June 18, 2011 -- My Wedding Day

I've been trying to sit down and give you a run-down of one of the best nights of my life, but I've been so busy! I'm going to take time here and there to write bits and pieces because I'm just not sure if I'll finish in one sitting.

Here goes...

I want to begin with Wednesday of that week. My grandma and uncle, after their twelve hour drive, arrived at my parents' house! That in itself was surreal--so wonderful. They gave us gifts (help for the honeymoon and a beautiful painting by my uncle), and they gave us the good news that the rest of the family would arrive the next day! J and I headed home that night to rest up because the week was flying by.

Thursday was a big day because my aunt, uncle, and cousin arrived midday, and my other aunt and uncle arrived soon after. We all met at the ceremony site. The tent was already up, and the building was looking great! (We rented a neighborhood clubhouse with a great view for our wedding--a place we've looked at for years.) They all loved the location and noticed how large it was. We all hung out that evening catching up and eating dinner--it felt like we had never been apart (per usual). I think they loved the clean, open air and the good view. They also loved my dog :)

Friday was huge as it was a day for getting nails done with the girls and getting last-minute things done for the wedding. We decorated a lot, but we waited for the tablecloths and main table settings until Saturday. Looking back, I'm very glad I did that, because our wedding wasn't until seven, and if I didn't have things to do, I would have been nervous all day! The girls (including my wonderful grandma) went to get a mani and pedi! It was so fun. At this point, I was really beginning to feel like a bride.

During the mani-pedi, I got a call that my flowers were in, so the girls and I went to pick them out. Whole Foods is awesome, by the way, and that have amazing flowers to work with. After getting home, we put together all of the bouquets and boutineers. They turned out incredibly! I spent around $125 and ended up with florist-worthy bouquets. Dana took the lead on that one, and without her, I don't know what I would have done. My aunt Rebecca had a nice hand it in as well - thank God!

That night, I was so exhausted. J had gone to stay at his parents' house, and I had Ginny, Dana, and Jen spend the night -- Laurie came over that morning. If I get any of these details wrong, though, I wouldn't be surprised. Looking back, I was almost in this out-of-body experience... which continued through the next day as well. Anyway, Dana stayed with me in my room (she had to! It was our last sleepover ever, probably -- or at least, for a long time). We got up early to continue our crafts, and we soon headed over to the clubhouse to get things ready. We through together the tablecloths and table settings with my family. I wasn't really nervous, and I was excited. With my NY family around, it felt like an amazing family vacation, along with my wedding - which made it extra special. As I looked around, my uncle Jaime was setting up all the candles, while my aunts and other uncles were helping set out the chairs. Once I saw the tent with everything around it and under it,

I realized it was really happening.

Fast-forward to the afternoon. This is when I started to get nervous. Thankfully, I had my family and friends around me, everywhere. Justin was in another room with the guys, so I didn't see him at all. The photographer showed up, along with my hair and make-up artist (a friend), and the DJ.

It was really happening!!

Soon, it was time to walk out. The guys were standing in a line, off in the distance, ready to support J and I. The girls were smiling on the other side, and Dana was trying not to cry. I was in awe of all of the work that had been done around me. The candles were lit, my aunt was preparing to sing at her microphone, the men were standing in their line, and all the food was put out and ready (thanks to J's aunt Vicki - without her, my wedding would have been lacking food and presentation - thank you Vicki!). All I had to do, as the Bride, was walk toward the person I loved, and make sure my dad didn't fall over. He was nervous, but I also sniffed a hint of alcohol, so I knew the nerves wouldn't overwhelm him too much -- love you, Dad.

The music began. My aunt Dianne began singing "The Way I am" by Ingrid Michaelson. Dad and I walked, probably too fast, to the alter. As soon as I turned to Justin, the "I'd buy you Rogaine" lyrics sounded in the background, and everyone had a good laugh.

If you were falling, then I would catch you.
You need a light, I'd find a match.

Cause I love the way you say good morning.
And you take me the way I am.

If you are chilly, here take my sweater.
Your head is aching, I'll make it better.

Cause I love the way you call me baby.
And you take me the way I am.

I'd buy you Rogaine when you start losing all your hair.
Sew on patches to all you tear.

Cause I love you more than I could ever promise.
And you take me the way I am.
You take me the way I am.
You take me the way I am. 

We tied the knot on a hill surrounded by trees, under an arbor Justin put together in the two days before the wedding. We tied the knot across the lake from my parents' house, in a place we had pictured and pretended about before. We tied the knot with my entire family (all thirteen or so of us!), who came from CA, NY, and D.C., along with extended from other states. We tied the knot with our college roommates, never forgetting the awesome few years spent with them. 

We tied the knot our own way, and we were so happy.

And now it was time for portraits. The guys were so handsome - Phil, Justin, Matt, and Josh. It was so fun to have both of our brothers as part of the wedding party. That meant so much to us. The ladies were beautiful in their teal dresses - Jen, Ginny, me, Dana, and Laurie. Jen became truly my sister that day!

And now it was time to party.

That is just what we did. We socialized, we ate great food, and we danced until midnight. The dancing was the best. We did not permit the chicken dance, or anything of the sort! (Only one "typical" song was played, by popular demand, and I was okay with it.) It was hilarious; by the end of the party, it had kind of turned into a bluegrass festival. In no means did I oppose this happening, but it was hilarious!! We started with Old Crow Medicine Show and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and it escalated from there. It was fantastic! People seemed to really have a great time.

