Name changing and casserole making

The more I read about it the more I think this whole name changing business is going to be such a frikkin hassle. Ugh. Not my idea of fun. But, I have been looking forward to changing my last name for oh, how many years now? Yeah, I better get on with it. First the social security card, then the driver's license, the bank, my job, my insurance, my utility companies, landlord, vehicle registration (what a PITA!), and I'm sure I'm forgetting something here but geez. What a list.

I've never been much of a cook, especially when you've got someone like my DH who really enjoys cooking. I just let him throw the meat on the grill and I make a few sides. Easy, right? Well I thought I better start helping him out so I've been looking through cookbooks and finding easy recipes that even I can follow. How domestic of me right? So far so good. Two different chicken casseroles, two yummy dinners, if I do say so myself. And now lots of leftovers. These recipes make servings for 4-6, so yeah every other day there's leftovers for dinner. But, considering how much we just said what the heck and ate fast food, this is a huge thing for us. It'll help me learn to cook more, maybe him to clean more (keep your fingers crossed), and for both of us to learn to cook for a family someday. Neither of us want our kids to get in the habit of eating fast food so much. That was me as a teenager. Picture it, a newly licensed 16 year old, who drives to work a few times a week, maybe to school if mom doesn't need the minivan. What's for dinner? Mom-"oh i don't feel like cooking", me-"hey i'll go get us something!" And thus started an endless cycle of me driving to get food and do other errands that I suspect my parents had been waiting for since the day I was born. I'm sure the day I turned 16 they were thinking "yes finally someone to run our errands and bring us food!" No, seriously. Anyway, I digress....I don't want my kids eating like I did. Because of this I am now a small person trapped in a fat person's body. :( So now I'm trying to change that before it gets passed down to the next generation.

I'm a married woman

Finally!! I have only waited for this to happen to me since I was a little girl. lol Everything went very well. I was so very impressed with my beautiful flower girl and the way she led my nephew down the aisle with his pillow in hand. She is a pro! I thought for sure he'd freak out on me last minute and that his dad would have to walk him down but he did great! I am so very excited to see our pictures. Our photographer was really sweet and very efficient at her job. It only took an hour to take all our posed pics before the wedding. She is wonderful! The ceremony was short and sweet, and we actually got compliments on it! Then we had some good food, GREAT margaritas, good music. We sang some karaoke, did a little dancin (my hubs is a good dancer!), drank, had great fun! Then we snuck off to the Marriott hotel to stay the night. ;) Today we had brunch at my mom's, opened presents, then came home and took a much-needed nap. Now I have the next three days off work to organize my house with all these presents! All in all it was a very busy weekend, but sooooooo worth it. :)

the shower

Last Saturday was my wedding shower. I was truly overwhelmed that all the people there came to celebrate me getting married! It brings me to tears thinking about it. My mom and sister and my aunt organized it all and everything was really really nice. The weather was a bit cool at first (we were at a park), but we all sat out in the grass in the sunlight and played wedding scattergories and then they watched me open presents. :) I've never opened that many presents in front of that many people by myself. Not even on birthdays cause my mom and I usually share a birthday party because hers is 2 days before mine. But let me say, it was the coolest thing ever! I felt like a little kid ripping wrapping paper and throwing around tissues paper from the bags. And they all got me such nice things, it really gave me a warm feeling knowing how much these people cared for me.

RSVPs.....68 y...3 n.

911

I won't share my story of where I was on the morning of September 11, 2001, because it's like most everyone else's. I was here, 2,000 plus miles away from where it happened. Yes I did cry. I cry thinking about this day. But September 11 has another meaning for me. My mom's dad died on this day in 1965. He had sold his horse and couldn't get it loaded in the trailer, it was being very stubborn. So instead, he decided to ride it over to the man he sold it to. He was on the highway and the horse got spooked and ran into traffic. They both got hit and he died. My mom was 10 years old when this happened. And on March 11, 1999, her mother died of lung cancer....exactly 33 and 1/2 years after her dad died. I don't know if you know the significance of this, but Jesus died when he was 33 and 1/2 years old. Just seems to me that somehow God brought my grandparents back together.

