December Already??

Man-oh-man... where has the time gone? Rich and I have been busy with planning and thankfully we are getting close to having most stuff done. And it's Decemeber. I love this time of year and the lights and cheer :)

We went to Trans Siberian Orchestra last week which is always a highlight for me. The lights, music, and excitement. I've gotten to the point, that it really isn't Christmas time until I see TSO. This year was extra special because Mom and Grace joined us. It was their first time seeing it, and their reactions made it more exciting for me. To add to that, the night was even better as we celebrated my mom's birthday. A milemarker in her life - but she probably won't want to be sharing that she just turned 25 (hehe.... well maybe not 25).

Updates from Rich's post:
We did decide on a florist -- but we still need to tell them.

We've also selected our officiant. What a character this man is! The Saturday we met him, he starts be telling us that if we're meeting with him, then we don't want a traditional wedding (true, we don't). He tells us his ideas fr our wedding and tells us about his past and who he is. After all that, we decided he's our guy: seems a little rough around the edges, but as warm and friendly as you can imagine! And his fee goes to his foundation that works in Latin and South American teaching people English and job skills (LOVE IT!!) and his tip for the day of the wedding.... a bottle of single malt scotch, no younger than 15 yrs... that's our kind of guy, so long as he drinks it after the ceremony.

Invitations - we found some cardstock we like and now have to think about wording for the invitations and perhaps try a few different printers... maybe even check out what Kinkos would charge. Definitely don't want to spend lots on money on something people will most likely throw away after the event.

Lots and Lots of Wedding Planning

Sara wrote about our cake tasting a few weeks back. It was fun. After that, we had an engagement photo session that Sara won at a bridal show (I'll never make fun of them again). The photographer did an incredible job and we're going to use the company at our wedding. This is where I don't mind spending some extra money - photos are going to be our view into the wedding in the future.

Thankfully, Sara has been busy setting up appointments and looking at things online in her spare time. I've had trouble keeping up with everything.

Since the cake tasting and photo session, we've gone to two florists for quotes (still need to decide on one) , done some gift registry and have looked at all kinds of invitations. We need to decide how to do the invitations/stationery. Companies charge a lot of money to print things. We can buy patterned paper and print them ourselves. The trade-off is obviously the time involved. I'd rather spend my time doing the stationery at home instead of paying someone an exorbitant fee to do it for me.

Now is the time to be looking for and buying decorations too. Prior to Sara's busy season (Jan-Apr), I want a plan in place to set up and execute projects. Getting the materials now would go a long way toward ensuring success of those projects.

Wedding Planning Update

This past Saturday was a huge day for us in terms of planning.... we picked out our cake!! Yummy! Thanks to Mom for joining us as we needed her opinion. Especially since cake isn't Richard's favorite thing. But we picked out some flavors that will please him (and me too!)

After the cake choosing, we had engagement photo's taken. We hadn't planned on doing engagement photos due to the additional cost and that we have so many pics of us already. But 2 weeks ago, I got a phone call saying we were chosen from a drawing I entered at a bridal show. We won a **FREE** Engagement photo session! So last minute (like last Thursday) we decided to have the pics done on Saturday cuz we knew the weather would be beau-ti-ful.. and it was. I was planning on wearing a cute little brown jacket over the shirt, but it was just too hot for that. I love that on Nov 1 in Colorado, we can have 70 degree days.

Our Little Niece is not so Little!

Where did the time go? Really, I remember the 3:30am birth of Emma Jade on Oct 24 three years ago. It seems like yesterday and she isn't even my daughter. Rich was such a tropper for only having dated for a few months. He joined me at Bren's surprise baby shower, almost won the drink out of a bottle game and then stayed at the hospital with us through the entire 24 hour labor. I can't image what it will be like when we have kids - but until then....
Happy Birthday little Emma-Bug! Aunty Sara and Uncle Rich love you to pieces. You are such a little spitfire and you are so sure of what you want. You always make us smile. And while it hasn't been easy to adjust to being a big sister - you are doing a marvolous job.

You're 3!!!!

Halloween!

Not a whole lot of time to blog, but here's us at Halloween. I was a witch and Ricky was V. We went to a party some of my co-workers had at their apartment. We had lots of fun and enjoyed our Crown & Cokes :)

First Snow of the Season!

This week is a big week for me. I'm at my first client in Cripple Creek, Colorado and I saw my first snow of the season.

The first snow of the season is always a happy day for me, mainly because I know that Richard will stay up all night waiting for the snow to start. Since he's still in Boulder this week, and they didn't get any snow I know that he wasn't up all night waiting. When I awoke Wednesday morning though, I knew that Rich would have been so excited to see the snow out my hotel window and even though it's freezing cold, it still makes me happy. Rich is like a little kid in a candy store with the first snow and really any other big weather event - he gets so excited that the excitement spills over and fills me up too :) To my weather loving, fiance - I took this one in for you and knew you'd love to be up here with me.

Today our team is awaiting our client bringing in a 500lbs pumpkin! We can't wait to see it - even though we're not auditing it. It's just a little something different to add to the week here. Last night while at dinner at Rooster's, a very nice steakhouse for the little town, we met the mayor of the town. Quite a nice man but he could tell immediately that we were not from around here - dressed nice, no winter boots, and well we just kinda stick out like a sore thumb compared to the locals.

Hugs

It is not uncommon for me to be told, "Wow, you give great hugs!" or something along the great hugs. I was thinking about why that was recently and recalled a memory long ago stored away:

In late middle school and into early high school one of my friends, Brooke, from our group of 4, became friends with Chelsea. So as young girls work, we were all "friends" with Chelsea. Chelsea was a very tall slender blond girl, who was always flirting with a new flavor of the week but I was never convinced that she really was or wanted to be friends with the rest of the group. As it was during our friendship we would all give eachother hugs, whether in greeting or just cuz someone needed a hug. But whenever I received a hug from Chelsea, it felt as though it was something she was being forced into. Her hugs were so light, it was as though she didn't want to touch us. Which gave the oppposite effect that I beleive a hug should give. I believe that after receiving a hug, the hugee should feel loved and cared for by the huger. It should bring them joy and if needed comfort. It should be welcoming. After hugging Chelsea, I would feel as though I wasn't good enough, as though she didn't like me, didn't want to touch me, didn't care about me. All the things a hug should never be. So it was then, I made a conscience decision, to give good hugs: Sqeeze tight, hold or a second, and take the time to hug my hugee. I never anyone to feel like I did after receiving a hug from Chelsea, when they receive a hug from me.

I've found that giving "great hugs" makes people happier. It cheers them up and it cheers me up in return to have made someone smile. I think our society often orgets about those little things that can make a person's day. So I use hugs to welcome people I know an care about, to help support my friends, and to show those I love, that I love them.

So my friends, Hug on!