Yes, we are alive!!!!

Dear Blogger World,
Sorry you have been next to... nonexistent. I hope you will forgive us, considering everything going on. I'll be honest and say it's probably a good thing we have not been posting.  I went to post a few weeks ago, but couldn't even type because I had burned my finger tips of on a sizzling fajita skillet at work..... and I was not in the most positive mood. I had spent hours and hours on the phone trying to hunt down a flower girl dress (we had gotten them months ago, but one was the wrong size and by the time we went to exchange it... the dress was unavailable and was no longer made--- go figure--- but a few places still had them, and it was our job to hunt it down). Flowers were not working out..... centerpieces were being doubted by some. When I had a few hours to study, I found myself writing and responding to emails for almost 3 hours! This wedding has completely consumed me, and I felt I had been defeated.  I literally went into the bathroom.... but my head in my hands and sobbed, and sobbed and sobbed. I wanted to give up...... I wanted to be married (never have I doubted that), but I wanted to give up on the wedding planning. I wanted to give up on school (finals were starting that same week), on work, on looking for a place to live, on finances.... the list seemed never ending. I had about 7.38 minutes to throw a pity party for myself and let it all out, and then it was time to pull myself together and head to work.

Dear Wedding......
Regardless of the resentment I have shown to you over the past few weeks, I'm beyond excited for you!!! It all starts next weekend (brings a smile to my face just thinking about it). And just as everyone has said..... it will all come together. And look at that...... you are! We located the flower girl dress, Suz found a solution to the centerpieces and they are turning out great! Aunt Rosie found awesome deals on flowers for both big receptions that will work wonderfully. Our backyard is looking like an backyard...... and an awesome one, if I do say so myself (it was a little scary there the past few weeks). Tuxes are ordered, rentals are reserved, hotel came through...... Just a few more things to be completely and I think we'll be good! I'm going to try my best not to stress over you, and just enjoy the excitement and happiness I KNOW you will bring to us.

Dear family of the bride (Especially Mom and Dad)......
Thanks for all the help you are giving to us!!!!!! Dad leaves for work before 6am..... returns from working all day usually around 7pm. Goes straight to the yard and works until after 10. His weekends are spent out there from the time he wakes up, to the time he goes to bed. He has done so much in the yard (I will post pictures soon!). I know he wants the best for us.... and has been stressing to get this done (and now he's gone all this week on business).  Mother has been a HUGE help with everything!!!! From calming me down and talking me through this whole thing, to gathering and printing off addresses, to confirming payments on everything, to getting rentals, cakes, food, refreshments, chocolate fountains, more and more decorations, hundreds and hundreds of phone calls on a daily basis, coming with me to my dress fittings, pretty much doing it all! I would literally be lost without her! Kelsy and Rachelle have been a huge help as well! From also putting in a ton of hours into the yard, to putting together the music for us, to folding..... stuffing.... and licking (gross!) nearly all 350 announcements.  Thanks times a million!!!!!

Dear family of the groom.....
We are sooooooo excited to see you! 2 weeks and 6 days..... we have been counting down! Erik's dad has helped us a lot. He found us (and took care of) a caterer (which was huge.... and we're very excited about), the cake which is also huge and was included in the package, he took care of the tuxes, looked at the venue and has given us lots of advice and help with all of this! Erik's mother has also done a ton for us! She went to the venue and asked a ton of questions for us and gave us lots of suggestions on what we should do with it. She has also put in a lot of work and is taking care of the rehearsal dinner for us! And is also taking care of present opening (day after wedding) for us.  She has also given us a ton of advice and sent us lots of links to help us get through this all.  It's not easy planning a wedding 2000 miles away.... so we are very grateful for Erik's family and all they do for us! And Brett and Mark..... we love you! Are you ready for a sister?? :-)

Dear Erik.....
I love you so much!!!!  You get on my nerves sometimes (haha)..... but I really am so grateful for all you are doing for me! I have been a bit crazy these past few weeks.... so thanks for putting up with me! What kind of man would jump in a freezing cold pool to clean it? Or pull out a huge tree with his bare hands like a gorilla? Or play "mule" and haul all those bricks and rocks and dirt and boards like it was nothing? I'm definitely marrying a stud!!! I thank you for all the hard work you put into this wedding, the yard, school, work, providing, etc. I shall be your wifey in just a few weeks....... and you're stuck with me FOREVER!! are you sure you don't want to back out??

