E.L.K. Weekend

On May 28, 2009, we had our first official annual E.L.K. Girls Weekend in Huntington Beach, CA. It just so happens that I'm too pregnant to fly anywhere, so they all came to me!

8 1/2 months pregnant

Now you are all probably wondering what ELK is. I'll give you the run down. It is a secret society of tall beautiful women who are enamored with each other. It was started by the two first original members, Kristin and Lexi in 1997. Known back then as the Heroins Club. Then it gradually grew to include Erica and Lauren in 1998-1999. Finally it's fifth and final member was inducted in 2000, Kimberly. The club was then renamed to fit its members E.L.K (Erica, Lexi, Lauren, Kristin, and Kim).

ELK in 2005

Now 12 years later, the ELK club is still going strong. Still tall. Still beautiful. Still eternally enamored with each other. Over the past twelve years the friends have endured together through school, volleyball, graduations, heartache, love, loss, firsts, lasts, faith, disappointment, sickness, injury, health, marriage, adventures around the world, death, and new life. We stuck together no matter what came our way. And in 2009, we were finally able to have our first true girl's weekend in over 4 years! And what a time we had.


We spent the weekend at my house and we lived it up. Catching up, gossiping, shopping, laughing, crying, eating, reminiscing, watching movies, pampering, crafting, and loads of picture taking!

lots of laughing. good times.

decorating our Venitian masks

I love you girls so much. Thank you for coming to our ELK weekend. It was amazing. I can't wait for next year.

Erica (aka Rica), Lauren (aka LoLo), Lexi, Kristin (aka Baja), and Kim (aka Kimmy).

Nursery? Check!

Casey and I have been working overtime on our baby room for the past two weeks. It's finally done! Hooray!

I have been on maternity leave since May 26th. Best feeling ever. It's only been two weeks and I am loving it. Strange how I don't miss it. There was not one day where I woke up early feeling like I was late for work or missing something. I went from working full time to sleeping in and hanging around the house without blinking an eye. Isn't it amazing how that works? I am sooooo looking forward to an entire summer off of work with my hubby and our baby. Most exciting time of our life together. Our first adventure as a family. I can't wait to hold him in my arms. I wonder what he'll look like and what his personality will be like? I'm so excited to meet our son.

Casey left for Sweden today. It was a last minute trip. He got invited to go play in a beach vball tournament representing the USA. He didn't want to pass up a free trip back to Sweden and it's great experience to play internationally, so we decided he should go. We went to the doctor today and he gave the okay. I'm not dilated at all. No contractions. I'm putting myself on bed rest this week to make sure that baby doesn't come while daddy is away. But it looks like I still have another solid two weeks until baby Patterson will make his debut. I'm totally okay with that. I hope he comes right on his due date. June 22nd would be a good bday. Casey helped me get everything ready before he left just in case baby comes. So we'll see what happens. We both had a little talk with the baby and I have a feeling that he will wait for his big poppa to come home on Monday night. Next doctor appointment is on Tuesday. More updates then.

By the way... I haven't mentioned it on here yet, but we came to a decision on baby Patterson's name. Grandpa Patterson made him a beautiful name sign to put above his crib, so we are locked in with the name. What do you think?

Cash Ryan Patterson. He's going to be so hot with a name like that. Just like his daddy, Casey Ryan Patterson.