Our busy days

Life has been so amazingly busy lately that blogging has been one of the last things on my mind. Even now trying to do this I have found myself getting up multiple times and distracted by other things after writing just the first sentence...ay yi yi! Anyway, lately we have been up to a lot!

Life in general:

At the end of last month...our friends Jess and Josh finally arrived from Texas. I really can't believe how fast 3 years flew by for them but I am so excited to have them back here with us! They live across the complex from us but it's perfect regardless.

For the fourth of July we hosted a bbq here and invited our friends over and of course, Jess and Josh. :) Kayla and Jerome came with Jake and we hung out by the pool all day long. It was a perfect day.

Work has been going well for me and I love my job just as much as when I started. I have recently sent one of my little ones on her way to the older Toddler room and acquired myself an adorable new little boy. He is just perfect! Also, our head teacher is moving to another room, which I am totally bummed about, but that gives me the opportunity to step up and plan the classroom with another one of the girls in the room. We are so excited to have this chance and I can't wait to get started. This all starts next month. I also finally have one early day (that is NOT 5pm "early") to get off. My new schedule will be till 5 mon-thurs and till 3 on Fridays! yippeee! :) Having that early day is going to make things so much easier when it comes to making appointments and getting stuff done.

We spent last weekend at Kayla's parents' cabin in Arnold, Ca. It was a lot of fun and very relaxing. They live in the forrest where their nearest neighbor is not RIGHT next door and it was so fun to watch the deer and animals come so close to the house to feed.  We hung out for the weekend and BBQ'd and went to two different lakes both days. It was an amazingly relaxing weekend which is exactly what we needed.

Danny has also gotten a bug up his butt and is looking into buying me a new car...YIKES! I'm not sure where this came from but apparently he's done a ton of research and thinks that since I'm getting so high up in milege that we should consider trading my car in before things start going out (something that never crossed my mind and now I'm worried that he has jinxed me!). I can't say I neccessarily agree that this is the best time to do this since we are still planning a wedding...I'd like to wait until after the wedding but now I'm worried things will start going wrong. I hate that he said that.

This weekend we are heading down to Southern California for his brother's wedding! It's going to be lovely!

Now on to the fun stuff....

Wedding updates:

Ladies and gentlemen...we have a color! LOL it was the color I started out with a year ago...Navy Blue. I have decided on navy blue dresses for the girls and it worked out that my mom bought her dress a few weeks ago and it happened to be navy as well before I even made my final decision. Kayla found her dress yesterday at Nordstrom and Becca put one on hold. Missy knows what style she wants so it's just a matter of her finding it and Jess and Meghan still need to find dresses. I am very happy that this is getting accomplished. I also found a flower girl dress I loved for the girls! I need to take Rylee to try it on.

As for flowers, the girls will probably have bouquets of ivory flowers (maybe with some color, that is undetermined right now) and I will have a different one that I found a while ago that I loved...actually, a year ago! haha! Go with your gut about things you like. Navy and ivory...classy!

Changing back to navy also means I must switch the color of the overlays I am renting which was an easy decision...ivory! or champagne...I need to go look at the colors before deciding. My mom is in the process of gathering up all the lace she has so we can play around with them and see where we can use them at the lodge.

We are pretty sure the guys will be in a darker gray suit. Danny is throwing around just purchasing one rather than renting because in the end, the price ends up being pretty close and dark gray is a good color and a nice suit for everyone to own.

I already sent out our save the dates and I love how they turned out...I was very happy with them. Last night I happened to log on to the website where I bought the save the dates and found that all invites were 60% off!!! I have already ordered samples and they haven't arrived yet but since I ordered a sample a while ago and just messed up on the paper type, I know I like the invite, and as long as the paper is right I will like them completely. We added our own special unique touches to the invites and I really am happy with the design. It's a great website because you can really personalize the invites they just give you a base to go off of.  I am still in need of RSVP cards, rehearsal inserts, and a couple other inserts that my amazing and talented friend Becca is working on. She wanted to make my invites but I figured it's easier just to buy them for how good of a price I got...if I don't end up loving them they do money back guarantee and she will continue to make them for me.

