After the Final Rose

So, you know it’s bad when you’re trying to log on to your blogger account and for at least a moment, you can’t remember your username and login. Yes, yes, I have been a slacker blogger. So, for those of you who have been loyal enough to check back in every now and then, I know; I owe you. You see, I knew marriage would ultimately change my life… my day-to-day activities, schedule and priorities. However, if anything, being married has given me MORE free time, so I’m still out looking for my excuse. No more driving back home at 2 am. So much more sleep! Honestly, I guess I would just rather spend my time nesting in our little home or on the boat with the hubby, than at my computer, and I’d say that’s probably just fine. Not to mention, my job has started to become a little more of a priority, but I love it. Im so thankful to do work that I really do love. In the last 10 days, I’ve sold 3 homes to 3 families that are so excited… I can’t help but feed off their excitement!


Over a month has gone by now since Chad and I began our little family. Sure, there is something so intimate about standing before all of your friends and family and saying those vows, but what I wasn’t prepared for, is how much closer you get simply from living together daily as husband and wife. I know, Im beginning to sound like a Brad Paisley song, going on about how I thought I loved him thennnn, but it really is so true. Especially in our little place right now, we’re never more than about 10 feet apart. Cooking meals, brushing our teeth, saying our prayers, we are at each other’s side. It’s amazing, and I truly can feel that this is the way God intended man to be… in relationship, true I’ll-be-here-and-adore-you-no-matter-what kind of love.

Despite its seemingly tight quarters, I absolutely love our little love nest. It is just what we need for now. Sure, many of our friends have bigger places, and we both recognize that this is not a long-term plan, but every time I think it seems a little small, I just think how HUGE this place would seem if we were living in New York or Tokyo! Comparison really can put things into perspective. Besides, this places has saved us from having/wanting to buy tons of furniture and home goods, which for me, is a very very good thing. We do have a guest bedroom/office though, and we would love to have visitors, so come one, come all, people!

So far my best cooking endeavors have resulted in a pretty yummy Mexican Lasagna dinner and some delicious shrimp scampi. We did spaghetti the other night. I tried to make it more healthy by using ground turkey instead of beef and wheat noodles. Ehhhhhhhh. Finally, I just started chopping up everything I could find in the fridge…. onions, scallions, herbs, you name it. If there’s one thing I don’t like, it’s bland food. So, eventually enough red pepper flakes woke it up a little, but all in all, I can say Im just not THAT big of a spaghetti fan. You know what I do love though? Chad’s desire to do the dishes every night. Im really diggin that!

As promised, Im finally sharing some pictures of the Fuson Love Nest. Though we’re not completely finished unpacking gifts and changing things out (like that AWFUL chandelier over the table) it really does feel like home. And I love it here! For Chad and I, both of whom are not the best sharers in the world, learning to share everything has been wonderful. I guess when youre all goo goo gah gah at one another is the time to learn. Have a fabulous weekend everyone! Ill be at the Hurricane Shrimp Boil tonight, so halla if youre up at the CHL.

Blogger is ridiculous and these are all out of order

emerill's got nothin on this

yes, we have a bike in the dining area and a skull mount on the table between crystal candlesticks. that's how the fusons roll

bathroom is still a work in progress, but i love our shower curtain. it's kindof little mermaid for grown-ups

Chad re-did this peice and it fits so nicely

a true labor of love. chad spent days reconfiguring this space for all of my things

our room

most comfy bed in the entire world

come visit! seriously. like now. do it.

Busy Bee!

SO.....I i became an aunt, got married, went on the MOST fabulous honeymoon of all time, came back, went to the lake to celebrate America, bestie got engaged, came home, back to work, and about 150 wedding presents later, I think I might be finished! time to sit? doubt it. time to write about 400 thank you notes. oh well. i really am so thankful. sorry about the abandoned blog. i promise to add pictures of our little home tonight. missed you guys

So Long, Ruckart

Yep. This will officially be my last post as Katelyn Claire Ruckart. Wow. Where do I start? This past week has been amazing and full of wonderful, hugely-emotional events. As most of you know, my sister who was hospitalized for the past 9 weeks with a complicated pregnancy, had an emergency C-sectionin the wee hours of Thursday morning. By God's grace and in His perfect timing, I became Aunt Kakey to the most precious widdle bitty boy you've ever seen. Not only are mama and baby doing extrememly well, but Rachel will now be able to attend my wedding, an idea we had been forced to give up on. wow.

Looking back, I know I felt an inexplicable peace during the entire escapade of the last few months and had come to terms with the fact that Rachel wouldnt be with us on one of the most important days of my life. Therefore, I am floored and absolutely overwhelmed by God's blessing and timing on this one. The entire situation really couldnt be more perfect. Oh, and just to show off, the Lord orchestrated it where my dear friend Lauren Gibbs Mauer (a friend from Samford) would be teacup Tim's nurse on his first day in this world. Actually, Lauren just recently returned to Nashville from Knoxville, just in time for our little miracle-baby's arrival. She is such a blessing. Not only does my family love her, but tim has a HUGE crush. Everytime nurse Lauren is there, he improves drammatically.... showin off. I'm pretty sure I saw him flexing his guns at her the other night.