And now for Erik's wonderful post. He saw me start the blog "dear blogger world....." and then I left to do something real fast and this is what I came back to. Isn't he so sweet??

Dear Blogger World,
Life has been so hectic lately and I have been having a hard time. I have to take birth control now so I have been flying around the neighborhood on my broomstick. Erik and I work together as you know which is okay until he asks me to switch shifts "he bugs!" As far as the wedding planning is concerned I am doing everything! Erik is such a lard a**! He doesn't do anything which makes this not so exciting....... We are still living in my parents house because Erik is to cheap to get an apartment. Speaking of cheap every time I mention the debit card we have to drive to the ER because Erik has chest pain. Blogger world Is it supposed to be like this?

I will continue this post (along with some pictures) in the next few days! Hope all is well with everyone!

Q: What's cuter than us???

Answer: NOTHING!!!!

My sister Crystal and my 2 nieces were down here to visit us a few weeks ago. I love my sister...... and my nieces! Crysti is so crafty and so fun to be around.  She always has so many projects to do for her home, and her girls..... I hope to be half the mom she is someday (don't worry.... that day won't be for a while)! We spent many nights playing cards, staying up until 2am talking and laughing and having "heart-to-hearts".  I look up to Crysti in so many ways, and I just hope she realizes how much I do love her and appreciate all she's done (from taking me to and from dance, being there for me through some of life's toughest trials and challenges, and just being an amazing person and sister), and still does (helping me with wedding plans, calling and talking to me for hours about anything and everything, and continuing to be my example) for me. 

Aubrey~ my cute niece....... makes me smile!!! She is such a sweet girl. She's very easy going, and does things at her own pace.  She's always been a bit shy, but it was so fun to see her break out of her shell while she was here.   

She loves her disney movies! I think she watched "Anastasia" and "Sleeping Beauty" about 27 times.

Me: "Hey Aubrey, how about we go outside and play"

Aubrey: "But this my fav-ite mooovy"

Me: "How many time have you seen this movie today?!"

Aubrey: "for twenty-eight yearrrrs"

Oh, ok. The things she came up with made me laugh. She's really getting a cute personality.

My other forvorite thing Aubrey says is, "Well......" She literally would say "well...." in front of everything she would say, and would truely look like she was thinking very hard about what you said, or about what she was about to say.

Me: "Aubrey, are you going to do gymnastics when you're big?"

Aubs: "Well...... yes."

Me: "Oh cool, can I come watch you?"

Aubs: "Well.... alright."

Me: "Thanks. Should we go to the zoo today?"

Aubs: "Well.... that sounds fun."

HA.... so cute, right??

Whenever I would ask Aubrey to smile at the camera...... she would look the other

way and cross her arms......

Olivia~ on the other hand would be tapping me on the back of the leg..... "Cheesh, cheesh!!!" Want to talk about complete opposites?? These little girls are totally opposite of each other.  Don't get me wrong, they are both beyond adorable, and very funny, but as far as personalities..... very different!

Livy was almost 2 when she was here. She had grown so much since I had seen her at christmas, and was talking so much more! This little girl would repeat EVERYTHING you would say. And was communicating quite well "ilk"- milk. "poopies"- diaper change. "namies"- pajamas. "ug"-hug (usually said in between cries). "side"-she wanted to go outside. "buh-byes"- she was bored and ready to move on to bigger and better things. "azy"- crazy. "ince"- prince (they call erik "prince erik" from the little mermaid). She could say almost everyones name, and if you asked who was who, or what was what she would know, and point. I taught her how to say "peace out"- she released quite a bit of salivia while saying this clever phrase, so beware if you're face to face with her..... other than that, soooo cute (and she knew it..... she would smile every time she would say it). Mother taught her "dane-it"- dangit. My mom thought it was so funny. And Livy would run into the living room where we would all be gathered, and yell "dane-it" and run off.