I met with the lady doing our flowers and I was so happy to find out just how affordable she is making this for me because she is good friends with my godmother. I am so happy!

My bridal shower is a little over a month away...I can't wait! I can't believe it's almost here. It's all coming so fast. Kayla, Becca and my mom are planning it and I have no doubts that it will be nothing short of amazing and perfect.

Now that we are about 3 1/2 months away from our wedding I'm feeling confident in the decisions and things that are happening. Everything will be perfect. It has been easier to make decisions because I know I'm getting down to the wire. I am having an easier time envisioning things that I want and am going to make another trip up to the lodge hopefully next month so I can make a final long detailed list of things I need to do and bring up the lace to see where I am able to use it. I need to order my veil and go in for my alterations here soon which I am hoping won't be too costly...I'm excited for this day to be here...I'm excited for the stress of all the decisions to be done with...I'm excited to live a normal life after all the wedding planning that I've been doing for the past year...I can't wait for November 4th!

What we have been up to...

Phew! So these past few weeks have been crazy! I feel like I get up at 530am and go non-stop until about 8pm! A few things we've been up to...

1.  We had our food tasting at the Forest House Lodge this past weekend for our wedding. It was perfect and the food was all to die for. Although I try not to eat meat, I did take a taste of each piece that was put in front of me just so I knew what they all tasted like...and they were all very yummy! I even tried the salmon and cod! I am not a fish person, I only like tilapia, but they had a plate with tilapia, salmon, and cod on it and I surprisingly really liked the cod! The salmon, I still dislike, very much! They did free beer and wine, a course of four appetizers, vegetables, and 3 courses of entrees (fish, chicken, beef/pork) all of which were accompanied by a starch. Then came my favorite part, CAKE! Each couple (brides/grooms and parents) received a plate of 5 "bite size" pieces to share...they were not bite size in my opinion! But they were all DIVINE! ahhhhh we all had a favorite and it was the same one! But they were all so good! I already know the design of my cake and what I plan to do in regards to that so I'm glad to have that decision made! It was a very small group of us which I loved because we were able to ask so many questions and get all the answers we needed and it was just very personal. There were 4 other couples and their parents.  This was Danny's mom and my dad's first time up there so it was a lot of fun showing them around and introducing them to the team. They loved everyone. Danny's mom couldn't stop talking about how amazing and happy every single person there seemed from the head chef to the housekeepers. We met with our chef and soux chefs, pastry chef (and owner), wedding coordinators, and bartender to ask questions as needed. We got a lot of new things answered and learned of a few more details of our day that we were unaware of! All in all it was a great day, now we just have to choose! :)

2. Sunday Danny's aunt came from Livermore since his mom was here and they wanted to go hiking...I had a birthday party to attend in Davis but I was potentially going to skip out if they were going to go hiking...we decided to go walk around the UC Davis arboretum instead. It was such a beautiful day! Since we did this I was able to go to the arboretum with them and have a picnic lunch then head down the street to where the birthday party was that I was supposed to go to. Worked perfectly! We finished our night with games (his family is a huge game family), a bbq, and wine! It was a lovely weekend.

3. I have been really stressed out lately over all this wedding planning stuff. So stressed about decisions, and a lot of pressure has been put on me in regards to the guestlist and other "ideas" and "opinions" people have. I think that was the cause of my relapse into sickness, that and going to the gym too soon after possibly. But I have just been so stressed out. People give their 2 cents where their 2 cents just isn't needed or asked. I have had issues with my sister and my moms opinions clashing with mine and in the end I remind them I have the final call. Wedding planning is stressful...I gave myself a year and half to plan and I'm still stressed over stuff...I can't wait for the day to be here so we can enjoy it! Danny and I had a long talk Sunday night and we decided we just aren't talking to people about ideas anymore because I'm tired of people saying "maybe you should do this" or this or this and blah blah blah...it's our wedding, we are making all the final decisions. I argued with my mom for an hour over something stupid that I wasn't budging on and she seemed to think it was a great idea. And we have another issue with his side and his cousins kids. JUST NOT FUN! We are doing what we want and if people aren't happy eff 'em! LOL I decided to take 2 weeks off from wedding stuff...just not talking about it, and trying not to think about it. Easier said than done that's for sure. We did however make one last decision that we are both very excited about but I think we decided to keep it a secret until the wedding. :) And I also must say my bridesmaids are doing a fabulous job at being the support team I need. They are also hard at work at planning my shower and bachelorette party. Both of which have set dates now! We also decided to take a different route for the shower which I'm very happy with. I was also unaware that Danny's mom and aunts had planned to throw me a shower as well! BUT I decided that I wanted everyone at one and they didn't mind either way, they just wanted me to decide. I think it would be more fun to have everyone at just one...because I would want them all to come to the one at my moms and I don't want them to feel like they need to be at two showers and potentially bring two gifts (which I would never expect, but you know how that goes). So unless anything changes we are having just one big one with everyone! :)

