorrectly, but I distinctly remember one summer when he ate about 90% of an entire watermelon all on his own.

He's a bottomless pit when it comes to food!

Aspen, our family German Shepherd, or as we lovingly call her, Big Girl, is not so fond of being surrounded by people like she was on Saturday. She feels overwhelmed by all the attention and the little hands vying for her attention. Charlotte and Gemma both followed her around several times when she got close enough for them to notice her. However, she loves having her ball thrown for her and anyone who plays catch with her is her new best friend. Aspen loves playing so much that if you happen to pick up her ball she will stare at the ball (not you) intensely until it is released into the air for her to catch with expert precision. She can snatch a ball right out of the air when it's thrown properly for her. I've never seen a dog catch so well before we got her.

Okay. I'll admit it. I'm one of probably only a handful of people who weren't up at 6 a.m. to watch the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Windsor, England. I always think of myself as the person dedicated enough to forgo sleep to witness such a significant event. Alas, sleep wins out every time. I'm just a girl who loves her bed. However, the modern age of the internet and technology (Hulu) allowed Ryan and I to watch the entire, classically-beautiful wedding; every blessed minute. I have to give credit where credit is due. Ryan found the wedding "episodes" on Hulu and the sweet man sat and watched the entire thing with me. (That's love.)

I remember the last royal wedding the world witnessed between Prince William and Kate Middleton. Sleep won that battle, as well, but I heard all about it from the internet and others who watched before going to school. Yes, I was still in high school for the last royal wedding. This wedding in comparison to the last boasted the bride in her simple, yet, elegant gown and the groom in his stately uniform. As the New York Times said this royal wedding is the dawn of a new era, changing the trajectory the monarchy from traditional to unconventional, and further, is a reflection of daily life for common people. The couple are a shocking reminder of the free-spirited Princess Diana, who it seems Prince Harry has taken after in many ways. Following in her footsteps, he continues to push the bounds of convention and tradition, breaking ground on a new, inclusive age in Britain's history. It was quite touching to see how emotional Prince Harry was throughout the ceremony, especially during moments dedicated to the People's Princess Diana.

From what I've seen of the ceremony it was a beautiful event to behold. I would expect nothing less from the royal family, but the classic, timeless look and feel with a twist of culture gave this wedding something completely unique. It was clear the style of the wedding was modeled after its bride, an actress known for her humanitarian work and passions, as well as her sense of style, which does not always follow the conventional royal dress code.

Photo Credit: New York Times

I mean, look at that cascading hedgerow! It's as if she's walking into the mystical secret garden. The wildflowers have such a unique, quiet beauty, you feel you're being transported to meadow where Mr. Darcy confessed his love to Elizabeth Bennett. Watching this wedding brought me back to my own wedding almost five months ago on January 6th to Ryan. I know neither of us are royals, but I like to think our wedding embodied the same class and grace as Prince Harry and Meghan's.

That was a wonderful, sweet, fun, cold day. The highest temperature on my wedding day was about 30 and I braved the cold without a coat! As you can see the style of my dress aligns more with Duchess Kate's choice, however, the simple, classic design of Duchess Meghan's dress and wedding are choices that will influence and inspire brides for years to come. Classic will always be in style.