wedding
Another catch up post
Aug 26th
We’ve been busy lately. First we went camping with my family down at a “park” (I use the term loosely) out in the country near my hometown. It was a lot of fun, even though it rained off and on all weekend.
My nephew kept making this face all weekend, any time we pointed a camera in his direction. He cracks me up.
I love my nieces and nephews. Here are a few of them. There are about 6 missing.
My dad won the fishing tournament's "rough" fish category (not Northern or Walleye). Nice trophy, huh?
We had a wedding to attend this past weekend. It was FABULOUS, as is the couple that got married. We didn’t take many pictures (too busy having fun!), but we had a great time.
The core group of friends I hung out with in High School - aka the Fab Five.
Holy cow! We remembered to get a photo of ourselves! Together, even!
And finally, after spending yesterday evening cleaning the kitchen and bathroom (they are about 99% better – we are just waiting for the ceiling to be fixed in the bathroom), we test drove and then bought a pickup today. We knew we were going to need a 2nd vehicle by the time the baby arrived, and since Ryan lost his company vehicle (since he doesn’t go out of the office much) having only one vehicle was going to get annoying pretty quickly. We’ve wanted a pickup for a while, just for the convenience of being able to haul stuff, and also because in case you didn’t know, Duluth is built on a huge hill. Have you seen pictures of San Francisco? Yeah, like that. But with Northern Minnesota winters. We live only 1 block up from the bottom of the hill, and yet there were still a few times last winter when I didn’t think my car was going to make it up the hill. And we had a couple mornings when I had to hike up to the bus station because I couldn’t get my car out of the lot. That’s ok when I’m not pregnant, but I do NOT want to be hiking up the hill to the bus stop when I’m 7, 8 or 9 months pregnant. No thanks. So we kept our eyes open and looked around on the internets and found this truck. It’s a 2001 Ford F150 extended cab with 4-wheel drive. We got a good deal on it, and it’s got lower miles and is in better shape than most of the other trucks we saw in our price range. It gets TERRIBLE gas milage (less than half of what I get with my car), but we won’t be using it to regularly commute, and we’ll take my car on trips whenever possible. So yah. We are very excited. And don’t worry, we already have a request for help hauling some stuff. But, like I told a friend on facebook – we have received help so many times from other people with pickups that we owe it to all of them to pass it along. At least for a while.
So, here it is! Our “new” truck!
The new truck!
We are already planning a trip down to the twin cities and Ikea to put this thing to good use. Of course, thinking about the gas costs of going even that far are kind of overwhelming, but it’ll be worth it!
Whew…I really need to get better at updating this stuff more often. It is DEFINITELY time for bed now. I’m wiped out.
1 Year
Jun 7th
Ryan and I got married one year ago today. The year has passed quickly, and it’s been a good one great one. I am so lucky to be married to Ryan. I know that sounds mushy and cliche, but I really feel that way.
Our plans for the day are to do some light cleaning this morning, then go out for brunch/lunch, catch a movie, and then spend the evening hanging out at home and watching a movie or catching up on TV (we have several episodes of Arrested Development on DVD that we need to watch). Nothing super-exciting, but a nice, relaxing day, which is what we want.
Happy anniversary, honey!
I’m a total slacker.
Aug 26th
I haven’t posted since the 7th and it’s now the 26th. I haven’t mailed my pay it forward prize yet, even though I’ve had it for over a month (I bought the stuff the week after the contest). I’m a complete slacker, I know it. And I do feel badly. Especially about the PIF prize. I SWEAR I will mail it this week. Gah! Can I use “I can’t find the right sized box” as an excuse? No? Ok, I don’t have an excuse. I just hate the post office. But I don’t even have to go to the post office. I can go to the place we pick up our mail. So no excuse. I just fail.
I have pictures to post (if I can figure out how…Ryan, this means you need to help me!) from our mini-vacation to New York state. We had a great time, and I was in one of my best friend’s wedding. It was a fabulous event. I drove out there on my own last Tuesday/Wednesday, and Ryan and I drove back to MN together, leaving NY on Sunday and getting here about 1:30 yesterday afternoon. We drove through Montreal and Toronto…they weren’t exactly on the way, but they weren’t too far out of the way, and when are we ever going to make it to Montreal or Toronto again? It was really fun. Too bad we didn’t have time to stop and enjoy visiting…although neither of us speak French, so stopping in Montreal could have been interesting. I didn’t even want to get off the highway, for a fear that I wouldn’t be able to get back on it again because I couldn’t read any of the signs.