4. I had a pleasant surprise this past weekend when I measured myself and this morning when I jumped on the scale after about a week and a half! Down inches and lbs! I actually haven't been trying to lose weight just because I am not as concerned about weight loss as I am about toning up...but, I'll take it! My dress will be in next month so I am trying to get fit for that and our engagement pics. Fingers crossed that my dress fits!

5. Work has been awesome minus the fake brazilian bitch that works in my room. But oh well! I go on my days not talking to her and it works out just fine. We just butt heads and I don't like dealing with her so it's easier just to ignore her. I have so much to do for work in regards to portfolios for my children.  I have so many observations to analyze and I just feel like I don't have time or energy to do them when I get home. We get an hour every 2 weeks in class to leave the room and work on them but I need to get myself to do them at home too. I have a lot to do!

6. We have a lot of nice weather on it's way. I'm excited for it! Friday we are heading out to Elk Grove to see Easton and to find out the gender of Crystal and Scott's baby! She is going to dinner with their families while we babysit and she is having cupcakes made with colored filling...they will have those for dessert and then when they get home we will get to bite into one as well! I am honored to be able to be a part of this and to be one of the first to know! :) Saturday I'm heading out for a day of shopping with Becca and possibly Val. I want to look for something for my engagement pics and potentially bridesmaid dress ideas (yes, I know I said no wedding stuff for 2 weeks BUT this date has been planned for a couple weeks now so I am just making an exception!). Then Kayla is having her gold canyon candle launch party so we are going to her house afterwards for that. It's going to be nice to get out and do stuff with friends and just not think about anything for a day! Sunday we may plan a day trip/hike or hang around here possibly at the pool if it's THAT nice. Then of course, dinner with my parents!

7. My favorite show of 9 years ended last week. I definitely was bummed! I looked forward to watching it and it grew with me from when I began watching it to this point in my life. It was an awesome show and I will definitely miss it.

I am looking forward to hopefully not dealing with any wedding stuff for 2 weeks. I am also looking forward to NOT planning a wedding again after this! LOL.

April has arrived

Well, April has officially begun! I have been waiting for it to come around because I am so excited for our food tasting at the Forest House Lodge in a couple weeks. I just love going up there. I am also very excited that Danny's mom is able to join us for the tasting. It's going to be a lot of fun showing her and my dad around at the Lodge. There is going to be so much amazing food too, we are very excited. We have decided that Danny will choose the meat (with the help of my dad and of course the moms opinions are welcome as well) and I am in charge of.....THE CAKE! Of course. :) He doesn't like cake, at all...so there is no point in him choosing...and, I don't eat meat. The rest we will decide on together of course. We are very excited for this. We have heard nothing but amazing things about all the food (I mean the menu is like 30+ pages long, it has to be amazing!). Everyone has told us that no matter what we go with we will be completely satisfied. Our DJ also gave us a tip about some of the food as well. Very excited to say the least.

Next weekend Danny's brother and his fiance, Alexis, will be coming to visit us Friday to Saturday. Then Easter is Sunday and we will spend that at my moms. Then the weekend after his mom will be here for the tasting. We love visitors! His aunt and uncle surprised us this weekend and stayed as well, then of course Kayla and Jerome and Jake surprised us while we were at dinner last night. Love seeing people.

