Monday, January 7, 2013

I just couldn't wait!!!

Dave's brother, Peter, is an aspiring photographer and was given a really nice camera a few years ago as a Christmas gift.  He is quite talented in his patience and ability to capture some of the most beautiful things in nature...from a bud as it open to dew on a spider web!  I could look at his photo albums for hours...and often do.  :)  

When Dave and I first got engaged (a year ago now) we had tossed around the idea of asking Peter to take a few engagements photos for us.  We hadn't yet looked into wedding photographers and were hoping to take some pictures together over the holidays...unfortunately our wishes for a white Christmas last year didn't come true and we let the opportunity for photographs slip away.  When we returned to the US for the fourth of July we were able to meet with Sandy, our wedding photographer, and took some awesome pics (if I can be a little biased) but again the weather didn't agree with us 100%.  What should have been lush green grass with a crisp Chicago skyline background turned out to look like a sandy beach with some fog (I posted a few pics a while ago...just scroll down).  We had an absolute blast taking our pictures and it was great to meet Sandy!!!

Fast forward to Christmas day.  With cloudless blue skies and fresh fallen snow Dave and I looked at each other and knew this is what we were hoping for...just a year later!!! After a relaxing morning of opening gifts and snuggling on the couch, Dave and I threw on our coats and headed outside with Peter in tow!  He was such a good sport.  Which one you ask?  Peter?  or Dave?  BOTH!!!!  

Oh My Gosh!!!  For someone who doesn't typically photograph humans Peter did an A-MAZ-ING job!  HECK!!  They look downright PROFESSIONAL!!!

We cannot thank Peter enough!  And Dave too...thank you honey for putting a happy face on and having so much fun with me in the snow!!!  :)  XOXO














He didn't entirely want to do the heart...
okay...he didn't want to at all...
but THIS is how amazing he is to me!  :)

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Wedding Fun with the Fiance! :)

I cannot begin to explain how wonderful (albeit crazy at times) my winter break has been this year!  Dave arrived home on December 15...rather than December 24 like we thought may have happened!  Although I had to work the week of December 17-21 it was nice to know that Dave was on this continent and in the same time zone as I am...I forgot how much fun it is to be able to CALL him when I feel like I want to!  YEAH!

Knowing that we had a limited time together we made a "wedding to-do" list for our two weeks together including a cake tasting, registering and a few others.  

Dave and I ended up having a rather busy two weeks "off" but with him only in the country for a few weeks we had to fit it all in!  Our whirlwind vacation included spending Christmas in Wisconsin with his family (both immediate and some extended!), made it up to Madison for a night with amazing friends, a stop at the outlet mall in Kenosha, dinner and drinks in Palatine with more good friends, ringing in the new year in Florida, back to Wisconsin for dinner with another couple, registering in both Wisconsin and Illinois, another engagement photo session (with his brother as the photog!), hanging with 3 little ones (1 week old, 3 month old and an 8 month old!)...our last "event" is celebrating Christmas with my family tomorrow before Dave flies back to the UK.  Phew!  Lots to do...but oh so fun and being with friends and family is what the holidays are all about!  

So...why the "wedding fun" title...well...we've had SO MUCH FUN this week just being together and checking things off our list!  We began registering up in Wisconsin...I had the clipboard and pen...Dave got the gun (although I think I had more fun with it!!).  We started with Macy's...they were FANTASTIC!  We were a little skeptical going in to register on the day after Christmas but quickly found out that not many people are in the homegoods section at that time...we were in and out and all smiles!  It was so fun to think about our forever home!  We had to keep reminding ourselves that we are requesting things for our new life together and although we may not have space for these items right now...we will hopefully have a beautiful house in which to put them some day!  :)  We continued registering at the Macy's in Illinois and added Bed Bath & Beyond to our list.  I knew that an appointment was needed on the weekends at BBB but wasn't sure about a random Thursday...we arrived at BBB around 2:30 and left to pick up dinner around 8:30...and we'd barely made a dent in the suggested items...but we went al a'carte for our knives and cookware rather than with big sets...so that took a lot of time!  :)  We ended up back at Macy's two more times...the same with Bed Bath.  When all is said and done...and I'm hesitant to say this...but I think we may be finished!!!  AHHH!!!  SO REAL NOW!!!!  :)

We also scheduled our cake tasting last week.  Although the lady that Boulder Ridge works with is out in the middle of NOWHERE...literally!!!  It was a blast!  We tried 5-6 different cake flavors and 10-12 different fillings along with 2 frostings.  She does NOT do fondant...YEAH...as neither Dave or I really care for fondant.  I'm not going to let the cat out of the bag as far as flavors/filling/design go...let's see if I can stick to it...let's just say...we agreed on 2 cake flavors, 2 fillings, 1 frosting and 1 B-E-A-UTIFUL design!  Funny enough, the sample cake picture Dave and I both liked the most that we found online was actually one of hers...so she knows exactly what we want...and we know that she can pull it off!!!  GREAT EXPERIENCE!!!!!!  

I also found out (today actually) that my bridesmaid dresses have officially been ordered and should be ready in May!  Who knew it took 4 months to make a dress...weird...but YEAH that we can check another box on the list!!!

Finally, we bought our wedding bands!  :)  We went back to the store where Dave bought my engagement ring from and they were so sweet to us!  Although both rings have come in and are ready for our wedding, the store is going to keep them in their vault until July!  

Okay...Dave is finished researching steak knives and vacuum cleaners...I'm off to go enjoy our last 24 hours together!  XOXO