Anyway, I need to get back to work (it didn’t do itself while I was gone, surprisingly!). But I promise to write more this week. I’ll have a whole ‘nother story after next weekend. We are going on our first camping trip on our own to Scenic State Park in Northern Minnesota. I’m super-excited!
Note-to-self. Get that package mailed tonight!!! And stop slacking!
Jun 19th
Our thoughts go out to the owners of the businesses in the building that had a fire overnight. One of them was Arthur’s Men’s Formal Wear, who supplied the tuxes for all the guys for our wedding. They were fabulous to work with, much less costly than the other shops we checked, and I hear they are moving to a new location soon up in Piedmont, so if you are in need of formal wear in Duluth, definitely check them out! Especially after something like this, they can use the business!
It was wonderful
Jun 17th
I realized this morning when I read Shauna’s comment that not everyone who reads this blog is a family member or friend that we talk to on a regular basis. ;-) And so some of you have no idea what our wedding was like or what our honeymoon plans were. As far as what the wedding was like, I don’t really know how to explain, other than to say it was wonderful and direct you herefor pictures. We gave the guests at our wedding the login info, so they can add photos that they took, which is great since I obviously was not carrying a camera around with me all day. ;-)
All of our vendors were fabulous – the Holiday Inn, the Flower Cart, Julia Cheng and her assistant Kourtney, Deacon Tim, and our DJ, Ryan’s cousin Mike. They were all so great! I couldn’t believe how perfect everything was. Our friend Greta loaned us her Volkswagon Bug convertible (Green!) for a ride after the ceremony, so Ryan and I sat on the top of the back seat while our maid of honor and best man drove us down to Canal Park for some pictures. Two of the big ships came through the canal while we were down there, and so I cannot wait to see the photos that Julia got with the ship and the bridge in the background. It was a beautiful, sunny day also – the nicest one we had so far this summer.
As far as our honeymoon goes, Ryan and I went up the North Shore of Lake Superior to Lutsen Resort. We stayed at the lodge for 3 nights – Monday through Thursday. It was great to go up there and relax. We did a lot of hiking on some of the shorter trails that branch out from Highway 61, and the rivers were all completely full of water, which made for some amazing waterfalls (we’ll upload photos to the flickr site soon, I promise!). We also bummed around Grand Marais for a while, and picked up some souvenirs, including a church christmas decoration that Ryan’s aunt and uncle requested we use their wedding gift to purchase. Our first married christmas decoration! Other than that, we just hung out, ate dinner at the lodge and played a lot of cribbage. It was so relaxing and so much fun.
Well, I should get back to work, but I just wanted to give a short but real entry, instead of the stuff you’ve gotten recently – sorry about that!
The Big Day +2
Jun 9th
Just saying Hi from the North Shore. The wedding was wonderful and the weather was gorgeous. We can’t wait to see all the pictures.
The time! It is flying!
May 28th
10 days left. And still so much to do. And we are having people stay at our apartment this weekend and it’s still full of boxes and such (although when Ryan’s desk gets here that will help).
I apologize for the lack of posting lately, but you’ll have to forgive me. Apparently I’m getting married in 10 DAYS!!! And there is a lot of stuff to do to get ready to get married. Especially when moving TAKES OVER YOUR LIFE for like 3 weeks. I’m so over moving it’s not even funny. Thankfully, I think we are done. Ryan has to go back and take down the internet (hahahaha….Ryan is taking down the internet…like it’s a tube that you can take down….shut up. I thought it was funny). And he has to take down the christmas lights that have been attached to our upstairs deck for a year and a half (oops).
Well, it’s time to head to work. Only 3 days left including today. Which would be awesome if I didn’t have SO MUCH WORK to do. And if I knew how to prepare for being gone for 2 weeks. Yikes. Any advice, internets?? I’ve never missed this much work in a row….especially not at a real job that has actual work involved that can’t just be taken over by someone else easily.
If I don’t get back here (although I hope to, but the way things are going…probably not so much), I will talk to you all after I become Mrs. instead of Miss. Yay!
10 DAYS!!
It’s all good.