The third weekend of April we are going to Scott and Crystal's to find out the gender of their new baby! She is taking their parents to dinner and for dessert she is having cupcakes made and they get to bite into them to find out the gender. We will watch Easton while they are at dinner and then when they get home we get to bite into cupcakes too. I am so honored to be able to be one of the first to know and to be apart of this exciting time. Saturday I have a shopping date with Becca and Val to hopefully find an engagement picture outfit and to do some bridesmaid stuff. We really need to get going on final colors and I need to see stuff and see what's available to me before I decide. Pinterest has been great for ideas but it's all a matter of what I can find...I don't plan on going on wild goose hunts for shit...I will work with what I can find.

The fourth weekend I am hoping we can meet with the lady doing our floral so I can talk to her about what I want and hopefull get some ideas from her as well. I also looked into starting to register (so far just at Bed Bath and Beyond, per Danny's request which was fine with me because a few of the things I want are there anyway) and we have to make an appointment to do that. Things are happening so fast...I went from having a year and a half to having 7 months now!

I am finally feeling a bit more myself and ready to head back to work tomorrow.  I will also make my appearance back to the gym after a week of not being there. I COULD have gone yesterday and today but I decided that it was best that I just rest 2 more days. I'm happy to get back in there and continue where I left off. A week off was what my body really needed and I'm happy I listened to it this time. I can't remember the last time I was this sick and let me tell you, it has been awful! Friday it smelled like a bleach and lysol bomb went off in our house. I bleached, and lysol sprayed every single thing you could think of...from counters to door handles to light switches. Remotes, door jams, windowceils, washer and dryer doors, you name it I sprayed/cleaned it. I wanted every single germ GONE. Luckily Danny hasn't gotten it.

Anyway, I'm very excited for April, and getting even more excited for May to come...that will mark the 6 month date, and the year date from our engagement. My, how time flies.

P.S. our luck continues, last night when we were leaving the restaurant Danny found $1 in the street. Sure it was only $1 but we never find money! I think I'm his Lady Luck :)

New neighbors?

Transfer season is upon us and it's time for friends to start moving again! Luckily, we moved last year so there SHOULDN'T be anymore for at least a year...or three! But we did find out a while ago that our good friends are moving back to CA. SF to be exact. :) My friend Jess, her husband Josh, and their daughter Alyssa will be back this summer. Josh got stationed at Sector SF with Danny (Danny is beyond excited) and they are looking into moving into our complex! HELLO I think this is the best case scenario I have ever seen come out of the Coast Guard and all this moving crap. Even if they choose not to live in our complex, they're still going to be VERY close and that means I will have another bridesmaid in the area. The only one I'll be missing and I have a feeling will never be closer is Meg. BUT she is in California so that's not bad at all. I am so happy to have another friend back here. I have made so many good friends since meeting Danny and it's sad that just about all of them have moved away.  July can't come soon enough, I am excited beyond words to have them home.  I cried when I found out he got SF, I cried when I found out they were going to be together when they moved home, and I'm sure I'll cry when I see them. I can't believe it's already been 3 years since they left. I remember the day like it was yesterday.  Possibly one of the worst goodbyes of my life.  Over the course of the 3 years though I had a chance to visit Texas (YUCK), road trip it back with Jess, pretty much spend a summer with her, celebrated my 23rd birthday MONTH with her, and have skyped, text, mailed packages, etc. back and forth for 3 years. I am so happy that I haven't missed a step of their lives and they haven't missed any of mine. No matter how far they go, military friends are lifelong.  I am starting to see this now. They will get here in July and we have the summer to spend together, she can help plan hands on my shower and bach party with Kayla and my sister, and I know she will have no issue being there now.  We can all go dress shopping together! I can have my flower girls shop together...it's just all working out in a great way and I am so happy. This couldn't have been better timing. <3

This past weekend was a weekend full of fun and visits with amazing friends and some of my favorite kids! I started off the weekend on Friday when I babysat for Haylie after work.  It was such a long day but well worth it to see this little cutie! I also enjoyed seeing her mom who is pregnant again with a little BOY! Haylie has gotten so big and is extremely smart.  She's not even two yet and she rocked the ipad like a pro and kicked butt at memory...I must say, I was shocked...I've known 3 year olds who can't even play memory...she totally understood the concept and once she saw a card at one side she remembered where it was if she flipped it again somewhere else on the board. Impressive.  She was so cute all night and I hated having to put her to bed...Katie said when she woke up the next day and was so angry with her because I was gone! haha!