Wedding week is now underway, and so far, it has been so much more than I couldve even imagined. This weekend, we moved all of my things into our little love nest. This was a great opportunity for me to purge half of my unused clothing, which felt very nice. All of my drawers are perfectly organized, and there is exactly the right ammount of space for all of my new things. Chad has been slaving away in my new closet for weeks, preparing for the arrival of my many things. He's adorable. Speaking of, Chad and I also decided we wanted to do an actual "dance" for our first dance- not just the prom sway. Therefore, we've spent the past few nights in various parking lots, working on some moves, sweating bullets. As much fun as Chad and I have had together over the past 5 years, I can say for certain, I've never had more fun with him than we have over the past few weeks. Im certain, this is how it's supposed to feel :) I'll be back in a couple of weeks, but until then, please be lifting up my sweet nephew in your prayers and also our wedding ceremony this weekend. Please just pray the entire day and celebration will honor the Lord. I know if that solitary goal is accomplished, it will be the best day ever.

Katelyn Fuson to return soon!

Lame Excuses

I am the worst blogger ever. Here are my lame excuses. Nevermind, no one even cares enough to read through those. Let's talk about some fun. SO... tonight begins "Camp Kateroo" a.k.a my Bachelorette extravaganza. I honestly don't think words can describe how excited I am. Not only are all of my maids coming (besides rachel :( not her fault) but a few other very special out of town friends, who are SURE to take the fun up a notch or two. Also, I have Mrs. Emmy Freed's baby shower to look forward to Saturday night. Life couldn't be more fun than it is right now. I just had some customers tell me that my excitement was contagious. Hopefully, that means they will be back after lunch to buy a new home and write me a paycheck! I like those :)

I'll be back in a few days with pictures and stories about my last few showers, Camp Kateroo, and Avie's welcome party. Have a great weekend everyone! If you need me, I'll be singing country music and eating a foot-long hotdog.

**btw... there is NOTHING that's more fun than buying clothes for your honeymoon. nothing. i need a different bathing suit for every day. right? right! calm down, steve-o, two more weeks.**

***one more note.... Cortland Finnegan is my hero right now. Just got the call that our tickets for tonight are in Jeff Fisher's box. No big deal. ahhhhhhhahhabvsdbsdvbdasheeeeeehehehehehe!!!!!***

Once Upon A Time...

Once upon a time… a boy and a girl fell madly in love. Eventually, when this said boy and girl decided to marry, the festivities began and much merriment ensued. Balls and parties were thrown to celebrate the young couple’s nearing vows and many gifts were given and received with much anticipation. One gift, however, was unique from the rest. This gift, you see, was toiled over for many months and presented by Saint Linda, the fairest fairy mother-in-law of them all. The bride and groom opened the gift, excited and expectant, knowing Saint Linda always prepared something special. Finally, there it was in their hands, the most splendid wedding gift of them all, the Fuson Family Favorites, a magical recipe book sure to be passed down from this young couple to their children and to their children...for generations to come!!

Perhaps this vignette was somewhat silly, but no normal run-of-the-mill introduction would suffice. You see, I am beyond excited and more than a little impressed by the newest addition to our kitchen. Within the pages of this home-made recipe book, created by Linda Fuson and illustrated by the talented Brittany Fuson, are not only recipes but complimentary stories as well. From the kitchens of friends and family such as Kristi Warren, Julia Vaughn, Dianne Dudney and the late Joan Gaylord, just to name a few, these recipes not only offer the how to’s of certain beloved creations but the why to’s; i.e. “Christmas morning favorite of Bubba’s” or “brought to Chad after his knee surgery… he LOVED!”

Below, I’ve included a sneak peek of the Fuson Family Favorites, simply a mere glimpse into the pages of this private book. For those of you whom either knowingly or unknowingly contributed to the content of this masterpiece, THANK YOU! Chad and I will cherish this gift immensely and are excited to one day add many of our own traditions and concoctions to its pages.

cookbook on the right, BF thank you's on the left. incred

I felt so honored to make the cut!!

Duh... these are ridicuolous

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead

I know. I know, people. The blog has been neglected. The funny thing is, I can't decide if I care. This whole world of blogging is still new to me and, while I love to catch up on my friend's lives on here, simple journaling still serves as my most comfortable medium for processing thoughts. In recent days, however, I find myself composing mental blogs. You know, like driving in the car subconciously working through a possible posting. That kind of nonsense, ladies and gentlemen, is more than a little strange and ultimately exhausting. That reminds me.... what movie is it when the girl says, "my head is all full..." to which someone responds, "um.... I think that's called thinking. Go with it." Someone pleeaaase help me out here. ANYway... yea... that's how I feel.