Prince Erik and Olivia...... Not the best picture, but I thought it was cute. And shows how tiny Olivia is (compared to big Erik..... probably not that fair. You're good, Livy!)

But Livey doesn't let her size stop her! She IS the boss. If she's playing barbies, or eating, or whatever it is.... she'll just grab toys, or your candy (usually from Aubrey) "mine".  Aubrey usually just says, "oh, babies?" and gives her anything she wants. See what I mean by opposites? She would also just grab anyones fingers, and drag them where ever she wanted to go. She may be little, but she's so dang cute! Who could resist?

Little Livy is like the energizer bunny. She would sleep until noon (any other 2 year old out there that does that?)..... but would go go go until all hours of the night.  She's a bit stubburn..... everything I would say to her, she would simply reply "nope"- that word was very clear, and very much used (Crysti's got a handful). She's also very independent. No matter how difficult the task may be, if livy is determined to do it.... livy's going to do it! She does not like anyone helping her. For instance: one night I took her up to get her pj's and a diaper. This girl loooves her diaper (she hugs it every time she see's one, and Crysti says she sometimes has to sleep with one-besides the one she wears.). So she got very excited when I gave her a diaper, and then I was looking for her pajamas, and she yelled "aub-ee, aub-ee!" I turned to see if Aubrey was there. "Aub-ee namies, aub-ee namies!!" She was screaming and laughing and was just so excited. Okay... take Aubrey's pajamas to her. "oh.... are these your nammies, Livy??" The excitement began all over again "yyy-eah!!!!!! livy's nammies!" She insisted on hoding her pj's, aubrey's pj's, her diaper, and aubrey's pull-up. When we approached to the stairs, I tried to help her.... but she would freak out and start crying.  Alright, fine... have it your way. I think it took a good 15 minutes.. and she would continue dropping one of her items (and then another item when she would bend over to pick up the original dropped item), but she did it!! 

Another quick funny story about Aubrey (sorry, I couldn't move these pictures up with the rest of aubrey's pictures). Anyway.... Crysti and I were having a heart to heart one night (about 1am). Aubrey slowly walked to the table where we were....

Crysti: "Aubrey, go back and lay down or we're going to turn off your movie"

Aubrey: "but..... I have m-ynms in my yammies."

Crysti: "What? You have m&ms in your tummy?"

Aubrey: "Nooo..... I have m-and-ms in my YAMMIES!"

Me: "I think she said, she has m&ms in her pajamas"

Crysti (very confused): "You have m&ms in your yammies?"

Aubrey (relieved): "Yeah!!!"

Crysti: "oh...... why do you have m&m's in your pjs?!"

*Aubrey and I are dying laughing*

Crysti (seeing how random and funny this is) "does that mean they're all the way down at your feet?"

Aubrey (smiling ear to ear): "well...... yeah."

They were footed pj's, so crysti had to unzip them all the way, reach her hand down by her feet.... she pulled out multilple peanut m&ms. "Is that all??"

Aubrey: "um... no"

Really?? Crysti continued to dig down both pant legs. After multiple m&ms and lots of good laughs, Aubrey seemed content and back to her bed and movie she went.

I could sit in one room with my sister and nieces and be perfectly content. But don't worry.... we didn't. We went to the park, we played outside quite a bit, did lots of shopping, rode a carasal (olivia: "horsey *hahaha* tute"), met the easter bunny, did some wedding stuff, and just enjoyed each others company.

Sorry this post is ridiculously long. I'm obsessed with my nieces!!! Can you tell?? I adore them beyond believe, and can't get enough of them. Erik loves them too! Every time he would walk in the door from work or school they would run up and give him a hug. Or every time they he left Aubrey would ask him where he was going.... and why. After they left, Erik said "man, now who am I going to play with??" (Um.... I'm right here!!) But needless to say, we were sad to see them go.  Wish we were closer to them (And crysti and scott!!), but in the meantime.... We'll just enjoy their visits. Please come back and visit us soon!!! We love you!