Saturday Crystal and Scott invited Danny and I over for dinner.  We were actually supposed to do this about 2 months ago but it was scheduled for the evening my dad went to the hospital so it got postponed. It was an awesome night and it was so great to see them all.  Easton is getting so big as well and talks so much! He also knows Spanish because his school does two days a week of only speaking Spanish to the children. It's really neat.  Crystal and Scott didn't tell Easton we were coming so when we showed up he was so excited.  Crystal had also gotten me a Christmas present that I loved. It was a pearl necklace from Silpada.  It's so pretty.  We also got to see sonogram pictures because Crystal is pregnant again as well. :)

Sunday was spent doing lots of lots of wedding stuff.  First super early in the morning we made our way up to the Forest House Lodge so I could show Kayla and Becca around.  They LOVED it.  Jake did too :).  We spent hours playing around with all the vases and decor they had to offer us and we decorated the lodge as if it were my wedding day.  I was able to get so many ideas as to where I want to put stuff, how I want to do stuff, and what kind of centerpieces I want to do. It's such a relief because if I stick to my decisions, I shouldn't have to purchase much and I should be saving a lot of money by using all their stuff. Relief! After the Lodge we went to lunch at El Portal.  It's a taqueria that I had met our photographer at and it's yummy and cheap! Then we made our way back to Kayla's and did more web-surfing and idea hunting for their dresses.  They also did some bachelorette party planning while I hung out with Jake...they were being very secretive. 

The cutest baby in the entire world!!!!

Life...oh crazy busy life!

Well, we are 14 days into the new year and I would have to say it has been pretty good. Last weekend we went up to Kayla's for a new year celebration/meet baby Jake party. She normally throws an annual new year's eve party but this year things were different because of Mr. Jake. She decided to do it the weekend after the new year and turned it into a meet Jake party for all those who have yet to have had a chance to meet him. That day Danny and I went up there around 11:30 to watch Jake while they finished up their errands and getting ready. Oh my gosh. He is so big and so precious! I can't believe how quickly he has grown. He's adorable. Well over 50 people showed up for this party and it turned out lovely! We had lots of great food, drinks, and great friends. Once Jake was asleep and the party died down the neighbors and a few others were in the garage playing games of beer pong...I'd say I rocked it for our team! :) It was a fun, relaxed, carefree night. Kayla always hosts a great time!

We also both began back at work and that has been great as well. It was so nice going back and seeing how much all my kids have changed in just a weeks time! We have 4 new little ones starting this month! It has been hard getting back into a routine after being off for a week and I've been exhausted. But this weekend brings us a much needed 3 day weekend which in turn brings us a 4 day work week.

We've also both continued our adventures in the gym harder than we both were doing before...it has paid off! We've both changed a lot and we're very happy! Yesterday I wore a high wasit skirt to work that was always a little too snug (since the day I bought it lol, I almost returned it but I've had it for 2 years) but it fit perfectly! That's a good sign. We've shed a few more pounds and toned up a few more muscles! We'll hopefully be good to go by summer! My dress is scheduled to come around that time and our engagement photos are around then as well so there's 2 things to be keeping in shape for!

My dad has been doing great! Things are really moving in the right direction with him and I'm happy. I talk to him often and he sounds good. He knows what he did was insanely scary and he realizes that he is so lucky to be alive today. Everything happens for a reason. We're a strong family and we have made it through a lot and we will make it through this.