So, rather than actually completing a fully-mentally-processed blog (or thought for that matter) I will fill you guys in on all of the craziness that's been going on in a fragmented, good-enough-for-now format.

Thoughts: Life is so great right now... I've had one of the best weeks of my entire life... I actually love my job... My fiance is seriously so sweet, and I want to eat him up most of the time.... I really hope he doesnt get too full of himself over his undefeated softball schedule...My future inlaws continue to blow my mind with how sweet and welcoming they are to not only me but my entire family...My friends, wow, you ladies hosted a to-die-for shower amidst flooding and chaos... Nashville really is the BEST place to call home. really. but i"m SO ready to go on my honeymoon.... I need to order some bathing suits...I have 13 dresses hanging in my laundry room to disperse to all my maids... I forgot to keep planning my wedding, crap.... Who is going to plan my wedding in my mental absence... Who really cares, let's just go with it... I need more sleep... My easytones are getting dusty.... Bedtime....

Thank you to all of you who have made this last week so wonderful. To my mommy, I know we get frustrated at eachother over envelopes and camera chargers, but I love you very much and think you are probably the best mommy ever. I mean, afterall, look how good your kids turned out?!? Sorry, couldnt resist. night night world.

mommy/daughter love

perfect evening

schmooosch face

Happy mother's to-be day!

only a few more weeks!

Let's Go Play!

Less than 2 months away from the big day, I’m glad to annouce that the hubby-to-be and I have NOT lost the lovin' feeling. Sure, after almost 5 years together, we no longer feel the need to plan “dates” every evening; after a while, you just assume the pleasure of each other’s company and are excited even about grilling out on the “porch” for the third night in a row. Yep. Togetherness is enough. And eventually, you find yourselves as comfortable together as you once were alone. I guess that’s love. In fact, I know it is.

Lately, however, perhaps in response to the warming temperatures and commencement of cut-offs season, Chad and I have been enjoying many evenings of outside fun. (Obviously, not in reference to the last 48 hours of torrential downpours) You see, as luck would have it, I truly believe I’ve found in my future hubby, the perfect combination of maturity when necessary, balanced by an I-don’t-want-to-grow-up attitude, which we share. While many of you out there (ahem, CiCi) might object to the declaration of necessary maturity, I was convinced this past Friday, more than ever, that I’ve truly found my soul mate. Yep. He’s a keeper. How do we keep it fresh? Good, solid, red-neck fun. Allow me to include a short vignette to explain.

Standing in the rear of Murfreesboro’s finest establishment GO U.S.A, two evening ago, I anxiously scoured the crowd of families and tattooed teens, looking for my date. In the much-anticipated heat of this Friday night, I cautiously returned my attention to Sophie, my neurotic puppy, every few minutes, as she growled and leapt after every shiny golf ball hit from the driving range. “Where the heck is he?” I thought to myself as I reached for the calming security of my blackberry. Finally, after my bbms refused to turn from “D” to “R,” I’d had enough. Failing to heed the warnings on the door, I scooped up my excited pup and entered the inside arcade. My stare quickly identified an over-sized child at the basketball machine, greatly resembling my fiancé. Surrounded by a group of 8-10-yr-olds, who were captivated by his “skills,” I soon realized this “big kid” was my fiance, in heaven. There he was, fun personified. Looking closer, I saw sweat beads pouring from his head beneath his crooked sunglasses, and what was that all over his mouth?! Blue slushie?! Yes, he was in heaven. Walking towards him, I felt like one big buzz kill, and soon, made uncomfortable by my presence, his band of gawking fans began to disseminate.

Turning around to look for his missing ball boys, my boy smiled a smile I never tire to see. Suddenly, it was clear to me, he didn't want to grow up, and just like many times before, I felt myself falling a little more in love. Over our years of dating and growing in a deeper relationship with one another, Chad and I have had some of our best moments remembering how to simply play. Whether fishing on Mill Creek, going on sea doo adventures, playing tennis or by simply riding around in the rain just for fun, I am always reassured during these times; we must be doing something right. So what did I do with my blue-faced, 10-yr-old celebrity? Well, we marched right back up to the counter and purchased $5 more of tokens... best $5 we’ve ever spent.

After an hour or so of skee ball and other games, I, too, was returned to a competitive, juvenile oh-my-gosh-that-bratty-kid-has- more-tickets-than-me state of mind. Finally satisfied after amassing a considerable amount of yellow tickets, we returned to the counter to pick our prizes. Judging from the pictures below, I am confident in our selections. What a fun night. What a fun boy. I think he was the best decision I've ever made :)

Why not take a break before putt putt and down some cheese muffins from Jim-N-Nicks?. Those things shoud be illgeal. yum yum yum