Anyway, I don't want to make it seem as if that was more important than the WTC attacks. I never felt so sad after it happened. And every September 11 I feel even more sad for the people that have to deal with their losses on this day. But it also makes me feel like a very proud American to know that we didn't just lay down and take it. We fought back. WE FOUGHT BACK.

The rings are in

We got our wedding rings via FedEx on Thursday. How very exciting! Unfortunately we're going to send them both back to resized (half size up on each). But they look just perfect. And of course, I am officially a mailbox stalker now. I've even managed to make FI one too! I have to post the funniest one we've received so far, which was from my aunt. Our response card has a place for you to write your Name________ and Number attending__. Well on my aunt's there is no name, but below it says '4 or if we have the kids 6'. Smart little me numbered all the response cards, so all I have to do is look up the coordinating number in my list of names and addresses and match them up. Bingo, it's my aunt. My blonde aunt. Sorry to all of you who might be blondes and reading this, but this is a normal thing for her. LOL She has many blonde moments and this one made me smile. :)

On a side note, anybody who is reading this....could you say a small prayer for my mom? She has recently been diagnosed with high blood pressure and a bad sciatica and seems to be in a lot of pain. It really hurts me to see her like that and I only hope for the best. Thanks.

Wedding stuff

I ordered our wedding rings on Saturday and they should be here by Friday! Yay!! How exciting! I cannot wait to try on the ring I will be wearing for the rest of my life.....until our 5 year anniversary, of course, when I decide to add some diamonds and a sapphire to it! LOL Come on, I gotta have a little bling. And in the meantime, my engagement ring will either be worn on the right hand or I'll just tuck it away somewhwere and save it for my own child someday to be worn (or given) as their e-ring.

I found one of the best things I can pay for via internet.....license plate renewal! Such a huge relief to avoid those long lines at the Driver's License Bureau! The internet is a beautiful thing.

Got the invitations out, I shall now become a mailbox stalker, waiting for RSVP's! And I mean it....anyone who got an invite better send me back a RSVP or I'm gonna come kick some ass! Seriously, I am really excited to find out who will be able to come to our party, er wedding and reception. :) I really want to spend that day with the people I love and I'm excited for it to be here already.

So FI has really been helpful around the house lately. Last Thursday he got to go to the Chiefs preseason game, but before he did he called me at work. He said the dishes in the dishwasher were clean, he gave the dog a bath and he left me money on my nightstand. Today he even went grocery shopping! Excuse me while my jaw drops to the floor! I loved him when he sat around and waited for me to tell him what to do, but wow...I love him even more now. Didn't think I could, but I do. :) It makes me realize over and over how lucky I am to find him and to make him mine forever. I am truly blessed.

it's getting closer...

The wedding, I mean. This Sunday we're putting together the invitations and sending them out Monday. Wow, it's really gonna happen. We are 7 weeks out now. Wow. My mind races all day long with things I still need to do and pay for. Today Jason gave me some money so now I can order our wedding rings! YAY! This weekend I'm going to see a florist about my bouquet, and hopefully going to put deposits down on our rentals. Also need to start looking for the ringbearer's outfit and some new boots for Jason. See, it keeps running like this all flippin day long! It's a wonder I get any sleep at all.

So I wrote about my little accident last Friday. Well, I saw a doctor cause by Monday I was just writhing in pain, especially after the, ahem, eventful weekend I had. Road trip to Oklahoma with 4 other women in one truck = drama, exhaustion, and tears (okay we were laughing). I digress...I went to the doctor. Nothing's broken. Deep muscle bruising. My bruisings still ache. But he did give me happy pills. :) Unfortunately they're messing with my sleep. I woke up at 3 this morning and sat right up thinking it was time to go to work. Why can't I catch a break?! I just want to sleeeeeeep. On second thought, think I'll try to do that......