I also was finally able to coordinate a date for our engagement session. I wasn't in a rush to get them done, but I did want them done in enough time to use them for our save the dates. Our photographer emailed me a couple days ago with a million dates to choose from Jan-May and I was going through the list and choosing the ones that we were available for and when I came to May, I saw "May 11th" and thought YEP that's it! We got engaged a year ago May 11th so it's a perfect date for an engagement session :) Plus, we're doing it in Tahoe, so hopefully by then the snow storms will be over...but who knows with this crazy weather we've been having! I'm totally fine with having snow on the ground...I just don't really want to be caught in a blizzard. Over the summer I had said I wanted to do our session in SF. The cool sites in the city plus the beach would be perfect for engagement pictures plus I've seen many that she has done in the city and they were gorgeous. But then, I noticed Danny wasn't too thrilled or cared much about the idea of doing it there and I guess I wasn't dead set on it and kept trying to think of other places we could go instead. Then one night we were talking and decided on Tahoe and thought it was perfect for us. It fits us. The thought of going to SF gives me anxiety and stresses me out...I'm not even thinking of the engagement session, I'm thinking of the traffic and driving from one location to the next. Not. Fun. and the last thing I want to be on that day is stressed! Tahoe is also closer for our photographer and she said she has places in mind that are gorgeous that we are going to. Plus, I can get my water shots there as well. I am very satisfied with our decision and Danny seems a little more excited. We are also planning for it to be a mini trip and stay for the weekend after our pictures are done to celebrate. :)

Besides doing that, I have found a lot of ideas that I am pretty set on for our wedding. I am so grateful to have such a wonderful bridesmaid that is as creative and dedicated to my wedding, Becca, as I am. She has so many amazing ideas and loves all of mine...we're on the same page with everything and she is going to help everything come to life! I'm in the process of printing out the pictures of all the stuff I have found and adding it to my binder to make it more concrete than having to get online all the time to look at my pinboard lol. Don't get me wrong, pinterest has been great for all this, but I want it printed out so I can have better access to it. I STILL...yes STILL haven't finished my other bridesmaids things...I will definitely need to get on this like, tomorrow! I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my dress too. I look at the pictures every single day and can't wait to put it on again. I think it should be here sometime late spring/early summer? Ahhhh! Then it's shower time, bach time, then wedding time. I can't believe how fast November is creeping upon us...I felt like last May I was worried that we had TOO much time but no, things have gone by very quickly!

We have two events scheduled so far at the Forest House Lodge. One is at the end of this Month...it's a Vendor fair/meet the crew. It's to get our brides and grooms acquainted with all their preferred vendors and to meet all the staff that is going to help make this wonderful day possible. So far what we've met has been nothing short of amazing! Then in February it's their annual sweetheart cocktail event. This is more of a "get to know the other brides and grooms" thing where they will have cocktails, food, and fun events planned for the evening and then we stay the night in the lodge. Best of all, it's FREE! ok well maybe not free considering what we are paying for our wedding lol but it's nice to get all these added events in with our price. We are supposed to start our "payments" to the lodge this month for the remainder of the balance but we are hoping to just pay it off this month or next and be done with that portion of our wedding fees...yikes! I am so happy we chose this place for our wedding. The people that run it are amazing and I have no doubts that everything will run smoothly for our wedding. I really enjoy that we will get to spend more time up there before our wedding because it means I will be seeing a lot of the lodge and I can get a better idea of what I need as for decor. I plan to take a TON of pictures when I'm there this month and next of every space in the lodge so I can start piecing together where I want to put things, how I want things set up, etc. I also am trying to plan a day that Kayla, Becca, and Missy can all come together to see the Lodge so they can help bring my wedding vision to life as well. 

We've also been talking about how we should probably start registering places but we don't really know what for...see, I have an issue, well actually we both do...and everytime we figure out we *need* something we go and buy it because it's generally something we need or want now.  There are a few things we want to "upgrade" that we will register for. But other than that, we're just so unsure as to what we should actually register for! Hmmmmm....I was so excited to register until I began thinking about this! lol I'm sure once we get into the stores we will find stuff! But who knows how big the registry will actually be come time for people to start purchasing gifts...

We've also received our save the date for Alexis and Jason's wedding this summer! I'm so excited to see all of her stuff come to life! We have lots of similar ideas and I know her wedding will be just gorgeous! I have so many friends wedding planning along with me and it is so much fun to talk about and share all our ideas. Everyone has their own ideas and tastes and each wedding will be beautiful! 2012 is here, and it's our year!

Danny received a phone call the other day in regards to a job position with the sheriff's dept in Yosemite! If only his contract with the Coast Guard was up THIS May instead of next he would have taken it. They were looking for a qualified boat driver/officer to work for the sheriff's dept and patrol the lake. I could totally live in Yosemite. BUT maybe next year....