Valentine's weekend

I don't care what anyone says about Valentine's Day being a made up holiday, I love it! I spent years being sad on Valentine's Day and now that I have someone to share it with, I really look forward to it.

Of course, this holiday was the last one with me being "single." Joe and I spent most of the weekend cuddled on the couch watching the Olympics. On Saturday night/Sunday morning at 12:01, we gave each other our Valentine presents. Joe gave me a gorgeous amethyst and diamond necklace. I gave him some fun boxers and a book about ancient civilizations.

On Sunday, Joe brought me some beautiful red tulips (very springy!) and we watched more Olympics. That evening, we got all dressed up and went to Market Street Grill for dinner. We got some super yummy crab stuffed mushrooms. Joe got seared ahi tuna (bleg) and I got halibut (yum). We wanted two different desserts so Joe ordered key lime pie and I ordered creme brulee.

Joe didn't have school on Monday and we were planning to go to the zoo with my mom, Ethan, Jessica, and baby James. Unfortunately, it was too rainy to have the baby outside so we opted for the aquarium instead. It was crowded, but awesome. I can't wait until the penguins arrive next month! James was so sweet watching the fish. After a while, though, he got grouchy and needed to go in his stroller for a nap.

It was a really great weekend. :)

Big wedding checks!

The last couple of weeks have been very busy with the wedding. We think we've decided on a new cake (with very tasty flavors!) We also booked a really amazing videographer. A wedding video was really take it or leave it with me, but my mom insisted we have one. So we met with a videographer she met at the wedding show. He showed us some demos and they were fabulous. By the end of the meeting, I was set on booking him. We also have a wonderful florist. She is so nice and helpful (not to mention budget friendly!)

Tomorrow, I go in for my first dress fitting. It's a little early, but the dress needs to be taken in two sizes and I am anxious to see how it really fits. I've been a little sad about buying a sample dress lately, but I never could have bought this dress new. I also committed the #1 bride to be sin and went dress shopping after I bought it just to make sure there wasn't something else out there. It is still my favorite.

I almost feel like I can take a break, but then I think of all the little things that still need to be done. It's ok though. Aside from the cake stress, I think most of the big stuff is worked out.

143 days to go!

Wedding stuff

With 158 days to go, I've been kind of in wedding overdrive lately. Here are some updates:

~Changed the idea for centerpieces, just a little

~Picked bridesmaid dresses (finally!)

~Ordered save the dates to be mailed out on Monday!

~Picked a couple of invitation styles I like

~Finished paying for my dress

~Registered at Bed Bath and Beyond (really fun day)

I do have some very important tasks for the next couple of weeks:

~Figure out baker stuff

~Talk to someone about flowers

I think things are really starting to come together!

2009

So I guess I'll hop on the "Goodbye to 2009" blog post bandwagon. 2009 has been kind of a rollercoaster year for me. They say that three of the biggest emotional events you can go through in life are: Dealing with death, divorce, and moving. Even though my grandma died in October 2008, I think I am still trying to deal with it over a year later. I got engaged, which is the opposite of getting divorced, but still a huge life change. I also moved twice. In March, I moved in with Joe and in October, we both moved into the basement of my grandparent's house with David living upstairs.

We are really liking where we live. We have a beautiful fireplace and there is room for our pets to run around. Sometimes it is difficult to have a housemate, but most of the time it is actually really nice.

In many ways, 2009 was the best year of my life. Joe asked me to marry him. I also became an aunt on November 24 to my wonderful nephew, James.

It hasn't all been wonderful. I've noticed that my anxiety issues have gotten worse. I put in a lot of job applications and went to several interviews with no luck (although, I am going to sell Avon soon, which will hopefully provide a little money until we get married and I can go back to school.)

So, I am looking forward to 2010 (especially June). It's going to be another busy year, but I am excited to see what it brings.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was a very special holiday. On Tuesday the 24th, my sil gave birth to the most perfect baby boy. I am an aunt!

On Wednesday, Joe and I had our annual pre-Thanksgiving dinner. This year we cooked a turkey breast, potatoes and gravy, green beans, and stuffing stuffed acorn squash. The turkey took way longer than expected (as usual) but everything was delicious. After dinner, we made the Thanksgiving bourbon pecan pies because the usual bakers (E and J) were still at the hospital.

On Thursday, I got a call from my mom saying HER turkey had gotten done way early (Why do turkeys have to be so tricky?) We headed over and were soon joined by Joe's mom and brother. We were very excited to share our Thanksgiving with them. Some last minute dinner preparations were going on as the last guests came in the door. E and J and baby James were released from the hospital Thursday afternoon and luckily, everyone felt well enough to come to dinner. James was wearing an adorable Thanksgiving Rocks! outfit. He was so good all during dinner (which was perfect as always). After dinner, mommy tried to wake him up to visit and he got pretty upset.

I am so thankful that we were able to share our holiday with so many people.

Wedding update

I noticed that my last wedding update was from quite a while ago, so here are some updates:

~We got our engagement pictures done and I am currently loading them onto my computer. Next step: Save The Dates!

~We're thinking about finding a new baker. We never signed a contract with the one we met with. We have since tried to get her the contract. We took it to her business and called all her phone numbers. She won't get back to us. We were not impressed at the initial meeting so we're thinking about finding somewhere new. (Maybe Granite Bakery?)

~We have asked everyone who will be in our wedding party.

~I have picked out a color and hopefully a designer for the bridesmaid's dresses. Hopefully I can find a store that carries them!

I think that is everything new. I'm falling just a little behind schedule (based on the checklists I have) but I think I'm doing ok. Next steps: Baker, Save the Dates, and florist!

229 days!

Halloween!

I have a bunch of blog entries to make now that we have the internet again (yay!) but I'm going to start with Halloween. This is the first Halloween that Joe and I have spent living together. David, Joe and I decorated the house and spent Halloween afternoon carving pumpkins. We all got into costume and waited for the trick or treaters. Joe and I had the door and David hung out behind the fog machine waiting to surprise kids as they were leaving.

I've never seen so many trick or treaters. We live in a really great neighborhood for kids. Joe had to make an emergency candy run because we were going to run out. Around 9, the neighborhood quieted down and I popped our Papa Murphy's Jack O Lantern pizza in the oven while Joe and David opened their Autumnal beer. I forgot to go to the liquor store for me so I used what I had and mixed vodka/sierra mist/and orange juice. I called it a "ghost pumpkin" because it was light orange. Also cuz I'm lame like that.

Here are me and Joe. We're a black widow couple. (male widows are brown with yellow hourglasses. They get eaten by the females...which is why Joe is looking a bit nervous.)

David

Joe's U pumpkin

Our suit of cards pumpkin.

More punchkins