May 13th
I use that phrase a lot. “It’s all good” can apply in so many situations – something was screwed up and someone fixed it for you and apologized – “It’s all good.” Someone thinks you are worried about something that you aren’t too concerned about – “It’s all good.” How’s life going in general, how’s the wedding planning, any random how are you question – “It’s all good.” I like it because it is short, and usually reflects my actual attitude about things. It may not be perfect, but it is good. :-)
Things are really coming together this week. We moved about a quarter of our belongings last weekend, including some of the big stuff, and we are planning on keeping the moving going during the week and finishing off the rest of the big stuff this weekend. We might have a tiny bit to do after the weekend, but we plan on living in the apartment after this weekend, which is awesome.
I got my maid of honor (Hi, Gwen!) the correct size dress yesterday, so that is taken care of, and while I was in there they had me try on my dress, redid a couple of the bustles that needed to be moved up a little bit, and I got to take that one home too. So they are both hanging in the new apartment, waiting for the wedding to get here.
Today Ryan and I are going to the county office to get our marriage license. I told him that I promised not to break down in hysterics this time…I think I was a little stressed last week when we went, and it just pushed me over the edge. I’m actually just kind of excited to go, and to hopefully get to have lunch with Ryan afterward. Considering we both work downtown and only about a block apart we don’t have lunch together nearly often enough. Darn his job and it’s crazy schedule and location hopping. ;-)
Well, back to work. I’m trying to get ahead, but first I need to do some stuff to just get even. It will all work out. It’s all good.
For Serial
May 9th
Ryan and I went to the courthouse today over our lunch break to get our marriage license. I was uber-prepared (unsurprising, I know). I had the whole form filled out except for the one piece of Ryan’s information I wasn’t sure on. I had our pre-marital counselling certificate from the church. I had my checkbook. I even decided on what name I’ll have after we are married (Tawanda. What do you think??). AND I brought a camera to capture our happy faces after getting the license (Shut up. I saw other people’s and it looked like a cute idea). And then, in a matter of seconds, we were shot down. Apparently, the church put my name down as Becky instead of Rebecca on the pre-marital certificate. And because it is the government receiving this very un-official document it must match EXACTLY. I guess I understand. But seriously…is there really a Becky VeryUniqueLastName out there that they think took the class for me??
Anyway, I already called the church lady (who is very nice, by the way, even though she apparently doesn’t realize the importance of using a person’s legal name on certificates going to the County). She is sending us a new certificate, so we should be able to go get 1-step-closer-to-legal next week. I’ll report back sometime after that to let you know how exciting I’m sure it will be. If I figure out how (last time I tried it told me that I wasn’t allowed) I’ll even post a photo of Ryan and I after we get our license. But we’ll see. That would be very ambitious of me at this point. ;-)
So much to do, so little time
May 1st
I feel as though this might be my theme sentence until about June 8th. This list of things that I need to get done keeps running through my head…call someone about finding a pianist, fold the lilies, figure out what you are going to do for bridesmaid gifts, make sure you get thank you notes written and out to people right away, pack up all of your stuff and move across town, pick out readings and songs, call people we want to do readings and let Uncle Pat know about what song we choose, on and on and on….I know we are a bit behind on some of this stuff, which makes the whole concentrating thing even worse. I now understand why it is that planning a wedding was a full-time occupation for women who didn’t work (and still is in some cases). And I don’t understand how people do it that don’t have the support and help from their significant other. Ryan’s taken on projects just at the right time for me – when I’m about to break down from trying to figure out how I’m going to get it all done.
The thing is, I’m not really stressed in the conventional way. I know the day will be perfect because I know that at the end of it I’ll be married to Ryan. And really, that is the part that matters (it’s ok – you can puke now). And the biggest things are already done. I’m not twitchy about stuff, and I’m not having nightmares that things are going wrong. I just am having a really hard time concentrating on anything other than wedding stuff. And I’m to the point that I’m so overwhelmed with things to do that I don’t know where to start, so I don’t do any of them (just an FYI, this is NOT helpful in finishing them).
So, when I say that I can’t wait until the wedding is over, it’s not at all because things are going badly. They are actually going really well. Things are coming together, and I’m really excited. I am just ready to have my concentration skills back – especially at work. But, we are only a month out, and I’m only working until the end of May, so that’s not so bad. There’s a lot of work to get done between now and then (both for the wedding and at my job), and I know I can get it done. I just need to buckle down. And maybe start drinking more caffinated beverages. ;-)