We then stopped to cut the beautiful, amazingly tasty cake, made by a local elementary school art teacher.

What an amazing celebration. 

Here's to 2011, especially June, and all of the love and happiness it had to offer.
Enjoy listening to songs from our wedding CD below.
 

Thank You

The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson

Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

You and I by Ingrid Michaelson

Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not by Thompson Square

I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas

I’m Yours by Jason Mraz

Why Don’t We Just Dance by Josh Turner

Everything by Michael Buble

Rhythm of Love by Plain White Ts

Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show

If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys

Making Memories of Us by Keith Urban

I Will Be Here by Stephen Curtis Chapman

I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes by Dierks Bentley

Forever by Chris Brown

Bonus Track: Hot For Teacher by Van Halen

2011 to 2012

2011 has been quite. a. year. It has been filled with an amazing amount of happiness and change. Of course, it has also had it's downs.

Goodbye, 2011...

- Justin graduated grad school
- we got hitched!! <3
- moved to our first town house
- we both got our first true year-long teaching careers
- bought our first "new" car
- I became an aunt again, this time to Parker
- bought a house
- Justin broke his ankle - boo!
- RIP Allie cat, I'll miss you.
- Dad got laid off ... again

Welcome, 2012. Here are my goals:

- move into new house
- decorate and fix up our new home
- continue next year at the same schools we're working in now
- finish our first full year of teaching
- finish setting up photographer website, as well as purchase a few lenses
- go on a couple different trips this summer (currently planning those...)
- maybe get a kitten?
- pay off some debt
- increase energy and positivity through exercise and healthy living

Happy New Year, Everyone!! What are your goals?

Friday before back-to-work

It has been such an enjoyable break. (Sadie has loved us being home all day.)

On Wednesday, we went to mom and dad's for dinner, which was really nice. We had these amazing, incredible tacos. Really -- they were exotic -- and amazing. I'm already thinking of the day I can have them again. Basically, mom bought everything Chipotle has and much more. MMmm.

Today, Dana and I headed to a magnificent inn to enjoy a ritzy, well-earned meal. We both had medium-rare, extremely tender steak. It was sitting on a cheese fondue spread, topped with broccoli. It was a small amount of food, but just right, and the tenderness was worth every bite. I will be bringing Justin there as soon as possible.. not to mention, the inside of the building was absolutely stunning. Large ornaments hanging from modern strip lighting across the tall ceiling. It was the perfect mix of rustic and modern, rich and traditional.

Now, Phil is here!! I'm so psyched about it. Although I don't really hang out with the guys while they're playing their game sand talking their nerd-talk, it's just nice to hear the voices conversing again from the days when we were just a few miles away. We used to spend hours and hours and Phil's house before going to college. Once we went to college, he kind of followed close behind to live with a friend in our new neighboring county. Although we didn't see him AS often, we could still see him in just thirty minutes. Now, we're 3.5 hours away -- not good. It's always nice to be with him again. We hope (and pray) he'll be back in the area sooner rather than later.

In other news, I have a post about how much I miss and yearn for college every now and then, but I haven't really finished it. I've been wanting to write it for a while -- or make a list, I guess -- of the top and bottom aspects about getting into the "real world." Luckily, I don't think about college enough to get depressed or anything (some people do have after-college depression -- or I've spoken to someone who had it, at least), but when I do get nostalgic about it, it is painful!! To think of the freedom I once had.... oh man. Anyway, more on that later! :D

Happy New Year, everyone.

I'll have to do a New Years post like I did last year. What goals have I completed for this year??

xo

Merry Christmas 2011

Allllllll Baby.

Photo by Tigergoose

Beatiful Baby Parker

Photo by tigergoose

How is it that I haven't posted about a huge happening -- my best friend's baby coming into the world! So much has been going on; I guess it just slipped my mind. She went into labor early morning, I went to work (took a half-day), rushed to the hospital, and she had Parker after 9 pm. It was such a wonderful experience to be with her the entire time - it didn't scare me at all, really - it just made me aware of what goes on, and I feel pretty prepared -- of course, in a couple years or something -- I'm not ready for a child yet! :)

Here are some of the photos I took of Parker throughout the first few weeks of his life. What a beautiful baby boy!

 

Soon enough...

First of all, I hope you are all having a wonderful, relaxing holiday. For all you teachers out there, happy break! We are enjoying it more than you can imagine.

At this time, we thought we would be in our new house, but as circumstances have commanded, we are still in our town home, waiting as patiently as we can. Turns out the government laid off twenty workers (out of twenty-three) in the state department, so there are very few people working on the many house loans. Not to mention, it's the holidays, so I'm sure they're working a little slower than usual.

The good news is that no matter what, we'll be in our house in the next month -- or at least, that what we've been told. Also, we had our lease through January 8th here at our place, so we're not homeless (and we can extend it if needed). Also, because we had time, we set up our Christmas tree! :)

Justin is feeling better. His ankle has been re-wrapped with another type of splint. He still won't be able to walk for at least a month, but he can move around more without as much pain. We've been having fun together, going out to shop every few days.

For Christmas, we've been planning on spending the Eve with my family (per usual), and eating Christmas lunch at J's grandparents' house. For our break so far, we've been shopping, wrapping presents, having stay-in movie days together (today), and spending time with family. It has been more than wonderful, and I'm not even thinking about how quickly it will be over. I'm enjoying each day!!

Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

This is Parker. This picture reminds me of Bethlehem. Photo by me.

Sometimes...

You have to make light of a situation out of your control. :)